Thankful Thursday Fall Edition

 Hi friends! Wow, so I  was a faithful blogger for about ten years and then took a break while going back to work teaching. Every time I log onto here to update it in some way, the platform/dashboard is so different and I feel myself aging rapidly. I do love having updates here for several reasons:

1. I love seeing what we were doing so it is easier to make our photobooks.

2. If anything ever happened to me, my kids would have a record of sorts. That said, I am really trying to limit personal information about them because, well, the Internet is a wild place and I want their consent on all I post.

Well, it's Thursday so you know what that means: Thankful Thursday. This is what I am thankful for this week:

Thankful Thursday

Happy first week back to school! I realize this isn't the case for anyone but it definitely is in this family with three kids in three different schools (primary, middle and high) and two teachers. One thing I have been doing each morning is some brief journaling of my stresses and gratitude's (which I'll talk about below) and I'd really encourage you to try it out if you think it would be helpful. It only takes about two minutes/day and I feel it really helps to reset and focus.

Being that it's Thursday it's time to share my thankful list of the week! I am thankful for:

Thankful Thursday

I am feeling a lot of feelings these days.

Who am I kidding, I always am. Along with the relief of summer holidays and being able to sort of sleep in, there are feelings of nervousness regarding our upcoming trip–how do I fully prepare for three weeks in Europe? Will it cost more than predicted? There are also feelings of frustration as I really wish my body was 100% healthy to do all the activities I would like but my foot still needs to be treated with great care and my weight is at a all time high (other than pregnancy). My kids seem to enjoy arguing with each other yet needing to be right next to one another which brings on some "wonderful feelings" Finally, there are ants in our home and a rat in our backyard which is just annoying. So, there's a broad range of feelings, time to focus on what I'm thankful for this week:

Thankful Thursday

Normally I write ten things I am thankful for but to honour your time and mine, here are some things I am thankful for today:

Thankful Thursday

It has been two weeks now that our Little Girl has left and we feel like we have adjusted to being "just" a family of five quite well. I have to say that I love going to sleep at night knowing I won't be woken up AND that I don't have to have eyes on a toddler and can just work/shower/run etc whenever I like. We are in our last week of teaching before Christmas holidays and I'm so excited! What am I most looking forward to? No alarm clock.

This week I am thankful for:

Thankful Thursday

Well, we've had an interesting week! I had to call in sick last Friday because Nya Bear caught a respiratory virus and that very day we said "yes" to a sweet foster baby. Then Gary had a basketball tournament over the weekend and I came down with a different virus. So, ya. I had to miss hockey on Tuesday (boo) but somehow we made it through the week okay.

This is what I am thankful for today:

Thankful Thursday

Every Thursday I take time to reflect on 10 things that I am grateful for. I started years ago and didn't mean to go for so long but now I can't help it. There has been heaviness in my heart this week as an old student of mine passed away. He was such a kind and friendly boy (I say boy because I still picture him as a grade 9 student) who always had a huge smile on his face. Always. I think of his family and all that they are going through right now. Loss is just so, so hard. It's a messy process and it hurts for a long time (I'm 12 years in and still dealing with it). There is no easy way to switch gears except to say that even in the hard times I have gone through, I let myself feel all the feelings yet tried to remember to focus on the grateful piece too.

This week I am thankful for:

Thankful Thursday

What a whirlwind of a week! We had a lot of stress with the installation of a hot water tank and subsequent gas leak. Followed that by the addition of a little girl and it's been busy. What am I thankful for this week?

Thankful Thursday

I spent the whole day in Whistler yesterday (yeehaw!) and then realized that today was Thursday so let's see what I can quickly whip up for a Thankful Thursday post alongside the obvious–Whistler getaway!

This week I am thankful for:

Thankful Thursday

Merry Christmas, friends.  We had a rough week with a mix of fevers, croupy coughs, and vomiting but Nya is now on antibiotics for bronchitis and an ear infection so we should be better by tomorrow. This week I am thankful for:

1. Birthday parties for the cousins. My kids have 18 cousins (total from both sides) and all live within an hour of us.  My side of the family has all young ones so birthday parties are mostly made up of our families :)

2.  Time away with friends.  It is nice having Gary home for a break!  I got away with my friends for an afternoon to go snowshoeing at Seymour.  It was definitely nice just focusing on dressing myself and not worrying about any complaining :)

3.  Snowshoeing with my family.  I love the age that Kai is at (9) as he just goes and doesn't complain.

4.  Prebuilt gingerbread houses.  Let's be serious, there's no way I can handle anything more than that at this point :)

5.  How Koen spells my name.

6.  A day with just our family.  I feel bad leaving our Little One behind but we hadn't done a family activity with just us since August.  It was nice.

7. Snow.  We had a little taste of it this week :)

8. Cuddles with Nya.  She loves to say things about how much her heart loves me and needs me and how I'm her best friend.  We share a love language of words of affirmation so we just encourage each other daily :)

9.  Going to the "Grandma Tree". Gary's parents have a tree with small gifts for the kids and we go there several times before Christmas for the kids to pick a gift each time.

 10.  Dinner by candlelight. It was a hit.

Oh yes, I'm also thankful for a date night with Gary where we went to see Star Wars.  It was a late show but it was great to get out together and see Gary giddy over a movie.

Merry Christmas, friends.  I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas Eve!

Love,
Louise

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for:

1. A sweet pair of boots for Nya for $3 – yay thrift store find. She likes dressing like me and I love it too!

2.  A beautiful drive.  Gary and I do this drive, along 80th in Surrey, a lot.  Today I will do this drive, there and back, 3 times. 

3.  Fun opportunities.  Through this blog, I have had opportunities to be part of some fun events and promoting Guildford Town Centre's contest was one of them!  Thank you for reading, I truly appreciate you (and your comments!) PS You can still try to win a $50 gift card to GTC. 

4.  Discovering a new thrift store.  I love to find sweet deals!  Usually I don't buy too many secondhand things for myself (often it's for the kids) but this was a cute Zara dress for $5!  It's SUPER comfy and has pockets.  Nya said I looked beautiful and I should get it, so, I got it ;)  I'm posting a picture (and embarrassing myself) because I need to know how to wear this!  Do I wear black leggings? Jeans? Bare legs in winter seems crazy.  What sort of jacket? Thanks in advance.  

5.  Teamwork.  We've always worked well as a team but now we're much happier doing so.  If you're feeling like things in your marriage aren't going well, doing nothing about it will make it way worse.  Put in the time, it's worth it!

6.  Santa picture with the four kids–they ran right into his lap! In the past, Nya was very fearful of Santa so I was happy to see that she is now feeling comfortable with him.

7. Our Ergo. I used it so much with Miss Nya (especially in SE Asia!) and although I haven't used it often in the past year (because she's three!) it still gets used.

8. A great afternoon at the zoo with my kids. It was the last sunny day we had this week and it was beautiful!

9. Christmas lights. So pretty!

10.  Finally getting life insurance.  We did it.  We met with a financial advisor and decided to a 10 year plan and re-evaluate then when our mortgage is hopefully paid off and Gary is closer to retiring :) And yes, a photo of Nya doing ballet because it has something to do with life insurance, right?

I hope you're having a good week.  I would love to hear something you are thankful for today!

Love,

Louise

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for:

1. Love.  So cheesy, I know.   Our house is loud and bursting with energy but it's also full of laughter and love. And happy screams.

2. A run with my Kai Bear.  Although we didn't run together, it's fun to have your kids participate in activities that you enjoy!

3. A husband who enjoys Christmas decor.  My dad was a bit of a...scrooge in the decorating department so I'm glad that Gary enjoys all the lights and decor.  Our tree is likely only going to have lights on it this year due to a Little One with busy hands.

4.  Kids reminiscing. I love when they pull out their Disney World photobooks and go through page by page.  I never thought they would be into the character meet and greet but boy, did they love it!

5. Mr. Hug-It-Out.  We got these T-shirts from Netflix and I thought there was a zero percent chance that Gary would ever wear it but it's what he always says (I do NOT like to hug it out!) and he wants to wear it.  He did get a hug in it.

6.  My family being agreeable :)  On Sundays, we all look decent and I asked if I could get a family photo and they did!  I probably should have gotten out of my slippers. 

7. Donuts.  So naughty but so yummy.  I love walking to Tim Hortons with our family to get donuts–we save it for special occasions...or sometimes we just drive there after ballet :)

8.  Simple things.  Nya got the purple square at ballet so all was right with the world.

9. Crafts.  Well, basically Nya crafting on her own. Thanks for all the advice, Facebook friends!

10.  Dates with all my kids this week!  I was able to review two events; The Good Dinosaur with the boys and then Disney on Ice: Frozen with Nya Bear for Moments in Mommyland!  Oh, and Nya got a sweet Maplelea doll which you can see here.  And now I'm tired.

As always, I'd love to hear your thankful item(s) for the week.

Love,
Louise

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for:

1.  Relaxing Saturday afternoon.  One kid at a party, one kid had a play date here, and our Little One on a visit.  Lots of driving but very little fighting for two hours. Exhale. And then they all came home...

2. Slippers.  I'm a bit picky about slippers as my feet need support so these are a great fit from Superstore!

3. Living in Canada. I've been all the way across this beautiful country twice (both by car and train) and it's so incredible.

4.  A husband that sneaks special things into my suitcase.  Ah, Rum & Coke (Pepsi.)

5. Reading books with my kids.  I like that we are almost all done with the baby/toddler/preschool books and moving on; time for some variety!

6.  My MEC vest. I've had it for 14 years and it is a wonderful temperature regulator for me.  It's been with me to the top of Kilimanjaro and through each pregnancy.  Love you, vest :)

7. Melissa & Doug toys.  I appreciate that their toys are educational and made of wood.  The Littles are obsessed with letters so it was fun to pull this out.

8. Date with my sisters!  The Price is Right Live! is coming to Abbotsford  in the Spring and we're all going together. With my luck, Maria's game knowledge, and the three younger sister's energy--we should be good! "Louise Chapman--come on down!"

9. Facebook friends to the rescue!  Kai has a friendly soccer game against another school this week and he needs cleats to play.  I didn't want to buy some for one game and so I put the question on facebook. Voila--cleats for today's game!  Thank you to Nya's preschool teacher :)

10. A successful Santa visit.  Our Little One's mama wanted a photo of her child with Santa.  I was so nervous because this could've gone so many different ways and I had no idea if Santa would come across as scary or fun. Fortunately, our Little One loves Santa! Yay :) Merry Christmas to all.  Pretend there is a picture of a super cute kid smiling on Santa's lap here.

I hope that you are having a good week and finding things each day to be thankful for.

Love,
Louise