Day 304: Christmas Cookies

Today the kiddos and I began the first of the holiday baking.  I didn't take any pictures because I'm trying to simplify.  Less pictures = less to blog about on the family blog.

But it was fun making the cookies together.  Breaking out the cookie cutters and cutting the gingerbread dough.  That was my Joyful Moment.  And then we put some on a few plates and took them around to families from our church that Blake is supposed to visit with each month.  We discussed "service" with the kids at dinner and how this was a service.  Seeing their joy at giving away our cookies was another Joyful Moment.

Wishing you all Joyful Moments of giving away delicious yumminess!

Day 303: Great Tackler

That's me.  That's what I did today.

Last night I sat down and made a hefty list of things I need to do.  Some are somewhat urgent, others just need to be done before Christmas.  And I want to enjoy Christmas, so I want to be organized and get things done before it gets all crazy and stressful.

Last night the list got me a little overwhelmed and things (briefly) were all crazy and stressful.

But I woke this morning with a clear head (and the first night of uninterrupted sleep in ages) and a much happier heart.  Then HH came into the kitchen and asked what he could do to help before taking Sweet P to the bus stop (a help in and of itself).  It was so thoughtful and unexpected it was a Joyful Moment even though I struggled to think of something he could assist with in the short time he had before needing to leave.

Also on the list was bathing and brushing Z.  I haven't really kept up with her shedding problem since I had Baby B (I know) and she was quite smelly after a week and a half without a bath.  Tonight she smells much better and her fur is silky smooth.  That may be the one nice thing about the cold air--she sheds much less and I just might be able to eliminate her shedding problem again with our fabulous Furminator brush.

Wishing you all silky smooth, fur-free Joyful Moments!

Day 302: Baby B's Joyful Moment

So, this morning was an excellent Joyful Moment because I was able to stop by my grandparents' home and visit with them for a bit before we finished our drive home.  Now that my maternal grandparents have both passed on, I appreciate these two all the more.  And I could tell how happy they were to see us.  And providing someone else with a Joyful Moment always results in one of your own.

Then we hopped in the car and drove for several long hours.  Until we were finally HOME.

And that might have been the best part of the day.  I was carrying Baby B around on my hip as I hurried to get the kids in bed and get the essentials put back in their place, when I realized that Baby B was giggling.  So, I turned and paid attention to him.  He was just looking all over as we went from room to room and giggling with delight.  I guess when you're 7-months old and you're taken from your home for over a week, you begin to think you're never going back.  And he was just so overcome with his own Joyful Moment at being back in a familiar place that he couldn't help but giggle.

It was.  SERIOUSLY.  SO.  ADORABLE.

Seriously.

Wishing you all Joyful Moments that are just that fun and sweet!  Seriously.

Day 301: On The Road Again

We're heading home today.  This has been a really great visit with family--one of the best maybe.  But it is such a wonderful Joyful Moment to be heading back to our house.

And tonight we have another Joyful Moment in spending the night with my sweet aunt and her husband as they open their home to us.  And share the leftovers of a yummy Thanksgiving meal!

Wishing you all Joyful Moments and never-ending feasts!

Day 300: Wowzers

Seriously?  300 days?  I can't believe it.  It seems like I just barely hit 100.  Honestly, I'm a little sad that this is coming to a close.  No worries though.  A new idea for a new year of posts is in the works.

Today's Joyful Moment was hearing Baby B laugh.  He's been so sad lately and it's just breaking my heart.  I worry so about this sweetest little baby of mine.  He's still pretty sick, but seems to have turned a corner.  Although, when we took him into a doctor this morning he informed me that he could wind up needing a night in the hospital to receive oxygen and/or it could progress to pneumonia.  Perfect.  But then the doctor agreed with me that it does seem that Baby B is on the mend and most likely won't hit either of those tragedies.  Hearing him laugh again today after mostly being sad all day yesterday was truly music to my ears.

Wishing you all Joyful Moments with adequate amounts of oxygen!

Day 299: Turkey Bowl

Well, despite an even sicker Baby B, today was still full of Joyful Moments.  HH's family has a tradition to start the day off at the bowling alley and have a bowling competition.  It's his super extended family, so it's fun to catch up with everyone, munch on some breakfast, and watch the competition.  My bowling skills are pretty much non-existent, so I am never even close to contending for the trophy (yes, there is an actual trophy that you get your name on if you have the high score).  But I have fun chucking the ball down the lane and watching everyone else compete.  Getting one strike after several gutter balls (I'm SO consistent) was a bit of a Joyful Moment.

Making my cranberry sauce from scratch and an experimental green bean recipe were also Joyful Moments, especially because they got plenty of rave reviews.  Even The Vegetable Hater brother-in-law liked the beans.  Score!

And then listening to everyone state what they're thankful for was another Joyful Moment.  Sharing my thanks and then pranking everyone that I was pregnant were some more JM's.

And finally came an unexpected Joyful Moment when HH asked if I was wishing I were with my family and I realized that I'd never once had that thought throughout the day.  HH accuses me of having an insatiable appetite for his family, leaving his family feeling a bit slighted, so this was pretty big.  But it's true.  I felt very much at home here with his family today.  So, while I know I would have had a great time with my side of the family, I had one here too.  That hasn't always been the case, but it's what I want, so this was a nice Joyful Moment.

Wishing you all lots of Joyful Moments to go with your turkey!

Day 298: In Sickness & In Health

Can I just say that Joyful Moments are harder to come by when your sweetest little Baby B is sick, with a high fever and a completely stuffed nose?  Remember how he likes to suck his thumb?  That's awfully hard to do when you can't breathe through your nose.  So sad.  So so so so SO sad.

But today still brought Joyful Moments.  That's hard not to do when you're visiting family.  We left my family today (NOT a Joyful Moment), but we came to visit HH's family (a Joyful Moment).  It's been fun reuniting with his parents and two brothers that are here.  I never had little brothers, so his tend to be sources of Joyful Moments (even though they're not all that little any more).

And another Joyful Moment is anticipating the MANY Joyful Moments tomorrow will bring.  And hopefully, the Joyful Moment of Baby B being able to sleep tonight and waking up sans the fever.  Oh, please, oh please!

Wishing you all Joyful Moments and health!