Free Range on Fairview

edit: Wordpress wasn't for me at this point in time. I don't know enough about html codes or other css computery stuff to make it work right and was able to alter this account to properly ad more pictures and other great information to pass on.  After lots of figuring, surveys, research, and man hours I have decided to move my blog over to Wordpress . I think it should be great so I hope you move over there with me. The address is http://sadlercrazylife.wordpress.com if you want to save the actual spelling or whatnot and get ready because I will finish my month of thankfulness, continue to blow your mind with sweet ideas and keep posting hundreds of pictures of my kids and our crazy life. Hop over there now and check it out.

DSC03033 , a photo by shannonesadler on Flickr. So this is a way complicated way to share pictures but I am testing to see if this works.

It's no serious crossroad and I am still Thankful and will continue that, but I'm still a little stuck. Apparently I've used up all the space I'm allowed for pictures on my blog. I guess I could move over and start another one. Or I could just take a break for a while... but I don't want to stop sharing pictures with my family who are the primary readers of my ramblings. Or I pay like $3 a month for more storage, which is somewhere around $35 a year which I know Shane won't go for. I could keep posting to my blog without pictures but that would be no fun. Humm.. so much deep thinking for me. What do you think?

I am thankful that in the world of everything, keeping up on my blog posts is not something that I am going to stress about. I have them planned, I just have been busy making fake mistletoe, taking care of the house and trying to keep Shane sane. He has worked more in two days than he usually does in a week, but hey it's Peak and can be expected. Day 17 I am thankful for tv. Yes it is a big waste of time, but sometimes it is nice to veg out and watch a funny show (Tuesday nights are our favorites), Top Chef, or the Chew and the boys like to watch their shows too. Also Lincoln is big into movies right now... but it is always the same ones over and over. Day 18 I am thankful for God. For His mercy, for His grace, for His salvation. I am thankful that I have a church that I can go to freely and can talk to anyone about. I am thankful that Lincoln now goes to his class without a big ordeal. I am thankful that Shane and I have the same beliefs and can raise our kids that way. I am...

I am thankful that I live in a household that is financially stable. We've managed to pay off or trade cars out or otherwise eliminate over $40,000 of debt since we've been married. As long as there is no giant catastrophe early next year we will be debt free in early March (except the house that is). What a cool feeling. With my husbands diligence to paying the bills and attention to details we always stay on top of things and can feel secure. I get to be a stay-at-home mom while most of the time he doesn't have to always work full time and gets to hang around with us when it isn't peak season (this Christmas shipping season is shaping up to be a busy one so far). Also because we are on a tight budget there isn't much wiggle rooms for the wants in life and I am learning to be content with less. Because we budget Christmas is already planned out and I've calculated what I can spend for each person on our list. Because this amount isn't outrageous I have to b...

The gift of a brother. Half way through the month and I am so thankful for brother love. I love that my boys have siblings to play with and love on. Sure they poke and bite, irritate each other and get in plenty of trouble together but they also have each other for the great and even just good times which happen all the time. My older two boys have been sleeping together in the same full sized bottom bunk bed for quite a few months now by choice. This morning when I went to wake Dylan up for school they were talking to each other in their sleep. Something about not wanting to go into the water. Now that Danielle is all grown up and out of the house they don't get to play with her as much (plus she's not super into playing anymore) but not to worry because we had another baby to fill the gap. I get to see them being sweet to the baby and as Warner is growing up they are all interacting together. Dylan and Lincoln are so close even though they are 5 years apart in age. I h...

Shane in Kindergarten, 1977 - He's the striped shirt in the middle. Trying to look like "the kids nowadays" I am so thankful for my husband. Yes he knows how to make me so irritated I could scream, but those moments happen few and far between. He actually remembers our anniversary and my birthday. He always makes sure that our family is provided for. Especially during peak, or when they are their busiest at UPS during the holiday season and he hardly gets to see the boys, I am so thankful for him. His diligence with working and money has allowed me to be able to stay home and just be a mommy to our three boys. He recently entered phase two in his work out plan and is not just toning anymore but also sculpting (oh man it is hard for me to talk about and keep a straight face) and looking and feeling healthier than ever. He is a great father and worries about every little things. He is also a great partner in life.

I am thankful for my senses. I had an eye appointment this morning and while my vision is getting slightly worse and my astigmatism went up a tiny bit (nothing to worry about yet I hear), with the power of contacts or glasses I can still see the world. I love being able to see the fall colors, the fire in our wood stove, the smile of a baby or the wink of my crazy husband. I love being able to smell coffee brewing or something delicious cooking, although with three boys and a husband my sense of smell is often challenged with all things stinky. Hearing, taste and touch. Yup all of them work and I love being able to use all of them every day. Right at this moment I am thankful for silence. After a long week of half days and no one napping or giving me a second to myself I am thankful for both of the boys napping at the same time while Dylan is at school so I can finally catch my breath. These aren't actually from today but they are probably sleeping just like this. 

I am so lucky to have fantastic parents and awesome in-laws. They are all rockin' grandparents too.  I know I wouldn't be the person I am today without my parents and the things they taught me. (I would know how to put olives on my finger tips or enjoy a chocolate malt) I know that I owe many things to them, and especially now that I am an adult I can see the bigger picture and realize that they alway had my best interest in mind.  My mom, Cheryl My dad, Kevin  I also married into some pretty great people. "Mom and Dad Sadler" have become another great source of support and inspiration for me. Luckily they live a skip and a hop away so we get to see them almost as often as we want and the boys know where the fruit snacks are hidden at Nani's house.  Father-in-law Larry Mother-in-law, Shirley

On this day I am thankful for Danielle Jordan, my step-daughter. She was only a little squirt of a 14-year-old when I married her dad, but she was full of energy and love. She has grown up so much in these last almost 5 years that I have known her. She is currently attending college and also working part time at on of my favorite stores. She has so much love for her friends and family. She is never afraid to give a wedgie, play with the boys or hold the baby. She is a prankster, a singer, a giggler and a sweetheart. I never gave birth to a daughter but I have been able to open up my heart to one.

That sneaky smily. Full of sugar at sissy's graduation. A little eager to go swimming. Running around at a rest stop in California. Piggy tails via Sissy. Eating corn on the cob. Linc posing with his Hungry Hungry Caterpillar art. He put the plastic saw and knife in his pants like they do in the movies. Day 10... yes, I am thankful for this vivacious hand-full. Lincoln is my little spit-fire who keeps me on my toes, shows me how I can love more every day, lights up when he sees me, and always surprises me. He is full of spit and vinegar as my aunt would say. He is creative and active and athletic. He is obsessed with putting shoes on and taking them off, the movie Real Steel (he carries the DVD case around like a lovie lately) and fruit snacks. He is basically potty trained and smarter than I ever give him credit for.

The zero candle I had intended to use for his "birth"day cake. Day nine and I am thankful for my sweet baby Warner on his very first half birthday. Dylan had a special recipe from school he wanted to try out making himself so we decided to make a half birthday cake to celebrate Warner. The cake was yummy and he had a lesson in following a recipe. I am thankful that I got a chance to be this little wiggle worm's mommy. He is not happily eating baby food, almost sitting up by himself to play, screeching to get attention, playing with his brothers and is up to 18.5 pounds. He is in the 75% for height, weight and head circumference. A perfect little boy. He is snuggly and interested in everything we are doing. He likes to roll across the room to try to get to new toys and puts anything and everything in his mouth. I bet he will be getting teeth in the next month or two too. He's so wiggly! I couldn't help but not put this one on, look at that con...

Dylan and Papa hanging out with an injured Seahawk football player at the game on Sunday. So it's not actually the 8th day of the month, but it's the 8th thing I am thankful for... My son Dylan. He was born March 8th so of course it's fitting. He is a fantastic older brother, caring friend, thoughtful student, and empathetic community member. He is funny and sweet and pretty cool to hang around with. In October he got "Caught Being Good" which is like student of the month at his school and on the same day he was picked as Star Student which means he gets his poster and special things on display at school all week. He told me it was the best day of his life. I am so proud to call this boy mine.

I am so thankful for my comfy mattress, my puffy pillows, my snuggly sheets... my cozy bed. I might not actually sleep on it much, (not because of that) between taking Lincoln to the bathroom in the middle of the night and Warner up crying for who knows how many hours, but I love going to bed. I know some day I will be able to sleep all night and probably not be able to get my boys up easily and will miss having the littles around so I am enjoying the moments of sleep I do get now.

I am so thankful for a fantastic school system for my kids. I have loved being in the Kittitas school district from the whole day kindergarten to the small class sizes to the new healthy lunch options. Dylan has been so successful with the approached his teachers have used and all of the staff know all of my boys by name. Dylan just had a great parent teacher conference this morning and I love seeing his improvement. I also found out they are starting cursive in January, yikes! I am so thankful for a guy named Merek at Fred Meyer. He opened up a check stand for this poor mom who's kids were totally having a melt down. He loaded her groceries onto the belt and rang her through quickly, efficiently and even scanned her coupons correctly. Thank you sir for getting me out of there before I got any more sideways glances.

I am so thankful that there are a few hobbies out there that my husband and I can share together. This weekend we were able to get away from all the kids for the first time and enjoy spending time together. We sprung for a hotel that had an indoor heated pool, we had a nice leisurely dinner out getting whatever we wanted, and even went to our first 3D movie together. Then Sunday we spent all day in Seahawks land. It is fun to be able to talk football with him and cheer together.

I am so thankful that we live on the West Coast. Well I would probably wither in all the hustle and bustle and go go go that is New York or the surrounding areas but mainly right at this moment because here we are safe in our warm little home, not trying to recover from hurricane Sandy. Last night we were watching a celebrity telethon thing to raise money for the Red Cross to help with relief efforts and Shane and I looked at each other and said "What if that were us?" and helped in a small way with a tiny donation. It won't go far but at least it is something.

I am thankful for fat rolls and kankles. I love that my babies have all been so healthy and that I have been able to see them grow and develop into little people. And little teeny tiny round baby toes that are sweet to kiss.

I am thankful for modern day appliances. My mother-in-law and I were just talking about this the other day. I wash every dish I have in the dish washer and every clothing item in the washing machine. I'm really not one of those people who likes to hand wash anything and no one else in this house cares either way so I am so thankful that I have properly working, up to date appliances that make my life easier. I am also thankful for this adorable picture of Lincoln "helping" me with the laundry when he was about 11 months old or so. Before those wild curls grew in and his wild personality really started to shine.

When I married Shane I also moved to a much smaller town. There is a big state college but otherwise it is pretty quaint. No Target or Walmart, but 4 Subways. I had a hard time adjusting to driving 20 miles an hour on a main drag but now I love it. During Halloween all of down town gets together, opens their doors to costume dress children and dogs alike and passes out tons and tons of candy. The Daily Record newspaper even took pictures of all the kids and posted most of them in the paper (unfortunately we didn't make the cut because they had so many people). Here is their shot. I guess they also try to sell copies online . Who could resist these cuties?