School Days, School Days!

Have you ever had the feeling that time happens in the blink of an eye?  I mean, yesterday, Gray was born and then all of a sudden he is in Kindergarten!  Time slow down, please!  Needless to say, our little man was so excited about going to big school.  We started counting down the days a week before and each night we marked another day closer to the big day. 

And then, all of a sudden it was here and I was a mess.  Not only was it my first day back to school (which freaks me out, even after 14 years) but it was his first day EVER!  You mean that I have to seriously let go and let someone else be responsible for him?  Will he make friends?   Will he behave?  Will he be happy?  Will he want to go back?  All of that freaking out was for nothing.  Gray walked in, happy as can be, sat down and smiled for the camera.  He was a little hesistant, but nothing like I had built up in my head.  We had our mini photo session and Chris and I walked out the door.  I immediately burst in to tears and then had to go to bus duty. Talk about a welcoming face on the first day!  Luckily, it didn't last more than about 30 seconds and then I was fine. 

The next week, sassy Katherine started her new preschool class.  She was so, so excited!  She loves her teacher and the friends she has at school.  I imagine that next year when she comes to big school with me and her brother, I will be another hot mess.  But for this year, it was just all smiles!

Happy Birthday to Chris!

Today was a big day in the Mitchell household!  Our big daddy turned the big 3-6!  We took a few minutes to celebrate with a steak dinner on the fine china and a few of Chris's favorite treats.

The kids signed their cards all by themselves and sang "Happy Birthday!" with mommy in a very off-key kind of way.  But hey, it's the thought that counts right?

And on this day, we said a special prayer thanking God for our sweet daddy and husband!  Happy birthday, Chris!!!!

November 8th

November 7th--I am thankful for my siblings: Ashley, Liz, and John! I think that they are all the coolest and am so proud of the people that they are!

November 8th--I am thankful for the opportunities that I have to provide for my children. All in all, we have all of our needs and most of our wants. I am grateful that I can do the fun things like going to the Peanut Festival for them! I may think differently after tonight's trip to the Peanut Festival!

Today I am thankful for....

I have been seeing all of these posts on Facebook about being thankful. I'm starting mine here and catching up, so this is actually six days worth of thankfulness. Not surprising that I am behind!

Nov. 1--I am thankful for a God that loves me and wants a relationship with me. I am thankful that he sent his son to die for my sins and that he loves me that much.

Nov. 2--I am thankful for my husband, Chris. We've been married ten years and I love him bunches. I love the daddy that he is to our two sweet children and I love the husband that he is to me. I love that he watches over our family.

Nov. 3--I am thankful for Gray and Katherine. I never thought that I could love two small children as much as I love them. I am grateful that God has allowed me to be their mommy and I pray that I don't send them to therapy. I love the smart, strongwilled, loving personalities that God has equipped them with.

Nov. 4--I am thankful for my grandparents, the Beasleys and the Jacksons. I have been blessed with two tremendous sets of grandparents who have shaped me into the person that I am today. They are amazing! I wish that I lived closer to Grandmom and Granddaddy Beasley and could see them more. There is not a day that goes by that I don't miss Grandmother and Granddaddy Jackson. I do feel better though knowing that they are watching over me from heaven.

Nov. 5--I am thankful for my parents. I would not be who I am today without them. Thank you for loving me and teaching me countless lessons. Thank you for letting me make my own mistakes so that I could learn from them. After having my own children, it makes me even more appreciative of all of the sacrifices that they have made for me over the years.

Nov. 6--I am thankful for my in-laws, Ben and Ann. A girl could not ask for a better set of second parents. They are so loving and helpful and I am super blessed to be a Mitchell! I also think that they did an awesome job raising their children and I am so grateful for their influence on Gray and Katherine.

A Bundle of Blessings

Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. I love the fact that we get to spend time with family with nothing else today. That and eat all of that yummy food! This year we traveled to my grandparents' house in Hokes Bluff. The kids were so, so, so excited about seeing everyone there. Especially their cousin, Jacob. I love it because I rarely get to see my family up there and I miss them so much. We used to live closer (like 20 years ago) and I used to go up there more. After this weekend, I realized how much I missed seeing my family. I want Gray and Katherine to know them and love them and realize all of their wonderful traits. All of that said, we'll definitely be back in 28 days!

My grandmother is a cook of epic proportions. I'm sure that everyone says that about their grandmother, but mine is for real! Even Chris woke up Thursday morning ready to "throw down on some of your grandmama's cookin'!"
Here she is: my sweet grandmother who always answers my cooking questions and works so hard to prepare a feast for us!
And here is my sweet granddaddy who is always ready with a silly joke and can build anything!

After visiting for a while, we began to feast on something that we had all been waiting for: fried turkey, broccoli casserole, sweet potato casserole, corn casserole (do you see a theme here?), green beans, and other scrumptious goodies.

After eating and eating and talking and laughing we all felt like bedding down for a while. However, the kids had other ideas in mind. Like maybe rolling down a hill or two...
Or jumping in leaves that Uncle Paul raked just for that purpose... Or picking up pecans....
All in all, it was a wonderful day and made me realize how much that I am thankful for.
I am thankful for Jesus Christ, who died for MY sins, my husband Chris, my sweet babies, my family (even with all of their nuttiness--I am not excluded from that!), my grandparents: the ones in Hokes Bluff and the ones who are my guardian angels in heaven. Here's to the beginning of a wonderful holiday season where we remember our blessings and the reason that we even celebrate Christmas in the first place.

Saturday in the Park

We have all been a little stir crazy this week due to our sickness! This little one finally started feeling like her spunky self on Saturday morning so we were up and out. Chris was working at the church for a grounds yard day so it was just me and the kiddos. We started by having breakfast (in public) and then headed to the park.

We went to the new Miracle Park in Dothan, which is a park that was designed with special needs kids in mind. This playground is so cool! There are tons and tons of different things to do: slides, swings, rock walls, spinning stools, bars, sand diggers, just to name a small few! We stayed pretty much the whole morning! How nice to be outside!!!!And now for a Saturday nap....

Thankful for....

A barnyard of blessings! That was the name of Gray's preschool program today and it was absolutely perfect! It started with them saying the Lord's Prayer and Psalm 23 and just kept on getting better! He sang with enthusiasm and made his mommy, daddy, and sister proud. Katherine kept saying, "I see him! I see Gray!"

Katherine is so proud that she sees her big brother!

Gray is singing about falling leaves!
Now he is singing "Where oh, where, can you find pumpkin?"