Lots more birthday fun to come when this mommy is done making super-special spaghetti.

Thankful on Friday morning for reflections from Thursday….

On Wednesday we celebrated Joshua’s birthday and though I’ve got a post coming exclusively dedicated to why I am so blessed to have him, I wanted to take a minute and remind myself that I don’t have to raise my kids, clean my house, build a life…alone.  I was given a partner and I am thankful everyday for him.

Madelynne wanted him to wear a birthday crown, so of course he did once I promised it wouldn’t be a princess crown.

This week I’ve been thankful for swim lessons, for people who are confident, patient, and firm with my children in a way that makes them want to do and succeed.  And I got a little glimpse of what Madelynne must be like in a classroom.  I’ll start praying now for her first grade teacher.

I think at this moment they were told to splash, but Madelynne had a habit of splashing even when her feet were supposed to be out of the water.

Pretending to like each other.

Her version of a dive.  We’ll have to work on it.  She says she could do it if we’d buy a house with a pool.

Learning to swim on top of the water as opposed to under it.

This is the child who wouldn’t dare go under water last summer.  Way to go Annabelle!

Finally, I’m thankful for the house wine of the South that gets me through all these hot summer days with shrill girls, wet bathing suits left in the car, and piles of library books that are overdue.  ahhhh…..sweet tea.  There’s nothing like it.  Thank you, McDonald’s for making it cost a dollar and for putting in unsweet when I ask so I feel less guilty.

http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/flashslideshowphotobook/slideshow_pb.swf

Click here to view this photo book larger

It’s been a simply busy week in the Brackett house. 

On Monday we woke up to….

a little dusting of snow that kept school from starting on time.  But we did make it in so that’s not a snow day! (I don’t want anymore of those until after my February break since we already had a trip planned, and I’m pretty sure parents don’t care how icy the roads are, they just want their kids out of the house and out of their hair.)

Friday night, we headed south just a tad to visit my grandparents and see my Aunt Kathy who was in town for a few days.  While she made homemade pizza and set off the smoke detectors and then opened all the windows and froze my grandmother, Amelia had a good time navigating all the stairs in the tri-level house and bonding with her Uncle Corey who is proving that someday he might be ready to have a daughter of his own.

On Saturday after a massive shed clean out (we’re attempting organization) we had dinner at Outback with Joshua’s aunt and uncle’s family who we only see about once a year.  This is Aunt Beth of the pottery and I wish we saw them more because they’re great and sweet and fun.  I left the camera in the car so no pics, sorry!

Have a great 52.5! Is is February already?