I am thankful for...

Thanksgiving in Simpsonville

Wednesday Thanksgiving Party at Ella's School

Noah got to come with us to Mother's Morning Out on Wednesday. These are pictures from this morning.

Noah's Thanksgiving party at school

Tuesday we got to eat lunch with Noah at MCA. He was so excited to get to share this with us! He talked about it all the day before!

Thanksgiving Past...

I am so very excited that I get to spend time with my family this Thursday! We are heading to Spartanburg to Aunt Shelley and Uncle Kenny's house to spend time with the Cagle/Scoggins clan. It's only once a year that we get to see them so this will be a special event! These pics are from last year.

Our first gingerbread house!

A few weeks ago Nana Kelly brought the kids a gingerbread house kit. Noah and I decided to put it together on Tuesday during Ella's nap. That morning we went to Ingles and picked out a lot of different candy out of the candy bins. After Ella fell asleep, we mixed the icing (which didn't really work so we had to get out cupcake icing), and then set to it. I would have taken pictures during the actual process, but we were so sticky!! After we got the house standing, Noah designed the layout of the place with a fence, garden, bushes, and special doors. It was really cute and I loved getting to do it with him. On a funny note, one of the pictures is of the side of the house. Noah got creative with the food coloring and it ended up looking like a crime scene!

Monday playdate

The kiddo's came over again on Monday. This is a picture of Ella eating lunch with her buddies. Noah was off playing with Emma somewhere.

Thankfulness...

I was given a hard time today and accused of "skipping" thanksgiving because I am such a Christmas nut. While it was just a good old ribbing, it got me to thinking. Christmas is the best time of year, but I have so much to be thankful for and I don't want to skip this time of year that forces you to reflect on your blessings. Have you ever tried to write down a list of what you are thankful for? I think mine would go on and on forever. I mean where do you start?

I am thankful for my Savior. For Matt Siak and his love and commitment to me. For Noah's laughter and the way Ella says "otay" to everything these days. For my church which is my "soft place to land" every week. For my friends. For having godly parents who prove over an over what unconditional love is. For being given fantastic inlaws and brother in laws and sister in laws.. Being able to pay the mortgage every month. Hamburgers. Knowing love from so many people. For my brothers and sisters who I miss so dearly lately. Witnessing the way both sets of my grandparents love each other. The way God had his hand on my life even when I was straying and brought me to where I am today. That I am healthy and that my family is healthy. That I can rest knowing God is in charge, not me. For the 365 days a year Christmas radio stations online. My coffee - Pepsi. Kate and Chloe who hang out with us on Mondays. MCA and how they are teaching Noah. The Mommy Mafia. Matt's laugh. Jerry Lewis. Getting to be the owner of my grandfather's Bible (he is teaching me so much through his notes!). Facebook and keeping up with old and new friends. Having so many people I can go to if I am hurting or happy. Books. Day's when I actually sit at the piano. Ella's serious face when she is concerned (it so stinkin' cute!). Noah singing when he thinks no one is listening. Noah asking questions about Jesus. Love.

I could go on and on. I think all of this is to say, that while I adore the Christmas season, I realize how blessed I am and how I need to take the time to be thankful during this time of year (thanks for the reminder Ed).

Using the stockings the way they were intended.

Matt and I have been doing the Love Dare for a few weeks now, and it is really challenging us to take our marriage to a new level! Last night we decided to read early, selfishly, because we had some shows we wanted to watch later on in the evening and didn't want to skip it. We had the door open to our room, and the kids were being rowdy, but we tried to ignore them and read through our devotional and dare. We came out to these pictures. The kids were rolling around on the ground with our Christmas stockings on. I told Matt (as I seem to tell him a lot these days), let me grab the camera, and then we'll reprimand them. After a few pictures we had to have the "things you don't mess with talk" again. It was absolutely hilarious.

Crazy Mondays

I have the pleasure to get to watch two extra little girls on Monday's. Kate is Ella's age and the two of them get along 80% of the time (if I only had 2 strollers, 2 of the same babies, etc they'd be great together!) and Chloe Beth who is 3 months old spends the mornings with us. I usually fix lunch for Carrie Beth (Chloe's mom) and her son, plus Noah and the girls on Monday's around noon when Carrie comes to get Chloe. In the past few weeks, Jen has become a regular as well as her two children Sylvie and Eli. This picture is from yesterday. I love Kate's willingness to "cheeze" when asked. They are all great buddies, the kids and the mommies, and I am so glad to have them in my life!

There's a first time for everything...

In the four years we've lived here, no one has ever had any trouble backing out of the driveway. Until last night. It was quite comical to watch them try and push it out, then decide to get it towed, watch Joey and Mark make a video documentary, and get to visit with everyone just a little bit longer. And, if you are ever at my house, you've got to watch the video.

Nana and Papa Scoggins

Ella's Birthday Party with Family

Ella's Birthday Party with her friends

Toady Ella had her closest buddies come over for a birthday lunch. She got to wear her birthday girl shirt, eat lunch, and share a cookie cake. It was a lot of fun. And she took a great nap after it was over! Tomorrow is her 2nd birthday party, I'll post more pics soon!

Two years ago...

Two years ago today, I was probably already in the bed. I was 37 weeks pregnant and huge. I probably had already laid out my work clothes and Noah's clothes for Wendy's house. I know I looked around the house and decided to put the housework off for another day or two or three, thinking there was always tomorrow. On the way to work the next morning. I saw spots. At work, the spots continued. It looks like little white lights floating in your line of vision. I remembered saying to Susan, "do you think I should call the doctor for a bp check?" She told me to, and they sent me on to the office. There, my blood pressure was high and the doctor told me I was to go straight to the hospital. No, I couldn't stop and get a razor to shave my legs. I had to go straight there and I would have the baby that afternoon. I tracked down Matt after an hour or so, meanwhile I got checked in and settled at the hospital. I had to wait the 8 hours after I had eaten before they would do the surgery. It was around lunch time. Wally Shamburger came to visit me because he had heard I was there. Wally decided to wait with me until Matt got there. It ended up, Matt had to go home, he decided to clean up a little, he took Noah's overnight stuff to Wendy's house, and got somewhat sidetracked. He didnt' get to the hospital until 3 o'clock! Wally graciously stayed with me that entire time! Right after Matt got there we were wheeled back to the OR. 15 minutes later, little Ella Grace came into the world. I remember thinking how tiny she was! She was almost full term, but still small for her age. Once again the doctors had just gotten my child out in time. I remember the doctor telling us how my placenta was deteriorating and so she wasn't getting all the nutrients she needed (which helped her grow). It was a crazy night, with family visiting, Noah getting to meet her, learning to breastfeed, but what we were given that night was so special. We were given our little Ella. She is so funny, so beautiful, smart, loving, nurturing, and perfect in so many ways. Tomorrow we will celebrate the day that God gave her to us. We will thank Him because she is such a blessing to us. I am so glad that I get to be her mommy!