Happy Thanksgiving

Happy, happy to you and yours and all of the many things we have to be grateful for today.

1. our first annual Menoni Father/Son/Daughter Turkey Bowl
2. heading to the Thanksgiving Preschool party in the festive crowns we made
3. during naptime I couldn't find Hunter. I searched everywhere until I heard a soft voice singing. I walked in to see this sweet moment. "Good night, sleep tight, wake up bright in the morning light. I loooooove you." (How could I get upset that he woke up little brother?)
4. testing the yummy frosting on Amy's delicious turkey cupcakes.

As we have all fumbled, rolled, passed, and fought our way through another year we had more touchdowns than we realized if we take a moment to reflect. 

Thank you to those who paved the way being great examples over the years of fighting hard for victory. Happy 95th Birthday to the most beautiful woman I know. My Mema. I am so thankful for you!

Oh Snowy Day

"The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world, and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?" -J.B. Priestly

(Please click play to hear music to accompany this read.)



Snow. At our house it's a big deal. 

We recently had a beautiful snow. That day when I picked Hunter up from school he excitedly ran over to me and said, "Mommy, come look outside! I have a surprise for you!" He then ran over to the window and pointed outside and said, "Snow! Snow for you Mommy!"

Sissy, on the other hand, was a little hesitant to the snow. She squeezed and fluttered her little eyes as she walked in it as if the snow flakes were playing a mean game of paintball with her. 

As soon as we arrived home, Big Brother was hard at work constructing snow towers and interesting recipes using sticks and rocks.

By the next morning the snow was at its fluffy, soft best. Sissy was still hesitant about venturing out and opted to keep her Jammies on and watch from the doorway.

She finally decided to put on her coat and join us. She stood like this for literally 20 minutes.

Still there....

After spending a very long time watching her brother and I frolic in the snow, she finally decided to give it a go. Well, it was either that or the fact I brought coffee out. 

 My girl will beg, borrow or steal for a sip of my coffee. 

 

 After a little coffee action she was fully in the game. 

 

Hunter loved the snow so much that he would just lay in it and close his eyes. It reconnected me to childhood memories of finding the small things in life genuinely enjoyable, fully satisfying and not having another care in the world.

The day was also special for another reason--it was the first snow for Baby Cash and he was smitten from the start. 

We're keeping our fingers crossed for many more snows this season and thankful for the early start.

 

And to our Southern family and friends--our door is welcome to winter visits, we'd be happy to serve you!

 “I love snow for the same reason I love Christmas: It brings people together while time stands still. Cozy couples lazily meandered the streets and children trudged sleds and chased snowballs. No one seemed to be in a rush to experience anything other than the glory of the day, with each other, whenever and however it happened” 

-Rachel Cohn, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Halloween Wrap Up

BOO! A quick wrap-up of our Halloween activities now that our power is fully restored, laundry has been caught up, the freezer and refrigerator have been dumped of bad goods (huge bummer!!) and my favorite computer is usable again:

The cute kids....

The tooth fairy and her baby tooth:

The tooth fairy's husband and storm fire-making master.

Our attempts at getting a group photo by the tree went a little like this:

So we did what any good parent would do. We offered them candy if they would cooperate. They were so busy watching it that it took loud parenting cheers and maybe a round of "Wheels on the Bus" to get semi-full attention.

Our prayer at dinner a few nights later by Sissy: "Dear Jesus, thank you for Brendan and Ryan's house, Jack's house, Baby Teaghan's house and Ethan's house." (She neglected to mention any of the sisters. Hmm....)

The multi-talented parents. They can entertain, discipline, negotiate, direct traffic, enforce manners, make Happy Meals and organic food seem equally delicious, referee and maintain a semi-full adult conversation all in a single bound.

Sissy claimed her new BFF.

She wanted Suzanne to assist her to every home. The new BFF informed us that before Sissy arrived at each doorstep she would say under her breath, "Want some". 

It was an amazing night that ended with our group sitting around a cold kitchen by flashlight, digging through new candy treasures, feeling warm with laughter and good stories and not letting a big bully by the name of Sandy steal our holiday fun.

(The post-storm waves at our beach. I took this photo from our car window high up on the rocks and the right side of my face got slammed with water!)

Speaking of Sandy, I'm not partial to reliving the last 7+ days of being without heat and electricity, but there were definitely some moments of sunshine that peeked through the bleak, gray rain.

Being thankful for soft blankets, lots of cozy layers, warm milk, hot tea, and curling up with a good mystery while listening to sweet baby sounds.

Taking lunch anywhere outside of home since we all had a case of cabin fever. In this case, we visited a nearby elementary school and sat amongst large fallen branches and across from broad doors that had been blown out by the storm's winds. 

We read books at night by flashlight and tried some new activities during the day to keep our minds off the cold.

(Daddy read The Very Hungry Caterpillar while the kids found the colorful felt pieces that matched.)

Hoping you and yours are staying warm and recognizing all of the little things we sometimes take for granted that make life special.