We are Thankful for...

shirts that match our big cousins... (thanks, Grammy and Grampa!)

pictures with everyone looking in the same general direction. Even if it means Grampa's hand is in the way and Leah and Lindsey look a little crazy, and McKinley looks sick, and Caleb looks scared and Regan looks annoyed. Hey, Grant, great picture!

ridiculously beautiful aunts who like to hold and rock our baby to sleep

playgrounds where we can run off some of that extra energy...

drives through the "old neighborhood" and chances to see the house where the hubby grew up...

and the long drive home so we can sleep (because Heaven knows we didn't sleep at night)!

My favorite things!

One of my very favorite bloggers, Melissa is having a favorite things party. I got a ton of ideas at last year's party, so this year I thought I'd join in on the fun!

I have super sensitive lips (read: I haven't been able to wear lipstick in about 5 years) and have the original ChapStick in the diaper bag at all times. I've tried everything else out there and this works best for me.

This goodness runs through my veins. Sweet nectar of heaven.

My face has the same texture as sand paper when I get out of the shower. Slather some of this stuff on, and I'm slick as snot. 

Best Christmas album ever. Period. We used to listen to this growing up while we decorated the house for Christmas. A few Christmas' ago, I decided to buy my sisters and my parents the cd (we had the cassette tape and nobody could find it). I looked all. over. the internet for it, but apparently they re-released the cd with a couple of the original songs missing and added a new one. I ended up ordering the original cd's from somewhere in England and paid around $25 for each one. Crazy, yes, but completely and totally worth it to have my children and nieces and nephew grow up listening to "I Believe in Santa Clause".

Sarah at Memories on Clover Lane. Such a practical, funny, smart blog. She makes me be a better mom. I want to be best friends with her. This is one of my favorite posts of hers.

Naptime. What mother doesn't love it?

Unfortunately for me, it's over. :)

What else we've been up to.

We're now Panthers. Most of you knew that, but I think this is the coolest cup/chain-link-fence-art project I've ever seen, so I put the picture in. Eric had a rough start to the school year, but after making straight 1's at contest (booyah!) I think the kids are starting to believe he actually knows what he's talking about.

We went to Tulsa so that the boys could scream like high school girls at a Rush concert. That would be Eric's brother, Bill. They look nothing alike. They also act nothing alike. 

After we came home, the kids gave us a concert of their own. Who wouldn't pay hundreds of dollars to watch Grant rock out in his diaper and socks?

Regan started pre-school. It's a long story full of God's timing, but the short version is that she goes three mornings a week. Two weeks ago they had a nursery rhyme party. Here she is as Little Miss Muffet.  It's so hard to believe THIS little baby is growing up.

Grant misses Regan while she's gone, but has learned the benefits of being the only child at home when there are beaters to be licked.

And of course, we stare at this sweet face a lot.