Weekly Update - Whipped Cream, Charley Date, Kindness of Strangers

With the busy-ness of Thanksgiving this week, I don't have much time. But I thought I'd "photo dump" some of my favorites so they don't get lost...

In my quest to do "shelf cooking" to use up what we have before moving, I discovered some heavy whipping cream in my fridge that was still good. So we googled how to make whipped cream! It TOTALLY WIRED MARLI! She LOVED IT!!!! Ate with pancakes, strawberries (Marli's FAVORITE), bananas, oranges, and sausages!

My bread friend has given me courage...

Sweet potatoes, black beans, quinoa, brown rice, red onion, corn, lime juice....mmmmm

Steak and veggies at Grammy and Grandpa's

Christmas is LIVE AT GRAMMY'S! Boy oh, boy...Marli's FIRST CHRISTMAS!!!!

Taking advantage of the nicer weather.

Bread friend brought me more magic bread...this one made with red rice! SO SO GOOD.

Made it to the library

This little one is pulling herself up on EVERYTHING LATELY

Spent some time with our dear neighbor friends Mica and Avalie.

And our treat of the week! Charley got to spend the night with us Saturday night while Grammy and Grandpa went to a concert with the Gordons and Grandpa Moore. Had our bowling date...

Shared our routine "ice cream and chill" with Charley. Watched the show Monk - we all loved it!

Tricky to see...but her staticky hair is sure getting some air!

NOT PICTURED:

• Children's Museum with Avalie, Mica, and our Winco friend and her baby. It's amazing how much more grounded I feel when I can get out and converse with other mamas.
• Had some long days this week. Marli is teething, and Evan's been gone several days for work. Prayed for some relief. It was still hard, but there were a few HUGE tender mercies that I want to remember:
• Tried to fill up at gas station with cash and a fussy Marli. Was informed by the BIG burly, bearded, tatted, pierced gas attendant that I would have to pay inside. After taking a big breath, I unbuckled my seatbelt and told him it would be a minute since I had to unbuckle my baby. He immediately stopped me, told me he didn't realize I had a baby, and offered to take my money inside for me. With how the day had been going, it was a HUGE blessing to not have to get out of the car again just to pay.
• Picture this: I'm pushing a small Micheal's cart (anyone else think they should be Costco sized carts?!) piled OVERFLOWING with yarn. Marli strapped to me in the carrier. I'm holed away in an isle where there's no one else so that I could really think about what I was doing... wanting to make a Christmas something. I'm TIRED. And this lady comes up to me, puts her hand on my arm and says, "You do realize you are rocking your cart when your baby isn't in it, right?!" HAHAHA! I laughed, told her half-heartedly that it's been a long day, and she GIVES ME A HUG. Like a big, lingering hug. And while it caught me off-guard, it was so...comforting. She asked what in the world I thought I was doing with all the yarn in my cart because there's "NO WAY I have time for that with the little one strapped to my chest." I told her I was thinking the same thing...and was considering just going to get something remade at Target. We laughed and talked for a minute...and before we parted ways she squeezed my hand and promised me that "it gets easier." As I continued to meander my way around Micheal's, I couldn't stop thinking about her. I tried to find her again to thank her for her encouraging words and kind heart, but I couldn't find her. I'm pretty sure it was one of the warmest interactions I've ever had with a stranger. I want to be more like her.