November 17

I am grateful for what I am and have. My Thanksgiving is perpetual. ~ Henry David Thoreau

I am thankful for pie pumpkins from my mom. I'm getting them roasted and in the freezer for use in pumpkin bread all winter long.

Christopher is thankful that it is less than a week away from Thanksgiving.

Harrison is thankful for the end of the school week. Welcome to the weekend and ready for a break.

Bennett is thankful for seeing my friends at school today. They are nice.

Prompt

Gratitude is a powerful process for shifting your energy and bringing more of what you want into your life. Be grateful for what you already have and you will attract more good things.  ~ The Secret

The kids are struggling a bit with the thankfulness. We are getting some repeats and some answers are giving with no real thought behind them because they have more important things to do than take a couple minutes to think about what they are grateful for. Also, sometimes they are searching for just the right answer and then they get frustrated. That's not what this exercise is supposed to be about, obviously. So starting today, I am going to give them a prompt question. They can choose to answer that question or choose something else they would like. We will see how this works!

Prompt: What smell are you grateful for?


I am thankful for chai tea latte. I have recently been making them at home and they are the perfect afternoon pick-me-up yet they are also make me feel cozy and warm.

Christopher is thankful that college basketball started last week.

Harrison is thankful for the smell of fallen leaves because it make me think of autumn.

Bennett is thankful for the smell of flowers. They smell good.

Emma is grateful for the smell of cinnamon. It is my favorite smell!

November 15

Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful thorns have roses. ~ Alphonse Karr

I am thankful for sunny days spent at the skate park. In reality, I am trying very hard to be thankful for sunny days at the skate park. I don't like skateboarding... I rearranged a couple of things so that I could take Bennett, Miles, Drew and Jake to the skate park this afternoon. They love it and I think they could be there forever. They work so hard at trying out new things/tricks and I admire their commitment. And it was cute watching them when another, older skater came over. They are not obnoxious but they do hover a little and eventually got to know him and asked him some questions about 'how he did that'. I love their gumption and courage. So I guess I don't have to work that hard on being thankful for skateparks. :)

Christopher is thankful that the work week is half over.

Harrison is thankful for no clubs this afternoon. I am sad Mock Trial is over, but it is nice to have a free afternoon.

Bennett is thankful for early outs. We got to go to the skatepark.

Miles is thankful that we went to the skatepark today. I wanted to work on my skateboarding moves.

Annabelle is thankful for her culminating event. I am glad that it went well.

Rocco is thankful for seeing Rocky. I like that we are friends.

Rocky (with prompting from Rocco) I am thankful that Rocco is my best friend. I love playing with him.

Felix is thankful for going downstairs. I love to go downstairs to play Legos with Rocco and my best friend Rocky.

November 14

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. Marcus Aurelius  

I am thankful for Christmas decorations. It's so silly. I love Thanksgiving time. The thoughtfulness, the food, the getting together of family. But this year, I have just been so any to get out my Christmas decorations. I haven't, yet, but I didn't buy a new banner at a cart fair last week and I bought a new Christmas pillow and cute little bird with a red plaid hat yesterday at TJ Maxx. And I have all of those things displayed already. Just a sneak peak into the joy and warmth of the season. Now maybe some snow ❄️ ⛄️?

Christopher is thankful that Beth made more turkey meatballs.

Harrison is thankful for math. You can't go wrong with math.

Bennett is thankful for school. I learn in school and learning is fun.

Miles is thankful for piano. I am so ready for my recital.

Annabelle is thankful for piano. I memorized my song and I feel that I am prepared for my recital.

Rocco is thankful to be going to piano. I can show Mrs. H how good I have been doing.

Felix is thankful for his bear gloves and his library books. Grrrrrrr.

Brave

Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. ~ Marcel Proust

I am thankful for Rocco Nash. There are way too many great things to say about this sweet boy, but it really all comes down to one word - kind. Today was a prime example of this. In the van on the way home from school, Brave by Sara Bareilles came on the radio.  Rocco listened to the song and then told us all how he has a shy friend in his class that has trouble when it comes time for her to share. "This song would be perfect for her. She just needs to be BRAVE!" I love his kind, little heart and am so grateful that I get to be part of his life.





Christopher is thankful that Bennett was able to get in to see Dr. Plew for a follow up on his toe.

Harrison is thankful for Fact Trackers in Battle of the Books. They are very useful for remembering facts and since I had all of mine up to date got me a candy at club today!

Bennett is thankful for water. It tastes good and keeps me healthy.

Miles is thankful that he won his basketball game this weekend. Now we have a winning record!

Annabelle is thankful that they practiced for presentations. I feel very prepared for Wednesday and that feels good.

Rocco is thankful for cleaning. Cleaning is fun and I like to do it.

Emma is thankful for music. I love all different types!

Rocky is thankful for food. I loved our turkey meatballs for lunch today.

Felix is thankful for his dad. My dad is the best and I love him. He plays with me.

Happy Birthday to my Father-in-law, Greg. I've never seen 71 look so good!

November 12

I am grateful for the challenges that helped me grow into the person I am today.

I am thankful for for relearning how to knit. Jamie Seitz had a Knit-o-rama party today and it was really fun getting together and I am now started on a Christmas gift!

Christopher is thankful for for soup season.

Harrison is thankful for the air that we breath. Oxygen is important for my survival.

Bennett is thankful that Drew invited me to the skate park today. We went to one that we haven't been  to before and it was fun. Miles came too!

November 11

Do not spoil what you have by despiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for. 

I am thankful for some new Frankoma pieces I scored on Craigslist. I'm not a huge Craigslist shopper and this was a 'pick up at our home' transaction so I made Chris go with me in case it was a scam/murderer. Luckily, that was not the case. HA! And to tag another thankfulness on - Christopher for keeping me safe. :)

Christopher is thankful that it didn't rain today like it was supposed to.

Harrison is thankful for rollerblading. I like to get going really fast and we also got to play the dice game.

Bennett is thankful his brother let him go with to the rollerskating rink. I had a great time.

Annabelle is thankful for gymnastics. I love Saturday's because I get to go to gymnastics and I really love gymnastics. (She told me this on Friday and made me promise to post it today. Love her.)

November 10

Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good. ~ Maya Angelou

I am thankful for a girls night out. Beaverdale Holiday Boutique and then drinks.  

Christopher is thankful for Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza.

Harrison is thankful for Mock Trial. The trial was today and we did a good job. I can't wait to do it again.

Bennett is thankful that Apollo came over and showed him his remote control car. It was fun!

Miles is thankful that it was the last day of school for the week and that he can do free stuff on the weekend also he is looking forward to his basketball game! (composed and typed by Miles Paul)

Annabelle is thankful for projects. I got a lot of work done and I am ready for my culminating event on corn on the 15th.

Rocco is thankful for Mr. Potato Head. I made a funny tomato head. (He meant potato lol😉)

Emma is thankful for her coat. It is blue and fuzzy and soft.

Rocky is thankful for Giovanni. He is the best and plays with me.

Felix is thankful for his drawing. It is the best. It is a picture of mom and dad and my sister and me and my brothers.

November 9

I'm so grateful there's a you in this world.

I am thankful for clean sheets. Today was sheet changing day and I switched all the beds from regular sheets to flannel sheets. I love clean sheets and I love flannel sheets. Thank goodness for clean flannel sheets!

Christopher is thankful that at least there is no snow with this cold we are having

Harrison is thankful that he got to go to the Iowa Wild game today for Leaders of the Pride. It was a great game and the Wild won, 5 - 3.

Bennett is thankful for shrimp. I love it, it's delicious. 🍤

Miles is thankful for basketball practice today. I just like it, it's fun - stop asking me why! (LOL)

Annabelle is thankful that it is going to be Thanksgiving. I get to see all of my family and that makes me happy.

Rocco is thankful that he can do things for himself. (He was proud of himself for getting his own water and I praised him for his self-sufficiency.) I like to know I can do it myself!

Emma is thankful for Evelyn. She tries to do things that I do but sometimes she can't and I get Beth to help. I like it when she says something funny, like when she howls during What Does the Fox Say.

Rocky is thankful for his mom. I love my mom and she loves me too.

Felix is thankful for cats. I love Frances and Addison.

Evelyn is thankful for pigtails. Annabelle thinks I look adorable!

November 8

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. ~ Gilbert K. Chesterton

I am thankful for my plants. Sometimes I don't think they are worth it because they are just 'another thing' to deal with, but I really love the way they look and the unseen benefit of helping to keep our air clean in the winter months. And often times, when I stop to take the time, I love care for them. It's relaxing. Also, I get a giggle every week because I water them on Wet Wednesday or Thirsty Thursday.

Christopher is thankful that Scott got to work on time today. I didn't have to start the day by myself today.

Harrison is thankful for a good Mock Trial meeting. I am ready for Friday.

Bennett is thankful for a delicious dinner. This is great, Mom.

Miles is thankful for Wednesday's.

Annabelle is thankful that she got to go to Maggie's after school. We cleaned up her neighborhood as the "Non-Litterbugs" and played on the trampoline and pretended to be cats.

Rocco is thankful that he got to go on another field trip. We went to WHOTV and I learned so much about how people get their news.

Emma is thankful for Beth. You do nice things to me like helping me when I have problems.

Felix is thankful for Annabelle. I love it when new go to the pool. Ashworth Pool. We do cannon balls and swim and and fun.

Evelyn is thankful for the play kitchen. She loves to cook the play food and then eat the play food!