It's about time!

I've had a really busy week and a half. We had a great Thanksgiving. We hosted my family on Saturday and Matt's family on Monday. We did a bacon wrapped turkey with my family and then for Matt's family we stuffed a turkey with provolone cheese and prosciutto. It was yummy to say in the least.

We got to talk to my sister, Melany, in P.E.I. They found a place that looks out at the ocean. It sounds so dreamy.

I've been working on some projects for the last few days. The apron was one that I did with Jamie in the Spring and I was hoping to find a sewing machine of my own to finish it, but I am borrowing Susannes for the next week so I am able to work on some stuff. It's a reversible one. The Candy jar is something I decided to get the stuff for today while we were in town. I am also working on Tanner's birthday gift.

Anyways, I have more to post but I'll leave you with this for now!

Overload!

There is so much to share!

We had a great Thanksgiving. We had 2 thanksgiving's but sadly, we were not sent with any left overs....hmmmm....maybe other people didn't enjoy our company as much as we did theirs and they purposely denied us turkey left overs!!!!!! lol

We went to the Carriage Museum after our wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. It was nice to be able to spend the day together doing something new.

Tanner "helped" Aunty Amy make caramel Apples. He was eating the sprinkles off the plate

Emerson and Tanner were so cute on Sunday! They were chasing each other around my Mom's table for a good 30 minutes. It was hysterical.

Uncle Blayne and his nephews. I just love this picture.

Tanner and his cousins on Matt's side of the family.

Can you believe that these boys are all pretty much 1 year apart. Tanner the youngest, the middle, W, 14 months older and S a year older than W. They ADORE Tanner and Tanner loves them too.

Uncle Blayne took the boys for a golf cart ride and let them each take a turn driving. They all wanted to drive the big vehicles home.

We ate dinner at my Mom's outside. It was such a beautiful day and we all enjoyed our meal.

Can you believe that this cute boy is going to be 7!!!!! Just over a month and he's going to be 7. Plus, I just love that sweater. I got a steal of a deal at The Children's Place. It was 20% off! He looks adorable (I'm not at ALL biased...lol)

Tanner "needed" to have a picture of his shoes...I gave in (it didn't take that much convincing)

Tanner's school had a cross country run and this is Tanner on his run.

Tanner and his best bud R.

Another best bud J

oh yeah...he has a few best buds. This is another one.

You have to click on the picture to see it large to appreciate it. You'll notice that his top tooth is missing. It's one of only 2 pictures because he's a little self concious about it. I could just eat him up!

Happy weekend!

What are you thankful for?

I frequently get asked "What is Tanner's Diagnosis?". I don't mind telling people because I feel like if by my story I can help someone deal with something in their life, then I've made some sort of difference. Some people don't really know what a cleft looks like and I just want to make it clear that ALL clefts are NOT the same. He also has a 'condition' called craniosynisos...essentially what this is is that the bones in his head fused together prematurely and and he had to have his head cut open and have his skull re-shaped (thereby creating the necessary space for his head to grow properly). He also was only born with one working kidney. He has a couple other things but those are the major ones.

So why am I writing about this??? Well because not just today but every day I look at Tanner, I am so profoundly grateful for the miracle he was and continues to be in our lives and the lives around him. It really amazes me what medicine has been able to do for him and will continue to do for him to help him be as 'normal' as possible. He started off like this:







and now he looks like this:







I am grateful for modern medicine. Tanner has had over 5 surgeries in his short 7 years of life and will have more surgeries down the road but I don't worry about it because I have faith and trust in not just the doctors and their knowledge, but in God. And I KNOW that it is because of Him that Tanner is still here and with us.

I am grateful for the town I live in and love so much. Calgary was great for the time being but it is no longer where I belong or call home.

I am thankful for the gospel and the knowledge it provides and for the strength and comfort it brings.

I am thankful for Christ.

I am thankful for jobs that provide not only what we need but things we want as well (not EVERYTHING we want, but we don't have to scrimp as much).

I am thankful for my life and for living in the time that I do. Although the world is so worldly and there is so much temptation and bad I am grateful that I didn't have to walk across the plains.

I am grateful for health. This is really important and although some days I wish that my body would function the way I want it to (read:get pregnant), I am grateful for the blessings my health allows me.

I am grateful for the earth and the beauties of it. I am easily captivated by fall and all the beauty it brings. There is almost nothing more beautiful than fall.

I am thankful to be alive and be able to learn and grow and choose to be happy.


Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Too long

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend. We actually all were happy and pleasant and Tanner was super behaved. He had 2 helpings of everything on the table. He didn't like the yams thought...totally crazy since they are smothered with marshmallows. Who doesn't love yams with marshmallows????
Sunday we went to church and I got to hog Erica's new baby girl. She's such a doll with so much hair. Then we went to Matt's Mom's house for our second dinner. WE didn't stay too long because I had choir practice. Then on Monday we had family pictures...thanks to Sarah for doing that. I will post them when I can. We got some really cute ones.
It's so weird to think that the next time I'm in Calgary, fingers and toes crossed, my sister will be a Mom! I am so hyper excited for her. I can't stop smiling when I think about it. Anyways, that's all for now. Sorry that's it's so short and spazzy. I just wanted to drop a line to everyone to say hi.