Thankful Heart

So I was tagged by Holly and Chelsea and I am excited to do this one. Good reminder for me, and it came at a good time! Thanks Holly and Chelsea! Maybe I should do 20!!

Here is my list of 10 things I am thankful for (no particular order):

1. My washer and dryer. Sounds a little funny but right before moving to Texas we got a new dryer. It was so nice not to have to run it TWICE before getting our clothes dry. We had to get a new washing machine when we moved out here. I normally let the laundry pile up for a week before doing it, but I was naughty and let it pile up TWO weeks and of course the day I start to do my laundry that machine breaks. Luckily brand new and under warranty, bad news it was going to be a full week before they could come fix it! Not a good thing when you have a baby and two year old boy! There isn't a very close launder(y) mat (I don't know which it is), so when we were running out of some necessaries I washed the clothes by hand. Takes a lot of work, and makes your arms sore :) Made me a little more grateful and appreciate what our ancestors did before electronics!!

2. A son that keeps me on track. This morning I wanted to eat breakfast and he says "No Mom, we have to exercise!" Thank you Isaac! He also is quick to tell me that I should clean a particular room, and of course he loves to help (wreck and clean!)

3. Pest control. I don't like bugs, especially big spiders. Eeek! I love that I find most bugs dead around the outside of our house rather than inside. I love when the sticky pads in our garage are full of crickets and wolf spiders.

4. Grass and Backyards. I love that we have a fenced in backyard where my children can play. Even more that we have a ENTIRE yard of GRASS. Something you wouldn't quite understand if you haven't lived in the Phoenix area with a nice hot rock/dirt yard!

5. Paint. I love my new house and I am thankful that I can paint the walls any color I like. I would have never guessed how much color on my walls would brighten my spirit! I love that there is paint that is super washable. Comes in handy when I have a two year old that has colored on the walls!

6. My Spot Bot and wood floors. I love that I can turn on my spot bot and continue doing something else while it cleans up messes on the floor. Very handy. I look forward to the day when we can have wood floors in our house and I won't have to look at spots on the floor! AND I saw that they make heated wood floors, super excited about that!

7. Music. I am thankful that I have a husband who is incredibly talented at playing the piano. . . all instruments really. I am thankful that we are able to have a BEAUTIFUL piano in our home. I am thankful for a mother who insisted I learned how to play the piano, and made me keep playing until I was older!! I am thankful for my mother's beautiful singing voice and her taking the time to sing us to sleep almost every night. My Grandpa Waddell's amazing voice as well. There are certain songs that I hear that bring tears to my eyes and don't sound quite right without him singing them. I am thankful that I have two children who love music as much as their father and I do.

8. Warm and Cold days! I am not the biggest fan of COLD COLD. Growing up in Kansas school would be canceled not because of snow, but because of how cold it was outside. Which meant there probably was snow on the ground, but you couldn't play in it. Cold enough to make your nose hairs freeze when you breathe in. I also love and hate scrapping my windshields. It's kind of a hassle but I always feel so energized afterwards and it feels so good to be in a warm car! I also love snuggling under the blankets and drinking hot chocolate. . . something you don't do a whole lot of in Mesa. Cold days can be pretty miserable but it makes me thankful for warm days. Eating Popsicles, playing in the pool, sitting in the warm sun (I am not talking crazy hot days though, those are the times I miss cold days. . .vicious cycle huh?!) Basically I love being outdoors. My favorite is Flagstaff AZ. Beautiful mountains and beautiful weather!

9. Amazing extended family and friends. First my family. I love my sisters and brother dearly. They all make me laugh more than anyone. Even Orson makes me laugh so hard. My poor parents have to deal with a bunch of crazy "kids" when we all get together! My parents are amazing. Taught me so much and continue to teach me. My in laws have raised a great guy and are so supportive and are there for us if we ever need them. My husbands siblings are all wonderful! So fun to be around and characteristics each have that I learn from. I have amazing grandparents, aunts and uncles whom I adore. Cousins that have been my best friends. I have been blessed to have great friends too. It's been hard moving away from all of my family and friends, but I have great friends (new and old) that continue to support and love me! Always there to give me a good laugh, or listen to my complaining and give me advice! I love all of you!!

10. My small immediate family. I have two beautiful children who drive me nuts sometimes, but bring such joy and laughter in my life. Isaac is such a sweet guy and loves to please. He is quite the funny guy too. . . most of the time he has no idea that he is even being funny, which makes me laugh even harder. Ainsley on the other hand is temperamental, and I love her all the more for it. She reminds me so much of myself (I can see myself in both kids, as well as Mike, and I LOVE IT!). Ainsley will definitely always keep me on my toes. She is so independent and full of fire, and I love being around her, she tends to bring out the best in me. Then there is Michael. He makes me a better person. He is not so high strung as I am, and keeps me grounded. He knows how to make me laugh, and is such a wonderful father. He is such a hard worker and takes such good care of all of us! I am the luckiest girl to have a great husband and wonderful children.

Basically I am one lucky girl. It's good for me to stop and count my many blessings!

I now tag Brittney, Sarah T. (and MT 2 lists!), Lara, and Whitney. Can't wait to hear what you are thankful for.