Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day One

Somewhere at the beginning of November I missed the bandwagon on thirty days of thankfulness.  There might be a video and some details that go along with the concept, but I'm not sure.  The idea has stuck with me though and I see nothing wrong with being thankful for the last half of November right through Thanksgiving and into Advent.  It's perfect, really.  Thirty days could never be enough to truly give thanks for all that I have and love.  There is not one bedtime story, trip to the grocery store or call to my parents that I am not grateful for.  Not one.  I am far too aware of how quickly it can disappear and I constantly am aware of how good it is.  Thankfulness is in my heart.

Today I am thankful for my amazing 8 year old son. He was honored at school this week for being selected to the John Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth. He IS academically talented, as well as warm, generous and hilarious. He is a precious blessing to our family that I am thankful for every single day.

What I Should Have Said

Last week I hosted a small birthday soiree for my girlfriend. I also spent three of the five day week at home because I wasn't well enough to leave the house. Fever, sore throat, pounding headache - not a great combo when you have 15 women showing up to celebrate. Working in my favor was that I had sent invites for a "Cozy Night In". Definitely better than a dance party, but still some work for my temporarily limited entertaining abilities. There was no way I would back out so I got all souped up on Dayquil and had a couple of glasses of sangria. Let me just say - not my finest work.

After cleaning the popcorn maker for about three hours on Sunday I realized that the reason it was smoking and dripping butter from the doors was because I never bothered to put the lid back on it. That would have certainly helped. Around the same time I was cleaning the popcorn maker I found the appetizers and ingredients for the creme brulee shots that I never served. Maybe next time.

My girlfriend and her girlfriends insist it was fun and that it was really gracious of me to host. I said multiple times that it was my pleasure. And truly, it was. The guest of honor is "That Friend" to me. That Friend is the one you would call in the middle of the night when you've made a bad choice and need to discuss it with someone immediately. The one that could see you in all your naked UNglory and choose to compliment you on your new eye shadow. The one that holds your hand through the very darkest moments when no one else dares approach. Yep, That Friend. And if I'd had all my wits about me I would have made a toast to That Friend to celebrate her birthday in this year of her life. I really meant to, but the sentiment got lost somewhere in the custom playlist, forgotten shots and failed game plan.

To you, my friend. "That Friend". A toast in honor of your birthday

Ten years ago we had been working together for about 6 minutes and she was invited to a bridal shower that the office was hosting for me. She didn't know me and I didn't know her, and all we had in common that we were the well dressed twenty somethings in the office. And she came to the shower for me (who she didn't know) with a generous, lovely gift that was both from my bridal registry and perfectly themed for my upcoming destination weekend. And I thought "that is the most thoughtful girl I've ever met".

In the last ten years we have laughed so hard that we've peed our pants, we have cried so much we could fill a swimming pool and have seen the very best and the very worst in each other. Together we've been on prime time television, run a small business and drank too many cocktails. We've shared clothes, recipes, luggage and life. She was there on the day that both of my children were born and again when they were baptized. She was there more than once when I would have cried alone because I feared for the life of my unborn child and we have mourned together for the lives of her tiny unborn babies. She is a role model to me sometimes and others the most humbling reminder of imperfection and weakness. And I still think all the time "that is the most thoughtful girl I've ever met".

There's not one thing in the world that I wouldn't do for my friend. Not one. And to host a party for her is the smallest act of kindness I could possibly grant. The burnt popcorn and missing appetizers were just a bonus.

Ten Things

There were so many beautiful reasons to smile in October. 

Ten of my favorites

Cozy fall accessories and toasty warm smells in my home

The Princess having a great month at school, in soccer and Girl Scouts!

Getting the opportunity to plan a birthday party for my BFF

Receiving multiple compliments on the wonderful gentleman that is my son

Celebrating 9 years with sweet Isabella

Having something to look forward to



Fairmont Kea Lani ~ Wailea, Maui



 

Making some time to read again

Taking my first business trip since June - and surviving it (barely!)

My hard-working husband being everything I need and still making the time to be what they need, too.

The very precious blessing of kids just being kids

What's Not to Love

You say. "what are your plans for Halloween?"

I say "I don't love Halloween."

The clever costumes elude me and scary stuff freaks me out. I am not a huge fan of my kids walking to strangers front doors and asking for candy that I will throw away after Christmas. Halloween is not my LEAST favorite thing in the world, but I don't love it.

And then the four of us are around the island in the kitchen. They're scooping and he's carving. The oven is heating for pumpkin cookies and the television is not on football or the Disney channel. Seeds and gunk cover the counter and both of my kids are laughing at their Dad.

I don't love Halloween, but for tonight there's nothing not to love.

Random Tuesday Thoughts

I'm on a business trip this week.  My husband is on a business trip this week.  We're both a little bummed about it.  One kid has free dress.  The other one has a project due and baseball practice.  And a social studies test.  And no Halloween costume.

Got Random?  I'm all over it.

I keep being very proud of myself for getting all the laundry done and then can't quite bring myself to take the clean clothes out of the basket, fold it and deliver to it's true home.  That doesn't really count as being done, huh?

It's been raining in Southern California for a solid week and I am over it.  A solid week except for Sunday afternoon at the Athlete's baseball game.  I look like a raccoon who vacationed on the surface of the sun.  Not a good look when it's pouring rain a mere 12 hours later.  It's more than a little odd.  The Athlete said to me this morning "um, Mom - maybe you should have taken off the sunglasses or put sunscreen all over your face".  He's a lot funnier when he's not right.

My family leaves in three weeks for vacation in Hawaii.  I've been telling myself for the LAST three weeks that I should stick to a diet of twigs and berries so I won't be miserable in a swimsuit for that whole trip.  I ate half a pint of Coffee Heath Bar Crunch on a conference call today.  There's always tomorrow . . .

The dog has been laying under my feet all.day.long.  I've rolled over his legs twice with the office chair and he still hasn't moved.  I should be grateful for the unconditional love.  I think.  I really just wish he'd be that still and quiet in the middle of the night insteading of snoring and begging to go outside.

Go see the UnMom if you're feeling random, too.

Dear Someone

It's been a million years since I've done Letters and I have a little steam to blow off this week.

Dear Someone letters are written to that special someone who you would say that special thing to if (1) you wouldn't be fired over it, (2) you wouldn't be arrested over it OR (3) that someone spoke English.

Dear Murphy's Law,

Why on earth do you feel compelled to show off in SUCH A BIG WAY this week?  The violent thunderstorms, the DOG, the under the weather crying children and work.  Oh brother, work.  I am {mostly} a good girl and respect that the universe is in charge so you really didn't need to go and flex your muscles quite so big this week.  I'm going to keep trudging along because I always do, but I am asking nicely for you to chill out.  It's almost Friday and I am sure you need a break.  I certainly do.

Respectfully Yours,

Exhausted, Exasperated and Soaking Wet

Dear Mean Girls,

Get a freakin' life.  It's completely beyond me that you have the time to meddle in someone else's business so regularly and that while you are so busy meddling that you don't notice how little I care about what you think.  And since you're so dialed in on everything that I am saying you should have known that I wouldn't back down from what I said.  I would never say anything ABOUT someone that I wouldn't say TO someone.  I am more than a little shocked that you don't know that about me since you seem to know everything else.  You'll have to find someone else to be jealous of now.  All of my dirty laundry has been aired.  Thanks for that.

Mrs. M

Dear $.99 Store,

Where have you been all my life?  I am smitten and looking forward to spending more time together.

xoxo,

Your New BFF

Dear Very Old Dog,

Bless your incontinent heart.  I know it's not your fault that you are very old and rickety and lack control of most of your bodily functions.  I know all of this.  I just need a little time to clear my mind when you wake me up whining every.dang.night and then think my son's bedroom floor is a canine litter box.  I love you a lot and always will, but I am losing patience.  Work with me.  Please.

Love Always,
Your Human

Because I Don't Scrapbook

I have given up on trying to stay current with my blog and always writing something meaningful.  These days I am lucky to get all the laundry done and keep the car filled with gas - I have zero time for meaningful writing.  What I don't want to give up, though is the chronicle of my family.

I started blogging so that my family could stay current on what's happening at our house and have an ongoing dialogue with my adorable kids.  That can't end.  We can't skype enough or buy enough cross country airplane tickets to stay truly current.  And there's a historical quality to writing about young children.  My first posts were just a diary of what my kids were up to and how grateful I was for our life.  None of that has changed, it's only gotten better.

My kids are bigger, smarter and funnier.  We are busier, older and happier.  All of those things are inevitable and worth writing about.

A Gentleman Never Panics

Before The Athlete actually attended his first Cotillion last week I am not sure I knew exactly what to expect.  I was so pleasantly surprised and let me just say that a large group of third and fourth grade kids learning how to appropriately interact with each other is OVER THE TOP DARLING.

Gentlemen are required to wear dark suits, a white dress shirt and a tie.  Young ladies must wear a dress and white gloves.  They gather once a month and and learn how make polite conversation, dance with a partner and the necessary ettiquette of a formal meal.  This month's session focused on the Cha Cha and sharing refreshments with your partner.

60 Second Cha Cha Video

Following the dancing, the Host and Hostess showed the ladies how to fold their gloves and give them to their partner to hold while enjoying refreshments.  I panicked on behalf of my boy, because I knew that the tailor had taken so much material out of his suit that he no longer had functioning pockets.  The Host, being a gentleman as well. said to the boys --

"and what do you do if you're wearing a brand new suit and your pockets are sewn shut?  That's OK.  A gentleman never panics and should not look like he is going to cry because he doesn't have his coat pocket available to hold his partner's gloves.  It is perfectly OK to take her gloves and put them inside your coat."

It was a really nice thing for him to say, but this bit of advice also wasn't going to help my son.  His pants had so much material removed from them that the pockets are sewn into the seam  now. There wasn't anything I could do to help him so I continued to watch and love every minute of it.

He seemed to make it out of his first event unscathed and delighted to have been part of it.  He couldn't stop talking about how much fun he had and he practiced ALL of the manners he learned . . . it was truly the sweetest thing.  He didn't even mention that he danced with girls twice his size.  I am pretty sure he was loving it so much he didn't even notice.

Later that night I asked him what he did with his partner's gloves.

"Mom, a Gentleman never panics.  I just put them in my back pocket."

Well, maybe I need the lesson in social graces more than he does.  Dance on handsome.  I'm just as excited about next month as you are.