Happy Thanksgiving!

Good Thanksgiving morning to all!

I'd like to take this opportunity to share my "Thankful 30 List".

1. A loving husband that actually knows me better than I do.  He takes care of us - simply put.

2. 5 HEALTHY kids

3. 5 SMART kids that put up with me ( and M ) always trying to teach them something.

4. Parents that gave me the education, courage, and wings to make it all the way out here to the prairie.  (Thanks for the never ending support, Mom & Dad)

5. My father-in-law... a wonderful man.

6. My sister... need I say more?  When M & I started having babies, I said that we would keep going until everyone had a brother and everyone had a sister.  A sister is a precious gift.  My sister is the only one I know who can be goofier than me.

7. My little brother - we dressed him up as a girl when he was little and I think he liked it.

8. My BFF Janet - she's the friend that I may not talk to for 3 months but I know she's there when I need her.  Her thankful list looks much like mine.

9. Sitting around the kitchen table eating pizza and having drinks and LAUGHS with my in-laws.  (I had a blast last night, guys)

10. Having cousins and in-laws that live so close and are SO, SO good to my kids. 

11. Farm life - trying at times but the best place to raise our children.  Everyday is take your kid to work day.

12. Being a mom.  It's a lot of work but when you think of how important your mom was to you, it makes the job not seem like such a job.

13. My other job - I complain about it but I love it... and I get to work with Scooter.  (See, I told you I'd get you in there) 

14. Fresh smelling laundry - this is HUGE.  Most everything we own has cow #$%@ on it somewhere.

15. The kids' Christmas lists - too funny.

16. Just-after-a-bath smelling babies

17. The kids watching TV with the "outside" cats on their laps.  Lucky cats.

18. Clean sheets

19. My vacuum cleaner

20. Board Games

21. Sewing - thanks for teaching me how to sew, Mom

22. Building - thanks for teaching me how to build, Dad

23. Brownies

24. FOOD in general.  I. LOVE. TO. EAT.

25. Family hugs - ask #4 what that is. As if you couldn't imagine.

26. The smell of a roast in the oven after church on Sunday.

27. DOGS - gotta love a dog.

28. HORSES - riding is one of my happy places.  Unless, I'm riding the 5 year old mare.  Then the experience isn't so relaxing.  She likes to go.

29. Reading

30. Watching the kids play (not fight) with each other and stick up for one another.  We must be doing something right?!

I could go on but I don't want to get silly or sappy and make people throw up a little in their mouths so I'll stop.  This was a good exercise for me.  When every one's done eating and taking the much needed naps this afternoon, take a moment to make a Thankful List.  It's kinda fun.

Turkey Blessings -

B

Christmas Gift #1

Here you go...

I'm keepin it real with this pic.  This is what I should be doing. 

Laundry for 7 is my own personal monster. 

I consider sorting socks PURGATORY!

Kids 1, 2, &3 are in school.  #4 is in a tractor with Dad spreading fertilizer and #5 is taking a morning nap.

I'm left with this for company...

She looks sad because she's being held against her own will for chasing cats. 

Punishable offense around here.

Anyway, I'd like to share the best 4-H project ever.  It's the best because we can actually USE it.  Hands up former, future, and current 4-H families who still have posters, matchy matchy drawstring skirts, and crosstitch projects floating around in their nether regions.  You know what I'm talkin' about!

We found this on a blog (of course) somewhere.

We called it a "Child's Art Caddy" for achievement day purposes.

It's taken up permanent residence on the dining room table (a.k.a. Homework Central).

This was we have all the school supplies in one place.  We went through the boxes upon boxes of crayons and markers and sorted down to what you see.  I have NO time for dry markers or non-sharp crayons. 

There's nothing better in life than SHARP CRAYONS!

Here's what you do...

Rummage through Goodwills until you find a lazy susan.  Then go to Target and buy some of these fabulous $1 buckets.  Spray paint the lazy susan to match the theme.  If you have buckets with handles... cut 'em off. Then hot glue buttons where the handles were to add a little somethin - somethin.

Use a metal drill bit to drill through the bottom of the buckets.  Then screw the buckets onto the lazy susan.

Holy "buckets" these things rock!  A perfect and economical gift for families, crafty ladies, teachers, etc.

I wish you well in the search for lazy susans.

Blessings - B