Friday, November 30, 2012

“Twist”, The Jokester & Thankful For (Day 30)

The kids love a funny joke.  Their favorite – What’s brown and sticky?… A stick!

“Twist” decided to leave them some funny Christmas jokes all over the house.

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Printable kids Christmas jokes can be found here.  This site also has a “Magic Recovery Kit” for when your elf is intentionally accidentally touched by the brats kids.

November 30 – Today, as I look back on November, I realize that I am completely blessed.  There are so many things in my life that I am thankful for that I could not fit into 30 days.  I have a wonderful husband, healthy children and a crazy, but amazing family.  I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Don’t Do Drugs & Thankful For (Day 29)

Why you shouldn’t do drugs, according to Kelsie…

Kelsie drugs

 

November 29 – Today I am thankful for my sweet, sensitive little boy, who is hugging on his mama as I type this.  I hope he never gets tired of huggin’ on me!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Wordless Wednesday & Thankful For (Day 28)

This is where Duke has been hiding when the sun is shining…

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November 28 – Today I am thankful for Duke.  Yes, I am thankful for my dog.  He was mine and Dave’s first purchase together before we were married.  He has brought us lots of joy and laughs and lots of tears (especially after having to pay $600 to have his eye fixed or $500 to have the carpet replaced).   We love him and can’t imagine what our family would be like without him.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Where is “Twist”? & Thankful For (Day 27)

“Twist” has been all over the place lately.  His new thing is leaving notes for the kids.  Kyle enjoys reading them; Kelsie wants to know who has the sloppy handwriting.

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November 27 – Today I am thankful for a daughter with a vivid imagination and great memory.  Now that she knows the secret about “Twist”, she has been moving him each night (because Dave and I have forgotten to move him in the past.  We called him the lazy elf when he didn’t move for a few nights in a row!).  She came up with the idea of “Twist” wearing a bikini.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Not The Thanksgiving I Planned & Thankful For (Days 21 to 26)

We were all packed up and ready for a great Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh, PA.  We had planned on leaving bright and early Thursday morning.  Instead, we were stuck in MD with a sick little boy.  This is how I spent my Thanksgiving…

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Curled up on the couch with my sweet boy.

Kelsie and Dave had dinner with my family.  Kelsie was excited to spend lots of time with Aunt Denni.

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Hope y’all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

November 21 – Today I am thankful for a husband who is great about keeping in touch with his friends.  Tonight we got together with some of them, including their wives and children.  I’m so bad about keeping in touch with old friends.

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November 22 – Today I am thankful for all of my family members, MD and PA (and a few in TN and CA)!

November 23 – Today I am thankful for leftovers!  Dave made me a turkey (so sweet!) because I wasn’t able to attend T’giving dinner.  There’s nothing like a fresh turkey sandwich!  I just wish I had some of Aunt Vanessa’s sweet potatoes to go with it!

November 24 – Today I am thankful for my two sleepy kids who made the drive from MD to NC so peaceful.

November 25 – Today I am thankful for the “Talk-to-Text” app that makes my children laugh so hard, they think they are going to get sick.  I love hearing them laugh and get along.

November 26 – Today I am thankful for the gym.  A combination of eating poorly and not getting any exercise has made me GRUMPY!  Today I’m back to the gym and feeling good.  I’m hoping to keep this up through the holidays, so I can eat whatever I want!!!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

“Twist” & Thankful For (Day 20)

“Twist” gave Santa a good report on his first day back.  Here’s his hiding spot for the day…

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Kyle drew a picture for “Twist” to take back to the North Pole with him.

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Yes, those are hearts above Kyle and Twist.  He loves him!

 

November 20 – Today I am thankful for wireless headsets.  Without them, we’d have to hear “I’M BORED!  I’M BORED!” during the entire trip from NC to PA.

Monday, November 19, 2012

He’s Baaaccckkkk & Thankful For (Days 17 to 19)

“Twist”, our family Elf, is back in town!  We purchased “Twist” on November 18, 2009, so Kyle thinks he needs to reappear every year on November 18, to celebrate his birthday with us.  Another party I have to plan.  This year he brought his “North Pole Breakfast” with him.  We had “Powdered Snowballs” (mini powdered doughnuts), “Sugary Snowflakes” (snowflake-shaped, white chocolate pretzels), “Reindeer Kisses” (white chocolate chips), and “Santa’s Cocoa” (chocolate milk).  I found the “North Pole Breakfast” party idea on Pinterest… shocker!

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Santa left them a note reminding them to be good and to take care of “Twist”.  I found the coolest “From the Desk of Santa Claus” stationary, so it looked official!

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“Twist” also brought them each a pair of Christmas socks.

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November 17 – Today I am thankful for the wonderful community we live in.  There are hundreds (maybe thousands!) of kids in this hood.  Kelsie and Kyle have made some wonderful friends here.

November 18 – Today I’m thankful that Kyle still believes in “Twist”.  Kelsie found out a few weeks ago that he’s not real and it broke my heart.  Kyle is so excited to get up each morning to see where “Twist” is hiding.

November 19 – Today I’m thankful for Kelsie’s “Drama Queen” act.  She was in a play this morning and her drama skills were put to good use.  She was a fantastic TV reporter!

Friday, November 16, 2012

Kelsie’s Bio & Thankful For (Day 16)

Kelsie’s latest school project – her biography

Kelsie bio

 

November 16 – Today I am thankful for the Holiday channel on Pandora.  When I’m in a room, you can pretty much bet that I’ll be playing Christmas music.  Too soon??

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Christmas Decorations… Already??! & Thankful For (Days 13 to 15)

Most years my Christmas decorations are up on November 1.  I just got around to decorating last weekend.  I love decorating the house and getting into the spirit.  We are out of town Thanksgiving week and usually have our “Ugly Sweater Party” the week after, so it’s nice to get everything out early and take my time putting it all out.  This way I don’t have to rush around to get the house in order for the festivities.

The tree is up and is almost completely decorated.  I need to research how to take a better picture of a lit tree at night.  My didn’t turn out so great.

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I made new fireplace garland this year to go with the new living room colors.  This is probably my favorite decoration!

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I want more bulbs on it, but Dave keeps telling me it looks fine the way it is.  I have been adding one or two a day.  Maybe by New Year’s it’ll look the way I want it to look.

 

November 13 – Today I am thankful for a husband that doesn’t mind fluffing a tree.  This is my least favorite Christmas task.  He also doesn’t mind decorating it with me, but he’ll comment on EVERY ornament he puts up!

November 14 – Today I am thankful that our Christmas shopping is almost done!  A few things left for our families and teachers, but the kids are D.O.N.E.!!!!!!

November 15 – Dave told me this morning that he is thankful I didn’t run away with Curtis Stone today.  Curtis is currently in a store that is ONE HOUR from my house!  I wanted to go see him today, but didn’t feel like packing my bags to run away with him.  For those of you that don’t know who Curtis is, he’s an Australian chef, Top Chef host and cutie-pie… not as cute as Dave, though.

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Monday, November 12, 2012

Girl Scouts & Thankful For (Days 9 to 12)

Last month, my Girl Scout troop went camping during Carolina Campout weekend.  This organization encourages families and groups to take advantage of the North Carolina parks and spend the weekend outside.  They even offer free camping supplies through REI.  Our girls were excited because they give out Scout patches, which my girls are all about patches!

We took the girls to Jordan Lake for a night and were blessed with beautiful weather. 

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We had the girls set up 3 tents, with just a little assistance from the leaders.

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The girls learned how to set up a campfire.

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We made them dinner – grilled cheese – didn’t turn out so well.

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My girls!

 

November 9 – Today I’m thankful for 8:20 am.  This is when Dave and I drop the kids off at school and we head to Starbucks for our morning coffee.   It’s nice to have a little alone time before we start our day.

November 10 – Today I’m thankful for a wonderful and enthusiastic Girl Scout co-leader.  She has more patience than I do and that’s what is needed most meetings. 

November 11 – Today I’m thankful for everything our military does to protect this great country and for the freedom I have. 

November 12 – Today I am thankful for the beautiful North Carolina weather!  Although it’s November, it’s been in the 70’s since Friday!  The kids have a day off from school today and are spending the day outside!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Halloween & Thankful For (Day 8)

Kelsie came to her senses 30 minutes before trick-or-treating and decided she’d dress up and go out.  Thank goodness Bammie was there to save the day with a costume! 

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Bammie and PawPaw made the trip to NC for Halloween.

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The kids were done with pictures at this point. 

Kelsie didn’t last too long, 10 or so houses was all she could take.  Kyle stayed out for about an hour.  He decided he had enough candy and wanted to go home.

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I think this is why PawPaw traveled so far… to get his hands on the candy!

 

November 8 – Today I am thankful for my healthy and smart children.  Report cards came home today.  Kelsie made the 4th grade Honor Roll, which is all A’s and B’s.  Kyle did very well, too (1st grade doesn’t get letter grades).  We are most proud of his S+ in conduct.  He’s come a long way since the beginning of the school year.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

School Pictures & Thankful For (Day 7)

November 7 – Today I am thankful for digital picture proofs and make-up picture day.  Without this, Kyle would be haunted by this awful yearbook picture for the rest of his life…

Kyle 2012 school pic

Not sure what is up with his hair.  The photographer gave him a “lucky comb” and Kyle styled his hair himself (obviously).   It’s not too bad, but, given the option, he will be having his pictures retaken tomorrow.  Hopefully he’ll leave his “lucky comb” at home.

Kelsie’s pictures turned out beautifully…

Kelsie 2012 school pic

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Date Night and Thankful For (Day 6)

For my birthday, Dave took me to a class at Wine & Design, where you paint pictures while sipping your favorite alcoholic beverage.  We were signed up for the “Picasso Date Night”, where we painted pictures of each other, Picasso-style.  We had SO much fun!  I think our pictures turned out really good and will be going on display in the house.  They are great conversation pieces!

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November 6 – Today I am thankful that Kelsie is such a good sport.  She dressed as “Geronimo Stilton” for the school book fair this week.  It has been freezing cold all week.  That didn’t stop her from standing outside for 30 minutes each morning to wave at the parents and kids and pose for pictures.

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Monday, November 5, 2012

Life and What I’m Thankful For (Days 1 through 5)

Life has gotten away from me over the past couple weeks.  I have no idea what I’ve been doing or where I’ve been.  I looked at the calendar last week and realized it was November already.  Where has the year gone? 

This is my favorite time of the year and I’m so excited to get all of my Christmas decorations put up.  Yes, I’m one of those people who completely forgets about fall and goes straight from Halloween to Christmas.

I wanted to spend November letting the WORLD know what I am thankful for.  I have some catching up to do…

November 1 – Today I am thankful for my husband.  Without him, I wouldn’t have a million other things to be thankful for in my life.

November 2 – Today I am thankful for Kelsie and Kyle.  They make me smile, laugh, cry, want to rip my hair out, but most of all, they make me proud to be their Mama. 

November 3 – Today I am thankful for patience and understanding.  I have been married to Dave for 11 years today and it takes LOTS of patience and LOTS of understanding to make a marriage work. 

November 4 – Today I’m thankful for my parents.   They have been married for 38 years and are a great example to my sisters and I of what a marriage should be.  I’m also thankful that they don’t mind driving 4 hours to watch their grandchildren so Dave and I could get a night away.

November 5 – Today I’m thankful for my husband’s paycheck.  Without that, I wouldn’t get to stay at home with the kids and volunteer at their school.