Santa

 We had our first encounter with Santa this year. No tears, but definitely no smiles. My mom sat him in Santa's lap, and I was ready with the camera. I wanted to capture the moment even if it was with tears. Sometimes those pics are really cute & funny. He looked like he wanted to cry, but he didn't. I could never get all three of them looking at me. I was on a field trip with my mom's class at the health museum for kids. I had a whole row of mom's & teachers behind me trying to get pics too. We're going to Santa's Wonderland in CS this weekend, so we're going to attempt another pic. Maybe this time, he'll recognize that fuzzy white beard, and give us a smile. 

Still Thankful!

Remember me? I'm the one that started posting the "30 Days of Thankful" posts, got to day 7, then disappeared. Well, I'm still thankful & I'm back. To say I've been in a bit of a blogging funk, would be an understatement. I've just been so busy, but I'm trying to enjoy every moment of this holiday season! I think about blogging a lot, but that hasn't materialized lately. But, since I am so very blessed & thankful, I'm going to condense all "thankful" posts into one blog post. Here we go...

(you've already seen 1-7)

I am so very thankful for:
1. My Savior
2. My husband
3. My sweet Kaden
4. My parents
5. My brother & sisters
6. The family I married into
7. Snuggles
8. That my sister's adoption was made final, and she's officially a Gilbert
9. Our church family
10. Our youth kiddos
11. Our home
12. Two cars that run & are paid for
13. My job...a mommy
14. Play dates at the park
15. Friends
16. Our health
17. That my husband is following his dream
18. More time with Micah since he's not working 100 hours a week
19. Extended family
20. Vacations
21. That my husband is way stronger than me, and helps keep me grounded
22. Grandparents that are still alive and doing well
23. Prayer
24. The Bible & the truth it speaks
25. Mentors that speak into our lives
26. The education we were able to get at A&M...and all the memories it came with 
27. That we were able to travel to Korea for Micah's brother's wedding. A once in a lifetime opportunity
28. Mornings that we can sleep in
29. Chocolate...yes, I went there! 
30. That we live in the great US and have so much more than we realize!

For this, and so much more, I am thankful. And I try to remember that everyday, even the bad ones!

Day 7

Thankful for moments like this. When a sleepy, stuffy nosed little boy snuggles up just to rock with me in the chair & sing Itsy Bitsy Spider, or Jesus Loves Me. And then falls asleep. I love to cuddle with him. It happens so little these day. I'll happily snuggle & rock him to sleep as long as he'll let me. I never want to take these little moments for granted. They're too priceless!

Day 6

I'm thankful for the family I married into. They've accepted me as one of their own, and loved me as family. They're a wonderful family. Great parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles. I'm very happy to be a part of the McMahon family.   

My Little Monkey

We don't celebrate Halloween. Usually we have a church carnival or function. I hadn't really thought about a costume for K. I had tossed a few ideas around of costumes I might make, but wasn't sold on any of them. Then a friend of mine told me where there was a good sale, so I decide to pick up this sock monkey outfit. There was just one problem...K hates hats! And without the hat, it wasn't much of a costume...

 I had him entertained for a few minutes with a sucker & his swing, but it didn't last long before he started ripping the hat off. I just wanted one cute pic...I didn't get it.

Oh well...he's still a cute monkey. I can't say that I blame him either...it's been too hot to dress up in full body suits with a hat!

Day 5

I'm thankful for my brother and sisters. We're all so different, and yet I love them all. I love the memories we've made together. I love the good & the not so good about each of them. I really love that K has the best Aunts & Uncles he could ask for. 

Day 4

I'm thankful for my parents. I've always known they loved me, but I never realized how passionate that love was until I experience having a child myself. It makes it that much sweeter. I'm thankful they raised me to love God and the church. I'm so thankful that I live near them, and now that I'm grown, we can be friends too. And they're the best Grammy & Papa ever!