30!!! Last Thankful November! :) So last but most certainly not least- I am thankful for all of you.  You help me spread awareness of CDH, brag about my children and best of all I get support from all of you when I am in need of some kind, helpful or supportive words! So thank you and I hope you all have a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays- which ever you prefer!! :)

29.  I am thankful for chances!

28.  I am thankful for Skype! With Skype, my girls can talk to their aunts and uncles, and their Nina and Papa.  We don't get to see a lot of my family so Skype allows us to 'see' each other from far away.  <3 It's a wonderful thing!

We got to talk to Nina the other day, and Papa on a different day.  Thank you Skype for allowing my girls to see their grandparents as often as they wish.  <3  These are just some pictures from the summer- reminiscing - fun times together!   

27.  I am thankful for quiet evenings and Christmas movies!

26.  I am thankful for beautiful warm-ish days on November 26!!!!  I can not believe how nice it has been.. very strange, but I am thankful for letting the girls go outside without bundling them up seeing how Lily isn't a huge fan of that.  :)

enjoying the lovely weather today with the ability to move.. but both of them just sat.. ha!

25.  I am thankful for a wonderful husband who claims to have no care in the world for the holidays.. but put up a ton of decorations last night for me!! He went above and beyond this year .. lights on the porch, lights and garland up in the living room, candles in the windows- and of course the tree.  :) I'm sure he did it for the girls and their reactions to all the lights- but I LOVE it!! :) I'm a huge fan of all the Christmas lights and decorations!

24.  Happy Thanksgiving! :) I am thankful for quite a bit and writing up my 'thankful novembers' has been a great reminder of that.  Tonight I am thankful for good food and great company.  I am thankful for my children and their differences.  I am thankful for my husband and his parents and all the help the offer us.  I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving... and my heart goes out to those who didn't get to spend it with family or loved ones.  Or those who had to spend it in the NICU or any hospital setting.

23.  I am thankful for the first snow fall of the year.. :) No, not a fan of snow, but with kids, it takes on a whole new meaning. It was a fun experience for us all.. well maybe not Lily.  

Kayla's first reaction to the snow this morning - was "aww look at mom's car (starts crying)... oooh I don't like snow" then she told me "I don't like snow, I can't walk in snow in my socks" hmm Kayla, Mommy doesn't usually let outside in your socks.. sooooooooooo hahaha! But she LOVED it when she was out.. unless she fell- 

then she would say "will you help me please, I'm stuck in the snow" :) 

we took a family picture- that didn't turn out so well... Lily was quite unhappy when Jer knelt down.. so we had to stand, and I'm not a fan of the camera not being at level of our heads.. so it didn't work but Kayla asked to take another photo as Jer was taking poor Lily inside.. so we got a nice pic together :)

this was L- before going out- as I was putting more and more clothing on her.. and then she continued to cry bc she couldn't really move when she was outside... and usually she LOVES to be outside.. so she was unhappy!! Poor girl! Winter clothing really isn't fun friendly for babies.. 

22.  I am thankful for my quiet, small home that keeps me and my children warm on these cold winter days.

nice and snuggley warm!!

21.  I am thankful for K's dance teacher.  She teaches several classes..several different ages but a dance class for 2 year olds- ha she's nuts!! haha :) She is really good with them though.. and today for the first time, I saw K do something w/o me right next to her to guide her through. Yes she is two years old and isn't really all that independent.. :-/ but I'm working on it. Anyway- today K's dance teacher wanted to conduct the class w/o the mom's helping.. and K did AMAZING! I had to hold back tears- it was my first glimpse at K of being truly independent.  She looked back at me every now and then, I'd give her the thumbs up with my goofy looking proud smile.. and she'd go back to paying attention.  She was so cute! Ugh I was so proud of her tonight.. crazy I know- but I had that moment bc of her dance teacher..! :)

my shining star <3 who absolutely LOVES her dance class :)

 

20.  I am thankful for wine and my sisters of course! <3 'nuff said!

no- i'm not really drinking beer- but I was kind enough to share my wine with Dora.. so I think I stole Dad's beer! ha!! :) Love my family!! <3

19. is posted on www.cdhfamily.com  :)

18.  I am thankful for BBQ's!! When you have a bbq most of the time you are inviting over friends and family to enjoy the yummiest food and great company!

Jerry and Kayla watching cars ... and K telling him the color of the car. I think Nina and Kayla made this game up..

shucking corn outside Nina and Papa's house for our BBQ :) K helping, of course.

and then, of course, good drinks... well this is a good drink for Jer.. I'd need a nice glass of red wine! :) 

17.  I am thankful for hugs!  And I'm the luckiest girl in the world bc my girls and my husband give the BEST hugs!!! No lie- they really honestly give the BEST hugs!! You can feel the love.. makes any bad mood, or bad day completely forgotten!! <3 Hugs from family you haven't seen in a LONG time are amazing, hugs from a loved one 'just because', or a hug when you get home from work.. AMAZING! :) I'm a hugger! ha

a lovely hug! <3

a not so sure hug... <3 hehe

a snuggly hug! <3

a squeeze hug.. <3

a sleepy hug <3

an 'i love you at this moment' hug.. <3 hehe

a 'thanks for supporting CDH and always loving me' hug! <3

16.  I am thankful my warm bed to sleep in... and a warm snuggly husband right next to me!  Our bed may have seen better days and need an upgrade, but I'm certainly thankful I have one..! I do know a lot of people do not have that comfort.. and that makes me sad. :( So I needed to put it out there that I am thankful to have a bed, with warm blankets and a mountain of pillows! I am also thankful that my girls have a nice warm bed to sleep in.. with their stuffed animals and favorite blankies.. :)

Liller Lou back in May- :) <3

an old photo- but this was K, her first night in a 'big girl bed' :) 

15.  I am thankful for my camera that snaps the memory for me to keep forever... if you know me well, you know that I do not have the greatest memory.. so my camera serves as my memory! :) I am big on taking pictures- just wish I had a better camera, but for now, what I have certainly does a great job! It even has a great timer on it so I can be a part of the picture too.

a moment that rarely happens- and the camera got it! :) 

having fun in the Fall leaves outside of Nina and Papa's house .. :)

the girls! thanks self timer! It was a beautiful day in October, so the girls and I went outside .. and I never leave the house w/o my camera.. they were just sitting by the tree, so I jumped in! :) Jer was at work, but it would have been a beautiful family photo if he was home! 

a family photo.. again with the self timer! :) This was a horrible time- my poor neighbors even left their own yard so we could take a picture bc my kids wanted nothing to do with pictures.. and we only have one of these cars, the second one is from our neighbors.. which stopped the crying long enough to get the family photo done.. and it's not even my favorite.. ha but it was quite a job to get this pic done! :) 

will never forget this- K's first REAL laugh/smile at the hospital after surgery!

my sister Angie and her daughter Alyssa- had so much fun with Alaina wanting to jump over and over and over again the pool at our first annual family reunion! <3

my sister Sandi was standing behind me showing my nephew Julian what to do for a pose, and he would do it.. there were a TON of them.. and Julian had the best time posing for the camera .. it was ADORABLE! Also at my first annual family reunion!

14. As crazy as it seems, I am thankful for Pinterest.  I know, I know, it's a silly thing to be thankful for.  But if I really think about it, since I have been introduced to Pinterest from my sister in law, Meghan, I have been more creative with things in my home. (ie.  toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, salsa jars, pepsi bottles, coffee cans, etc.)   I have been doing more crafts lately and I love it.  Instead of spending a ton of bucks on cute decorations for my home, I'm making them.. and they don't look so bad either. :) It has also helped me come up with fun things to do with my children.. they appreciate it as well, I'm sure. :) Pinterest has sparked the creative side in me... I needed that push!

a sign for Halloween..

the tutu I made for Kayla.. :) 

cake pops- homemade.. no cake pop maker..:) 

a Christmas decoration- not so sure about this one, may change the flowers.. don't know yet.