Some days it’s a challenge to come up with a “thankful,” but I think the effort of looking through the daily annoyances to see the bigger picture is so worthwhile. Today I am thankful that my husband has a stable job that he enjoys and I have job opportunities, allowing us to make frivolous purchase sometimes and buy gifts without going into debt.

Today I am thankful for me. How’s that for confidence?! I have been around for awhile now. I’ve lived in many places, many states, and even two countries. I’ve travelled, I’ve explored, and I have settled. Hopefully more travelling and exploring in the future though! I have found a strong and caring man to share my life with. I am raising two kind and intelligent children. I have friends and family around. I have work and peace. I am a daughter and a sister, a wife and a mother, a friend and a confidant. I love and I am loved. I am truly blessed to see these 36 years and hope to see many, many more.

We had a lovely day. I slept in a bit (thanks Alan!) and exercised (a sorry attempt to balance all the deliciousness I’ve been eating lately!). The kids played happily together all day, except for the times they didn’t, of course.

The kids spent the morning making presents for me. Mostly making wrapping paper and wrapping presents for me!

It was sunny and in the 50’s today so we went outside and played for awhile. I got the gardens “winterized” while the kids played on the swings and hung out with neighbors. Then back inside for lunch, crazy goodbyes with my parents, then quite time. Ahhh… quiet time. Eve crashed hard and slept for several hours (until I woke her at 4pm!). Lex and I read some Harry Potter and played a game of Scrabble. He also spent a lot of time finishing a birthday message on the tablet that he had started a few days ago. He’s so smart! He figured out how to insert pictures into his note, add sound and video, etc. He amazes (and infuriates) me on a daily basis.

Just before we left for dinner they let me open the presents.

A box of rocks! Just what I’ve always wanted!! (and had sitting in my office since our trip to Ruggles Mine this summer) The real gift was the effort and cooperation that went into the wrapping and cards. :)

This is the back of Lex’s birthday card for me. Now I understand why he takes pictures of cards… perhaps it’s because I always take pictures of the creative cards the kids make. :)

The inside of Lex’s card. Underneath that door on the left is a little pop-up “Happy Birthday” message.

Eve had a lovely card for me too, but I don’t seem to have taken a picture of it. She also gave me this lovely card from my mom. Mema is a great artist!! :)

After presents we met Alan at Jesse’s for dinner. It was delicious, though quite a different experience from my friend’s birthday dinner on Friday night. :) I guess that’s what you get with kids though!

Happy birthday to me!!

Parrish came over the other day with a box of Harry Potter Jelly Beans that he was generously sharing with Lex and Eve. They were intrigued by the different flavors. Eve picked a jelly bean out and the conversation went as such:

Parrish: “That’s a booger one!”
Eve, pauses, shrugs: “I eat my own boogers.” Pop, into the mouth goes the jelly bean.
Parrish: “Yeah, I eat my boogers too.”
Lex: “Me too.”

All said quite calmly and factually, then the conversation moved on to other flavors. Yuck!

According to That’s Disgusting: Unraveling the Mysteries of Repulsion, a book I heard about on NPR last year, “disgusting” is a learned emotion. There is an inherent level of disgust that humans are born with, necessary for self preservation in the caveman days, but there is also a learned level of disgust that is different in different cultures. Apparently children generally first hear about “disgusting” during potty training and then slowly, slloowwwly, learn what is considered culturally acceptable and what isn’t. I remind myself of this book often, even though I’ve never even read it! What we, as grownups, think is disgusting apparently isn’t considered disgusting about the 5-7yr old crowd.

I’m having trouble coming up with a “thankful” for today. Not because there are none, but because there are many. It was a beautiful November day today. The sun was shining, the temps were moderate, and we had tickets to a Dartmouth football game. We had a rough morning (mid-day, really) and almost didn’t make it, but I’m so glad we did. We had a ton of fun. The game was close and exciting, but Dartmouth lost in the last two minutes.

Eve is shocked that I would ask her to turn her back to the game for a quick photo!

Football!

The cheerleaders! The kids cheered right along with them.

Half-time fun!

More half-time fun. The kids had fun playing with these practice pads.

I have no idea what this thing is called, but all the kids loved it! It was like a weeble / heavy bag combo.

Coming back for the second half. The kids were thrilled to get so close!

I was happy with how many players acknowledged the kids and slapped their little outstretched hands as they went by. Some in the middle even leaned over to reach the kids’ hands. I thought it was really nice of the players and the kids were super excited about how many high-fives they got!! :)

Brown scored a touchdown at 1:30 left in the game. which pulled them ahead. The kids cheered for Dartmouth to the very, very end! They are great cheerleaders!

Even with all the fun of the day, I’m also thankful for having a functional washer and dryer in my house! I folded six (!!!) loads of laundry today (several were washed yesterday) and I am so thankful that we have the freedom and ability to wash what we need to when we want to. No digging up quarters and trips to the laundromat. I have done that before and that makes me even more thankful for the quality appliances we have.

Tonight I am thankful for good friends and parents who babysit. Had an awesome night! HBD Elizabeth!

(Are you reading yet, Colleen?!?)

Today I am thankful for early release. It gave Eve a chance for an apparently much needed nap, while Lex and I got to start a new Harry Potter book and bake cookies. I feel like we are so busy all the time and the kids drive me crazy a lot, but I miss the days of the three of us just hanging out. They are so independent now and engage so well with each other that I often find myself puttering or whatever while they play. I need to engage with them more, even if they don’t need me to. Today was sweet. When she woke up we did snack and then cuddled on the couch and read stories. I miss that. No school tomorrow (parent teacher conferences!) or Monday, so maybe we’ll get a bit more QT in this weekend… though it’s shaping up to be quite a busy weekend!

It’s 6:30am and I have my thankful for the day – Joyce is coming home this month!! (and she can read, and COMMENT, on my blog again!)

Today I am thankful for a day at home to get myself back together. Floors swept, dishes washed, feeling better already! I got a few hours of work done, got the grocery shopping done, played some games with the kids, cooked a healthy dinner, and didn’t lose my cool. A good day, for which I am thankful.