Monday's are "Thankful Days"

Ok- I do not have a picture of this, in the craziness of life, I didn't get one snapped. But, Mikayla, our Mikayla, our tender-hearted, introspective girl has now deemed Monday's as "Thankful Days." If you will recall she has deemed Thursdays as "Love Note Day." Last night she wanted a cup of hot cocoa and she said she was going to snuggle up on the couch and write a list of things she was thankful for. She did this for quite awhile, and then afterwards she told me that she also wrote a prayer list and prayed. I couldn't help sneak a peek at her lists this morning while she was at school. Here are some things she is thankful for:

pillows, beds, chili, lamps, dogs, cats, turkeys, couches, paper, bread, ribbons, headbands, hair, noses, Miss Early (her teacher) teeth, limos :), doors, spray (?), chickens, clocks, plus about 20 more. Isn't she funny?

Here is her prayer list:

Davis's brother (her classmate Davis just had a baby brother), Thanksgiving, Decatur (we are going to Decatur for T-giving), Daisy (dog) and Leighton (her brand new baby cousin she will meet for the first time in Decatur).

I thank God every day for my sweet Mikayla. She is sweet, sensitive (although this causes problems) and witty. Yesterday, she said she was going to do something at home that her teacher joked about them doing and I said, "well, you can do that, but how is your teacher going to know you did that?" She said, "Mom, I'll tell her! Think critically mom!" A saying her teacher must say to tell her students to think through the situation and figure it out! It was funny. I lost a piece of paper the other day and was hunting for it and she said, "mom, you're irresponsible!" I must say my little 7 year old is mighty responsible.

I deem Tuesdays as "brag on Mikayla" day. I will deem the other days of the week to brag on my other children.

Presents

Below you will find the pictures of our exciting weekend last weekend. Leah and family were here for a whirlwind trip. They came in Friday night and after a quick supper all the adults went to an Iowa Hawkeye Basketball game. You can check her blog for some neat pictures of that.

Saturday Jeff, Tony, Leah and Quinn went to the Hawkeye football game. It was way too cold for me (below freezing) and I was very happy to stay home with the kids and watch it on TV.

When they got home we made plans to go to our FAVORITE restaurant for the last time! La Casa. (Actually tonight is their closing night) The owners are retiring. It is our favorite Mexican restaurant and we go there everytime Leah and Co. come home. We are sad to know that we can't go there anymore.

Before we left we gave the kids some gifts. They were really confused as to why they were getting gifts. Here is what each gift bag had in it. Haley's- little miniture Mickey Mouse tree ornament, Jenna- sea shells, Mikayla- Disney Movie--"College Road Trip", Madison- Mickey Mouse ears, and Quinn had- a toy airplane.

Go to my next post to put it all together.

Surprise!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

"Thursday is Love Note Day"

Mikki has deemed Thursday's as "Love Note Days." Every Thursday she will write love notes. How cute is that! Last night Jeff, Haley and myself were the recipients. (Jenna was at basketball practice) Mikayla is such a tender-hearted loving girl. She thinks of other peoples feelings and shows genuine concern. Her friends recognize this in her also: yesterday one of her little 2nd grade friends, Andrea, gave her an envelope. Mikayla didn't open the envelope until this morning. In it were 2 bracelets and a note telling her how much Andrea loved her and how special Mikayla was to her. Maybe Andrea has deemed Thursday as "Love Note Days" too. Maybe we all should call Thursdays as Love Note Days. How happy those around us would be!

Thanking our Veterans

Today is Veterans Day and our school always has a wonderful program. The band plays and the choir sings and then there is a slide show where they show the pictures of servicemen and women that have or are serving our country to win or keep our freedom. These pictures are of those that are associated with the kids in the school. My girls had pictures of their grandpa T. when he was in the Navy and also their great, great, great grandpa in the Civil War. When that picture comes on the screen there are always a few whispers and ooh's because of the neat picture of him and just imaging the CIVIL WAR. It is really cool. All the service people in the audience stand and tell which branch they served in and how many years/what war. After a special speaker; a war veteran, all the service people (probably about 25) line the aisle and all the school children go through (from Pre-K through 8th grade) and shake all of their hands and say thank -you for the fighting for our freedom. It is a really touching and moving experience. In the pictures above Jenna and Mikayla shake the hands of some Veterans. Haley and her friend Dayna (who didn't have school today but attended in the audience) each take a cookie. I wish I could have gotten more pictures but the lighting is bad and so they don't turn out very good.

To all the Service Men and Women out there- We Salute You!

Imagine my surprise!

So today after the Veteran Day Program Dayna came over to play. I knew that Haley had "a" caterpillar in her room in her bug catcher. I don't normally let them in the house but its getting cold outside and she begged me so I consented. They were in her room and playing and I knew they had the caterpillar out and were holding it. After awhile they called me into Haley's room because they wanted to show me something. Imagine my Surprise when I walk into her room and there is not ONE caterpillar, but SIX crawling all over her bed. They had made a caterpillar playground for them. All the things on her bed; rock, tea cup, pens, cell phone (play phone) are for them to crawl on and get exercise. I was speechless. I had no idea that she had that many caterpillars in there. Click on the pictures so you can see them up close. They really are kind of cute, but not on her bed! Oh to be young and carefree again!

trick or treating

Make a Smilebox slideshow

My Sweet Daughter

I know, I know, you are expecting trick or treat pictures. They're coming. Right now I want to brag on my daughter Jenna.
Yesterday she came to me and said that there is this girl, Alex, that has been coming as a guest of another girl to youth group. Alex has no Christian background, but is very interested. Alex made a comment to Jenna about how cool Jenna's Bible was, it is one of those teenage girl type Bibles with all the cute pictures, and neat devotionals woven in. Alex commented how that Bible (Alex doesn't have a Bible) would be so helpful and neat to have. Jenna asked me if she could give Alex her Bible. (She hasn't had it long, and its in great shape!) Of course I said "yes!" So Thursday night Jenna will give her Bible to Alex. Alex came to our churches hayride last night. Jenna told her to make sure and come to youth group on Thursday night because she was going to give her her Bible. Alex was very surprised and said, "you'd really do that, are you sure you want to do that?" Pray for Alex, she is searching and wants to bring her family to church sometime. Revival starts in the youth!