Love Thursdays: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving day is a great day to kick off the Holiday season! Every night I thank the Lord for the miracles and blessings in my life, but Thanksgiving day stands out as a day to do just that - give thanks even louder than you normally do!

This year I am thankful for so many things but I have to say I am most thankful for our beautiful son and his health! This was his first Thanksgiving and it was great! The day was awesome, it was a bit chilly, but the sun was shining and the rain stayed away. We surprised Nana and Grandpa at the front door with John's new outfit (he was adorable and he knew it!) and they laughed until they cried about that hat!

Nana had prepared an awesome Turkey dinner with all the traditional sides. Grandpa said a prayer before dinner that filled my eyes with tears (tears? from me?). It was picture perfect!

We busted out the old home videos and watched some of Bob and Carolyn's wedding and then of course, Chris and Carl when they were babies. I caught glimpses of John in Carl as a baby, but they are not mirror images by any means.

Then of course we finished the day with football, no Thanksgiving would be complete without it.

We shoveled in some pecan pie and then headed home happy and several pounds heavier.

We missed the Oklahoma crowd, but we look forward to seeing Chris and Adrienne on Christmas Eve and the rest of the crew on Christmas Day.

PS (we added more pictures to this slideshow)

7 things you never knew about me

Summer has tagged me with the topic "7 things you never knew about me" Obviously, some of you will know some of these things - but I will give it a go.

1) My favorite TV Show is "Gilmore Girls". It went off the air in 2006; it is only on in syndication on ABC Family - and I try to watch it everyday at 4:00.

2) I HATE to drive at night! Will avoid it at all cost.

3) I am slightly claustrophobic. If I can not move my arms I freak out.

4) I was in the band and played the cornet in the 7th grade - and I was good, I was first chair!

5) I do not know how to french braid - another reason I would make a good 'boymom'

6) I am scared of the ocean, well, I am scared of what is in the ocean that I can not see.

7) Peonies are my favorite flower

Okay, I am tagging Abbey, Janna and Sandy.

Love Thursdays: Pictures

Today we had our 9 month professional pictures with Jonnye , so it is fitting to talk about how much I LOVE pictures! I have taken the opportunity to update slide shows and pictures on this blog - see slide shows to the left and then at the VERY bottom for slides of our wedding. Thanks to Summer's blog, I stumbled upon a new website for slide shows that are really cool http://www.slide.com/.

I am obsessed with pictures, even more so now because John changes with every passing day. I could (and often do) look at the same picture albums every day of the week and never get tired of it. In fact, most of the time I find new things in the pictures each time. Some would say I over analyze...okay, so all of you would say this. But I can not not help it, I look at every detail in every picture.

I used to be so picky, that I would only find a select few that I could live with and not ever really "love" any of them, as there was always something that could be better. However, ever since I discovered "journalistic" style photography and we had Bob Sutton (link) shoot our wedding pictures, my idea of "a good picture" has relaxed. Now I think capturing the world as it is and letting the pictures tell the story and set the mood is what makes a good picture.

I truly believe that taking pictures is a difficult and beautiful talent, and sadly, one I do not have. I think that Carl and Granddaddy both have this talent. In fact, I still think about the basic stuff that Granddaddy (my Daddy) taught me when I take pictures today (see Daddy, you only THOUGHT I wasn't listening).

New mode of transportation

Love Thursdays: Daddy

This is an easy one, WE LOVE DADDY!

All three of us look forward to Daddy pulling in the driveway every night and we LIVE for weekends when the three of us get 2 full days of uninterrupted family time.

He makes our world go round! Without him I would not have the opportunity to spend my days with John. We are incredibly lucky and blessed and we know it. He is an amazing father and husband that would do anything for us both and we can not thank him enough for being him! He and John are the true loves of my life.

No matter how long the day has been, when Daddy comes home both his and John's face light up when they see each other; and everything is just better. And as for me - when all three of us are home having family time, I feel calm and happy and the world seems exactly as it should be.

Although right now John really does not have a preference to me or Daddy, with all that Daddy has planned, John will undoubtedly be a Daddy's boy. Carl can not wait for the day he can take John fishing, hunting, camping, etc. He has already forewarned me that even though I am one of those girls that likes the outdoor stuff, that there will be "boys only" outings. How do you argue with that? (Even though I really want to!)

One Big Happy Family

Carl, John and I got the incredible chance to have both of our families together this weekend for a fun filled day of Sooner football. Bob and Carolyn drove their motor home to Edmond and hosted a fabulous tailgate party at Arcadia lake and invited my whole family. I am not sure they really knew what they were in for with all of us! We had a crab boil and homemade gumbo and a desert table that was to die for!

The motor home is beautiful and I think we broke it in with some great memories and few stains! The weather was perfect and the location was ideal. They thought of everything! We had 4 TVs, tables and chairs for us all, a quilt and tent for the kids, wagons, a playground a few steps away, a campfire, and a whole lot of fun!

I have to confess - I did not watch one play of the game - NOT ONE! This was not my intention at all, but there was just so much going on and so many little ones to keep us busy. The die hards settled in the lawn chairs and I heard yelling and high fiving pretty often, so I kept track of the game that way.

As I have discussed in past entries, John is hardly ever fussy unless he is tired or hungry. However, on Saturday he had 'the crank' turned on higher than normal...well...sure enough Sunday his other top big tooth popped through. So I apologize for his antisocial behavior, but rest assured he is feeling much better.

There are so many stories to tell, but I think the pictures do a good job capturing the day. I especially LOVE the ones of John attacking Brendan; the one of Carl and John cuddled up in a monkey hat and football blanket around the campfire after a long day of fun; Great Granddaddy pulling the wagon; the one of John and Chris in their respective orange and red; all the attempts of getting all the kids in one picture AND looking at the camera (IMPOSSIBLE!) and of course the ones of my mom throwing the football, her quarterback skills are as about as good as her volleyball skills!

Thank you to Bob and Carolyn and thank you to everyone who came! We love you all and are always looking forward to the next time!

PS - if you are looking for the specific pictures of John and the infamous "bottle" - they are not included as I do not want to have DHS called on us!

"The Family Carr"

My "begging for blogging" entry worked! My cousin Janna has started a blog. It looks great; and I love the name "The Family Carr" (their last name is Carr for those of you who do not know her). I was so excited, I wanted to dedicate a post to the new link to the left! Now I can keep up with their family a little easy despite the distance. Thanks Janna! LOVE YOU!

Love Thursdays: Naps

Today I was inspired by Abbey's blog "At Home With The Richards Family" to start a new weekly entry for the blog called "Love Thursdays". From what I can tell, it is an opportunity one day a week to write about and focus on something we love. I think this idea has so much depth and possible range of topics. I am not all that creative and struggle when it comes to blog entries, so this should help. Thank you to Abbey for the inspiration!

This week's topic - naps!

Whoever got rid of naps after preschool was crazy! I do not really get to take naps during the week; but occasionally on weekends after we put John down for his nap, Carl and I will settle in front of the TV and accidentally doze off. It is a wonderful feeling to wake up to John patting the crib and look at the clock and discover we have been asleep for an hour. (Okay, so this is more me than Carl, but he dozes sometimes too!)

However, I love John's naps even more than my own, mainly because I love when he wakes up. I know that sounds silly, but the look on his face and his demeanor when you walk into the room after a nap is priceless. Waiting for me is a huge smile while he sits up so straight as if he is proud of himself for taking a nap. He rubs his eyes and then reaches his arms up to me and my heart melts. He wakes up a new baby anxious to explore everything all over again.

And of course, the naps are a break for me to get things done. This could include work, cleaning the house, cleaning the pool (only this time of year with ALL the leaves), bills/quicken, making phone calls, catching up on email/blogs, planning, and/or general household management. All things that a WAHM/SAHM takes care of, and although there are times of frustration and dislike with some of these tasks - overall I am very lucky and blessed that I able to be at home as much as I am. (look for a separate entry on WAHM/SAHM, as there is so much to say!)

My First Halloween

You can double click on the slideshow to view bigger if you need

Begging for Blogging

Here is my attempt to get my friends and family to start blogging... sure, it is a frivolous attempt, as most of them might not even read the blog to get the message, but I do what I can.

Start a blog, it is super easy and very addictive. It is a great way to stay in touch with everyone on their own schedules. If you have a myspace page, it is not the same because since I (and other people like me) do not have an account I can not get onto your pages unless it is public. I promise you will love it!

Personal pleas...

Adrienne - I would love to know how you guys are doing more often! And see Tyler as he changes and grows up to a young man!

Stephers - I KNOW you would like doing this, you are such a creative writer and expressive person! START ONE!

Tina - start one about your pregnancy! Us mothers would love to relive!

Ashley - start one about Lexi! I want to see her grow up (even if it is in Austin)

Kelly - start one about the wedding planning!

Christie - I would love to see Gibson more often and know what is happening with you guys out in LA.

Lindsay - switch from Myspace!

Renae - Uh - nevermind, it is no use! :) Although, you started scrapbooking, so maybe blogging is next!

Janna - I think you are pretty active on myspace - but I can not see it!

Audra - Why don't you have one?

Sandy - I think you would love it for your family!

Shannon - Those 2 little ones are going to be grown before you know it and this is a great way to look back!

Windy - Okay so you have a week old baby Sydney on your hands right now, but maybe in a few weeks - get those babies on a blog! :)