thanksgiving

We spent the morning at home, as a family, and I did some food prep for our meal that evening. We joined our friends, Sheldon, Renee, and Pierce, at the their home for dinner and it was much fun with good food (Renee even pulled out her fine China!). We dined on turkey, ham, salad, green beans, angel biscuits, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. And of course, the boys enjoyed the Cowboys game. Thanks, friends, for a wonderful time!

We have so much to be thankful for; in no particular order, here are some of my thoughts:

1. God's provision for our family in selling our home so quickly this summer

2. Getting pregnant this year and awaiting the arrival of our first boy in less than 7 weeks

3. Time spent with family throughout the year on various trips

4. Watching Maggie grow and learn and especially begin to retain some of the heart training we are doing with her

5. Time spent throughout the year with good friends

6. Seeing God's provision in us moving on-campus at seminary and the continued pursuit of Aron's Master's degree

7. The arrival of so many babies this year, espeically my sister and her hubby's first baby, Jacob Steven, born in May

8. The hard, trying times for us and those around us throughout the year (this has not been a stress-free year by any means) and yet, trusting God to prove Himself good.

Happy Thanksgiving!

the sweetest thing

Tonight, as Aron and I ate dinner, Maggie walked up to me (she was already finished) and said, "Mama, kiss me!" I totally started laughing and tearing up at the same time, and moments later she said, "Mama, I want a kiss!" So, I kissed her, and then she turned and said the same things to Aron.

Melts your heart.

wordless wednesday

miscellanities

It's been a quiet few days for us, with Maggie not feeling well and healing from strep throat. We spent much of the weekend indoors, which was nice, yet also lent itself to some aspects of stir-craziness. I'm sure you can relate. We watched "Meet the Robinsons" one time too many. :)

Aron and I had a date night on Saturday night and I was surprised that he didn't mind seeing "Twilight," so off we went to the theater. I had pretty low expectations for the movie, as typically, a movie that follows a much-loved book pales in comparison. But, I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the movie! It was done well; it was entertaining. I wouldn't say it was the best movie of all time, or in my top 10 by any means, but it was worth the money and time spent. It paralled the book and had quite a bit of subtle humor that only one who had read the book would understand. Our theater was comprised of 80% females, so you can imagine all the responses whenever "Edward Cullen" (the lead male character) appeared, talked, or smiled. There was a bunch of loud cheering, laughing, and generally guffawing on our audiences' part. Maybe this made the experience enjoyable, too--seeing it with other fans of the book series.

After we got home Saturday night from the movie, we decided to set up our Christmas decorations. It was wonderful to stay up until 1:30am, decorating, listening to Christmas music, and drinking coffee with my husband. The house was officially cleaned and finished by Sunday morning! And I'm LOVING the holiday feel our place now possess.

Thanksgiving will be spent with our friends Renee and Sheldon and I'm looking foward to our time at their house on Thursday!

cooking club surprise

I hadn't showered.

It was Friday morning.

Maggie and I hung around the house and did laundry and played and I made a pumpkin gingerbread loaf.

The day was going well, until I decided to call the doctor about her once-again persistent cough

the showered one

I hadn't showered.

It was Friday morning.

Maggie and I hung around the house and did laundry and played and I made a pumpkin gingerbread loaf.

I was looking forward to our last cooking club of the year that night.

The day was going well, until Aron called to say that some things at work weren't going so well. A big project had fallen through the cracks. Uh oh.

The day was going well, until Maggie didn't nap at all (she hadn't napped on Thursday either).
**But, I should add, that despite no nap, she was in rather good spirits all day...must be a touch of God's grace...seriously.

Maggie had another round of a persistent, hacking, cough, that had me worried because we had just gotten over the exact same thing 2 weeks ago. I went back and forth all day, but finally decided to call.

The pediatrician wanted me to bring in Maggie (naturally).

I drove up to her office, near our old house in Plano, about 25-30 minutes away, but it took me 45 with traffic because my last-minute appointment was at 4:10pm.

Did I mention that I hadn't showered yet? Because I hadn't.

The verdict of the appointment: strep throat. Back in the car to head home to fill the perscription, then shower, then leave for cooking club.

Aron called to say he'd be late getting home. How late, he wasn't sure.

But, the traffic was bad and it took me another 45 minutes (maybe more) to get to the pharmacy and drop off the perscription.

We arrived home and I fed Maggie dinner, which she didn't touch. Sigh.

Aron called again to say he wasn't sure what time he'd make it home and cooking club started at 7pm and it was 6pm.

Back in the car to pick up the perscription.

Aron called again to say he was finally on his way, but stuck in horrible traffic.

Back home to put Maggie in her pjs and some reading and snuggling time before bed. I decided to scrap the shower all together. Maybe I would just wear MY pjs to cooking club (if I ever made it).

Aron made it home at 7:30 and I raced to my car and drove to Rachel's house.

When I arrived, near 8pm, the door was locked. Unusal.

I walked in, and noticed Rachel's extremely cheerful disposition and thought how nice of a night this was going to be after all.

I entered their Great Room and was greeted by a chorus of "Surprise! Surprise!"

I looked around and all my friends were grinning at me, standing around the bar, which is filled with presents, and I noticed the food in the background and realize I'd been duped.

I was so overwhelmed with the love, I started to cry!

Did I mention I hadn't showered?

I hadn't even put a drop of makeup on either.

But, these were my friends and they would love me regardless.

We enjoyed an amazing tapas dinner, filled with laughter and stories, I opened some wonderful presents for our baby boy, and we indulged in the yummiest desserts possible: chocolate covered strawberries and Sprinkles dark chocolate and red velvet cupcakes.

It was an amazing, amazing night.

And it didn't even matter that I hadn't showered for 3 days (well, I hadn't).

The friends
The food

Because Sprinkles cupcakes deserve a close-up shot

The dessert

The showered one (in one sense)

The gifts

The all-things-breastfeeding gift basket from Allison (because she knows how much I want to make it work this time around!)

The friends again, from R-L: Renee, Erin, Allison, Patti, Thea, me, Nicole, and Rachel

THANK YOU, girls, for everything! It meant the world to me.

what a difference a year makes

November 2007 at the Arboretum...

And November 2008...

wordless wednesday

wordless wednesday

make this soup

I found this recipe off the "Crockpotting for a Year" website, which I've talked about before. I've been pleased with most of the dishes I have tried and this one is no exception. It makes a TON and it's super flavorful. We just loved the spice combinations. Maggie even enjoyed it!

Tell me what you think: Morrocan Lentil Soup.