Obsession

 The owl

 Showing the owl a picture of Elmo (her other obsession)

 Telling the owl 'Shhhhh' to put it to sleep

 Avery's tree

Avery has a thing for owls. I'm not really sure how it started. She has owls and birds on her comforter, and is drawn to anything owl. She has two owl pillow toys, and when my mom was in town, she bought Avery an owl ornament for our tree. The tree has only been up for 2 days, and Avery is o.b.s.e.s.s.e.d. with that owl! She greets it each morning, visits it multiple times a day, and says night-night to it when it's bedtime. She even brings things to show the owl. Bless her heart...this kid id sold out in LOVE with that owl! We also have a mini tree in our living room that we've named Avery's tree. It has ornaments from each of Avery's Christmas'. I have another one that I'm going to put out next year for Lucy! None of the ornaments match, and there is no theme, but they are sweet ornaments, each with a little story. I added her 2012 ornament this evening. Can you guess what it is?! Yup- a little owl :)

A thankful Thanksgiving

Today was a good day! We woke up and watched the parade together, Avery and John moved the leaves together, I baked and cooked a few things for dinner at the Dominice's, and then we enjoyed a beautiful dinner with the Dominice family. I am so thankful to know them, and to have shared a special holiday with them. They are such good people! It's hard not having family close by to share holidays with. We felt like we were with family today, though.

Friendsgiving

Tonight we hosted Friendsgiving, and had a blast! It wasn't a ton of people, but it was just enough for me to feel w-i-p-e-d at the end of the night! I am so thankful for good friends, and ones who don't judge when our daughter is off.the.chain. crazy! I made a ham, mashed potatoes, corn, biscuits, cranberry-pecan crisp, and pumpkin crunch cake. I made little pilgrim hats for the boys, and Indian princess headbands for the girls last night. Avery wore hers for a total of 4 min, but they looked oh so cute!!

Still here

Phew- the last few weeks have been busy around here! My mom was in town for a little over two weeks (to celebrate Avery's 2nd birthday), and then a few days after she left, we drove to Fl for a week to visit John's grandparents. The weekend before we mom left, John and I went up to Williamsburg and spent the night at a B&B. It was an interesting experience, but we enjoyed it! We had an awesome visit with my mom, and Avery recovered from Nona with drawl :) They love each other, and I love the sweet relationship they have! Thank goodness for modern day technology! We try to do Facetime with Nona a few times a month, and I really think that helps Avery connect with, and understand who my mom is better.

 Mom and me in Williamsburg

 Avery loving the horses walking around Colonial Williamsburg

 Pretty girl, and pretty leaves

We got back in the wee hours of Friday morning and are really enjoying being home, and settling back in! I haven't done my Days of Thankfulness on the blog. Instead, I've just posted them on FB because it was easier to access it while we were traveling.

Here are some pictures from our week in Fl. We had a great time visiting with family, even though Avery was a bit too rough for great-grandma's house! Within the first hour, she found the drawer with the butcher knives...oy! It was special for Grandma Kelley to meet her, and Avery loved her great-grandma!

 Meeting great-grandma for the first time!

 Helping with watering the flowers

 An intense game of Scrabble

 The church Thanksgiving dinner

Grandma Kelley reading her memoirs at the church dinner

Day 8

Today I am thankful for my daughter, Avery! She is the child we prayed for for years. After experiencing three miscarriages, we were thrilled to find out we were expecting, and even better...she was going to arrive during my favorite season: fall! She entered the world in a big way, and that hasn't changed. She has a big personality, with big laughs, big fits, and a big heart! She has been a blessing beyond measure and I cannot imagine what my life would be like if I had never met my Avery Paige!

Day 7

Today I am thankful for John. My husband is my perfect fit! It doesn't always feel that way, and there are a lot of times when we don't see eye to eye on things, but we love each other deeply and are each other's biggest fan! He has an awesome sense of humor, is crazy smart, is the provider for our household, thinks of others, a spiritual leader, and the best father I could have asked for Avery (and soon to be Lucy)! We have been together for almost 11 years, and married for almost 7 1/2. Not a day goes by that I am not laughing my head off with him, or deep in a conversation with him; both I am so thankful for in a husband. I am so very thankful on this day!

Day 6

Today I am thankful, like many others, for the opportunity to vote! What I may be equally thankful for is that tomorrow there will be no more ads/commercials.

Day 5

Today I am thankful for my mom. I just drove her to the airport and as soon as I got into the car to drive away, the tears started. I hate saying goodbye to people I love, and what may be more painful is saying goodbye to someone Avery loves and adores so much. My child loooooves her grandmother!!! My mom makes life a million times easier when she is here to visit! She babysits, cleans, does laundry (my least favorite chore), cooks, and helps beyond measure with Avery. She is coming back in January for 2 weeks to help with Avery before the baby comes. Two months. The countdown starts now...

Day 4

My friend asked if I wanted to join in on a 30 day blog (I'm going to call 'challenge', since I'm not very good at blogging these days) post regarding what you're thankful for during the month of November. I said YES!

In the midst of the day-to-day, I don't always recognize and take time to be thankful, but this 'challenge' will bring attention to how very blessed I am. In absolutely no particular order...

Day 4:

Today I am thankful for my church! We love Coastal Community Church, and I feel so thankful to  be attending a church that has a heart for it's congregation, people outside its doors, and other nations. There are tons of things I could say about this church, but I'll leave it simple: they love God through and through.

Day 3

My friend asked if I wanted to join in on a 30 day blog (I'm going to call 'challenge', since I'm not very good at blogging these days) post regarding what you're thankful for during the month of November. I said YES!

In the midst of the day-to-day, I don't always recognize and take time to be thankful, but this 'challenge' will bring attention to how very blessed I am. In absolutely no particular order...

Day 3:

Today I am thankful for my family. I don't get to see them often, but when I do, I am always reminded of how blessed I am to have a loving and supportive family! I want to be appreciative and thankful for them 365 days a year, not just when they visit and babysit for free, or send my daughter a package full of cute clothes and gifts.

"What can you do to promote world peace? 

Go home and love your family." 

~Mother Theresa

Day 2

My friend asked if I wanted to join in on a 30 day blog (I'm going to call 'challenge', since I'm not very good at blogging these days) post regarding what you're thankful for during the month of November. I said YES!

In the midst of the day-to-day, I don't always recognize and take time to be thankful, but this 'challenge' will bring attention to how very blessed I am. In absolutely no particular order...

Day 2:

Today I am thankful for my home. It's cozy, inviting, and just right for us! Of course we are always working on it and doing renovations, but it's really fine the way it is. We have hosted numerous parties here, enjoyed holidays with friends and family, brought one child home from the hospital, will be bringing another child home in a few months, and have shared countless conversations in our living room.

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 1

My friend asked if I wanted to join in on a 30 day blog (I'm going to call 'challenge', since I'm not very good at blogging these days) post regarding what you're thankful for during the month of November. I said YES!

In the midst of the day-to-day, I don't always recognize and take time to be thankful, but this 'challenge' will bring attention to how very blessed I am. In absolutely no particular order...

Day 1: 

My freedom! This is not a political post. I am so thankful that I live in a country where I can live freely! I can worship freely, have as many kids as I'd like without a limit (although I don't think I'll be exercising that right like some), wear the clothes I'd like to wear, say (for the most part) what I'd like to say, marry who I'd like to marry, and as you know...the list goes on. I'm sure you an think of numerous freedoms yourself while reading this. I have always been thankful for my freedom, but became even more aware of how thankful I am during/after watching the movie ARGO. I don't want to go into what the movie is about, because that's not the point of this post, but it's the very simple things which usually bring my attention to blessings.