All Things ThAnKsGiViNg~

There are many things I'm grateful for; I've listed many of them multiple times in the past. In the past three weeks of seeing Travis come and go and come and go, and seeing the help and support we continually receive from friends, family, neighbors, etc. I am reminded daily how there are just too many blessings in my life to count. So I'm just going to cover what I've been especially grateful for:

#1- I am grateful for my little family. I love that I have boys. I love seeing the boys love Travis. And I even love that they need me so much I can't even use the restroom without someone banging on the door:)

#2- I am grateful for Monday F.H.E's. It is so easy to get lost in the day to day tasks that we never really take the proper time to be with our children. And it's easy to think that Fam. Nights are pointless when the kids are little, but that's when they're most crucial; we are laying the foundation for strong growth, and i'm grateful we are starting to work this into our weekly routine. 

#3- I am grateful for dreams; dreams that allow us to push forward in the hardest of times and remind us what it is we're working towards. Things as simple as owning our own home to the possible future careers of all our children are what give us strength to be apart and keep venturing on. 

#4- I am grateful for the faces of Maddix. Maddix made me a mom much earlier than I'd ever planned; however if he hadn't, I don't know that we ever would've worked the courage up to make such big decision. I love watching him grow. He is strong. Smart and witty. Personable. And once he knows what you expect of him, he'll work endlessly to accomplish a task. Yes he is 4, but as he says, he is 4 going on 15.... and it's so true; time just goes by too quickly!

He cracks me up! 

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#5- I am grateful for Aaron's craziness. He is shy, yet funny and comical. He'll bet at my legs to be held all day long, but the moment you sit he is down and out. He's a peacemaker, as well as the largest fit thrower I know. His love for his brother is overwhelming, as well as the mishceouf he gets into. Cuddly at times to the point it melts my heart, and so feisty I can't handle it. He is a boy after his father's own heart in so many ways like spicy food and music; I love watching the little tike he's turning into. 

Cuddly bug

Such a helper

Bike Obsession

pure mischief  

#6- I'm so grateful my boys have friends; something as innocent as laughing at each others boogers and fart noises are what bond you for life. In Poland when Maddix would ask for his cars/stuffed animals so "his friends could watch movies with him," it broke my heart. Seeing Maddix have so much fun with kids his age, and Aaron figuring out how to interact with other littles just puts a smile on my face!

#7- I am grateful that I have a job that I LOVE; it may just be watiressing but I enjoy all the neat people I get to meet each day. And best of all I work with some of the GREATEST/Goofiest/most hilarious people; love them all (almost)! 

#8- I am grateful for the occasional sick day that forces us to stay home and cuddle all day to movies. 

#9- I am eternally grateful for my best friend, partner in crime, and love of my life Travis. 

New York

View of Lousiana

I written many posts about the aches and pains of being separated, and I've reminisced on the amazing adventures we've been on. This time I want to express the extreme pride I have for him. Life has knocked him down a few times. People have told him he didn't do quite good enough for his dreams. And he's had plenty of doors slammed in his face. But he gets back up. He knows what he wants and he goes after it. As hard as it is to be here without him, it's WAY harder for him to be away. He went back to Poland alone. He flew out and took on rotations in Louisiana ALONE. He is now in a semi-decent neighborhood in Brooklyn, going to school in the GHETTO, ridding sketchy subways, and finding his way around the city ALONE. He braves through everything and does what has to be done. When I can't handle things and can't brave them, he does it. When he doesn't want to brave through, he just does it. I love him. We are so PROUD of him. He will accomplish anything he wants in life.

Lousiana run

Lousiana

#10- I am grateful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Many people in the world today spend each day of their lives indulging in the ways of the world and giving no thought to their actions.  Then come Nov, Dec they get excited to celebrate in the festivities that Christmas bring. But Christmas is the celebration of Jesus's birth; the same Jesus who has given us guidelines and commandments and blessings... the SAME Christ people so often turn their back on. 

I often wonder if I hadn't been born in the church, would I have believed all that is taught? I watch the faith of those investigators who are told to read the Book of Mormon with an open heart and I wonder if I would've found what I was looking for in the pages. Time and time again in my life I have found what I was searching for but I knew exactly where to look. The gospel has been a guiding influence and underlying foundation to everything I think, act on, and the entire person I've become. I owe all that I have in my life to my older brother Jesus to paved the way for my mistakes and made it possible for my family and I to live together forever. I am grateful for the example of my older brother. He loves us all and without him we couldn't have the life we have, or know what we know. We couldn't even have goals really because what would they amount to? I am grateful for the atonement. I am grateful for the sealing powers of the temple. I am grateful that the Lord knows me and strengthens me when I'm weak, tests me when I'm strong, comforts me when I'm sad, and touches my heart so that I might help others. I hope we don't forget truly why we celebrate Christmas, or all the reasons we have to be grateful all year long! 

When You Comin' Home Dad... I don't know when :(

Travis's theme song to himself is Cat's in the Cradle. He seriously depresses himself by playing it over and over... it's sad :) He He. Each time he leaves he does seem to find another song to add to his bummer playlist; other songs he's come up with are songs like One Is the Loneliest Number, All By Myself, and others! But for 6 WONDERFUL days he had to put away those depressing tunes, and we got to spend as much time as we could get our hands on with him!
Last time I wrote about how are Saturday went, so I'll just pick up from there:
Sunday: 
Can I just say how wonderful it was to have another person around to help get the boys ready for church?? And to take Aaron out when he'd throw his fits! It was just a perfect Sunday together as a family, that includes Nala even. We took her on a walk and tried to work off some of her extra weight  before heading to Trav's parent's home for dinner.
-What Gorgeous Weather!-

Monday: Well this was a busy day... once again, it was just NICE to have another person around to split the load. There was a hair appointment, getting Maddix to school, running to Chuck-a-rama to pick up some tamales and tres leches my co-workers made for me, some fun wrestling with the boys, early Christmas decorating while daddy was home, and then in the evening we went on a short date before taking the boys home and watching a movie once they were in bed. 

Most delicious cake!

Tuesday: This was seriously an intense day! We rushed down to get Nala to her grooming appointment, then we rented a moving truck and spent the ENTIRE day relocating all our belongings out of my Uncle's basement and into storage; thanks Scott for letting us keep our stuff in your basement for 6 months + 4 1/2 extra years :) 

Wednesday: 

We were pretty fortunate that I didn't have to work the first few days or the last few, but Wednesday I did so we took the day easier, cleaned a little, walked around Petsmart, and while I was at work Trav and the boys went to dinner at his parent's and then over to the dollar store with his grandma, who purchased a toy for each of the grandkids. Travis told me as a little girl it was something Grandma's parents did with her, and it's a tradition she's kept alive for her years as a grandma:) I thought that was really sweet. 

Thursday: This was a GREAT day:) 

Travis started telling Maddix for awhile over the phone that when he came home we'd make some "Louisiana treats," while watching Princess Frog (since its set in Louisiana). So first thing in the morning the boys set out to make Beignets!

watching and cooking

We also fit in a quick little photo as a family... nothing cool; just a quick photo on my phone in my mom's backyard so Nala could be there, then we dashed to Chuck-a-rama to have dinner as a family before heading home to put the boys to bed and have Trav's good buddies over for dessert and a movie! 

Friday: Unfortunately this became our last day instead of Sunday and none of us were happy about having to be apart again! ESPECIALLY when I couldn't get work off and ended up having to go in for a few hours :( This day was mostly up's and downs. A lot of emotions between the four of us and I can honestly say, each time we send him away it does NOT get easier. The heart DOES grow fonder. Pictures ARE worth a MILLION words, but NOTHING can replace the joys of actually being together! 

Morning run to preschool

farewell lunch at Olive Garden

I learned a lesson from a friend of ours in Poland; when it was time for them to move she said, 

"I've learned I can't say goodbye, so I always just say 'see you later.'" 

I've liked that and found it's good advice for myself. 

So, See you later Love! 

We're so proud of

YOU!