It's officially the holidays!

Thanksgiving is here and gone, and of course I didn't get one single picture!  Trying to get the kids together for a picture is like trying to nail jello to a wall.  It's just not happening.

For the second year in a row, we've sat down and made a list of the things we are thankful for.  I think it's good for the kids to really think about how fortunate they are.  It's one of my favorite traditions, and I hope that they enjoy it, and the conversation that it starts, for years to come.

I would like to now write out my thankful list: 

I'm thankful for Jack.  Jack is all of a sudden a boy.  No more baby, or little kid.  He's a growing boy. He's taller, more mature.  He has a goofy sense of humor.  He makes me laugh.  He's so caring and sensitive.  He's becoming more helpful around the house.  I'm thankful that school seems to be a bit easier for him these days.  

I'm thankful for Emma.  She's is truly my biggest helper.  I'm so thankful that she enjoys to help and to learn.  She, too, is becoming more mature.  I'm thankful for her 9,000 questions and her gorwn up way of looking at things.  I'm thankful for her laugh and her 'accent'.  

I'm thankful for Sara.  She's the sweetest kid, ever.  I'm thankful for the hugs and the kisses and the unprovoked, "I love you, Mommy".  I'm thankful for her goofy laugh and her beautiful brown eyes.  I'm thankful for the way she says, "I can handle that for you" and "TOLD YA, MOM."

I'm thankful for Alex.  His cuddles are second to none.  I'm thankful that he's so smart and speaks so well.  I'm thankful for the hugs and kisses that he gives me when he sees I'm having a rough day.  I'm thankful for the way he laughs when he's watching Wallykazam, and the way he dances when he watches The Fresh Beats.

I'm thankful for my husband.  For whatever reason, he "gets" me.  I'm thankful for him working as hard as he does to keep me at home with the babies.  I'm thankful for his willingness to get a part time job when the need arose.  I'm thankful for his love and unwaivering support.  I'm thankful for his hugs...they make the world disappear.

I'm thankful for my Mom.  She's truly the best Mom a girl could ask for.  She makes me laugh, and is always there when I need to vent.  She's taught me so much about being a Mom, and I'm forever grateful and thankful.

I'm thankful for my Dad.  He is always there in a pinch when I need him to sit with the kids or help with pick-up/drop off.  I'm thankful for his willingness to help and for the love he shows his grandbabies.

I'm thankful for my brothers.  I'm so proud of the men that they've become and I'm so thankful that we remain as close as ever.  I'm thankful for their relationship with my children.  I'm thankful that they come over every Sunday to watch The Walking Dead with me, and that they don't laugh too hard at me when I scream.  

I'm thankful for my sister in law and future sister in law.  I'm thankful that they fit so perfectly into our family.  I'm thankful for their willingness to help and for their love of my children. I'm thankful for our conversations and and I'm thankful for their friendship.

I'm thankful for my Budesheim side of the family. I'm thankful for my sisters in law who are my friends.  I'm thankful for my nieces and nephews who always make me smile.  I'm thankful for my Godsons who I love with all of my heart.  I'm thankful that my mother and father in law are always there when we need them to be.

I'm thankful for my friends.  The friends I've had forever, and the friends that are new to my crazy world.  You keep me sane.  I'm thankful for vent sessions and Mommy nights out.  I'm thankful to know that I'm not the only one with crazy children!

I'm thankful for all of my extended family, my cousins who are like my siblings, my aunts and uncles who are always there for us.  I'm super thankful for my grandmother who is the strongest woman I know.

I'm thankful for my house that has become a home.  I'm thankful for a backyard that they kids can pay in.  I'm thankful for having enough room for my "bigger than average" family.  I'm thankful that is was there for us when we needed it to be.

Geez, I have a lot to be thankful for!  

I'm also thankful for YOU...the people reading this.  It's SO amazing to know that all of you care so deeply about my children.  Your comments on these posts or on the pictures that I take of them makes me super thankful that you're all in my life.

The 2014 Thankful List