August Give Thanks, Week 3

August 15:
    Thankful for a play date to wear the kids out and make my life a little easier. I hope it made my neighbors a little easier too.

August 16:
     Thankful we could have a full day spending time catching up with our friends; Matt and Chelsea. It was a great day spent at the Zoo and Old Sacramento.

All of us at the giraffe exhibit at the Sac. Zoo!

August 17:
     Its always so fun having friends over for dinner and some dessert; I am so thankful we can enjoy such a wonderful time with our neighbors. We really have the best neighbors ever!

August 18:
     Thankful for finding a new quilt shop in the area. Its like finding the best outfit or the best sushi restaurant... A quilt shop is so exciting to discover. Check out Angel Quilters shop.

August 19:
     I am thankful for all the amazing, wonderful people in my life. I don't say it enough, and today I feel the need to tell EVERYONE in my life that I am thankful for you. I am thankful for all the memories, the blessings we have received, the helpful hands, and sooo much more. Thank you.

August 20:
     Thankful for a few of my sad sunflowers finally blooming. They are small but they are cute. Ill have to get a photo of them, I finally have about 3 or 4 in bloom. (If you all didn't know I am so horrible at keeping flowers alive, never the less growing them from seeds to full flowers.)

August 21:
     I am so thankful my neighbor would go with me to a housing event, and make picture frame holders. I enjoyed myself a ton, and loved the finished product. I was happy to get out, and be doing something different too.

At the park making my picture frame holder.

Give Thanks,
Sarah

Easter With Grandma

I absolutely love having family and friends come to visit us. I am a huge hostess of the mostess... yeah. Uh, moving on.... I love showing people all the cool places we have discovered and or finding new places to discover together. When Easter had come around we had only been in Northern California for about 6 or so months. We had discovered a few places and really wanted to take my mom to them all. My mom has come to visit before, during thanksgiving; but we have since found a few other places to discover.

We started our adventure for the week at a new sushi restaurant. We haven't been to one here yet, and my mom was up for some sushi, as we both always are! She of course came with gifts for the kids, and they absolutely loved them! Fake food, and a puzzle... kept the kids completely happy.

Playing with his fake food.

Testing out the puzzle.

 Another place that we discovered and love, is the train museum in old Sacramento. Both our boys absolutely LOVE trains, and can never have too much train time. We purchased train museum passes when we took my mother to the museum that day. I think our kids were happy about that, as you can see it on their faces.

Playing with the toy trains.

Well, what holiday isn't complete without the traumatic photos! Of course my mother and I spent a few hours at the local mall, waiting to see the Easter Bunny. Both boys were not exactly excited to see him, but at the same time, they at least sat long enough for us to get a decent picture.

One thing we did do last time my mother was here was the Jelly Belly Factory. We had so much fun, and the kids loved the tour, not to mention all the free candy. So, of course we had to go back, and our neighbor and her two daughters came with us. It was a holiday week, so the line was kind of long, but totally worth it in the end.

Watching the chocolatiers.

 ... and why not try another creepy Easter bunny photo... Well, at least one of them is starting to like the Easter Bunny.

Finishing my mothers trip off with Easter Egg coloring. It was full of excitement and thrill. Brian wanted to eat one of the eggs, so I pealed one, and then next thing we knew he threw the egg into the food coloring. It was a hilarious moment.

This is the egg that I cracked open for him to eat, but ended up coloring it instead!

 When the week was over and my mom was headed home, we all kind of felt a mix of these emotions:

Don't Go MOM!!!!
Sarah

July Give Thanks, Week 2

July 8:
     I just can not be thankful enough for all the wonderful new places we are visiting and experiencing today. We have had some amazing food and shopped at some amazing new shops, best day ever. Love seeing some of our local area.

July 9:
     Thankful for an amazing day in Sacramento. It has been so much fun. Train museum, old Sac., shop hopping all over Sac., and driving around to see the area. Never knew California had so much to see and do.

Train museum; B man and Grandpa!

My sleepy J man. Love this ring sling.

July 10:
     Sad to see Grandma and Grandpa Pitcher leave today, but thankful for everything they did and gave us a chance to see and experience on this trip and vacation. Its amazing what you see and experience when you just take a few extra minutes and learn to relax.

July 11:
     Silence. Today, I am thankful for any silence I get. The boys have not been feeling well, I have not been feeling well, and my poor husband has not been feeling well. So, any small amount of calm silence is like gold to me right now!

July 12:
     Once again I have to be so thankful for the most amazing husband ever. I had to go to the ER and my oldest son got so sick, he was throwing up; and here my husband is, cleaning up and taking care of everyone! I was blessed with such a strong and amazing husband!

July 13:
     Thankful for a new phone!! We had our upgrades this past month, and decided to stop by a verizon store to see what we could get. Finally, we are apart of the 5c iphone group!! YAY!

July 14:
     Today has been a long day, but one thing I love is being able to skype with friends. So thankful for that modern technology, so I can keep up with my wonderful friends all over the world!

Give Thanks,
Sarah

May Give Thanks, Week 4

May 22:
     I am SO thankful for my brilliant and beyond clever husband who came up with the idea of using the straps off a backpack to make a carrier for our second son. The carrier is similar to an ergo. Check it out:

May 23:
     Today I am thankful for such an open, caring, and supportive mother. I didn't think I could be so open with her until I moved away and realized how much our relationship has bloomed. She really is an amazing person, and I am sad I didn't take every second I could to take in the knowledge she has/and gives.

May 24:
     Thankful for a day in Sacramento at the Train museum! The kids love playing with the train sets and they love running around and seeing all the real trains. Its an amazing museum if you have never been, you should go.

May 25:
     Thankful for my 11 month old baby boy! Jared is going to be 1 before I know it. Can't believe how big he has gotten. Such an explorer too.

May26:
     Thankful for a day out with our neighbors (we hiked to Beale falls), but sadly I slipped on a rock and re-injured my knee (the one I had surgery on). Our neighbors, James and Paula were awesome, and I am so thankful for their help with both our kids, as they have two of their own too. It was a great hike up, but a rough one back. We all made it back, I got sick and was in a lot of pain, but so thankful for my wonderful husband and amazing neighbors. Everything worked out well, and I have been resting and icing my knee. Crossing my fingers I feel better in a few days.

Hiking up to the falls, with my 11 month old on my back; before I hurt my knee.

May 27:
     For Mothers Day, my Mom sent me a Starbucks gift card. I am thankful for that one little coffee here and there that I can have without spending any of my cash. I honestly have been on such a tight budget, that I hadn't bought Starbucks in weeks. Feels great to have one again! Thanks Mom!

May28:
     Thankful for a little less knee pain today. Hoping that each day is a day closer to feeling normal again. Hopefully this wasn't a bad tear, just a bump in the road. I want to be able to hike those falls again!

Give Thanks,
Sarah

April Giving Thanks, Week 2

April 8:
     Excited and thankful to be working on a small hand sewn/quilted baby blanket, just for fun! Just working on my hand sewing techniques and practicing different stitches, which is making time for me. We all need that from time to time.

April 9:
     Today was by far a rough day, so trying to find something to be positive and thankful for is extremely difficult. However, I am thankful for my loving and caring husband who just knows me so well, and knows when all we need is a little chocolate to lift our spirits! Yum.

April 10:
     Thankful for a little motivation to get the house cleaned up and smelling like a clean house. When you have two kids who wear diapers, trust me this is the best thing ever.

April 11:
     Thankful for the time with our neighbors and new friends. The kids had a blast in the pool, bounce house and all the toys. I enjoyed all the adult conversation too!

April 12:
     So excited to have my mother here to visit. I am thankful for her safe drive and safe arrival!

April 13:
     Thankful today for the amazingly fun and exciting day down in Sacramento, where theres a Train Museum and old style buildings and stores. It was a ton of wonderful fun!

April 14:
     Thankful today for my wonderful mother being here and spoiling myself and the kids! Love my mother so much!

Give Thanks,
Sarah