GRATEFUL

My friend Tiffany has a section on her blog called 52 weeks of gratitude. Each week she shows a picture of something she's grateful for. I decided to copy her idea-better late than never. This week I'm grateful for good literature. I just finished reading The Peacegiver. I've had it on my book shelf for over a year. The other day I was looking for something to read and it just stood out to me. What an incredible insight to forgiveness and ways to strengthen relationships! I cried through half of it and came away feeling like my life had been truly blessed and changed forever. Has anyone else read it? What's your favorite book?

Rosemary Clooney & Vera Ellen (the next generation)

If you haven't seen the movie "White Christmas" then this movie will only be worth it's face "cute" value. However, if you have seen the film, I'm sure you will thoroughly enjoy this modern rendition of an old favorite...

Gingerbread Cookies for Family Night

Despite the "wholesome recreational activity"-ish look of the whole thing, the cookies were store bought, and given to us as leftover by our neighbors. But hey, the kids weren't complaining! Everyone enjoyed decorating their little man with confections of all colors. It's a good thing pictures can't talk, otherwise you'd be able to hear the loud, boisterous voices of our outspoken children commanding each other to look at their creations. You would also hear them tell you all the reasons why they were doing what they were doing, and if you weren't listening don't worry, our children have NO PROBLEM repeating everything they just told you except twice as loud the second time around. Please tell me this occurrence is not unique to our little family! Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

Ye Olde Museum

As I sit here typing this, the picture is giving me the chills. It might not last too long on my blog but I know how most of you feel about spiders and I thought it would be fun to freak everyone out. Including myself. We had a fun trip to the Bean Museum for family last week. The kids had a blast and it was free. Afterwards we went home for hot chocolate because it was too cold for ice cream. We all had a lot of fun and it wore the kids out who all slept soundly that night.
One of the things they have there is a giraffe head mounted on the wall as you're going up the stairs. Giraffes have always been one of my favorite animals at the zoo. They're kind of mystical but now, I think they're kind of freaky. The way they stare....or maybe they don't do that when they're still alive, it's just the glass marbled eyes that give them that look. I don't know, but I felt more comfortable next to the spiders.

It's a Liger. It's pretty much my favorite animal.