Thanks

The kids and I started a project the day before Thanksgiving.

We decided to make trees using branches from the pile out back. We then traced our hands for leaves, and wrote what we are thankful for on them.

Maebelle did a wonderful job. Her hands (and leaves) were beautiful and colorful. Her thanks were thoughtful.

Orion enjoyed it. He liked picking out the branches and drawing and cutting, but he wore out of the crafty mood quicker than Maebelle. He did a wonderful job with his turkey below.

The last one he did was his idea of his hand inside mine. Thankful for Christmas. :)

He also cut out an amazing evergreen tree, but I have that one on our fridge. ;)

I also decided to do a few. I thought I'd just write out one or two, but as time went on and Orion's interest faded, I thought in order to make the trees look full enough, I should write a few more. 

After it was complete and I was taking these pictures, I realized how much each of the things I put on the hand leaves actually means to me. I know that I wouldn't have been thankful for them if they hadn't meant anything. But really, these are the things that make my life worth living. And I realized that I should take time more regularly to be consciously thankful for them. Actually appreciate them with all my being, like I had the chance to do while photographing them.

And when I do that, it makes all other stress dissipate. That's a nice feeling.

Maybe that's why I enjoy photography so much. It slows my mind and thoughts down enough that I actually appreciate things instead of just going on without even noticing them.

And the finished product: 

We took one to Thanksgiving dinner at my grandparents house and still have the other here. And I still love it!

This is, I think, my favorite corner of the house. Now there is the addition of the gift Orion made me for my birthday. Which is layers of colored rock in a fish bowl that has bamboo growing in it. I have another of those bamboo planters made by Maebelle on my dresser. And they are bright and fun and make me smile. But this picture...I love the little evergreen, the leaves on the pot, the mushroom, the pot to the right is one that one of the kids painted me for Mother's Day a few years ago. And the apples. Maebelle painted the apples. And they are beautiful.

I am definitely thankful. I have a lot to be thankful for. Mostly I am thankful for who I am and where I am in this life right now and the loved ones I get to share it all with.

Flowers and Gingerbread Houses

Earth Flowers are some of the best flowers grown.

This bouquet, Orion picked it out for me. :) He chose a beautiful one! I like the mixture of yellows and golds with the pinks. Nice fall colors with a hint of pretty and pink.

They brought them home to me the week before I took these pictures - on about the 10 of November. I had to toss them out this last Sunday. And that was only because they had bugs. The chrysanthemums and the daisy looking things still looked pretty. They lasted a month. Easily. Like I said, they are amazing!

I got to know Homer a little while I worked at The Merc and he is one of the nicest people you'll ever come in contact with. If you are ever in need of flowers - try Earth Flowers, I don't think they have website, but you can purchase them at The Merc and possibly at Henrys' Plant Farm.

And that, above, is a purple, spiky, grassy plant thing that Zac bought when we moved into this house. It was basking in some Saturday morning sun and it totally drew me in as I walked around it. So then I had to photograph it.

Look at those eyes:

My mom, Brandy, McKenzie, Maebelle, Orion and I built a gingerbread house for the Topeka Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays.

Here's the finished product.

And the kids were able to make their own house after we viewed the others and voted on the best one at the show.

Maebelle likes to eat the frosting more than she likes to use it on the house. Therefore, she tried to save as much as she could. Since she was trying to use the frosting so sparingly, the roof kept falling off. Brandy tried to help her, below. But by the time we got to the car, both her house and Orion's had already fallen apart. O'well. It was fun to make them!

After the gingerbread houses, we went to Gage Park and the kids played while my mom and I had a chance to talk and hang out. It was a wonderful day! Girl talk with my mom doesn't happen very often and it was a great time! And with that, the holidays begin. :)