Thanksgiving 2011...

This Thanksgiving we stayed at home, here in Cibolo, TX.  We didn't have any visitors from out of town, so we chose to go eat at the club on base.  I am not sure if I ever posted about my unfortunate Thanksgiving disaster a few years ago, but I had a mishap and ended up with 7 stitches and a few hours in the ER...since then I have not been to keen on cooking unless we had a good reason.  Two small children who are picky eaters, is not that reason.  :)  

So this year since we had no plans to cook at home and be busy in the kitchen, we decided to do something we have talked about for quite some time...Meals on Wheels.  It was a wonderful and rewarding experience. I am so thankful we had the chance to do this, to take the children and share this with them and to spread some love and joy into the lives a few people.  It was a great way to start a day that is really meant not to stuff your faces and get ready to shop, but to be Thankful...something I think we all forget from time to time.  

It was a very emotional day for me...I just couldn't stop the tears.  I felt so thankful to be able to do this for others. I felt so sad for the people we brought meals to and wanted to do more.  I felt an ache to get back to doing social work...after years being home with the kids and wondering if I would go back to that or find something else, I think this sealed the deal on where my heart is.  

I am not sure how much the kids really understood...we did our best to make sure they knew the meaning of what and why we were taking meals to people.  I do know we will do this again, hopefully soon.  I want us to never forget how lucky we are...how blessed we are...how fortunate we are. 

I am thankful for a lot this year.  I know how much I have and how often I forget to be thankful for it all. How much I have taken for granted and how much I don't show my gratitude for.  I know that there are people who I don't say I love you to enough and say thank you to as often as I should. I know that I want to work on that and make sure the people in my life always know I love them.  

But most of all I am glad that on a day called Thanksgiving, we did both.  We were thankful for so much and we participated in giving back...I think that is the best I have felt about this holiday in a long time.  

Here are a few photos from our day...

The children delivering the first meal...

 At the club after we ate...Zach was posing, mostly to hid the pumpkin pie he was wearing all over his pants...

 Photo by Erin...Look how good Brandon looks!  Lost 20 lbs and I think gave it all to me. ;)

 Me and my blessings...

 With their daddy....

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Santa Surprises!

Yesterday we went out to run some errands at a nice shopping place in San Antonio. I had some returns, the kids wanted to spend money at Target on some toys...we have told them no new toys until Christmas, so they had to use their own money if they really wanted anything.  So...we did our shopping and when I ran into do my last return I saw some people caroling...in old clothing and it looked beautiful. So I went and got the family out the car to see them sing...next thing we know, Santa pulls up in a sleigh...no joke.  So we got to have a horse drawn carriage ride with Santa...it was awesome...Love random moments like this.  It wasn't what we had planned, but super fun!

Just something cute...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPzQ0tEpYTQ


I love that my kids come home from school with things like this...

Gig Em Aggies!

I am not sure how two graduates of the University of Arizona have raised a son who wants to go to Texas A&M, but it has happened.  I grew up in NC and during basketball season I still cheer for beloved Duke, unless they are playing the Wildcats.  Brandon and I love our college, we took the kids to the campus two years ago, they each have U of A attire and Brandon, well lets say he tends to wear his AZ pride often. :)  But, non the less...we have a real Aggie fan in the house.  

Zach has been talking about A&M for a while and Brandon decided as a big treat and surprise he would take him to a game. So we waited until the morning of to tell him. Otherwise my sweet son would have been so wound up he wouldn't have slept for nights.  At 6 AM Saturday Brandon woke him.  When he got to the kitchen we told him he needed to get dressed and eat so they could be out of the house by 7.  He looked flustered.  He reminded us it was Saturday.  Brandon then handed him the tickets. His eyes went from glazed over to bursting out of his head. He was thrilled, beaming and said a big Yes...then he got dressed in record time. He was so excited it was awesome to see his reaction...honest and sincere.  He and Brandon met up with a friend who is an A&M alum.  They tailgated and then went to the game. They enjoyed the whole game, the Aggies won big...WHOOP WHOOP...and hung out after before heading home.  It was a fun, long day that Zach enjoyed so much...Brandon enjoyed and will be forever remembered.  How fun would it be if he ends up going there one day and we can show him this?

Zach and Dad pre game...great memories. 

A month of being thankful...

Each day this month on facebook I have tried to make my status something i am thankful for...be it big or small, I put something out there that is on my mind or heart.  Some days it is pretty silly, like my DVR or Ebay...mind you to me they are very important...but I am sure it seems superficial to others.  Reality is I am not sure 30 days is enough to say all I am thankful for...But, I will try here on my blog, to give some of my top 30 most thankful things, honestly included. ;)

1. Thankful for my health and that of my loved ones.

2. Thankful for a house, clothing, food, and not going without.  If anything, I have far, far too much.

3. Thankful for two children that love each other and are friends.

4. Thankful to be married to a man I can say I am proud of and admire all of his achievements.

5. Thankful for the opportunities to move, meet new people, see new places and have new experiences.  

6. Thankful for Facebook, email, text messages, free long distance and all the ways I am able to keep in touch with people who live far away. 

7. Thankful for my DVR, I won't lie on my own blog, I love TV and love getting to watch my shows when I have time. 

8. Thankful for ebay.  This one is very true. I LOVE ebay.  It is a great thing in my life. 

9. Thankful for all of the services we have for Zachary, his support groups, therapies and amazing people that work with him.  His progress and achievements are owed to so many wonderful people.

10. And, thankful for the families I meet through those groups....It is an amazing feeling to be surrounded by other parents who get it.  Who deal with the same struggles and concerns. No matter how different kids on the spectrum are, we all seem to circle the same issues. It is nice to not feel judgement or pity and be able to share with those who simply get it.

11. Thankful for great friends near and far, who don't get it first hand, but try their best.  They give me love, support and smiles when I need it and remind me that I am doing a pretty good job most days.

12. Thankful strangely for autism.  With it has brought many changes to our family, good and bad.  But it has shown me so much. 

13. Thankful for the chance for both of my children to be in great schools with wonderful teachers.  They both love school and that is a gift for life.

14. Thankful for Sally.  When I quit the gym last month to save money, she stepped up and became my walking/workout buddy again. I love it. 

15. The beach, especially my beloved Atlantic Beach.  I feel at home every time I am there and I love that feeling.

16. Thankful for surprises.  Some of the best things in life are surprises or unexpected events. I love them!

17. Coffee...my one sure vice...I love coffee.

18. Thankful that I get to be a stay at home mom.  I can go to lunch with Zach whenever I want, I have time to do fun things with Erin and just enjoy the kids...I am very thankful for that every single day.

19. Thankful for all modern devices that make my life easier...dishwasher, washing machine, computer, dryer, microwave, keurig, tv, dvd player, etc.  It is amazing how much we depend on them when one of them breaks...

20. Thankful to our assignment in San Antonio.  Until this assignment we hadn't had one that we really loved. I love it here, so much I could see us coming back one day.  Thank you AF for this assignment.

21. Thankful to be an American. Proud to be one too!

22. Thankful to have gotten to work in a career field I loved, even for a short time. I learned so much and met some amazing people that still make me smile and feel proud of what they have accomplished. 

23. Thankful to have my parents in my life and my children's lives.

24. Thankful for books and my love of reading...I love to read and get lost in a good book. 

25. Thankful for my walks...I love my long walks outside...time to think, unwind, exercise...love it.

26.  Thankful for the opportunities I was given by my parents...no matter if I failed or disappointed, they supported and loved me unconditionally.  They gave me wings and roots...even when it was hard to let me use my wings, they did.  They have taught me so much and always been there for me no matter what. 

27. Thankful for Brandon...he is my best friend and rock. I am so glad he puts up with me!  He is a genuinely good person and it doesn't hurt that he can fix anything. :)

28. Thankful for my Erin. She was one of the BIGGEST and best surprises in my life.  She has been such a wonderful blessing to me and our family. Her beautiful smile, personality, sweetness and big heart make me so happy and proud to be her mom.  I love her to bits and I am so thankful she came into our lives, right when she did.

29.  My Zachary. He has shown me so much about myself, being a mom and about life. He is so smart it amazes most people. He is kind, sweet, loving and quite funny. He is also someone that has come so far and done so much. He is my hero in many ways.  I am beyond proud to be his mom and I honestly don't feel worthy enough most days...he is wonderful...

30. Life....most of all I am thankful for my life...my chance to experience all of this and so much more. Each day, each sunrise and sunset...just thankful for that.

My wonderful blessings....never could be thankful enough for these two. 

Halloween photos...

I have been asked to post and I know I am late, so here are a few Halloween photos...

Sadly I didn't have my camera when we went trick or treating at Brandon's work and Zach didn't do his school parade...so not as many photos as we normally have...

Next assignment is....

The List came out yesterday and after weeks of sort of knowing, we can now officially say, we are heading to Ohio!
Brandon was accepted into the AFIT program for school...Air Force Institute of Technology.  It is at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.  He has to be there on May 17th, so he will head up there mid May, the kids and I will follow after May 25th.  We are excited to move up there...it is a great opportunity for Brandon, a great area for our family with good services for Zachary.  And we have some friends up there already, so that always softens any move.  We are however, me specifically, very sad to leave San Antonio. We have grown to LOVE it here in ways I didn't expect. It is an amazing area for us.  Our children have thrived in the time we have been here...we have been so blessed with great schools for both.  I have met so many amazing people and fun friends.  I have had time to be involved and enjoy being a mom.  We will miss all this area has to offer and the people that have been a part of making it so special.  I look forward to coming back here one day and settling down...we are dreaming big!!
So until May, I am going to enjoy the heck out of this area and my friends!  I am so thankful for our time here and will always love San Antonio.
Watch out Ohio....get Ready for the Millers in May. :)