Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Seven Days of Thankfulness -- Day Seven

Today I am thankful for my son.

My SUN. He warms my heart and lights up my life. He is giving and kind, rambunctious and wild, funny and nearly always has a smile on his face. He is my unanswered prayer and the best cuddler in the world. He's my Angry Birds buddy, and the one who understands mommies sometime need to give hugs more than he needs to get them! He reminds me of my own Dad in a thousand ways and brings a little bit of him back to me everyday.

I am grateful for my son because he taught me that while being a Mom isn't always easy, its what I am. That he and his sister are the one thing I've done with my life that will matter, long after I won't. He changed us from "just the two of us" into a family and I will always be thankful.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Seven Days of Thankfulness -- Day Six

Today I am thankful for my daughter. I love her unconditionally, but I am thankful that I like her, too. She is sassy and sweet, stubborn and smart, athletic and original. She's everything I ever wanted to be, but never was. She keeps me on my toes and from being hopelessly out of the loop on current trends.

She makes me laugh. She changed my life. She is my miracle baby...my wish upon a star. She's the daughter I never dared to dream I'd have. She made me a mom and for that and everything else she is, I will always be grateful.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Seven Days of Thankfulness -- Day Five

Today I am thankful for ALL my family near and far, but for my niece Krista in particular.

She was the first baby born in our family for seventeen years so we dressed her up like a dolly and changed her clothes every twenty minutes. She gave us back Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and a reason to see Disney movies.

She's been my bestest travel companion and dearest girl. She made me see that the most important thing in the world was finding my own daughter. When I wanted to give up, I'd think of her and how she changed our family when she was born. Then I'd pick myself up, fill out one more form, wait one more day...because it would all be worth it if I could have a daughter a tenth as great as she is.

She grew up too fast into a smart, beautiful, vibrant, caring, and amazing woman who I cherrish with all of my heart. (And thank the heavens we didn't spoil too much)

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Seven Days of Thankfulness -- Day Four

Biggest, Little Mouth is thankful for having the best Mommy in the world. (I have great kids, don't I?)

Little, Little Mouth is thankful for Angry Birds.

Big Mama is thankful for our home.

Six years ago next month we moved in the middle of a blizzard. I wasn't really ready to move into a subdivision. I hated the cold, white walls, tiny kitchen and dated fixtures. But I loved the space, (we moved from 1000sq. feet to 2800) the basement playroom, the wooded lot and the elementary school where my kids would be safe and happy, practically in the back yard.

Fast forward a few years, or a lifetime if you are the Littlest, Little Mouth. Our home has come to fit us like a favorite pair of jeans we can't wait to ease into after work. Every wall is a different color and while some of the fixtures are new...some are still the 80's throwbacks that remind me of my youth.  My kitchen is still tiny, but it has served me well on my quest to learn to cook. How ironic that I am happiest chopping and dicing and stirring away the afternoon there. Our decor is eclectic and I love it that everywhere I look there is a memory...either from the furniture passed down to me from family or the echoes of dinners full of the laughter of our friends and neighbors.

While it will never be perfect...or even all that clean, this house has served us well. For richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health it has been a sanctuary for labradors and dachshunds, for friends and family...for my children and for me.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Seven Days of Thankfulness -- Day Three

Biggest, Little Mouth is thankful for Sandi Patty.  (She is Sandi Patty in her school Indiana History play next month.)

Little, Little Mouth is thankful for his Mama. :)

Big Mama is thankful for Haverhill Elementary. I love that it is a safe place for learning, full of teachers and staff who care about their students. I am thankful I can come be a part of my children's education and see them grow and change in their learning environment.

I am thankful that their Grandma is there everyday and I never have to worry if they are safe or if they are sad.

I am grateful for all of the parents I've met who make their children a priority. And I am most thankful for the teachers who work too many hours, for not enough pay so that my kids can have every chance to be successful.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Seven Days of Thankfulness -- Day Two

Big, Little Mouth is thankful for her BFFs.

Little, Little Mouth is thankful for his puppies, Daisy, Violet and Chloe.

Big Mama is thankful for writing friends near and far. They celebrate my successes and mourn with me when I lose. They understand I have a story to tell and moreover, understand my need to tell it.

They tell me when I stink and help me fix it. They laugh at me when I take myself too seriously and know I don't mean it when I give up...but most of all I am thankful because they understand why I love this quote by the late Randy Pausch so much...

The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough. They are there to stop the other people!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Seven Days of Thankfulness -- Day One

Our family is starting a new tradition in this week leading up to Thanksgiving. We are celebrating the Seven Days of Thankfulness.

We have so many, many blessings in our lives and I love any excuse to count them. So here goes.

Biggest, Little Mouth is thankful for her Mommy. I am conveniently ignoring the fact that this might be carryover gratitude from the new iPhone I caved in and got her last week.

Little, Little Mouth is thankful for ice cream and the fact Mom is coming to his class today to make it for a science lesson.

Big Mama is thankful for quiet Thursday mornings and for the loud and rowdy children who make these stolen moments so precious. Without them alone time wouldn't be my guilty pleasure, it would just be lonely...and I'd have way too much of it!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

So long CSA...

Winter is just around the corner and our CSA experience is done for the year. 

I have eaten more veggies in the last year than I had in my first 40 combined and I have learned to love many of them and like even more.

It was a success in every way but one.

I was a terrible blogger.

And I'm sorry.

But I do love this little blog and its come to mean more to my than just a place to toss my recipes so I wouldn't lose them in the quagmire of cookbooks in my kitchen.

So instead of putting it to rest or allowing it to continue it's slow, painful death, I've decided to give it a facelift and broaden it's horizons. We'll still have recipes, but maybe some other stuff too. Because we're still here.  The Little Mouths and Me. And I've still got a little...or a lot...to say.

Love,

Julie
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