Things I am thankful for

I was thinking the other day of things that I am thankful for.  So here are some of the things I came up with:

-An exercise ball -bouncing on that with my little ones always calms them down or puts them to -sleep when they are insanely hyper or stubborn and will not go to sleep

-Playdough -it keeps Preston busy long enough in his booster seat so that I can get some things done around the house

-Pretzels and Finding Nemo, Cars or Ice Age- Preston's favorite snack and movies will keep him entertained long enough (20 min. max in one sitting)once again to get some things done, or to just be able to sit quietly with my kids

-Quiet showers - last weekend Ryan took Preston on a walk while Mikayla was asleep and I was able to take a long, quiet shower without worrying about what Preston was getting into, trying to keep him from getting a cup to put water from the shower in to dump out on the bathroom floor, or wonder if he was going to barge into the bathroom to try to climb in the shower with me with all his clothes on.  Oh, and his latest, coming out of the shower only to find he figured out how to hit his sippy cup of juice on Daddy's adjusting table so that the juice squirts out all over and makes nice orange puddles!!

-Puddles - finding puddles OUTSIDE for Preston to stomp in will keep him busy for a long time (this thankfulness for puddles does not include the puddles of orange juice that he made in the previous paragraph!).   On Ryan and Preston's walk last weekend, Preston somehow managed to make Ryan fall in a puddle while trying to catch him and this week, while I was trying to keep Preston out of a puddle, he slipped and fell in it. Needless to say, puddles + Preston = a happy little boy.

-Outings with sisters - I was able to go to a Consignment sale with my oldest sister this week from 9-11 PM.  It was so nice to get away and to spend some time with her.  I am looking forward to being able to see my sister in Utah in a month!!

-Meetings with my boss - I get to have some adult time and the kids get to have some Grammy time!  

-Grammy and Bapa - They are always there to lend a helping hand or just there to listen if I need to talk or need a big hug.  Thank you for all of your support and love, for watching the kids, and letting us come over just so Preston can play in your backyard.

-Baby Bjorn/wrap/sling/baby carriers - I am able to have Mikayla right there with me and still be able to have two free hands to play with Preston on our walks.

-Warm food - I love it when other people are around to help with my kiddos or my kids are busy doing something when it is time to eat.  I am able to eat a meal when it is warm!!  So often I am finding I eat cold meals just because by the time I get around to eating, I just want to eat, no matter if it is hot or cold.

-Warm sunshine/music/and a computer- when the kids are napping in the afternoon and if it is a nice day, I will open the back door and sit in the sun while listening to music and playing around on the computer.  Ahhh... so relaxing!

-Kisses from Mikayla - when she is tired and hungry, she will grab my hair or neck, pull my face towards her and suck on my chin and then just smile.  She is such a little cuddle bug just like her brother who gives kisses and zerberts frequently lately

-Nice/quiet neighbors - thank goodness for neighbors that are nice, helpful, friendly and keep their music and TV down.  We have an apartment downstairs of guys that moved in a while ago who are just the opposite.  So I guess, thanks to the nice policemen who have to deal with crazy, loud teenage boys in the middle of the night so the rest of us can get some sleep!

-Fitting into my old clothes - hooray for fitting into my old pants again!

-Family and friends who let us stay with them while traveling and trying to find a place to live.

-Blogs/email - so I can keep track of family and friends and find some old friends from College - so good to hear from you Dana, Noelle, and Ashley!

- And of course, I am thankful always for my kids, though they try my patience, I don't know what I would do without them or my loving husband who is working so hard to become a great doctor and is such a great Dad to our kids.  Also, I am thankful for other family and friends who I have not already mentioned, for their continued support and love.  Thank you all!!