We got home this afternoon after what seemed like the longest drive ever. I was sleepy and asked Brandon if he would mind driving and feared the worst by doing so... the kiddos would wake up. They did. But I was afraid of what would happen if I didn't quit driving more. We stopped in Florala for a little play time on the "airwayne" (as miss priss calls it) by the water.

When we got home we found a cute little surprise left by our guests that kept our home company while we were gone. They had a little Christmas tree decorated with homemade ornaments and lights and ribbon, chocolate covered krispie treats, chocolate covered creamer for your coffee (super cool and Brandon can't wait for morning to use them!), some hot cocoa (which I can't wait to use in the a.m.), some Christmas plates/napkins and a cute card signed by our guests. We never met them, but they sound truly wonderful!!! (Did I mention they sent a fall themed package to us in the mail before Thanksgiving?)

Christopher was so excited about the little tree that he ran and grabbed the head of the reindeer that Brandon had made at the lake and brought it inside to show him. I think he named the deer either Dugger or Bisker. Don't ask. He's really into making up words, some of which are not words that sound like ones a 3 year old should be saying, but I fear by telling him to not say that one in particular it will instantly become he's favorite word of the month. So, if you hear him say something and it shocks you, please know that he did NOT hear it from us! I'm off to grab supper and go to bed. I'll post photos from our Thanksgiving this week.

I'm super excited about Thanksgiving tomorrow! I love having all of my family together and eating lots of yummy food we only have twice a year. (Maybe we should spread it out and do it in July?) It was hard to start this post where I was going to name some things I was thankful for b/c my children were just fight over the "sand mold" that they were playing with. Once I threatened to throw it away they finally stopped.

This year we are having the celebration at my parents' house and there is nothing like being at the lake in the fall. I love it! Mom told me last night that not all of the leaves had fallen off the trees so I could still enjoy it. I miss the changing leaves so much!! Here in FL everything either stays green or just turns brown and dies leaving these ugly, thorny looking branches behind. Both of my siblings and their families will be there, as well as my dad's sisters and their families, my grandmother and her brother, Uncle Bob.

I feel I have so many things to be thankful for and with the way the world is lately I feel even more grateful for what I have. I am so blessed to have a son and a daughter who love each other like crazy (even when fighting over dirt and who it belongs to). I'm truly thankful for my husband who gave me those two little blessings. I'm thankful that he has a job that is secure and that we can live so close to his work that we don't have to worry about it taking him an hour to get home. (He can ride a bike there!) I'm thankful for our parents and the faith that they have in God and that they knew just how important it was to raise us to have that same faith. I'm thankful that I have the ability to drive thru Burger King to grab breakfast every now and then. I'm thankful that I stay home with my kids so I don't drive thru there every day. I'm thankful for the friends that God has always provided for us in every move. I'm thankful for the friends we have made at our church. I'm thankful that my son wants to play trucks with me so I will step away from this computer right now. And tomorrow I will be thankful for diving into some of this:

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Tonight I thought I'd left the little man in bed, but he snuck up on me in the kitchen and about gave me a heart attack! I asked him what was wrong and he very sweetly said, "I prayed to God and it didn't work." I think if I'd had anything in my mouth I would have either choked on it or spewed it all over the counter. It was so cute! Once I was able to talk without giggling I asked him if he was scared to which he replied, "Yes. And I prayed, but it didn't work. I was still scared." I asked him what he said when he prayed to God, just curious what he's say and this was what I got, "Dear God, thank you for the food." I guess I need to be more specific when I tell him to ask God to help him when he's scared. Gosh, I love that kid!!!!

I was tagged by Ole Miss Mom to list 10 things that make me happy. So, here goes:

Christopher has said some really funny things lately. To start off the first one, we borrowed the Curious George movie from a friend and he's obsessed with watching it. If you haven't seen it, it's really cute (and I found it for $10 to put in his stocking). Anyway, on Monday we went around with Wendi to pass out flyers about collecting can goods to take to a local shelter for Thanksgiving. Christopher loved running up to the houses and sticking them in the door and was more into it than I thought he would be. I want to start teaching my children that holidays are not all about them, but about helping those less fortunate than us too. That's why I was so excited Wendi had this idea and I jumped on board. Well, we met her and her boys after mom's day out and since my kids never nap that day he started to get a little tired. We went home and he went to lie down in my room watching a movie. He came out to find me and saw Wendi still at work and said, "There's Wendi! She's working really hard!" I agreed with him with laughter. Then her husband John drove by and he asked me where they were going. I told him I didn't know and he quickly replied, "They are going to Africa like Curious George." I immediately called her and left her a message to call me when she got home so I could tell her where they had gone in his mind.

Today was fabulous! Yesterday was not, so I needed it. I was so very dizzy yesterday I felt like I was going to lose it at any point. This happens sometimes at night, but never all day. Brandon even came home a little early to help out and I felt bad b/c I know it's not how he wanted to spend his evening, but I guess it's ok b/c I've had several nights alone by myself due to his work. SO, today was much needed and I loved it! Our neighbor Wendi has two little boys and is watching a friend of our's little boy too while they are out of town for a couple days. I told her to bring them over and play b/c we were going to be home anyway. It was great b/c the sun was shining, the air was crisp and I got some laundry done along with a little bit of sweeping outside. We had lunch and the kids played toys until they couldn't play anymore. I just spoke to Wendi and she said naps were a HUGE success. They were at our house too! Everyone took at least a 2 hour nap, including me! We just got back from a little walk and some time at the playground. Brick's leash split in half so we had to come home. We plan to do this all over again tomorrow. I'll watch all 5 so she can run her dog and then watch them for me so I can run somewhere quick. I love having such wonderful friends!!!

What do you say when your 3 year old son asks you why you are wearing your big jeans?

Well, it seems like we always end up in the eye of the storm and the day people think they should close everything and stay home, guess what... nothing happens. I was asleep, but everyone that was awake said it poured like crazy last night. I think that's why I don't mind hurricanes. There's no thunder and lightening to wake you or the kids up in the middle of the night. Brandon ended up coming home this morning and the kids were too excited to see him to leave him alone. I loaded them up in the van and we headed off base. We hit up Joann's and got some deals on some Christmas items for us and the next MOPS craft. Then we went to Dollar Tree and got a few more things for stockings and such. We still had time to kill before naps so we went to Target. I try to avoid this little square of heaven b/c I never want to leave. I told the kids that we could go straight to the toys and just let them play. They never get to do this. Since I had nothing I really needed I just wanted to waste time. You would have thought it was Saturday with all the people in the store. The kids loved it! Sophie had on a dress and had to wear her fancy shoes Brandon got her. She found a grocery cart full of food and clicked her little self up and down the aisles yelling, "Now Boppy!" and "Boppy come!" I'm surprised I didn't pee in my pants from laughing so hard. I did get a little video on my phone, but not sure how to put it on here b/c I don't care for fancy phones that email and play games. So, the next time you see me just ask for a peek. We left with no toys, some stocking stuffers and full tummys from the hot dog and chips they got at the food section. Brandon was awake when we got home so they played for a while and then they all went to bed. I enjoyed lying on the couch doing nothing but watching mindless television. Now dinner is in the oven, the kids are playing hide and seek with the fart machine and Brandon is about to leave. It's been a pretty good day I must say.

After turning on the Weather Channel a little while ago I learned that hurricane season is typically over this time of year and here we are having lil' miss Ida coming our way. They predict several inches of rain... a whole 1/2 inch for today and possibly 1-2 inches tomorrow. Should I feel like an idiot yet for rushing out at 8:00 this morning to fill up my tank with gas and rushing to the commissary to get bottled water, milk, batteries and diapers? Right now I'm thinking I should. For the record, I never rush out and do any of these things b/c I've never had to before and I just think that I'm going to make myself paranoid if I do. (And end up with a laundry room full of gallons of water that I will never use.) I don't doubt those things are necessary by any means. Call me crazy, but a nasty thunderstorm or a tornado scare me a heck of a lot more than hurricanes do. I've seen what it takes to knock down these houses and it's not wind and water doing it. It takes several excavators, material handlers and such to tear down these walls. I like to think that we have houses "built on the Rock." I've been told the only way we would flood would be from a category 5 hurricane. (that or a good pipe leak!) Brandon is still on nights this week, so he's gone and won't be back until around 6:00 tomorrow night. They told him this morning when he went in that they are only going to keep a few people there and since he's on nights he's one of them. I wasn't really planning on seeing him much this week, so I wasn't too terribly upset when I heard that. Good news is he will now be home on Wednesday like all the other spouses who get Veteran's Day off. He was going to have to spend the day sleeping, which I'm sure he will still do some of, but at least I know he'll be awake to enjoy some of it. I'm off to see if I can get these kids fed and to an early bedtime. No naps and a day of excitement can wear them out pretty good. Hope you are staying dry and everything I just said above doesn't come back to bite me!