What are you thankful for?

Each November our family focuses on gratitude.  To symbolize our gratitude we make a tree and every year it turns out a little different.  To make the tree this year we started by writing down 20 things we were thankful for on different pieces of paper.  Once we were all finished writing we took turns reading our strips.  Afterward we made individual chains that were hung on a tree branch chosen from the woods behind our house.  This tree will remain up in our home until we start decorating for Christmas next weekend.  Hopefully until then it will serve as a reminder for us to have an attitude of gratitude.

Can you make the pile bigger Daddy?

Since the beginning of November our family has been busy.  Tim was gone hunting for 9 days in Nebraska and the girls and I enjoyed some bonus time with my mom while he was gone.  Since his return last weekend we've returned to our regular weekly routine of school and gymnastics.  This weekend we were able to do a couple of extra fun things.  Last night we went to the play Annie at Grand Rapids Christian High School.  (Imagine how many times we heard Leah singing "It's a hard knock life" today).  This afternoon  Leah and Elizabeth played in a big pile of leaves after asking Tim to make the biggest pile he can.  Then tonight the girls went to their gymnastics gym for dinner, craft, and bouncing while Tim and I went out to eat and ran some errands. 

Are you ready for a hike?

Earlier this fall the girls and I went with Tim's mom, my nephew, my niece, and her friend for a hike up Mt. Pisgah.  The weather was perfect. I'm not sure how far we hiked in all.  The 250 plus steps to the top were a bit steep, however the kids managed to run up without much trouble.  The view from above was beautiful and worth the effort.  It was a neat hike and one that I would definitely do again. 

Can you do a trick for a treat?

This year for Halloween Leah dressed up as a black cat and Elizabeth was a strawberry.  While Tim was off hunting my mom and I took them trick-or-treating.  Our first stop was downtown Grand Haven.  The past few years it has been busy, but this year with the construction it was almost impossible to move from store to store.  The girls managed to fill their pumpkin bags with a few goodies and enjoyed looking at all the different costumes.  When we returned home they helped pass out candy to the few neighbors who came into our cul de sac.  Then once it was dark the girls and I walked to the limited homes on our street that had lights on and even managed to drive to a larger cul de sac further down the road.  In the end the girls came home with a large load of candy and really enjoyed the holiday.