Monday evening I spent some time watching Military Homecoming videos. If you can't be moved by the sight of children breaking down at seeing their moms and dads return from overseas, then you just don't have feelings. I was crying so hard that I couldn't even see through my tears to watch the whole video. I had to keep pausing it to wipe my eyes. The ones that REALLY got me were the videos of the dogs reacting to the return of their owners. I guess I hadn't ever really stopped and thought about how hard it must be on a dog to be separated from his or her owner for a long period of time because of the call of the military. Anyway, if you would like to watch some extremely moving videos, click here.
I went ahead and posted the doggy one for you.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Nicole's Daybook
Outside my window... Looks like a pre-snow winter day. There is a chance of flurries today.
I am thinking... about how I could use a good night's sleep! Brynne was up sick all night Saturday night. Sunday night I didn't sleep well with drainage and coughing. And last night I woke up with searing pain in my neck and couldn't hardly move my head. I can feel a spot in my spine that is strained. It must be affecting my neck.
I am thankful ... for the sacrifices that families make with a family member on active duty. Check back tomorrow for some tearjerker video links!
I am wearing... A sherpa-lined, fur-collared hoodie, jeans, and brown Sperry's.
I am planning... Eli's birthday party that is in two weeks (my last event of 2011!!!).
I am creating... Invitations for Eli's party, cake ideas, goodie bag lists, snack food lists.
I am going... to work really diligently all day today so that I can get to relaxing early tonight.
I am reading... Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (Dawson's read-a-loud), The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson.
I am hoping... that the flu bug is gone for the season!
From the learning rooms... Brynne continues with Christmas themed studies. Dawson is working on Energy (protons, electrons, ions) and will be spending the rest of this week and next digging deep into Slavery. On Wednesday we are going to Tulsa to attend a bell choir concert with our Co-op. On Friday we will have our regular Co-op classes. When we are home we will be in the books! Eli is studying Christmas around the world at school. Kyndal is trying to recover from a blow in English.
Noticing that ... there is a huuuuuge red cardinal sitting on the wicker stool right outside my back window. I love this time of year when the cardinals are so stark a contrast to the dreary colors of winter.
From the kitchen... This will be a recurring issue that is going to come up that I need to find a way to deal with. I plan meals and grocery shop every two weeks. I typically make well-balanced meals of a wide variety that are good as leftovers, so that Rick can take them to work the next day. When he is on a business trip, I cook a little more toned down (more kid-friendly) because the kids typically are not overly excited about what I am cooking when he is here. (I always make sure there is something in our meal that the kids like, even if they don't like all of the main dish.) But his business trips come up "on short notice" and I've already got my meals planned and ingredients purchased. This week he'll be gone through Thursday night, so what do I fix the kids? Last night we had Meatball Subs (that I had already planned). Tonight we are going to have Calzones, that we didn't get to this past weekend, instead of Baked Salisbury Steak. We'll still do Fend for Yourself on Wednesday night because that actually means Pizza Rolls and the kids always look forward to it. (Man, we are having a pizza theme this week.) And I had Turkey and Noodles scheduled for Thursday night, but I'll want to do something different and save that for Rick, so I think we'll have Breakfast for Dinner. I need to have a few things purchased that the kids love so that when Rick has to travel at the last minute, I'm not fixing a meal that I'm ultimately eating alone or so that I don't feel tempted to serve cereal every night or grab fast food. The good news is that I have two meals all ready to go next week, since we won't be having them this week.
Around the house... our Christmas lights are up and our house looks so pretty! I truly think our house is the prettiest one in our subdivision at Christmas.
One of my favorite things... is my time in the evening after all the kids go to bed.
A few plans for the rest of the week... Nothing today. Tomorrow we are going to the bell choir concert and possibly to see Santa. Nothing on Thursday. Rick will be coming home that evening. We don't have any plans this weekend, which is great with me. I am looking forward to a quiet weekend at home!
I am hoping... that the flu bug is gone for the season!
From the learning rooms... Brynne continues with Christmas themed studies. Dawson is working on Energy (protons, electrons, ions) and will be spending the rest of this week and next digging deep into Slavery. On Wednesday we are going to Tulsa to attend a bell choir concert with our Co-op. On Friday we will have our regular Co-op classes. When we are home we will be in the books! Eli is studying Christmas around the world at school. Kyndal is trying to recover from a blow in English.
Noticing that ... there is a huuuuuge red cardinal sitting on the wicker stool right outside my back window. I love this time of year when the cardinals are so stark a contrast to the dreary colors of winter.
From the kitchen... This will be a recurring issue that is going to come up that I need to find a way to deal with. I plan meals and grocery shop every two weeks. I typically make well-balanced meals of a wide variety that are good as leftovers, so that Rick can take them to work the next day. When he is on a business trip, I cook a little more toned down (more kid-friendly) because the kids typically are not overly excited about what I am cooking when he is here. (I always make sure there is something in our meal that the kids like, even if they don't like all of the main dish.) But his business trips come up "on short notice" and I've already got my meals planned and ingredients purchased. This week he'll be gone through Thursday night, so what do I fix the kids? Last night we had Meatball Subs (that I had already planned). Tonight we are going to have Calzones, that we didn't get to this past weekend, instead of Baked Salisbury Steak. We'll still do Fend for Yourself on Wednesday night because that actually means Pizza Rolls and the kids always look forward to it. (Man, we are having a pizza theme this week.) And I had Turkey and Noodles scheduled for Thursday night, but I'll want to do something different and save that for Rick, so I think we'll have Breakfast for Dinner. I need to have a few things purchased that the kids love so that when Rick has to travel at the last minute, I'm not fixing a meal that I'm ultimately eating alone or so that I don't feel tempted to serve cereal every night or grab fast food. The good news is that I have two meals all ready to go next week, since we won't be having them this week.
Around the house... our Christmas lights are up and our house looks so pretty! I truly think our house is the prettiest one in our subdivision at Christmas.
One of my favorite things... is my time in the evening after all the kids go to bed.
A few plans for the rest of the week... Nothing today. Tomorrow we are going to the bell choir concert and possibly to see Santa. Nothing on Thursday. Rick will be coming home that evening. We don't have any plans this weekend, which is great with me. I am looking forward to a quiet weekend at home!
From my picture journal.
Me and my good-sport-of-a-husband at our Homeschool Co-op Ugly Christmas Sweater party.
Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Weekend Wrap-up ~ The Good, The Bad and the Oh So Ugly!
What a weekend!
If you know me, you know I like them calm. And this one was anything but!
We had a busy day Friday with our Homeschool Co-op's Christmas party for the kids. It was loads of fun with crafts, food, and friends.
Then in the afternoon, Dawson and Brynne were the "Mystery Readers" for Eli's class at school. They tag-teamed an Elephant and Piggie book and it was so sweet. Eli was so excited!
Rick and I then went into town Friday night and did a little shopping. I always enjoy spending this kind of time with Rick. It's just easy and fun.
On Saturday, we had lots of preparations to do for a Christmas party we were hosting that evening. I left the house at 11:30 a.m., thinking I would be gone a couple hours at most, and didn't get home until after 3:00 p.m.! I needed to pick up a few things for the party (should have done that Friday night???), get my nails done, go to the library, drop off recycling. Walmart was a madhouse! The Bedlam game was on that night (OSU/OU), so people were buying up for their parties. And it was pouring! That was fun.
I got home and fixed our food, cleaned up the house as best as possible, and got ready.
Then the fun began!! We hosted an Ugly Christmas Sweater party for our Homeschool Co-op moms and dads. And it was a blast! Not only were the sweaters fun, but the food and fellowship was great! We laughed so hard and just had the best time! It is definitely going to be an annual event. We have the greatest folks in our homeschool community. Loads of fun!
The men (and a couple of the women) watched the Bedlam game and we were happy to hand OU their rear ends. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to boost OSU back into the No. 2 spot to play the championship game against LSU. But, WOW, what a season! (Their only loss was to a non-ranked team, a day after the tragic plane crash that killed their women's basketball coaches.)
This whole weekend I was fighting the cold that Brynne has had for three weeks. So, after we cleaned up from the party, I took a Nyquil and went to bed. I had just drifted off into a nice drug-induced coma when I heard, "Mommy, I think I'm going to throw up!" I jumped up, grabbed Brynne and headed her toward our bathroom. But unfortunately the excorsism occurred all over the carpet in our hall. She proceeded to vomit about every 15-30 minutes until 9:00 a.m. yesterday morning.
Come to find out, about a third of the participants of the kids' Christmas party on Friday had this nasty flu. And it was nasty!!!
I went back to bed yesterday about 11:30 a.m., not feeling so good myself, and slept until about 4:30 p.m. Thankfully daddy was here to help the sick little one. Gradually she moved from ice chips to water to crackers to soup. We sanitized everything, filled the house with a Lysol fog, and got to bed early. And she is back on the mend this morning. Kyndal, on the other hand, now has it. Hopefully it stops there.
Now it's Monday morning. Rick is gone on a business trip. We are back at school. And, we are looking to have a quiet week. (Please?????)
If you know me, you know I like them calm. And this one was anything but!
We had a busy day Friday with our Homeschool Co-op's Christmas party for the kids. It was loads of fun with crafts, food, and friends.
Then in the afternoon, Dawson and Brynne were the "Mystery Readers" for Eli's class at school. They tag-teamed an Elephant and Piggie book and it was so sweet. Eli was so excited!
Rick and I then went into town Friday night and did a little shopping. I always enjoy spending this kind of time with Rick. It's just easy and fun.
On Saturday, we had lots of preparations to do for a Christmas party we were hosting that evening. I left the house at 11:30 a.m., thinking I would be gone a couple hours at most, and didn't get home until after 3:00 p.m.! I needed to pick up a few things for the party (should have done that Friday night???), get my nails done, go to the library, drop off recycling. Walmart was a madhouse! The Bedlam game was on that night (OSU/OU), so people were buying up for their parties. And it was pouring! That was fun.
I got home and fixed our food, cleaned up the house as best as possible, and got ready.
Then the fun began!! We hosted an Ugly Christmas Sweater party for our Homeschool Co-op moms and dads. And it was a blast! Not only were the sweaters fun, but the food and fellowship was great! We laughed so hard and just had the best time! It is definitely going to be an annual event. We have the greatest folks in our homeschool community. Loads of fun!
The men (and a couple of the women) watched the Bedlam game and we were happy to hand OU their rear ends. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to boost OSU back into the No. 2 spot to play the championship game against LSU. But, WOW, what a season! (Their only loss was to a non-ranked team, a day after the tragic plane crash that killed their women's basketball coaches.)
This whole weekend I was fighting the cold that Brynne has had for three weeks. So, after we cleaned up from the party, I took a Nyquil and went to bed. I had just drifted off into a nice drug-induced coma when I heard, "Mommy, I think I'm going to throw up!" I jumped up, grabbed Brynne and headed her toward our bathroom. But unfortunately the excorsism occurred all over the carpet in our hall. She proceeded to vomit about every 15-30 minutes until 9:00 a.m. yesterday morning.
Come to find out, about a third of the participants of the kids' Christmas party on Friday had this nasty flu. And it was nasty!!!
I went back to bed yesterday about 11:30 a.m., not feeling so good myself, and slept until about 4:30 p.m. Thankfully daddy was here to help the sick little one. Gradually she moved from ice chips to water to crackers to soup. We sanitized everything, filled the house with a Lysol fog, and got to bed early. And she is back on the mend this morning. Kyndal, on the other hand, now has it. Hopefully it stops there.
Now it's Monday morning. Rick is gone on a business trip. We are back at school. And, we are looking to have a quiet week. (Please?????)
Friday, December 2, 2011
Snowflake Pillows
Remember my post last week about the leaf pillows I made from placemats? Well, I've been at it again. I bought three snowflake placemats from Walmart for $2.98 each. I slit them open, stuffed them with polyfill, hot glued them shut again and voila! They look great on my couch!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Results ~ The Old-Fashioned Way
Back in the day, like I mean the 80's, we were Calorie Counters. That's how we watched our weight and lost weight. I don't remember ever hearing anything about fat, carbs, fiber, sugar, etc.
In recent years, however, those topics are all the rage! Do you want to lose weight? Don't eat ANY carbs! Or, cut ALL sugar out of your diet! Or, make sure everything you eat says 'Low Fat' on the label!
We have The Adkins Diet, The South Beach Diet, Weight Watchers, and the list goes on and on. A few years ago I lost 13 pounds doing Weight Watchers. And then this past year when I was just trying to lose 5 pounds, Weight Watchers didn't work. And then I noticed that they have changed up their whole system to where it's now Weight Watchers Points Plus (or something like that) and it calculates your points using different factors than it used to. Why? Because all of these diets are fad diets and after a while they stop producing results!
We all know what we need to do to lose weight: Burn more calories than we consume. This involves watching our calories and exercising! Ooooohhhhh .... but that takes effort! It would be so much easier to just only eat meat for a month. And we need to have a balance of carbs, fat, sugar, protein, fiber, etc. Our bodies actually need all of those things! They just need them in the proper moderation. Cutting out those things shocks our body and causes us to lose weight for a time. But, eventually our bodies catch back up and realize we are missing an important element. That's when the weight loss stalls!
So I am back to praising My Fitness Pal. As of today I have lost 6 pounds. I am only 2 pounds away from my goal. I have 26 days to lose those 2 pounds. Those are 6 pounds I could not lose doing Weight Watchers, or any other system.
My Fitness Pal helps you lose weight the old-fashioned way. You journal your calorie intake. And then the system automatically keeps track of your carbs, fat, fiber, protein, sugar, etc.
There's still some time to lose a few pounds before Christmas. What a great time to start! Think how much better you will feel on Christmas if you have a head start on gaining control of your weight and body. That's the best Christmas gift you could give yourself!
In recent years, however, those topics are all the rage! Do you want to lose weight? Don't eat ANY carbs! Or, cut ALL sugar out of your diet! Or, make sure everything you eat says 'Low Fat' on the label!
We have The Adkins Diet, The South Beach Diet, Weight Watchers, and the list goes on and on. A few years ago I lost 13 pounds doing Weight Watchers. And then this past year when I was just trying to lose 5 pounds, Weight Watchers didn't work. And then I noticed that they have changed up their whole system to where it's now Weight Watchers Points Plus (or something like that) and it calculates your points using different factors than it used to. Why? Because all of these diets are fad diets and after a while they stop producing results!
We all know what we need to do to lose weight: Burn more calories than we consume. This involves watching our calories and exercising! Ooooohhhhh .... but that takes effort! It would be so much easier to just only eat meat for a month. And we need to have a balance of carbs, fat, sugar, protein, fiber, etc. Our bodies actually need all of those things! They just need them in the proper moderation. Cutting out those things shocks our body and causes us to lose weight for a time. But, eventually our bodies catch back up and realize we are missing an important element. That's when the weight loss stalls!
So I am back to praising My Fitness Pal. As of today I have lost 6 pounds. I am only 2 pounds away from my goal. I have 26 days to lose those 2 pounds. Those are 6 pounds I could not lose doing Weight Watchers, or any other system.
My Fitness Pal helps you lose weight the old-fashioned way. You journal your calorie intake. And then the system automatically keeps track of your carbs, fat, fiber, protein, sugar, etc.
There's still some time to lose a few pounds before Christmas. What a great time to start! Think how much better you will feel on Christmas if you have a head start on gaining control of your weight and body. That's the best Christmas gift you could give yourself!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Nicole's Daybook
Outside my window... The sun is shining brightly, and it's chilly.
I am thinking... about the realities of life.
I am thankful ... that my children are not some of the millions who are without food or a home. We have been watching lots of news stories about children living in their cars, working families not making enough to pay for food, etc. And we live in abundance.
I am wearing... OSU t-shirt layered over a black burnout shirt, black yoga pants, Nike's.
I am planning... our Homeschool Co-op parents' Christmas party that is this Saturday.
I am creating... Rick's Ugly Christmas sweater for the party, and snowflake placemat pillows.
I am going... to take Crusoe for a walk at lunchtime instead of going this morning when it was about 30 degrees (that's what we did yesterday ... brrrrr).
I am reading... Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe (Dawson's read-a-loud), The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright.
I am hoping... for a joyful Christmas season.
From the learning rooms... We went and toured the replicas of the Nina and Pinta yesterday, and it was very cool! This week we are back into the books. But Brynne is starting her Christmas units.
Noticing that ... I am so much leaner as a result of my eating and exercising habits and logging them on My Fitness Pal. The pones are GONE!
From the kitchen... Tonight we are having Skinny Spinach Pasta. Tomorrow is Fend For Yourself and Wine Wednesday. Thursday we are having Turkey Pot Pie (leftovers). Friday it's Burgers. On Saturday we are having a Christmas party, so we'll be eating appetizers and desserts and ordering pizza for our kids. On Sunday we'll have Calzones. And on Monday I am planning Meatball Subs.
Around the house... it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
One of my favorite things... is the results of Christmas decorating. The decorating itself stinks!
A few plans for the rest of the week... Mostly this week we will be just doing the norms: school, Kyndal working, Rick back to work. Then this weekend we are having a Christmas party for our Homeschool Co-op parents. And we'll be watching the OSU/OU Bedlam game.
I am hoping... for a joyful Christmas season.
From the learning rooms... We went and toured the replicas of the Nina and Pinta yesterday, and it was very cool! This week we are back into the books. But Brynne is starting her Christmas units.
Noticing that ... I am so much leaner as a result of my eating and exercising habits and logging them on My Fitness Pal. The pones are GONE!
From the kitchen... Tonight we are having Skinny Spinach Pasta. Tomorrow is Fend For Yourself and Wine Wednesday. Thursday we are having Turkey Pot Pie (leftovers). Friday it's Burgers. On Saturday we are having a Christmas party, so we'll be eating appetizers and desserts and ordering pizza for our kids. On Sunday we'll have Calzones. And on Monday I am planning Meatball Subs.
Around the house... it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
One of my favorite things... is the results of Christmas decorating. The decorating itself stinks!
A few plans for the rest of the week... Mostly this week we will be just doing the norms: school, Kyndal working, Rick back to work. Then this weekend we are having a Christmas party for our Homeschool Co-op parents. And we'll be watching the OSU/OU Bedlam game.
From my picture journal.
Our field trip yesterday to the Nina and Pinta.
Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Decorating for Christmas
If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you probably know what a scrooge I am and how I detest decorating for Christmas! In fact, last year, we only put up our stockings, and put up our tree on December 23rd.
Now, lest you feel the need to leave me a nasty comment, I had a reason why we didn't put up our tree until right before Christmas.
Brynne and I read the book An Early American Christmas by Tomie DePaola last year. Feeling a little world-weary, reading this book and about the simplicity of the colonial traditional Christmas spoke to me. It actually made me smile and feel immense peace. So, we had an old-fashioned Christmas last year. All of our decorations were homemade (except for the stockings.)
You can read most of my posts on this by going to this link. (And I recommend you do it. It was amazing!)
Part of the old-fashioned Christmas included buying a ball and burlap tree so that after Christmas we could plant it in our backyard. We honestly thought it would die, but it made it through the record snows this past winter and the record heat this summer. We want to do this same thing again this year. But with a ball and burlap tree, you can't keep it up very long.
Eli's birthday is on December 22nd, so this actually worked out great! We could concentrate on his birthday and then on the 23rd we put up the tree and started getting ourselves ready for Christmas.
And that is what we are planning to do this year, too.
But instead of an old-fashioned Christmas, we decided to do our traditional decorations, including house lights (we didn't even do that last year.)
Since most of my family was gone this Thanksgiving break, I had time to put up our decorations. I will admit, I still didn't enjoy it. But, I think the glass of wine helped somewhat. I got everything up in record time (except for the tree and outside decorations that will be done a bit later.)
The house looks great. The kids are happy. And I am relieved that we are ready to start the Christmas season.
Now, lest you feel the need to leave me a nasty comment, I had a reason why we didn't put up our tree until right before Christmas.
Brynne and I read the book An Early American Christmas by Tomie DePaola last year. Feeling a little world-weary, reading this book and about the simplicity of the colonial traditional Christmas spoke to me. It actually made me smile and feel immense peace. So, we had an old-fashioned Christmas last year. All of our decorations were homemade (except for the stockings.)
You can read most of my posts on this by going to this link. (And I recommend you do it. It was amazing!)
Part of the old-fashioned Christmas included buying a ball and burlap tree so that after Christmas we could plant it in our backyard. We honestly thought it would die, but it made it through the record snows this past winter and the record heat this summer. We want to do this same thing again this year. But with a ball and burlap tree, you can't keep it up very long.
Eli's birthday is on December 22nd, so this actually worked out great! We could concentrate on his birthday and then on the 23rd we put up the tree and started getting ourselves ready for Christmas.
And that is what we are planning to do this year, too.
But instead of an old-fashioned Christmas, we decided to do our traditional decorations, including house lights (we didn't even do that last year.)
Since most of my family was gone this Thanksgiving break, I had time to put up our decorations. I will admit, I still didn't enjoy it. But, I think the glass of wine helped somewhat. I got everything up in record time (except for the tree and outside decorations that will be done a bit later.)
The house looks great. The kids are happy. And I am relieved that we are ready to start the Christmas season.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Happy
Although our main intention was to spend as much time this weekend relaxing in our jammies, today was the one day we planned to be out of the house.
We started our day by going to see Happy Feet Two. I really enjoyed it, although it wasn't as good as the first one, in my humble opinion. As a family, we loooove Happy Feet. So, it had a lot to live up to. It didn't quite make it, but having Pink replace Brittany Murphy as Gloria was a wonderful addition. Her singing was amazing!
After the movie, we went to our local McDonald's for lunch. Let me tell you briefly about our McDonald's. It is owned by the Rich family. They are outstanding people! This summer they tore down the McDonald's and rebuilt it from the ground up. During that time of construction, they paid their employees their normal hourly wages for every hour they volunteered at local non-profit organizations. I happily support their McDonald's franchise.
Then it was time to grocery shop. Eli hates to do anything outside of our house, so I was so happy that our shopping went off without a hitch. Eli and Brynne really are two of the most well-behaved children I have ever been around. I am always so proud to take them places. And the stores were busy because it was Black Friday afternoon. But I didn't have to worry about them misbehaving. I really never do. We completed our shopping and picked up a pizza for dinner.
The kids got to bed at a decent time, and I have sat on the couch, happy as a clam, watching a Storage Wars marathon. You're jealous, I know.
Tomorrow we ARE going to stay in our jammies all day. I am planning an interval housecleaning/relaxing day. That means I'll do one housecleaning duty then relax for a bit watching a show I have DVR'd. Then I'll do another housecleaning duty and then relax. And so on. This is my favorite kind of day. I get a lot done but also get a lot of relaxing done, too. I end up feeling productive and re-energized!
And on Sunday? It's time to get out the Christmas decorations. The tree waits until December 23rd, the day after Eli's birthday, but the rest will get put up on Sunday (hopefully). This year I have more pressure because we are having a Christmas party here next weekend.
Have a great weekend!
We started our day by going to see Happy Feet Two. I really enjoyed it, although it wasn't as good as the first one, in my humble opinion. As a family, we loooove Happy Feet. So, it had a lot to live up to. It didn't quite make it, but having Pink replace Brittany Murphy as Gloria was a wonderful addition. Her singing was amazing!
After the movie, we went to our local McDonald's for lunch. Let me tell you briefly about our McDonald's. It is owned by the Rich family. They are outstanding people! This summer they tore down the McDonald's and rebuilt it from the ground up. During that time of construction, they paid their employees their normal hourly wages for every hour they volunteered at local non-profit organizations. I happily support their McDonald's franchise.
Then it was time to grocery shop. Eli hates to do anything outside of our house, so I was so happy that our shopping went off without a hitch. Eli and Brynne really are two of the most well-behaved children I have ever been around. I am always so proud to take them places. And the stores were busy because it was Black Friday afternoon. But I didn't have to worry about them misbehaving. I really never do. We completed our shopping and picked up a pizza for dinner.
The kids got to bed at a decent time, and I have sat on the couch, happy as a clam, watching a Storage Wars marathon. You're jealous, I know.
Tomorrow we ARE going to stay in our jammies all day. I am planning an interval housecleaning/relaxing day. That means I'll do one housecleaning duty then relax for a bit watching a show I have DVR'd. Then I'll do another housecleaning duty and then relax. And so on. This is my favorite kind of day. I get a lot done but also get a lot of relaxing done, too. I end up feeling productive and re-energized!
And on Sunday? It's time to get out the Christmas decorations. The tree waits until December 23rd, the day after Eli's birthday, but the rest will get put up on Sunday (hopefully). This year I have more pressure because we are having a Christmas party here next weekend.
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
I Like Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day
I hope that your family had as nice a Thanksgiving as me and my little turkeys.
We had a low-key day, with Brynne not feeling well this morning. We just watched the parade and the dog show on t.v., played, did some cleaning, and fixed Thanksgiving dinner.
Brynne sang us a Thanksgiving song before we ate, and I videoed it. But I haven't been able to get it to download anywhere. Frustrating. It is so funny because as I scan over to Eli, he is wincing and making the most hilarious disgusted face. Wish you could see it!
Happy Thanksgiving!
We missed you daddy, Kyndal, and Dawson.
We had a low-key day, with Brynne not feeling well this morning. We just watched the parade and the dog show on t.v., played, did some cleaning, and fixed Thanksgiving dinner.
Brynne sang us a Thanksgiving song before we ate, and I videoed it. But I haven't been able to get it to download anywhere. Frustrating. It is so funny because as I scan over to Eli, he is wincing and making the most hilarious disgusted face. Wish you could see it!
Happy Thanksgiving!
We missed you daddy, Kyndal, and Dawson.
Truly Thankful
I have much to be thankful for today, and I sit and reflect ...
I am thankful ... my husband is taking the time to reconnect with his family this week. They have not been close over the past several years, and was so nice to see him looking forward to spending time with them.
I am thankful ... that Kyndal and Dawson have such rich Thanksgiving traditions with their dad's family. I know they look forward to it every year. Their grandma is the best cook around.
I am thankful ... to be surrounded today by my two little sweet babies and all my doggies. I feel very loved and cherished.
I am thankful ... for the opportunity to see the true joy and excitement in my children while watching the iconic Macy's Day Parade and to hear Brynne proclaim, "That is the greatest thing I have ever watched!"
I am thankful ... for healthy children. As I watch the St. Jude's commercials, and nurse a sweet baby girl who is in bed with a rotten cold, I am thankful she is home with me being nursed instead of in a hospital somewhere with a terminal illness.
I am thankful ... for a beautiful and comfortable home.
I am thankful ... that my parents have their dream homes and are enjoying their pre-retirement this week at their home in Pensacola.
I am thankful ... for that home for us all to gather after Christmas, and am looking forward to seeing my brother and sister-in-law and having our whole family together for the first time in years!
I am thankful ... I actually was able to get ahold of my brother and wish him a Happy Thanksgiving. It was nice to talk to him!
I am thankful ... for the miracle of a new baby, and that my sister gets another opportunity with motherhood.
I am thankful ... for the opportunity to be able to stay home and teach my children, while at the same time pursuing a dream part-time career that I have always longed for.
I am thankful ... for a homeschooling community that is loving and encouraging and active.
I am thankful ... that my Aunt Rhonda's breast cancer scares are over and that she is now healthy again.
I am thankful ... that my grandmother is in a home where she is well taken care of and safe, and that her Medicaid went through this week and there is no threat of her being evicted.
I am thankful ... for my little church home and all it does for our community.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving, my friends.
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
~ "Count Your Blessings" by Johnson Oatman, Jr., and Edwin Excell
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