Shillig 4 Family

is more stressful than I'd like it to be today. I had a nice relaxing day that included sleeping in AND a nap, but yet I'm feeling overwhelmed. I blame the fact that I did so little today (and yesterday) and now I feel frazzled playing catch-up from last week and such. The boys and homework are about to kill me.  When did schools start requiring so much!?  I do not remember high school being so much work.  I stress over it but Jake does all the actual work with them.  That fact stresses me out even more because he will be gone part of next semester and he helps Beau a lot. I just paid bills, I love online payments, and I love that my water bill comes in a nice blue envelope so I can see it easily.  It helps me to remember it is due when it is among my stack of papers on my computer desk. Jake is in the kids' room with them and I believe he is attempting to study for his final while they play, I doubt he's able to study, it sounds pretty wild in there. I am liste...

we played in "snow,"  enjoyed the backyard views,  made little girl burritos,  went to church, and got stuck in traffic on our drive back to FL.

I interrupt my Georgia posts to post that today I'm 22 weeks. Not only am I 22 weeks,  but tonight while eating the most delicious dinner Jake felt baby Solomon move for the first time! I think this is the most excited I've ever seen him when he was feeling our baby's movement for the first time.  He had his hand at the top on my tummy while we were all eating, where I was feeling movement, and he felt it, his eyes got big and he said loudly that he felt it! I want to get back to that delicious dinner.  Tonight we had BACK STRAP, my favorite part of deer meat.  It was Jake's first experience and he absolutely LOVED it.  I love sharing my favorites with him and him loving them. Oh how I love feeling Solomon move!  I know it may mean I'll have one rambunctious boy on my hands, but the fact that I am bonding with this little boy in a way that is brand new to me makes it all worth it. 

The Shillig 1s have quite the impressive book collection and the bottom shelf in the living room is FULL of wonderful stories for my kids to read and have people read to them. Just when I thought we had quite a few books, I realize you can never have enough.

While together these cuties have had LOTS of tea parties. I love that being with cousins has expanded the imaginations of my kids. This little ceramic tea set was a HIT with my kids. No pieces were even broken!  Malachi was often found with ceramic tea set pieces in his mouth though, silly boy, tea parties are for girls. Him drinking from the tea cups was a funny sight.  He drank the "tea" by putting the cup to his mouth and then quickly throwing his head back and bringing quickly it forward again.  Oh little girls and tea parties, I love it!

While here we've played A LOT of games. BANG Del Moody and Mafia. All enjoyed it but Beau, he doesn't play games he says. I say that's lame, but I still love him.

The Shillig 1s put on a tasty Thanksgiving meal. They even had sparkling cider on the tables with fancy glasses. Oh and the JUICIEST turkey I've ever had from the oven!  Thanks Shillig 1s for hosting!

This morning Jake, Aaron, and Beau went hunting. They didn't get anything but they had a good time. I love hunting.  There is just something about hunting for your own meat. I think Jake and I might take that up as a hobby someday. Tonight we're having backstrap for dinner from a deer cousin Brandon got recently, I'm SO excited!

One of the first days we were in GA we went to the Infantry Museum on post.  It was one of the best museums I have ever been to.  I have been to just about all the Smithsonian museums and this one gave those a run for their money.  It was smaller than a Smithsonian but just as high a caliber in my opinion.  But I do have a special place in my heart for history and the military so you combine those two things and it was GREAT. When driving through post to the museum from Aaron's work we saw this street that I (and Jake) swear was right out of the movie "We Were Soldiers."  You know, the one with Mel Gibson?  The first part you walk through a long hall of all the wars from the American Revolution to the present.  It depicts each one with a specific battle. Vietnam   Iraq I really enjoyed this photo of a soldier smelling a letter from home, it brought tears to my eyes. They had a family/kid area with a place where the kids could...

Aaron sure knows how to put on one awesome Turkey Bowl. They had 4 teams play and then winners played winners and losers played losers so they got to play 2 (tackle) games.  Aaron's team was the winner OF the winners!  The boys came home beat up and sore but HAPPY! I loved getting a kiss from my MVP when he returned home. THE TEAM!  Brandon's SACK!  Beau's catch.  Logan's face plant.  Aaron's run with the ball, no doubt for a first down.  Brody sitting out the huddle, you know, taking a breather.  Jake making a run for it.  Brandon takes a minute to "crack his back" he told me.  Jake told Brody to get an interception, here he is JUMPING in front of the ball.  Jake makes another run for it. I sent my camera with Jake and Dallin my 8 year old nephew was put in charge of camera duty since all us girls stayed at the house to finish up the cooking.  He returned home with 210 pictures.  I widdled it down to 35 and tried to...

(playing BANG after a turkey dinner) As we were going to bed I asked Jake what he was most thankful for, he said he was always most grateful for me. My heart filled with joy as a smile came to my face,  and I know I feel the exact same way. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I hope we've all been able to cultivate an "attitude of gratitude."