I DID IT!!!!

Almost one year late, but I did it! This is officially (and unofficially, too, I suppose) my 365th post! My original goal was to post once a day for an entire year. And since I failed miserably, I choose to celebrate today. Hooray! (OK, so that was a let down. Anticlimactic even)

So on to more exciting things....we finally decorated for Christmas!!!!

And I had documented the whole thing, from beginning to end, with pictures. And then. Sigh.

The camera cord wasn't working right and only downloaded half of the pictures...but erased them ALL off of my camera. So here's what we got.

Our stockings. In this picture, you notice that Hannah and Charlotte still have store bought stockings. I am proud to say that this is ONLY because Nanny hadn't finished sewing Hannah's cross-stitched stocking together yet. I had an amended picture, but it was one of the erased. Still pretty, though, I think.

Poor Maddy. She had strep throat and was miserable. She made it downstairs to watch us decorate, and put an ornament on the tree, but that's about it.
Hannah and Char with Maranda....our third year decorating with Maranda.

Before.

During.

And I'm afraid that's it. The "after" has been obliterated forever.
Along with the oh so cute pictures of Charlotte and Hannah in their new dresses and dapper new coats (Thank you Aunt Patricia and Kay Kay!)

Miss Independence

With the big kids, I started letting them try to feed themselves as soon as they could hold a spoon. With Hannah, she wanted to try around her first birthday. With Charlotte? I was in no hurry. My last baby, and I want her to stay that way. Unfortunately, she wants nothing to do with being fed anymore. In fact, if you try to feed her, she will automatically shut her mouth and shake her head. More unfortunately, if you give her a bowl with anything in it, she will throw it on the floor. What was a momma to do?

Pour the yogurt in the little place made to put the cup--built in, toddler proof bowl! Voila!

Eh...it's easier to use my fingers!

Two Days of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was a two day event in the Stone household. We had turkey at our house after we were unable to volunteer because the children weren't old enough (we'll have to start earlier next year!). So Wednesday, I cooked all day and we had Thanksgiving Day at our house. We spent the day.....

getting our clothes stuck in our braces

wearing our new, super cool boots...

wearing Charlotte's mobile as a hat....

and after dinner, posing for the Christmas card picture.

On Thursday, the day we had planned to volunteer, we invited ourselves to Nanny's for Thanksgiving. But before we went, I had some fun creative time with Hannah making "craps." Now before you think I'm cursing on the blog, that's Hannah's word for crafts. Our creation this morning was her name out of Fruit Loops. We really did spell it correctly, but one of the dogs ate the other "n!"
Once we got to Nanny's, there was lots of good food, and fun on the slide

fun running around the yard chasing a ball

fun on the swings

a fun game of Catch Phrase with the King cousins

some post-turkey relaxation/football watching

some snuggle time with PawPaw Somehow all the grandchildren just know to climb up in the chair with PawPaw--she got tired, as she had missed her nap. She asked for her "ba" and then climbed up into the chair for a snuggle.

We came home just in time for Charlotte to have a nap, and for me to finish my latest book and have a quick snooze as well. When I got up, I found that Maddy and Hannah had been working hard!

Our night ended with some fun that the big kids used to always have--a chair fort!

So much to be thankful for this year!

Hope your Thanksgiving was blessed with family, fun, and love!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness Days 19-24

Saturday, November 20 Today I am thankful for my wonderful parents who watched the little girls so we could go to the memorial service today, who took us out for dinner, and who took us shopping, allowing Sarah to bring home an awesome pair of boots--that happen to fit me too! Thanks, Mom and Dad! We love you!
Saturday afternoon, we had planned to meet my parents in Conyers for a Thanksgiving celebration/shopping trip. As it happened, our dear friend, Jim Shannon, went home to be with the Lord earlier in the week and his memorial service was on Saturday. My parents drove all the way to our house and watched the little girls so that we could actually stay in the service. It was a sweet service, but different than most I've been to. He was cremated, so there was no viewing, no procession. It gave us all a lot to think about. We learned a lot about our friend, Jim. We will miss him.

Then we went to O'Charley's for dinner--and I was the only one who ordered turkey (turkey burger) thank you very much--and then to Kohl's for some shopping. The girls had already decided that they wanted boots, and I got to pick out dresses for the little girls....matching of course!
Sunday, November 21 I am thankful for Sunday mornings. Everyone is home and no one is in a hurry to get anywhere except church, where we all go together. It's my favorite time of the week!
I love Saturday nights, when Josh comes home and stays in his own bedroom. All my little ducks are in a row, my birds in their nests, my babies exactly where they belong. Then Sunday morning, I get to wake up ALL my children. Then at church, we all sit together and all is right with my world.

Monday, November 22 My sweet Hannah is sick, and I am thankful that I can be at home with her today and don't have to worry about my classroom.

Tuesday, November 23 I am thankful for my husband, who got up at 4:30 am with Hannah so I could go to bed, even though he had to work all day.

Wednesday, November 24 I am thankful that the steroids make Hannah so much better, even if it did mean that she was up until 10:30 and awake at 3:30!

It's been a long three days. Hannah was sick, lethargic, pitiful, but oh so sweet. She mainly just laid around. Not the way I envisioned my Thanksgiving break. Then she started on antibiotic and steroids. And she was full of energy, sassy, grouchy, demanding, emotional, and unfortunately for us,...and insomniac. Gotta love those steroids.

Wednesday, November 24 (again!) I am so thankful for answered prayers, the generosity of friends, and being able to do laundry again! (Did you ever think you would hear me say that?)
I was so thankful I had to post twice today! After heading to the laundromat and spending $35 to wash our clothes, a friend from work offered to give us her dryer. She just happened to be replacing her washer and was getting a dryer that matched, and as long as we picked it up, we could have it for free!!! What an amazing answer to prayer. A new dryer wasn't exactly on our to do list for this Christmas season. There is something very freeing about not being able to do laundry. It wasn't hanging over my head, in the back of my mind...it just wasn't there. I loved it and hated it all at the same time. Now, with a brand new to us dryer in the laundry room, I can do laundry again, and I am looking forward to it. What's up with that????

Thirty Days of Thankfulness, Day 19

Today I am so thankful for ELCA Early Learning Program. ELCA has had a preschool for years, but I never thought Hannah could go because it was only half day. Two years ago, they opened the Early Learning Program, and this year, Hannah became the fourth Stone to go to ELCA. Today, her PreK-4 class had their Thanksgiving feast, and Daryl and I both got to come.

My little Indian. Isn't she cute? Love the hair, and she did too until I pulled one tiny little hair and she had a meltdown...all the way to school.

Ms. Colleen's K4 Class.
See...she does know how to be quiet!

Doing her part in "Ten Thankful Indians."

Praying hands.

So glad that I got to take a break from my own classroom to see my sweet little Indian.

And Daddy made it too...she was thrilled.

Just like the Indians from long ago, they had Chick Fil A chicken nuggets for their feast.(HA!) This is Hannah when she tasted her chicken dipped in ketchup...which was actually BBQ sauce!

Hannah and her buddy Emily. They are best buds. Hannah is dying to have a "play-over."

A Week of Thankfulness 11/16-11/18

It's been a week. What a week. The week before Thanksgiving break after a weekend of being away from home. I was unprepared for work. Crazy hectic at home. But yet, I was thankful. On Facebook.

Tuesday, 11/16 Today I am thankful for the broken road...
While laying on the couch dead tired with a bad back one night, I was perusing Facebook and saw where my sister in law was wishing my ex-husband a happy birthday. And while thoughts of my ex-husband usually stir up a jumble of feelings, today it made me thankful. For had I not met him, been through what I did, been down that broken road, I wouldn't be where I am now. The broken road with Michael led me back to the Lord, back into church, and to Daryl. And while I wouldn't wish my experience on anyone, I am so very very thankful that God led me down that broken road...to Daryl, to Hannah and Charlotte, to Zion Hill, to ELCA.

Wednesday, 11/17 Today I am thankful to have had Jim Shannon in my life. A born again believer, a man of God, a true servant. RIP Mr. Jim. I'll miss you!
Jim Shannon lost his battle with cancer and went to be with the Lord early Wednesday morning. I was sad, to be certain, but along with sadness was a profound sense of relief. Relief that it was finally over, that he was pain free, that the waiting and wondering were over for his family. I've grieved the loss of this dear friend for the last month, overcome by such a profound sadness at times that it had overwhelmed me. When it finally happened, I feel like my grieving ended. I'm sure that tomorrow at his memorial service that the sadness will return, but for now, I smile when I think of him finally meeting his Lord and Savior.

Thursday, 11/18 I am thankful for sweet shopping trips with my Hannah for "new Barbies to take for show and tell." Hannah was finally Student of the Week this week, and part of that is that she got to bring a special show and tell to share with the class. Every time we asked her what she wanted to take, she said, "A new Barbie from Walmart!" Well, she must have been particularly cute while she said it to her Daddy, because he gave his blessing and off to Walmart we went. Such a sweet time together. It's not often we get time just us without a little sister or a big sister or two. Love love love me some Hannah (especially in those times when she is not crying all the way to school because there is a "hole in her toast!"- a story for another time!)

and today's? It gets a post all it's own!

Day 14 of Thankfulness

Today is an easy one. I'm actually thankful for so many things:

I am thankful for a great youth pastor. He teaches my teenagers the Word, disciples their hearts, and travels all the way to Columbus to see them compete.

I am thankful that my dishwasher is fixed! For a month, we've had to fill up the bottom of the dishwasher with water so it would actually wash the dishes. While Daryl was under the house hooking up the gas for the heater for the addition, he noticed a valve problem, fixed it, and voila! a dishwasher that works!

I am thankful for that glimmer of Thanksgiving Break in the near future, because without it, I don't think this mommy/wife/teacher/laundress/housekeeper/cheerleader mom could make it through this coming week without that promise of a rest.

BUT MOSTLY....

I am so thankful for the health of my family. I think of our friend Jim, who has been told that he has less than a week to live. I think of his family, sitting there watching him die. Waiting and watching, never knowing. Having only their memories and the promise of Heaven to comfort them. I've never had to watch someone I love die. Never really had someone I love die except grandparents, and either I didn't know them that well, my parents sheltered me from it, or they were really old. I don't even want to think about losing my parents, my inlaws, my siblings or children. So I am thankful for the fact that my little ones are so full of life and good health that they wake me up early in the morning. That my sweet Charlotte is healthy enough to run around for 5 hours. That Hannah is so full of questions and curiosity that she talks constantly. And yes, even for that 2:30 wake up call when she climbs in bed with us. That my husband has the energy and strength to remodel our home countless times. That Josh made it through the turbulent teenage years (that really were not so turbulent) to go away to college. That Sarah is healthy enough to compete in sports. That Maddy has enough sass in her to fight with her sister. Because really, what else matters? The alternative is unimaginable. Thank you, Jesus, for my healthy family!