Thankful Thoughts

Happy Happy Happy Hallween 2013! 

Willie, Jace, and Uncle Si! ;)

It became Camo-night for the whole fam :)

 

















 

Soccer season is now complete!! Saturday was the last day of games for my Black Dragon (Austin) and Red Warrior (Carson) and we capped it all off with chaotic team parties at a rather busy bowling alley following those exciting last games! Even with that "extra hour" of supposed sleep, recovery took a little longer than expected. ;)

Austin as goal-keeper...he saved it! :)

Throw-in!

Goal kick

Impromptu/last minute coaching ;) It was actually quite fun...

Carson took the ball all the way down the field...GOAL!

game face

Even with his unusual method--he got a spare!

CJ

Nice form Austin!

Mason was quite excited about his spare! :)

Proud soccer/team mom!! Love these boys :)

With soccer behind us and holidays nearly right in front of us, we now find ourselves at that time of year again. Extra measures taken to really think about the who's and what's we're especially thankful for. It's hard not to have that mindset when you read daily about the variety of things people are thankful for and you yourself offer up your own sentiments; but why are we overly-thoughtful and exceptionally expressive in our thanks for just these 30 days. What about the other 335??? I was mulling this over just last night as I prayed with each one of my boys before bedtime, again reminded that all of their sentences, or phrases that were actually one continual sentence glued together by that "and" word, began with "thank you for...." You fill in the blank. Thank yous compounded upon thank yous. 
     "Thank you for this day and thank you for a good time playing legos and thank you for our hot cocoa and thank you for this wonderful time and thank you it's almost Christmas and thank you Jesus died on the cross for us....and thank you.....Amen." These have been the prayers of our boys for as long as I can remember. When was the last time I prayed ONLY to say thanks? Even if it was a run-on sentence.

I say this for thoughtful purposes. That purpose in being more thoughtful & thankful year round!! Now don't misunderstand me, we definitely get into the "thankfulness mode" a little more so this month like so many others, with our annual Anderson Thankful Tree--it's a tradition that is anticipated every fall and we have so much fun doing it together as a family! Hearing what the boys are thankful for and their sincerity in the simplest of things keeps it all in perspective...and keeps us laughing and humbled from leaf to leaf. ;) 

Mason looks like he's about to fall asleep! (his leaf ended up saying "snow")

Awwwwwww ;)

"I'm thankful for my 2 brothers"

"Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." (Psalm 95:2)

More Fall Fun...with a wintery twist....

It's often said that the changing of seasons never happens gradually. This fall brings that saying to pure truth as I stare out the window at a white winter-wonderland happening right before my eyes. Three days ago we were sporting t-shirts while watching our soccer boys and two days ago, enjoying the red/orange/yellow hues of color that were falling ferociously from every tree branch that surrounded us. 

look what we found in our tree!

Austin grabbed his little journal and did a sketch of the owl...it was really good!

Carson getting fancy with his soccer moves ;)

goal kick!

Austin on defense

Goal-keeper kick by Austin!

more soccer at home

a fall-evening bonfire

sidewalk chalk on a sunny afternoon

 Catching falling leaves!!

Pure joy in Carson's smile

"I caught it!!"

And Mason just runs....

It was raining leaves at one point!!!

Nice one CJ!

a little fall-lovin with my hottie-hubby! :)

Austin's own bed...in his own room!!!!

Mama and CJ sporting the MN garb ;)

In Mason's words Monday morning "What?!? How come it looks like winter? It isn't even Halloween!" That was quickly followed up with dancing feet as my three little gents went from window to window scoping out the blanket of white that covered everything. What is it about that first snow fall that brings up a certain giddyness that lies deep within?? And I'm not referring only to my boys.....;)

The boys checking out the snow!

it's a winter-wonderland!! (with a fallen tree....)

mama and mini-man lovin' the snow!!!

 a must-do for the first snow fall...snow taste-testing!

Mason said "I'll pick it up!" nice try buddy ;)

it's a little 'hide-out'!

 We had to do some cookie making--snowflakes to celebrate the first snow fall and pumpkins because, well, it IS still fall out there. ;)

Carson working on a snowflake

Jovi working on a pumpkin

thumbs up for cookie decorating!!!

snowflakes...and pumpkins!

lovin' the snow!!!

first snowman of the season! Austin said "I had to build a little one"

I'm sure by the end of the day, the ground will soak up the snow and we'll go back to the earthy browns and soon enough, those over-the-top leaf piles will be constructed....bringing another round of laughter and giddyness as we continue to enjoy this season of life.

 "Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills...the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love." (Psalm 147:7 & 8, 11)