Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you have the best Thanksgiving ever today! I am so thankful for ALL of the blessings in my life. I know that every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord, and those gifts are evident in my life. I am beyond thankful for my beautiful children, my caring husband, my understanding and loving family, and my amazing friends.

A thankful story:
The other night I was watching TV while Mark was tucking Ryan in bed. Each night Ryan chooses a bible story to read out of his children's bible. But on this night I heard the sweetest sound ever. Ryan was reading his favorite bible story to Mark! It's from Daniel 3 and its the story of King Nebuchadnezzar and Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego. They refused to worship the idol so the King had them thrown into the fiery furnace. The really cool thing is that they did not burn at all-in fact they didn't even smell like smoke! Ryan read the entire story, and I just couldn't help but tear up knowing that my 5 year old son was reading God's word to his dad. When Mark came out of is room we just were beaming with thankfulness. To see your child start to walk in the truth...there really is nothing like that. I never really knew that my life would end up like this. That I would be married to a really strong christian man, and that I would have the opportunity to raise my children like I was raised. My life is really a gift of God's grace. I am a true testimony of my parents getting down on their hands and knees and praying for protection for their wayward child. Thank you mom and dad for never giving up on me...I bet it is really cool to see your GRAND KIDS walking in the truth! Much love:)

My beautiful, sweet children were really thankful for the Macy's Thanksgiving parade today, and not so thankful for mommy taking pictures:)

A Purdy Tradition

I just LOVE this time of year! Yesterday I got out all of our Christmas decorations and Ryan and I had such and awesome day decorating our house. Yes, I know that it's not even Thanksgiving, but my niece could be born any moment and I really wanted to have everything up before traveling to Houston (that was my excuse anyway:) I love everything about Christmas. Our Savior's birthday, giving to others, the music, Christmas lights and the traditions that this time of the year brings. The Purdy fam has many Christmas traditions. Listening to Amy Grant Christmas music is a must-note my blog music! We all wear matching PJ's on Christmas Eve...that's right the WHOLE family from Nana to Ally. We look hilarious but I love every minute of it! My dad always reads the Christmas story out of Luke before we head to church for the Christmas Eve service. We have food out all night and then we open gifts and stay up late and get ready for Santa! Such a lazy, fun time together as a family. One of my favorite things growing up was the December stockings that we had outside our door the entire month of December. Honey is super creative and used this as a discipline technique and it really worked! I started this when Ryan was three and he REALLY, REALLY looks forward to this every year. Here's how it works: If Ryan can follow these 5 rules, than each morning he gets a little treat in his stocking outside his door. I just made these up for this year, they change each year.

1. Have a smiley face in his folder from school (good behavior)
2. Obey the first time he's asked to do something
3. Be a kind big brother to Ally
4. No timeouts for the day
5. Complete 2 chores from the chore list each day

Chores in our house are very age appropriate like get the mail, help unload the dishwasher, pick up the playroom, etc..

Most days Ryan did great and he was able to get a treat the next morning. But there are days when he doesn't and it just breaks my heart that he choose not to obey. The good thing is that the next day is always better:). This is just a fun thing to do and the treats range a lot. Some days it might be a piece of bubble gum , or M&Ms, and the next day a small toy. To see his face each morning is just priceless! I haven't figured out exactly what to do about little Miss Priss? I know that she'll need something also but behavior for an almost 2 year old is tricky:). I'm sure we can figure out a fair way to let her experience this fun family tradition. I would love to hear about things you did growing up or things you do now for your families...so post away!

Ally's First Haircut

My sweet baby girl got her very first haircut last week. I really, really LOVE that we live here in Waco for many reasons but at the top of the list is definitely that Honey and GP live 3 miles away. I called Honey and asked her when she could come by and give Ally a little trim and 20 minutes later she and my dad were both here with video camera in hand:). Ally loved every minute of this experience so Honey will for sure be her official beautician! Every time we take Ryan to get his haircut, Ally ALWAYS says "my do it too!" So she loved the attention and the fact that she was getting a big girl haircut like her "Rynan". Thank you mom, she looks even cuter (if that's possible-he he).

Mommy Look at me!

Little helper getting holding Honey's hairclip

Do you like our haircutting stool? This used to be my grandad's (PP) and I cannot tell you how often I pull that thing out .

Of course she has got her Guns Up for our Raiders!

So Pretty:)

My Top 8

My sister Caryn tagged me this time with a different tag, Listing my top 8. I just can't let her down:0 so here goes. (Don't worry I didn't tag anyone else:)

8 TV shows that I love to watch

• Friday Night Lights
• Jon and Kate plus 8
• The Office
• House
• The Closer
• Medical Mysteries
• Grey's Anatomy
• HDTV-anything

My 8 favorite restaurants:

• Cheeves Bros.
• Cheddar's
• Panera Bread
• Rosa's
• Ninfa'a
• Cafe Cappuccino
• Double Dave's
• Amelia's

8 things that happened today

• Slept til 8:45 Bless you Mark Wood
• Stayed in PJ's til 11:00
• Watched Ryan build an awesome LEGO city
• Played "make-up" with Ally
• Went to HEB-big mistake the Sat. before Thanksgiving:)
• Started looking for a 2008 Christmas Card on-line
• Cooked Chicken Enchilada Casserole
• Watched TTU get smoked by OU-boo-hoo!

8 things I am looking forward to

• Baby Lila's arrival, any day now!!!
• Supper Club
• Thanksgiving
• Getting out our Christmas decorations, tree and lights!
• Starting Ryan and Ally's December stockings-(daily behavior stockings...I'll post more about this awesomeness later)
• Getting a new camera
• Ally's 2nd birthday
• Christmas 2008

8 things on my wish list

• Time in the word EVERY day!
• My kitchen would automatically be clean after cooking dinner
• A Live in maid
• New carpet in my living room...isn't carpet just gross...I can't think about it too much.
• Blond hair that didn't cost so much:)
• A MAC book computer
• My sisters would live next door, one on each side.
• Relishing each little moment I have with my children each day, they are growing up SO fast!

RAIDER POWER!

2 bits, 4 bits, 6 bits a dollar...all for the Raiders stand up and holler! We sure do hope they can win again tonight. Here's Ryan and my nephew Stacey rooting on our beloved Red Raiders. Guns up people!!!!!

Ryan's field trip

This week I got the privilege of taking Ryan to the Mayborn Museum for a field trip. I was thrilled that he wanted me to go and that he wanted to ride in my car( unfortunately I know that will not be the case forever). The Baylor Mayborn Museum is such an awesome place. I learned a LOT about Native Americans and Pioneers and Ryan had a blast with his buds from Mrs. Dunlap's class.

On the road to the Museum

Making some delicious cornmeal:)

Learning what disgusting things the pioneers used for medicine...the instructor knew just what all little boys love: cow manure, spit and mud!

Bringing home the water, what a little cutie.

Skinning his deer hide with flint.

Ryan's favorite thing was definitely banging this drum slowly like his heartbeat.

My favorite picture, Ryan doing laundry:)

Sweet little class

Mall fun

Today we met Mark for some yummy lunch at the Richland Fashion Mall! It's so funny how much my kids like going there, and all they want to do is eat chicken nuggets and play on the rides. We hardly ever actually put quarters in them because it makes no difference to them. Such a sweet time to have with our little fam...:)

I want Je-sus!

Mark and I boldly decided to take to kids for a little day trip to Roundrock this past Sunday and it was basically a disaster. Ryan was exhausted and Ally is cutting 4 teeth and terribly fussy, so after about an hour we decided to just cut our losses and go home. On the way home Ally was really having a rough time and she started screaming "I WANT JE-SUS!!!" over and over again. She was crying and screaming and I just couldn't figure out what she wanted (other than Jesus). I finally realized that she wanted me to sing Jesus Loves Me. And with tears in my eyes from laughing so hard and being so thankful that she loves Jesus, we sang, and we sang and we sang. Oh my heart leaps for joy that my children can freely sing about our sweet Lord and Savior!!!! Thank you for reminding me Ally that all I need is Him. :)

My Loves

I am really married to the very best man. He is such a good husband and he is a wonderful Daddy to his children. They basically don't leave him alone from the moment he walks in the door until bedtime. And he never complains. He just plays games, reads books, wrestles, giggles, and loves on our children each and every evening! Thank you Mark for all you do for our family, and for giving me a much needed break when you come home from work. I love you!

Three little crumb snatchers (they all had a piece of cornbread before dinner:) Look how happy Ally is to be included, so funny!!!

I Wub you!

I just found this video of Ally from this past August. Oh it just melts my heart. She is feeling so much better today and she already sounds so much older than this...man it happens fast!!!

Poor Baby

My sweet little Ally had been sick since Saturday night, and this is what she has been doing a lot of lately. Sleeping. She is just so precious, and all she wants to do is be held. Which is actually a really nice thing. This morning we took her to see Dr. Nesmith, the best Doctor ever (except of course you Josh:) and it seems that she just has a fever virus, and she'll be a lot better tomorrow night. Ryan came home today with fever and Mark has also been really sick, so this week has been super fun!!! When illness strikes our home I realize a lot about myself. Most of which is embarrassing and not good. One, that I am awful to deal with when stress is involved but when there is anything wrong when my children, I lose it completely. (So sorry Mark, love you:)!!! Two, that I cannot even imagine what my dear friend Leigh went through with cancer in her precious son Paul. Three, that complaining about this is EXTREMELY silly:) I know that my children will get over this, and that they will be fine in a couple of days. I know this and yet I really struggle...why is that?? Perhaps because I am so not in control?!? Anyway, tonight I am choosing to believe God with my children and with this election. Tomorrow's a new day! Hopefully a healthier one.

Go Tech Go!!!

Did you see that catch? I can't tell you how excited we were here at the Wood house when Crabtree scored the winning touchdown. AWESOME!!! I sure do LOVE my Red Raiders!! Way to go Tech!!!!