Thanksgiving

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thess. 5:16-18

Today started off with me running the Turkey Trot with my girlfriends. We did this last year and decided to sign up again. I've been really slacking with my running lately, so this was a great way to motivate me to get going again. My 5k time was 39.2, not really that great, but not terrible either. It was really cold, about 41 degrees out, and the wind was really blowing hard. Running against the wind is not fun! I'm signing up to run a 10k in January with my dear friend, Laci. Sunday starts our training. 6 weeks. I can do it!!

The rest of the day was spent at my parent's house with me, Adam, Garrison, my papa Bob, mom, dad, amy, cody, and Julie. Julie was my Papa's dear friend. My family stays in touch with her and she didn't have Thanksgiving plans so we invited her over. It was good to see her again. We don't get to see her much anymore since my papa passed. We ate and watched football and had a fire. It was a nice time.

Give Thanks...I am so thankful for an amazing husband,  a beautiful and healthy son, loving family and friends, employment, my Church family,  Hank, Kazi, and Ross, and most importantly a loving and forgiving God that has promised me the greatest Gift of all.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16

Hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving! I know we certainly did!!

Today I am thankful for....

Coffee....

Specifically nonfat, sugar free vanilla latte's from McD's but on the days I don't want to pay for coffee...coffee from work will suffice with sugar free hazelnut creamer....ahhh the perfect way to start my mornings!! :)

Such a sweet boy

Since I happen to own the world's craziest puppy, I try and walk him at least twice a day. Sometimes this ends up being Hank walking me or me laying on the ground with him trying to get the leash untangled from his legs as he continues to roll and think we are playing. It's comical. Which reminds me that maybe I should look and see if any of my neighbors have posted video of me on youtube. It would for sure be a popular hit. Anyway, I am getting off topic....

Last Saturday, Garrison and I were walking Hank and he surprised me with a gift. He pulled on my shirt and said "Mama, I picked this leaf for you." So I turn around and he holds up a big leaf as my gift. I thank him and we keep walking. Some mother's may get flowers, but this mama gets leaves. Be jealous....I would be too! Here is my sweet boy holding my gift!

What's your name...

I am in the process of teaching Garrison his last name. This is our usual conversation:

Me: What's your name?
G: Garrison Gill.... after which he dies laughing....

He just can't seem to catch on that it's Garrison Bal

Being thankful for....

Halloween 2010

This year Garrison was a Pirate. This was the first year that he loved his costume and really seemed to enjoy Halloween. He filled his pumpkin up probably twice but after Adam and I took out all the chocolate, he was left with maybe 3/4 of one filled pumpkin. Still....that is wayyyyyyyyyyyy too much sugar! Right now, it's hidden away in our pantry. He had such a blast.

His first party was Saturday at my friend Dometric's house. She has a little boy, Kian, that is a couple months older than Garrison and the two of them get along so well. It is so cute to watch them play and be completely all boy. Dometric had a great party. Complete with games, food, pinata, and a clown :) Sunday for Halloween we went to my friend Jen's and let all the kids trick or treat in her neighborhood. They always have a great time. His third party was at his "school." They went trick or treating to the neighborhood shops. Since Garrison only goes 2 days a week and their party was on a day he doesn't attend, they still let Adam bring him up there and trick or treat and have fun with his class. It is so cute to see his friends growing together and enjoying the holidays this year. Enjoy the pics!

This is a picture of Garrison walking around the shops where his school went trick or treating

 Garrison and his classmates

 Garrison and daddy Halloween night

 Garrison and Kian (in black) clapping for the Pinata along with the clown

 Garrison and his new friend!!

 Little guy decided to take a break from trick or treating..(we had just started!!)

 Trick or treating with all our friends!!

Introducing....

The world's cutest pirate!!!......

Thankful Thursday's

In an effort to get my brain in blog mode more often, I am going to start a new blogging series titled "Thankful Thursday." Every Thursday, I will be blogging about different things in my life that I am thankful for. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is so easy to get lost in the moment and in all life's little stresses, and forget to just stop, think, and be thankful. I am truly so blessed in my life and want to share with you all the things that make my life so wonderful. God has blessed me in a million ways. So here is my first Thankful Thursday....

My sweet boys. The two most precious faces on the planet! I'm lucky enough to have a husband that loves me for me, that supports his family, that spoils me, that loves me, that brings me flowers just because, that cooks and cleans, (although I don't like him to do laundry haha), that spoils me (did I already mention that?!), that is an absolutely AMAZING father, that laughs with me, and that all in all is my absolute best friend. As far as my son goes, I could write all day long and still not be finished! He is the best part of life and the best part of me. He is such a little affectionate guy and well spoken and polite already. He is a social bee just like me and loves to entertain. His laugh is infectious. Adam and I are lucky enough that Garrison spends almost all of his time with Adam or myself and goes to "school" only two days a week. We love this arrangement, and while sometimes it causes Adam and I not to see each other as often as we'd like, we know that our son is being well taken care of. We are making memories with Garrison daily and raising him to be the man that God has planned. These two boys are the highlight of each and everyday and today I am thankful that God has chosen them for me.

On strike from Subway

I'm refusing to eat at Subway and I suggest you do the same!

Saturday Adam and I took Garrison to ride the train at Collin Creek mall. He loves it and he looks so adorable sitting in the cart while it goes around and around. After that we let him play at the indoor gym and then we had lunch. We got Garrison chickfila and then Adam and I were going to eat at Subway. Since Garrison already had his food, I sat at the table with him, while Adam ordered. Adam's subway ended up being $8, which I told him wasn't correct, and once he looked at his receipt he was overcharge by about $1.50. Keep in mind that money isn't the issue here. Obviously, I'm not peeved over less than two bucks.

Adam goes back up to the counter to tell the lady she over charged him and the cashier refuses to help him. She didn't even speak a word to Adam. Terrible customer service. Adam finally said to her "are you not going to help me?" at which the lady blankly stares at him and shrugs her shoulders. Ummm seriously?! This is not acceptable. The next day, Adam calls the Subway manager and complains both about being over charged and that the employee wouldn't help correct the situation. The manager actually has the nerve to tell Adam that most of their employees speak English as a second language and that this was a language barrier issue. To which Adam replies, so are you saying that I need to speak Spanish to eat at a Subway. About the price issue, the manager tells Adam that they have subs of the day which are much cheaper, and that maybe Adam should try this next time he visits a Subway. Does anyone see a huge issue with this?! First rather than apologizing for the lack of customer service you stand by your employee by claiming they don't speak English. Secondly, you don't acknowledge that my husband was over charged, but you tell him to order something cheaper next time!!!!!! Unbelievable!! How does ordering something cheaper help you if the employee is going to ring it up incorrectly and then speak Spanish back to you when you try and tell them they are overcharging you. No Thank you Subway...You  have for sure lost two customers! Ridiculous....Also, I should post the email that Adam received from the Manager, with about 15 grammatical errors and words missing like the and of...etc. Obviously, no one at Subway speaks English as their first language! It's really sad actually....So, my advice, don't eat at subway! :)