This & That

Grateful

I am sure that I am not the only blogger in the world who is going to post a list of the things they are grateful for.  How can I not?  It's Thanksgiving...you know....the time to sit back, close your eyes for a minute and remind yourself what it is that you are truly grateful for.

I am thankful.  I am thankful for so much.  I am guilty of taking so much for granted.  Sometimes I forget to look at my life with my eyes wide open and see what is right here in front of me making it awesome EVERYDAY.  I have a tendency to get stuck in my own head and mull over things too much and over-analyze the simple things.  Tonight and tomorrow I am REALLY TRYING to get out of my own head and live in the here and now and be present.

To start all of the "being present" bit I thought I would share a few of the things that I am grateful for RIGHT NOW!

• I am grateful for my kids.  Today, in particular, I am grateful for the bond that they have with one another.  From my crafty desk this afternoon I listened to them as they sat on the couch together and watched a few episodes of Tom & Jerry from OnDemand.  They laughed and laughed together.  Real good belly laughs.  It warmed my heart.
• I am grateful for my husband.  He loves me unconditionally.  I know it in my heart.  Today we are on Love Level 4....that's really really good!!!!  I don't really know what the other levels are.  We just decided that Love Level 4 sounded like a great place to be.
• I am grateful that I have good friends.  Some I may not see all the time, but are never far from my heart and others I see all the time and they help keep me grounded and a part of the "adult" world.  Without which I might still be babbling baby talk and wondering when Dean was going to come home so I would have someone to talk to.
• I am grateful for all of the members of my family & Dean's family that make our little corner of the world feel like one big community of love.  The cape is not just a peninsula where we have decided to hang our hat.  It is home to that large and loving community that supports our little family unit in such amazing ways and I am sure in ways that they may not even know.
• I am grateful for Monday night dinners at Memere's.   
• I am grateful for hot hot showers, cozy fires in the fireplace and comfy jammies to snuggle up into.....those three ingredients equal a perfect night.  (a few good shows saved on the DVR and maybe a glass of wine are BONUS).
• I am grateful for our new addition Mr. Mittens (even though he likes to sharpen his claws on the speaker...grrrr) and Betty Moo Puppy.  These furry friends make our family feel complete.
• Tonight, RIGHT NOW,  I am grateful to have a husband who wants to help me cook all of the tasty treats I am bringing to Thanksgiving Dinner at My in-laws and Thanksgiving Desert at my mom & dads.

What are you grateful for?

I hope everyone has a happy, healthy and relaxing Thanksgiving Day. 

Juliaisms

A while ago Julia was talking to her daddy and he was teasing her.

He kept interrupting her and then asking her silly questions about what she was saying before she had the chance to even finish what her point was.  She just wanted to say what she wanted to say and that's it.

She looked at Dean very seriously and without batting an eyelash said....."Daddy, stop antagonizing me"

Seriously, that is what she said! 

I looked at Dean, he looked at me and she just pranced out of the room leaving us with our mouths agape.

I am pretty sure that won't be the last time she surprises us with what comes out of her mouth. 

Happy Monday!

It Happened...

He turned 10.

How did that happen.

It feels like yesterday I was tucking him into his toddler bed shaped like a yellow beetle with his binkie, blankie and puppy dog.  (puppy dog is still around - he just doesn't make such frequent appearances as he once did)

It feels like yesterday that he snuggled up to me on the couch .... and we both fit.

It feels like yesterday that it was totally OK to give hugs and kisses goodbye...no matter who was watching.

It feels like yesterday that I was so excited for him to start Kindergarten and be a big boy.

It feels like yesterday that I cried when he turned 7.  I remember things from when I was 7.  He must too. 

It feels like yesterday that I was leaving my little man at home with my mom to commute to BU and finish my degree, because that was what I had promised myself I would do.  I had my best year there thanks to him.

It feels like yesterday that I was lugging around a giant diaper bag full of the standard issue diapers and wipes and the VERY important matchbox cars, tractors and dinosaurs.

It seems like yesterday that I was googling into the big blue eyes of a bald headed baby that just totally adored me.  I think he still does today, but it is way harder to tell.

Today he totally gets my sarcastic humor and dishes it right back to me.

Today he has gone from looking like a little peanut on the ice to looking like one of the toughest and biggest kids on the ice.

Today he wants to ride his bike off on his own adventures.  I am not ready for this one.

Today he can pile wood into the wheelbarrow and stack it all up by the steps all by himself.

Today he is way too cool for hugs and kisses in front of other people.

Today he is turning into an amazing young man and I am so excited to see what he does next.

Today he has his own dreams.

Today my heart is so full.

Busy Night!

Tonight was kinda crazy!  There was a really big school committee meeting tonight.  Because I am on the school council I was invited to the "workshop" that was an hour before the public meeting.  It was pretty interesting.  There are lots of changes in store for our school system.  Big cuts and big decisions to make.  I am happy that I am part of that process and I am doing my best to fight for what I think my kids need. 

hmmmm....what else is going on.  Not too much.  I am sooo addicted to facebook lately.  Obviously I would rather facebook than blog as evidenced by my massive absences from you.  I have been getting in touch with lots of old friends.  Friends that were once really important in my life and have since faded out.  Without Facebook I might never talk to these people again.  Like today for instance, I had a nice little online chat with my old friend Heather. 

Heather and I were pretty close the years I was in college and I have thought of her often.  When she finally joined facebook I found her.  It was great to chat and catch up.  When people that you haven't seen in forever ask you how you have been it's sometimes so hard to answer.  For me it's kinda the same thing .... maybe one of the reasons why I don't blog much.  Really!  There isn't that much going on.  I feel like I am the same person as I was 11 years ago....but I am totally not....but I totally am.

Speaking of many years ago.....some little/big boy is turning 10 on Thursday.  I can't even believe it.  How have 10 years gone by?  He is going to be one happy kid on his birthday.  His pepere & memere, grandma & grandpa, auntie leah, uncle chris, uncle dave, aunt mel and Uncle Dan have all chipped in to get him a seriously amazing RC car that he has wanted for a very long time.  I will be sure and take pics to share.

I am off to finish my glass of wine and then have tasty treat before bed.

What a night!

Happy Halloween!!!!  We had a crazy busy night.  Trick or Treating on Main Street for a little bit then to Grandma and Grandpas to visit, then to Uncle Dave and Aunt Mel's for a quick visit and finally to Auntie Dawn and Uncle Jim's house for DELISH chicken chili and lots more Trick or Treating!

Julia was a Dalmatian and Jacob was an Army guy!  They were both really really good and I am a proud mama.  I love this pic of Julia because you can see her little tail.  Also, please note all of the face-painting!  That's right, I go old school when it comes to Halloween and I usually do some sort of face-painting.

 Check out this pic of Jacob from a few years ago when he was some sort of zombie thing.

I know...you are impressed :) if you aren't, don't tell me.....you will shatter my dreams of someday becoming a horror movie makeup artist.

Before I forget I have those super cute pics to share with you too.....

And last but not least....Here is Jacob's last hockey game pic.  This was a playdown game and it went into sudden death overtime. That means the next goal scored wins the game.  JACOB SCORED THE GAME WINNING GOAL!!!!!!!!  Holy crap. It was awesome and I got a little teary eyed.  So happy that he was able to have a moment like that in his life that he will remember forever!

Here's the pigpile after the big win!

I am off to enjoy ANOTHER weekend off!  woohooo!  I think that I might even get crafty.

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween!