Kim 365

Clay brought these beautiful gerberas home for me on Friday when we had our date night at home. They are still looking lovely, which sort of surprises me since I often don't have great luck with them looking good for very long.

They're actually orange, but I got a little carried away in Lightroom, and quite like the result.

Tummy time and snack time are okay, but they're much more fun when you do them together.

This is far from the greatest photo, but they were so adorable on the floor together I had to grab the camera and catch the moment before one of them decided they were done with this arrangement.

We were missing one family, since Jude and her family live two provinces away, but today all the locals gathered at Mom and Dad's house for an early Thanksgiving celebration.

I am so thankful for the family that I have...
...for parents who love Jesus and each other, and show what a marriage commitment looks like when God is at the center.
...for siblings that make me laugh.
...for nieces and nephews that get along and have loads of fun together.
...and for health restored to my sweet niece Chloe, who battled the last few weeks with a mysterious infection that has finally been diagnosed and treated.

In times of blessing and hardship, I'm thankful for the grace of Christ.

It was a beautiful October day here, and Bailey was squeezing the last drops out of the warm weather, and the rain barrel. She is perfectly content to play by herself in the back yard, and when I waved at her from the window she yelled, "Come take a picture of me, Mommy!"

I made a quick run (read: drive) to the grocery store to pick up a few things for the grown-up supper Clay and I made together this evening. It was date night, and so nice to eat a steak dinner, just the two of us, without bugging the kids to keep eating. "Come on, take another bite. How can you guys not like steak?!"

I always was a little amazed by people who had a regular person they went to for haircuts. I could never find anyone who cut my hair well enough to go back a second time. That is, until I went to see Chris. I don't quite understand it - it seems like hair is hair, and if you know how to cut it, then you should know how to cut it - but no one can cut my hair as well as Chris can. I finally went back to see her today and she cleaned up the mess left on my head by the last person that cut it - a quick panic appointment after Deacon was born and a week before Cody's wedding.

It feels good to like my hair again.

Well, three months plus a day. By the time I realized yesterday was Deacon's 3 month birthday (thanks to Clay remembering), it was too late to expect him to be a happy subject in front of the camera. This morning he was all smiles.

I just can't get enough of his twinkly eyes and beautiful smile. Not to mention his deliciously roly little body :) He is one of the happiest babies I have ever met, and I'm so blessed to be his mama!

I received a windfall of apples this week (thanks Jayna and Jessica!), so I plan on making apple butter with some of them, and freezing the rest for crisps and pies. Does anyone have experience with making apple butter? I've never done it and am going to try this recipe unless someone tells me they have a better method :)

Had to run back to the grocery store today to exchange some pitas that were past their pull date. Might as well grab an opportunity to sit next to the curb and shoot some cars going by before I have to trudge through the snow to do it.

Clay had an early game tonight, so the kids and I were excited to go watch him play. Here's Bailey learning more about the game from Murray. Better to get a lesson from him than me, since my understanding of the game is very basic.