My Cuppycake is TWO!

Today my daughter is two years old, and a more delightful two year old girl could not be found.
She has thoroughly enjoyed the day.  The excitement began yesterday, with a visit from her Aunt Kristen and Uncle Jake, with a special gift just for her.  She’s been saying, “Kisen and Jake give it me, and Jake open it for me.”  The little doggy even went to church with us today.
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This morning she looked lovely in her beautiful dress (given to her by Grandma earlier this year) even though she threw a five star fit while wearing it.
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I have never seen a two year old sing “Happy Birthday” to themselves with so much gusto, or with such a sassy little “cha cha cha!” at the end.  She opened each gift with pure delight, making us laugh and smile the entire time.
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And as I watched her, I couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly two years have passed.  How much we love her.  How sweet she is.  How can it have been two years already?
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She has been such a delight!
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Grandma and Grandpa called to wish her a happy birthday and she strolled around with the phone to her ear, chatting like a teenager.  She even gave them a tour of the Christmas tree.
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At last, birthday cake complete with two candles and another round of “Happy Birthday” complete with her “cha cha cha” at the end.
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After modeling the new ballerina pajamas her grandparents gave her (complete with tutu), she climbed on my lap and announced that she wanted to brush her teeth and go to bed.  A full, happy day for our darling cuppycake.
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She is fast asleep, and as I review the day I’m happy to say that now I am officially done with birthdays for the year.
We had two last month:
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Our sweet oldest daughter turned 11, and on Thanksgiving weekend our second son turned 9.
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Now we have our birthday break:  3 whole months before the next one!  Just in time.

A Post-Thanksgiving Post

Thanksgiving means so many things to me…
A day of baking pies, the smell of turkey cooking…
Gathering with family, the table set in anticipation of the feast.




Some of our Thanksgiving pennies scattered on the tables…


But all these things are really just reminders, symbols, of the abundance we enjoy.
Life, health, opportunity, freedom, sacrifice, and people.

It’s wonderful to have people you love gathered in your home.  My husband’s brother and his family joined us.


And his  sister and her family came from San Diego to be with us.


It was a wonderful, enjoyable day, complete with the sounds of happy children playing after the meal.

I must say, though, that there is one more thing that Thanksgiving means to me:
Turkey sandwiches!


The day after Thanksgiving, at our house, is not about Black Friday but about enjoying the lingering feeling of the holiday.  Turkey sandwiches are the best!

The long list of preparations prevented me from posting in advance about the blessings I am thankful for.
This is probably just as well, because I’d have to revise my list anyway.

Today, hot water tops my list of things I’m thankful for.
Sometime during the evening of Thanksgiving, the thermostat on our water heater decided to quit.
Don’t worry, the manufacturer said.  It’s under warranty, we’ll overnight you a new one…..

on MONDAY!

Hmmmm.  That means we receive it on Tuesday.  It adds up to at least five days without hot water.
Yesterday when I took a 2.5 minute shower and my feet were numb from standing in the ice cold water, I realized that I’ve never been so thankful for the blessing of hot water.

Today we’re getting smarter.  Boiling water on the stove, carrying pots upstairs to mix with the freezing water from the faucet… you get the picture.

I’ll tell you what YOU can be thankful for:  that you’re not the one trying to bathe 8 children for Church in the morning!
(We’ll just say it’s been interesting.)  We’re thankful for electricity and  a furnace that hasn’t quit on us as well!

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