Our {Wonderfilled} Week 9

I am always a little sad when the weekend comes to an end.

I admit it is so nice to have Matt home and tackling these

boys as a team! No more ganging up on mom!!


My gratitude continues and I hope it is
as profound as it should be during this
month of thanksgiving.

185. funny, silly, goofy pictures
{I'll have to explain someday!}

186.  a request made by me, followed by "OK Mom" 
{big Liam grin}, followed by not doing what is asked
but smiling as sweetly as ever {stinker}.


187. Griffin sitting next to Aiden, putting his arm around him,
hugging him tight and just being sweet.


188. the crazy want to pull-out-your-hair moments
for they mean I am living.


189. a dear friend gracefully fighting through 
the recent diagnosis of breast cancer.


190. the humble ability to pray for others and 
those I have gratefully accepted for myself and my children.


191.  these kind of hats on boys

192. finding all the snow boots we needed
{for the little guys} at a resale shop


193.  trying on said snowboots

194. plain and simple, I have people and things to be thankful for


195. father and {oldset} son bonding through cub scouts


196. a boy who loves music and sings his counts during
piano lessons with all the right inflections, tone, notes, is he ours?


197.  all kinds of transportation for they make any drive for 
my backseat buddies much more interesting


198. the excitement of first snowflakes
{even if I am not a big fan of the stuff!}


199. lovely fall weather


200.  a Father who is always listening, even when I question,
even when I wonder, who always has my best interests at heart.

Linking up to the gratitude movement going on at Ann's lovely blog...

Thank you for joining me in *wonder*,

{michelle}

A Giveaway for Good! {from FIVE Days 5 Ways}

Happy Sunday Friends!
What better day to reflect on giving and helping others,
especially during this thankful time of year.
I would love for you to read through Abbie's info below,
she has an insanely fantastic giveaway going on right NOW!
The cause is truly wonderful!
So, I will stop chatting, and let Abbie fill you in on all the details!  


Hi there, folks! My name is Abbie...

from:

…and I’m so excited that Michelle is having me by for a visit to tell you about an opportunity to for you to win some fantastic stuff AND helps others.

It's cool.

Pinky promise.

You see, I’m hosting a "giveaway for good" to help build a new classroom for a ministry to orphans in Uganda that is home-grown in East Texas where I live.

There are FIVE prize packages, chock-full of fabulous handmade goodies and gift certificates (Lisa Leonard, anyone?) that you can win just by visiting and getting your name in the hat!

Here’s just a small taste:

Here's where the really cool part starts: for extra entries, you can also donate to PCM using a special button on my blog which will track your entries so we can see how much we raise and who wins!

Honestly, folks, these kids are incredibly humble and deserving! (Their idea of a special treat is an apple…I’m not kidding).

So, if you want to help raise the money to build these precious children a new classroom + have the opportunity to be one of 5 lucky folks to win some awesome loot, please come check out The BIG PCM Fundraiser/Giveaway on my blog.

No amount is too small, and every dollar you give is matched up to our goal of $5,000 (wow!) and counts as unique entry into the giveaway (i.e. $5 = 5 entries).

Which means, if you give up Starbucks just once, you’ll be donating not $10 but $20 (just kidding…but at least $8, right?) to a truly worthy cause.

Hope to see you soon!

Thanks again, Michelle! You rock, girl!

P.S. I'm also having a "Shop My Closet for Good" event to go along with the giveaway. Cute clothes, cheap prices, FREE shipping, and every single dollar donated is matched and goes toward our PCM classroom fund. Each item you buy is also an individual entry into the giveaway! SCORE! ; )

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

It is no secret how much we love Melissa & Doug here !!  Their toys are imaginative, durable, designed well, educational, and we included them in our first  Boy Wonder Toy Awards!  

We have something fun for you AND it will help you get a jump on your holiday shopping!  

Melissa & Doug wants you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is best!  Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at 

MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting! 

Remember you must click the above image to cast a vote by November 20th to receive your 25% off coupon at MelissaandDoug.com.  

I don't think it could be any easier!!  Enjoy my friends!!

{michelle}

A {Wonder*filled} Update

Hello lovely friends!!

How is everyone handling the time change?

Weather changes?

Being greeted with Christmas signs everywhere even though 

as my oldest points out, "um, we haven't even had Thanksgiving yet!"

I just hope we are not all burnt-out on Christmas when it arrives,

that would be the tragedy!

So, I have neglected our poor little blog this past week!

I did not intend to make it a week, nor do I think 

anyone minds too much, but these little boys are sure changing!

Naptime is now butt-naked playtime.

Independence if off the charts.

And this mom needs a caffeine IV!

So hang in there with me as I keep up!  

See, they have no idea that mom is much more stubborn

and full of willpower {except when it comes to sugar lately}.

Ugh.

In the meantime I am working on a few fun projects I hope to share relatively soon along with E's gameroom/playroom before a Christmas tree is added to it!

I am also working on a post for next week's mother*wonder Monday, it has a bit more guts to it, so I have to give it the proper time!  

This past weekend, we brought my grandparents over to visit. 

One word - JOY.  

For us and for them.

They loved visiting.  I so wish they lived closer.

I love this lady so much, she has given me so much.

I am so blessed to be her granddaughter.

And thankful that while so many members of my family are gone

she is still here for me.  Selfish it may be, but I love that she has

been able to meet all of my children and be a Godmother to Liam.

Grandma Marion has sass galore, the heart of a saint, endless wit and wisdom, she is just a treasure.  There are years and years between us but she knows my heart so well and I am always amazed at how similarly we see things.

She is full of the dickens {and I mean that in the most respectful way possible!}

I know having had one girl, five boys were a lot to take in, but

she was so sweet, and they all love their Grandma Marion.

Just think, between one end of the bench and the other, 91 years...

you'll notice the clapping, not because E won, but because it was a stalemate!! 
too funny!

Good ol' Grandpa Jack, God love him.  He got down near the floor to play with the boys in their kitchen.  He tried to create order, have them take turns, and then he gave up when the mutiny began!  

Neither of them complain when they could go on for days with how they must really feel.  People just are not made with this strength anymore.  I love for my boys to see their example...humility.

Telling some more stories here.  That's my Grandpa.

We would go to the mall and lose him talking to people he didn't know.

A true salesman.  As stubborn as they come.  

He has the gift of gab and making friends with everyone.

He has proudly served in the NAVY and still is part of the Knight of Columbus.

He used to tell us tall tales.  Save milk cartons to build with, and pull out the little red rocking chair every time we visited.  

They never missed a game or a concert.

They showed up for me.

I am just so thankful that my children have been able to meet

two of the most beautiful people I have had the honor of having in my life.

They are everything a girl could ever want in a grandparent.

Love them a million bushels and pecks.

{michelle}

Life of a Big Brother...Not for the Faint of Heart

We had Ethan's parent-teacher conference today.

He is a stellar student.

Reading and comprehending at level S {end of 4th grade, he is in 1st|.

He has the gift of gab.

He is a perfectionist and wants to do well.   

{the part that breaks my heart!}


Of course we are so proud of him.  
It's always good when there's nothing too surprising, 
but the best part was  the journals we got to peek into today.

Oh how the six-year-old brain works!!

Thanks E for the laughs!  Here are the funniest ones...

{Story 1: My Family Book}

spelled exactly as he did

My Mom and Dad play basketball.

I do karate.

My brother Aiden is curios.  

My brother Beckham can climb.

My brother Laim always says my name.

My brother Griffin is lazy.

{picture of Griffin sitting on the sofa with a bubble "just one more minit?!"}

{Story 2: The Day My Brother Liam Cracked His Head Open}

My brother Liam fell  off the treehouse and cracked his head open. 

Then my dad brang him in my house and put an ice pack on him. 

The next day my brother felt all better.

Best thing about this story..

me: "Um, E this never happened."  E's "treehouse" was off limits all summer.

E: "I know, we CAN write FICTION mom."

me: "Well maybe we should stick to things that really happened if they are about someone getting hurt."

E: "OK."

E leaves room.  

Matt: "This story should have been called the day the police came to our house and dragged daddy away."

{Story 3: Making Connections from a story to your life}

Judy Moody's brother Stink is annoying.

What's the connection to your life?

My brother Beckham is annoying.

Thing is he tells it like it is.  I wish I had read these before the conference ;)  Funny thing, when asked if he would trade his brothers in his reply is always, "Not for the world, I love them!"  

Just had to share this too....

{My favorite pin of the day}

{via}

Hilarious right?!  Love those 1940s tidbits of advice!!

This is actually pretty clever!  Except we never tuck our shirts in.

My how times have changed...wonder what they'll be saying about us in 70 years!...

Hope we've given you some laughs today!

{michelle}

More Circus Fun!

We had such a great Halloween!!!

What made it even more fun is that this year the little guys

actually went to a few doors to trick-or-treat with E

happily showing them the proper how-to.

They also ate, sneaked, and swapped candy {kit-kats} for the first time.  


We encountered a very creepy house, smoke coming out the door with a man dressed as a demon or something gross, the boys were not amused.  Aiden growled back at him, tough clown that he was! 
Disclaimer: Just want to say if you're going to dress to scare the crap out of kids,put up a sign or something? Had no idea that was about to answer the door! Yes I should expect at least 1 house like that, and of course it was our luck to trick-or-treat there.  I digress... 

E loved handing out Halloween candy.  

And then there are the moments when you're just proud of your kids

for being good kids.

E said at one house that was decorated really cool, "I love how your house looks!"

*and*

He agreed to play part of ringmaster with a little nudge.  He made sure to tell his friends who came by that he had another costume {clever}, but he really was good to change out and be part of the circus for awhile.  

Pictures these days are always actions shots.  

Group photos will happen again, maybe next year!

I was going to caption each photo, but I think they speak for themselves!! 
{thanks to Tia 'Rene and Grandma Helen for celebrating with us!}


{Costumes}

1.  Ringmaster: Ethan's Christmas shirt from last year, cape and hat from magician costume, 2 Halloweens ago.

2. Clown: Ethan's 2nd Christmas blazer and plaid pants.  I added suspenders, a flower, hat, and made Aiden the scarves prop out of fabric squares tied together.  I also made a big bow tie out of red/white striped fabric.  

3.  Evel Kneivel: Ethan's old helmet, red pants and shirt from Wal-Mart embellished with felt starts and some really awesome blue striped fabric from my superhero collection which I used for his cape too.

4. Strong Man: A woman's XS tank top on clearance at Old Navy, loved the vintage look, sewed it together at the bottom to create leg holes.  Turned striped socks into leg warmers.  Barbells from dowel rod and styrofoam balls all painted black.

5.  Lion Tamer: Target sweater and pants, hula hoop embellished with fabric, Liam's beloved little lion.  

The hardest part about the costumes was just getting all the pieces collected really.  It was great to repurpose and reuse and save money we didn't have in the first place to spend on costumes!  

{Trick-or-Treating}

{The Loot & More Fun}

Love seeing all the Halloween costumes and photos in blogland today!
And now mild panic attack that Christmas is less than 2 months away!
Yes, Thanksgiving is first, so onward all things grateful and Turkey!!


{michelle}

One of those days...

Ever have one of those days where you feel like everything you say

is misinterpreted from how you meant it? 

In trying to encourage someone today, well it just didn't go the way I had hoped.

I also came across an old message (don't you love that?!) from a blogging mama I admire.  She nicely but pointedly told me how we are not competing.  All I have ever done is leave nice and encouraging comments, ugh.  

For the record I am thirty-five and truly can say I only compete with myself...I am my own worst critic, but I never look to anyone else to see what I should accomplish.  I just look up.  

There is more, but I'll save it {no pity party today!}.

Being the sensitive person I am, I would tend to shut down or feel like I should keep my mouth closed.  I truly try to think about what I say, how I say, how it would make me feel, etc. before I say it, but no matter how well meaning and well versed I have no control over how it's received.

It's such a good reminder to me, to stay the course.

I have quit social media a few times because frankly I just don't want to deal with people's opinions, or should I say opinions from people who don't think them through first. 

But then I realize who gets to win in that scenario.

It's not me.

So, I will keep on doing things with the best of intentions.  

Keep smiling, keep trying {unintentional song lyric use, sorry!}, even if it stinks sometimes.

Do you ever have one of those days?!

Take care my friends!

{michelle}