busy, busy bees

We have had a busy, busy past few weeks. The days leading up to Thanksgiving were crazy, we had so much going on. We had a great Thanksgiving with family, and had the suprise birth of Norah Katherine, the newest Peterson! She is so precious! We spent Thanksgiving day, half at Adam's parents house, half with my family, then the day after with the other side of my family! It was a fun 2 days. I'm very big on, the day after thanksgiving going to get our tree immediately! We did a little bit of shopping that day and took Noah to Target to pick out his annual ornament. We started this tradition when Adam and I got married and then passed the job onto Noah when he was born. (I picked out the first year though!) This year it was no suprise at all that he picked out a truck. He is obsessed with playing with cars and trucks. We also let him pick out one for Naomi, and he picked a sort of random pine cone looking one. It's sparkly and does match the tree though.

 my handsome boy on thanksgiving

 no hands!

 checking out the ornaments in Target

 "I lika dis one"

 getting our tree

putting his ornament on the tree

This past week we headed to Disney for our vacation! We asked for season passes for Christmas, and got them a little early so we could see Disney decorated for Christmas. We ahd so much fun! It was a little chaotic with 2 children, but both kiddos were good and I think Noah had a great time getting to meet all his favorite characters.

 this little girl was an angel the whole trip!

brrr...it was so cold!!

Looking forward to this busy December month! Working on some fun handmade Christmas gifts this week for Noah and my nieces, a surprise for my MIL, and hopefully making one more batch of pumpkin bread to eat all by myself.

thankful...

Lately I have been really thinking of all the wonderful things in my life. Although, spending just as much time complaining. About finances, the stress of two children, keeping a clean house, etc. Normal "mom" things. God has really been reminding me of how much I have, and how my stresses are nothing in comparison to so many. I have been reminded of how so many people are truly suffering right now. I can specifically think of a widow who will be "celebrating", as best she can, this Thanksgiving and Christmas, without her husband and the father of her children. Thinking of those precious boys that will be experiencing the void of their father. I can't imagine the heartache, and I honestly don't even want to think about it. It makes me sick to my stomach. Yet, it is so real for them and real for so many others.

I am extremely grateful that I have those stressful days of raising two children, of cleaning up after a messy husband. I'm sure many would give anything for that.

My challenge for myself is to live with a grateful heart. Praise God for what he has given me, and know that my husband and my children don't belong to me. I will cherish every day I get with them and prayerfully raise my children to bring glory to Him.

I am thankful for my family of four, my husband and my sweet babies.

I am thankful for the rest of my wonderful family. ALL of them! (there are SO many!) Thankful for new life in the Peterson family, in the birth of beautiful Norah!

I am thankful for awesome friends! New and old. I am thankful I can raise my children alongside of some great moms. Thankful for this new generation of children that my own get to grow up with. 

I am thankful for a church who loves God.  Thankful I get to watch this youth group grow spiritually and numerically.

I am thankful that I serve a God who loves me and chose me. I am thankful that He works all things together for my good. Thankful that He loves my children, even more than I do.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving day with your families and friends. 

 

thanksgiving traditions

We don't really have any Thanksgiving traditions, other than getting together with family for meals. I would love to start some of my own! Eva is starting her own family traditions of decorating her home with fall decor. I love the leaf garland!  Here is one I came across on eighteen25's blog, that is so creative, and I would really like to start for my family.

Isn't is great?!? It is called a Book of Thanks. Every Thanksgiving everyone takes a turn writing what they are grateful for in it, and each year she puts a new family picture of that Thanksgiving.

Does your family have any neat thanksgiving traditions?? Please share!