Its been a while...

(For some reason Blogger won't let me space out my lines, hence the "decorative" dashes)
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1) Music! All my favorites at my fingertips. I always have my Christian music playlist down at the bottom of this blog and I have recently added to it a little Rat Pack-ish collection. LOVE that.

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Along that line-online radio is the only way to go-check out http://www.accuradio.com/ and listen to ANYTHING you want. Right now I've personalized my own Christmas music station to include Christmas Country, Grownup Christmas, Celtic Christmas, Religious Christmas Classics, Old-Fashioned Christmas, and a few more! I love the mix-up of genre.

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2) Experiencing music with my boys! I love when all the toys are cleaned up in the living room and we are spinning, dancing and singing. Joel even gets into it! Every now and then Luke wants me to explain a song to him-I am very thankful for that.

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3) Thanksgiving in TX! I'll be thankful for this one in advance and after! A little warmer weather, visiting with a TON of family and friends! Luke keeps saying we are "going on a trip to Olivia's house for a party and the Christmas tree with ornaments!!" But, we are going to my parents' house-he is just so excited to meet his new cousin Olivia; the "party" is his idea of Thanksgiving with all the people we keep talking about; and, yes, we are doing a little Christmas stuff while we are there just to confuse all the children!

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4) My Library Card-Books! (I know, I know, repeat-I'm still thankful okay?!) Lisa the Correspondent asked me what I have been reading: Mainly fiction...

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A Pemberley series by Elizabeth Aston:
(not recommended for youth without a parent-read first)

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Mr. Darcy's Daughters-Few of the principal characters, focused mainly on the next generation...the 5 daughters of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and Mrs. Elizabeth Bennett Darcy. Different, but enough sprinkle of the familiar world of Jane Austen to be a fun read.

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The Exploites and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy-story from the first book continues on, protagonist is the youngest Miss Darcy.

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The Darcy Connection-Following in sequence of the next generation, this book is about Mr.(now Bishop) and Mrs. Collins' two daughters.

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The True Darcy Spirit-Interestingly, here the 'heroine' is Lady Catherine de Bourgh's granddaughter.

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The Second Mrs. Darcy-Twisting a sentiment from Emma: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a husband." This book follows the widow of a Darcy cousin. Main tie-in is the previously seen Caroline Bingley Warren's chip-off-the-old-block son. Apparently bitterness towards the Darcy/Bennett clan is multigenerational-aren't all feuds?

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Those were interesting-I've been on a big Austen kick and that was a bit of the familiar with something new thrown in.

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Also, I have reread Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

some very good quotes in there of course:

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“Nothing ever fatigues me but doing what I do not like.”

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“Selfishness must always be forgiven, you know, because there is no hope of a cure.”

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“It will, I believe, be everywhere found, that as the clergy are, or are not what they ought to be, so are the rest of the nation.”

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"It was a quick succession of busy nothings."

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“I am worn out with civility,” said he. “I have been talking incessantly all night, and with nothing to say.”

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"We seemed very glad to see each other, and I do really think we were a little."

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I've borrowed a few more, I'll let you know how those work out. I'm moving from Austen to a different genre. Knights, Ladies, Dragons, Chivalry, Princesses, Court, etc. I may begin with Camelot? We'll see. If you have any recommendations-please let me know! I'm really more interested in the Juvenile rather than Adult category here...

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5) Coupons in the Christmas shopping-yyeesss! Loving it. But, I can't divulge here-secrets,

secrets.

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6) Snacks-cheerios and golden grahams...probably half of my kids' diets.

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7) Joel walking! Well, sort of. Okay, it depends on how you define "walking". He takes up to seven steps, but he does it all the time! Hopefully we can get some video of this amazing feat up soon!

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8) Watching my sons interact. They tickle, wrestle and rough-house and it cracks me up!

I'll give you an image: Me, mostly sitting on Luke, pinning him and tickling him-shrieking abounding as I shout: Joel! Come and get him! Joel races over, crawling, and then literally body-slams Luke. Then the dynamic shifts to my keeping Luke's feet and legs from injuring Joel while trying to direct Joel to slap at Luke torso, not his face. Oh it can get crazy and loud.

I will tell you this, I will not be putting a video of this online.

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The last two are Luke's:

9) Luke is thankful for a "happy heart". Me too!

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10) Luke is also thankful for Cubbies and his "church family". aww.

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BONUS!!

11) Joel just waved at me from his high chair. The first time he has purposefully waved at me like that! YAY.