Boogers on the Wall

Here’s our annual thankful tree. We take turns writing things we are thankful for onto paper leaves and glue them to a tree. This year it looks more like a bush 🙂

It’s no secret that I hate Thanksgiving. I say that year after year. I hate the gluttonous feast. But there is much for me to be thankful for. I couldn’t possibly list everything but I threw together a short, of-the-top-of-my-head list of a dozen things I am thankful for right now.

My list is totally momified, but hey I’m thankful for what I’m thankful for. I can’t help it what makes me happy – even if that list could include disposable diapers and kids-eat-free coupons.

1. I’m thankful for my new baby girl. I’m thankful that made it here safely. She is beautiful, she is fun and she is such a good baby. It still hasn’t fully hit me that after having four sons I now have a daughter. I secretly call her my BFF and have big dreams of having parties with her where we dress up, paint our nails and watch Disney-princess movies together. I’m crossing my fingers that Santa brings her The Little Mermaid.

2. I’m thankful for baby girl gifts. We have truly been blessed with pink and purple. I am so grateful that people have given us clothes, hair bows, skirts, blankets and more. Without all the gifts and hand me downs, our little girl would be forced to wear blue leftovers from her brothers.

3. I’m thankful for naptime. That is quite possibly the only time I get anything constructive done around our house. I’m thankful that my two-year-old still lies down willingly for his nap – after giving me snuggles. He doesn’t fight it. I think we both know that his naps do us good.

4. I’m thankful for my husband’s job. I’m so glad that he loves what he does and that it provides very well for our family. I’m thankful that it offers him enough flexibility to be able to work from home while I run to an emergency dentist appointment or take off early so he can participate in something with the boys at the elementary school.

5. I’m thankful for the radiant heating in my bedroom. Although that means sometimes I don’t want to get out of my bed – well, let’s be honest, I never want to get out of my bed – I’m thankful that I can huddle up in my bedroom on cold, windy days and stay warm.

6. I’m thankful for Magic Treehouse books. They keep my 6-year-old son reading.

7. I’m thankful for cub scouts. It gives me something to do with my 8-year-old.

8. I’m thankful for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. I know that when Daniel is on that I have exactly 30 minutes of undisturbed time to get something done around the house.

9. I’m thankful for my kids. And although sometimes I feel smothered – like tonight when all of them were sitting on and around me while we watched the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special – I love being near them. They can talk my ear off about Minecraft or chasing girls at school, but I love that they share their lives with me. I love when they let me play with them. I love when they let me cuddle to them and I love when they let me laugh with them. They are amazing.

10. I’m thankful for my husband. He works long, hard hours to make sure we are all taken care of. He makes it so I don’t have to do it all on my own. When I’m at the end of my rope, he ties a knot in it and boosts me up so I can hang back on.

11. I’m thankful for my mom. I’m thankful that I get to live just five short minutes away from her. She rescues me all the time by babysitting my crazy kids, loaning me her car, or giving me food. She would do anything for anyone in her family. She is the most dedicated, passionate cheerleader I could have asked for in my life. When I don’t know if I’m screwing everything up or if I can make it another minute she talks me down and fuels my confidence.

12. Finally, I’m thankful for my busy, crazy life. These days I constantly feel like I am running ragged, but at least I’m running. I have places to go and people to care for and I wouldn’t have it any other way. My house is rarely spotless and my hair is seldom curled but my kids are happy and their tummies are full. Who could ask for anything more?

This Thanksgiving my heart is full here’s hoping yours is too. Happy Thanksgiving!