Spirit of Thanks

So I have spent a few days thinking about thankfulness. (that's a tongue twister) Many know that I am VERY sarcastic and somewhat cynical. I know better than to take the blessings that surround me for granted, so my initial thoughts when I began thinking about what I am thankful for, evolves in my mind as a DUH statement. (my family is first of course) That being said today as I was reading over the blogs of friends (real and bloggy) finally I had a standout thought!!!!! Here comes the mushiness......

Shane- I am truly thankful for Shane. {insert tears in my eyes here}

Most of you know about Shane's serious heart blockages that the cardiologist found during an angiogram in 2001 and sent him straight to the surgeon who that very week did bypass surgery on my (then) 33 year old husband. It all happened so fast, at the time the "what ifs" didn't even creep into my mind. However, today when I think how different our story could have been, I am overwhelmed with emotion.

I am thankful that he cares enough about himself and his family to listen to his body and knew something just wasn't right. I am thankful that he has the most positive outlook on life of anyone I know. He is a great husband and a great daddy. Most days I am way to hard on him, yet he always puts up with my moodiness. Shane makes me want to be a better person. (I don't always try to be the better person I should) So everyday I am thankful to have a husband who loves me unconditionally. I am thankful that I can still touch his handsome face, see his smile, and feel his heart beating in his chest when he holds me.

Fall Photo Shoot

These are MY amateur pictures....we didn't have a fancy photographer :(

or setting, or camera. These are our front yard and porch except the couple of pictures I chased the girls to the neighbors front porch to take. If we could get everyone to slow down and get together we might be able to get some of all 4 of us! All in all they are pretty good and we had fun taking them for the 10 minutes we spent taking them. Thanks Amber for taking the couple of me and my girls--love ya!

Out~takes

These are the out~takes to some pictures I insisted on taking today! Emily was very cooperative with the promise of driving afterward! I think I have found her new currency.

Oh My!!

Emily is driving.......
Hard to believe isn't it???

Somethin' Special

I thought for opening weekend of deer season I would share with you the McClary Family's new vacation home.......Is the suspense killing you? Here it is! Our 2003 Terry Camper, sleeps 8, queen bed, bunks, sofa, and don't forget the table that folds down to sleep 2 after the chores is done. This here is Emily and her buddy Amber visiting deer camp. They got to wear their hunter orange while in them woods. Them other pictures were taken with Shane's phone and not big enough to see. Sorry.

Watch out-we got somewhere to stay.

An a really long extension cord-

We'll be coming soon to a driveway near you.

(HA)

Do you know who is 14 years old?

Have you guessed who is 14??

--yep its Emily
Hard to believe isn't it?

Yes, she is taller than I am-however she is wearing heels

My heels, her feet are almost as big as mine.

Emily's 12th birthday

She totally wore the tiara out to dinner

(cause she is a princess)

3rd Birthday

Emily was seldom seen without her "B"-he is also 14 now and has gone totally gray...evidently that happens to lovey's after SO much love!

4th Birthday

1st Birthday

13th Birthday

7 months-

It was difficult to get a picture of E smiling-

not true-it was difficult getting smile camera or not

6 months-

We are so blessed that God trusted us to parent this precious child. I have never known a girl as levelheaded as this one. At 14, she thinks things through, and always strives to be the best she can at everything. I have been known to say she is a great kid, and I hope we do not mess her up with our craziness. Emily is most definitely the thinker of the family! We love you E!

Trick-or-Treat

Prepare yourself-this is a long post with lots of pictures.

This Halloween we hosted our 3rd annual Halloween Hayride (mainly neighborhood kids). The rule is you must have a parent with you for the Hayride/Trick-or-Treating to keep things safe, as well more fun for all. We had a record number this year of 38! people join the fun. We began gathering about 5:30 in front of our house. We set up tables outside and had a potluck that included crockpots of Hot Dogs, Chili, Cheese Dip, Deviled Eggs, Chips and a couple of other kinds of dips. Even a few desserts. The trailer left about 6:45 for the Trick-or-Treating, they also found a couple of neighborhood haunted houses this year. Myself, I stayed home to pass out candy to the kiddos that came by our place. Enjoy the pictures......

Sarah LOVED her Bumble Bee costume!

She is so cute I want to eat her up!

In motion..

My Knight-in-Shining-Armor (the dress armor)

Shane dresses up every year! He has so much fun going and renting a costume and keeping it a secret from everyone until he puts it on for the big reveal! We are very lucky to have him. He is always game for anything.

Emily had planned to go to GS Fest (a HUGE church carnival) with some friends, but decided last minute to stay home and enjoy her family and neighborhood friends! She didn't even mind being the oldest, from what I understand she did a great job of keeping up with the little ones. To her left is Adam, he is Ali's little bro. He wore my neighbor Candy's drill team uniform and a blonde wig! He was a HOOT! On Emily's right is Grayson, he is Candy's oldest (Sarah's grade) and he was CREEPY!

Lots of kids, lots of parents, and a few grandparents~ Sarah's very best friend came home with her after school and was able to go with us, she loved having her along!

This is Ali~a neighbor, also one of Sarah's BFF's she appears in other pictures as her normally, cute, sweet self!

Daylight Savings Time?

Tonight my very sweet youngest daughter was unhappy she did not have time to play outdoors after school today. By the time she had a snack and tackled her homework it was dark. At that time she said "I hate daylight savings time!" I told her we can adjust her homework schedule so that she can play outdoors before homework time. Her next question was "Do we have daylight savings time on the weekends too?" So sweet......:)

6th Grade Visits Junior High

Here is many pictures taken on a "field trip" that the 6th grade took to the junior high. This is done 2 times during the 6th grade year to introduce the kids to the new environment. Sarah took the camera with her and this is her pictures from the day. It is so interesting to me to 'see' the day through her eyes.

Stuttgart Agricultural Museum

If you ever get a chance to go to the Stuttgart Agricultural Museum-go there. I am not a fan of such things usually, however, this place is full of very neat historical things. Not all related to agriculture, everything related to history. These are a few of my favorite pictures. Between Sarah and I passing the camera back and forth we had lots!

Shoes from the 1930's----I want them too cute!

Farming equipment stored in the garage.

Prarie House-
Did you know that trees do not grow well on the prarie?
When the homes were built trees were built on either side of the walkway.
These were called Mom & Pop trees-
Why you ask?
They cut them down to use the lumber for Mom & Pop's coffin.
Talk about forethought.


Cases used to hold letters for an old printing press.
Notice the UPPERCASE? and lowercase?
Yep! I left the museum feeling a little bit smarter!


This is 1/2 of Sarah Jane's class.

Every year for the last several the trip is ended with a visit to Big Banjo Pizza, there in Stuttgart for some yummy treats