Thanksgiving (This is my life...)

The video below pretty much encapsulates my life right now...not perfect, but fun and precious, nontheless. (In case you couldn't quite understand...that was Caleb attempting to say a portion of Luke 2, while Josh tried to start a wrestling match.)

The boys are busy and growing -- it's great to see their bodies AND minds grow. They are like sponges, soaking in new phrases, concept, and tricks. Caleb loves preschool, Sunday School, singing, sports, and asking questions. Josh has figured out that he can limit his communication to the words, "Mama!, Woah!, Wow!, and No!" and get along just fine. He's trying like crazy to keep up with his big brother and cousins -- and loves to color/draw and play with puzzles, tractors, and any electronics he can get his hands on.

Josh's newest trick (learned this weekend) is how to turn the deadbolt by himself. Unfortunately, he practiced this stunt on Friday morning while I quickly ran outside to the garage (looking for Josh's shoes), Caleb followed behind me, and Tim was on his way to Home Depot. The next 30-some minutes were spent calling Tim home, listening to Josh cry for me from behind the door, and then watching Tim climb up on a ladder, take down a storm window, and shimmy through the upstairs bathroom window. When I was reuninted with my son, I was also greeted with the sight of a new box of cereal dumped/spread/smashed onto the kitchen floor. Josh had to find something to occupy himself with while left alone! But, some hugs and maybe a few suckers later, he was as good as new. It's always an adventure around here!

But, seriously, I have so much to be thankful for, such as...

• 20 questions at bedtime
• slobbery kisses
• enough to eat that I always have something to sweep off the floor after meals
• a job I love and some of the most polite, kind 8th graders in the world
• friends -- new and old -- who listen and love me anyway
• a family that takes care of me and my kids
• a husband who is a great father and keeps me laughing, sane, and always makes it a priority to take me out for time with just the two of us
• challenges that humble me and remind me how small I am
• a God whose grace and mercy is new every morning

Happy Thanksgiving!