What thankful means to us...

Well, this is our first post.. so always the most important. This month I have really been thinking about what I am thankful for and why. Over the last 6 mths or so I have really been pushing a move for our family, not quite sure where to, but somewhere warm. The three top spots were california ( for obvious reasons) Hawaii ( family, warmth, kids understanding a part of there heritage..did i mention warmth??) and Texas ( can u say Dallas cowboys??) Jon has considered it but always comes back to three main points... our family, our friends and our kids doctors. Ok, I can understand these and really appreciate how wonderful we have it, but still I was thinking we need a change, especially as of late and this wonderful weather we are having. I HATE THE RAIN AND COLD!!!! This past week it finally hit me ( i still want warm weather!) but I would miss what we have. I feel very blessed to have the family that we do, our entire extended family that is. We have grandparents that are involved, a gigi who loves her great grandkids, aunties and uncles who make our children laugh and most important cousins who my children love more than life. I had forgotten how important all of this is, maybe because I am an adult now or because it has been so long since "my side" of the family has been a whole unit. I think back now to the childhood that I had and want so much for my children to have that. I cannot remember a holiday that was spent without a huge gathering of people, I lived for this. I know that I hated the drive to my grandparents but I looked forward to all the fun I would have once I was there. Jon's family always has these gatherings and we love them, as do the kids, but my family has not done this for years. I think I can honestly say the last time we were all together was for our wedding 8 years ago just after my grandmother passed away. She was the core that held us together and now that she is gone we have all gone our separate ways. We did have a nice reunion this summer but many people were missing and well we were robbed while at this reunion so not such pleasant memories for us. Although, it was nice to see some of you for thanksgiving the other night.. Anyways, I guess my point is that we, or shall I say "I" take our family for granted because they are always there. If we were to move away I finally see how hard it would be to be without them. Now friends, we can make new ones.. Right??? That is what I have always thought, but over the last couple years we have made some really good friends as have our kids and I can honestly say they are all irreplaceable. As for our kids doctors... I could really do without these! We always seem to get bad news from them so finding new ones would be great! Actually, having healthy kids would be great... as most of you know poor Carson has 3 dr's... whom we see often. Tatum has 2, and Logan is well on his way to adding another.. ( we think.. a whole nother story we will share in the coming weeks) But my point..you all know it takes me a while to get there! we are very blessed and I am glad I was hit with a dose of reality to wake me up. I have always known we were blessed but honestly can say I took it for granted. So this holiday season I have realized how thankful I am to have our family and friends, and to know they are all at an arms length away, or at least a very short drive away. Although, we do have some of you who are further away and don't see you often enough.. We think of you and miss you a ton..( even if Jon never calls his Auntie Jane he talks of her plenty!) We hope everyone had as wonderful holiday as we did and you could all realize what you are thankful for..
Just to lighten the mood.. when asked here is what my kids told me they were thankful for.....

Tatum: the grass, the sun, and her friends Leah and Hallie

Logan: the sun, the grass, and his family

Carson: his binki..