I am blessed!!

I couldn't have had a better Thanksgiving. All of the kids were here. My mother in law came over. We had a bounty of food. Hubby and I prepared our wonderful dinner for our family TOGETHER! So we spent a lot of time together. Just before dinner we had all the kids say what they were thankful for. It started with Briana who is or oldest girl and ended with Caity who is the youngest child. I got emotional hearing the kids say they were thankful to all be here with us this year. I am more than blessed. You see these children that were not born of my body are definately MINE in my heart! I love them all so very much. There really is no difference in love compared to my "own" children and my "step" children. They are all mine. God gave me this beautiful family and I am so very grateful. Here are a few pictures from our time together yesterday

Not Me Monday!

Yay for my favorite part of Monday!! Here are my list of Not Me's

I DID NOT hug and kiss my son because he got his report card today and he made all A's and B's.

I DID NOT tell him how wonderful and brilliant he was that he was in GT Math, Reading and Language Arts.

I DID NOT tell my daughter how adorably, irresistable she was in her brand new boots.
I DID NOT want to cry when I realized how grown up she looked.

I DID NOT look at myself and realize how much I have let myself go and that I have to stop being lazy and do something about it!

I DID NOT go to the gym for the first time EVER and realize that I am so out of shape!!!

My Husband DID NOT text me with an "I Love You Precious!" message for absolutely nothing and just when I needed it most. I DID NOT want to melt!

And lastly, I am NOT GOING to shower and go to bed early because that same wonderful husband who sent me that sweet message, woke me up wayyyyy to early snoring.

I AM NOT toast for the day because I got up tooo early and drug myself to the gym for the first time ever!!


Don't forget to stop over at My Charming Kids and read all the other Not Me posts!!

My kiddos!

So it is true...... My babies are growing up and there is nothing I can do about it! *Sigh* Here is Ms. Caitlyn Amanda and her 1st grade Fall School Picture for 2008! I can't believe my baby girl will be 7 in January!!

And here is my big guy....Christopher Dale and his 3rd grade Fall Picture for 2008! Yes I said 3rd GRADE!! I know I can't believe it. He is my ever helpful 8 year old !

Not Me Monday!!

Time again for Not Me Monday, hosted by MckMama over at My Charming Kids. Who by the way, gave birth to a precious miracle who is doing well. Please stop by and check her out! She is awesome!! So here goes. I DID NOT go outside at 7:30 Sunday morning in my nightgown to "politely" tell my neighbor he had woken me up by busting frames out of windows. I DID NOT even more politely ask him not to do this near my son's bedroom window. He DID NOT look at me like a freak. I also DID NOT come back inside and tip toe around my kitchen to make coffee because since I was up I wanted to have some time alone before the hubby and children go up. I was NOT bitter when I realized that the whole house was sleeping blissfully at 10. I was awake because of the neighbor. Any other morning everyone would have long since been awake. I DID NOT wake up with the worst PMS I have had in forever. I was NOT sad that we had not gotten pregnant this month. And finally I DID NOT e-mail my hubby who has been at work all day, while I have been home feeling sorry for myself, and ask him if he could do homework with the kids tonight. No that is just plain lazy and I wouldn't ask that of him. Not Me!!!See you next week!! Nope I did not do any of those things!!