Thankful!

I love Thanksgiving and the thankful spirit it generates in everyone! I wish we could keep the attitude of gratitude throughout the year, if we could do that wouldn't all of us be better off?
We had Thanksgiving dinner at my Papa & Granny's today with my side of the family. We had a ton of food, really way too much!
Do you ever feel guilty for the blessing you have been given? I do. When I looked around at all the food I had a sense of guilt come over me, I had more food in front of me today then some people have all year!
It's hard not to think about what all you have this time of year, I know God wants us to be happy he wants to bestow all his blessing upon his children.

I felt God tugging on my heart today! I felt a real desire to be doing something for someone else, I wish I would've allowed him to work in my life but instead I chose to ignore it.
I think I should have volunteered to work at Seven Hills, The Salvation Army or the NWA Food Bank today. I want to serve others and glorify God, I want to offer a heartfelt smile and a warm bowl of soup to a poor soul who has nothing. I truly want to get a glimpse of their life, I want to be an encouragement to them.. AHHH I should have!!
Obviously I have some regret about today, but I know that God will continue to work on me and the next time he knocks I must answer his call.


What I don't regret is spending time with my family! It's rare these days that all of us are able to stick around after Thanksgiving dinner, usually everyone has to take off to go to the next dinner but today was one of those days that almost everyone was able to spend the day at my grandparents just relaxing, catching up and playing games. I truly cherish these times with them.

 Brinley loves to help in the kitchen, anytime I'm cooking I've either got to pull her up a chair, sit her on the island or carry her on my hip. This is us making Chicken Pot Pie

 Brinley assisting with the Corn Casserole, she can't keep her fingers out of the bowl. Just like her Momma!!

 My Uncle Don and Brinley. Shhh! Brinley was just using him to get close to Jasmin (Black Chi)

 My wonderful Granny! What a blessing she is to our family, she's been cooking us Sunday Dinner every since I've been alive! She keeps her family together and strong!

 Brinley rarely looks at the camera anymore but I still thought it was a good picture

 My sweet little girl! Oh how I love her!!

 Oh Landon what are you up to sweet boy?

 My Cousin Whitney, her husband Clayton and Brinley oh yes and Jasmin!

 My wonderful Papa and Brinley, oh and Jasmin! Where ever Jasmin was you found Brinley!

 Grandpa and Brinley taking a nap after our big Thanksgiving Dinner!

 My cousin Heather and Brinley, unfortunately Brinley's preoccupied.

 Lauren and Brinley.

Sweet Matt, Heather's boyfriend and Brinley.

Pumpkin patch

This past weekend we went to Branson with Barry, Karen and the kiddos. We started out the night by eating at Lamberts, you know "Home of the thrown rolls". We had about an hour wait so by the time we finally got sit down to eat Brinley was really fussy. We enjoyed our meal but I was ready to get to our hotel and get Brinley down for the night. On Saturday Brian and Barry took the kids to Branson Landing to let them burn off some energy and to give Karen and I time to shop at the outlet malls. I got Brinley alot of cute winter clothes and I bought her a winter coat, she should be set until next spring.

Saturday afternoon the Hogs played Auburn, Brian intended on staying in the hotel and watching the game but there is only so much you can do in a hotel room to keep a active 19 month old entertained, so by half time I talked him into going back down to Branson Landing so we could be outside.
Brian remained in the car listening to the game and Brinley and I strolled around window shopping.

On Sunday morning we got up and drove to Pea Ridge and went to McGarrah's pumpkin patch. We had a really good time, Brinley got to ride a mule (it was actually a barrel train pulled by a tractor) we took a hayride, walked through the corn maze and then we got to pick out some pumpkins.

We had a great time but we were exhausted by the time we got home Sunday. Brinley and I will be putting our outdoor fall decorations out this weekend, and I hope to get a few good pictures of her actually looking at the camera.

Time Fly's when your having fun!

I can't believe this was taken 6 months ago. Having a child really does make the time go back so much faster! I remember when I was a child that a month felt like a year and now a year feels like a month. Brinley is growing and learning something new every single day. This week she has began to stack books, food, toys, etc. just anything she likes to stack it.

Fair time

This past week we took Brinley to her first county fair and I'm pretty sure I've got a little cowgirl on my hands. Brinley loved the animals, she was not afraid of them at all. Her little eyes were lit up all night long.. We had a great family night, I love seeing her face when she see's something for the first time. My baby girl is absolutely precious!

She didn't know what to think when this little calf started sucking her fingers !

She had the most fun riding this little pony! Be still my heart...

We actually ended up going to the fair twice. The first night was such a success her daddy wanted to take her back a second time.

We ran into cousin Korbin!

And cousing Landon!

I just love these two little boys and I can't wait to see the love and friendship that Brinley develops with each of them. My cousins and I are extremely close almost like siblings and I pray that Brinley has the same relationship with her cousins.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!

I kept thinking how nice it would be if we would get snow for Brinley's 1st Christmas, I was so thrilled when I woke up Christmas morning and looked out the window and all I could see was the glistening white covered ground. It was so beautiful and just made Christmas that much more beautiful.

I really wanted to keep Christmas simple this year, I didn't want to have to spend all week baking and running back and forth to town trying to make sure I got every one's present bought. I've always been one to go all out decorating and baking, etc. but this year was different. I had such a peace within my heart. This Christmas I relaxed and just sit back and tried to absorb Brinley's 1st Christmas, I want to remember every single detail. I know Brinley won't remember any of this but I will never forget it!!

Our little pumpkin!

Our little pumpkin is growing so quickly, Today she is already 8 Months old! I've always felt like time moved way to quickly but now that Brinley is here it seems that it is spinning out of control. She is a perfect baby, she sleeps through the night every single night and only cries when she needs fed or is wet. She has found her voice and lets little squeals out and she shakes her shoulders and head when she gets excited, she is just precious..

I can't remember life without her in it, which I find really funny because Brian and I have been married for so long I just for the longest time couldn't see us with a baby not because we didn't want one but because so much time had passed it just seemed like we were set in our ways and had such a routine. Life is so much sweeter now, I think it's beginning to get harder and harder to be away from her during the day and I think once she starts walking and talking I'm never going to want to leave her.