Happy Thanksgiving

Today I am more thankful than ever for everyone and everything in my life. Grandma passed away early this morning and I am so thankful for every day that I got to spend with her. I'm also thankful for her sense off humor and dislike of turkey to that I could actually chuckle that she waited for thanksgiving. In celebration of her, we will be eating ham today ;) This is also our first thanksgiving without grandma Judy - I will forever be thankful for her not being here to make deviled eggs ;)
I am extremely thankful to have such a wonderful husband that was there for me this morning and every other day. He is a great husband and an awesome daddy. I'm thankful for my doodle bug who keeps me smiling and grounded every day. She makes me really appreciate the little things. I'm thankful for all of my family and the bond that we all have. I'm thankful for my friends and all the support they give me. I'm thankful for my home, my car, and my house cleaner..... I'm thankful that my master's classes are over in June! I'm thankful for Black Friday sales and to have friends who understand my love of the madness! I am thankful for a classroom full of 25 little people excited to learn every day. I'm thankful for everyone that I work with - they make the day a little more intersting. I am thankful for my new kitchen-aid that made an awesome cake and icing this morning. I'm thankful for my faith in Christ because with him, I can do anything. I am thankful for Ohio State football and the enjoyment it brings to our entire family. I'm also thankful for the stinky brownies and yes, even for the bengals - just because of the converstions that we have with Zoe. I am thankful for puzzles because they provide some excellent family time with Punky. I am thankful for having shelter over my head, electricity, running water, and food to eat and the ability to provide this to many other people. Actually, I really just think that I am thankful for everything!
Love you all and happy turkey day.
Rest in peace grandma Dorothy and grandma Judy.....you are forever missed!

This is a video that Kathy took of Zoe dancing at her birthday party. I think it is so cute how she keeps trying to get Natalie to dance :) She's a little dancing machine and definitely gets her rhythm from her daddy!

-Hopefully this video works, this is the first time I've tried uploading one!

For those of you who didn't know, Ryan bought a new (to us) dump truck and of course the new truck couldn't live outside, and it won't fit into the existing garage, so we had to add on. If you know Ryan, when he puts his mind to something.....he really does it... So, here are pictures of the framing of the garage addition. Zoe says that daddy's building a garage for her to park her car in (her Barbi car that is).

Prayer Requests!

I have a few prayer requests as we go through this week....

1. Please continue to pray for Chris Clark's family. Chris was our heating and air contractor. He passed away last week after a hard fought battle with cancer. Chris and his girlfriend had been together since they were 12 (he was 34) and they have a 14 year old daughter.

2. Ken (Ryan's dad) is having surgery on Friday. It is a blessing that he has qualified for a cochlear implant! We have a few trying months ahead of us because he and Ryan talk several times a day. Over the next few months, he will not be able to hear. This will be difficult on all of us, not only in a business manner, but in all ways! In the end though, Zoe will be able to talk to her papaw and he will be able to hear her (fingers crossed)!

3. My grandma Dorothy has been battling cancer and emphysema for a few years now. The past few months have been really rough for her, but especially the past few days. We know that she has begun the stages of dying. Please pray that she is able to pass peacefully and painlessly. Although we have all known this was coming, it doesn't make it any easier for us!

We were really excited to take Zoe trick-or-treating, but weren't really sure how she was going to act. Once she got the first piece of candy in her bucket, she was ready to go! She wouldn't say trick-or-treat, but she said thank you to every person who gave her candy! She refused to let us help her carry her bucket, so after about 15 houses, she was dragging her bucket and ready to go home. What a cute little bug she made!

Playing in the Leaves

I really didn't think I would ever get Zoe to play in the leaves, but we tried it anyway! Thankfully I got her out when I did because the leaves are all down and blown away now. She actually loved playing in them - I didn't think I would ever get her to come inside.