What are you thankful for?

This is quite possibly the most precious thing I've seen this week (and this is coming from a woman with a lot of "precious"). It got me to thinking of how blessed I am to get to witness these moments every day. Here are some of my other blessings (in no particular order):

my wonderful husband, our kids and our family (all of them-near and far)
our home
food on our table
my Savior and friend, Jesus
our church
good friends
blueberry jello salad-my new favorite!
hot coffee in the morning
a fire in the fire place at night or on a cold day
that both sets of my grandparents are alive and our kids know them
Godly parents who are examples of love, patience and kindness
good health
carpool
that I get to stay home with our kids
freedom, and a husband who fights for it

What or who are you thankful for?

Testing

On Monday night Gabe got to test for his next belt in Taekwondo. They also let him break his first boards. Me being the superb photographer that I am, missed the actual breaking shot (I'm blaming it on the fact that I was trying to take the picture and watch at the same time), but here is what he looked like just after it broke.


He got to break two boards, one with his foot and one with his hand.


Normally, if you are a white belt you can test for a yellow belt. But, Gabe is in what they call "Little Ninjas" (for the 5 and under crowd), so his belt is now a white belt with a yellow stripe. He's pretty excited about it.

Game Night

We love to play games in our house-it could stem from the very competitive nature of both parents bred strategically down through the Hatchitt 5-but that is beside the point. The point is, we love to play. Here Chris, Emily, Grace and Gabe are all gathered round their newest obsession-heroScape. It was a battle for the ages but I'm pretty sure Grace and Chris pulled out the win.

Giddy Up

That's right, it's Preschool Program time! Gabe's 4-year old preschool class gathered around the campfire for a night of singing and fun. He may be the only cowboy I know who works the range in Crocs.

Serenity Now

This little face melts my heart. His sisters and brothers will swear to you that he gets away with so much because he's a baby or because he's THE baby (as in the youngest), but I tell you-it's the face. As I am taking this picture he is trying to sneak the pencil (in his right fist) back out of the pew pencil holder (I've already taken it away several times because he was poking his brother and drawing on the hymnals) and you know what . . . I let him have it. And it's not just the face, it's the strategic pats and kisses-he knows how to work his mommy, and he's only 2! I think I may be in big trouble . . .

"All I Want For Christmas . . ."

Sunday morning during breakfast Gabe lost his first tooth. He has another one working its way out as we speak. I know I just said this about Emily, but how is it possible that he is old enough to loose teeth already?

Baking 101

Emily baked her first batch of brownies last Thursday-all by herself! She read the directions, measured, poured, mixed, baked and frosted a pan of very delicious chocolate fudge brownies. And, more importantly, she even cleaned up after herself. Her next conquest-cookies!