Catching up: Thanksgiving weekend!

Could not be more Thankful for such a wonderful Thanksgiving week!  This is going to be a picture and video heavy post but I'm hoping you enjoy it!

Last week started with my sister from CA and her family, as well as my father from Panama flying in!  My dad is still here and will be for a couple more weeks! YAY!  It was so great to have my sister and her family in town for the week!

My nephew from CA and Carmen had a blast hanging out...he is 3 and she is turning 2 soon as you all know...so they had their toddler moments of getting used to playing with each other but overall they did so wonderful! Here are some pictures of them together this weekend!

His birthday was Wednesday, so they threw him a fun bounce house birthday bash!  It was Carmen's 2nd time in a bounce house and she did so much better than the first.  She had so much fun and didn't really want to get out and talked about it for days after!

Thursday aka Thanksgiving was a very fun full day!  My sister, who lives across the street was hosting so it was super close to us.  My brother-in-law and others set up this big screen in his front yard and we play Just Dance 4 most the night!  Carmen and Owen LOVED dancing along!
We even managed to get Kenny out there once!  I joined in the fun!
After a very full late night on Thursday, Friday was a day of rest.  We did go to Target for a little bit of Black Friday shopping but not until around 10:30 AM so we missed the big rush.  Thankfully the tree that we wanted to get that was on super sale was still in stock!  We decided, since we are trying to save a lot for all that is coming in the new year, that we wouldn't buy a big tree this year and just go with something reasonably priced.  We threw our old fake tree out last year because it hadn't been opened in 3 years and it was time to be replaced.  I'm so happy with the tree we got though.  It's just perfect for where I wanted to put it this year and also was pre-lit!

One of my favorite things about the holiday season is having a tree up and all the lights and decorations!  I love sitting in my living room with some hot cocoa and watching the tree.  And you can only imagine that little Miss Carmen is VERY excited about the lights and tree! Every morning she gets very happy when she sees the tree and the lights.  We did get her a 2 ft tree to go in her room.  For some reason the lights are working but as soon as we get those working then I'll get a picture of it.  I have some fun little ideas for the season for her that I will share soon.  I found most of them on pinterest. :)

We had a bit of trouble getting the lights outside to work but her daddy with the help of his daddy got them working finally on Sunday and we were all really happy about it!  I love how they turned out! As we live in the house longer, I'm sure our outside decorations are going to expand greatly but I'm happy with it for this year.

Back to our weekend timeline...you know how I love tangents.  Saturday night, my other sister, who lives just 2+ blocks away from us, hosted a shuffleboard tournament/fish fry.  This was another fun night of family activity!  Special K always is the one who sets up the tournament and then we play!  I haven't been playing the last couple times because usually it lasts too long and little Miss Carmen can't hang that late but she had been a trooper so I played!  Special K and my nephew's girlfriend won the tournament and prizes.  Check them out with their loot!

Sunday most of us headed to the Florida Aquarium.  It was fun watching all the kids interact and check out all the animals. Grandpa had fun showing the kids the animals too! :)

I headed back to work on Monday but my sister and her family didn't leave until Tuesday afternoon.  They continued the fun and I got to spend some time in the evenings with them.  I'm so thankful they were able to be here for so long and have so much fun!  5 of the sisters all live here but it's rare treat that all 6 of us are together.    Here is a picture of my dad and all his daughters.

And then one of my dad and all his grandchildren....he'll have a total of 8 after April and I just realized that with us having a girl, it rounds out his grandchildren to 4 boys and 4 girls! Pretty cool!

Hope you enjoyed this picture heavy recap of the weekend.  I had hoped to have more time to post but life just was busy and when it wasn't busy I was trying to rest up.  Being pregnant and on the go for days at a time...takes a tole on your body.  I'm feeling good but just need a vacation after my vacation! ;)

Feeling very blessed!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

What did you do over the Thanksgiving break? 

Thankful Fridays: health, ultrasounds, and food

Another week with no posts!  Been a crazy, busy, fast week! I promise at least a knitting post and a baby update next week before Thankful Thursday comes...since it's Thanksgiving! :)

I am Thankful ...

1. for CGR finally feeling better!!  She's not completely there but this week has been a struggle and watching her in pain just breaks my heart!  I'm so glad she's on the mend!  We had her seen today and they confirmed that her diaper rash/yeast is clearing up and that her oxygen levels are above normal which is fantastic!  We have a new ointment to try which should ease her discomfort but I am so thankful for her finally getting better!

2. for the sonogram lady, who was able to get some great shots of our baby GIRL!!  YES...we are having another girl!  I'm very excited for CGR to have a little sister!  I love having sisters and a brother too...but I love having sister and am glad that she will have one!

3. for my baby GIRL in my belly...I am thankful that you are you and that I get to feel you grow in my belly.  I have loved feeling daily kicks and reminders that you are in there growing big and strong and healthy!  Keep it up little girl!  We can't wait to meet you...but not until April! Stay put and keep growing!

4. for the power of blocking! I was so distressed over my Calligraphy Cardigan last week(was accidentally thrown in washer and dryer and shrunk while we were out of town) and so thankful that with a serious blocking session...which included an hour soak and randomly stretching the cardigan while wet and while drying...returned it back to a well fit cardigan and my daily hug!

5. for Publix.  Their chicken salad, egg salad, and baked potato salad have hit the spot on several occasions this week! 

6. for my little families' health.  I'm thankful that with all the sickness in our house that my husband has managed to stay healthy and while I did get congested I have managed to avoid getting any real sickness.  Also that our baby is healthy, measuring great, has 5 fingers, 5 toes, and is growing every day.

7. for full panel maternity jeans.  How did I not discover these last pregnancy?  My sister found some at a yard sale last weekend for $2 and I LOVE THEM!  They not only sort of hide my protruding belly button but they are SO comfortable!  I was thinking about it and I think the reason why I didn't try them last pregnancy was because I shopped for maternity clothes in the heat of the summer and I couldn't imagine ANOTHER layer on my already hot belly.

8. for my daycare lady.  She is wonderful with CGR and all the other kids.  I know that CGR is well taken care of and not only does the daycare lady love her but CGR loves her too.

9. for my knitting group.  It was a nice escape this week to spend an evening around other women all knitting and enjoying each others company.

10. for my family...just because I'm not sure what I would do without them!  It takes a village!  And very excited for those out of towners to show up!!

Happy Friday!!


What are you thankful for this week?

Thankful Fridays: chocolate, family, friends.

So much has happened since I last posted, that I didn't have anytime to update this space.  I have a lot of catching up to do but as I'm a little overwhelmed where to start...I'm just going to skip most of it and go with a quick top ten things I'm thankful for this week.

1. My husband...who is my shoulder to cry on, my rock, my best friend, my babies' daddy, and so much more.

2. My daughter...whose smile, laughter, hugs, and kisses are what life is about.

 3. The baby in my belly...getting to feel you move makes my heart full.  It's amazing how much you can love someone you haven't met yet and have never seen.

4. My family...whose support I'm not sure how I could ever survive without. 

5. My husband's family...which most of his father's side I met this week for the first time, as we all traveled up to WV to celebrate the life of my husband's grandfather.  There is so much I could say about Carmen's Big Papa, who passed on Halloween but I feel like this isn't the place to share it.  The weekend was very emotional and was sacred.  Just know that he was a wonderful man, who was loved by many and touched so many people's lives.  As sad of a time it was, the family togetherness was cherished, important time.  It was wonderful to meet those I hadn't met and to see again those I had.  Hoping next time is under better circumstances.

6. That my baby girl is on the mend.  We got back from up north and she quickly got very sick.  Long story short, she had trouble breathing and have been giving her breathing treatments to help her.  She's doing better and has spent the last 2 days being pampered with a great comforter.

7. This person I mentioned(I know she is a private person so I will leave it at that), who I am so thankful is in our lives and was able to be there during CGR's apt when we had to wait for her oxygen levels to go up and they talked about admitting her.  And who has taken care of her the last 2 days.

8. My friend Lish, who's company at breakfast this past weekend was just what I needed.  Wish we lived closer and got to knit together more often.

9. Chocolate...silly I know but oh how I have caught up the last couple days on eating very little chocolate for Halloween.

10. Matching with friends...another silly one but I love this game and thankful for it's distraction and entertainment.  If you are playing, start a game with me...barknknit!

Hope you are having a good week.

Happy Thankful Fridays!!!

What are a couple things you are thankful for this week?