Big Chief Pickle

      Kirk and I have been enjoying my week off.  We went to Chick-fil-a story time yesterday (which I can't get enough of because Miss Willa and Miss Linda from the Barboursville Library are GREAT...and I don't compliment very many people who work with kids...really, I don't.) and Kirk made an "indian headband."  I gave him (and Brady and Riley) an "indian name" and Kirk's was "Big Chief Pickle" because the word pickle always makes him laugh.  I thought of a few others like "Chief Talksalot" or "Super Hero Ninja Warrior" but the pickle name made me laugh, too.  I always laugh when I'm with Kirk.  I'm so thankful this Thanksgiving that he's my kid.  He sure is a great one.
       I keep seeing people going on and on about how "thankful" they are about everything, and I feel like they try to turn Thanksgiving (and everything else) into a competition.  It's almost like their "thankfulness" turns into bragging or attention seeking....which is ridiculous.  I am truly thankful for my family, and I tell them each day to their faces....and I know that many others are happy with less than I have.  I am thankful that I have experienced some bad things in my life and I have learned lessons about the kind of person I want to be and who I want to share my heart and time with.  Jeremy and I have great friends, we stay busy, and we love Kirk and each other....we have a lot to be thankful for.
     I am SO excited about the upcoming holidays.  Kirk is full of Christmas cheer, however, he has NOT agreed to sit on Santa's lap this year.  He says he will "stand close to him and talk very loudly" so Santa will know what he wants for Christmas.  We are in the process of compiling a list with words and pictures so there will be no mistakes made by the elves.  Our "Elf on the Shelf" will show up on Friday to begin his nightly reports to Santa and his mischief in our house (pictures to follow).  Kirk has had a few "naughty" moments, and he asked me yesterday if Santa wrote his "lists with a pencil?"  I told him he probably did, and he said, "Shew!  You think he has an eraser?"  So. funny.  He didn't want to get stuck on that naughty list!  HA!

      Happy Thanksgiving to all, and I hope we can remember to be thankful for what we all have....truly thankful in our hearts, and not greedy with our words....and that we can look forward to celebrating Christmas and remember the "reason for the season."  Kirk remembers every night when he thanks Jesus for just about everything in our house and everyone he knows.  We have to say "second" and "third" prayers when he forgets something.  I don't care if he's stalling some nights, I just like to watch him in his bed, in the dark, with his hands folded together.  It is such a sweet sight.


       Get excited.....we have begun working on planning our vacation for 2013  (our 10th wedding anniversary)!  I almost passed out when Jeremy asked me, "How about a Disney cruise?"  To which I responded, "HOW ABOUT IT?!!  WA-HOO!"  I never thought those words would come out of his mouth.  He knows how much I love Disney magic, and how I love sharing it with Kirk.  I jumped on that quick, and I have a Disney vacation planner working on it right now.  Oh, how I will love a magical cruise....trapped on a boat filled with Disney goodness (with trips to the Bahamas, Nassau, and Castaway Cay)!  Jeremy's pretty good at giving me what I want, so look out Disney Dream....here were come!