Happy Thanksgiving!

My prayer for you is that you have a blessed day of giving thanks and sharing unforgettable moments with people that you love. 
I found these pictures from last november...
I just had to share them:

I think of how many incredible things have happened over the last year:

from the new house, to Ryder's school, to Kit's job, how much the kids have grown and developed...

Just in these few snapshots, I realize how MUCH I have to be thankful for!

So from our home to yours, happy thanksgiving!

A Rae round up...

A tiny snap shot of "right now" in the Rae household:

(Our time capsule...♥)

What we are watching:

(During nap times, I am almost always watching reruns of Gilmore Girls.)

What I am reading:

(I am really enjoying it!)
What I am working on:

Christmas cards, Christmas lists and gifts, getting the kids set with a dentist, and meal planning.

Things that have been taking up a lot of mental space in our family: 

Transitions with church and Kit's job, where we can be serving more as a family, and where Ryder will go to school next year for kindergarten and elementary school.

House projects on the horizon:

Redoing our stairs and lots of landscaping projects

RYDER'S roundup:

Ryder's favorite things to do: 

Going to the archery range with his dad, little hunting trips, playing catch and foot ball with us in the yard, reading together, playing with legos and his toy cars and planes...

Ryder's favorite show: 

Super Why

Ryder's favorite movie: 

How To Train Your Dragon

Ryder's favorite dinner: 

Tacos or Spaghetti

Ryder's favorite book:

Anything by David Shannon but his favorite is How I Became a Pirate, and he loves Mo Willems

EDEN MARIE'S round up:

Eden's favorite things to do: 

Play in her kitchen, with her babies, color and draw with markers, anything that Ryder is doing, and reading books together

Eden's favorite show: 

Any of the Wallace and Gromit episodes

Eden's favortie movie:

Tangled, Frozen, or Chicken Little

Eden's favorite meal: 

ketchup and hot dogs or spaghetti 

Eden's favorite books:

Any of the Fancy Nancy books or Ladybug girl books

celebrating thanksgiving

After church we headed out to Redlands to celebrate an early thanksgiving with my family:

We had such tasty food and talked about what we are thankful for:

On Sunday night we went to a friends house and watched "Free Birds" on their big screen in their backyard and Eden ate her weight in kettle corn (Yes, after she had a large turkey dinner...)

We spent the night and had a slumber party with our cousin Ruby:

The girls got matching pjs from my parents and they couldn't have been cuter together!

Ryder also discovered my dad's trumpet from when he was about 7 years old and was very excited to "play it":

Then my mom taught Ryder how to play "Chutes and Ladders":

 While Eden colored on paper, the table, herself...

We just love these two...

Then we headed to my sister's house form some play time before we headed home...

It was such a great way to kick off Kit's week of vacation...

Ryder's preschool thanksgiving party

This last friday, Ryder had his first class party in honor of thanksgiving.  I had signed up to help with this party at the beginning of the year and I was really excited to get to watch Ryder in his class room with all of his friends and his teachers.

For the party we made apple and carmel cups and these turkey cookies (Gluten free by request) and Ryder helped me!

The day of the party, he kept waving at me and he gave me a tour of his classroom and told me about what his days looked like:

He kept saying, "That's my mom! She's right over there!" And "My mom and I made those cookies!" He would then continue to play in a group with blocks or sit with the books. My heart was so proud and I am so thankful to be this little man's mama.

I just can not believe how much I love this kid and how precious he is to me...♥

Ryder's school

We are so thankful for Ryder's preschool, Lil' Lighthouse.  He loves his teacher,  Mrs. Stewart and I feel like in this first time away in a structured school program, he is so loved and taken care of.
He literally RUNS out of the car to see his friends and give his teacher a hug.  What a blessing that is for me to see.  I feel so much more prepared for what a five day program will hold for us next year in kindergarten.
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So we got Ryder's school pictures:

We got home from school, and after he went down for nap, I pulled them out and tears just started coming... 

Where did our baby boy go...?

Gosh is timing going so fast!
My heart is so full to see how much he is learning and how he makes friends and who this beautiful human being is growing up to be.♥
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As a fun project, we made thankful cards for our teacher's using an outline of Ryder's hand:

We sat and wrote the cards and he told me what he was thankful for with his teachers...  He said things like:
"She listens to me."
"She gives me great hugs."
"She has a nice smile and is a good friend."
"I just love my teacher and I know she loves me because she tells me!"
Seriously, I am so thankful for his teacher and her helpers!

a healthy family

This last week, Eden has been out of sorts and a runny nose and just not acting like herself.  We went to the doctor to find that she had an ear and sinus infection.  

Ryder patiently waiting with a book:

 My little sickie...

 Thanks to my little man for making everyone feel at ease and distracted while we waited to be seen:

 Selfie!

It is such a bummer to have kids with colds, but you know, I was sitting in the exam room, realizing what incredible care we have received since our babies have been born.  They take such great care of us and squeeze us in and put me at ease every time.  I am thankful that my kids are healthy and  that being in doctor's offices and hospitals in not something that is a normal thing for them.  I am truly thankful!!!