What I'm really thankful for...

Family. Friends. Good health. A warm home. Fresh food.

Of course I'm thankful for all of those things. It goes without saying. But what am I really thankful for this year?

I'm thankful for Target. Oh, sweet Target. It's like a casino for me - I lose all track of time & money in there. It's nearly impossible for me to get out of there in less than an hour and spending less than $50. But I don't even care, because they just have ALL THE THINGS. Seriously, everything - things I need, things I didn't know I needed, things I don't need but you just never know when you might need them so you better grab them because they're in the Dollar Spot for crying out loud. All the things, you guys.

I'm thankful that my 4.5 year old loves to be a helper and rarely complains about it, especially when it comes to helping with the baby. It's so helpful to be able to say "Brooke, will you go talk to Jack?" when he gets fussy and buy myself a couple minutes to finish making lunch or folding laundry. She is eager to do jobs, too. Though she'd rather jump on a pile of Legos barefoot than clean up her own toys, she's more than willing to help dust or put away clean dishes or carry up clean laundry. Her 3 year old brother? Completely unwilling to help. So I'm quite grateful that I have at least one capable helper.

I'm thankful for Santa. There is no greater tool we have as parents than "You know who's going to be really disappointed that you're fighting with your sister/didn't clean up the play room/woke up the baby? Santa." The entire month of December. (And November, let's be honest.)

I'm thankful for my dishwasher. Sooo many kids' cups/bowls/plastic spoons. All day, every day.

I'm thankful for Skyline. It's so bloody nice to have a go-to spot where I know no one will complain and everyone will leave happy. And while it's not steamed vegetables and grilled chicken, the plain spaghetti noodles with shredded cheese that they eat aren't exactly killing their diets. Plus they have an amazing fountain Pepsi. And also, CRACKERS. Which reminds me of something else I'm thankful for...

I'm thankful for restaurants that provide free snacks while you wait for your food. If you've ever dined with us before, you know that I come prepared with an arsenal of things to help my children pass the time in a restaurant. The fruit and veggies we bring are gone within 39 seconds of sitting down, leaving only whatever coloring books we brought to entertain them. When your 3-year-old asks "When is our food gonna get here?" before you've even ordered, snacks are mega helpful. And delicious. (Slatt's biscuits, I'm looking at you.)

I'm thankful that 2 of my 3 tiny humans are potty trained. And that I have yet to buy a pack of diapers since Jack has been born because we did such a good job stocking up during sales while I was pregnant. Boom.

I'm thankful for babies that can feed themselves. Because this giant baby of mine loves him some Puffs and he can finally shove them into his own little mouth at the frighteningly quick speed he prefers.

I'm thankful for my mini van. The love runs deep, y'all. Honda Odyssey driver for life.

I'm thankful for Swiffer wet cloths because I haven't had to get down on my hands and knees to mop my floor in years.

I'm thankful that I had 2 very positive parent-teacher conferences this month. We must be doing something right.

I'm thankful that kids' socks are pretty cheap. Joe has an incredible ability to lose socks. Last night's load of laundry had five unmatched boy socks in it. Five.

I'm thankful for my husband. This has been a very tough 7 months with 3 little friends demanding so very much of me, more than I'm capable of giving at times. And I'm often overwhelmed and stressed out and tired (duh). He doesn't always (cough usually cough) come home to a pleasant wife because I am just so over that day. But he sticks by me and lifts me up and sometimes even kicks me out of the house to get a break. (By the way, can I get an amen for Girls' Night? So lovely and necessary.) We just passed 6.5 years of wedded bliss & I appreciate him more every day.

I'm thankful that Jack wraps his little arms around my neck for hugs. And that Joe tells me that I'm his best friend. And that Brooke loves to watch and copy everything I am doing. No matter how crazy things get and how tough our days are, these three really are the best.