A Cornicopia of Thanks

This week I am cleaning 'like a crazy lady' (that's how C described it) in preperation for Christmas' arrival this weekend. So I started with my camera card- and that reminded me that I never fully finished up Thanksgiving. I was at my Gram's for the holiday and I'll blame her lack of Internet for eating my other.... however many more things I needed to complete my list of 100 things I'm thankful for. I was simply thankful for every moment we had to spend with family this holiday season. It had been too long and I almost forgot just how fun they can be.
I am thankful for my Gram and Pap and that they are able to play around with my kids. (C and N are so lucky)
Pretty much I'm thankful for the whole crazy bunch of family we saw this year.

And even the ones we didn't see

We banked a lot of hugs to get us through to the next time we see them and stayed just long enough to remind us how truly crazy they are. In the end it was good to go and it was good to come home (to our sick daddy on the couch).

Now who's ready for Christmas!

I'm Grateful For

21 yeast
22 I'm thankful that my mom cooked with me when I was little and that I can cook with my kids while they are little.
23 wet wipes with scrubbies
24 Dinosaurs (to give me 25 min ALL to myself)
25 my maid (oh wait, I'd be thankful if I had a maid) I am thankful to be healthy enough to take care of things around my house (but anyone is welcome to stop by and fold this laundry)
26 Candy (and it's bizarre effects on Claire last night) I needed that giggle
27 Thermometers that don't take a long time (poor Nick)
28 Water with Ice

Nodan mamomamo

Nodan mamomamo- Thank you (in Hindi)
This afternoon I was blessed to walk to school with one of the mother's from Claire's class. She has triplets Claire's age and twins in first grade. That alone blows my mind. She is Indian, and admitted to me that she 'doesn't cook American food'. I wonder if she'd teach me to cook some Indian food? She's such a calming and quiet personality. I like her. I am adding her to the list of people I want to get to know better this year. (Nov. to Nov.)
In other news, Nick is sick. Claire got glowing reviews at parent teacher conference and my husband returns home. :)
And now some new things I am thankful for.

14 Ibuprofen
15 blankets
16 sippy cups
17 husbands - in particular mine but I'm also thankful for the wonderful husbands that my sisters found. (whoa, who typed that!)
18 Socks
19 crayons and coloring books so good for stress relief
20 pillows!

Merci

10 footsie pajamas -
and the fact that I have called them footie pajamas forever and when I typed that into my phone it auto corrected it to footsie pajamas. I just love that my phone knows what footsie pajamas are :) (and yes it corrected it as a phrase and not just the single word)

11 Warm showers on cloudy days.
There is just something about steam that makes everything just melt away... worries, frustrations, anger and of course dirt.

12 Sister in laws
and not being alone on my anniversary while my hubby works hard so he can take me out somewhere REALLY nice :)

13 (bonus!) Hugs
It never ceases to amaze me how a hug can change my mood in a second. And it seems like the smaller the arms the happier it makes me. :)

Ďakujem

7 Great kids who let me enjoy a lovely breakfast all by myself and who slept like they knew about daylight savings. :)

8 Sunshine! and beautiful fall leaves to enjoy.
It's a bit cold but not too cold to be out and about. (Glad I'm not running the marathon although I wish I was seeing the start today)

9 I'm thankful for my husband.
He's been away for what feels like the entire weekend and even though I'm still up (coffee at 4pm) and he's asleep it's nice just to have him close.

Gracias

4 Forgiveness and hugs; I know that's two but they are best when they come together.

5 Getting stuff free for being cute.

6 phones so I could chat with friends and family who are far away. (I miss you guys)

Thankful

This year I have had a lot to be thankful for.
I have a house that has heat and electricity and running water, I have a husband who comes home to his family at night, I have two healthy and intelligent children who have good manners (for the most part). I have a wonderful relationship with my parents and siblings who I wouldn't trade for anything.
This year I will participate in the '100 Things I'm Thankful for Event'. Started by my mother and perpetuated by my sisters.
I think I'll have 3 things each day.. one in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening before bed, just to keep my thankful the whole day not just one rushed weekend evening when I realize I have not been thankful for an entire week. (But who knows.. I work well last minuet and when guilt or pressure are applied... )
Here goes:

1 Missing the UPS guy yesterday so I know there is a package coming today (it's like Christmas)

2 Having people to giggle with over the stupid things.

3 The ability to wink and the fact that it's the little things that impress my kids... I know it won't be like that forever.

Tubs to Tears

47. bath time
48. a home all my own
49. family all on one continet
50. having my computer home
51. not having to talk to the police in a whole year at least about anything
52. Shoes
53. bubbles
54. graham crackers
55. movies in bed
56. dishwasher!!!
57. Forgiveness
58. Love
59. Hope
60. Packages
61. Picture Frames no one else wanted
62. hearing
63. Sight
64. the lack of mirrors in my house
65. breath (the deep relaxing kind)
66. Laughter (especially the big kind from little people)
67. tears
68. Joy

Thankful Through the Storm

36. Marshmallows
37. Hot cocoa made with warm milk
38. My kids :)
39. A warm home to be in
40. Child locks on cupboards (how I wish mine would actually work all the time)
41. Kids who think cleaning is fun
42. My husband who takes such good care of me (I love you honey)
43. Flowers to brighten both my house and my day (from the husband who loves me)
44. Crayons
45. Feelings of accomplishment
46. Christmas decorations

Another Full Night and Day

28. full nights of sleep

29. blankets

30. washing machine

31. America and it's freedoms and opportunities

32. my Dad

33. the anticipation of something good

34. Sisters (of all kinds)

35. DVR

So as I was writing this I typed 'chickens' for number 34. Making chickens a repeat, I took it off but the oddity of 'chickens' appearing twice in my list of things I am thankful for was not lost to me. Maybe we'll head over to the zoo to crow at the roosters and chickens today in appreciation for them. We were up before them this morning. I am not thankful for daylight savings.

Plenty to be Thankful For

So, as with everything in my life, I am a little behind, or maybe I'm just way ahead. My mind has completely skipped over an entire holiday...
I am already dreaming of Christmas decorations for my house, I have begun shopping for gifts and I'm blogging about Christmas cards (which by the way netted me free Christmas cards for 'almost' all my facebook friends)(YAY!).
Forget Thanksgiving. I would I guess if I didn't have so much to be thankful for, and so many people to remind me to be thankful :)
So here goes:
1. A Jesus who loves me
2. Two beautiful and healthy kids
3. My ability to smile
4. My kids ability to make me smile
5. Hardwood flooring
6. My mom (I meant to put her near the top cause I know she appreciates it) (oops)
**Now is a good time to remind you all that this list is in no real order**
7. Love, and especially a family who always loves (no matter what)
8. books
9. The library
10. brownies in a mug with a glass of cold milk
11. money
12. Sisters
**Again not in any real order**
13. new paper items

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it-
is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

William Arthur Ward