Giving Thanks For the "Small Stuff"

Thanksgiving was very uneventful for our household this year, or I guess I should say "unstructured". Due to a family illness and a Family Reunion, our immediate family plans were postponed for another time. We were all supposed to be away on a cruise together - Michael, Lisa, Mason, Patrick, Kristyn, Brienna, and Ellie - and me, of course. But with upcoming surgery planned for Debra and not knowing what the circumstances would bring, we decided we needed to be here with the rest of the family during this time. So, we postponed our trip until the first of next year.

Since a "Simmons Family Reunion" was already scheduled for the Saturday following Thanksgiving, our gang decided to lay low and do "home projects" on Thursday and Friday, saving all of the travel, cooking, etc. for the one occassion.

So, Friday following Thanksgiving Day was spent with a little grocery shopping and a LOT of cooking and preparation for the Reunion. To make the day a little brighter, Kristyn and Patrick were under the weather, which left Omi with two little ones to "enjoy" while attempting to cook and prepare for the trip to Greensboro. So . . . . .one of the special activities of the day resulted in a time when Ellie was taking a nap and Brienna was invited into the kitchen for her first "cooking lesson."

I have no idea what made me decide to do this at this particular time. Just enjoying the moment, I guess. You see, I remember my first cooking lesson. My grandmother Clara stood me at her kitchen table, tied a dish towel around my waist and let me batter the chicken for Sunday lunch. I might have been 4 years old, but I thought I was something else!!

Well, Brienna was a true marvel. I gave her step-by-step instructions for making a Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie, and she did the entire thing herself! The only help I gave her was crumbling the cookies on top!!! Not bad for a 2-1/2 year old Sweetie Pie!

Of course, all good cooks know to "taste test" their wares before serving!

Such a small thing when you think about the grand scheme of things, but such an important moment, too, and one I hope that she remembers for a long, long time.

I have so much to be thankful for - besides the big things like a home, family, job (well, not right now - LOL), cars, freedom, salvation, etc., etc. but there are also so very many little things that I fail to thank my loving Heavenly Father for as often as I should - the smiles on my grandchildren's faces when they look at me as if I'm the best Omi in the world; the way they wrap their arms around me when they haven't seen me for a WHOLE hour and squeeze me so tight, the way Brienna says, "but, Omi, I need you" when it's time for her to go to sleep at night, the way Mason ALWAYS says "I'll just stay with Omi" when it's time to go home, or the way they so trustingly put their hand in mine when we step outside into this big world, so sure that I'm going to protect them with all that I have.

Or the smile of pride on their face when they know they've done something really, really special - like make their very first Chocolate Chip Pie!!!

I love you, Ellie, Mason, and Brienna.

Thank you, Heavenly Father. I love you, too. Omi

My Cup Runneth Over

As I sit to begin blogging today, my heart and soul are overflowing with joy at this year's Thanksgiving Day. This is our first Thanksgiving with Ellie and everything in my mind is almost overwhelming. We have nothing grand or spectacular in store for the day - no special cooking (we are going out to eat tonight), no traveling plans today, and no shopping involved - it's simply another day at home with the family. Yet I can't help but feel such a longing for the events of today.

Today is just another ordinary day. I'm convinced the kids know when it's a school day and when it's not; for when it's a school day I get to be the one to drag them out of bed after 7:15am. However, on days at home, they return the favor - usually 6:30am or before.

This morning...it was 6:30am. It didn't bother me much as Mom and Patrick were both under the weather. I got some extra time with the kids all to myself. I love those unshared moments, just the three of us, because it's such a bonding time between mother and daughters; but it's also a time when I get to watch them interact with each other uninterrupted by anyone. Then there's no changing of the guard, they seem to forget about the adult that is with them. It's a great time. But then it never fails...I try to bring out the camera and all the stuff that goes on behind a closed door is compromised but the single flash of light and it's all about "Cheese!!" And this is the final results!!

Artist At Work!

Now that Omi has time on her hands, she decided Brienna needed a new project - Painting!! For those of you who may not know, Brienna has an aversion to getting anything on her hands and washes them frequently throughout the day. So, I thought a little finger painting might be in order, and it worked wonders!!!
Once we got her hands in the paint - which took just a little bit of doing - she took to it quite well.

She's still not so sure about the mess it makes on her hands, but we're working on it! LOL

Now, this was more her style! The brush and pallette was her thing!

She actually had much more fun with the "pallette" than she did the paper, but she promises me a work of art for my craft wall the very next time she's in the mood to paint.

Ellie's First Illness

Ellie has been so healthy since birth, when she first began running a high fever in mid-October, it was very unsettling. I worked from home that day so that I could take her to the doctor and keep her out of play school to care for her.

Our appointment for the doctor wasn't until late afternoon, so Ellie spent the morning downstairs at "Omi's place". She must have been "achy" because she didn't want to be held - just close - so I put her on the floor next to my desk, and she discovered the Sunshine.

She finally got tired and curled up in a little ball and . . . . . .

went sound asleep.

And when she woke up, the Sunshine was gone, but she and Lady had quite a conversation.

Some Cute Moments You've Missed

Here are some special moments you might have missed. Enjoy!

This was one Sweet Little Lamb at the Trunk or Treat.


Our beautiful Fairy Princess - she later smiled!

Brienna's normal expression!

At the NC State Fair - driving the Circus Train.

Taking a break on our way to the State Fair - it was quite a trek for this little one.

This was a fun day at the Science Center in Greensboro. Everyone has decided we're going back really soon for a full day of this!

The next time Ellie goes to the Science Center, she might not be so easy to keep up with.

Brie sometimes gets lost in thought, and I always wish I knew what she was thinking.

Little Miss Happy All the Time.

Sisters!

Give her Cheerios and she's a Happy Camper

This was Ellie's last "baby bath tub" bath before she graduated to the big tub.

What a milestone that has been!

More to come!

On Again, Off Again - Let's Catch Up!!

Yes, I know Aunt Carol - I AM A BAD BLOGGER!! But, at least I am in great company - Mom hasn't blogged since May either! We blog and then we stop talking so much - we are on again, off again - but at least that is consistant, right? Ok, not so much - please, forgive me!


So much has been going on the last six months - Ellie started crawling the day before Father's Day, she started standing up at seven months, and started trying to take some steps just following that. However, the last two months have been an ordeal for her. She's had two months of three rounds of medication to try and solve her ear infections. For it to have been her first ear infection - IT'S A WHOPPER! So, we are headed into the surgery on Nov. 18th early morning to have tubes put in her ears and more likely than not - have her adnoids taken out at the same time.


Question - How do you get a stuborn, strong-willed woman to take a break? FORCED RETIREMENT! That's right - Mom has FINALLY slowed down!! (Do you hear the Haleluja chorus in the background? Me either - but the angels in Heaven have got to be singing it - I just know it!!) She refused to listen to the doctors, friends, other family members and me (of all people) when we told her she was taking on way too much...so God stepped in and took control of the situation. Now, mind you, this isn't quite what I had in mind when I was on my knees in the evening, asking the Lord to open a door to give her a break. But at the time I thought a simple "Your will be done" method was the best approach. (Sorry Mom!)


She has a ton of time on her hands now to spend with the kids (even if that ends up being in the doctor's offices), finally get caught up on all the scrapbooking she said she never had time for, and time to rearrange her bedroom furniture till her little heart is content! Congratulations Mom!!! You really do deserve this break - You Are Loved!


And in case you are all wondering - Patrick got to keep his job at Corning. He's moving departments and changing his schedule around a little, but he'll still get to attend school and have time with the family. I give every bit of credit to the Lord for working this out - He really does know what He's doing!

Giggly Sisters

Sunday afternoons at our house are really a lot of fun. It's always just the family, it's usually kind of quiet, and it's a great time for "Girl Time!" Brienna and Ellie enjoy cuddling with Mommy before they head upstairs for their afternoon naps.
It looks like Brienna is comparing their feet size, but she's really going to teach Ellie to play "This Little Piggy."

Sweet Sister Kisses!!



And Always the Ever Watchful Big Sister!

Special Weekend Fun

Patrick and Kristyn usually go away for a long weekend around the time of their anniversary, which is in December. However, since Little Miss Ellie was joining the family along about that time last year, they postponed it for a little while.

So, this past weekend was the time for the "get-away!" Omi was all set up to spend the entire weekend with the girls, and we had lots of things planned to do and enjoy, so we were glad the parents were out of the way for a little while. :-)

First thing on the agenda - Ellie needed to try cereal for the first time. Lately, she's been waking during the night still hungry, so Omi decided it was time to add cereal to the mixture to see if that would help her to sleep. Boy did it ever!! She slept 12 hours the first night and 11 the second and third. We started out with a spoon, but she just wasn't patient enough for that, so we just added it to her bottle, and she was one happy little camper. This will be wonderful not only for Ellie, but also for Mommy, since she hasn't had a full nights sleep now for quite awhile.

Now if we can just convince Mommy it was a good idea!!

Saturday morning was such a beautiful day, we decided to spend most of it out of doors. Brie is definitely Omi's sidekick when we get outside. She loves it and wants to get into the dirt.

While Omi was gathering up some things for them to play with on the driveway while I did a little watering and weeding, Brienna discovered a caterpillar on the tractor and was quite taken with it. She ran back and talked to it throughout the morning.

Brienna enjoyed her wagon while Ellie played on her gym. Ellie is fascinated that she can make her toy play and light up. They enjoyed the sunshine and being home on a peaceful Saturday morning, and so did I!

The sun was shining the wind was blowing just enough to scatter the drive and yard with dogwood blossoms, which Brienna thought was kind of neat.

In anticipation of all of the fun we were going to have, we had invited Mason to come and spend the day with us, too. So, a little before lunch time, our precious Mason, or "Mase" as Brienna calls him, came to join in the fun. There were plenty of hugs to go around. I think he's missed us almost as much as we've missed him. At any rate, he came to spend the afternoon with us, and we had a tremendously wonderful time. After our "favorite lunch" of chicken tenders and mac & cheese outside on the deck, it was off to the yard to play.

It always takes Brienna and "Mace" about 30 minutes of pushing and shoving and negotiating to figure out everyone's boundaries, and then they play together so well.


Mason always loves riding in the Wagon at Omi's house. He set about getting all of the seats just right so that he and Brienna could ride and Omi could pull. It will be fun trying to fit all 3 of them into the wagon when Ellie gets a little bigger.

They played so well with the wagon, but it was a little different when it came to the car. At first they were so excited about it, but then realized there was going to be a small problem with the car. Believe it or not, they are both crying because they realized they couldn't both get in the car together. But boy! Did they try. When they finally accepted the fact that only one could drive at a time,

Brienna played with her wagon while Mason drive the car, and then they switched places. It worked out quite well, until it started to rain. So we ran inside where Mason discovered the new Disney Princess Castle. I have no idea why I don't have a picture of them in the tent - I took them, I just can't find them. Suffice it to say, when Lisa came to pick up Mason, his first words were, "I just stay with Omi. I'm gonna stay here." That would have been fine with Omi!!

After a very busy day, we tucked away for the evening and read books and sang our usual evening songs. I suddenly realized - the television had not been on the entire weekend. It was wonderful!!

Sunday morning, it was the mad dash to get both girls bathed and dressed, along with myself, and out the door in time for Sacrament Service at my Ward. We made it on time - barely - and when we arrived home, I had promised myself to take pictures of the girls in their Sunday dresses; however, Ellie was sound asleep (having been passed around continuously at church - she's such a cutie, those women just couldn't resist!) and Brienna was anxious for lunch. Just after I snapped these shots, it was beginning to drizzle again! So, I'm glad I got these shots of her in her cutie pie dress.

Monday morning, it was the mad dash to the Play School and off to work. Thank goodness I don't have a clock I have to punch!

Mom and Dad were waiting for the girls when they returned home from play school on Monday, and it was quite evident that the entire family had had a wonderful weekend. Omi??? She's ready for a vacation now! But it was soooooooo much fun!!