Blog Archives November 2006

I love birthdays…anyone who really knows me knows that.  But, not only do I love my own birthday (because I DO love my birthday) – I love everyone else’s as well.  Today is my husband’s birthday.  He is one of those types that will make me feel special on my day, but could care less about his own.  There is no fanfare, no cake (he doesn’t eat cake – quirky little bugger) and he would not at all be offended if you did not mention it.  It’s not that he doesn’t like birthdays…he is just ambivalent.

Despite his ambivalence, I want to give him a birthday shout-out today from me and the kids to let him know how much we love him.  Bob, if you are reading this, happy birthday honey! We love you more than you will ever know!  XOXOXOXO

There are the typical things that people are thankful for: a roof over their head, food on the table, their health, their friends and family, etc.  I am definitely thankful for all of those things and feel very blessed.  There were a couple standouts this year, however.  The subtle things.  The things that one could very easily pass by and not notice if they were distracted or not paying attention.

• This year, I was thankful for the gift of reading.  As my daughters sat on a big king-sized bed in our aunt & uncle’s house, quitely reading and giggling at 6 a.m., I was thankful.  Thankful that they were sharing a special moment together, completely unorchestrated by an adult. Very happy that they chose to find joy in a book instead of turning on the television.
• I was thankful for the gift of sport and athleticism. Watching all 11 of the kids run, kick a soccer ball, throw a football and fill their lungs with fresh air was amazing to watch.  One of the highlights of my Thanksgiving weekend was playing baseball with my six year old niece.  She has an amazing athletic gift and as she cracked each pitch I lobbed to her, she giggled and jumped with glee.  I was thankful for that moment.
• I was thankful for the power of smiles. Smiles lighten the moment – they are a universal symbol.  No matter your background, origin or faith, everyone understands a smile.
• I was thankful for dancing.  After dinner, when everyone was feeling all Thanksgiving’d out, out came the iPod and there is nothing like the chicken dance in my husband’s family to get the party started.  It doesn’t matter if you are 2 or 82, you do the chicken dance.  And you laugh and you know it is goofy, but you just don’t care.
• I was thankful for the gift of technology.  It was nice to hear my sister’s voice, while she was 3,000 miles away at her new home in California.  In our 30+ years, we have not been that far away from each other at the holidays.  Email and phone keep us connected…I am grateful for that.

What were your special moments this year?  Have you written about it?  Photographed it? Scrapbooked it?  Take the time…I bet the people you love would want to know.

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I was filling a custom order the other day.  Custom burp cloths with ribbon trim.  I had the ribbon pinned down so I could sew it into place.  My husband looks up from his book and says “Um, that doesn’t seem like it would be too safe for the baby.”

Yes, he was joking. But the delivery was perfect.  I couldn’t help but chuckle.

I am one of those people that loves Halloween…for the kids.  I love getting my kids dressed up and I get quite a kick out of seeing other people’s kids in their cutest or scariest outfits.  I also can appreciate a good Halloween party. But, you will no longer get me in costume.  Those days were over in 1987.

This year, both girls wanted to be princesses.  My oldest has been a princess before, but I guess there is no restriction on how many times a little girl can don a princess outfit, is there?

My mom, a crafty little bugger in her own right, found two hot pink prom gowns at Marshall’s for $7/each. She cut, sewed, and embellished and made each girl her very own princess dress – complete with fleece lined capes.  The kids had a great time and it is always so fun to watch them during their tricks and treats.