Being Thankful

On this beautiful Thanksgiving weekend, I cherished some quiet time with my family and had fun at Thanksgiving dinner at my parents place on Sunday night with 20 family or like-family friends.   Saturday I was able to sleep in and my children happily entertained themselves.   When I think about some of the many things I am thankful for, mornings like this rank pretty high.

I am thankful that my children still find joy in the creation of things where they can demonstrate their imaginations.   M&M took to putting together several puzzles, creating a "puzzle gallery" for their cousins to see when they came over later in the day.

Matthew worked on a stop-motion animation film of his Gogos battling all weekend long!  He was so proud of his video when it was done...  over 512 still pictures!  I was proud too :)

I am also thankful that Scott had some down time too.   He has been taking over a lot of the parenting things these days when I am working on my studies.   So it pleased me to see him enjoying time outside watering the lawn and picking at the flowers.   I do love my husband ~ sometimes he reminds me of Ferdinand the Bull.   If you have never read this classic story, you should!   Scott truly loves to stand with the hose and water and admire his grass (even though we have a sprinkler system).   I find it very endearing.

I'm also very thankful for the warm sunny fall days we continue to enjoy. When I look outside I still can't believe it is October and my sweet peas continue to bloom.    The mountains on my drive to work in the morning are simply stunning and make the traffic bearable.

Some other many things I am thankful for include:

• My mom has begun her 11th year of being cancer free this week.   Her miracle medicine Gleevec continues to chase away the Philadelphia chromosones that caused her leukaemia.
• Scott's Dad celebrated his 65th birthday this week.   What a wonderful milestone to reach such an age with great health and happiness. 
• Family and Friends - parents, sisters, brothers, grandparents, cousins, aunties, uncles, and friends who are like family.   Time with these people is so special.   I know I don't say it often enough to these people but I love my peeps... even if they make me crazy on occasion.
• Traditions - We headed to the Westham Island Herb Farm for the ninth year in a row with the kids.   It never gets old... just more fun!   I love watching them search for the biggest pumpkin they can find and then struggle to carry it to the wheelbarrow.   The gourds and pumpkins are a sight to behold.   This farm also has a small haunted house and some animals... a donkey, goats, chickens, and a hairy cow (not sure what it is called!)   
• My Neighbours - I appreciate all the growing caring friendships, the discussions that take place on the road, chit-chats, smiles, and waves of hello from those we know less well.   I appreciate how my neighbours take a genuine interest in my kiddies and support them by buying Girl Guide cookies and Purdy's chocolate bars.   I like how the kids in my neighbourhood play together and still knock on each other's doors to ask to come out to play.   I love how everyone looks out for each other's kids while driving down the road and returns things like hoodies left behind on the road to their rightful owners.   And when I am baking I really like that I can call next door to get an egg or other missing item!  
• The ability to Laugh - even little giggles - they are little burst of energy for me!

Having fun at the Herb Farm Pumpkin Patch with cousin Charlotte.

Aunty Julie took a family shot!

Matt loves the BIG pumpkins!