While E was at Grandma’s house, I spent time painting the bathroom

with Pumpkin’s help.

I made Lasagna-Stuffed Garlic Bread (minus the garlic) for dinner. It was yummy. E enjoyed it too. (If I make it again, I will probably use less cream cheese or maybe try ricotta cheese instead.)

I spent time with my two favorite boys

and made this delicious, easy and healthy strawberry-banana ice cream. Without an ice cream maker. You’ve got to try it!

Then we gave E a bath in the tub like a big boy (without the rubber duck he usually takes a bath in) and he wanted to “crawl” in the water. It kind of scared us. When we were done Joey said “let’s not try that again until you are two or three”.

Isn’t he just so stinkin cute?

After we put E to bed, Joey helped me do the second coat of paint in the bathroom. I really like how it’s turned out so far. I’m almost done!

All in all, it was a great birthday!

My friend over at Bright Red Cords does Thankful Thursdays posts and I thought I would join her today. Thanks for the great idea Jarah!

Here’s my Thankful Thursday-

I am thankful for:

• Coworkers I can call my friends
• Surprise gifts from families I work with
• My check engine light turning itself off and staying off
• Grandmas who take such good care of E while I work
• Joey managing our money and helping us be good stewards
• Bible studies that challenge me and help me understand God’s Word
• Being able to listen to Christmas music whenever I want. Thank you FM 100.3
• Plow drivers!
• Kohl’s sales and saving money
• Time I have to spend on the computer
• Gmail, Google Reader and Google Calendar for keeping me organized
• Putting up a Christmas tree that used to sit on my Grandmother’s dresser
• My dad and how handy he is
• Celebrating my dad’s 63rd birthday today. Happy Birthday Opa!
• Joey for being such a great dad and taking care of E’s needs

and last but not least-

• hearing E laugh

I could keep going but it’s time for me to get off the computer.

Thanks for reading! I hope this helped you think of some things you are thankful for.

Recently I have:

1. Read the following parenting books:

I like to read parenting books for work and secretly hope that it will help me when I become a parent. These books had some great information. Very useful and quick reads.

2. Learned how to make Starbuck’s Caramel Apple Spice Drink

I searched on Google for the recipe and found that it was pretty easy (all you need is: apple cider, cinnamon syrup, whip cream and caramel sauce). I did end up going to Starbucks to buy their cinnamon syrup but it was so worth it!

3. Updated my Amazon Wish List. It mostly includes books and kitchen things. I need a life!

4. Ordered Christmas cards.

5. Thought about when I should put up my Christmas decorations and start listening to Christmas music. It snowed on Saturday and I was really tempted to listen to Christmas music but I decided I am going to wait until after Thanksgiving. AFTER Thanksgiving people. AFTER!

6. Thought about what to buy everyone for Christmas and wondered what it would be like if we could spend all our money on stuff for us and the house? I even started a wish list for that (hand written). How bad is that?

7. Celebrated my sister’s 20th birthday. That made me feel old.

8. Learned my Grandmother is not doing very well and they have decided to only give her pain medications and sleeping pills to keep her comfortable. She is still able to get up and go to the bathroom and eat at the table but she is getting weaker and weaker. It is getting harder for my parents and sister to care for her. The future is scary and unknown for her (will she have a stroke? will so go peacefully in her sleep? how much longer will she be in pain?) but God is in control.

Early this morning, Joey’s Grandpa passed away unexpectedly at the VA hospital.

We got a phone call 1:30 this morning saying Grandpa was in critical condition. So, we rushed to the hospital, along with all of the family here in town, but nobody made it in time to say goodbye before he passed away.

He will be greatly missed. He was the photographer of the family (this is the only picture I have of Grandpa) and I really believe he was the glue that held everyone together through his monthly newsletters and active role in the family.

We love you Grandpa!

Last night my family had to take their cat, Lily, to the emergency pet hopsital. Lily was having trouble pooping more than usual (she’s has this problem for a while now) and the doctor determined she would need to have part of her colon removed to fix the problem and relieve her pain.

With my dad’s recent job loss, my family was not able to afford the surgery and medical care Lily needed so the doctor had to euthanize Lily.

This is not an easy decision for any pet owner and I am sad that she is gone. I am going to miss her begging for food at the table and her snoring when she’s sleeping on the chair.

We’ll miss you Lily!

If you play a woodwind instrument and haven’t discovered these reeds, you need to. They are amazing. They are a little pricey ($25 a reed) but they are made out of synthetic material and you never have to suck them! They also last a long time and have a nice sound to them.

I played on my previous Legere reed for years but that was probably not a good idea. When I bought this new one and started playing on it, it was like playing a new instrument. I didn’t squeak as much and I didn’t work as hard to stay tuned. Definitely worth the price and definitely should be purchased at LEAST once a year not every couple of years.