Different Kind of "Last Post"!

Well, if I hadn't deleted the page with a running total of thanks, I could give you a tally for the year; from August till now!  Oh well, but might have been over 600 or so.

Today, would be thankful for some progress in our bath (yes, it needed work again), a good dinner, time to hang out, and another movie marathon (woohoo, $1.59 for two movies for 4 people).

Happy New Year and stay safe.

P.S.
Different style of post script - here's a blog I kept since 2008 ~ a lot of life, homeschooling, and the boys if you'd care to take a stroll down memory lane.

P.S.S.
Had to add one more photo, which I hope will inspire me next year:

What kind of day!

a hard one for me!  Digging deep to find:

• patience
• medicine
• netflix
• comfy clothes and blankets

Little Boy Pockets

If you are, or have been, a mom of a little boy, you may already know where this post is going!  The contents of boys pockets and the treasures they hold.  We have been spared the worst case scenario - animal or critter going through wash and dry - eek and gage!  There has been many other things ~ have had a wrapped tootsie roll make it through wash dry fully in tact!  Many things have been found before the wash ~ mostly rocks and sticks, but many don't.  Here's a picture of just a few:

Other miscellaneous things:

• day off from school
• sleeping in
• watching "Beauty and The Beast" Cast One video
• starting work on our bath (never turns out to be an easy project does it)

Got photo's added to my Christmas Post if you want to take a look!!!

"On the Road again . . .

Just can't wait to get on the road again!"  Can't easily find a good Willie Nelson video to post to go with this, but it's true of the last few hours.  Spent less than 24 hours in Virginia Beach visiting family for Christmas.  Thankfulness for Sunday:

• good traffic
• easy dinners
• quick shopping

To Slow

this morning with the camera.  Missed a couple cool things to be thankful for:

1 ~ kid racing upstairs, back down, to sit next to his dad while they both did their individual devotions

2 ~ brilliant orange sunrise this morning

My brother probably would have gotten shots of both; his camera (or possibly any number of them) is often with easy reach.

Busiest day of the Year

and didn't have much to do with Christmas; about the only connection is that kid was to sick to travel.  We stayed home.  I cleaned instead.  Got loads of little things accomplished.  So thankfulness today would be:

• an unexpected day to clean and put away and I did just that

Christmas ~ A Place Holder

I struggle, lately, with writing every day.  Do I, should I, do I want to?  Consider this a post writing place holder for Christmas day.  All things considered, it was a good day.  The good:

• presents
• cinnamon rolls
• lots of movies
• candy
• beef roast and veggies

I will hopefully come back on another day and add photos ~ no promises though.

 Year of Minecraft!

 Someone got crazy string!

A little blurry and didn't have time to change the settings!

Merry Christmas Eve

We joined the craziness again today (did the Black Friday thing) and by the 24th we still weren't finished shopping!  Ugh, some day we'll get it right.

I am thankful for traditions today.  It helps build the memories.  We got just about all in.  Missed church with weird colds and missed reading Luke 2 as everyone is exhausted.  Yet, it's after eleven and here I am typing away a blog post.

Here's a look at our evening:

 Someone not feeling to well on Christmas Eve.

We stayed home from church and watched a lot of t.v.

 Someone not wanting their picture taken.

 Christmas Tradition since 2003 ~ pajamas on Christmas Eve

Simon has a blue top.

 Ian a green top.

 Matching bottoms!

And "One Sock Ian"

Never did understand how he starts with two

and ends up with one by the end of the day.

 Think it is the second year we have "t.p.'d" their doors.

Red crepe paper is cheaper than actual toilet paper.

Two rolls for a dollar.

The other bedroom door!

Friendship, Memories, and Blessings in Disguise

Today has been a slow day by all accounts.  Three out of the 4 of us rested/napped some.  We even went out for lunch, again today, as yesterday's lunch was comped.  Café Rio was today's selection; one of our favorite places.  Hours of fullness followed.  Great food though.

It's been a difficult week (or longer), to say the least.  Very hard to get through, but things are turning around.  I understand everyone has rough patches, some are the size of a hiccup, other's spell last a lot longer.  That is why I am thankful for a friend tonight.  She had a large gathering at her house this evening and included me.  It was touching that I responded very late and etiquette would say I should have just declined.  She graciously let me come, "just as I am" ~ mess and all.  It meant a lot to me.

So the memories aspect of the evening.  My friend, lives down a bunch of "country back roads".  As Christmas is just around the corner, it reminded me of driving to Wisconsin, to visit family.  The roads windy, sometimes you would get a fog and the lights (street lights, Christmas lights, or security lights) look amazing.  It was a little nerving driving down these roads, but the trip home was a bit easier, more relaxing.  I was pleasantly reminded of the radio show "The Shadow"; so much so, I pulled out some of the cd's I "wished for" a number of Christmas ago.  I am now, kicking back, glass of wine, and listening to one of the shows.

Enjoying a quiet moment before bed, enjoying the memories, enjoying friendship!

One set of grandparent's house ~

the reason I love Craftsman style house

Just the good things . . . .

today.  A bit to tired to figure out pictures or other things.

• Hunger Games and Catching Fire viewing in one day
• going to Five Guys for lunch, thinking we'd get one item free (they messed up a phone order and said we get a free meal) to find out they comped the whole thing
• driving the neighborhood and looking at lights
• laundry done before 3 (washed, dried, and put away)
• more shopping done
• getting caught up on a few computer chores
• almost feel tired and it's before midnight
• figuring out a pretty "new" saucer for a plant (will try to get photos tomorrow)
• getting Christmas cards mailed (we actually used a whole box)
• hanging a few more Christmas Cards we received

If I am up for it it tomorrow, a few things would be good for photos.  I'll see what I can do.  No promises though.

Weekend drawing to an end

and have to admit, even with school out for the year, thankful the weekend is over.  It has felt really rough today.  A kid unhappy because he can't get me what he wants to (already bought by someone else), a very bad haircut that will take months to grow out, and an unorganized way about the day.  Lots not done that would have been nice to get done, but not!  Even managed to mess the blog up and deleted the page with my running total of things that have brought joy.  Not sure I'll recreate it, so won't be sure what numbers I get to!  So much for "10,000 Reasons"!

Writing Christmas Cards this year, going to see how many I can get out.  Kevin has written a couple, I've gotten three done.  Wonder if we can use a whole box.  Here's aiming for 18!

Here's an impromptu card for you readers ~  Merry Christmas:

Saturday before Christmas . . . .

what were we thinking with all the shopping that got done!  Wowser, we were not the only ones out and still not finished.  Ut oh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• homemade meatballs for dinner
• a husband hitting 4 stores the Saturday before for Christmas, by himself
• Uno
• homemade ice cream with M&M's
• glass (or two) of wine

 One view from brief break, while on couch.

Lots of shopping and cleaning today.

Most presents for the boys!

 Don't know why I liked the view of the dining room,

but is kind of cool with cloth ribbons on the individual lights

and holly around them all.

raw meatballs anyone ~ cooked, they tasted wonderful!

Pizza Friday, Among other things

Yes, we have homemade pizza just about every Friday evening.  Think it is safe to say we average 50 out of 52 Fridays a year.  Once in awhile it gets shuffled to Thursday, when boys are out of town due to Scout events or if we are traveling.  Today was no different ~ 4 individual pizzas to the rescue.

Today was also the last scheduled school day of the calendar year 2014.  School still took a bit, but it's been finished, corrected by me, and then corrected by the boys.  Simon may work a head on biology, but that is his choice, not mine.

Thankful list for the day:

• individual pizzas
• cool shadows on the wall (see the photo below)
• taking the ends of various veggies and having them grow (see photo)
• watching "Elf" last night

 We have gold letters in the window

spelling N O E L

The closer one is Romaine lettuce

the further back is celery

Should you read this far, and care to see more photos, check out December 1 post.  I added a photo that is relevant!

Almost Break!

Yes, almost break!!  One more school day for the calendar year 2014!  Boys are quick to argue over that, in a mild form.  Younger will be content in staying on the course I have plotted out for the school year.  Mr. Teen is worried that the schedule for biology doesn't line up with what is being done in co-op and wants to get ahead.  Ach!  Whatever!!!

Today's thankfulness, feels like fishing for things.  Not a bad day, just things aren't obvious.  A list would go like this:

• slow morning
• making chocolate sauce and home made ketchup (trying to avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup and Corn Syrup where I can)
• time to shop, alone (think I might have mentioned that before)
• getting caught up on laundry
• waffles for dinner, with left overs

A Weird Combination of Things

Random things that have brought touches of happiness!

• husband's bonus even if it doesn't hit till Friday
• going ADHD and Type A on cleaning the stove (even pulled it away from the wall to clean)
• mixing up the school day with random videos that have absolutely nothing with school!
• second round of coffee
• getting caught up on grading some high school work
• having down time (actually it is more like avoidance of some work)
• finding out that son's therapy is totally canceled next week; the three of them are out!

Christmas Music

Tis the season for carol's; old, new, and weird.  So I really don't know any weird ones, but I am sure there are some.

Thought I'd share a few Christmas Carol videos for a change.  Just because it is that time of year.

First up ~ the Christmas Scale

Second ~ Pentatonix "Mary Did You Know"  sorry folks, this has an add first

Third ~ the classic "White Christmas"

Forth ~ another classic by Frank Sinatra "I'll Be Home For Christmas"

Fifth ~ Bing Crosby "Silent Night"

Sixth ~ Nat King Cole "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

Seventh ~ Ella Fitzgerald "The First Noel"

Eight ~ Judy Garland "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

Ninth ~ Johnny Mathis "Sleigh Ride"

Tenth ~ Dean Martin and Doris Day "Baby It's Cold Outside"

There you have it, 10 of my favorite Christmas Songs!

Ponderings!

I've been finding it hard to come back to the blog, to write about what is good and joyful.  It's a season I suppose.  In my head, I know there is good and joyful things, but the practicality of that hard and difficult.

Amazingly, there are still a few people reading this blog.  Makes me wonder why?  Seriously, if you are a regular reader, please share in the comments why you keep coming back.  I could use the encouragement.

In the meantime, a funny sort of thing that doesn't happen often around here.  Making dinner, I found a double yolked egg.  Son wanted a picture of it, so that is it for today, a picture of off the wall joy.

Sunday again!

weekends go to quickly.  This one especially.  There were moments of funniness, and baking, and shopping, and laundry, and a strong desire to just sit still.  Not happening this day unfortunately!  Lots of stuff got dropped, but a lot got done to.

Yes, you are probably right, border line whiny post.

The good for the day:

• one son got a Christmas Card that mentioned a small snow blower ~ a balloon was on the inside.  He was having fun with it today.  See the photo below.
• running into a friend while grocery shopping
• different son, than the other day, having a turn making Christmas cookies ~ they turned out well
• jump starting tomorrow's laundry day

Weekends are meant to be CrAzY,

Right?

Began last night with 2 out of the house, coming home late!  The morning began with dragging a tired kid out of bed to go to a scout mate's house to get some requirements done, the other kid to TKD, other kid to TKD right after scout stuff, and onto afternoon and evening stuff!

So the good despite it all:

• watching "Voyager" for the second time through with the boys
• home made chicken nuggets
• being in pjs early

Freaky Friday

Been a Freaky Friday sort of day!  Not all bad, not all good!.

Good things can happen, even on rough days:

• sold a few things on a Facebook board
• wrapped a few gifts for the boys
• had an unsuccessful shopping trip, but it was still time out without the boys
• vegging with another movie tonight
• hoping to post and sell more stuff!

A picture from yesterday.  Mr. Teen was

playing with the camera and tripod!

Beautiful Morning

Morning dawned beautifully today.  Somedays the moon is still up when we wake up; it really looked pretty.

Boys and I hung out at home most of the day.  School went well, we watched movies, and we watched netflix.  Think there was a lot of junk food in there too!

Guess you could call it a good day!

A Wonderful Wednesday to you!

It truly has been a wonderful day, despite moments of concern (which has been turned around ~ Thank God!!).  Not a whole lot of idle chat today, just jumping into my thanks:

• fun catching up with a "therapy friend"; you know you always make friends at work or therapy or sports practices with the other moms around!
• a trusted handy man taking care of a reoccurring problem we've had for about 2 to 3 years now
• school was full of laughter today
• handyman enjoying our history lesson today and asking our kids questions about it ~ aha, they were able to answer it!
• school finished, graded, and put away by 3:00 PM, even after a late start
• time to watch Christmas videos
• some chores already done

Someone needed to burn off steam;

had him do some jumping jacks,

which lead into opening a pencil sharpener,

which lead into junk all over the floor,

which lead to him vacuuming!

He poses well, doesn't he?

Tuesday Teasers

That's what it feels like; a teaser of a day.  School was quick, but not much of anything else was accomplished.  This evening was on Scout duty; even got to sit in on a Board of Review.  Regardless, I will be thankful for a good school day!

Miscellaneous Monday

So random are the things for me today, you can only call it miscellaneous.  No particular categories, no one thing, just life, just stuff.  Just sleepy people after a busy weekend.

• teen making a fire in the wood burning stove, managing it, and still getting school done
• winging the meal planning, not recommended, and not having to go shopping to come up with a good meal
• as another child put it ~ no rehearsals today; first time since September!
• time to knit
• almost quiet house
• enjoying literature with the boys

Sunday at our house

Another Sunday begins to wrap up.  Beginning of a new week.  Time is just flying by at great neck speeds.  Today, it's the little things:

• getting the Christmas Village up on the mantle
• shopping to find the "hard to find plain Christmas M&M's"
• son making chocolate chip cookies with M&M's instead
• boys wearing Santa hats all day
• buying new outdoor bows
• running into an "old" friend ~ she looked great as she'd lost a "whole person" (135 pounds)
• getting motivated to loose the rest of my weight
• teen having fun at a friends house
• finally being able to crawl into bed after picking kid up

If I get around to back filling pictures, one of the boys with their Santa hats on will go here!

Saturdays ~ seems like a blur

• ladies brunch
• Christmas decorating
• cookie making
• cleaning
• Children's Christmas Program
• meals
• shopping

Hard Rounds in Life

Yup!  Life has been feeling hard the last few days!  There is still good in the bad!  Trying to find the good can be hard and feels extremely difficult at times.  By the end of the day, I was just thankful that it was the end of the day, that we were all home, and it was time to sleep.  We'd had clothes to wear, things to do, school to get done, food to eat, and a safe place to sleep.  Seems like sort of a "crutch" of a list.  Some days are like that though.  When in the mix of feeling down, it's hard to be thankful and see the joy.

I desperately need to surround myself with family and friends that can help me see the good, the joy, the thankfulness.  If you have any for today, please share so I can rejoice with you.

Something pretty to liven up a drab post!

Friends helping with Thankfulness!

Enjoyed hanging with some friends today.  They helped me find the joy for the day.

• everyone is healthy
• cars are in working order
• and there were others I have already forgotten (shoulda taken notes)

How about you?

Cleaning up old Christmas Crafts

Took a few minutes today and cleaned up an old Christmas Tree craft I'd made many years ago.  It's a tree, with 35 light wholes cut out, I got at Micheal's.  I had panted it with glossy green and it just never looked right to me ~ to fake.  The other day, the fabric bows got plucked off and today I sanded the sucker to dull the green down.  It looks better but possibly needs touches of another green and some white.  May attach the bows back and a new star.  That will all be another day.

So today am thankful for:

• sandpaper that never got put away
• razor blades to pop off glue
• strand of 35 light bulbs that still works after many years (not a dead bulb yet)
• the snow men and santa's that stand next to said tree

December 2

Not very creative with the titles this month!  Decided I did want to keep this up and posts may just be short and sweet.  One thing, a photo, all photos, or "it's a hard day, share yours so I can remember" kind of day.

Today, thankful for a husband who humored me and drove all over the place looking for "just the right thing" for co-op.  No luck, so items returned, about 8 stores hit in 3 hours.  Let's not talk about the miles put on my van, in the cold, dark, rainy night!

One of those days that all's well that ends in a warm sleep!

December 1st

Funny how kids remember the traditions better than the parents!  This year they remembered who put the star on top of the tree yesterday, today they knew who moved the star to the beginning of the Advent Calendar.  Thankful I don't have to play referee on that anymore!

Not a whole lot comes to mind for thankfulness other than the above.  Photo's may pop up, later that correspond to something I've written.  Check back if you like.

Yes, I took the photo well after the first!

That's life at our house, it is slow sometimes.

Somethings just get pushed to back burner, but

at least there is a photo for this post now!

just pictures

 Almost 15 yo

 no longer needs

a step ladder to read the top

Last Post . . .

. . . for awhile.  Finding the time and desire to blog is getting hard.  The joy is there, but write things out is getting difficult.  Thinking I'll take a break from this and see what happens.  May be back, may not be.  Hope you enjoyed it while it lasted!

Black Friday . . .

list of things that have been good:

• Actually went shopping on Black Friday!  Been a long while since I'd gone out, probably 7 or more years.  Last time out was more to see what all the fuss was about.  Today, actually got out of the house at 7:45 to see if I could score the one deal that was worth it and actually had success (plug for my facebook yardsale board with similar Black Friday Theme)
• After hanging out with family, had the usual turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sandwich.
• Another good thing, made it home from VA Beach in about 3 hours and 20 minutes.  Could have been less if we had a full tank and a child who had remembered to "use the facilities before getting in the car"!
• Adjusting things around the house to further decorate for Chirstmas ~ we have strings of lights out, checking the bulbs, one more wreath out, and a couple window candles up.  Tomorrow will be busier.

Thanksgiving Day

A day of family, traditions (old and new), food, and fun.  Keeping it short today!

• family to hang out with
• good food
• time off from normal things

Have a wonderful day!  Remember to give thanks, in all things.

Seasons are Changing

around here!  At least the decorations.  The leaves are falling and the evergreen wreaths are coming out.

Today + Joy = a hodge podge of a list.  So here it is:

• weather that keeps people home
• quick feeling therapy
• ending of "one" season and beginning of another
• warm breakfast on a cold day

Short and sweet list!

 Fall leaf garland that came down this morning!

Annual Christmas Wreath from

my in-laws.  Love getting this each year.

Not something I would buy for myself,

so it is appreciated!

Life, Curve Balls, and Flexibility

So many different ideas for idle chit chat for today's post.  Originally thought of monochromatic because of the sky this morning. It was a light gray with medium gray, wispy clouds!  Had a post started, but it just wasn't working for me.

At this point in the day, the title of this post sums it up best:  Life, Curve Balls, and Flexibility.  Went to bed last night thinking I'd be home all day to get some chores done.  That could not be FURTHER from the truth!  Therapy called, at 7:30 AM, to see if we could come in at 9:00 AM because therapist got days mixed up.  I could have said no and been alright with that, but didn't.  Ran errands I didn't fully expect.  STILL got the carpets cleaned, rug cleaner returned, dip made for Thursday, and am baking cookies for Thursday as well.  Got two kids through the shower (with one working shower), dinner made with no wheat!  And now it is just the in and out of the cookie trays.  Holly, if you ever read this post, you feel my pain.  I am hoping the chips, in the photo below, make it worthwhile!!!  Looking forward to putting the house back together (good grief the rugs are taking FOREVER to dry), a glass of wine, and just relaxing before the mad dash tomorrow!

So my thankfulness for the day would include:

• fast acting coffee
• flexibility to adapt to life's changes
• time to sit and be
• cleaner carpeting
• a dog, finally content to be inside (more in and out all day long!)

 Overloaded, chocolate chip cookies

Caramel filled morsels!  Hope they are

worth it!

Not an Average Monday!

Seriously not your average Monday!  Even though busy, even though scattered cloudiness, even though there was A LOT of cleaning and laundry ~ there has been a great amount of things to be thankful for; lots of great photo ops too!  Without much more idle chitter chatter, here's my list today:

• boys getting to sleep in (we're on Thanksgiving Break)
• lots of cleaning getting done
• Kevin swinging by Costco, just for cheese and wine
• good dinner (Tacos)
• beautiful sunrise
• catching a lady bug
• being able to open up the house for awhile today

 boys enjoying a morning off!

 Ms. Kitty in her favorite spot.

 Ms. C in her favorite spot!  Gave her a pillow as

the Apothecary didn't look to comfy as a head rest.

Lady Bug that flew in this morning.

Sundays = Busy Days!!

at least this week.  Worst part, kids running on an almost empty sleep tank!  That's okay, Thanksgiving Break is upon us.  There is time to catch up.  After making it through the day (which I wasn't sure I would), it is a bit easier to see the joy.

• making my version of lasagna (with sauce that simmered all day yesterday)
• moments of cleaning ~ weird I know, to be thankful for that, but it is true
• Eagle Court of Honor for a friend's son
• time with some family over for dinner
• early pj time and watching a movie

A good Sunday to you and good night!

Post Show Let Downs

Yup, we had those this evening.  Our boys have so much fun working on a show, getting to know the kids better and generally having a blast, it is hard for it to stop.  Tonight was the last show of "Fiddler on the Roof", followed by striking the set, and cast party.  Almost reminded me of college and how things were done.  Thankful for  a bit of time off, but will miss seeing the adults as much as our boys miss seeing the kids.

Today's list of thankfulness:

• home made soup
• the starts of lasagna simmering all afternoon
• hopefully last round of leafs mostly dealt with
• time spent with friends after the show
• bread baked

Finally Friday!!!

And the Friday before Thanksgiving! Not a whole lot more than yesterday, on the thankful front, but a bit easier.  Life can just do that to you!  Here are a few for today (and photo's), in particular order!

• seeing our boys show, just as parents, no show jobs
• trying really hard to not sing along with each song 
• potting a Christmas Catus, into a larger pot
• waiting on a couple "new" Christmas Catus to sprout enough roots to be planted
• homemade lasagna, made by a friend
• dinner with friends

 Sunsets and sunrises never get old here!

Repotting the Christmas Catus!

Natural fertilizer (ground up egg shells and Epsom Salt

which is actually magnesium and not salt)