Countdown to Christmas

What a wonderful season! Jeff just smiles when I share with him our December calendar. As most people, it is the busiest month of the year. We want to make as much time to see friends and family plus do some fun holiday activities just the four of us. We had a little stomach bug for a few days over Thanksgiving, but we are over it now! Brennan and I went to our good friends the Weeks' house for a delicious meal on Thanksgiving and Jeff stayed home with Jenna. (she was the first to get sick.) It was so nice to have a family Thanksgiving meal with our friends. Then Friday, CiCi (my sis), David, Ryan, and Marissa came over and that was a great time eating and playing games. We actually put our Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving (never have done that) and also we used an artificial tree this year; but it looks great. Brennan looked forward to putting the star on top from the moment the tree came down from the attic. Brennan and Jenna frequently put on their Santa hats and march around the house! Also, Jenna can eat cheerios cereal by herself without spilling...... so different than Brennan. She may not talk like he did at that age but she has mad skills, at only 16 months old. Brennan can't wait to move the candy cane over each morning on the Advent calendar. He really thinks it is going to snow on Christmas...... I do to, just maybe not here in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. lol

Thanksgiving Request

Feeling "Thanks" is truly in the "giving". Today give time to ready Kristi's story and give time to pray for her and her family. You will truly feel "thanks" for giving your time for another. (someone most of you don't know)

I don't often share this sort of thing on my blog, as most people that check my blog are from out of town. But this needs to be shared today. Kristi Walker was a teacher at Apex Middle School before staying home with her children (like my story). She just had her third baby boy, but is now fighting for her life. Please read her story if you have time and PRAY today.

Here is a website for Kristi Walker
http://www.carepages.com/carepages/kristiwalker

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Time Flies

It has been a while since I have updated the blog and I really cannot believe Thanksgiving is next week. Usually when I say that, I just mean that time flies....but this year, I really cannot believe it! I thought I had one more week! AHH! We just had a wonderful trip up north and visited Brian. He is a miracle; regaining more of his memory daily as well as getting his personality traits back. He knows and adores his wife Ashley and she has seen the truth in Brian's old room number 316, the numbers of hope. Brennan was SO happy to see Uncle Brian as was Uncle Brian to see Brennan! I will share some pic's of Brian at the rehab center a few days ago. We are a bit tired from the traveling and with life's work seemingly more demanding on our family, but we are doing great......still making time for what matters most!

Bittersweet

Wow, it has been a while since I have updated the blog! We had a great second half of October. Jeff and Brennan followed the book "Pumpkin Patch Parable" and carved a pumpkin just like the farmer did! Brennan also picked a baby pumpkin for Tulie. (Jenna's nickname) We had good times going over to friends houses and watching Steelers games. We also went up to PA and Morgantown to visit Brian. He is really doing great. He is progressing quickly and we anxiously await our next visit next week. While we were up there, Brennan was able to go to the garage with Pappy one day. And Bren, Jen, Mom and I had a nice day shopping and going to lunch. Granny came to visit as well. Grandma and Pop Pop Grubbs took the kids on Friday to Chuck E Cheese, so they had a blast on the trip up north. We came back and before we knew it was Halloween and our Big Ben and Cheerleader were out collecting their candy. Our neighbor had a wagon attached to his tractor so Brennan was in his glory parading around the neighborhood on that! :) Then we finished the month with great friends and a fire pit night, with Smores for everyone! Ok, almost forgot, back to the title of the blog, today was the last day I will be providing childcare for Vanessa and Landon. It is completely bittersweet. It was a hard day, b/c they are wonderful children and we had a great time with them.......but with us making a trip up north each month-6 weeks, I knew I had to let go of some of my responsibilities. I quit my bunco group and cancelled a few trips, but something else had to go and I was afraid it was going to be my MOPS group.... but to find out, it was the kids. This does allow more flexibility in our schedule when we can make our trips, and it does take some responsiblity off my plate which is good for my family right now. Bittersweet........

Go Fish

We had a wonderful weekend! Jeff and I enjoyed driving to Charlotte on Saturday and actually having time to talk to each other! :) We went to visit a best friend from college that I have lost touch with in recent years. Jessica was the first friend I met at college. College was a very hard time of my life, even though I didn't realize that while I was going through it. It was great to see her and catch up! She has a baby son Collin (8 months) and she was so hospitable with gifts and food. Her home was very warm and inviting; we wished we could have stayed longer to visit. We had to head out to the "Go Fish" concert. Brennan could not wait to see the concert. This is one of Brennan's favorite bands. (He is really into music)

Poop

We started the day on Friday with Brennan stepping in dog poop outside of Planet Child so Sharon brought us an extra pair of shoes. Brennan had a great time playing with Davis and Grayson and Sharon and I enjoyed talking and catching up on the past few weeks. Jenna loves PC, she clapped when we got there! Then we went shopping at Kohl's in Fuquay for the first time after dinner......it was fun, BUT Jenna had pooped out the sides of her diaper. So you can see why the title is appropriate for this day; but it was still a great day! :) After all poop is normal!

Celebration Dance

We did a celebration dance tonight after we got word that Brian was moved out of the hospital to the rehabilitation center. This will be a much better place for him and it is time for him to start working those muscles again! We are so happy he doing as well as he is just 26 days after a near fatal fall. We had a good week last week. At my MOPS steering team meeting, Christina and I were surprised with birthday cakes :) and after that I met my friends from our church dinner club at the Cheesecake Factory, can anyone say weight watchers? But it was a wonderful night out. It is always great to talk to other mothers of young children!
Brennan had a great computer bug class again last Thursday! Then on Friday, we went to a Corn Maze. We went with our wonderful friends Stephanie and Hailey. At first, Stephanie and I thought the farm was the beginning of a scary movie but then it turned out to be a fairy tale. I mean it really couldn't have been better. We got to ride a hay ride, go on multple tractor train rides, go through a corn maze and we missed the kids from the YMCA by an hour or so......so we had the place all to ourselves! Then Saturday, we took it easy......for the most part, ran a few errands. Sunday morning was quite hectic. Jenna did not want me to put her down pretty much all morning, and it was hard to "work" in the nursery. So Ryan came over and babysat when I went back to church in the afternoon and my sister, David, and Ryan ate dinner and put the kids to bed while I was at my meeting at church......so a busy afternoon and evening, BUT so much easier than the morning. Then on Monday, Vanessa and Landon came over part of the day and we made hand bats and pumpkin faces. They came back today (Tuesday) and we made pumpkin masks and decorated a pumpkin. Brennan is already so excited about Christmas, I have to super focus on the fall and what makes this season so wonderful! :) Vanessa and Landon are coming back tomorrow, which means I am missing my piano lesson:( I am trying to practice so I can play Christmas music by Christmas!