I just wish there was a picture to include of this.....

So I worked Thanksgiving and my family decided to wait till Black Friday to celebrate with me. Everybody pitched in and contributed to our afternoon affair. This was a year of firsts. First year eating Thanksgiving dinner before the sun went down (normally we eat around 6PM) and first year everyone (all 9 of us) got together at my house. I wish I had a camera to take a picture of what prevailed before the tyrptophan feast started. So since I didn't I will describe it for me and my reader because it was so precious I just don't ever want to forget it.

We are gathered in a circle in the kitchen holding hands to say prayer and bless the meal. All standing included Greg, myself, Aunt Tete (nickname), Uncle Rick, Papa, ShooShoo, Angelina, Grayson and Gavin. Greg (being the man of the house) starts the prayer-heads bowed down we pray. He thanks the Lord for our blessings and so on then pauses for a second (this is the precious part) and Gavin chimes in loudly "God is great, God is good and we thank him for our food, By his hands we are fed, Thank you Lord for our bread A-MEN!" I mean just typing these words doesn't give the situation justice...it was so precious and from his little 3 year old heart.

It reminded me that even though he is strong willed and stubborn and challenges us daily, we have done a good job so far with teaching him what is really most important. At church today in the play zone I ran into one of Gavin's bible school teachers. She says to me "We just love Gavin, he is such a joy to have in class. And he really knows his bible and loves it too!" Beaming, I was just beaming with pride and thanks. I haven't done anything outrageous with teaching him about Jesus. I read him books and we talk about Jesus. But it's on his time-I won't be that parent who shoves spirituality and Christianity in front of him. And it is working. And I am proud of him. I pray I can continue inspire/teach/lead his realtionship with the Lord as he grows up. Because that is what I am called to do as a parent.

Thank you Lord for my beautiful children. I pray they will continue to grow in their relationship with you and out of that a level of respect and admiration for who you are to us all. Amen.

Fun with Daddy!

A simple trip to stride rite turned into a couple of very cute pics of Greg with his boys!!

I scream for ice cream

A little treat for two super boys! Lunch at chik fil a followed by ice cream cones always equals two happy boys!

Sleepy Bears

Gavin has added something new to his (extensive) bedtime ritual....his fear of the dark and NOT wanting to go to sleep. The fear thing I totally get....it's just to be expected with an imaginative toddler, however the not wanting to go to sleep deal is really out of character for him. He has always been my good sleeper ; 10 - 12 hours/night. So to the library we went! We got lots of books about sleeping and "Sleepy Bears" was his favorite. Consequentially when I was Christmas shopping for G&G toys r'us had these super cute bears for sale. I quickly grabbed 2 and became a hero (again!) at bedtime for G&G. Gavin named his Baxter and Grayson named his Ali, both named after 2 of the bears in the book. The book is great...check it out!!

Gavin and Grayson's Favorite Authors and Books

This blog has no pictures and no funny story. It is just a list of G&G's favorite authors and books. We have an entire tall 5 shelf book shelf in the playroom for G&G's books, mostly hardbacks but some board books (that I haven't packed up yet and they still enjoy) and a few paperbacks. Books have consistently been their favorite "toy". They will sit for hours looking at books and now Gavin has taken to reading the stories (really from memory because we read like crazy here.) He is mimicing his preschool teachers (who we LOVE) and playing teacher. He says "Okay guys, sit down and I will read to you!" hah! So cute! Grayson will curl up in your lap as long as you let him and keep reading. I love it that my boys love books like me. The smell of a bookstore is still my favorite, I will open a book in the middle, put my nose in the spine and inhale a smell that brings so many happy memories to me. Many of Greg and I's first dates ended at Barnes and Noble with each of us sipping venti coffee sitting in a overstuffed chair reading a new book together. I hope I can continue to encourage and develop a love of reading with both Gavin and Grayson.

Who we read (the most):
Jane Yolen
Amy Hest
Mem Fox
Karma Wilson
David Shannon
Steve Jenkins
Jane Chapman
Laura Numeroff
just to name a few......