Sure we get clothes for cheap and we know about the sales ahead of time....but we also have to deal with things like black Friday! I have been so hard on the hubby about all his hours this week. I don't do my best to understand why he works what he works and I think I want him to feel guilty about it. Well the Lord kinda yelled at me last night...I wouldn't call it yelling...I got a stern talking to. I so easily forget that my husband could not have a job, or his could be the only job in our house. I forget that without his job we wouldn't have health care, without his job we couldn't buy food and gas. I think its so easy to complain about what's wrong with our lives when we should just be thankful that we have the life we have, things could be completely different!

So since I had my "talking to" last night, I guess God decided to cut me a break tonight. Richard's closing tonight, and its just me and Noah and the dogs. If you know my child, he doesn't sit still for anything, he doesn't cuddle, he is always in motion (unless Blue's Clues is on). Well tonight he crawled up in my lap and kept saying "Daddy?" My heart breaks because Richard's not here and is missing this. And I explain Daddy's at work, and Noah keeps on "Daddy?" pointing at the front door, the firefighter hat Richard puts on, the bedroom...and I just start crying because I wish so bad he was here. That sweet child looks me in the eyes rubs my cheek and says "k?" I think he was asking me if I was okay or telling me it would be ok...who knows, but that sent my heart through the roof and I knew we'd be "k". He continued to sit in my lap for the next 15 minutes and just babbled on and rubbed my cheek. Even pointed to the tears and said "cry". It was over quickly but it was the most fantastic 15 minutes I've had in a while.

People get so caught up in Black Friday, that they forget there is actually a holiday in there to celebrate what you are thankful for. Personally I don't care for black Friday...I'm told as Noah gets older and wants things I will...but I doubt it. I think its ridiculous my husband has to be at work at 1am...but I'm happy he has a job to go to and I guess if people weren't so crazy about black Friday then my husband wouldn't be doing well at his store. So I'll be thankful for black Friday...but mostly thankful for my family and the moments where a 17 month old can look into your soul and let you know its all gonna be "k".

Happy Thanksgiving!

Please don't call CPS on us...he put that bucket on his head on his own and there is plenty of extra space in it. You should see these two with their "hats" while they march around the house...Noah loves to "mars" (march).

It was just one of those days! One of those days where I look in the rear view mirror at my child and all I can think is "thank you Lord". Thank you for the blessing of being a mother....of course I'm saying this as Noah is now crying "more" at me because he wants more cheerios...but I still think I'm blessed! My mom came and watched Noah last night so that Richard and I could go on a date - it had been a while! We went to see Leeland, Brandon Heath and Francessca Batestelli. Wonderful concert and so good to see so many people come together and praise the Lord...but still dance and rock out. I'm so not used to seeing that, but it does my heart good! So mom spent the night and kept Noah with her today. They came and saw me for lunch at work and brought me some chic-fila..mmmm. Noah was introduced to "the sauce" and he's hooked...you would know what "the sauce" is if you grew up in the spotsylvania mall - oh excuse me, town center! Anyway, they came back at the end of the day and Noah just ran and smiled and played with the kids who were still at my school. I love watching him play (nicely since that doesn't always happen) with other kids. I love watching everything he's learned and listening to those crazy words that come out of his mouth. I love watching him try to run and try to throw balls. I love watching my mom be a grandmother. And in that moment I'm overwhelmed and just have to say "thanks" or as Noah would say "anks". I'm sure I'll never know why I've been given the life I'm given, or the blessings I have, but I love that the Lord has a plan for me and I love all the little blessings He's included in that plan.

So some other updates in our Ark....

Noah got his first hair cut! I let go of my anal ways and let Daddy take him. They went to the real barber shop!! Noah cried the whole time, but Daddy did a good job and remembered the lock of hair and the picture!
How handsome he is! (please note cheerios in hand - I owe my sanity to the cheerios company!)

Halloween also came around - nice and rainy! Noah refused to wear his monkey costume. He cried when we came near him with it...soo this was our back up. Thanks to a bag of handmedowns, FrankenNoah made an appearance at Halloween! This is Noah and his cousin Mason...cutest frog ever!

Noah's not the only one who got a hair cut, momma got a new do too! Not that you can see it all that well in this picture...but it's chopped!

A million other things are happening in our world and there are a million other things to be thankful for! So much to keep up with, but I surely wouldn't have it any other way!

Hidden Camera?

Do you ever wonder if someone is secretly filming you and and laughing at the chaos in your house??? I had this random thought this afternoon as I was trying to wash dishes. Noah has this new ability to forget how to walk once we enter our house. He stands there arms raised just crying "moms"....I don't know if I'll ever get to be "mommy". Yesterday he refused to walk up the sidewalk with me unless I carried him...so he stood there in the drive way crying...while I'm trying to carry all the crap we have in the house. I'm sure my neighbors think I'm torturing him....of course once I get to the door, the dogs come barreling out, run into Noah and now he's crying because he fell down....so know I have to pick him up because I feel bad he fell down and he wins...he gets carried. Tonight I was attempting to wash dishes after dinner....once again Noah's super powers take over and he needs to be picked up...so we pull some pans out to bang so mommy can wash. Those aren't fun tonight though....what is really fun is walking between Mommy's legs while she's washing dishes. Side note....this is fun when Daddy's home because Daddy has long legs...newsflash...Mommy has short legs. So Noah doesn't fit...but if I don't let him through I then have to listen to the 10th breakdown of the night....so I give in. I'm washing dishes, lifting my leg for Noah to walk though, trying to keep my balance, and cracking up because as he walks though he keeps banging into the cabinets. We did this for a good 10 minutes....and this is when I thought "there's gotta be someone somewhere watching this cracking up while they quietly wash dishes."

Then for an encore of our performance I decided we were going to make Halloween cards for everyone. So we break out the paint and go at it. Noah for the first time ate the paint...it was non toxic...don't worry, he then painted his chest (he had white nipples) and then we managed to get some paint of the cards. Then he got mad because I wouldn't give him the markers and we had meltdown #...well I've lost count at this point!

The saving grace of my evenings alone with Noah is bath time...oh how that child loves a bath. Daddy has gotten him started on "bubbles" in the bath tub...once again Mommy isn't as good as Daddy at bubbles, so Noah tonight took it upon himself to splash away to make bubbles like daddy....needless to say, we both took a bath.

But what I hope a hidden camera sees is that quiet moment at bedtime, when I do get to read to him and he actually sits still and listens....that's the moment that makes everything worth it. Tonight was extra special because I got a "love you" when I laid him down. That's the moment you praise the Lord for all the blessings in your life and get over all the other stuff that's gone wrong in your day and realize just how blessed your are!

This has nothing to do with this post, but I just found it and it made me laugh. This is a bridal shower I dragged him to....doesn't he look thrilled! That's my buddy!

Fun with Frogs

One of Noah's favorite things to do is go "ou-si" that's outside in Noah language. He loves it to the point that he gets your shoes for you, puts them on you, grabs your hands and drags you to the door. Outside adventures are always a blast, you never know what Noah will discover and become fascinated by. This particular night the swing was our source of entertainment

Of course this was until Daddy discovered a frog

Lately we've been discovering eyes and noses on everyone...and the frog was no exception.

Apparently this was a really funny frog!!
Kiss the frog goodnight! Oh how I love this kid and being a mom! Makes you slow down and appreciate little things like wiggly frogs!!

Trash Pick Up

Noah's newest job skill is trash collector. I'm not sure where he picked up the word trash or figured out where the trash cans are. But this morning I have been dragged to the door where the trash can is numerous times to open it so Noah can throw away trash. He's letting me know how dirty my house is...thanks Mr. Man! Thinking I'll find him his own trash can so I don't have to keep moving...it is Labor Day and all, and I don't plan on laboring one bit!

Looking Back

How do you not just eat him up?!?!? This is the devious face, the I'm about to do something face...the something was tickling mommy's belly or in Noah babble my "ba". This is my blessing! On Sunday preacher said it's only with the Grace of God that I am where I am....Amen! What a gracious God to put my in this place with such a great child and great husband and loving family. I look back at all the complaining I have done over the past month about cars and such and realize that I should chill on the complaining and be thankful for what I do have, be thankful for my situation and my life!

It's not about where you are in life, it's about what you do while you are there!

I'm back....

at work! I know I'm back at work because we haven't eaten a "real" planned dinner in two weeks now, because I'm currently doing 3 loads of laundry on a Sunday, my house is a wreck, I haven't been on facebook in two days, I have pictures on my camera that I haven't taken off in a month and my poor dogs were eating treats for dinner because we were out of dog food! I do love being back at work though...I love seeing the kids and how much they've grown, I love watching Kindergartners discovery of all things school. Noah is back in day care full time and having a wonderful time. Last week he worked on numbers 1-5....he's brilliant! This is why I love his daycare, its like preschool for a one year old! He's currently whipping out words like he's known them forever! He said his cousin's name last weekend, and at the moment is asking me "up please" he would like to type too!
Went and saw Sugarland and Keith Urban last week....love love love Sugarland, they are fabulous...Keith wasn't so bad either! The best part was being with my two best friends, my mom and little sister!
Best news of all, we finally bought a car! It took all day yesterday, a whole lot of driving, tears and prayers, but we did it! I won't go into a million details, but let's just say I am amazed daily at people and I never wish to go car shopping again! Nothing against car salesmen...It just took me all day to find one I liked and respected. In the end I love the new car...I'm happy to have a big family car that won't be smushed up! Pics to come later...remember I'm back at work...who knows when those pictures will come off the camera!