What are you THANKFUL for?

Thanksgiving shouldn't be the only day we give thanks but it seems that it is the one day that we all go around saying what we are thankful for.  Why don't we do that more often?  Why, instead of complaining, don't we walk around saying "I'm thankful for...".  I have a few friends that do seem to always be thankful and I'm thankful for them and their cheerful attitude...most of the time.  I admit that sometimes that cheerfulness just sends me over the edge...I kind of want to knock them over.  (Not really, but sort of.  You know who you are!) 

But today, today I want to shout from the rooftops what I'm thankful for! 

I am THANKFUL for a father that is here with us to enjoy another Thanksgiving!  In the midst of his multiple medical issues he is here for another day!
I am THANKFUL for a mother that knows only how to give and give and give!  The most selfless person I have ever met!
I am THANKFUL for a husband who loves me, flaws and all.  Who has stuck by me through the good, bad and ugly.  Who chose me (even though I'm pretty sure I made it impossible for him not to)!
I am THANKFUL for my Jolly Green Giant who has the biggest heart of any kid I have ever known and loves to stop me in the middle of whatever I'm doing and give me a hug.
I am THANKFUL for The Author and his precious tender heart hidden beneath his tough guy attitude.  (Secrets out dude)!
I am THANKFUL for The Princess who makes me smile just looking at her.  Who dances through life with so much joy!
I am THANKFUL for my friends (near and far) who are there to share a drink, a laugh, a shoulder, a prayer, a tear.
I am THANKFUL for the men and women who are fighting so that we can be FREE!
I am THANKFUL for husbands, wives and children who are missing their soldiers on this holiday so we can be FREE!
I am THANKFUL for an awesome God and that I BELIEVE!

I am THANKFUL!!!

Don't be shy, tell me why your THANKFUL!!!

Quality family time, dadgummit!

When I was growing up we rented a beach house every year, the same beach house.  It became 'ours', I loved it!  My dad was a workaholic banker who didn't know the meaning of 'banker's hours'.  So this was heaven to him, to take his girls and run away for a week.  As soon as we got there mom had to clean, forget that it had already been cleaned, she had to clean again!  And we had to unload the two car fulls of (excuse my language) CRAP that we toted up.  We would finally be ready to "vacation" just in time for dinner and no quickie dinner for this family it was full out dinner complete with dishes.  Finally, finally we were done and my sister and I would put on our suits and get ready to run out the door and down to the beach when dad would yell from the other room.  "Are we ready for a family walk on the beach?"    Don't get me wrong, we appreciated that our parents took us to the beach each year but neither of us wanted to walk on the beach with our parental units.  We wanted to walk on the beach looking cool scoping out cute boys.  But nooooo we had to wait for the dishes to be done and then we all had to walk out on the beach for some "Quality family time, dadgummit!"  Now I know that this phrase is not in the dictionary due to the fact that as far as I know my dad basically invented it but if it was I believe this is how it would be listed.

Quality Family Time, Dadgummit! - Time spent with one's family albeit under duress and huge embarrassment to the children.  Most often heard yelled by the parental units while on vacation (see Disney World) and Sunday afternoon walks.

The latter is what brought about today's post.  I, being the rebellious daughter I was, hated, hated  quality family time!  It was always, always  a big huge hot mess!  It started with good intentions but always ended up with frustrations, tears, embarrassments and guilt.  But, like all good parents we forget what we swore "we would NEVER do" and I frequently torture, guilt and bribe my children to spend quality family time with me.  Well today it was decided by someone (though the instigator chooses to remain silent and no it was not me!) that a family walk with dogs would be good fun on this beautiful Sunday afternoon.  So while the Jolly Green Giant and the Princess hopped on their bikes, my sweet husband took one of the puppies and the...hmmm...has he been named yet?  I don't think so.  Well henceforth the middle child shall be known as the Author.  The Author  took the other puppy (again I am well aware that these 70 lb. beasts are no longer puppies but that is what they were grouped as when they were brought home and shall be named that forever.)  I hooked up the last leash to my sweet  furry hysterectomy baby (story for another time) and off we went.

All started out a little rocky in that the Author has a broken arm and puppy #1 was not behaving as well as she should have which made her hard to handle with two good hands forget having one in a cast.  So sweet husband takes both puppies and we are now walking along like a proper family.  Picture it will you?  A beautiful family (it's my dream we can be beautiful) walking/riding along on a sunny Sunday afternoon with their faithful furry friends in tow.  Let's sit on that butterfly moment for just a second shall we? 

Moving on...cut to "let's go (through the stretch of overgrowth that hasn't been properly maintained but always makes for a fun and interesting walk) tourist route home.  And that would be when "Quality Family Time, Dadgummit" started: 

• Issue #1: The Princess can't get her bike to move properly across the cracked sidewalk with tufts of grass sticking up. 
• Issue #2: The Jolly Green Giant  is behind the Princess and is annoyed by her slow pace for bike riding. 
• Issue #3:  The Author is once again losing control of Puppy #1 due to her excitement over the tall grass. 
• Issue #4:  The Queen (yup that's right I get a name too!) was not aware that the walk was going to take such a turn and is wearing cute sparkly flip flops that are not meant for traipsing through knee high grass with goodness knows what lurking just inchs from her feet. 
• Issue #5:  The furry hysterectomy baby was trying to hop through the grass like she does (I believe she's part bunny) and was having such a hard time she decided to just cop a squat. 

So we pass the huge patch of overgrowth and the Princess takes off at which time the Jolly Green Giant  aka Dudley Doo Right is yelling at her to slow down for us.  My frustrated husband tells him to just go catch up with her and for them to head home.  And just as we are settling in to a nice calm walk...we hear a thump and the Author is down, crumpled on the ground holding his knee, blood oozing from his bottom lip, broken arm protected by a huge cast and the culprit that brought upon such horror...sitting beside him panting, drooling, licking her pet and feeling rather pleased I would assume.  My defeated husband takes back control of both puppies, I wrap my arm around the author and we limp home. 

And that my faithful friends is how this family has "Quality Family Time, Dadgummit!" 
Now don't just sit there...go out and create your own memories!  Or better yet...I'd love to hear your very own "Quality Family Time, Dadgummit!" stories!  Don't be shy...you know you wanna share...post a comment!

Letting go...

Oh how I loved her!  She wasn't a sports car...she was a sedan...(but shhhh don't tell her that...she had no idea!)  She took corners on a dime, she had a turn radius like no ones business.  She had dark tinted windows that hid me when I hadn't done my makeup or was singing along with Nickelback.  She had a sunroof that slid all the way back to let that glorious light shine in on me warming me to my bones.  Her pedals were sleek and smooth.  She had a stereo system...*sob* forgive me. 

But she had (problems), my sweet husband calls it a gremlin in the electrical system.  I called it her uniqueness.  Always keeping me on my toes...would the speedometer work today or not?  Would the radio come on or would it make me drive in silence to work with my own thoughts but then mysteriously start working the minute I sank down into her soft leather seats after a long day.  ahhhhhhh
My girlfriend asked what her name was?  Name?  Name?  She was too cool for a name, she was like Prince just a sign (artist formerly known as).  Oh she was beautiful and she was mine! 

But the problems with her and the fact that the "beast", as we have come to refer to the oldest child who seems to be growing like the Jolly Green Giant, could hardly fit in the back seat anymore meant that my sweet husband started telling me that "it was time".  NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! 

So as we drive that Sunday he points out cars that he thinks are appropriate while I sit in the front of his truck arms firmly folded across my chest, brows furrowed, I mean all you have to do is picture a 3 year old trying to be forced to eat brussel sprouts and there you have me!!!  I hated everything, it made me nauseous to think of sitting behind the wheel.  I'd done the "big car thing" no thank you!  Not going back!  But as we are at a stop light, I look over and see a beautiful black car shining in the sunlight, it has such sleek lines, oh it is wondrous looking!  As I point out this beauty I would be happy to own, my frustrating husband laughs and tells me that it's the same car I currently own yet in a different color.  "Well, at least I'm consistent!"  After a good laugh at my expense, he points out another car, a bigger car.  At which I make the tragic mistake of saying, "Well, that one doesn't make me want to throw up in my mouth."  Big mistake, huge!!  Before I can say another word we are off to the dealership (which thankfully was closed) to take a look at this thing. 

The one we look at isn't bad, it's actually very pretty, nicely loaded and doesn't seem that large.  So...a day off is planned and we head to the dealership (a different dealership because we found a better deal) two days later.  I climb behind the wheel and OMG it's HUGE!!!  And I feel old, and since I'm nearing 40, I don't need help feeling old.  My kids do that all too well!  My stubborn husband convinces me that this IS the best option right now and that if I'll do this now in a couple of years I can go back to a car car.  Well now, this poor salesman has no idea how to handle this situation.  A woman is about to get a new (used) car and she is sitting in the seat crying and praying that they wont make the deal.  I'm not sure but I think he canceled his engagement that night thinking women are CRAZY!!! 

But we do make the deal and we drive away leaving my baby back at the dealership where I pray that she will go to a good home (knowing full well she will really go to auction...thank you mean husband for putting that in my head!). 

Now, in defense of Bessie (yes I let my girlfriend name this one) she is a very smooth ride, she is luxurious, she has enough seating that none of my 3 children have to so much as touch each other while in the car.  She has a sunroof (though the placement doesn't allow the sun to really warm me to my bones), and she has a good sound system (though I feel a little foolish jammin' with no tint on the front windows).  But she seems to be a good car so far.  Though while driving in it I do feel less than young and sporty. 

Let me also admit this...I used to get looks in my fabulous car...I mean stares!  Seriously!!!  I must be one hot looking momma!!!  I loved it...when I didn't feel great about myself I'd hop in her smooth seats, let the sunroof open, turn up the radio and fly!  Man, I would feel AHHHMAZING!!!  Well I know now the sad sad truth...everyone was staring not at me but at her...but I don't blame them...I would too!

Good bye old friend...it was a good ride!!  You will not be forgotten...*sob*sob*sob*

I think 37 is gonna rock...

So the first day of my 37th year on this beautiful Earth, was one of my best beginning's of all birthday's.  The day before my sweet husband loaded all of us up in the truck and drove to New Braunfels for a little tubing, a little shopping, a little sight seeing, a little eating.  But the first item on the agenda , after Bucee's of course, was to stop and buy this...

Um, hello??? Can you say tuber heaven!  This is the granddaddy of the tubes, double tube with a headrest and cooler in the middle.  Me and my girl were floatin' in style!!!

Of course, the Princess is a daddy's girl and was a little fearful so she made him ride in the double tube first which gave me the opportunity to ride solo down the shoot, yeehaw!!!

Of course directly after my "Yeehaw's!" and "Whoopee's!" of this shoot came another shoot, a shoot that held large rocks, and as I rode over the rocks yelling back to my family, "Lift your butts up!" I mistakenly didn't 'lift' high enough and endured a rather large, really nasty looking bruise on my left gluteus maximus!  Nice!!!  See what a good mom I am, always looking out for them!  I was told that other members of my family also hit rocks though I see no physical evidence so I assume they are just trying to make me feel better. 

I spent 2 1/2 hours on that river enjoying watching my children ride the river for the first time each  and thinking back to the last time my sweet husband and I rode the river together.  We tent camped with another couple, it was miserably hot but oh so fun.  Of course I was very young (early 20's) and not sure how much I actually remember.  There are pictures somewhere, hopefully they will never surface!

This would be me trying to figure out how I can do this on a daily basis, being paid to float the river, sounds like a good job to me...hmmm

Beautiful, wonderful, day full of fabulous memories but it wasn't done.  After my bath, where my daughter insisted on sitting on the stool and talking with me (who wants to relax and read in the bath anyway?).  I came out to find the house on fire.... 

not really but geez all those candles really lit up the kitchen.  Yes my sweet husband made the cake and decorated it with pink hearts and XX's and OO's!  I feel loved!

37 just might be the best year yet!

He will do that for us...

Today my husband got like 6 shots so that he could travel to India for business, I don't want him to go, he doesn't want to go, not really.  But he will because he loves this family so much that he will do anything for us even things he doesn't want to do.  He's my hero and I will miss him desperately while he's gone and love him even more when he comes back. 

He's her hero too!

                                                                                                        

Just a little break...

I ran away for a couple of days...loaded up a bag, jumped in the car with three of my girlfriends and off we went.  Sounds carefree right?  Wrong...don't misunderstand me...it was a FABULOUS time full of laughter and silliness.  But we were also calling our families checking in reminding about what needed  to be done or how something needed to be handled or even handling things that quite frankly could have been handled by the spouses and children left at home. 

But that has me thinking?  What would have happened had we not made the countless phone calls and texts back home?  Would everyone have made it to their activities, would they have remembered to take the checks that needed to be paid or to make the phone calls and that needed to be made? 

My sweet husband hunts and fishes and travels for work and when he calls in he is calling in to say hey, that's it.  When I call in it's to say hey but usually it's a reminder also of who needs to go where and when.  Of course he had it all handled, he remembered every little detail (it might have been the detailed list I left on the table for him) or he might have remembered on his own?  ;0) 

I have no doubt that while I'm gone my children are well taken care of but I have a hard time relinquishing the control that I have when I'm home.  Is it because we don't think they can do it as well as us?  That it wont be done the way we WANT it to be done?  Hmmm...sounds like I need to test a theory?  Road trip anyone? 

Just kidding babe!