Today

Today, 40 years ago, I was born.                     
And today, this beautiful baby girl turned one.

Take your shoes and coat off people, this outfit was ONLY available at K Mart in 1973. You can no longer find plush terrycloth outfits that also doubled as wrestling uniforms and bath towels.

So, today, we celebrated together.

I cannot tell you how thankful we are to have received this blessing into our lives. One year ago today was one of the greatest days of our lives. I thank God every day for giving us this wonderful gift. She brings so much happiness and joy to our lives each day and I'm so grateful for getting another chance to enjoy more and stress less with a baby.
Pictures from the party yesterday:

 

For some reason she HATES having a party hat on.

 

Pictures from the official birthday day today:

 

And finally, pictures of that unforgettable day one year ago....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You just never know what you'll find when you turn your back.

Assorted

I was scrolling through my recently downloaded pictures and thought I would just share a few random ones:

The annual Christmas tree hunt... slim pickin's this year with the drought....

At least someone is having fun with all of the boxes in our garage

Standing alone the day she turned 10 months and still not walking... c'mon bravery girlfriend!

Mac n' cheese is good, mmm k?

My big and my little. For some reason their size difference struck me.

Seeing snow for the first time

First Thanksgiving

Wisconsin Dells after Thanksgiving. Is she not the cutest strawberry you've ever seen?

With cousin Evan

The boys LOOOOOVE the Dells

Luke loves the big whirlpool tubs at the Dells too

Someone likes to get VERY close to me when I'm on the floor trying to take a picture so I have lots of up close shots lately

 

 

 

 

 

Hey Hey Hey, look at that, if you leave your background unchanged for long enough eventually it's the right season again! Celebrate!

There are lots of reasons to be happy. Look at a few sunsets I've captured in our back yard since we've been here:

(They wanted a picture showing them pretending it was a tornado. Naturally.)

 

I have to admit, living in the plains of Indiana, we get pretty good sunrises and sunsets that I would not have seen in my Iowa hills. There are advantages to everything. But seriously, it is F.L.A.T. here. The wind gusts up against the house regularly. Jack had a hard time sleeping for a while because he wasn't used to hearing all of the wind that our old trees would block for us.

 

So, I think I've been doing a pretty good job focusing on the good. Honestly, I think I was all cried out before we left Iowa, so that once we arrived here, I was just ready to move forward. When we left Wisconsin for Indiana, I think I did it in the reverse. It all happened much more quickly so I really didn't have time to prepare emotionally for it, so it all hit me once we moved. I'm thinking the getting it over with before you go might be the best method, because then once you arrive, you are already heading forward. Either way, I can't explain it, but I am so thankful that I actually feel happy. Despite the fact that I have no friends but the ones I had before I LAST moved from Indiana, and I know no one at school, and I still have to Mapquest places I go sometimes, it's all ok. My kids are happy, we have a nice home to live in, and I am lucky to have this family and life so I think I just need to be grateful right now. Hats off to the Big Man for a thankful heart today.

 

P.S. I forgot to mention two other things I'm thanful for. I entered Food Heaven TWICE in the last 24 hours over two new products I tried. First of all, I am not really an ice cream person. It's the one sweet I could take or leave for the rest of my life. However, last night I was having a sugar craving, and being that ice cream was all there was in the house, I caved in and tried some Turkey Hill Stuff'd Junior Mint flavored "frozen dairy dessert". Whatever that is. Why doesn't it say ice cream on it? I have no idea. But oh my goodness. I went back for more. The whole thing tasted just like Junior Mints, not just the chunks. It was so delicious I might have cried a little.

 

Secondly, this morning I had a Thomas Pumpkin Spice bagel with cream cheese. I died. It was SOOOO good.