Stop! Just for a minute or two, please :)

 It seems life just keeps on going even when you ask nicely for it to halt for just a bit...

I measure my children throughout the year, usually around their birthdays.  I guess it was about time I measured them again.  My son only grew about a quarter of an inch in the last seven months :)  Six foot three/four inches is quite tall enough.  He already has issues with sitting in cars and planes; we don't need to add to that.  My oldest daughter who has been trying to stay shorter than me is now the same height when she stands up straight.  No she doesn't slouch her shoulders; instead she falls into her hip and bends her knees.  My youngest is coming up fast.  She has gained about two inches in the past seven months.

I am reminded how quickly time flies when I get photo reminders of years past.  My children use to sit on my lap and snuggle with me and give me nose kisses.  At least my youngest still does, but how long will that last?  I continue to remind myself to enjoy every moment I have with them; before too long they will be grown up and move on.  I wish I could bundle up some of the hugs they give me for days when this house will be empty.  

It's funny!  I TREASURE my time alone, but I still miss them when they are not with me.  

I am one blessed mamma :)

Thankful

 I have been homeschooling my three children.  Yes, we now have three.  A, B, G.

We started a "Thankful Journal" three years ago.  This year we started using a weekly planner instead of a notebook.  It is much easier to keep track of :)  However, our weeks now end on Sunday as that is how the planner is set up.  I still prefer the planner to a notebook, especially for my children.  

At the end of the week, we mark the thing we are most thankful for that week and share it with each other.  It is more difficult some weeks than others to choose just one.  We do the same at the end of each month.  At the beginning of the new year, we go over our most thankful thing for each month and pick one for the year.   I love looking back on our thankful "posts."  We have really good years even when hard things happen.  Being thankful each day makes life more enjoyable no matter what is happening.

We do a White Elephant gift exchange with our family each year.  I remind them that no matter what they get they need to be thankful.  We practiced by me asking my son how he could be thankful for manure.  He responded, "It's good for the garden."  

I am one blessed mamma :)