So thankful!!

Our dinner time project this month was creating our thankful list. Last year we had to prompt the boys with things that they could be thankful for. This year, they ran the show. What fun for us! Connor started asking about what everyone was thankful for even as we were setting the table. I have to admit, that not everything made the list. Not so much that I was censoring it (well, maybe sometimes) but mostly because I got caught up in the conversation and by the time I had a chance to record what had been shared, my memory failed. Argh.







Some disclaimers and side notes . . . order does not matter. We really only added one thing a night. Some nights were skipped and some nights we added a couple more.

To read the list, you can click on the pics and they will get big! I finally figured out how to do this. It has taken me awhile to catch on. :)

I know that my drawings are amazing (ha!). But, it is the only way for the boys to be able to "read" the list. So, draw I must. I do think I may invest in those "people colored" markers next year. It may improve my stick people a bit. Maybe.

God is really not the last. He is the first, the middle, and the end. We just saved His spot at the bottom.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Ponderings . . . is that even a word?!?

As I was pouring little cups--our recycled Diego and Kung Fu Panda yogurt cups, mind you--of Goldfish for the boys, the thought crossed my mind that there may be a day when Goldfish crackers are for "babies" and the boys want nothing to do with them. My mind drifted for a moment and I thought of several more things that I may count as "annoying" somedays . . . and instead I should be treasuring.

Carrying Anderson! Andy often decides that his legs are REALLY REALLY REALLY hurting and needs to be carried. Yesterday it happened in the grocery store. I shrugged it off for awhile and he stayed in the plastic car at the front of the groceries. But his love bank must have been empty and he insisted on being held. So, I held him. I really don't know how I made it through Fry's pushing the awkward racecar cart of food with one hand, keeping track of Connor (yes, he needed out of the car now too), and making silly faces at Kyndall to keep her happy, all while hanging on to a limp 37 pound Anderson. Forget the grocery shopping. I must have been a sight. But, I know the day is coming that no one even wants to be at the grocery store with me and even the free cookies at the bakery won't help. Okay, I will treasure these moments and wink at my kids in the midst of it.

Buckling carseats. 3 of them. If everyone just sat down right away, very still, it may not be so challenging. But there are wiggles, lots of "help", and straps that are TOO tight even though they have not been adjusted since we were in the car last. And that is when everyone is in a good mood. Sometimes while I am buckling, we count or sing or play some sort of tickly game, and it makes the chore a little easier. In this carseat season, I think that I am going to be thankful that my kids are safely traveling to and from preschool, church, soccer, and the houses of friends in my backseat and I am the keeper of their schedule. I know it won't always be that way. Oh! I just remembered that one-two-buckle my shoe rhyme. I will have to use that next.

I am sure my Pollyanna game will need to continue. Right now, I am off to fill a sippie cup and check on someone who has been in the bathroom far too long.

An autumn adventure!

We took a trip to see FALL colors and experience FALL temperatures (well, low 70's instead of high 80's) on Monday! What fun! The boys had a blast running in the grass, crunching leaves, following a creek, and climbing rocks.

Raspberries and more raspberries!!!

Kyndall got a sweet gift from her auntie this weekend! So cute! My sister is so talented . . . and possibly has too much time on her hands!! What a lucky lil' niece.

Here is a video of the other raspberries that have been appearing at dinner. How do all these little babies learn to do such a frustratingly cute trick?!?! Luckily her cream colored shirt is still that color. Somehow it avoided the speckles of carrot. Praises!!

Celebrating SUPER ANDY!

Anderson loves all sorts of superheroes, and so we celebrated his 3rd birthday with a Superhero Party!

Here are some pics!

Before Jon's "Superhero Training Course". He is such a creative game-guy! I love it!!

Aunt Jen's cupcakes were amazing!! Anderson, however, was a little unsure about having all the eyes on him. Good thing he had a brother and cousins to help him blow out the candles since he wanted nothing to do with it. We are giving Andy more candle-blowing opportunities with the leftover cupcakes. All is good!

Connor kept saying---"Andy, what did WE get???" Argh.

Their first clue in their hunt for Doctor Octopus and the prizes he had taken hostage. I love watching the kiddos run from clue to clue! Treasure hunts have become a sort of a Hatch family tradition. The boys can't get enough of them. Neither can Jon and I. And, I am sure little Kyndall will join right in as soon as possible.

These are a "hit"! Gotta love his smile.

Fall Festivities

The last couple weeks have been busy with fall fun! Below are some pics from all of it . . . time sure does fly!!

Harvest Party on October 24th

We had 58 people in attendance! Wow! However, that included 27 kiddos at least 6 of which can't walk yet. It is great to have so many friends all in the same stage of life . . . we all understand when someone has to run away from a conversation to help a kid. So great!

Carving Our Pumpkin

Jon cleaned it out and I carved the face on it . . . good teamwork. Anderson would not have anything to do with feeling the "googly gook" inside of the pumpkin. So funny! We thought he was just being difficult so Jon playfully grabbed his hand and stuck it in. Oh the TEARS!!! We may have scarred him for life . . . time will tell!

Trick or Treating

Halloween night we went to Uncle Eric and Aunt Kris' house for dinner and trick or treating fun. Jared and Tyler were so fun as Anakin (Jared) and Diego (Tyler)!! Silly me didn't take one picture of all the kids together . . . I think I was a little distracted by all the fun! I did capture a couple pics before we left. Notice Anderson's change of heart . . . he ditched the cowboy duds for the Buzz Lightyear costume. Oh well. I figure whatever is in the dress-up box is game. We had a happy kid and didn't spend any extra money. Good enough!


Kyndall turned 6 months old!! Wow! She is truly a happy and easy-going little gal. Her giggles make all of us smile. I have tried to get them on film, but everytime I get the camera out, she gets distracted. Hopefully I will catch her by surprise soon!

Anderson's third birthday was yesterday!! He got to spend some quality time with Dad in the morning eating pancakes at McDonald's. He came home all smiles with a special Batman action figure. What a proud little guy he was!! When we picked up Connor, he got stickers from Connor's teacher. All the special treats made the fact that he and I are fighting a cold a little better! Yea! We are celebrating tomorrow night with family and friends . . . FUN!