I am Thankful

I am thankful....

for my beautiful sons, Patrick and Finnegan.

I never knew a child could bring such joy and love to one's life.  

I am doubly blessed.

I am thankful...

for my fantastic husband.  

We have been together for 10 years and my love for him grows stronger each day.  

Gill works so hard to provide for us and allow me to stay home with our sons.  

It is the best gift a mother could ever have.

I am thankful...

for friendships.  

The friendship between the boys is amazing to witness.  They truly adore each other.  

I am thankful to have dear friends with whom we can raise our children.  

I am thankful that Patrick and Finnegan have wonderful friends to play, learn and explore with.

I am thankful to have friends who may live far away but are always there when I need them.

I am thankful...

that I get to see the world through my sons' eyes. 

The world is full of such wonder when you get to explore it with a toddler.

I am thankful ...

for our small (but growing) family.  

Nothing brings me more joy than all "my boys". 

It's an amazing gift to be blessed with a beautiful and happy family.

Gobble Gobble!!

This morning we headed over to the Nature Museum for "Turkey Talk".  

It was a fun morning focused on Tom, The Turkey!

The boys met Tom...

They got turkeys painted on their hands...

Patrick and Finn did puzzles with Daddy...

And made turkeys out of pinecones, feathers and (gulp) Glue! 

(Yes, Finn has it in in mouth while Patrick complains that his hands are dirty)

We had such a fun morning, especially since we sang the "Turkey Song" the whole time:

(Sing Along, Please!)

Gobble Gobble Gobble, Fat Turkey Fat Turkey

Gobble Gobble Gobble, Fat Turkeys are we!

We're not here for living, we're here for Thanksgiving,

Gobble Gobble Gobble, Fat Turkeys are we!

Little Things Thursday

As our family prepares for the arrival of our new baby, nothing makes me happier than the boys' enthusiasm for their baby brother.  They talk to the baby (through my belly button, of course) and check on the status of the nursery several times a day.  It is so sweet to watch Big Brothers Finn and Patrick get excited about the baby.

Aw Shucks!

This morning we went to AW Shucks - a corn maze / pumpkin patch out in the middle of the countryside. This place had a huge corn maze, but also a nice pond, a nature trail, pony rides, a tree house, an animal barn and much more!  We went with The Parkers and started our adventure with the kids playing in the back of Mike's truck.

We visited the corn maze...

ran through the fields...

explored the trucks...

took a tractor ride...

and had a Duck Race!

What a great morning!

Little Things Thursday

Little Things that keep us happy and occupied on rainy days:

Reading The Little Dumptruck

Dressing up in Daddy's Clothes

Playing with Mommy's camera

Building towers

Brothers!

Blowing Rock Weekend

This weekend we traveled to the mountains and visited Blowing Rock.  It is a beautiful little town filled with great outdoor activities.  On Saturday we visited Bass Lake.   We walked all away around the lake, stopping every two minutes to pick up sticks, leaves, rocks, pine cones and all sorts of goodies!

On Saturday, we adventured to Grandfather Mountain.  The attraction is a nature preserve filled with activities for the family.  We visited the Nature Museum and Wildlife Habitat.  The boys loved seeing the black bears and otters!

Later on we dared to go to the Mile High Swinging Bridge.  

The 228-foot suspension bridge spans an 80-foot chasm at more than one mile in elevation - it was crazy!!

  And, to get to the bridge, we had to climb 50 steps first.  I will admit, it was terrifying!  

I don't know what was more frightening, the height or the fact that the boys had no fear of it!

Views from the bridge:

It was an amazing weekend.  We loved spending time without all the distractions of home.  Patrick and Finnegan loved exploring the outdoors and it was so wonderful to witness their new experiences.

Halloween - The Movie

Little Things Thursday

Today it was apparent just how much the Little Things make the boys (and their friends) happy!

An open space, some ride on toys and a rusty old tennis ball holder, who could ask for more?

Lizzy, Finnegan, Ginny and Patrick

Patrick blasts off on Rocket!

Finn pushed the ball holder all around the tennis courts!

Patrick and Ginny crash!

The boys have a blast!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween 2009 began with a special breakfast!  The boys had Halloween munchkins and milk from their pumpkin sippy cups.  They enjoyed their yummy breakfast in their monster pajamas from Aunt Sara!

After breakfast they changed into their costumes and we headed over to the Nature Museum for a special Halloween party.

At the party we joined up with the Parker and Weltz family for a morning filled with Creepy Crawlies and all sorts of creatures that gave me the shivers.  Patrick and Finnegan enjoyed the bean bag toss the most (especially because the girls kept giving them prizes).

After the Nature Museum we took the kids to a local playground to burn off some of the sweet treats!

On Halloween night we were joined by the Weltz family for a little Halloween Pizza Party and Trick or Treating.  Gill loaded up the playroom with balloons and the kids had a blast!  After pizza, cupcakes and a little playtime to wait out the rain, it was time to hit the pavement!

Not even before we went to the first house, Patrick and Finn ran into their good friend, Isabella The Fairy!

I was so proud of the boys.  Patrick and Finn went up to the houses with the Lizzy, Ginny and Preston and rang the doorbells by themselves.  They remembered to say "Trick or Treat" and even "Thank you" after they received their candy.  Patrick and Finnegan were so excited to go to every door!  It was a great Halloween.