Thinking on being thankful....

I love Thanksgiving more this year than any other year ever. Not sure why that is but I really do. Not just for the insane amount of food! I have been thinking this afternoon about how much I have to be grateful for. I would never have imagined my life would be this crazy fun and amazing! I have so much running through my mind that I guess the easiest thing is just to get it all out on paper (or electronic paper anyway)....

I am thankful that God never gave up on me, especially when I gave up on myself.
I am grateful for my kids, who remind me often that life really is so much fun.
I am thankful for my husband, who makes me laugh more than any other person ever has.
I am thankful that Cody still wants to cuddle up next to me on the couch every morning and every night (just like he is doing right now!).
I am thankful for Bennett's sweet smile that greets me every time he sees me.
I am thankful for Maddox's contagious laugh and his wild child spirit!
I am thankful for the best grandparents on earth. They have prayed for me every day for as long as i have existed. Their love guides me even now.
I am thankful for my mom, even when we don't get see eye to eye. She has sacrificed so much to raise me alone and I owe her the world.
I am thankful for reconnecting with my dad. It has healed deep wounds that I had tried to ignore.
I am thankful for afternoons spent throwing the football with Cody- even if he does tease me for throwing like a girl and never catching a thing!
I am thankful for fun hours watching our favorite shows as a family, Survivor, Amazing Race, AI...
I am thankful for memories I know my boys will have when they are grown.
I am thankful that they will always have each other. I pray they will always be as close as they are today.
I am thankful for a roof over my head and food on my table.
I am thankful that Mark has been laid off twice now- it has taught us how to rely on God instead of ourselves. It has taught us trust we never would have known existed.
I am thankful for a husband I know is in it for the long haul.
I am thankful for his sweet words and crazy teasing- and that he knows when to do each.
I am thankful for fantastic in laws. I will never forget reading in a card they gave me at our wedding that they had been praying for me since the day Mark was born.
I am thankful for Bennett's sweet baby toes and how he loves to chew on them : )
I am thankful for Cody's love of life. He is the most resilient kid I have ever known.
I am thankful God chose me to be the mom to my three boys. I can't imagine one minute without them.
I am thankful for late night feedings, when I get a little quiet time with B.
I am thankful for Maddox wanting to go everywhere I go. I know there will come a time when he will not be with me all the time and I will miss these days so much.
I am thankful that my boys are all healthy. I will cherish tucking them in tonight and every night because I know many parents do not have that luxury.
I am thankful for friends who have walked through the last few years with me. I have been shown more grace, compassion and love that I could ever have imagined existed.
I am thankful that Cody loves his little bros, even when he says they drive him crazy.
I am thankful for cameras. I want to remember every moment of these years with my kids.
I am thankful for scrapbooking and the joy it brings to my soul.
I am thankful that Jesus broke through space and time to save me from myself.
I am thankful for freedoms I can never fully appreciate.
I am thankful for a husband that encourages me and believes in me every day.
I am thankful for Tuesday morning play dates. I so look forward to them these days.
I am thankful for W242, without which I am not sure what I would do.
I am thankful for how much God has given me and I pray I can be faithful in every detail.
I am thankful for love, for giving and receiving it.
I am thankful for Maddox's awestruck amazement at Christmas lights this year.
I am thankful that I have free access to my Savior and that he brings me soul a little more alive every day.
I am beyond grateful for the knowledge that my soul is safe no matter how much I screw up.

Wow it has been SO long since I updated this. I guess I am busier than I realize with these three crazy boys. Life continues to chug along at a break neck pace. Bennett is almost 5 months onnld now and still the easiest baby in the history of babies. He sleeps great, he eats great and he is never fussy for no reason. How did I get so lucky? The downside to that is that he makes me wany more babies...well not more babies really...just one more baby. But my wonderful husband says no way! Bennett is just happy wherever he is... jumpy thing-loves it, saucer- loves it, laying on the floor-loves it, Maddox roaring in his face-loves ..oh no wait he hates that. Maddox, oh Maddox what a mess he is. He is so dramatic lately. Drives me totally nuts. But then he turns on the charm and is so sweet! He loves to "nuggle" on the couch with me, drink yo baby, and watch a movie. He even asks for those things, in that order, every single day. I can not resist the snuggle request. I always make him promise that he will always snuggle with me on the couch. We will see how long that lasts! He is in a major mommy stage right now which is hard with Bennett around too. Maddox still talks more than any 2 year old I have ever seen. He can say some pretty nutty stuff. I have finally started keeping a list so I can add them to his scrap book. I can tell how clean my house is based on his attitude. When I take the time to really focus on cleaning he doesn't get as much attention and then pesters Bennett to tears. Poor Bennett he really has to be laid back to survive 2 older brothers. Cody isn't like that to Bennett yet. He is still super sweet to him.

Now Cody and Maddox that is a different story. Having grown up an only child it is simply amazing to me the bond of siblings. Cody and Madddox already push each others buttons. Cody does it by pushing the boundry when they are wrestling and pinning Maddox or just annoying him until he screams (which doesn't take long!). Or Cody pushes the limit on trying to get Maddox to hug or kiss him. It is so funny because Maddox knows that Cody wants that affection from him so he taunts him with it. Cody has tried so many times to get Maddox to say that Cody is his best friend and Maddox never will go for it. He insists that Hollister is his best friend. Drives Cody crazy! Very cute things you jsut can't get from anyone but your siblings. I pray they are always close. I know it is too early for them to graso right now but I try to tell them as much as possible that their brother is their most important ally in life. I want them to look out for each other, after they get done driving each other batty!

Cody has done pretty good with middle school so far. He has had a little bit of a learning curve but I knew that this year would be the year that would test him. He isn't the most organized kid (but than again is any 11 year old boy organized?) and having to change classes 6 times and deal with a locker was hard to start with. There were many days that we ended up back at school because he had forgotten something. He is in the band this year. He had to try out at the end of last year and got perrcussion which is what we really wanted. He plays the bells - which look like a xylaphone to me- and the snare drum. The first few days of practice with the drum sure tested my patience. It is SO loud. Now he just keeps a practice pad and home and the drum only comes home on Friday. I can't wait to see their first concert on Dec 15!