Happy Belated Thanksgiving

Our family had a wonderful and quite Thanksgiving here at home.  After church in the morning, we went to our family friends’, the Kuipers, with Papa and Nana.  We had a delicious meal and a great day remembering the blessings God has given us. 

One of the traditions that Kuipers’ do on Thanksgiving is hand out 5 or so kernels of corn into which we drop into a bowl.  For each kernel, we list off what we are thankful for this year.  Here was my list for the year:

1.  The Christian community that we have here, specifically through our church.  It has been such a blessing to go to Church every Sunday and see people interact with Tessa, watch other kids give her hugs, and hear her talking about what she learned in Sunday school.  Our church is a blessing that I grow to appreciate more and more each year.

2.  Being pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy so far.  It is a blessing I know many long to have, and God has blessed us with one amazing child and another on the way. 

3.  Our jobs.  We both have good jobs that we enjoy and that provide for our needs.  That’s a combination many do not have.  Plus I have an amazing boss who not only teaches me about my work, but is also a godly, wise woman from whom I learn life lessons as well.

4.  God’s little revelations.  I am constantly amazed on how God’s brings little moments of laughter or clarity to my day in a way only He can. 

5.  My husband, who works his butt off every day at work, comes home and plays with his daughter, then works around the house doing other projects and is constantly on the go.  He’s an amazing dad and husband.

A few pics from the day:

A Little Life Lesson at the Grocery Store

Tessa is not what I would describe as a quiet child.  It fact, there are many times when she will talk for 30 or so minutes straight…not even joking.  Mommy, I’m doing this.  Mommy, I’m doing that. And if you don’t respond, she’ll just keep saying whatever she wants you to know over and over and over and over until you respond.  It can be pretty cute, but it can also be pretty loud and overwhelming. 

A couple weeks ago, I took Tessa to the grocery store and she was, of course, talking continuously.  I was getting annoyed because she was so loud and she was commenting about the other shoppers, Mommy, that’s a man.  Mommy, what’s he got? and so on and so. I was starting to get kind of embarrassed and she was starting to talk in a more sing-song voice when an older lady came up and started talking to us, saying she was such a beautiful singer.  We small talked for a little bit and then she asked Tessa to sing a song for her.  Tessa giggled at her and smiled so the lady started to list songs, and said something about a Santa song.  I said, no she doesn’t know Santa songs because we don’t do Santa with her.  The lady went to continue her shopping and as she started walking away, Tessa started singing “Jesus Loves Me.”  It was not only adorable, but it also dawned on me that, here I was embarrassed by her loudness and myself quiet on an occasion when I should be talking about the real meaning of Christmas, and she’s singing Jesus Loves Me to complete strangers.

Got it, God!  Thanks for the message!

Pumpkin Patch

Almost everywhere else in the U.S., people are enjoying the Fall season.  Here…it’s in the low 90s.  Almost perfect weather.  I can do without the cold and the snow, but on occasion, I do miss the different seasons.  It’s kind of strange to think that Tessa will probably never experience that changing of seasons in her childhood. 

All of that was just a strange segue into the fact that we took Tessa to a pumpkin patch yesterday with some friends.  The pumpkin patch was in the middle of the desert and it was 90 degrees out, but it was our “fall” experience none-the-less.

We had fun playing in bouncy houses, petting animals at the petting zoo, going on a hayride, and, of course, picking out a couple of pumpkins.

Covenant Blessings

My parents and my aunt Lynda came out to visit a few weekends ago.  Correction.  They came out to drive to California for my great aunt’s 99th Birthday party.  Even though we weren’t the main event, we were happy to have the visitors and to make the trek with them for the birthday party. 

We had a wonderful trip filled with old family stories, extended relatives I rarely see, and a lot of entertainment provided by a certain little girl who was in full form.  I’d post pictures, but mom was the one with the camera, and as soon as she learns to upload them to her computer and send them, I’ll pass them on (yeah Mom, I’m calling you out!). 

Anyways, the trip was a lot of fun, but was refreshing for the soul as well.  Seeing Tessa play with my parents and aunt, sit on my great uncle’s lap, and interact with all our relatives was such a great reminder of the importance of family, both biologically, but also the family of God. It was amazing to watch relatives I barely know care for and interact with her. But I think my favorite highlight was after we got home…Tessa sat by Dad and aunt Lynda and sang “Jesus Loves Me” with them and my Mom, over and over.  It was such a great reminder of God’s covenant blessings.

Morning Chit Chat

At 7:45 am the other morning, Tessa and I were still sleeping.  Tommy decided we had a lot to do so we needed to get up.  According to him, it went something like this.

He walks into Tessa’s room and says good morning.

Tessa sits up.

Tessa: This is my shirt (pointing to her shirt).  This is my pants (pointing to her pants).  This is my pillow.  This is my pony.  This is my binkie. It goes in my mouth.  I don’t need it.  I talk.

Tommy:  Ok. Should we go wake up Mommy?

Tessa: Yes!  Wake up Mommy!

He picks her up and  walks to our room  as she continues to point out objects along the way and sets her on our bed.

Tessa:  (bouncing on the bed) Mommy, wake uuuup!  Mommy wake uuuuup! (she lays down on me).  That’s so nice!

Me:  Uggh.  snarl.  (put pillow over my head).

I guess Tessa didn’t get her morning chitty-chattiness from me.

Trip to Lake Tahoe

Yep, I haven’t posted in like 2 months.  Life’s been busy.  And I’ve been procrastinating.  So here goes nothing.

At the end of July, all of Tommy’s family met at Lake Tahoe for a week for our summer vacation.  We rented a huge house and all stayed there, so it was fun to all be in one place and enjoy the time together.  We spent a lot of time at the beach, playing games, and doing family stuff. 

Because it’s been a while and I’m not really in the mood to rack my brain in trying to remember trip details, I’m just going to post some of the pictures from the trip:

Okoboji Vacation

We got back this past week from our annual summer trip to Okoboji.  Tessa and I were blessed to spend two weeks there and Tommy was there for about 8 days.  As always, we thoroughly enjoyed it and feel so blessed that we have such a fun place to visit in the summers where we can relax, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy the activities we love so much.

While there, we spent time with all of my family that lives in the area as well as friends.  It was wonderfully relaxing and great to get out of the heat (even though it got to 100 one day and everyone thought it was horrible=)).

It was fun to think back to last year when we were there and reflect on how much Tessa has grown.  She was just toddling around then, didn’t spend much time in the water, and didn’t talk much.  Now she’s all over the place and doesn’t shut up=). It was so fun to see her enjoy her time there (as was having other people give her the attention she constantly requests).

Of course all of our pictures of Tessa, so here is some of the fun stuff she did:

Rode her bike:

 

Played “Green Light” with Auntie Dawn (also known as “Red Light, Green Light” but she ignores the “red light” part):

 

Picked flowers and smelled them:

 

Watched the fireworks by boat.  We were a little worried she wouldn’t like them, but her exact response was, “I scared….oh, that’s pretty!  It’s green!  That’s so fun!”:

 

Helped Grandpa clean the deck:

 

Colored:

 

Put together puzzles:

 

Jumped on the beds in the loft:

 

Went swimming:

Got read to…

by auntie Dawn

by great-aunt Judy…

by Grandpa…

and Grandma too!

 

Played in Great-Grandma’s house:

Went on the boat:

Went under the bridge:

Went on the jet ski:

 

Helped Daddy with all types of activities including:

Putting the boat in the hoist…

Taking naps…

Swinging on the hammock…

And, of course, fishing!

It was a great vacation and I’m already looking forward to next year!