Thankfulness 2013: Day Twenty-One

Having worked at a home improvement store for 5+years and my husband even longer, we both have the theoretical knowledge to get through too many DIY projects in our house for our own good.  That pretty much means we have grand plans for every single area of the house in the long term plan.

The problem I run into is absolutely the lack of hands between the two of us.  For nearly every project we have tackled in home remodel we have had volunteers.  I am so thankful for the helpers in our lives.  It has ranged from child wranglers to demo enthusiasts to go-fers to all-out-builders.  I'm even more grateful for them now that we live so far away from them all.  The vast majority of our help is now a 3 hour or longer drive away.  They still come when they are able.  We have an amazing support system that goes (clearly very far) out of their way for us.

Thankfulness 2013: Day Seventeen

Six years ago I was bawling my eyes out.  I was doing pretty well at not crying until I saw my dad that day.  He was tearing up a little and that set me off.  I cried for the next half hour off and on.  Lovely pictures that makes of course.  It was my wedding, well, it was just before my wedding and during.  I was a very happy watering pot that evening.

I am so very thankful for my husband.  He has been an amazing partner, friend, supporter, shoulder, rock, father, and every other role he has played in our lives together.  I could not imagine a better man for me.  He sees me at my weakest and loves me.  He shows so much support when I am excited about something (he even looks over my cards and enthuses over them without my asking him to).  He knows me, quirks and downright oddities.  I am thrilled to have been with him through two deployments and two kids in our eight years together.  I can't wait to enjoy the evening with him when he gets home from drill...

I should really consider looking back over the last 6 years and see how many he has been away for though.  I think we are about half of them!  Oh well, army doesn't get put on hold for anniversaries.

Thankfulness 2013: Day Eleven and Twelve

Though the military irritates me more often than it doesn't, I am still very thankful for the opportunities and family it has provided us.  The military background helped my husband find his great civilian job.  I don't love the way it is run but I absolutely love the men and women in service.

On those days where the incessant whining, cries, demands, and questions all pile upon my near-to-bleeding ears, I remember my great appreciation for today's luxuries.  I won't lie, I am very thankful for 24/7 kid television programming!!  Disney Junior, Sprout, The Hub, etc.  There isn't a minute that I can't find something appropriate for my toddler to gain five minutes of distraction if needed.  Pair that with DVD's, educational tablet apps, crayons, chalk, books, toys, puzzles, and food, one would think that this would all add up to a full and busy day without draining a parent.  It is never the case, but it certainly maintains parental sanity until bedtime...most nights anyways!

Honestly, any distraction of little to no risk to the health of my kids is appreciated.  I'm always looking for suggestions too!  *hint hint*

Thankfulness 2013: Day Nine and Ten!

Libraries are one of my favorite places to hang out.  I spent hours in my university library during my college years just studying, relaxing, reading, and occasionally a short nap before any night courses.  They are such calm and soothing places for my soul.  Even when I have two kids loudly enjoying our public library, I am feeling the effects of its atmosphere.  The workers at our library love having the kids playing with the new educational play area even if it means a little more noise for the patrons throughout the building.  I am so thankful to have a great public library system to utilize.

I am so thankful for hospitals and their staff!  I got to visit a friend today who just had her baby last night.  The staff at hospitals take such good care of the people who come through their doors and without their efforts, so many people would not be getting quality care from compassionate people.

Thankfulness 2013: Day Eight

Moms are amazing people.  Honestly, parents are as selfless as a human can be when it comes to their kids.

I am so thankful for having the parents that I do.  I called my mother to whine (yes, it was pathetic) and two days later I get an encouraging note in the mail from her.  The amount of help just listening on the phone to me is worth so much, but the effort that she goes to be there for us kids makes her truly an amazing woman, mother, and friend.  I hope I am at least half of what she is for us to my own kids.

**On a total side note....the US Postal Service is really odd but insanely efficient.  It sends a letter from my mother north an extra hour and then turns around to ship it south 4hrs to get to me and still takes only two days to get it from her mailbox to mine.

Halloween 2013

Momma and Alyssa

This year was a bit too cool out for Mr. Wyatt to join us during Trick-or-Treating.  We skipped the costume for him since he was going to be home playing with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa who came down to visit us and man our own ToT bucket.

Auntie and Alyssa wearing witches hats!

Alyssa however, was ready to get out that door with her Auntie and Momma and Papa.  She used her light-up wand (a Harry Potter wand from Barnes and Noble because I was sick of the umpteen breakable cheapies turning me into a frog or rabbit daily and splurged as the only required costume piece for her).

Unicorn Rider and Witch (who happens to be wearing a unicorn!)

We were just ready to get out the door and the big surprise showed up...FRIENDS!!!!  Now we had a Unicorn-riding costumed buddy to go trick-or-treating with so the night got infinitely better!  The adventures ranged from potty training requirement #1: Momma sacrificing pride and asking to use a stranger's bathroom (I did remove my mask before requesting entry to her house), all the way to a three-year-old totally 'burning' her father when he runs into something and she offers up her lighted wand "so you can see where you going"!

It was a great night and we were so happy to have our trick-or-treating buddies with us to make our night great

The Value of Photos

Our Venture Photography Mosaic!

I adore these photos!  I think they are so fun and they are perfect for the family room atmosphere.  It was an investment because they weren't cheap but I put a lot of value on family photos.  Capturing not only an image, but a feeling or a personality through a camera is not a simple challenge.  They may hire anyone who can point and click at the basic studios and many of those photos turn out nicely, but they are so similar to every photo we've taken before.

Venture Photography is a studio-based photography experience but with the personalization of having an on-site photographer.  Their studio is large enough to hold horses...really, they've done it!  You bring ANYTHING with (almost) that shows off what your family does and who you are.  You don't have a 15-30 minute slot where you fit in a bunch of standard poses.  You have an hour and you play, you dress up, you do whatever kinds of things you'd do at home.  Your kids get relaxed and glow for the camera.  That dreaded 'say cheese' isn't heard within the building unless *mom* slips up...oops!

I have no doubt in my mind that we will save up to do this again.  Our goal is to be able to do this every 5 years.  Wether that happens or not will of course depend upon what life throws at us, but it would be absolutely wonderful.

They aren't very spread out in the U.S. but they are great if you're nearby!  They began in the U.K. so they are an international set-up and neat to check out.  (US, UK, and Hong Kong locations)

**No location, business, or individual has asked me to write this post.  I simply wished to share a product and business that I've personally utilized.  I received nothing in exchange for my post.**

To all the graduates out there over the last couple weekends:

You have accomplished something important.  You've taken a big step.  You are capable of doing some great things!  Keep going!  Push yourself forward and achieve your next level of awesomeness.  Good luck in all the amazing things you try.

Reading and Charity

Everyone (well, that I've ever met anyways) likes to see that a purchase they would have made regardless will have some small impact towards charities.  Well, there are various chances to purchase books that will give back to different types of fundraising.

I have seen books published by Avon donating funds to ovarian cancer research.  Learn about K.I.S.S and Teal 2011/2012 here.  Feel free to keep an eye out for this to come around again--I'm sure hoping it does!

There are the books, toys, and more sold at the Kohl's checkouts that donate to Kohl's Cares (see here for details and charities).  This is something that I have a hard time walking out of that store without at least one of them.  Check out some of their Kohl's Cares Merchandise here (kids') and here (women's)!

Today I discovered another chance to satisfy my reading appetite while knowing that part of my purchase (as it was on my To Be Read list already) will be going to a worthy cause.  Author of historical romance novels, Heather Snow, has dedicated a portion of the royalties of Sweet Madness to help our U.S. soldiers and their families via Hope For the Warriors.  Read more here about Sweet Madness and why it ties into this charity.  Follow this link to learn more about the charity itself.

So if you are so inclined to buying romance novels, you may consider checking out this book and if not, maybe you'll make a trip into Kohl's.  Do you know any other titles that are currently running donations like these?  What is your favorite charity/cause?

Here He Is!

Wyatt Charles

8 lbs.  12 oz.
21.5 inches

Tues., Jan 15th

@ 0730

Excited About Garbage?!

What?  Did you see that??

Yeah, I saw that!  There are some PINK garbage cans around our new city!  Y'all may not know this but I love pink...Specifically, I love Pink things that donate to cancer research.  Whoever thought up a garbage service that gives you that option is FREAKING AWESOME in my opinion!!!

So yes, I am excited about our garbage service now too...Does your local garbage service offer anything like this?  Do you have a charity or research that you love to support?

*Photo Credit (and a way to see if you might have this option available in your area!): Pink Cart

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day Thirty!

The final day in November and we are still in our month by month apartment.  With a close date finally settled and contracted we have an end in sight to the expensive apartment contract!  We will be done and out of the apartment by the end of January (actually we are aiming for mid January so we are settled into the house before Baby Brother joins us but we have to pay through January).  I am so thankful for all the things that have allowed us to do this monthly apartment and be together.  Chris' job, pet sitters (!!), (sadly) our savings, friends who let Chris couch-surf for months, the sale of our other house, family that gave Alyssa and I a space for a little more than a week to live, and so many other things that eventually fell into place.  Of course we didn't escape completely unscathed (see savings....) but we were able to live together for the last 3 months (and the next month and half that we wouldn't have if we didn't have the apartment).  It has been a blessing for our family albeit an expensive one.  I guess it isn't officially over but the light is visible and we are excited!

(On a completely side note:  I never thought I'd actually make it through the month without missing at least one Thankfulness post!  Yay me!!)

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day Twenty-two

Today is Thanksgiving in the U.S. and across the nation families are gathering around shared meals, football games, or other traditions that they cherish.  We are doing the same and are also prepping for the shopping madness that is Black Friday (now starting on Thanksgiving night).

But as we all settle into our various family activities I'd like to remember with y'all that not everyone is able to 'come home' for the holidays.  There are those who don't have traditional homes to go back to (hurricane victims, homeless, orphans, etc).  There are those who are out there protecting the rest of us as we celebrate (cops, firefighters, ER staff, soldiers, and more).  Can we take at least a minute to be thankful to all those who try to make these holidays special for all of these people?  I am thankful for the volunteers, the coworkers, the adopt-a-soldier families and classrooms, and anyone else who takes the time to do something to recognize these people during the holidays.

I don't have any Thanksgiving pictures from any of the deployments but the Christmas and New Years ones give you a pretty good idea of what our group did to keep the happy times going.  I also happen to not have pictures of those volunteers who sent packages full of holiday goodies to soldiers, or of soup kitchen workers, but I'm sure y'all can find someone you know who has been that heart of kindness previously.