no more tundra struck...

oh me, oh my.. what a weekend..  we were heading to a funeral of an amazing relative of daddio's in lexington saturday but never made it.   driving on the pouring rain,  the truck started to hydroplane & jesus did take the wheel.  as we went round and round and up and down, we hit a small pine tree but missed a large tree head on.  i had been working on some class work for gracie's class, cutting out papers & noticed we were starting to swerve.  daddio said "woah, hold on" & the kiddos started screaming.  momma bear turned around to talk to them and have my hands on them - though gracie said she couldn't hear a thing over her screaming.  she said she wouldn't stop looking at me so if we died, she would be watching me.  broke my heart.  eventually, we stopped and the engine was a smoking.  a nice man came down to us & said to hurry out  & his wife called 911.  of course, we didn't have our shoes on, so benj had one croc and one of his little sis's soccer cleats on.  & i had heels.  so much fun in the pouring rain!   of course, in these pictures, it's a bright sunshiny day!

pulling up the truck after the ride..benj's door didn't open & daddio no longer had a window.

but, we were so blessed to be able to run away from the truck with just a few scratches!  so, so thankful.  i hope i am able to thank those that helped us, they helped calm down the kiddos and a momma here.

we've had lots of fun in that black truck..
when we were married, oh the things they wrote on it... brandon m.  & "my weiner loves seattle"  it was supposed to say cialas.  we left if parked at a friends home the week of or honeymoon & the poor wife's name was sara, too.  i bet a few neighbors were giving them looks!

one year, the kiddos washed it for father's day.  the sponge came off of the handle & one of them made a large scratch down the side of it.

 the kiddos always loved decorating it up in the back for daddy to take to work.  i bet he had the prettiest chalk drawings of anybody in the back.

of course, in a truck there had to be mudding.  daddio actually did this all on a ride by himself, though i think i would have liked it.

the kiddos always loved leaving notes for daddio in there for his work day..

and, the back of the truck has always been a favorite hangout spot for us to talk about the day when daddio would get home.

the kiddos are up and down with how they are feeling.  one moment, their thinking of the new ride holiday world could have.. the next- anxiety of someone "falling off the road again."  we keep reminding them things happen, but God kept us safe, we are in his hands & it will be ok.  it will be ok.

it would really be ok in ben's mind if we were to get this...

 i think only one was made.. so i don't think this will be a happening. :)

graditude is an attitude & contagious as can be..

that little ditty from our kids' worship @ one life in the month of november has been stuck in my head.   how true that song is.  it has helped me to focus on the good this past month & thank god for that instead of my too often complaining.
on facebook, i tried to list what i was thankful for each day.. didn't make it every day, but here are the things that came to mind (in reverse order i posted on facebook):

getting to share thanksgiving & the weekend with family & friends

our swagger wagon (our minivan)

forgiveness

love, laughter & fun that fills our home. someday, i know i won't be stepping on that hot wheel that was left out going to bed & our home will be clean - but i will sure miss the excitement & joy the these 2 kiddos & their friends bring to our home.

our teachers, my kiddos have some awesome ones this year! i love that they are keeping that love for learning alive in my kiddos. it has been amazing to watch ben's eyes light up with each new word he learns to read & spell. i am thankful for the teachers i have had in school that helped me with more than just book smarts, but were there for me when things were bad. don't know what i would have done without them. & my teachers outside of school to help me learn about life.

thankful for our friends Melissa & family. i don't know what we'd do without you. in any moment of need, you guys are right there for us! (like yesterday & many days with the kiddos). we love you guys so much & are blessed to call you all our friends! so thankful for you!!

finding my cell phone

for my dayquil & the kids being on a short round of antibiotics/ steriods to clear up the junk they have. hoping for some healthy days soon!

our "dance parties" at home. even though my kids are already telling me i don't know how to dance. just wait till i get to chaperone one of your dances, mr. ben & i will really bust a move.

our veterans, past & present for serving our great country. thank you.

extra super thankful for kate & dave's new bundle of joy today!

my 2nd cousins/big sisters/best friends/mentors, janet & lori. i don't know what i would do without either of you. i love you both so much. thank you. & happy birthday today, janet!!

our freedom here in the united states of america. the right to vote, to worship, freedom of speech. things we often take for granted.

being a stay at home mommy. i love watching our kiddos grow and discover new things every day. these moments are priceless & am so glad i've got to experience each & every one. i am grateful for a hard working man to make this happen.

our church family, One Life West / One Life Henderson, our small group we meet with & our church leadership. kitten & trey: i don't have words to describe how thankful we are for you. i am also thankful that my cousins lori &randy sponsered us 3 years ago to go on a tres dias weekend - what a life changing time that was for us! thank you.

Charlie's Mongolian Barbeque. & that we got to see some of our favorite friends, the Chaffins, there today!

my mom, dad, extended family & my in loves.

 the 2 precious kiddos god has blessed us with. never in my life could i have imagined how awesome being a momma could be. they bring so much joy, laughter, silliness & love into our home. i am so thankful that whenever somethings wrong with anyone gracie will say "let's pray for them/that." & we do. i love who they are & watching them grow more awesome every day. benjamin & gracie faye - you kids rock!

justin. my super duper husband & best daddio to our kiddos in the world. he has taught me so much through the years & am so thankful for his blessing in my life. i love you!

there is so much that i often take for granted & this month has been a good one to actually reflect on things with our family & share in the blessings we have.

remember those less fortunate...

today, i must admit i was feeling a bit super sorry for myself... a backed up sewer system in the basement, a van with no heat & lots of $$ to fix, kidney stones,  & so on & so on. 

but, we are blessed with so much.  a wonderful family & friends.  a god that loves us & forgives us.  a roof over our heads, food to eat & so much more. 

every time we see a salvation army bucket or the riley kids' money bank at walmart, the kiddos love to give.  let's follow in their footsteps!

something else i am so thankful for

my mommy!! mom, everytime i put a picture on here you tell me "TAKE THAT THING OFF!"  i love you mom!

& all the rest of my family & friends & our home & our health & you get the idea!

i want this book

i want this book for my kiddos & for all my friends & family that deserve a big ole thanks!

http://veryawesomeworld.com/awesomebookofthanks/inside.html

what daddio did on his summer vacation

after we got back from the beach, daddio went to work on our deck.  that week in july, it was so super hot, but he worked out there every day, getting the job done.  he kept the frame the was built by our neighbor john long ago, but laid down new flooring & steps. the painting was a family affair.    the first color we had chosen was thompson's water seal stain in hawthorn. 

when justin started to paint, it looked a lovely mauve.  almost pink.   not the color we were looking for.  

  so, we took the paint back to the store & got an off the shelf color, russet. 

it looked red, like we had started with.  oh well. i called thompson's & they said the color on the can was just a computer printout & isn't really the color that you get due to new regulations on paint.  my suggestion was to update their cans. 

 we now have a spliter free deck to enjoy sitting out on & watching the stars.

 thanks daddio for your hard work.  (you would have gotten extra points had you hauled away the old wood instead of poor old wifey taking the kids to the landfill & resulting in me getting a tetnus shot from a rusty nail :)  just kidding)

our patio furniture from home depot that i got a great deal on thanks to slickdeals.net.  & homemade decorations on the table by the kiddos. 

my mother's day present from ben that he made in preschool.

the view from the deck.  mr. turtle & whale were having a talk.

now, on to the next projects in the home.  neverending!  but so thankful for the home we have.

surgery success!

just a quick note to say papaw's surgery was a success! thanks everyone for your thoughts & prayers. it meant and means so much. thank you dr. bumpus for your expert hands. you did awesome work! pap looks much better already, can eat food, it just doing awesome i think! once i figure out how to post a pic here at namaw & poppy's, i will, you won't believe it! it's just amazing!

what i'm thankful for...

my husband. daddio works so hard to take care of us & still comes home with a smile on his face; ready to play wipeout crash or have a jam session. he's the best, most awesome guy period.

my kiddos. they are a bit mischievious & like to be loud, but they are full of love. they are such great helpers & always handing out hugs, kisses, or fives. i hope they will always be this way.

i am thankful for being able to stay at home with my kids. i love waking up every morning & holding them in my arms. i love eating oatmeal with blueberries in bed watching cartoons in the morning with them. i love their laughter and enthusiaum for life. sometimes, i get a bit stressed out & beano will say, momma we just want you to be happy. if we had the $$ & could have 10 more just like them, i'd take it.

i am thankful for my family. even though we have some issues once in a while, there is much love there. my family is always here for us when we need them, no matter what. i am thankful for the love & support they have provided daddio & me in our lives. our kiddos are blessed to have so many people that love them. auntie jen, i don't have a pic of you on our new computer. i am thankful we will see you soon! we miss ya!



i am thankful for my friends near & far. sharing fun times & memories & advice when needed.

our doggie. he doesn't get enough good attention here, so he stays at damaw's. we love him & miss him though.

i am thankful to God for all the blessings & forgiveness he has given us. without him in our life, where would we be?

i am thankful for not having to cook too much for thanksgiving! i bet my family is too!

happy thanksgiving to all!