What I'm Thankful For 2014 Edition

I do this every single year on Thanksgiving. This is a time for me to give and say thanks to so many people in my life.

This is the time of year that I love the most. Families and friends are coming together to celebrate life and just be grateful for what they have. We eat, we drink, we laugh and we joke. We remember loved ones that aren't with us anymore and we celebrate their life through shared memories.

This year, tragedy hit my family twice. In April, my husband lost his nephew and just last week, I lost my cousin. These losses will be felt to the very depth of our hearts, but I know both of them wouldn't want us to mourn them. They'd want us to celebrate them.

As always, I'm thankful for my three beautiful, amazing children. They are so smart and they amaze me daily. This year, Lil Bit started Kindergarten and Boy and Girl Child started 5th grade. This year, Lil Bit is 5 and Boy and Girl Child are 10. This year, I see the development of Boy and Girl Child as they leave adolescents behind and start down the path toward being teens. It terrifies me to no end. I'm not ready. Lil Bit is becoming such an amazing little student. I'm seeing her learn to write her name, to read and identify words, do math. It is such an honor to watch these amazing people grow up.

I'm thankful for my wonderful husband. He works so hard for our family and supports us all, no matter how crazy our ideas might be. He is truly the most awesome husband in the world and I'm so blessed that he picked me to share his life with.

I'm thankful that I still have my parents around. The mere thought of losing my mother cripples me. The mere thought of losing my father takes my breath away. Many of my friends lost their parents this year and I'm so, so thankful that I get to pick up the phone and call them whenever I want.

I'm thankful for my family. We have endured and we have come out stronger.

I'm thankful for the years I got to spend with my cousin Jason. He is missed, more than I thought I would miss him. When he died, he took a piece of my heart, shaped like him, with him. It toppled my world more than I expected it would and now, there is something missing. Him. I love you, Jay.....

I'm thankful for the chance to have a job. Not just a job, but one that pays good and one that I love. I get to help people. I get to hear the sigh of relief when they get good news. For every 10 bad calls I get, the one good one makes it all worth it. 

I'm thankful that, this year, I connected with my in-laws more than I have in the 6 years we've been married. 

I'm thankful that we found some AMAZING landlords that trust us with their house and let us make it our home.

I'm thankful for my pets, that drive me nuts.

I'm thankful for my siblings, even though you guys make me wanna scream sometimes.

I'm thankful for my friends. You guys are so awesome!

I'm thankful for my online friends. Some of you guys get me and understand me more than those around me.

I'm thankful for each and every reader I have. You guys keep me going. Thank you.

Writing is something I love and I'm so thankful that I get to have a voice on the internet. My words may not be huge, but my voice gets heard.

What are you thankful for this year?

The Great Halloween of 2014

Halloween just isn't as much for me, now that I'm a mother. I don't dress up because, most of the time, I'm too busy with helping the kids pick out their costumes to pick out mine. Plus, what's the point? I'm going to be driving them from place to place, I won't be seen.

This year, we let the kids have a Halloween party. They invited a bunch of people from school. Sadly (or maybe gladly) only 4 came. They had fun thought. We had a bunch of food and I got all bake-y like and made cupcakes. I think I did a pretty good job.

 Here is a close up of the cupcakes.....

This year, only one of the costumes was homemade. That was Boy Child's. He went as Daryl Dixon. He enjoyed getting to get his clothes dirty and have his crossbow...not that I blame him, of course. I'd like it too.

Girl Child went as a zombie prom queen. She couldn't decide what to be, so she went with this one. I think she looked awesome, personally.

Naturally, Lil Bit went as Elsa....who else?! We couldn't find an Elsa wig ANYWHERE, so I bought her an adult wig and braided it. I think she look super cute, but then, I might be a little partial....

On Halloween night, we went trick or treating around our neighborhood. These kids made out like bandits!!! One house was even giving away hula-hoops and action figures! We have 3 HUGE bowls of candy. It was SOOOOO cold out. I think it was only in the 30's and it was raining. A friend of mine went with me. She had her boys and followed behind me in her truck. I had Lil Bit, Girl Child, my friends' daughter and one of her's and Girl Child's mutual friends. After about an hour and a half, they all 4 tapped out to the elements and wanted to call it a night. After the two that wasn't mine got in my friend's truck, I headed to grab a pizza and come home to feed my freezing crew. Boy Child went trick or treating with his buddy, our neighbor who I'll call M. He had a blast with his family.

All in all, Halloween didn't suck this year. I'm glad it is over though, because we can start getting ready for Christmas, which is my favorite time of year. I'm looking forward to what The Hubs has in store for our house for Christmas........he decorated for Halloween.

Who's ready for Thanksgiving?!

What I'm Thankful For 2013

I do this every year. I write a post where I give thanks for the many blessings in my life. I am so beyond grateful that for the life I have, even when I am feeling down about it all. I'm alive, I have 3 healthy kids and an awesome hubs. Can't complain!

First and foremost, I am thankful for my amazing kids. I feel like I blink and they grow sometimes. Lil Bit was my last baby and I'm so amazed at the person she's become. Girl Child is so incredibly smart and I love to see her determination. Boy Child is finally coming out of his shell and becoming a little man. I have some pretty awesome kiddos and I couldn't be prouder.

Second, I'm so thankful for the amazing man that I married. My husband works so hard so that I can stay home and enjoy the kids. He's so on the same page with me when it comes to how we parent. He encourages me, pushes me (sometimes to the point where I wanna punch him in the throat...lovingly), supports me and stands by me. I love that man!

I'm thankful that my car accident wasn't that bad. It could have been SOOOOO much worse than it was.

I'm thankful for my mama. Even though she lives in Florida, I can call her up and talk to her any time I want. That's huge, considering a lot of my friends don't have that luxury. She's my best friend and I'm so proud of all she's accomplished this year. Love her!

I'm thankful for my Dad and stepmom. They have helped us out so much, even though they don't have a lot.

I'm thankful for my bestie, Patty. She has stuck by me through soooo much. She's truly so much more than my best friend.....she's my sister from another mister and, often, my voice of reason.

I'm thankful for all of you amazing readers. A lot of you are bloggers yourselves and I am lucky to count you among my friends. This blog is my outlet. You guys get looks inside my head that a lot of people don't. Thank you for not judging me too harshly or trying to have me committed. lol

I'm thankful for my friends, both that I know in person, that I have met online through social networking, and that I've met through blogging. You guys are so awesome!

I'm thankful that, after 20 months, the step-parent adoption my husband started was finally resolved this year. Boy and Girl Child have our last name, they have a legal father that would move heaven and earth for them and we are all one, big happy family.

I hope you all have an absolutely AMAZING Thanksgiving. Give thanks every day!

Giving Thanks With The Momisodes

It's time for the Secret Subject Swap. You know you're excited about it, don't lie. This week, 12 brave souls bloggers will be sharing with you subjects they were given. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy.

This week, my subject is "You have been informed by the networks that you must invite TV sitcom characters to Thanksgiving dinner.  Who would you invite and tell the tale of the meal!" It was given to me by the lovely Sarah from The Sadder But Wise Girl. Thanks for the prompt, lady!

I'm going to have to go old school here, because, honestly, I just don't watch sitcoms anymore. I just don't think that they have the same oomph they use to. I think they lack substance and creativity. Yea, I know, I know...lol

So, who would I invite? Immediately, I go to my old Friends from Central Perk. Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe.

When I was a teenager, this show was my favorite. My life LITERALLY revolved around it. Any plans I made was made around the show coming on. When it came to an end, my heart broke. Even now, at the age of 29 (+1), I find myself watching reruns. One day, I will own all the season on DVD or Blu Ray. I'm determined. Now, on to my tale.....

"Bonjour!" comes the voice of my long lost friend, Rachel. She'd been living in Paris for a few years now, raising Emma, her daughter and balancing her life as a busy buyer in the fashion industry and as a wife to Ross Gellar. Oh, that was a beautiful wedding, no doubt. I'm so happy they FINALLY decided to get married. I turn to give her a hug, so happy to see her again. 

"Welcome, welcome! I'm so happy you guys have made it!" I said, hugging Ross, Ben (his son with Carol who is now 18), and Emma (11). As I start to shut the door, I hear a voice say "Could this place BE any more you?" That can only be one person.....Chandler Bing! He, Monica, and their twins Jack and Erica (they're 9!) are here! I've not seen the twins since they were itty bitty!

Another round of hugs, then I shuffle them into the living room, where they join Joey and Phoebe (formerly Buffay) Tribbiani. I know, every thought she'd married Mike. Well, she did. But he left her for her old friend Bonnie and, when that happened, she and Joey realized what they'd been fighting all along.....they were madly in love. It's so cute to watch Joey help Phoebe up. Her center of gravity is a little off, but being that she's 8 months pregnant with their first child, I'd say it's well deserved. The gang all hug and ooh and ahh over how much the kids have grown. I sit back and smile. This has been a long time coming.

As they catch up, I put the finishing touches on the meal. Monica comes in and gives her approval. I was nervous about cooking for her, being that she's a chef. But she said I pulled it off, so yay me! I call everyone in and we sit down to eat. We talk about how they helped me through my teenage years, about how the kids have grown up, how Ben is off to NYU to study political science with a minor in history. We reminisce about Thanksgiving gathers of the past, talk about plans for the future. It's almost as we'd just seen each other last week, the feeling of comfort.

As the meal comes to a close, Monica asks if we want to go to Central Perk for one last time. Being that they'd all moved away, they hadn't heard the news. Gunther moved away and Central Perk closed down and was eventually demolished, the lot turned into a parking lot. So many memories, gone, just like that. 

The sadness is evident, so I tell them to come down to the basement. One by one, we make our way to the finished area and jaws hit the floor. There, sitting against one wall is The Area....the couch, tables, and chairs we all sat in so many times.

"How'd you get that?" Rachel asked?

"Before he left, Gunther asked me if I wanted them....a little piece of home, so to speak. So I accepted and set it up down here."

One by one, they sat down. I made us some coffee in the machine I kept down here. We sat and told the kids stories of our early twenties, about the many nights spent sitting in these pieces of furniture. A sadness is felt that something that was such a central part of our lives....gone. Our kids would never experience it. 

With that thought in mind, we sit the kids down. Ben, Emma, Jack, Erica, Sebastian, Anastasia, and Cailin, each with coffee cups and we snap a picture. 

The evening comes to an end, with a sadness, yet sense of fulfillment. One by one, hugs are given, promises of keeping in touch and seeing each other soon are spoken. 

The door closes and once again.....my Friends are gone.

Do me a favor and go see what my other friends have for you!

Baking in a Tornado                        

Just a Litle Nutty                     

Follow Me Home...              

Moore Organized Mayhem    

The Sadder but Wiser Girl                                    

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy                            

Crazy As Normal                                     

Searching for Sanity                   

Dawn's Disaster                           

Menopausal Mother                               

Evil Joy Speaks