It’s the week before Thanksgiving! Can you believe it? Here in Cincy we have had amazingly warm weather that doesn’t seem to match the calendar dates. The holidays have kinda sprung up on me. Nevertheless, we are getting into the spirit of things, at least around my “Nanny home”. 

This week we made Turkey Cookies! We have only done a few cooking projects together, but the boys seem to enjoy them a lot! I demonstrated my cookie (above) and then let them go at it. It was definitely a huge mess to clean up but the fun was worth it. Besides what isn’t a huge mess with triplet, 2 year old, boys! 
N’s Cookie. He mostly enjoyed squeezing out the tube of Icing. Notice any Mini M&M’s on his cookie? No, that’s because he ate them all before he even started decorating. 

H’s Cookie. I was really impressed with his precision and execution on the candy corn. He was very focused and slow. He didn’t eat one until he was done. He crafted like a 5 year old with no help from me! 
T’s Cookie. He definitely got the concept and was pretty into it AFTER he got his sugar fix. Cooking WITH candy? SCORE! 

We also spent time thanking people in our our lives as we drove to school.  Many times I will use the time in the car as a teaching moment, since I have all 3 boys focused and still! I gave them a 2-year old appropriate definition of the holiday as we drove one day… “THANKSGIVING IS A DAY WHEN WE SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE IN OUR LIFE, AND WE EAT YUMMY FOOD TO CELEBRATE“. Then I proceeded to thank the people in their family,  and influential people in their life, and encouraged them to say “Thank You”. As I was speaking, I was thinking about how thankful I am for some specific reasons in my life right now. So this week, I’ll stray a little from the usual Nanny-ness of the High5. 
High5 Friday – Things THIS Nanny is Thankful For!
5. Our Jobs 
Currently my husband’s employer is laying off some of their employees, which they haven’t done in 8-10 years. Doug has found favor with his employer as a loyal, hard-working and growing laborer.  At this time, we are thankful for both of our jobs that not only provide for us financially, but that we really enjoy and find fulfillment in. Looking back we both know that our current jobs came the right times.  We are thankful. 
4. Our Home
We have now been living in our first house for 5 months. Though we still have some work to do, decorating and eventually remodeling, we feel at home here. The little joys of knowing you aren’t going to evicted (ha, ha, long story), making a REAL fire in the fireplace, and being able to paint our walls has made it ours. The search for our home took over a year. The day we saw it, we put in an offer and beat out another couple by $700. We are thankful.
3. My Community
I am surrounded by amazing people that make life fun and worth living. From all the new Nannies I am meeting in Cincinnati to the Nannies all over the country – I am honored to know and be challenged by you! My church community is one that I am proud to serve along with. I have friends that have been in my life my WHOLE life and those that are new this year that are just as appreciated. Thanksgiving of 2004 is when I met the whole huge Schraer family, and I will never be the same! I am thankful. 
2. My Husband
My best friend and man I love more than anyone is sometimes my greatest of all challenges… yet the reward is the best too. What can I say, I cannot imagine living this journey of life with anyone else than Douglas Joseph. I am SO thankful. 
1. My God 
Through all my life, I have known that I am not alone. I have a friend and Father that will be faithful each day. No matter what in my life may change, THIS will remain. He is my rock, He is my guide, He is the only one that I live to please. Thank you, God. 
Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a BIG BITE!