November

I don't have to look far to find a million reasons to be thankful- I just have to look around right where I am.

Here is what I am thankful for this November...

New Friends!

Any month that starts off with getting to love and hold an hours-old baby has got to be good! 

Welcome to the world, sweet Selah Hope!  We hope you are ready for us ;) 

Catching my baby looking an awful lot like a big girl

Elliott and his self portraits :)

And moments where all three siblings are enjoying doing something together :)

 8 years of (happy, crazy, real) marriage
I celebrated by uploading all the pictures from our wedding onto our computer for the first time.
Looking at the pictures from that day never ceases to thrill me, but the same 4 thoughts pop into my head every time:

1) Wow, we had no idea what we were getting into... although we totally thought we did!

2) How much I love the people who were in our wedding and how cool it is that they are the same people that I would go to for support, help and wise counsel today

3) Why did I ever think that I was fat?!! (And can I please look like that again at some point in my life?)

Summer says that she loves the dress that I wore to Daddy's wedding :) 

4) and Ohhhh, how I wish I could go back and relive that day over, just one more time!!

The day Summer woke up to discovered that she was three!! 
I wouldn't let her open up the presents until everyone was awake, so she kept herself busy with some dancing :) 

We had a little celebration in the park

With her brothers...

...some yummy cupcakes...
(good job, Daddy!)

(special thanks to Bethany for thinking of capturing these moments with my sweet girl!)

...And our dear friends who have been SO good at loving her (and me) for the past 3 years

Happy Birthday to our Summer Sunshine Girl!!

The gift of a good friend ...especially one who shares Oliver's love of sports and competition!

(In our world of many girlfriends, Tristan has been such a blessing to Oliver this year and I am so grateful that they found each other)

And Little Brothers who are big enough (and kind enough) to know how to keep score :)

Discovering a forgotten Box of Hand-Me-Downs at just the right time

I honestly don't remember who gave them to us (a friend of a friend, I think?), but I do remember holding them up in front of me- these giant sweatshirts and long, long jeans (and shoes with laces?!) and thinking that it was impossible that my toddler boys would ever be big enough to fit into them. But they were so cute and in such good condition, I packed them up anyways and threw them onto the back of the bottom shelf in the deepest corner of our garage. I may have forgotten about that bin, but God knew it was there all along and I couldn't help from smiling to myself over God's great timing (once again) as I rummaged through the perfectly sized and seasonally appropriate clothes.

Grandma Gloria AND Grandpa Gary Visits

(and the amazing clothing selections for Summer that Grandma Ellen can't resist!)

Light Up Balloons from Ava 

A fun and fascinating family field trip to the Nibus Fish Hatchery

(probably the best $1.50 I've ever spent!)

A pick up game of flag football with some bigger and big-hearted new friends :))

The day that Elliott taught Molly how to ride a two-wheeler

(I'm pretty sure she knew what to do, he just believed in her and she believed him back!!)

Kids that dress themselves in the morning.

Mornings at the park with these guys

Afternoons at the Arboretum with These Guys

And Last Minute Evening Adventures under the Full Moon

Everything about the day Emma came to visit.

(next time I will take a picture of us bike riding ;))

The beginning of Raking Season

Being small enough to share a warm stroller (and angry birds) on a cold night

Going (for the first time!) to visit Daddy at the Fire Station on Thanksgiving morning.

He was on a call when we arrived but he eventually came back to the station :)
We had just enough time for a hug and a kiss

before another call went out.

And... 

that was that!!

I have never been so grateful (or proud) to watch him drive away from us :)  

Establishing New Traditions with Old Friends and Family 

at the Hoffman's for Thanksgiving Dinner

These Boys

 These Girls

(Summer!! :))

The natural love and connection that these kids have for each other

My brother's amazing new wife...

And the fun that they bring wherever they go :)  

Carrying on Traditions and filling an Old House with New Memories with my fun-loving In Laws

Marrying into a family that loves to play football together :) 

The Chest Bump: Official Language of the Holleman Family Men

 In Laws who purchase a home with us in mind and then invite us all over to enjoy it together.

All the ways that make us a Family

And last but not least, I am thankful for Old Friends who have known you for so long and so well that they know your flaws and quirks, and they still choose to spend time with you. 

Plus, any month that ends with a frozen yogurt with unlimited toppings has got to have been a good month!!

November might be over, but I pray that the spirit of Thanksgiving will remain in our hearts all the months of the year.