Happy Turkey Day!

Last Friday, Anna's class had a Thanksgiving lunch that the parents were invited to. MawMaw and Anna helped me make these cute little turkey cupcakes from the book "Hello, Cupcake!" to bring to Anna's friends in her class.

They were so adorable, but by the time I got them to the school, the icing was softening and some of the heads were falling off! To that, all I can say is Oops! But hey, nobody's perfect. I'm no exception to that - and neither are my turkeys :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful

It's easy to get caught up in all the things in life that aren't going the way you would like, but as I'm trying to figure out what to write about this Thanksgiving, I'm overwhelmed by all of the blessings that we have to be thankful for.

Derek posted this on his FaceBook page today, and I think he said it very well. . .

"As we reflect on the many things for which we are thankful this Thanksgiving
season, I thank God for family & friends, I thank God for the freedom &
liberty we enjoy every day, I thank God that we live in THE UNITED STATES of
AMERICA and I thank God for the United States Military for the protection of our
home land and freedom across the world.

Happy Thanksgiving America!"

And a big, huge Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends and family - we wouldn't have nearly as much to be thankful for if it weren't for you.

Love, Us

Charles

Derek went fishing on Sunday, so Anna & I met my friend Ashley, her husband Paul, and their gorgeous little boy Charles to try to get some pictures of him in his oh-so-cute Kelly's Kids corduroy blazer. And I have to say...he definitely was oh-so-cute!

It was really fun for me because we took Anna to this same location for pictures this time last year. I can remember being really frustrated because Anna wouldn't stay still, wouldn't look at the camera, wouldn't do anything at all that I wanted her to do. And all I wanted was a nice picture of her smiling in her pretty dress.

But I never did get that shot that I had envisioned in my brain, and in retrospect, I'm glad I didn't. Because what I did get was even more valuable - pictures of Anna being Anna. Exactly who she was at that moment. Completely priceless memories.

And being in that same place a year later with Charles, I was armed with the knowledge that my experience had given me.

So maybe he didn't sit still. Maybe he didn't indulge us our every request. Maybe he chose to flash his biggest smiles at me when I didn't have my camera in his face. Maybe he was way faster than I could possibly move.

But I know that what I captured is purely Charles being wonderful Charles.

Exactly who he is right now: A sweet little energetic thing, with sparkling blue eyes and a contagious smile. Who looks at the world with such wonder and excitement, and tries to take it all in at once. Who blows a seriously mean air-kiss and who just loves my Anna to pieces.

Ashley and Paul, I hope the workout was worth it. . .

It certainly was for me.

Electricity

This is what Anna looked like every single time she came down the slide today. Every. Single. Time.

I'd like to see you try to keep a straight face! I certainly didn't fare so well.

Note to self: Maybe a ponytail next time?

Hiding

Yesterday morning, the strangest thing happened. I couldn't find Anna, but there was the most peculiar Anna-shaped lump in my bed. . .

Luckily, although Anna loves to hide, she is terrible at doing it quietly, and it didn't take long at all to smoke her out with a little "If you're happy and you know it". . .

Man, I live for that smile!