November Blessings

Another busy week has come and gone.  Thanks to after Halloween sales Hudson picked out this costume to wear to the trunk or treat.  He was pretty pumped to get to dress up like Thomas the Tank Engine. I think he made a pretty cute train! Although I bought Ellie a few more costumes to play dress up with, she would not even consider wearing anything other then her kitty cat costume.  The kids are so sad Halloween is over.  They keep asking if we can go trick-or-treating again. Fortunately they have Thanksgiving and Christmas to get excited about.

Autumn is six weeks old now! She is sure a sweet girl! There are still times when life feels a little crazy as we are adjusting to our new addition.  One day this week I was feeling a little overwhelmed and blue. That evening as I stared at her, she looked up at me and gave me her first real smile.  Its amazing how my stress melted away and I felt nothing but joy and gratitude for all the love I have in my life. I know that my heavenly father knows me personaly and sends me little blessings when I need them. On another day we needed a few things from the store so I loaded up Hudson and Ellie into the stroller and put Autumn in the sling around my neck and headed on foot to make my purchases.  As much as Hudson and Ellie love eachother they love to tease one anothe even more and sometimes it makes my life difficult. By the time we made it to the store Ellie was crying, Hudson was yelling and every bit of my patience was spent. I got quite a few looks of sympathy, and coments like "wow you have your hands full", from passersby. Admitedly, I was feeling a little sorry for myself as well.  An old woman approached me and I prepared myself for yet another "helpful" coment.  She looked at me and asked if she could take them off my hands.  I gave her a courtesy laugh expecting that her coments was given with sarcasm. She came very close and wrapped her arms around Autumn and proceeded to tell me how beautiful my children were and express to me how children are such blessings from god.  Then she warpped her arms around me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.  As I walked away from her I couldn't keep the tears from rolling down my cheeks.  I was reminded not only that my children were precious gifts, but also that my heavenly father was always there with me to lead me, guide me, walk beside me, and once again I felt his love for me as stonge as I ever have.  I don't ever want to forget that day in the store. I want to look for opportunities to help someone else be reminded that they are loved children of our Heavenly Father.

I crossed off a huge task from my to do list this week; POTTY TRANING, or Potty Prison as Jake and I like to call it. I have been putting off potty training Ellie until things settled down a little. Honestly, I have been a little nervous of taking on this task because my little Ellie can be aaaaaaahhhhlittle willful and I was worried it might be quite the battle. She really surprised me however. With the help of some hello kitty stickers and Halloween candy she has done really awesome! I'm so proud of her. She is getting to be such a big girl.