Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was held at our apartment this year. And that means that I hosted instead of taking pictures... Oh, I am such a horrible photographer. I really wish it was something I remembered to do, but I really don't.
If I had taken pictures, you'd see them like this.

My parents came on Wednesday night and parked their motorhome in the back of our building. So, you'd see us watching TV together Wednesday night. Then you'd see my mom making Chicken Parm (she knows it's my favorite meal!!) and Ryan went to the Celtics game, so he missed out on the deliciousness that was dinner!

Then there would be pictures of my dad blowing these enormous bubbles in the tub for Maddie and she loved every minute of it!!

When dad went to bed, Mom and I began the food prep for the next day. We peeled potatoes and squash (and a turnip) for what seemed like hours. Mom and I don't get a lot of alone time, so I eat it up when we do. This time was great because not only did she pass on her incredible cooking knowledge (and teach me how to cook a turkey) but we chatted about everything. Mom is in her glory in the kitchen... I always thought she should have a cooking show, she'd be so great at it!!

Once we finished getting all of the veggies prepped for the morning and put the turkey in the oven, we sat and chatted for a bit and I made her sit through the next Brothers and Sisters episode (I'm still on season 2, but I can't get enough of this family!!)

Thursday morning was spent watching the parade (or Hurade as Maddie called it) and then Becky and the kids arrived. Mom and I were mashing and getting appetizers ready as the in-laws arrived and shortly after, Scott, Holly and Hayden showed up. That's right, we had 14 people in our tiny apartment and I couldn't have been happier.

There were many "that's what she said" comments and I think Holly realized she was marrying into a nutty family, but she loved it!! She also loved the wine (something we have in common!) The next picture you'd see is of the boys (Mark, Matthew and Hayden) all playing outside. They were sliding down the clock tower ramp on their bellies and somehow their pants got soaked!! So when they came in, I made them all hang out in my bedroom, I took their jeans off and threw them into the dryer. Well, this, I thought would be embarrassing, but no! The boys loved jumping on my bed in their underwear, in fact, they were pretending to be models and singing, "We're hotties, we're hotties!!" So funny!! They're 10 and 6!

We had the kids eat at Maddie's princess table (the boys were oh so thrilled about this) and the adults at the adult table!!

I wanted so badly to start the tradition of going around the table and saying what you're thankful for, but I didn't. Why? Well, I don't know, I know its a corny thing to do and didn't want to force people to say something... plus I know that this time of year is hard on Becky (Friday would be her 10 year anniversary) so I didn't want her to think she was being put on the spot or anything like that... but really, I think I'm going to start it next year.

Thanksgiving afternoon, after all the dishes were done and the house was a little quieter, Becky, Mom and I played Scrabble while the kids played all over the house. (I won, but really, who's keeping score!)

Thanksgiving night Dad went to bed early and Ryan, Mom and I watched Elf. Well, mom left around 10:30 and Ryan and I fell asleep on the couch!

Friday morning we hung around the house, Mom and Dad went to lunch with friends and Ryan and I did some shopping. The stores were not bad at all, especially for Black Friday!!

The best part of the weekend though, was Sunday morning. Saturday night after Maddie went to bed, Ryan and I put up the Christmas Tree and all of the decorations. So, Sunday morning, Maddie came out into the living room and saw the tree!! The look on her face was incredible!!!
We decided that will be our tradition. We wont tell her when we're putting it up, but just one morning each year, she'll wake up and the house will be decorated!! This morning, she went out to the living room and said, "Chu chu Tree, I missed you!!" We're working on "Christmas!" I just love that she's at the age where she's so enamored with these things!! So fun.... Our tree, however, I do have a picture of...

Thankful

That I am...

For my family. So many people have members of their family (immediate) that they don't talk to. I don't have that and never will. When we have issues, we talk about them. It might take a few days but we talk about the issues.

For my dad's health. He went to the doctor to get his biopsy results yesterday, which I really wish were clear, but they weren't. HOWEVER, the cancer did not spread; THANK GOD. For that, I am thankful. I wish I could say that he is done with treatment and that horrible process was over; but I can't. He has to have intense rounds of treatment starting Dec. 13th and I am sure he is dreading that; but he is so strong. His strength and ability to see the silver lining in all of this is so inspirational. And I am just happy that it is not worse than it is.

I am thankful for my job. I am even more thankful that I love my job. I love my students, I love the opportunities that I am given in this job and I love who I am when I'm at work.

I am thankful for my friends. I have a great deal of acquaintances and some incredible best friends. I love the support and relationships I have with these friends.

I am so thankful that I have grown to love being a mom. It was rough there for a while, but I do love being Maddie's mom. Its the hardest job I've ever had but I do love it. I have such a great example in my mom. She's got this insane sense of patience that I just don't know where it comes from!! She can listen to me complain and ramble and instead of telling me to stop or getting frustrated, she'll listen, validate where necessary and help when I need it. She's never been one to tell me what to do or be pushy when offering guidance and I appreciate that so much. I need to try to remember that when dealing with Maddie. It's going to be so tough to not just want to make her decisions for her; but mom never did that to me, so I need to learn from her.

This Thanksgiving, I am one very blessed girl. I have tons to be thankful for and very little complaints.

15 years later... and still in love

It is one thing to love someone for 15 years, its another to be IN love with them. I am so blessed to say that 15 years later, I am still IN love with Ryan.

He still makes me laugh, he still gives me chills, he still is the greatest guy I've ever met.

And today was no different.

Flowers.

Delivered to my office...

He's incredible...

Just to remind me to cheer up!!!

I love him... and am IN love with him.... and very blessed....

Confidence Booster

So the time change didn't kick in until today! We set the clocks back on Saturday night, figured Maddie would be up at the crack of dawn on Sunday, but nope; she slept until 8:30am! Yesterday, she slept until a little after 7:30am which wasn't bad... but today, up a little before 7am! Uggh!
This always messes with my morning routine when she's up early.
You see, I get up at 5:45am with Ryan and go for my run. I usually get out the door by 6, so I run and come back by 6:30am. Then I am able to cool down and lay down (not always fall back asleep but at least rest) until my alarm goes off at 7:45am.
I can get in the shower and get my clothes ironed by the time Maddie is talking in her crib. (She is usually just waking up when I get in the shower, but like me, she takes a good 15 minutes to actually wake up enough to function!)
Then I am able to get her eating breakfast while I do my hair and get dressed.

When she's up early, this all changes!

So this morning, we laid on the couch together for about 20 minutes and watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Then I told her I needed to shower. She decided she would come in the bathroom and sit on the stool outside the tub while I showered.
Good deal, I could make sure she wasn't getting into anything she shouldn't and she could still sit and talk my ear off!

So, she was taking her tubby toys and dropping them into the tub, I'd put them back on the side of the tub, and the cycle continued...

Well, she got bored with this, so she held open the curtain and looked in as I was washing my face and said, "Mumma, you washin'?" "Yep, Maddie, Mumma's in the shower, getting clean." Then she looked me up and down from head to toe (which is usually followed by something about boobies or belly button or something silly), but instead she said, "Mumma, you're beautiful"....

Seriously! Is there a better compliment?
I think not!