simple Analogy

Happy Thanksgiving!

Noah was the first one up this morning and made this for me.  Thanksgiving is his favorite holiday.  When I asked him why, he said that he likes the mix of food, spending time with family, and relaxing.  I guess it's more low key and not as on-the-go as Christmas. 

Here is what I'm thankful for:

1. I am back in my own house for the holidays.
2. Cooler weather
3. Now I can listen to Christmas music without feeling ashamed that it's too early.
4. Hot cocoa
5. My grandparents are in town!
6. New green beans
7. My Christmas shopping is almost all done.  I know - you hate me now, right?
8. Cherry pie
9. Fun craft to do with the kids today
10. Plans to brighten a friend's day
11. My wonderful family
12. The beautiful landscaping my husband did in our yard.
13. Another batch of caramel apples
14. Noah's recital and offertory went well.  He's getting good!  So proud.
15. A week and a half off school
16. Holding a tiny baby
17. Cuddling under my quilt
18. My hair is almost long enough past my shoulders that it doesn't bother me as much anymore.  Growing out my hair is a trial.
19. Marshmallow socks
20. The comforts and freedoms that I enjoy living in America.

Wishing you and your families a blessed Thanksgiving!

34

 

This morning I woke up to beautiful cool weather, "Happy Birthday"s from my family, and emails from friends.  Noah made these for me.  He prefaced the hours locked away in his room with... "Mom don't come in my room.  I don't want to be bossy, but please just don't come in."  That was last week and he spent three or four whole evenings making all this for me.  I just love it!  My favorite is the hamster wheel.  We just watched Bolt.  I know!  Where have we been?  The little hamster, Rhino, is my favorite character.  He's just so chubby and funny.  I think I'll put this one on my desk at church, cause sometimes I feel like I'm running around in circles in the nursery. 

Decorating my room, lunch plans with Mom and Tracy, chocolate chip pumpkin bread instead of cake...

It's gonna be a good day.

It's the Little Things

A few little things that have been making me happy the past few days...

Three new dresses for under $25. 

I tried the jeans under the dress thing for the first time and like it!

"We're there for you, Mom!"  That statement from my boys meant so much.  I started teaching a new Bible study on Tuesday.  They know how nervous and sick I get before the first one, and Noah even woke up early (shock!) with his alarm clock (even more shocking!) and made breakfast for himself and Landon so that I would have one less thing to do before Bible study started.  They also helped watch the kids.  Have I told you how great my kids are?  Well, they are!

A new crock pot.  Let me tell you, these new-fangled (to me) crock pots are great!  My old one was one of those built in kind where you have to wrestle with keeping the cord and heating system dry while washing the inside.  Yea, OLD!  So now I can just remove the stoneware and pop it in the dishwasher.  I know!  I need to get out more!  Speaking of crock pots, which I only use every now and then, here are some of my favorite recipes:  Garlic Lime Chicken and Rice; Barley, Black Bean, and Corn Burritos; and Tortilla Soup. 

Playing with kittens.  Not mine, a friend's.

Black olive pizza, no sauce.

A cool, fresh autumn morning with windows open.

Reading to my boys.  They're never too old to be read to!!!!!

Christmas music in the fall.  Not too much, just enough to tide me over.  I didn't get to do Christmas in my own home last year because we were still living with my in-laws, so I'm really looking forward to Christmas at my house. 

Muffins from the library.

Aahhhhh!

It is so quiet around here this morning.  What with all the VBS fanfare of last week, not to mention the 4th of July and all the dry ice bombs my guys made, I forgot just how good it is to hear NOTHING! 

We spent the morning of the fourth making a mad dash to buy socks and athletic pants for Landon to take to camp.  The afternoon was spent at my in-laws.  The adults (except me because "I'm exhausted of it") played cards, the kids played Twister all afternoon, and I held the baby and took a few turns being the spinner.  Micah is an angel I tell you!  The dry ice bombs were and always are a hit.  It must be a guy thing - the urge to destroy and make noise.

Sunday was a blur of activity:  church, packing for camp, church again, and more church, and more church.  Those of you that were there will know what I'm talking about here.  I had to pull out a VeggieTales video for the nursery kids to watch, and I NEVER do that.  Then after the marathon church service Landon went off to camp for the week, and Noah went to a friend's for the night.  Joel and I went to dinner at one of our favorite places before kids and enjoyed each other's company.

This morning, I'm all alone making lists of fun stuff I want to do this week.  My first real week of summer break! 

Things I Really Want To Make

A rare moment to put my feet up.  About the only thing I've sewn for myself in the last several months has been the hem on my jeans.  I'm short and jean length is always something of a challenge. 

  

There hasn't been enough me time around here.  You know, I would like to make things for myself once and a while.  Like this Heather Ross sundress (been wanting to try the elastic thread and this one's claim to be flattering on every body shape is a lure for sure), this market bag, one of these library totes.  Am I sounding selfish?

Toe to Toe

I went toe to toe with the girls this weekend.  While my guys were tentless (the friend who invited them to stay with him in his tent didn't show up) and fighting rain at their campout this weekend, Mom, Tracy, Magdis, and I took time out to pamper our feet with home pedicures.  What a difference a little pampering can do!  It was such a great weekend.  Good food, great dessert, and fun company!  Thanks for keeping me company this weekend, girls!

Third Time and All That

I'm trying again.

 

I love bamboo.  There's something so aesthetic about it.  It makes me want to take a deep breath when I look at it.  I like it's simpleness.  And it's supposed to be pretty easy to grow.

Our church secretary has one that thrives.  My sister's is going gung ho.  So what's my problem?  Why can't I keep it alive?  I killed my first one.  Tried right away again with another and killed that one too.  Then I decided that I am just not an indoor plant person and gave up. 

Until last week, when I walked by this one at IKEA.  It was so pretty and peaceful just standing there looking at me.  I had to try again.  I asked Tracy how she gets hers to do so well.  She said, "I leave it alone."  Bingo!  That's my problem!  I fuss over it too much.  Too much water I'm sure because my other ones turned yellow.

I brought it home gave it an inch of water and put it on the dresser.  I haven't touched it since.  Well, maybe I have, but I'm not fussing.  I promise!  So, those of you who are green thumbs (or are talented with bamboo if nothing else) pass on your wisdom to someone who is plant challenged - me!

P.S.  I recently read that bamboo takes toxins out of the air.  I hope I can keep it alive long enough to make the move back into my house.  The walls/ceilings are up, textured, and primed.  The ceiling is painted and we bought our first gallon of paint for the kitchen.  We begin painting today and I'll need that bamboo to get all the paint smell out of the house.

I Rap

Huh?  I thought that'd get you!  I really mean wrap, not rap!  I did have to do a rap in high school for a project.  Our group chose me, as least likely candidate, to do our rap in front of the whole class.  They thought I would bring a comic aspect to the project.  Not because I'm that funny, but because I would look totally out of my element.  They dressed me up in slacker pants, dough rag, and Converse high tops.  Yeah, me!  They taught me a few moves and the cadence to use.  The whole class, teacher included, was rolling on the floor!  We got an A.

 

That was my first and last deal with rapping.  But wrapping -  that I can do!  So, the first wrapping has been done this year.  Of course none of them are my own gifts to wrap.  They are Christmas Child gifts from our drive at church that didn't get wrapped.  I know that I can drop them off at the site without wrapping, but my little Christmas Conscience inside just won't let me.  What is a Christmas present without brightly colored paper all over it?   So, I wrap! 

Celebration

What did I do for my birthday yesterday?  Piano lessons, school, worked on the nursery schedule, taught Bible study.  Lack luster, eh?  Naw!  It was a red letter day in my book!  I got this for my birthday . . .

 

A new roof!  30 year, high definition, can take up to 110 mph winds, with ridge vents.  Do I know the lingo or what?  It's beautiful!  Let the reconstruction begin!  I celebrated both my birthday and my new roof with my Bible study ladies last night over Tiramasu. 

Today the real celebrating begins.  Cheesecake Factory and shopping here with my husband!

Today's the Day

I prefer dark to milk chocolate!  Yes, I'm eating all these M&M's. 

Favorite fast food:  Chick-fil-A

English was/is my favorite subject in school.  I even like diagramming sentences!

I have attempted to publish a children's book.

I am a pillow snob.  Firm, but not hard.  Feather pillows are the worst.

Breakfast?  Can take it or leave it.

Favorite author:  Dee Henderson 

Most embarrassing moment?  I fell asleep while baby sitting.  The kids had been asleep in bed for ages.  I woke up as the parents entered and tried to play it off.  I was a little wobbly as I stood up and tried to sit down on the arm of the couch, but missed.  I fell sprawling on the floor.  Looking back I know the parents must have had a good laugh when I left.  About equal with that moment was when I got up in the middle of church to use the restroom.  We always sat at the very front.  On the way back, I was almost back to our pew when my friend's mom grabbed me and pulled me into her pew.  What in the . . . ?  I had tucked the back of my skirt into my underwear and I'm sure no one heard any more of the sermon that day.  I was probably around 4th grade and mortified!!!

I used to be a travel agent before kids.

White or wheat?  WHITE.

Cheese with that?  Yes, please!

Definitely a night owl.

Don't have a green thumb.

I hate air fresheners.  Probably because on the houseboat at Lake Powell, I was pretty much smothered by the smell of Glade.  My bunk was by the bathroom.  (10th grade)

Funniest time on a date with Joel?  When we drove his nice freshly washed and waxed truck to the beach.  There was an empty parking lot covered in seagulls.  He gunned it and we flew through their midst, scattering birds as we went.  He was laughing so hard at those birds.  That is until we got out of his truck and saw the presents they had left for him.  His truck was covered in bird doo.  The birds and I were now laughing at him. 

I've lived in Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Favorite candy bar: I vacillate between Snickers and Twix.

My hero?  My mom.

Movies?  Old and romantic, although I do like war and detective too.  Just no westerns!

Do not like back rubs.

I like to read my Bible at night before I go to bed.  I've tried it in the morning, but night works best for me.

Usually make my own Christmas cards every year.

A long hot soak in the tub with music, candles, and a good book is nice, but only about twice a year.

I think a hedgehog would be great to have as a pet.  I don't really know what you could do with them, but they're so cute.

So, now you know more about me than you probably wanted or needed to know.  It has been fun thinking up little tidbits of who I am to share with you.  On this 33rd birthday, I wish you a very merry un-birthday!