Gavin turns three

Wow!! Time flies.

The big birthday bash

Today was the big birthday bash. The birthday isn't until Wednesday but we celebrated today. I think the birthday boy had quite a nice time. He seemed to enjoy himself. He is almost three! Wow.

The real hero of the day is Daddy. I got a very bad headache last night that just kept escalating. Wes helped me with the cake last night along with working on Gavin's Halloween costume.

This morning I was still in pretty rotten shape. Wes got the kids up, started cleaning and organizing and let me recover. I managed to pull it together in time to help clean and get all the food ready. But, the party wouldn't have happened if Wes had not stepped in and taken charge. What a great husband I have.

We also had our first snow of the winter earlier this week. Gavin, who is feeling better, was thrilled. Bronwyn isn't so sure she's a winter girl yet.

We are looking forward to a healthier and more productive week!

Older pictures

I took some pictures on Thanksgiving weekend with my brothers camera and they just sent a few on earlier today. They turned out alright even though I had it on the wrong setting.

Gavin is still sick. Crossing my fingers that today he shows improvement.

Another saturday

Shheesh - what a week. Gavin has been sick all week. My doctor's office was close the last part of the week so I was waiting to see if he would just get better. I finally dragged him to a walk in clinic today. They aren't exactly sure what he has - the doctor suspected strep throat (AGAIN!) and started treating for that. We'll know for sure early next week. I didn't take him to a clinic earlier as I am just not comfortable taking Bronwyn to a walk in clinic. We waited so Wes could watch her while I took him.

The rest of us are fairing pretty well. Just tired and frustrated. You can add cranky to the list but only for Mommy. Daddy and Bronwyn aren't cranky. Gavin is only as cranky as a little very sick boy should be.

If you read this tonight you can pray we all get a good night sleep. We need one! I took a nap with Gavin this afternoon and slept for over 2 hours. The scary thing is that I am still exhausted.

Bronwyn is just full of pickle juice these days. She is walking lots and so proud of herself. She stands up and pushes her chest out and looks at you with an imposing expression. It is like she is saying - Wow am I big or what? She is sitting on the little couch reading a book and chattering a bit. Gavin has been so low key and lethargic that I think she has decided it is her turn to shine.

She is coming my way now. It is so funny she walks like John Wayne.

Anniversary and 47

Today is our anniversary - roughly 6 year ago (I think) - Wes and I tied the knot. We are planning on going to a movie tonight while Mom and Dad watch the kids - how crazy is that!!!

We normally don't exchange gifts for our anniversary. But this morning Wes gave me the best gift ever. He let me sleep in until 10:30am. That was so great. I have been so tired lately (and no, for those of you who are wondering, I am not pregnant). The kids haven't been sleeping well and I have just been getting more and more worn down. So the extra sleep this morning was amazing.

Other new things in our house are happening too. Bronwyn is walking more and more. Gavin is knocking her over more and more. Bronwyn shakes her head no when you ask her ANYTHING. Are you a good girl - she shakes her head no. Gavin says No all the time too but well he's three. He also often says - No, not yet. Where has he heard that?

Lately when I ask Gavin a question like - Why did you do that? or What do you want? He answers with a shrug - 47. I am a bit worried that he has discovered the secret to life or something - because I can't figure it out. But boy oh boy 47 is a versatile number it seems to explain a lot of things.

Today is the kind of beautiful fall day that I love. Sunshine, crisp air, crunchy leaves, one kid that won't sleep, another that is vegging a bit, and a husband on the roof (don't ask).

I'd like to wish our little Internet heart baby friend Gavin a happy birthday, he is one today - quite a milestone!

Well, I hope you all enjoy your fall days too.

Thanksgiving weekend

It is Thanksgiving weekend and we are stuffed with turkey and other goodies. Why do we celebrate holidays with food? I don't know but it sure tastes good.

We are so thankful for so much in our lives. We are thankful for our kids, for our families, for our friends, for our Country, for our jobs, for our health... The list just goes on. We are particularly thankful that our friends Kim and Ben welcomed their new little girl Ryan (hope I spelled that right) safely.

Saying you are thankful can sound very trite. It is the sort of thing that sounds empty compared to how it feels. God has been very gracious to our little family and he has blessed us more richly than I had ever imagined. There is no way to communicate this. Perhaps I could ask you to sit and reflect and count your blessings for a minute. I'll wait.

See that feeling - that is how we feel!

Thanks!

Bird sightings

Yesterday, in the afternoon Wes and I took the kids to Fish Creek park. There is a spot where the river is really calm and there are lots of rocks. There is just a bit of a steep embankment to get to that spot. So I don't take the kids by myself, but because Wes was there we took them.

We were playing by the water when Wes said - Look an eagle. We all stopped and stared (there was a Russian family near by too). It couldn't have been more than 20 feet off the water. The thing was massive. It was a bald eagle too.

It was so close that we could hear its wings beating! It was absolutely amazing. I don't think I have ever seen an eagle so close. It perched on the opposite side of the creek at the top of a large cliff. I took a picture but my point and shoot camera doesn't have a very good zoom. I cropped it in closer with photoshop but it is pretty rough. But you can tell its an eagle.

WOW!

Isn't it amazing when we have a chance encounter with a very special sight? Last week when I had the kids in Fish Creek park we saw a baby snake - I wasn't quite so excited by this!