On Being Thankful...

Being Catholic, for Lent, I choose to do something every year. A lot of Catholics give something up, like Al is giving up pop and ice cream this year. I used to think that this was the easy way out until I tried to give up Coke the year I was pregnant with Carter...Needless to say, I don't give things up very easily. Instead, having talked with Father Brunkan a lot when I became Catholic, I choose to do something to hopefully make me a better person. Last year, I completed the Couch to 5K running program and ran a 4 mile race. Other years, I have exercised for a certain number of days a week.

This year, I decided that I was too much of a "glass is half empty kind of a gal" and that I needed to be more thankful. So, I am listing things I am thankful for each week. In retrospect, I should have made the goal more concrete, telling myself exactly when I would list these things and how many I should do each week, to make it easier to stick to. But it is what it is. I started listing 10 things each week, but I used my work blog and an article I wrote for the local paper. Now, I'd like to put them all here and add some more today. I thought maybe I'd make Thursdays my Thankful Day or I might piggyback onto a fellow bloggers' Multitudes of Much on Mondays. We'll see. For now, I'll add some today since I woke up not feeling very thankful. Much of the time, taking time to think about what I'm thankful for helps me to be more thankful. And in the end, that's the goal.

After I decided to be more thankful in my life, a book came across my desk at work that dealt with writing thank yous to achieve this same end, so I checked it out. I recently finished reading 365 Thank Yous: How Simple Acts of Daily Gratitude Changed a Life, by John Kralik, and it has inspired me to keep going with my thankfulness each week and perhaps a few actual handwritten thank yous are in my future, too. So, in keeping up with my goal of being more thankful, here's my list for this week.

1. Words with Friends app on my itouch. It’s addicting!

2. My youngest son overcoming his desire to stay home and going to school with a smile.

3. My cousin’s blog; she inspires me.

4. New walls, new texture, and new paint.

5. Sales that allow you to afford what you really wanted in the first place and save money doing it!

6. User friendly computer programs that make life easy.

7. Warmer weather.

8. Crème de Menthe cake.

9. Supper waiting at my mom in laws when I pick the kids up after work.

10. Purple.

11.Running 3 miles today!! I made it !! Hooray! That feels sooo good!

12. Coca-cola!!! So much better than Dr. Pepper and so glad I didn't give it up for Lent.

13. So thankful for all my new paint going on my walls tomorrow. The colors are bold and beautiful and I can't wait to see the rooms shaping up!

14. Stolen moments in day.

15. My daughter, who is so good at standing up for what she believes.

16. My son saying he was most thankful for Mom laying down next to him at night.

17. Supper in the crock pot waiting to be served.

18. Tickets to a comedian. Laughter really is the best medicine.

19. Helping people find books they love. So much satisfaction in this simple act.

20. Making deadlines.

21.Always, good books to read and enjoy. Cheesy, but true.

22. Great help in the huge amount of work I have to do with no strings attached.

23. Sunshine and rain boots, so you can walk outside in it instead of looking at all of the mud out there and staying inside yet again.

24. Coca-cola and the fact that I didn't choose to give it up for Lent this year.

25. My husband and the fact that he can always make me laugh no matter how bad of a day I think I am having.

26. My supportive co-workers and the way they inspire me daily.

27. My oil slick shoes.

28. The fact that I can run, even if some days I don't want to...

29. Sample of a power bar so I had breakfast today.

30. Being on time today.

31. Painting is pretty much done!! One more thing off the list!

32. My 5 year old making me a bookmark at school. So sweet! Even at so young an age, he knows what I love.

33. Eating my favorite Chinese dish: Princess Chicken for lunch.

34. Sharing a recipe that is loved. so someone else can love it.

35. Enjoying my job. It's a perfect fit for me.

36. Remembering and sharing old 80s movies. What a hoot.

37. The colors in my house. They make me happy.

38. Laughing at hokey April Fool's Jokes my kids tell.

39. The camraderie that comes with brothers and sisters. (Fighting not so much, but the friendship is fun to watch and be a part of)

40. My marriage in the midst of stress.


What are you thankful for??

A Nine Year Old Party

For Carter's birthday, which is 2 weeks after Casey's birthday, I made a golden snitch cake from Harry Potter. Ever since he got his tonsils out in November, Carter has been hooked on the Harry Potter movies. The snitch seemed way easier than Hogwarts....

Carter laughing and having a good time with his presents.

My big sweet boy. Carter knows where my buttons are better than the others, but he also knows when to come and give Moma a great big Carter hug too. They are the best.

Emily throwing confetti for atmosphere...silly sister.

And here's the note that was hoped for and kinda expected. But, Carter didn't have it easy. He went on a scavenger hunt at home and then was sent to Grandma and Grandpa's house and then on to the new house!!

When he finally found his present, he was shocked to realize it was wrapped 7 times!!!!

It was fun and I think he liked his DS game, too. For his friends party, we went to nearby athletic center to play.Ems and some of Carter's friends tried the rock wall...

while he and others played around on the weight machines. The staff there was wonderful and helpful and so patient with children.

We ended up swimming for quite a while, but I left my camera in the locker in favor of playing at the party. When we were done, we headed back to grandma and grandpa's to eat walking tacos and cake and ice cream. We just couldn't have the party at our house. House #1 is full of packed boxes to the ceiling, partially packed other boxes and general disarray. House #2 has to water and no furniture. Thanks grandpa and grandma for loaning your house out for a party!

Carter wanted to light his own candles.

Happy 9th birthday buddy!! You make our lives all the better for being in it!! We love you!

I saw something cool the other day...

Last Tuesday, Casey and I were home together, it's our Mommy and Casey day, and we went into the kitchen to start lunch. Right outside my window in the middle of town there was a hawk. Right behind my doghouse. Max was obviously asleep and no threat. He sat there on that log and tore at it for a while and then I couldn't stand it, cuz what good is a picture through a dirty window and screen?? So I told Casey to watch out the window and I opened the inside door. All was good, so I tried to sneak outside on my porch fast enough to catch a picture. But, Max is tuned to the front door and instantly woke up and came out of his doghouse which of course sent the hawk flying!! I did manage one quick shot. If you look, you can see him flying away out of the pic.

Kind of fun on a Tuesday with my Casey.

This...

This is my baby. He is five years old as of February 28. This is the birthday plate and the birthday meal of hot dogs and macaroni.

This is the present that he opened and said, "But Mom, it's just a card."

This is the sister that perked right up when she saw that it was "just a card."

This is the older brother and sister that helped Casey read his notes (just a card) for his scavenger hunt for his birthday present.

Finally, this is the present he found and the boy who as soon as he saw me said, "Hide it again Mom! Please hide it again. I want to hunt for it again!!"

Happy birthday Baby!!! We love you!!!

I bet you are gonna wish you were me today....

I've been trying to get the kids up a little bit earlier so we don't have as much problem getting to school on time. Anyway, when I woke the kids up this morning, the first thing Emily said when she opened her eyes was, "Mom, Can I skip school today."

Next, I went into the bathroom and when I sat down on the toilet, I fell off!! No kidding! Our toilet seat was broken!

After that, both boys fussed around that they weren't feeling well and couldn't possibly go to school. Rounds of cough medicine and ibuprofen and out the door we went.

Dropped off Emily and Carter and then when we got to Casey's door, he was almost in tears he didn't want to go! UGH! I hate that!! So, I smiled and told he got to ride the bus home to our NEW house today!(He ususally loves to ride the bus cuz he doesn't get to all that often) What fun! And left to go to work. And to buy a toilet seat.

Got to Wal-mart and of course bought more than just a toilet seat, was in the check out line and my VISA wouldn't work. Here's this Wal-mart lady looking down her nose at me like you bought all this stuff and can't pay for it??? I left my new VISA/debit card on the kitchen table; my old one expired in February....

Lastly, Al texts me that someone we had received a quote from for flooring, but didn't choose stopped by our NEW house and talked with our carpenter and then sent us an e-mail about "firming up" our quotes. So, I get to send an "I'm sorry. We chose someone else letter." Goody!!

Keep smiling and have a great day! I know I am!!

Updates in no particular order

Mud. Squishy oozy black mud was everywhere I turned last week. Our new house in particular was a mudhole! We've got frozen ground and snow again, but the mud was fun for a while. A little glimmer of hope in this Iowa winter. Spring is coming it whispered.

Dry wall. The carpenters got dry wall up in the entire house and the garage last week! I tell you these guys are awesome! This pic in the garage was just cool because the light was shining in through the window so prettily.

Cardboard and rosen paper now covers the floor in preparation for the taping and mudding to come. Of course, we ordered the doors and trim this week so the staining must start, too!! It all looks soo close, but in reality I think there is a lot of work left to do. I can't wait to see how great it's all going to look, though!

Oh yeah, my Valentine bought me this really awesome purple, poufy, soft, shiny coat for Valentine's day just because I texted him that I "needed" it!! Isn't he great?!!

Crafting with Casey

Tuesday was Casey and my stay home day and it was the perfect opportunity to work on his Valentine's Box for school. He wanted to paint it, so we started with the top.

If you give a four year old a paintbrush and some paints for his Valentine's project...

He will most likely get distracted and want to paint the paint container...

and he will want to use all of the brushes...

And it will become a castle that you will end up helping with.

That will lead to watching a movie with a castle in it and eating lunch. The end.

I love you Casey!