Giving Thanks

I don't think it is ever "too late" to give thanks, so here goes... 


I am thankful for this guy...

Who makes me sane even when he drives me crazy, makes me laugh when I want to cry, and calms me when I am totally frazzled. He takes care of anything that needs to get done, even when it seems impossible.  He is silly and romantic.  Not only is he a great husband and friend, he is the most amazing dad.  Rob is so incredibly patient, loving, and affectionate with Maya and I can't wait to watch him fall in love with our new baby, too! 



I am thankful for this girl...

Who makes my heart smile.  She makes me laugh and glow with pride daily.  Maya has shown me a kind of unconditional love I couldn't have ever imagined.  I cannot WAIT to watch her become a loving, doting big sister and fall in love with her new baby brother/sister!  


I am thankful for our furbabies...

Annie

Ellie and Macy

Who make keeping our house clean nearly impossible, but provide our days with so much love and laughter.  With a dog and two cats, our home is never quiet or lonely (or clean, for that matter!!)  
They are ALWAYS there to snuggle, love unconditionally, and give kisses when they are needed.  



I am thankful for our family...

Who has been sooo incredibly supportive in our move and transition to a new job, house, and new life in Eau Claire.  We could NOT survive without the support of our parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins, and friends...  Moving has been such a humbling experience.  I truly feel the meaning behind "It takes a village..."  We are soooo very thankful that we didn't have to do it alone and that our family has been so willing to help in so many ways! 



I am thankful for friends...

both old and new.  I am incredibly sad to have left behind many great friendships in La Crosse, Onalaska, and Holmen, but SOOO grateful to have had the opportunity to develop those friendships over the last 10 years.  I am hopeful that each of those friendships will continue in their own way.  I am also thankful for NEW friends who have welcomed me with smiles and kind words as I begin a job and home in a brand new neighborhood!  I am also thankful for those friendships that have been with me forever.  Those who I have grown with and know me best!  I am soo blessed to have you ALL!  


 I am thankful for our home...

That said family and friends has helped us to put together!!  Not because it is big and beautiful, but because it is ours!   It is warm and safe and provides us a place to make many memories.  It is full of lots of love and things that are beautiful and important to us! 



I am thankful for my job...

That is full of welcoming, fun, and supportive co-workers and provides many opportunities for our family. 



I am thankful for my bed...

{Actual bed not pictured! But doesn't this one look comfy??}  

With our flannel sheets and down comforter.  I am thankful to have a soft, warm place to lay my head EVERY  night!

I could go on and on, but I am afraid I might start to get a little materialistic.  Soon I'll be thankful for Starbucks and Target.. {but who isn't?!}  

Halloween!

We are a week late, but I couldn't not post some of these cute Halloween pics! My day started out crazy with a Halloween party and parade at school.  I rushed home to meet Rob, who miraculously had the day off!  Our friends Tim and Tessa and their two boys joined us for pizza and trick-or-treating.  Our neighbors weren't kidding when they said we get LOTS of trick-or-treaters.  Rob counted almost 200 kids before we ran out of candy!

Maya dressed up as a little pink kitty cat this year.  She loved her costume, although you can't tell from the pictures.  She was a little silly and camera shy at first.  Of all days, she chose Halloween to NOT nap, and you could definitely tell :)

After passing out our candy, we headed out to a few houses.  She loved chasing Carter and Blake from house to house and would say "Treat" when she got to the front door.  She would say "I wanna run too. I wanna run too."  But her "run" is like in slow motion, so at times we had to scoop her up to move her along.  A wagon would have been a great idea, but I'm not sure she would have stayed in it with the big boys out running.

It got dark on us pretty quick, but we got just enough candy!  Maya loved carrying her little Halloween bucket.   Her favorite treats were licorice and suckers.  We've now hidden the candy, but she will still cry "I want sucker! I want sucker!"  

Halloween 2012 was a success!

Secret....

Maya's been keeping a little BIG secret!  
Our little family is growing once more.  Our family of three is about to become four!! 

Baby Liddell coming Spring 2013!!  

  

Closing....

one door leads to another open door.  Wow, this cliche saying couldn't be more true for us right now.  After three years in our very first house in Holmen, we decided to put it on the market.  After about two and a half months of cleaning and showing our house, we finally received and accepted an offer!  A few weeks ago, we closed the door of our beloved first home for the last time.   It was a very bittersweet time.  While I am excited for our new adventure, I am very, very sad about the friends and neighbors we are leaving behind.

Throughout the time we had our house on the market, I was also job hunting.  I had my first interview a few weeks ago and was offered a job teaching Kindergarten at Sherman Elementary in Eau Claire.  I couldn't be more excited about school and the co-workers I will be teaching with! I think this will be a perfect fit for me!

We currently have an accepted offer on a home in Eau Claire.  If all goes as planned, we will be moving into our new home at the end of September.

We couldn't be more excited about how things are falling into place for us!  

Changes...

Lots of changes {GOOD changes} are headed our way, but tonight this sweet girl is all that is on my mind!    

After about an hour of her pointing at {poking} my eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, crawling all over me, singing songs, and snuggling, she finally dozed off!

I just soaked up every second of her sweetness because snuggling her to sleep is something I don't get to do often!  Sweet dreams!! 

Little Mommy

I cannot believe that my baby is actually big enough to play babies!  Maya has been loving to carry her baby around now for months, even laying the baby down to "change her diaper" and feeding her milk from her sippy cup.  However, Maya received a stroller, car seat, and cradle set from her cousins to play with her babies and she LOVES it!  As soon as she saw it, she knew just what to do... sooo sweet!  She is such a cute little mommy!  

I think she's trying to tell me she's ready to be a big sister... what do you think?!?!  ;)   

{ No, no, no... I'm not pregnant}

Weekend Getaway

Last weekend, Rob and I decided to take advantage of a great deal and head to the Dells for a weekend getaway!  We stayed at Hotel Rome @ Mt. Olympus and had a wonderful time.  Grandma and Grandpa came Friday afternoon to stay with Maya, Annie, and the kitties while Rob and I headed out of town!  We arrived in the Dells Friday afternoon just in time to watch the Onalaska boys basketball team win and enjoy happy hour at the {ridiculously expensive} hotel lounge.  Thank goodness for 2-for-1 happy hour specials and greasy bar food!  We checked out the indoor water park, hot tub, and headed to bed early.  Saturday was filled with some Tanger Outlet Mall shopping, dinner at Moose Jaw Pizza & Pub, Onalaska D2 Championship game, and some more water park fun.  It was the first time I had gone down a water slide in years!  We had fun!  We also did a little lily pad obstacle course thing.  {Which would have been really fun if it had not been for the obnoxiously rude teenage boys who weren't courteous enough to wait in line or NOT splash others!} However, I kind of felt like I was on that goofy show Wipe Out!  After a day of fun, we were in bed by about 9pm.  LoVeD it!!   We woke up Sunday morning and couldn't wait to get home to see Maya.  We had a wonderful weekend.  I expect we will be heading back soon because the Rob was dying to do the go-karts!  


 Most of all, it reminded me how much fun Rob and I have together and how important it is continue to do fun things like that!  

Getting ready to head down to the water park!

Dinner at Moose Jaw

The weather was so beautiful outside!! 

Maya doing her favorite outdoor activity: Riding on Daddy's tractor!

Maya snuggled up in her John Deere jammies from Grandma Sue!  

What a big girl! 

Loves <3