Day 30 - Thankful Blog - The End!

Well, it’s the last day of November.  I didn’t get to blog about everything I wanted to, so I’m going to throw out a few different things today.

I’m thankful for the nice weather we’re having.  I just don’t know if I could handle bitter cold this early in the winter.  As a matter of fact, I’m done with winter.  How long until Spring?

I’m thankful for a couple of really good friends.  Friends that I can tell everything and know it’s not going any further.  Friends who get my sense of humor and my sarcasm. 

I’m thankful for my job.  While it can be a ginormous pain in the behind, I can’t imagine a better setup for raising a family.  With the great invention of the smartphone, I now have the flexibility to not only work from home, but from anywhere I choose – a ballgame, the grocery store, the pool. 

I’m thankful for DHR, who listened to me last year when I said “I wouldn’t mind having a newborn for a little while” and gave me Baby A.  She was really only supposed to be with us short-term, but there are no words to express how glad I am that we still have her. 

I’m thankful for Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream.  I’m probably going to weigh 600 pounds soon, but DANG, that stuff is good.

I’m thankful that I’m not a teenage girl.  Geez.  My eyes have certainly been opened lately and I don’t envy my daughters having to deal with the stuff they have to deal with at all.  I have a whole new respect for them. 

I’m thankful that people put so much importance on having a nicely mowed yard.  Garnett’s Lawn Equipment had a good year, and thus the Garnett family had a good year. 

I’m thankful for yoga pants.  I don’t do yoga, but that’s irrelevant.  Whoever invented these is a genius.

And I’m thankful that November is almost over.  While I didn’t run out of subjects to blog about, I ran out of TIME each day.  The pressure of blogging EVERY day nearly got to me.  Whew.  I’m much more suited to be a 1-2 times per week blogger. 

So, anyway.  Bye Bye November.  Welcome December!!  I am ALMOST feeling a twinge of Christmas spirit.  I heard “Christmas in Dixie” on the radio today and felt almost downright jolly for a minute.  I briefly entertained putting up a tree tomorrow but then Willard reminded me that tomorrow is only December 1^st.  Plenty of time left. 

I’ll go ahead and give you a preview of what’s to come in the first few days of December…

Santa will be sending us our Elf again soon, and I’m pretty sure you’ve never seen one quite like ours.

Willard has a new female in his life, and I think he likes her more than he likes me. 

My 30+ year relationship with Y&R is in jeopardy.  I don’t know how much more of Sharon I can take.  Can’t someone lock her in a basement somewhere?

See you soon….

Day 29 - Thankful Blog - Squishy Willard

Today I am thankful for my husband and his generosity.  He has this tough, mean guy exterior but he has a squishy spot if you can find it.  I can’t even count how many times someone has come up to me and thanked me for something “we” did to help them or their family.  I always nod and say “oh, you’re welcome…” but then I have to go home and ask Willard what the heck they were talking about.  I’m not blogging this to brag, but it does make me proud.  He’s probably going to kill me because he prefers to be an anonymous donor, or at least a quiet donor, but I just felt like I needed to let him know that he HAS made a difference in a lot of people’s lives. 

 

Hey generous man... build your wife a pool!

 

Day 28 - Thankful Blog - No more epilepsy jokes

In September 2004, we were in San Antonio, Texas, on a business trip for lawnmower dealers.  On Saturday, we had some free time and went shopping at a mall.  While I was shopping, Willard took a phone call and stepped outside but I didn't think much about it and kept shopping.  A couple of hours later, when we were finished and headed back to our hotel, he told me that it was my mom and she wanted us to know that Karlie (or "Sweet Pea", as he calls her) had a seizure of some kind.  I was immediately freaked out. (And I was MAD because he waited 2 hours to tell me) She had never had a history of seizures, she wasn't sick, no fever, etc.  My mom took her to the ER and they did a CT scan, but sent her home.  Mom told me she was doing fine and not to worry.  Yeah, right.  I was stuck in Texas for another 24 hours!  I found out later that Karlie had another seizure later that night.  Long story short, we ended up at Children's and she was put on medication.  After several abnormal EEGs, but no more seizure activity, she was given the diagnosis of epilepsy.  She has taken medication daily and except for a small issue with flashing lights at the Fair one year, she has done well.  Her neurologist told us there was a possibility she could outgrow it, but with her history of abnormal EEG after abnormal EEG, I was doubtful.  We were resigned to her taking a pill every day for the rest of her life.  It could be SO much worse, I know.

She had a regular checkup with her neurologist this month and he suggested we do another EEG.  He said if it turned out normal, she could stop her medicine.  Apparently she's at that age where sometimes the brain finds "new pathways" and skips the part of the brain that causes seizures. 

Crossing our fingers...

And the result is -

 

 

Woohoo!  No more medicine. 

And no more epilepsy jokes.  For a long time, Karlie was very anxious and insecure about her diagnosis.  In the past year, it's become somewhat of a joke.  When she does something dumb, or doesn't do what she's supposed to, she blames it on epilepsy.  Even though she hasn't had a seizure in 8 years.  So, ha! No more excuses, missy!

Today, I am thankful for this wonderful news!!

Day 26 and 27 - Thankful Blog - My Mom and Dad

For days 26 and 27, I am thankful for my parents.  I’ve lived a pretty awesome life.  I guess some people might call it being spoiled, but I call it being loved.  My dad has always been the hardest working person I know and I know he works hard so he can provide everything his family needs (and even a bunch of stuff we WANT but don’t necessarily NEED).  My mom was the mom that was at every school field trip and every school party.  I can count on one hand the number of ballgames she has ever missed.  And people, that’s A LOT of ballgames. 

I’m thankful that they are same kind of grandparents that they are parents.  There’s nothing in the world they wouldn’t do for their grandkids.  When we decided to get Yuri and Gigi, one of my biggest worries was that our families wouldn’t accept them as “real” members of the family.  Now, I realize what a silly thought that was!  They love Yuri and Gigi and Baby A just as much as they love their biological grandchildren. 

I’ve really kinda lived a charmed life… in the sense that good outweighed the bad by a million times.  If I trace all that back, it started because of the life my parents gave me.  And for that, I’m thankful. 

Day 25 - Thankful Blog - Safe travels

It’s 3:06 a.m.  My last thought before I went to sleep tonight was “ Shoot, I forgot to blog”, but I went to sleep anyway. 

Sometimes I don’t know what I’m going to blog about until I actually sit down and start typing.  Sometimes I get an idea days before and roll it around in my head.  And then sometimes an idea will hit me and I know I should sit down right then and type it out.  This is one of those sit-down-right-now moments. 

Today, as I watching Hunter getting in his truck to head back to Mississippi State, I had just a twinge of anxiety about him driving back.  I told him to call me when he got there.  I always say that, and he always says okay and then he never does.  Sigh.  Kids.  So, I gave him enough time to get there and I called to make sure he arrived safely.  When I hung up the phone, I thought to myself “that’s my thankful blog for today…that he got there safely”. 

Then I got caught up with kids and by the time they were settled in, I was sleepy myself and off to bed I went.

I woke up at 2 a.m. and noticed I had a text message that had arrived after I went to bed.

It was from a lady named Angie.  Angie is a nice lady that I do business with around Christmas time every year.  I never even knew her last name until tonight.  Maybe she told me at some point but I never caught it.  We always made small talk, and she was interested our Yuri/Gigi story.  Every year when I would see her, she would want to be filled on what was happening with the adoption, etc.  She’s just a really nice lady. 

My text from her tonight was business –related, but then she put… “I hope you and your family have had a blessed year.  I lost my last child this year, so if it’s possible I’d love to have your prayers…”

Two things struck me.  Oh no, she lost a child.  And what does “last child” mean?  I hoped she meant “youngest” but I had a feeling that’s not what she meant.  I did what I always do when I need information.  I googled her name.  There I found that she lost her 23-year-old daughter, Emma, in August.  The obituary said Emma was preceded in death by her sister and survived by her parents.  By “last child”, Angie meant literally that.  She lost her first child and she lost her second child.  I don’t know any details at all.  I don’t know if both girls died from illnesses or if both girls died from accidents.  No idea.  I just know that this mama had two babies and she has lost them both. 

I laid in bed for an hour after I read her text and finally realized I wouldn’t be going back to sleep until I blogged about being thankful that Hunter travelled safely back to college.  And being thankful that all my kids are healthy and tucked safely in their beds. 

Will you do me a favor and pray for Angie and her husband?

Thank you, friends, and good night. 

 

 

Day 24 - Thankful Blog - Sit-on-my-butt Saturdays

For the past several years, as in 14 or so, we have rarely had a free Saturday.  Once the big kids started playing sports, those free days ceased to exist.  Now that Karlie is finished with volleyball, and the little ones aren't playing little league basketball yet, I'm rekindling my love affair with Saturdays. 

I started the day bright and early with Baby A.  She got up before 6:30 (she slept in this morning...really!) but we cuddled on the couch and dozed until Yuri and Gigi got up at 8:30.  I even cooked up a real breakfast, complete with biscuits, gravy, sausage, and eggs.  After they started eating, I said, "Is it good?".  Gigi replied, "Yes, mama, this Capri Sun is AWESOME".  Well, awesome.  Alright then. 

After that, we just had a day of pajamas, fuzzy socks and fleece blankets. The kids built a village of forts in my kitchen.  We made cupcakes and ate bean dip and fritos until time for "the" big game to come on.  (Roll Tide)  Then Yuri and Gigi were sent to their rooms to watch movies just in case Daddy needed to yell at the TV (he didn't). 

Even though I've been pouty because I had planned for us to spend our Thanksgiving break at the beach, I have to admit that this really has been a good holiday. 

Day 23 - Thankful Blog - A Day Late!

This is actually yesterday's blog.  I don't know what happened but it totally slipped my mind. 

For Day 23, also known as Black Friday, I am thankful for the large amount of testosterone that I have.  It is apparently what causes me to shudder at the thought of fighting thousands of people while shopping for bargains. 

It's also what drove me to attend two basketball games on Wednesday and two basketball games on Friday when I didn't even have a kid playing. 

I blame it for my love of NASCAR.  How many women do you know that almost get giddy over the smell of exhaust? It's got to be the testosterone. 

It's why I'd rather go bowling than to a nice restaurant. 

It's why I choose sleep over waiting in line at midnight to see the newest Twlight movie. 

It's why I watch SportsCenter every morning.  Even after Willard leaves for work, I find myself still watching.

It could be why I will chose a steak over salad every single time... but maybe not, because doesn't everybody do that?

So, yay for testosterone.  Except now that I see how much I have, coupled with that freaky throat hair gene that I inherited, I'm wondering if I'm really a man?!?!

Day 22 - Thanksgiving 2012

What a great, great, great Thanksgiving!! No real blog tonight.  Just pictures from Thankgiving 2012. 

This is hard to see, but it's the backyard activities.  Horseshoes, corn hole, football, Red Rover, Duck Duck Goose, and some women in a huddle looking through the sale papers... something for everyone!
 

This is Charlie.  He's the first boy born into the family since Hunter.  There were 9 little girls between Hunter and Charlie.  Poor fellar.  He's surrounded by females!  In this picture, he's mesmerized by a lady bug.

Smiling cousins - Libby, Yuri, and Maggie

Baby A and sweet Mabry inspecting the Auburn football.  I guess they were trying to find the problem.  (Roll Tide)

Willard and Hunter were the 2012 Corn Hole Champions.  Their record was 13-1 on the day.  They (and by "they" I  mean Willard) are obnoxious winners.  Ask anybody.

I love this picture.  Now you see why I'm so thankful???

It was a fun, fun day but everybody was wiped out!

 

Yuri had that good slobber sleep...

 

If not for the pink bow, Gigi would be completely camouflaged.








Happy Thanksgiving y'all!! 
 

 

Day 21 - Thankful Blog - Bowling with the Family

Hunter’s new hobby is bowling.  He thinks he has what it takes to become professional.  If there’s one thing that boy has, it’s confidence.  He sometimes has it even when he shouldn’t.  Bowling would be one example.  Singing would be another, but you can’t convince him of that.  He is fully convinced he’ll be touring with the PBA one day.  He can’t decide if he should try out for “American Idol” before he joins the PBA or not… decisions, decisions. 

He is home for Thanksgiving and invited us to go bowling tonight.  Actually, he invited his dad and then I invited myself.  Father/Son  Night became Parents/Son Night.  And then Haley Rae invited herself, so it became (Part of the) Family Night.  We bribed Karlie to stay home with Yuri and Gigi, and my sister-in-law kept Baby A.  We ate at Red Lobster and it was nice to get to eat with my two oldest babies, even though they played on their phones and basically just took unflattering pictures of me (and themselves) to Snapchat to their friends.  

 

We were about to head over to the bowling alley, but not before we took a potty break.  And can’t leave the restaurant without a bathroom picture, right???

 

We had a really fun time bowling.  I think Hunter actually won every game.  This in no way makes him PBA eligible.  It’s just that the rest of us suck in a really big way. 

Here he comes... he thinks he's so good, but he's really not.  Shhhh, don't tell him.

 

I did bowl 140 one game, which I think is probably a record for me.  Willard had the worst night, coming in last every game except one.  But he still had a GREAT time.  Can’t you tell???

 

 



We really did have a good time.  Today I'm thankful that my kids occasionally want to hang out with the old folks. 

Day 20 - Thankful Blog - Mennonites, bikinis, and cinnamon rolls

Several years ago, a group of Mennonites moved into our community.  It was a little weird at first, because we didn’t know anything about them, but they’ve been great neighbors.  They work hard, they are friendly, they have the cutest babies, and THEY HAVE A BAKERY right down the road from my house.  You have not eaten a pound cake until you’ve eaten a 5-Flavor pound cake from Anna Mary’s Bakery. 

Not too long after they moved to our community, me and Willard were outside.  Two very odd things were happening… first, we were doing yard work, and second, I was wearing a bikini top. 

We’ve been hiring someone to mow our yard for years – even WAY before we owned a lawnmower dealership.  Why don’t we mow our own yard now? Well, I don’t really know…  Anyway, that’s neither here nor there. 

As for the bikini top.  Ugh.  I had a tank top over it but I took it off for some reason.  I’ve NEVER been in my front yard in a bikini top because, well, just because.  It’s TMI, trust me.  Anyway, I took it off and I was pulling weeds right up against the house, thinking no one would see me.  I was squatted down with my back to the road.  No biggie.  Then a truck pulls in the driveway.  Crap.  I figured (hoped) they were just turning around, and I also thought I’d draw more attention to myself if I stood up to go in the house, so I just stayed put.  Willard walked over and started talking to the driver.  In a minute or so, I hear Willard say, “Hey, Amy, come here!”  Double crap.  I stood up and pulled on my tank top, and noticed then that it was ripped and small and covered not much more than the bikini top.  As I got closer to the truck, I noticed the passenger wearing a little white hat… omg.  The Mennonites were in my driveway and I had on a BIKINI!?!?  In case you don’t know, this is how Mennonite women dress….

 

Can it get any worse? Oh yes, it can.  Willard introduces me to the driver, who just happens to be the Mennonite PREACHER.  I’m fairly sure my name was at the top of the prayer list the next day…Please pray for Willard’s heathen wife who runs around the yard half naked…

Here's a picture of me in my bikini. 

 

Not. 

 

As if!

So, fast forward to present day.  There’s this Mennonite lady who thinks Willard is so nice.  She knocked on my door today and handed me a homemade gigantic cinnamon roll that was STILL WARM.  All because my husband is so nice.  Say what? It probably would have been appropriate for me to make sure she had the right house, but you think I’m turning down a homemade cinnamon roll? You got that right!  

So, on day 20, I am thankful for the Mennonite folks who brighten my life with their cute kids and their baked goods. 

Day 19 - Thankful Blog - My Gilgals

Today I am thankful for the women in my Sunday school class – my Gilgals.  I asked them to remember me and Baby A today as we entered a new phase with DHR.  I say that like nobody else in my family is involved, and that's not the case, but I'm the one on the frontline so I'm hogging the prayers.  They not only prayed for me – they texted me encouraging messages all throughout the morning and afternoon.  In the end, the day turned out just like I hoped it would.  Thank you, my special friends!

Day 18 - Thankful Blog - Tweezers

Someone (for the life of me I can’t remember who or I’d give them a shout out) posted on their Facebook page this week that they were thankful for their tweezers.  I saw it and laughed, but I was nodding my head in agreement while I was laughing! 

The remainder of this post is for women.  Men, this is your warning to stop reading.  Trust me, you’re going to be grossed out.

Okay, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

I’m going to put this out there in hopes that you females back me up and let me know that I’m not alone here.  At least, I HOPE I’m not alone. 

First of all, let me admit that I’m hairy.  I am.  Hope Garner has been doing my hair for years.  When it’s really short, I have to keep my neck shaved because, as she refers to me, I’m like Teen Wolf.  And my dad passed down some weird neck/throat hair patch gene that me and my sister, Lisa, both got.  We grow this patch of hair right over our Adam’s Apple. I had it back in high school and the only time it really bothered me was when I saw the boy that I was crushing on mocking me to another friend.  He doesn’t know that I saw him, but I hope he’s reading this blog right now and feeling like TOTAL CRAP because it really hurt my feelings.  I eventually started waxing it because I was at the beach with Willard’s family a few years ago and when I walked out of the ocean, Danna (you remember her, my partner in crime) said “hey, you have seaweed on your neck”.  When I reached up to get it off, it was attached.  As in, HAIR.  How embarrassing.  The first thing I did when I got home from that vacation was book a wax!

 Anyway.  Wow, I totally just got sidetracked.  What was I supposed to be blogging about?  Oh yeah…

Do you ladies ever reach up to touch your chin and feel something akin to a porcupine quill?  I mean, like you just checked yourself the day before and suddenly there’s a freaking corn stalk is growing out of your chin.  And then once you feel it, you can’t stop touching it? When you look in the mirror, it’s BLACK.  What the heck!?! And 9 times out of 10 I’m in the car when I see it, and I never remember to put a pair of tweezers in my car, so I have to decide whether to stop and buy a new pair of tweezers or walk around all day with a walnut tree sticking out of my face.   

I always opt to buy a new pair.  The kind with the pointed tip are the best, in my opinion, but the slanted tip will do in emergency situations.  And trust me, these are urgent times… I would hate to put out my poor child’s eye as she leaned in for a hug. 

So, it goes without saying that I, too, am thankful for tweezers.

Please tell me I’m not alone. 

 

Day 17 - Thankful Blog - Adoption

This is National Adoption Month.  To say that adoption changed our lives would be the understatement of the century.  We now refer to our lives as B.B. (Before Babies) and A.B. (After Babies).  Willard and I had a conversation a few weeks ago about how close we were before babies to lots of freedom and independence.  Our big kids are doing their own thing and we could be sleeping in, taking spur of the moment trips, going out on date nights every weekend, and spending money on things other than diapers, Barbie Jeeps,  and Disney DVDs.  We thought about it for a nanosecond and decided we can’t think of anything we’d rather be doing at this point in our lives. 

I never really thought I’d STILL be sweeping up Cheerios at age 42.  Or starting all over with field trips, fall festivals, and science projects.  I do realize that I could have grandchildren before my youngest even starts kindergarten (I WILL kill someone, but it could happen).  I also realize that they are going to be horrified when they realize their parents are 20+ years older than their friends’ parents.  They’re probably going to think we’re the most uncool old fogies ever created -- and they may be right.  Through all of the embarrassment and the years that they will be SO much smarter than us, I hope they always know how much we love them. 

We can say without a shadow of doubt, that adoption was the perfect choice for us.  I mean, think of all the perks we will have as old folks…We have enough kids that if we have to move in with them, they can each take 2 months out of the year.  If they split it up 30 days at a time, it will never feel like we’re MOVING in.  It’ll just be like we’re there visiting.   And if it gets just totally unbearable and they have to put us in a nursing home, with all six of them pooling their money, it BETTER be a sweet one.  I’m talking a Jacuzzi tub in our SUITE with daily massage therapy. 

I say it’s a win-win for everybody.

Me and Willard in 2048 - Thanks, kids!!

Day 16 - Thankful blog - People who look out for me...

Today I am thankful for friends…

At somewhere around 9:00 this morning, my phone was blowing up.  People were calling me, leaving voice mails, texting me, writing on my Facebook wall.  I was on a lot of people’s minds! Why, you ask?  Because they wanted to make sure I was aware that Lee Greenwood was performing on The Today Show. There was a Naturalization ceremony and Lee was asked to perform.  What an honor for him!

 

If you know me, or know of me, or just read my blogs, you've probably picked up on the fact that I'm a big fan of Lee's.  Gosh, FAN seems like such an inadequate word.  Feel free to substitute GROUPIE, ENTHUSIAST, DEVOTEE... whatever works for you. 

 The bad news is that I missed it.  Ugh.  Baby A’s social worker was here for a home visit, and I forgot to set the DVR.  The good news is that it made me feel so good to know that these people thought about ME and stopped whatever they were doing to contact me.  It was a small gesture that really made me feel loved.  Thanks for looking out for me, y’all!

 

Here's a sample of some of my messages:

 

Can you feel the love? 

So, to all you folks who put me on LG alert - You do know that you’re feeding my fascination-that-borders-on-obsession, right?

Day 15 - Thankful Blog - You get what you get...

Today I am thankful for two new “parenting tools” I instituted lately. 

First, an extremely intelligent pre-school teacher taught Gigi a new saying that has become the Garnett family motto – You get what you get and you don’t pitch a fit. 

Genius.  It may not work when they’re 14 and 15, but right now, those are magic words.

Next, I restarted something that I used when Haley and Karlie were young.  It’s called “your day”.  Yuri has odd days, and Gigi has even days.  On “your day”, you get to pick everything… what cartoon is watched, which seat in the car to ride in, which chair at the kitchen table to sit in, etc.  You can’t believe how much this has cut down on bickering about whether to watch “The Princess and the Frog” or “Chicken Run”. 

So, there you go.  I seldom give parenting tips, because… well, because I don’t have any.  I fly by the seat of my pants, so this is as close to helpful hints as I can get.  aley and

 

Day 14 - Thankful blog - Haley Rae and Karlie

Today I am thankful for my big girls, Haley Rae and Karlie.  They are so helpful to me with the little ones.  They’re not always THRILLED about it, but they do it.  They are awesome big sisters.  Terrible helpers around the house, but awesome big sisters. 

Last night the little ones went to bed early (that, my friends, will be a thankful blog subject later this month!) and Willard (who wore himself out playing the new Call of Duty game for something like 14 hours) did too, they sat in the den with me for probably two hours.  I watched “Sons of Anarchy” (Jax! What is happening to you?? I don’t even know who you are anymore!!).  Both girls wore Beats and played on their phones, so not exactly BONDING time, but at least they were in the same room with me and not behind a closed bedroom door. 

I am incredibly proud of these two – for the choices they’ve made so far and for the choices I know they’ll make in the future. 

Day 13 - Thankful Blog - My partner in crime

Today I am thankful for Danna.  She’s technically my husband’s niece, which makes her my niece by marriage, but that’s a weird way for me to think of her.  I don’t know how SHE feels about the age difference – it’s like 7 years – but I don’t FEEL like her aunt.  I just feel like her friend. And her partner in crime.  If I ever wanted to rob a bank, Danna would be my getaway driver.  If I ever needed to hack into a hospital to change DNA tests (okay, so maybe I've watched soap operas for too long), Danna would be my lookout.  For example, while Emily was giving birth to Olivia and the nurses weren't updating us as often as we'd like, we were kicking ourselves for not thinking to wear scrubs so we could walk around the hospital at will and find out whatever we wanted.  You think I'm kidding, but we could have such a killer private investigation company.  Or matchmaking company, as I've previously blogged about. 

Excuse me for a moment....

Dear Danna - I know you're having a heart attack over the picture.  I can't help it.  It was the ONLY picture I could find of you by yourself.  You need to do some of those self-portraits with the toilet in the background and upload them.  This one is cute, though.  I promise.   It looks like you're eating a sandwich.  Like chicken salad or something.  Nobody can tell it's a big wad of cookie dough. 

Okay, where were we....

As we’ve grown older, it has become increasingly more obvious to both of us how much we think alike.  We feed off each other in a way that could really become a problem if we were in the right (or wrong) situation.  When Danna mentioned moving closer to this area, Joseph (her husband) actually said that he didn’t know if me and Danna living in the same community would be a good idea.  What the heck? I think he’s just jealous because we have such awesome ideas. 

We often text each other the same things at the same exact time.  The same things outrage us.  We find the same things funny.  Or lame.  We have the same pet peeves.  And we understand each other, even when what we’re saying doesn’t make sense. Like the other day when I said, “We’re like a half of one brain”.  I meant “We’re like TWO halves of one brain”, but Danna totally got it even when I said it wrong.  I’m sure Joseph would say we’re actually more like the first statement, but I would just like to point out the little green monster again.

Hello!  My name is Joseph... I'm jealous because Danna
and Amy are SO cool and awesome. 

 

 

Day 12 - Thankful blog - Lazy days

Today I am thankful that I can watch Happy Feet Two while piled up on the couch under a quilt with my three little snuggle bugs.  This movie, by the way, has AWESOME music.  I think Santa needs to bring me the soundtrack!

It’s Monday, it’s raining, and it’s cold.  My “to-do” for today was quite full – mostly with laundry.  It is now 10:49 a.m. and I have done exactly nothing.  Nothing.  We ate honey buns and oyster crackers for breakfast.  How sad is that? NOT SAD AT ALL!! Sometimes you just need a lazy day. 

Day 10 and 11 - Thankful blog - Hubby and Bubbles

I’m sleepy and I’m slacking.  I just realized I didn’t do a thankful blog for yesterday or today, so here goes. 

 

Day 10 – I am thankful for my husband who kept all three little ones while I went to the grocery store Saturday morning.  He made them pick up their toys, he cleaned the kitchen from the breakfast mess, and he even changed a poopy diaper.  I was fairly certain he was going to have a heart attack and die during that Alabama game last night, so at least he would’ve went out on my good list!

Day 11- I am thankful for bubble baths.  I have been battling a headache all afternoon, and a long, hot, bubbly tub of water was just what I needed.  Ahhhh.  Good night, y’all.

Day 9 - Thankful Blog - Yuri's teacher!!

 

Today I am thankful for Yuri’s kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Stinson.  She’s sweet, she’s always smiling, she’s energetic, and she loves Yuri to pieces.  While I’m thankful for all of these attributes, TODAY I’m most thankful that she has a sense of humor.

When I picked up Yuri today, this is what I was met with –

Mrs. Stinson:          Well, your child told me something today that made me want to go home, crawl in my bed, and NEVER come out.

Me:(feeling that all too familiar what-the-heck-did-my-kid-say-now feeling) Oh, really? What did she say?

Mrs. Stinson:          She told me I look JUST like Honey Boo Boo’s mama. 

Me:                            ….

Nervous giggle.  Awkward silence.  I mean, really.  How do you respond to that??? She looks NOTHING like Honey Boo Boo’s mama.  Nothing.  Mrs. Stinson is thin, brunette, very attractive, and if she has a forklift foot with knats flying around it, I've never noticed.  Actually, the only thing MORE awkward would’ve been if they did resemble.

I grabbed Yuri and scampered away because, let's face it, what could I really say that would make the situation any better??  It seems that these kids of my mine are determined to say ANYTHING that goes through their head.  I’ve considered duct tape, but I’m starting to think a shock collar may be more in order.   

Day 8 - Thankful Blog - REVIVAL

Today I am thankful for the Revival we had this week.  We had more youth there than I’ve seen in a couple of years, and THAT is an awesome feeling.  We had 9 (yes, nine!) professions of faith, all teens. 

I tweeted on Sunday morning that I enjoyed the sermon but needed a pedicure because Bro. Wade was ALL OVER my toes.  Good thing I didn’t rush out and get them repainted, because he pretty much stomped on them all week. 

As I posted on FB earlier this week, Gigi was feeling especially evangelical and came home Sunday night insisting that we invite all our “neighbors”.   And she wanted me to text the moms of her preschool friends to invite them.  I texted my friend Cassandra and invited her two boys, Alston and Lincoln (ages 4 and 9).  They ended up going with us Tuesday and Wednesday night, and seemed to really enjoy it.  The only awkward time was the weird looks I got from them in the car.  I let Yuri and Gigi pick what music we listened to.  Apparently Alston and Lincoln weren’t familiar with Lionel Richie’s Greatest Hits?

It seriously was a good week.  I’m usually relieved to get to stay home when we finish Revival, but I have to agree with Karlie this time.  We were driving home from school this afternoon and she said, “I wish we had Revival again tonight”.  Me too, Kiki.  Me too!

Day 7 - Thankful Blog - Home Sweet Home

Today I am thankful that I live in Alabama.  When things all around us look really bad, we can say “Roll Tide” and automatically start feeling better. 

Roll Tide, y'all!

Diet Sundrop

DSD (as I will refer to him) and I have had an intense relationship for several years.  He has a control over me that I cannot explain.  He’s the first thing I think of every morning.  I insist on taking him with me everywhere I go.  I’ve even smuggled him in suitcases to Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, the Dominican Republic.  It’s an obsession really.  I’m embarrassed to type out how often I see him in a day, but you would be shocked.  My family may run out of the toilet paper and milk, but there is always DSD. There are not many things in this world that I love more, but I have to confess that our relationship is in trouble.  My head tells me that it’s time to end it, but my heart breaks just thinking about it.  I can’t seem to lose weight and I think he’s part of the problem.   He keeps a tight hold on me, perhaps in fear that I will choose another drink over him? I’ve had terrible heartburn for several weeks, but instead of supporting me through it, DSD just makes it worse.  I know I should break it off, but I JUST LOVE HIM SO MUCH.   

I think it’s time that we do a trial separation at least.  Maybe we are destined to be together, just not 24/7.  I’m going to try my best to see him in moderation and not let him define me.  Normally, if you saw me out and about, DSD would be stuffed in my purse.  It’s time for me step out on my own and find myself again.  I can’t worry about what he thinks.  If he loves me, he will understand.