Project 365, Week 48

Lots of celebrations this week, lots to be thankful for.

November 22

No picture.

November 23

Our new sign got installed! It took much longer than we anticipated, but it was worth the wait! It felt very official and exciting to see it on our front lawn.

The front entrance isn't completed, but progress has been made.

November 24

We also installed security cameras, which the kids were all about. :)

Shaun's mom gave me my first pre-Pinterest Pinterest board when we got married with family-favorite recipes in a recipe box. :) My day was spent grocery shopping, baking, cooking and generally getting ready for a crowd.

November 25

Thanksgiving Day! Amanda did a beautiful job setting the table! There were "only" 19 people this year, so the kids and adults tables were joined. We were happy to have Nana back after she had to miss last year and we appreciate her commitment to being with us for Thanksgiving.

A couple lines from The Thanksgiving Song, by Ben Rector:

So fill your plate and fill your drink

And fill this house with family

The kind of love a thousand miles can't wash away

'Cause the older that I get

I see that life is short and bittersweet

Thank God for this Thanksgiving Day

I'm so grateful for this little family we have. We've done good times and bad together and we're growing through it all. 

I went to bed, exhausted and to be a blessing, the girls surprised me by cleaning up and putting the house back together. What an encouragement to find that the next morning!

November 26

The kids were SO excited to pull out Christmas and the girls did the tree entirely on their own.

My dad stopped by with a thoughtful gift from him and Kiki...so sweet!

November 27

Happy 15th birthday to Amanda!! We planned a full day of things that make Amanda happy and so sweetly, she most wanted us to be together as a family. We shopped and ice skated, had dinner with extended family and finished the day out with a movie.

Nana and John treated everyone to dinner and Auntie Sarah made a special effort to have a birthday banner and cake for her at the restaurant. And the night before she was at Auntie Amy's house with a balloon and cake, so she got plenty spoiled!

We're so thankful for our sweet Amanda-Girl. She is fun, tidy, loyal, trustworthy and responsible. She has a heart for justice. Her personality is magnetic...people are naturally drawn to her and enjoy being around her. God has such good plans for her and we're grateful we get to watch it all unfold.

(Amanda at almost 9 hours old, headed home)

(Amanda now, in all her beauty)

November 28

Nathan and Laryssa hosted the family at their new house. It was special to have all the cousins together!

 

Project 365, Week 47

After school on Monday I got a call from the nurse...someone on the soccer team had Covid. What a great relief that they'd gotten in their last playoff game on Saturday because it would've been so sad to have to forfeit the final game. The girls were asked to not come to school the rest of the week. We no longer have a remote option, so the girls did their best to work on school work independently. It sure was nice to have them around!

November 15

I was picking up a counter and had to wait a bit. I was parked across the street from the park the kids and I used to go to several times a week. Such sweet memories!

Shaun set up a little lunch table in the kitchen, which I thought was sweet.

November 16

Fondue night with helpers. :)

November 17

Avery and I were putting together a piece of furniture and I was exclaiming over the sunset, which we have a great view of at the office. She said, Mom, you gotta settle in...you're going to be here for like ten years. What I hope is that the wonder of the sun setting and rising never gets common place to me.

November 18

What a treat to get a little time with Amy on her birthday! Renna pulled out a game and we had so much fun!

November 19

The girls came over to work and then supervise Nathanael working.

November 20

On Friday I collected some children and they started this Saturday very early. It was SO good to be with Dakota again after not seeing him for three weeks. 

In the afternoon we headed to my sister's to celebrate Thanksgiving with my side of the family. Everything was beautiful and delicious. We sat around the table talking and laughing for hours while the kids played happily. It was quite lovely and just so good to pause and consider how very blessed we are.

Just missing six Texas cousins.

Impossibly, the kids are sufficiently old enough that it is appropriate to honor the grandparents and let them go though the buffet line first. 

November 21

Two 12 year-olds, two toddlers and they get along well.

Is this THE sweetest???