Thankful for Lots - Day 16

Because there are not enough days left...and I didn't really post every day like I said I would...

1. I am thankful for Bryan.
2. I am thankful for Brady.
3. I am thankful for Lily.
4. I am thankful for Charlotte.
5. I am thankful for our extended families.
6. I am thankful for the holiday season...and for the many Christmas movies we will watch together as a family. Brady is really beginning to love them.
7. I am thankful for our health. Lil and Charlotte have been having some rough times lately...but, they are on the mend.
8. I am thankful for the cute things the Cuties say.
9. I am thankful that although I'm a working mom...Charlotte definitely knows who I am and smiles like no other when I walk in the room.
10. I am thankful for my job. Although it is new...I love the challenge and am getting the hang of it...in my own way.
11. I am thankful to be able to WFH. There is nothing like signing in while still in your jammies.
12. I am thankful Kris Kringle starts tomorrow. Yay!!
13. I am thankful for my oldest and dearest friends. There is just something about those friendships...so much more that you can say to them than anyone else.
14. I am thankful for my co-workers. They are true friends.
15. I am thankful for music. Oh how I love so many different types. As I'm writing this...I'm watching Glee. Oh nelly do I wish I could sing. But...that is just not one of my finest qualities.
16. I am thankful for laughter. Especially when Brady and Lil get Charlotte going. They can do that like no one else.

I think that is enough. I have so much to be thankful for. I am so very lucky. I know it.

Thankful for My Mom - Day 15

Today is my mom's birthday. As Brady would say - "Nanny is turning 21. But, Poppy thinks she's going to be 30 because he said she is 29."

Umm...yeah.

It's cute that he really (and I mean really) thinks she is going to be 21 when he very well knows that I am 31. Funny that it takes awhile to put two and two together.

Everyone would agree with me...my mom ROCKS!

My Mom is:

just about the most CARING person i know.

soooo BEAUTIFUL. you'd never think she was going to be "21."

TRUSTWORTHY - she is the best secret keeper ever!

completely UNSELFISH.

F-U-N - without a doubt.

the greatest NANNY ever!

HUMBLE - did you know she's a hero?

I've got the best mom ever. Sorry...don't be jealous.

Happy Birthday Mom!!

We love you!

I'm Making a List...

Today I helped the Cuties write out their Christmas list for Santa. Brady's consisted of a Nintendo DSi XL (he's specific...apparently kids talk at school), Toy Story 3DS game, and a couple other random things. He did make a switch to his list. He moved the skateboard that he wants to his Birthday list. He says when he is 7, he will be old enough for the skateboard...so he will wait till January. And Lil's list...well her list consisted of a pink Barbie, a big strawberry shortcake doll, and really anything else pink that she saw in the toy catalog.

The Hottie wants...well it doesn't matter because I already bought it. But I promise he'll like it. Even if it's not a new TV.

And Charlie...well, she hasn't really said what she wants. But - I have a REALLY good feeling that Santa will be bringing the Fisher Price Sit to Stand Giraffe, a little bit of clothes and a few small toys.

Now...it's my turn. Bryan says that my Christmas list is the most expensive list known to man. I think he's right. Here's a few things that made the list...

cordless mouse

ear buds

dslr camera

spoons

towels

silhouette sd craft cutter

computer backpack

blog book

Yep. I'm selfish. But....what I really, really, really want right this very minute is for our little Charlotte to feel better. Her little scratchy, lost voice is so sad!

Thankful for Family - Part 2 - Day 14

Boy are we lucky. SO much family.

Love it!

Whew. Thanksgiving was fun. We did go to my Aunt Karen's. The Hottie did make deviled eggs. Cori did make apple pie. My Aunt Renee did make a cheesecake. My Aunt Karen did have yummy mashed potatoes. Brett did say the FABULOUS family prayer. We did pick our Kris Kringle family (YAHOO!!!). The kids did make a craft (and play Twister, and paint). And, we did end the evening with a game of Left, Right, Center...it was close. I was in it down to the end...congrats Bart!!

Thankful for Family (and Aunt Karen) - Day 13

I have a very large, very loud, very unique and unbelievably extraordinary family.

We love each other.

We hate each other.

We laugh with each other.

We tease each other.

We gossip with each other.

We cry with each other.

We comfort each other.

We protect each other.

Today is Thanksgiving. Today we will all give thanks. Give thanks for our homes, and our food, and our loved ones, and so many other things. As Lily wrote at "sitter-school," she is thankful that her mommy and daddy buy her barbies and love her very much.

We will celebrate an Italian Thanksgiving at my Aunt Karen's house. I am so very lucky; my mom has 5 sisters (well, pretty much 6), 4 being local year-round, including Aunt Cindy, and each major holiday includes family from each sister. My Aunt Karen always has Thanksgiving. There will be around 60+-ish friends and family, including a gazillion kids for the Cuties to play with. We will have turkey, and mashed potatoes, and green beans, and stuffing, and even lasagna. I'm sure the keg will be pouring. I will be able to have my coveted poppy seed bread. Cori will make an apple pie. My Aunt Renee will make a cheesecake. My mom will bring the poppy seed bread and rice crispie treats. There will be pies galore. The Hottie will make his famous deviled eggs. We will draw names for our family Kris Kringle event. My Aunt Karen will have a craft for the kids to do for entertainment. Some of us will plan out our shopping strategies. We will even likely play a game of Left, Right, Center in the garage. It will be perfect. I would not have it any other way.

Growing up, my mom would always instill in us the importance of family. It's THE most important. As I've aged (I AM almost 32!!) I only realize how true that statement is more and more each year. "Family," though is somewhat of a loose term. While most of us are related by some sorts...there are always the friends that have attended our events for so long that they aren't even friends anymore...they're family.

That's one of the greatest things about my family. Yes...we might be overwhelming. We know it. But...there is no family that I know of that is more accepting and welcoming. You might be greeted with lots of drinks and laughter and even questions - but, you will never feel more welcome or loved.

I have been lucky enough to live every day of my life in this family. And...I have been able to extend this family with Bryan and the Cuties.

Boy, am I lucky.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

And...Aunt Karen - thank you SOOO very much for taking on this holiday year after year. I look forward to this day, LITERALLY, the entire year. I love you!

p.s....Bryan is counting down the minutes till the lasagna and mashed potatoes!