Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving: I hope everyone had a great holiday filled with good food, good friends and good times. We did.

5 things I am thankful for:

1.  My beautiful children.  That goes without saying of course but especially lately I have been reminded how fantastic they truly are and how proud I am to be their mom.

2.  My husband.  He is honestly the best guy in the world.  He helps me so much and is my very best friend.  He just gets me and I him. I can't imagine my life without him.

3.  My Mom and Dad.  They are awesome in so many ways.  I miss them especially now during the holidays.

4.  Great friends.  They truly are a blessing.

5.  Good Health.  We have been so fortunate and I am so very grateful.  My heart goes out to those around us who are in poor health, you are in our thoughts. 

What I know

5 things I know for sure:

1.  Times are scary.  I try not to think about it but everyday this economic crisis hits closer to home, reminding me how things can change in an instant.

2.  I am worried for my family, my friends and for ourselves. It is time to pull together help each other where ever possible and not be selfish.   We will get through these hard times.

3.  The future is unknown and that just stinks.

4.  Now is the time to really think about what is important. Get back to the basics. 

5.  I find hope in my children's eyes. We will be okay. 

Here We Go Again!

We are off -- again! So because we have done so much traveling in the last month here is what I have learned:

1. It never fails - my children always have to use the restroom right after you pass the last exit for a town.

2. One shoe will always go missing five minutes before you have to leave.

3. Traveling is wearing me and my kids out. We all have colds this week.

4. Packing will never be fun.

5. If I hear, "Are we there yet?" one more time I just might open the door and jump out. :)

You think I would be a pro but I am not and I am sure I will learn something new on this next trip. Until next week........

Now I am in a nightmare!

Sorry - I'm late. I was traveling again this past weekend. Which turned out to be an interesting week! So I am going to rant a bit:

1. Are you kidding me? Did what I think happen really happen? I am still in shock a week later.

2. Seriously, do we as a nation have no common sense? Scary!

3. Everybody, no matter what political party you belong to, should read State of Emergency by Patrick Buchanan. I listened to it on my way to Utah this past week and it is very thought provoking and should be a required read for every American.

4. It is really fascinating to me that two different groups of people can listen to the same policies/issues and come up with such completely differing conclusions. Again, scary!

5. The media sucks! We just elected a president because of his "star quality" not because he was the best person for the job. Again, scary.

Happy Halloween

Seriously I think I am in a nightmare, is it really Halloween '08? It can't be! AAAHHHHHHHH!!
What I have learned this week:

1. As you get older, time goes by faster! I just turned 30 yesterday and my birthday is right around the corner. Yikes!

2. If I make it through the next two months and this last month without being committed, it is going to be a miracle.

3. Procrastinating about Halloween costumes - not a good idea. It really isn't my fault but I feel horrible for my kids. Holiday season is my favorite but this year I am getting a failing grade already.

4. Never expect to go into Wal - Mart the day before a holiday and expect to come out happy with a smile on your face. Not possible. As a matter of fact - Don't even drive into the parking lot just stay away!!

5. Girl time is a necessity. One I don't get enough of. Well let me clarify, I get plenty of little girl time ( I have 3 girls ) but not enough big girl time.

Emotions

So chop it up to making up for lost time. As you can imagine if you read the previous post I have a ton going through my mind these days, hence the two Friday Fives.

What I have learned these past few weeks:

1. I wish I had visited my Grandparents more so that my children would have known thier Grandpapa better and not let the miles and the inconvenience keep me from going. I wish I had known him better - his life. The distance between my Papa and I before now seems like he was just across the street compared to the distance that we have between us now.

2. I not a fan of ICU/SICU wing of the hospital. Such sadness but yet in the waiting room of the ICU there is still so much hope and love. I hope never to revisit but wished I had gone back to check on a family that was there when we were there, they practically lived there - waiting. They were so nice and I pray that they had a happy ending and not one like ours.

3. It is so painful to watch your Grandparents having to say goodbye. 62 years of marriage, that was one of the most difficult things to go through. I felt so helpless, I can't even imagine. The love that they share is both beautiful and inspiring.

4. I am stronger than I thought. Anyone who knows me knows I don't handle this subject well but in the midst of all this terrible sadness my faith and belief strengthened and carried me through the toughest parts.

5. I am going to try not to take things for granted. You never know what is going to happen. I thought I would have my Papa around for a lot longer but I was wrong and I have so many regrets. I know in my heart that he forgives me and I can't change it but I can change what is ahead of me and I am going to make an honest effort to do so, not let everyday life get in the way of making sure the people around me know how much I care about them.

I will always remember

Sorry I have not posted in a couple of weeks. A fun weekend trip to California turned into a not so fun two week extended stay ending in the loss of my dearly beloved Grandfather. So you can understand why Friday Five was pushed aside. Plus my internet ability was not very convenient which is probably a blessing because my Friday Five would have been sad and depressing to reflect my emotions at that time. But I am back and in honor of my Papa's passing: this weeks Friday Five is going to be 5 things that will always remind me of my Papa.

1. Snails. When I was little Papa would try to get me to step on the snails that would be all over his sidewalk. Of course I wouldn't do it, yuck, but he would get such a kick out of my reactions. Later he did the same thing with my oldest daughter, she pretty much had the same reaction as me.

2. Icecream. My Papa loved icecream and he could usually use icecream to lure my children to get close to him when they were being shy.

3. Cookies and Candy. Another favorite of his. He had a cookie drawer that all of the great grandchildren were aware of and when we visited he would escort them to the drawer and let them pick there cookie, Mothers Oatmeal were my favorite and always a choice. Every night he would sit down in his chair and have some candy, I wish I could do that.

4. Bird feeders. He always had bird feeders filled with a ton of bird seed, he liked to watch the birds outside the window.

5. Roses. He loved his roses. I can not remember a time without the rosebushes out front.

These are just a few of the things that will always remind me of him for there are too many to post. He was a great man who could always put a smile on your face and make you laugh. I never saw him angry and I miss him very much.

Happy October!

What I have learned this week:

1. There is such a thing as a live bearing Tropical Fish and they can have up to 60 babies. Wish I had learned that little tidbit last week before the fish buying took place!

2. My Children remember EVERYTHING! The good, the bad, and the ugly!

3. No matter how hard I try, I can never seem to get ready for a trip without stress and pulling an all nighter the night before.

4. More on the Fish: The crab may be fun but he likes to find ways to escape! I just know I am going to find him on floor one day, smooshed. Or in my littlest ones mouth!

5. I absolutely love this time of year! October first comes and I just get so happy at the thought of the holidays, decorating, baking, eating, cold weather, etc. And as my kids get older it just seems to get even better.

Fascinated

1. I should have bought my kids a fish tank a long time ago. They are fascinated! I have to admit so am I, a little, they are kind of neat to watch. The crab is my favorite. The best part: no potty training involved.

2. Birthday parties rock!!! I think I have a secret desire to be the coolest mom on the block (not that I live on a block right now) in the birthday party category. Now I just have to figure out how to justify a cool party every year to the hubs.

3. Six degrees of separation refers to the idea that, if a person is one step away from each person they know and two steps away from each person who is known by one of the people they know, then everyone is an average of six "steps" away from each person on Earth.

I have always wondered about this phenomenon and I learned this week that it isn't that far off. It really is a small world, quite fascinating.

4. You know that commercial advertising some woman's diet pill, the one where is shows a cartoon husband and wife. They both go on a diet and the man instantly loses lots of weight and the the wife like loses a pound. Yep, I know you have seen it - it is so true and it stinks! It really is a little unfair!

5. Lastly, I learned this week that my husband honestly thinks that the term "babysitting" applies when he is watching his own kids! I don't think so! :)

A bit of everything

I just had so many thoughts this week, I actually could have had a list of 25 but that would be overdoing it. So today, you get a hodge podge. Somethings I learned, some I know for sure, some current frustrations and some questions to go along with them. Enjoy.

1. There is absolutely nothing more frustrating than a indecisive toddler. They change clothes every five minutes, they want something to eat then they don't or want something else. I think I am going to go nuts!!!!!!!! Seriously when does this stage pass? and how do I deal in the meantime??

2. Planning a themed birthday party is hard work but a ton of fun especially for an overachiever such as myself. Am I too old for one because I want one?

3. Repondez s'il vous plait = R.S.V.P the English translation - Please Respond! How come nobody does? It is a phone call that takes less than a minute to make. Just another frustration of mine!

4. Milestones although exciting are bittersweet and a little bit sad. I will never have that moment again. Each moment is so precious I just wish it lasted a little longer. Which leads me to my #5.

5. Time flies by, cherish every moment because it is gone before you know it. One moment your first born is cradled in your arms as you sing a lullaby than she is six and listening to Miley Cirus dancing in her room. One day your two year old who just started talking up a storm announces "I'm not a baby no more, mom! I don't need naps" and one day your youngest, your baby is crawling and then she stands up and starts walking as if to say - I don't need you any more. Precious moments - gone in a instant.