So many things to be thankful for...

I cant believe that Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is here, wow that went by fast!!! We had a great Thanksgiving. We all stayed out at our old home, which is now being used as a family place to enjoy! My mom and me have been busy redoing it and making sure everyone had room and there were beds for the crew we have these days. With my sister's new additions and ours we have 7 kids and 6 adults (we are now out numbered), so beds are usually an issue and we are typically all spread out on blow up beds. This year we got smart and had bunk beds made, so all the kids except for Bennet slept in the same room. It really went waaaaaay better than expected getting them all to sleep. We also converted an old barn into a big dinning hall, last year the weather was terrible so we had 17 people crowed into our living room, it was totally out of hand. This year we got smart! Besides my mom getting a terrible cold, we all had a great time. We have so much to be thankful for this past year. It really has been a year of blessings. From bringing Bennet home, my father surviving a heart attach, my sister bringing her two girls home, and every small little blessing along the way, it really has been an amazing year. Now my tree is up, and we're getting ready for Christmas! I plan on taking things slllllooooow and really enjoying the holidays. I want to drink hot chocolate with the kids during the day and have red wine with Jason and friends at night. I look forward to the holiday parties, Christmas music, baking, eating, wrapping presents and all the wonderful things that with celebrating Jesus birthday!

Kinley Pics

I know, I've been a really bad blogger but honestly I just haven't had much to say, life has been pleasantly boring!

My sis is home with all her kids in tow, they are adjusting to life as a family of SEVEN. Steph is homeschooling the girls (besides allee) and has been busy with that. On Tuesday's she watches my two while I give Katya and Nastya horse lessons. They are doing SOOO well, they are very naturally athletic and balanced, plus Nastya is animal obsessed which always helps! I was a bit worried at how I was going to teach someone that could speak english but its been fine, like a fun game of charades! It really has been a great way to bond with the girls on my own turf and be able to help in their journey through the amazing power of horsey love!

As for little miss Ella and mr. Bennet, they are doing great! Each day I see them bond more and more. It is so nice to hear Ella say that she has missed her brother the whole day (while at school). It is also so nice to see Bennet hug on her and her hug back instead of give a look of, 'who does he think he is'. Bennet is also being babysat once a week by my cousin who is going to school at SWT. She has been such a blessing, it is so nice to know that he is in good hands and is being well loved on while I get a little bit of sanity back. I tell you its been a bit of an adjustment for me, going from three days a week of childcare, to none! Bennet has also grown so so so much, he is three, yes, three inches taller (thats been in three months) and grown two shoe sizes! I suppose its all the eating he does. Wow can the boy eat!

This past weekend I got to meet my best friend's newest addition to her family, a precious little girl named Kinley. She is so so sweet. I am trying to get into photography and would love to eventually have my own business going so this was a perfect time to get some baby picks! I think they turn out pretty good! Thanks Kinley for your help! This weekend we are going to Houston to Kinley's baptism and my mom will be keeping Bennet for us, we'll see how he does without us for a night!

Potts: a new family of FIVE

My sister is now the mother of FIVE!!! They arrived in San Antonio late Sunday night after two days shy of five weeks, wow thats a longgggg time away from home and kids!!! The girls seem excited to be home and were so excited about their new room with all their new clothes! They quickly got out their pics and started to decorate!

Trick or Treat

Wow. I forgot what a whirlwind Halloween weekend can be! We kicked it off with Ella's school's Halloween carnival that they have every year, even when I went there. I remember the haunted house in the cafeteria, with grapes as eye balls, spaghetti noodles as brains, and my mom dressing up as a witch, cackle and all. This year was no different and I felt it only fitting that I dress up as a witch. I know, I know mom, my costume wasn't hand sewn and I didn't have a black tooth but all and all I think I made a great witch! I held down the bean bag toss! That evening we did some trick or treating, ate tons of candy, the adults had stew, and the kids played Ghost in the Grave Yard with flashlights! It was really a fun night! Then the next day it carried over into Ella's ballet class where they got to dress up again and get more candy. I can wait til Monday when some of her candy disappears while she's at school. I wonder what happened to it???? I would never throw away perfectly good candy.