Name what you are Thankful for!

Almost being finished with school
Love I feel for my family
Love I receive from my family
Inspiration from all around me
Snuggling with my boys
Opinions
New shoes :)

New friends
Ice cream
Cocoa to keep me warm
Old friends
Laughter
Extended family

Teachers
Online shopping
Late nights playing games with family/friends
Mocha's
A roof over my head
New adventures to come!

The Most Wonderful...

Usually around Thanksgiving my mindset is in "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" mode. NOT THIS YEAR!!!

I don't think I have ever had a semester with so much work/tests/papers/state exams all due either right before, during, or directly after Thanksgiving. I think this is going to be more difficult than finals week this year. Actually I know it will be.

So here's to my sanity, or what little I have left. Wish me luck!

Single Moms

There is nothing like a mother. I was lucky enough to grow up with both of my parents present in my life, and couldn't imagine it any other way. But there is something so amazing and inspiring about a single mother that I admire so much.

I admire their...
Creativity
Strength
Heart
Love
Will
and much more!

I am not a single mother, my husband is amazing with our children and a great support system for me too. But with his new job, I get a taste of what a single mother has to go through on a daily basis, although I'm sure it is about 10x more difficult for them. So this post goes out to all of the amazing single mothers out their that raise their children to be amazing, strong, independent, and wonderful people. Especially my mother in law Laurie who raised her three sons (my hubby included) to be just as amazing as she is! Thank you for the inspiration!

Book club or bust!

Well last night was our first official book club meeting. When I say us, I mean my friend Keshia and myself. Most people canceled that they were coming just hours before the party.

Unfortunately for me, I had already done all the baking, preparing, shopping and setting up for more people. My house/ food sort of felt all dressed up and nowhere to go so to speak. It was sad :(

These are the yummy Pumpkin Spice Cookies with Chocolate Glaze that I made for the girls (that nobody ate)

These are the incredibly yummy Autumn Apple Grape Medley's that I made.

Keshia and I had a good time though. We were able to catch up, establish some rules or norms for the book club, eat and drink wine, talk about the book (wishing we had more people to discuss with), and picking next month's book.

This will be our next book for December and Keshia (and hopefully the other girls will be too) are so excited to read this book. It's about a woman who's mother is mentally ill, and how she learns about herself and her mother through diaries that her mother had written. I think. We are hoping for a better turn out next month, if not, then at least Keshia and I will enjoy it while it lasts and read a few good books out of it.

Halloween!

I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of Halloween, in fact, if I didn't have kids, I would probably ignore it all together. I've even thought about just putting an empty bowl of nothingness on my front step with a sign saying "Please Take One". Mean right? Well it's a good thing I have kids huh! Here are some fun pictures from our Halloween day festivities.

Ben carving a bat into his pumpkin! Last year he used a little electric saw so I was pretty impressed to find him with a little knife this time! No cheating.

The finished pumpkins! I carved Adam's (it's a werewolf). Don't mind Wyatt's hair, it was really windy. (and he does have crazy hair anyway)

All my boys at Trunk or treat for our subdivision. My little T-Rex and batman were a big hit! Plus Wy looked adorable from behind when he ran, his little T-Rex tail wagging behind him :)

The whole fam. Overall it was a pretty long night, but fun for the kiddos none the less. Maybe next year I will try not to be so grumpy (I totally blame school and next year should be easier since I will be finishing up my student teaching). I may even try to dress up :) maybe.