Thanksgiving Day

Oh how many things we have to be thankful for.  The Lord has blessed us in so many ways with an amazing family, beautiful, healthy children, a house full of potential, and a loving marriage.  Every morning this week at the breakfast table, I asked Daniel to tell me something he is thankful for.  He mentioned Roxy, food, pictures, our house, Mom, Dad, Abigail, and family - in that order!  I am so thankful for my amazing little man.

 

Helping Jason put some primer on the repaired walls. He loves to "work".

Playing at Grandpops' and Grandmas' house on Thanksgiving Day.

Jason and I discussed wanting to be with my cousins for Thanksgiving so my parents decided to invite an extended-family-less young family with three young boys for dinner.  Dinner was wonderful and the boys were boys!  They tore up the playroom leaving nothing unturned and literaly bounced off the walls.  When allowed, Abby tried to get in on the fun too. My dad sat and watched them with a twinkle in his eye and didn't even complain about the mess (which Jason and Westin cleaned up). 

Watching a Christmas movie after Thanksgiving Dinner.  The only way we could calm them down! They had a blast.

Beautiful Late Autumn Afternoon

Today was perhaps one of the last remaining autumn days warm enough to play outside.  Both kids played on the swings and slide and dug in the dirt!  Daniel would hold Abby on his lap and they would slide down the slide together with peels of laughter! 

 

Daniel has developed a love for tree climbing and the little red maple in our front yard

 is perfect for him to climb.

More Daniel Photographs

I can't help but post these, I love how he is inventorying his toys and, it would appear, his toes. 

 

 

Daring Dragons

Daniel is taking "martial arts" through our township's park and rec.  Tae Kwon Do is a bit advanced for three and four year olds but it sure is fun for the parents to watch.  Daniel is one of two 3 year olds in the class and is possibly the least able to follow directions.  Things like relay races, suicides, punching, and "stances" are totally new to Daniel but he tries and is having a great time.

The thing he needs to figure out first is how to contain his excitement so he can follow directions - just watch and you'll see what I mean:

Homecoming

This past week Jason was gone for seven straight days, was home for one, then gone again for another two.  When he came home the first time, Daniel didn't even want to look at him for several hours and would cry if Jason entered the room.  His second homecoming was much sweeter.  We were all were super excited to have Daddy home and this time everyone was full of smiles.

Good Ol' Forts

When Daddy is away for days at a time I try to come up with inventive ways to keep my little ones from getting bored - leading to my wanting to run away. This week we tried several new pillow arrangements and this fort seemed to be the biggest hit. Daniel loved hidding inside and Abby liked playing peek a boo with the blanket.

Tiny Dancers

Abigail loves to dance.  She particularly enjoys rockin' out to the Lightening McQueen drum and knows which buttons to push to get the music she wants.  Her dance progresses weekly and seems to just get cuter. We could all sit around and watch her do this for hours I think.

This one was taken during our regular family dance party about two weeks later.  

 

 

Daniel's dancing is a bit more "boyish" but it cracks me up too, espically when he increases the music's tempo and just, well, does this: