Attitude of Gratitude

This year one of my goals is to cultivate a constant attitude of gratitude.  I plan to write down at least one thing everyday that I am grateful for. 


Right now I am so very grateful for the amazing service and love the women at church have offered my family.  For over two weeks, during the busiest time of the year, over a dozen women have prepared amazing, delicious dinners and delivered them to our home.  All of these women are super busy with multiple children or working fulltime.  Dinners have been delivered in rain, knee-high snow and in the middle of the blizzard.  Their love and service have touched my heart and nourished my soul.  In addition to nourishing my family!! 


"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes it place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others."  ~Thomas S. Monson

Just because every post needs a picture.

Oliver: 18 Months

Oliver's 18 month birthday was December 11th; Simon's due date.  I had hoped to have this post up before now, but...well...things got busy.

Oliver is such a joy; so quick to laugh and smile.  He loves to pretend to cook in the play kitchen and spends much of his time there.  He has begun to ask to use the potty and actually did successfully once!  He loves and adores Isabella, mimicking her most of the time.  Oliver is quick to share, tease, hug and kiss.  The words he uses, that I understand are: mama, dada, Belllla (with a whole lot of tongue), juice, yes, cook, and cookie.  Otherwise he communicates very well with sign language and grunting.  He is a boy who knows what he wants and makes sure we understand him.  He is addicted to watching shows, loves the book "quiet LOUD", has great rhythm drumming and dancing, loves walking around outside and playing in the snow.

Oliver is very expressive, especially with his lips.  Unfortunately he would not make his "sad face" for the camera.  His sad face is adorable; so much so I have a hard time not smiling when he is sad.

Today

Today began a bit crazy.  At 9am both boys were screaming and demanding Mommy's love and attention.  Even with Grandma's extra hands, love and attention it was overwhelming.

But things got better...

We did some finger painting:

We did some sewing with Grandma:

And cleaned the kitchen: