Practicing the Discipline of Gratitude {January}

This year, I am trying to take a photo each day of something I choose to be grateful for.  I'm posting them on Instagram each day. . . 

1.  Watching my guys connect over Ducks football.

2.  Celebrating my friend, Patricia's, birthday.  She is a gift to me.

3.  I had the cutest shopping helper.

4.  Celebrating twelve years of marriage with a special lunch date.

5.  We only live a ten-minute walk from the school, but with the wind chill at -40 and my youngest napping, I am grateful for this bus.

6.  My thoughtful mother-in-law has faithfully found a lighthouse calendar every year since we were married that always includes Haceta Head Lighthouse where Ryan proposed.

7.  While I was dealing with a less-than-cooperative Bridgette, she was setting up this special tea party for us to enjoy together.

8.  Serious weather calls for a serious hat.  I'm grateful for my friend, Jessie, who knew I'd need this sort of headgear in North Dakota winters.

9.  I'm so thankful for him.

10.  Getting to snuggle with my boy to watch the game - Go Hawks!

11.  Thankful to celebrate this wonderful boy who made me a mommy seven years ago.

12.  She sat down and said, "I'm in the hands of Jesus!"  Yes, sweet Bridgette, you are.

13.  I'm so grateful to own my own piano.

14.  I was thankful she woke up wanting to help me mop!

15.  I love getting to reward diligence.

16.  These girls make morning errands much more interesting.

17.  The peaceful sleep that wipes away the memory of the pre-bed tantrums and meltdown.  Almost.

18.  Watching Rooke cheer on HIS team win the NFC championship!  

19.  Sitting with him and answering questions as he listened to this speech for the first time.

20.  Sometimes a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do.

21.  I'm thankful when morning music practice is fun for both of us.

22.  A cooperative building project to use every single block.

23.  Thankful for a sunny day and a smiling helper.

24.  Thankful for a special night with this guy - his first experience at the symphony!

25.  I was thankful that an evening walk to deliver a meal turned into an unexpected sledding adventure with friends.

26.  Playing legos was a welcome break from acting out scenes with princesses.

27.  A surprise love note from my not-so-secret admirer.

28.  I'm thankful that I can make this timer the bad guy.

29.  Thankful that my kids love the library as much as I do!

30.  For the most part, they really like each other.  

31.  Saturday campout with oven s'mores and skyping Daddy.

January Phone Dump

I took more photos on my phone this month than I normally do, so this phone dump is still very random.  Just a bit longer than usual!

The flat landscapes make for some spectacular sunrises and sunsets up here.

Yep.  It's cold.  -17 feels like -41!

Thanks to the military, we can register our car wherever we want.  We were pretty excited about getting our new plates!  

We like to drink warm drinks and play games together.

The library on base had a Star Wars event that was great!

This guy got an early birthday present . . . I let him stay up to watch the Seahawks play!  TOUCHDOWN!!

Striving for independence.

She wanted to play dress-up.  I let her pick out my outfit.  I didn't have to wear the dress for long, but she was smiling non-stop from ear to ear for those minutes that we played together in our "fancy dresses" and were "proper ladies" going to a "fancy tea party".  

Gretchen put together this "set up" to show Big Daddy.  Then he sent a photo of his "set up" back to her.

Bridgette wanted to play too.  Her setup:

The evidence of grandparents' generosity before Project Organize Legos commenced.  

A quiet moment by myself with my favorite tea (brought from Germany by my parents) and my favorite tea biscuits (that I shockingly found at our commissary!).

We watched the NFC championship with friends.  Burger King's commercials worked on someone, who came up with the bright idea to order 100 chicken nuggets for $15.  My kids thought it was awesome!

On our way to music class!

They were mapping out and planning their route to visit Daddy, consulting the US map and seeking advice from past presidents! =)

A warmer day coaxed us outside for the afternoon.

Ready for church.

Thank you, Panera Bread, for trying your hand at an Asian-inspired noodle soup.  I had my doubts, but you surprised me.  It hit the spot.

Rooke had a blast with our friend's sledding disc!

Making valentines and puzzling at the Children's Discovery Center in town.

An Extra Special Saturday

I love Saturdays.  I don't set my alarm.  We eat a big breakfast together.  The kids usually play happily together in their pajamas for a while if we don't have anywhere to go.  And last Saturday began just that way, only getting better as the day went on with some extra special things thrown in.  

After breakfast, before playing with his sisters, Rooke decided to join me in my time of Bible reading.  What a blessing to this mommy's soul!

Later in the morning, we all went to cheer on Rooke's car at the Cub Scouts pinewood derby.  His car is the one on the far left.  

He didn't win a trophy (an unfortunate result of Mom being a pinewood derby rookie), but he was a good sport and brought home a participation ribbon.

Later that evening, Rooke and I enjoyed a special date together to the Minot Symphony!  My brother-in-law drew my name for Christmas and gave me tickets to the performance as my gift.  I had been looking forward to this night since Christmas!

The theme of the concert was "animals" (it was their family performance for the season) and they had an "instrument petting zoo" set up for the kids to try out different instruments.

So focused.

We had seats on the floor for the first half and then found some empty seats in the balcony next to my sweet friend and fellow music teacher for the second part.  It was a later-than-normal night for Rooke, but he stuck with it and we both enjoyed the night.  Watching the conductor and the intermission cookie snack were the highlights for him! =)  Sitting with my son for his first symphony experience and whispering explanations to him was the highlight for me!