Yes, it has been a while...

So, I realized that blogging is really exciting and fun for the first few times you do it and then it gets a little bit hard to keep up. Just like journaling. I did write in my journal about my trip out to PA though. So, yay me!

So, my trip out to PA was interesting. It was really a great trip all around, but there were a lot of things that made me really think about what I am thankful for. That is particularly good because I was there over Thanksgiving and I haven't sat down and contemplated it to that degree for a very long time. My family's life is kind of in an uproar at the moment as they have a rather untidy family living with them. It opened my eyes to just how lucky I am to have a semi-tidy husband, and one that encourages me to clean. Odd as that sounds. I am grateful for children that are fast learners and for the fact River speaks with such fluency and can say all her letters. My children will not be behind in any schooling, I can tell already. I am grateful for the fact my husband has a great job and has so much more self-worth now than he did before we were married, and even in the first part of our marriage. I am grateful that I was able to have my grandparents in my life for as long as I have and that Grandpa Bill was in my life when Grandpa Phil couldn't be. I am so grateful for having my own house to do with what I want, but that I get the opportunity to help others with theirs on occasion. (It's fun to clean someone else's house!) Haha! Life really is, that good. ;-)

We are nearly completed in the hallway and bedroom downstairs, a few more touch ups on the walls in the hall and then trim and ceiling paint to do. We order our carpet next week and get it installed around the beginning of the year! I am soooo happy for it to be so close. (Though, I wish we could be getting carpet IN next week!) The paint color is gorgeous, I went downstairs and thought that the light was on, but it was just the sunlight reflecting off the color! Beautiful! Deric isn't too thrilled, but he only gets it as his office a little under two years. (until the next child is born.) Hooray for getting rid of more of the brown in this house though!

I have been working on Christmas presents and cards the last few days. Got the pictures printed and ordered, got Doug's gift ordered (an 8-bit tie--think: Mario pixels), Molly's gift ordered (a bib with a runway on it and a matching airplane spoon! They light up!), Plus, Joan's gift ordered (a book of pictures from us and Evette's family--she complained about not having us in the one the step siblings did last year.), plus more that I can't tell you about. Hehe! I got all the neighborhood gifts out this week too (purple ornaments with a little "reminder" attached about Christ being "King", get it? Royal purple...anyway). I am excited about Christmas, but behind on getting the tree up, we put it together tonight, and will decorate it tomorrow.

I had a terrible night last night of about 4 hours total of sleep. Molly was wide awake for some reason...so, off to bed I go. Goodnight! Happy Holidays!