November's Challenge.. A bit late.

Day 1: Today I am thankful for the start of a new month with new opportunities for my family. Everyone is happy and smiling again. I am SO grateful for that.

Us about 11 years ago

Day 2: I am thankful for my husband. No matter how crazy things are around here he's always stood by me. He works hard to make sure we are provided for. He has been my partner and best friend for close to 13 years. I would be lost without him!

On our way to a concert. Dating 6 months

(by the way, this is nice, I won't forget the date ALL MONTH for a change) Day 3: Today I am thankful my parents made it to Orlando and they are coming to hang out with us for the weekend.











Day 4: I am thankful that Loopy is excited to go to work on a Monday.









Day 5: I am thankful for good friends who stick around no matter what crazy situation we get into together. If I don't think I could survive with out you all. Thanks for being here.

Day 6: I am thankful that my parents were here to play with the kids for a few days. also they watched Kendal for a while so I was able to get out and vote.





Day 7: I am thankful for afternoon naptime when me and Kendal both crash and Logan plays video games. I laid on the couch and told him I would be happy to watch him build roller-coasters but had to use eyes on the back of my head because the front ones are hurting. He was like "ok, cool!"

Day 8 Because I missed it yesterday: I am AGAIN thankful for Loopy's new job. He got some great news and affirmation yesterday.





Day 9 So I don't forget: I am thankful for the ability to make new friends along the way in life. I'll just keep accumulating because everyone needs support along the way.

Day 10: I am thankful for my hilarious, entertaining, smart, witty son Logan. He makes me laugh every day. I wanted to be a mommy my whole life and he is the one that made me realize why. I love him more every day. Even when I want to throttle him.

missed Day 11: I am thankful that people feel comfortable asking me for advice and are able to talk to me about pretty much any subject matter.

Day 12: I am thankful for a sense of humor. It gets me through situations that would make 'normal people' freak out.









Day 13: I am thankful for mellow days. I spent all morning snuggling under the care bear blanket with Kendal and dozing on the couch. The kids played together all afternoon without fighting... I wish all days were this easy.

Day 14: I am thankful for my beautiful sweet girl Kendal. I didn't think there could be kid with more spunk than Logan until this little fireball showed up. I have no idea how so much personality fits into such a little package. I can't wait to see what kind of person she grows up to be. I sort of fear that she will always be my clone.

Day 15: Today I am thankful Loopy is ok. He got in an accident on the way home. Both him and the other guy were fine. The car not so much.. but it was driveable. Can anyone recommend a good body shop in town.





Day 16: I was thankful for friends like Heather who help me out when I'm in a jam and also Clorox wipes because kids are gross.

Day 17: I am thankful to The Survivors Club for helping Loopy with his PTSD (Jeff, Janna, Karry, Corey, Jim)









Day 18: I am thankful that in spite of it all, I have the ability to remain optimistic and am surrounded by people who love me for who I am.








Day 19: I am thankful for my awesome hubby because he doesn't complain when I stay out all night to get into shenanigans with Karry and THEN let me sleep all evening and put the kids to bed all by himself.

Day 20: I am thankful that someone in my neighborhood put a fire in the fireplace. I can smell it every time I go outside. So many memories tied into the smell of burning firewood. Sniiiiiiifffffff. aaaaaaahhhhhh...

Day 21: yesterday I was thankful for my kids being mellow and not asking me to get up every 2 minutes and my husband who was home at a reasonable time to enjoy a holiday weekend.

Day 22: Today I am thankful for a warm house that is about to be filled with friends and family. I cant wait to hang out with everyone, c'mon by if you are in the area. Happy Thanksgiving ya'll!!





day 23: Today I am thankful for Adriana! Cause sometimes you just gotta sit on the back porch, drink beers and bitch about stuff we can't fix but pretend to have answers to :)

Day 24: I am thankful that I got to spend the WHOLE day hanging out with just the hubster. I love that we can still just enjoy each other's company! We had lunch at Beach House Beanery right on the ocean, went hiking around on some trails, did some shopping, and had hibachi for dinner. Life is good.




Day 25: Today I am thankful that school starts again tomorrow, cause the next person to throw a tantrum is gonna get smacked.

Day 26: today I am thankful for pipe cleaners, puff balls, and googly eyes. the kids have been creating strange little guys all day :)

Day 27: Thankful that I have a blog where I can catalog our lives and I can always look back and smile at it all. I love to write and its been a great outlet for me. Its not for everyone but I really enjoy doing it.





Day 28: I was thankful for a quiet day and friends that took Logan out for some much needed play time.

Day 29: Today I am thankful that I live in Fl. Its a beautiful sunny 68 degree day and I am about to make Kendal put pants on so we can go out and enjoy it.

Day 30: Today I am thankful for facebook. I have reconnected with so many people that I have known for 28 years and all the way up to the new friends and family I have now. It's gotten me in trouble more than once but it has been worth it! I love having a way to stay connected. (but mostly entertained) Yay technology.

Wait, what?

Did I miss a whole week? 

What happened there? I remember Thanksgiving weekend then Bluurrrrr and BAM its almost the second week of December. I better do some quick catching up... Seriously, though, where did that other week go? I wrote the last post on a Wednesday. (as usual)  

Fence Trauma from April

THAT was the day Logan was brave enough to go back to Ralph Carter Park. That would be the park where he busted his head open on Kendal's birthday back in April. 

Heather picked him up from school and just offered to entertain him for the afternoon! Brave woman. He had a great time of coarse and fell in love with skateboarding. Guess what he wants for Christmas this year? He's just SO clumsy. I mean, the last injury happened just running into a fence... 

Friday night Sean came over and we all went out to play until it got dark. Normally they hang out and play on the Wii but I was determined to keep them moving. I put on Just Dance and made them entertain me. Mission accomplished. I think this game was invented for two reasons: 

1) drunk people 

2) little kids to entertain grown ups

Both groups have the same dancing ability and are equally funny to watch later. Ok, more so if they are your own kids.

When Sean was about 3 yrs old his mom recorded him dancing to the Madagascar movie. I will post it now, with her permission for your viewing enjoyment! 

Sean wasn't feelin' it after the first dance.. luckily I got it on tape. Watch out youtube! Sean is BACK!! Also, for reference, Logan is wearing his Halloween costume from when he was 3. Inside out, with a sweatshirt. And we are just lucky Kendal was wearing pants.
On with the show.



Saturday was the 1st of December. So to get into the holiday spirit we went out to a Christmas tree farm in Eustis. Gotta say it was pretty cool! My friend Luci asked us to join her family in their little tradition. Heck yes!! Here's some pictures from our day...

1st stop, Fenced in hay pile and visit santa

Taking a breather.

Hi Santa, I'm cute!

"For Christmas, I want a 

Growling T-Rex Dinosaur

and FIRE!!"

Hmmm...

NEXT!

"That was my little sister, 

she's so cute."

"Just smile for the camera and send me a letter"

Next stop horseback riding and goat feeding:

Logan hopped right on and took off...

Marky the pro..

Kendal on her tiny pony.

Pretending to go REALLY fast. 

Actually quite slow goin'.

Goat feeding frenzy

Kendal feeding the crazy eye goat. One. Piece. At. A. Time.

Then we did some bouncing on this giant pillow thing.. 

Hard to get your balance on here. 

Turned out to be pretty fun!

Before Marky lost a tooth while bouncing

This is Kendal about to face plant. 

The boys did the Zip Line. 

Kendal was going to go but chickened out when they tried to strap her into the harness.

Feelin' pretty good about it!

Loopy's first time on a zip line.

Then the main event: Cutting down our own tree!

The crew heading out into the "Forest"

Kendal's first choice.. 

Logan's Choice.. 

The 6 year olds found a 

6 year old tree

Important measurements. 

Tree selected

Commence cutting

Assistance was needed 

This child didn't get dirty enough on the farm, So she rubbed her face in the dirt for a while. 

Mission Accomplished!

The men carry the tree back for shaking, drilling, and bagging.

Ok, so it was 75 degrees out, we were all wearing shorts/ tank tops/ Hawiian shirts/ flip flops... and it wasn't exactly a FOREST but we had a great time! Even if it wasn't the Griswald moment Loopy had envisioned.

"She can't see it right now, Clark. Her eyes are frozen, she'll look at it later"

There was lots of other fun stuff that I didn't take pictures of. like roasting hot dogs, S'mores, a hay ride, a train ride, and a big maze. We all loved it and hope to make it an annual event. Thanks for having us along Nance Family!!

When we got home we discovered that the hole they drilled wasn't big enough for the stand we have. No problem, we'll just drill it BIGGER. But the bit was too small, so I found a paddle bit (I like tools) then the drill died. I headed to Target and found a NEW stand for $9.99. SCORE. As an added bonus this one wasn't rusty like our old one. Then I realized I can't find my saw to cut the end a bit. Oh well, into the stand it went. 

Logan helped me put the lights on and did most of the decorating. He took the job VERY seriously. 

He was pretty proud of himself. I'll take a better picture tomorrow.. The memory card on the camera was full because he woke up early to take a 5 minute video of our Polar Express train going around the track. 

The next day needles were dropping and it was pretty sad and droopy. I googled "how to get my Christmas tree to drink water again" Turns out the solution is apsrin. We didn't have any of that, Loopy 'says' he's allergic to it. So I tried some Excedrin  The next day our tree was drinkin' water again and the caffeine seemed to perk it right up. Sweet!

I have no record of Sunday

Monday was super exciting. First Uncle Chris came over on his motorcycle. I've mentioned him before on the blog. (Logan was the 'ring bringer' in his wedding) He's not really our uncle per se but he is more or less family to us around here. One of my all time favorite people. Anyway, in true awesome selfless Chris fashion he offered to let us use his car until ours got fixed. I called Loopy to let him know and there was much rejoicing.

Logan got home from school and was giddy because he lost his first tooth while eating a granola bar at snack time. I am pretty sure he announced it to the whole school. He also told the Christmas tree, his bedroom, his elephant, the swing-set and leaf pile. 

When Loopy got home we ate a quick dinner and headed to pick up the car in Ormond. While we were there Leah (his granddaughter) showed a neat trick with their coffee table..








How many kids can you fit in YOUR table? Beth (Chris' equally awesome wife) is sort of a Pinterest aholic and made sure the tooth fairy had some magic money to leave under the pillow in exchange for the tooth!

Tuesday morning Logan was super excited that the tooth fairy left him money and a certificate under his pillow

AND Pippi (Our Elf) was in his Christmas tree. 

A couple years ago all he wanted for Christmas was his OWN tree. This is all what Santa found on short notice.

Me and Kendal did some more decorating around the house. Including lights on Logan's drums and her bed.

She was pretty excited. 

We Will Rock You sounds the same even with lights on the drums






The body shop called to say that the car would be done a day early and I could pick it up after 4:30. Woot! Me and Kendal headed over there and pay for the repairs and had them leave it out front  so we could do the car shuffle after Loopy got home.





Everyone was in such a good mood that we decided to stop for frozen yogurt at the new place in town.

Doin' the wave.

We love us some FroYo! Kendal doesn't do ice cream cause she's weird like that, but they let her fill a cup of candy for pretty cheap. It was a great idea. The only problem was the over excited kids who had too much sugar running in circles on the couch and ottoman at bedtime. Without pants of coarse. 

Wednesday is also unaccounted for. We took the car back to Chris and that's all I got. Even though it happened yesterday. I didn't sleep at ALL last night. I remember that quite clearly. I hate how my brain works sometimes. There needs to be an off button! 

Today I napped most of the morning. Kendal was really good and only cause minimal destruction and chaos. This TP indecent happened when someone stopped over to borrow a stroller.. Then she locked me out of the house.

Maybe tomorrow I'll find a way to make the 30 days of thankful post interesting or come up with something witty. Not today though, I'm a little out of sorts. I'm really too disinterested to go back and edit this post. So if there are typos and its not arranged all pretty with pictures in the right place I really don't care. I'll fix it later.