grateful for...

afternoons in the back yard (with bubbles).

grateful for...

...the public library!

grateful for birthday flowers from my hubby...

grateful for...

...cuddles on the couch

grateful for...

...family road trips

grateful for wide-open New Mexico skies...

grateful for...

...laughter.  Photo by Walt Benson

grateful...

...that my kids are still preschoolers, so picking up the oldest early for an afternoon at the fair is no big deal. :)

Day 6/30 - Grateful for...

...a little time to myself.

grateful that I still have one baby

It's hard for me to accept that there will be a point in my life - soon - when I'll no longer have a baby at home.  sigh.

grateful for where I am in my life...

My hubby and I went to a charity event this weekend.  We got to dress up, drink champagne, go to this amazing house villa in the north valley, and drool over the incredible cars at the car show there.  We're talking seriously nice cars.  As we were leaving, waiting in the valet line, the guy ahead of us having just pulled away in his porsche, we were laughing as our mini van was driven up.  We dusted off the Cheerio crumbs from the seats, climbed in, and were on our way.

And today, as I saw this photo from my iphone (I love taking photos with my phone - it's so easy!), I realized that there will be a time in my life when I don't drive a mini van, when Cherrios aren't always part of our car's upholstery, when I won't live in a constant stream of laundry, have a playroom instead of a dining room, a floor that's rarely vacuumed, toys as our main decorative theme, and a house where we're bursting at the seams.  But I don't long for those days.  I wouldn't trade any of those things for a beautiful car, huge house, or valet parking right now.  I'm so grateful for exactly where I am in my life.  Although I could use the maid. ;)

grateful for my best friend

grateful for friends...

...who I've known for many years, or just met...who live here, and away...who share similarities, and are different.

30 days of gratitude

I wrote on my photo blog this week about an article on creative mama - she's doing a 365 "gratitude" project.  Now, before someone committs me for adding one more photo project to my plate - I'm not.  But I am in a bit of a slump here on my 365 blog (if you haven't noticed, or if you're just being polite and don't want to admit you've given up), and liked the idea of a project to do...so I thought I'd do 30 days of gratitude.  And use my fun new iphone to mix it up a little.  ;)

Day One:  Time

A dear friend from church just discovered that she has only a few months left here on this earth.  I can only imagine how grateful she is for the time she's had to raise two daughters, see grandchildren born, and now she's circling her wagons to spend her small amount of time with those she loves the most.  And I think sometimes it takes something drastic like this to remind me how precious every moment is.  It seems like my babies are growing up so quickly, and in the midst of laundry, diapers and picking up toys, am I grateful for each and every second that I'm here?  That I get to hold my husband's hand, have dinner with a friend, and kiss my two-year-old's owies?  Today I am.

the diva drives a tractor

We spent a little time at the State Fair today.  We're such city slickers! ;)

the diva

today...

...I hope you find a reason to laugh out loud.

Fridays

are park days - hooray!! :)

hanging out with daddy...

here I go again...

...taking too many photos of kids at weddings.  I can't help it.  Seriously, these kids are killing me - they're adorable!

cupcakes

ok, so it's cheating - this is from a wedding in August, but I just got the memory card back, so it's new to me - does that count? ;)

plink, plink...

...plink, plink, dribble, dribble, dribble, plink, plink.  I need a new cd in my car - Dr. Seuss is taking over my brain.

this week...

we called my brother and left a message to wish him a happy birthday
we had a great discussion on O Pioneers! and The Good Earth at my book club (I love my book club)
we visited new preschools
the baby turned 9 months
we played at the park with good friends (I love our park days)
my brother came in town and we went rock climbing in the Jemez - by we, I mean my brother and husband (and the four-year-old climbed about a foot)
we went swimming for the last time this summer

(and I seemed to not have my camera for most of it)