Gratitude Challenge: Day 4

Today's the day...it's finally here. That alone makes me grateful. I mean come on: just think...No more approved messages and annoying phone calls.

Yet, I'm also grateful to live in a country where I am allowed a say in who we elect for president. So, while it remains to be seen as to whether my guy will win, at least I had a chance to vote for the man who best represents my views and concerns.

So just in case you haven't exercised this right, remember the words of Louis L'Amour...

To make democracy work, we must be a notion of participants, not simply
observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain. ~
....Louis L'Amour

Gratitude Back tracking...Days 1 and 2

Ok, so I started the challenge a bit late...and I thought I could accept being late to the dance and missing the first two days. But I can't...you see I'll get all confused on which day I'm in if it doesn't match up with the date on the calendar. I'm a bit of a control freak, what can I say?

so, here it is...belated gratitudes...

November 1st: Grateful for the control I was able to exercise with the plethora of treats that had passed by my way on Friday. I had good news when I checked in for my weekly meeting. Really good news...but I"ll save that for another day. Suffice to say, I'm getting closer to my final goal! Go ME!

November 2nd: Grateful for the liberal return policy at Target. And for those considering buying Guitar Hero World Tour for Wii...might I suggest you wait a bit until they work out the kinks of the drum pad. 'nuf said....

Giving Thanks....all month long

Later this month, we'll all gather with our family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. Chances are good that we'll eat too much, maybe drink too much and hopefully take a moment or two to give Thanks for the many blessings we have.

Yet, one of my bloggin' buddies, Midnite Scrapper in CA suggested a month long challenge. Give thanks every day this month and blog about it. Prizes are being offered. Yep, even us bloggers need a little incentive to take on a challenge. I'm game...I think I can find a little something every day to give thanks for.
Are you up for such a challenge? If so, join in the fun and start bloggin! (and don't fret about the daily part...blogger lets you schedule postings so if one day you are super thankful, you can get your posts ready to post in advance).

Me? Today, I'm thankful for that extra hour of sleep. I'm a morning person and so I didn't spend it sleeping...but I am enjoying the extra time to get the day started.

Why is it...

that what I should be doing, I don't want to do?

The Day After...

Maybe it was all the excitement of the day?

Maybe it was the merlot I had in my coffee cup?

But today? I'm one dragging momma....wondering after the second cup of coffee when the burst of energy will hit...

So instead of being productive, I'll update the blog with photos from yesterday. All in all it was a fun time. The weather was PRIMO...warm. But surprisingly, the activity in the 'hood was rather mellow. It is a sign of the times? It is because it was Friday night, folks were at parties and other such destinations? I'm not sure...but without a doubt, it was a rather quiet celebration.

Thing One was something between a moose boy and a hunter. By the time we finished, he was a boy in a flannel shirt. For a kid that loves his make believe world, he has a real hard time putting himself in that world. I guess that's a good thing, right?

Thing Two was Frankenstein. And I must say, he made quite the cute little Frankie. But shhh...don't tell him that...cute isn't cool when you are 9.

And as for Momma...well, you've got Sharpay meets a Miss Piggy wig. I guess that gives you Sharpig, right?

WW: fair and balanced blogging

this one? Not so afraid of the camera I guess...

WW: proof of why I'm not a fan of the portrait packages

I'm just sayin'....

It's probably not a good idea to spend Saturday night catching up on your growing list of unwatched TiVo programs. Especially if this involves a marathon session of CSI, CSI-New York and E.R.

That is unless of course you didn't want to sleep last night...
Yep, I am just sayin'....

Wordless Wednesday:

Taking Flight

As most of you know, I have this small passion for scrapbooking. And in my pursuit of this hobby, I've found a couple online communities that share my passion. One of the places I like to hang out is called Scrapshare. It's a message board where we exchange tips and ideas for scrapbooking. Yet along the way, friendships are formed and a real sense of community has been formed. Like any community, there are happy times and then there are the sad times.

This past week was one filled with sorrow. Last Monday, one of our members rushed her 5 yr old son (Danny)to urgent care only to soon learn he had a tumor lodged on his brain stem. While surgery was attempted, Danny would not wake up from his surgery and soon the hardest decision any parent must make was being thrust upon Donnann and her husband.

Soon the questions were being raised on Scrapshare. What could we do as a community to show our support for this friend during her most darkest hours? A fellow member, and close friend of Donnann suggested a balloon release. (if interested, Desi has also done a remarkable job of keeping us all updated through her blog.)

So this morning at 1030 local time, the Things (with a visiting Thing) and I did our part...My heart truly aches for what this family has gone through. And what they will go through in the days to come. This has got to be simply every parent's worst nightmare.

I ask that all of you, take a moment to hug your things a little tighter today...giving thanks for the health they enjoy. Celebrate the days we are blessed with! And please keep Donnann, Dan and their surviving daughter Madison in your prayers.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your
paths straight. -Proverbs 3:5-6

Nice boys or new strategies to stall bedtime?

The other evening, Thing One had his nose buried in my scrapbooks. They've been on the same shelf now for almost a year, but apparently, he just discovered them. He chimes in with "Mom, these books are so good. I love all the pictures and reading all the stories!".

"Thanks son, but come on, time to brush teeth"

Then last night, as we were watching the season finale of Project Runway (for which I believe I now must pay up on my wagers to Ms. Dodi), the younger thing starts in...

"Mom, you should try out for this show."
"But son, I can barely sew, much less design clothes"
"No, you need to go for the one for scrapbookers!"

OK, boys, it didn't work the other night...it's not working tonight.
(but I am going to blog about it!)

Food for thought...

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Thanks Mr. Twain for that reminder...

'Tis the season...our annual trip to Nick's

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Wordless Wednesday

Home Sweet Home...

The suitcases are unpacked and tucked back under the stairwell.
Loads 1 and 2 of laundry are done (with only one load left to go).
The kitchen is restocked.
The puking has stopped.

and all is well with the world...

Sleepless in San Jose

New code name for Thing Two: Sir Pukes A lot...

Suffice to say it's going to make for an interesting trip home...

12 on the 12th

0630: what a way to start the day. Playhouse Disney (that's the only kid channel that we get) 0700: I'm assuming that whomever they hired to create the decor for this hotel was fired. I like blue as much as the next gal, but come on, icky Hospital Blue? YIKES.....it's a bit much
0800: Sure son, go ahead and eat the cookie in bed. It'll make up for the nauseating decor in the hallway, the limited kid options on the TV, and the highway robbery they are committing when they charge me for Internet access. Oh, and let's not even mention the limited parking that was available last night (the attached convention center was host to the Bay Area's biggest and best Dandia. Whatever that means: all I saw was car load after car load of women in saris, each one more beautiful than the next).
0830: Yumm-O: awhile back Colorado quit selling the twisted variety. So now whenever we travel out of state, it has become a bit of an adventure to see if they still can get twisted cheetos (and yes, they have just enough different taste/texture than the simple puffs that you can still get at home)

0845: OH no, I looked at my watch wrong and it isn't almost 1000, it's barely 0900...too early to show up at the inlaws house. Let's kill time at Santana Row
0905: Only place open is Borders (which is probably a good thing for my wallet)
0930: Happy Thing One: he spent his lucky money on a book. Big surprise there, NOT!
1245: After lunch, we visited a park....

And now...for more adorable Nephew pictures...
And more....
And More....
And more...

Sorry, Mrs. Smith, I'd have gone by the Jelly Belly plant and picked up some treats for you...but I couldn't tear myself away from this adorable little guy. I'm sure you understand....even without curls, he's totally huggable.

You came for the pictures..

and thus I shall not disappoint...

We're here...

And all is well.....

Wordless Wednesday