Thankful Thursday

The End! This past week marks the end of the busiest time of the year. Lauren and Mackenzie just finished up their indoor soccer seasons and their basketball seasons. I am sad to see the end because they had a good time, but I am one happy Mom!

Friends! Great friends who notice when you are having a bad day and comment on the blog, stop by with a hug, or send a sweet email.

Dinner out with Mark! Last weekend we finally slowed down enough to be able to go out to dinner. It was so nice to reconnect after an extremely busy couple of months. I've decided that I still like him and I'll keep him around a little longer! Thanks to Lauren for babysitting her sick little sister too!
Birds that chirp outside my window instead of coming inside my house uninvited!

New followers! Need I say more?

Extra cuddle time! Sierra has been a little "under the weather" for the past couple of days. We have spent a lot of time snuggled up watching High School Musical 3 and Madagascar 2 and yesterday we took a nice long nap in "Mommy's bed". I'm also grateful that today she is feeling fine!

Consignment Sale

If anyone is interested in some tickets for The Kidz Klozet presale at 7:00 tonight, I have 3. I can't go because Mackenzie will be playing for the 1st place trophy in her indoor soccer division. Way to go, Big Mack!

Today sucks! That may seem a little harsh, but that's how I feel about February 21st. A lot of bad memories surround today, along with a few really great ones. I remember driving home from the hospital and thinking that I couldn't wait for some time to pass so that it wouldn't hurt so much. For the most part, time is the perfect healer. But today my heart aches just as it did on this day 7 years ago.

When you lose your spouse, you're a widow. When you lose your parents, you're an orphan. But there is no word to define a parent who has lost a child. That's because there are no words to describe the pain and helplessness you feel when your child is suffering or passes away. It's just not supposed to happen.

It's been too long since I've held my little boy and kissed his sweet little cheeks. I look forward to an eternity with my perfect little guy.

"How long will it take for a bird to starve to death in our attic?"

This is the text I just sent Mark. I was up in the attic going through bins of clothes to find some pants for Ash. (She has grown almost a full inch since her birthday and I refuse to buy new jeans. Spring is just around the corner, right?) I was sitting at the top of the stairs and could hear the birds outside, but was taken by surprise when one flew right by my head. I did not scream, but almost fell down the stairs. I hurried down as fast as I could and slammed the attic door shut. That bird will have to figure out how it got in if it wants to get out!

I'm not a big fan of birds in the house. Several years ago I opened my dryer and one flew out, scaring me to death. I trapped it in one of the girls rooms and opened a window. It finally decided to leave without anymore help from me. And then there was the one that came in with the Christmas Carolers. That one flew around the house while we chased it for quite a while! I have nothing against birds, but I do prefer to keep nature outside where it belongs!

No matter what the weekend may or may not have in store, Fridays always make me smile! This weekend there is the promise of beautiful, warm, sunny weather, a couple of basketball games, maybe sleeping in on Saturday morning (work with me on this one, Sierra!), and maybe even a date with my hubby! Just looking forward to a nice, relaxing weekend with my family! Make it a good one!

Wow! Could it really be Thursday already!? Where has the week gone!!

This week I am thankful for my vacuum cleaner! I don't think you can fully appreciate a vacuum cleaner until you have lots of girls with lots of long hair. Or until you've lived out of your car and eaten several meals a week there with little kids.

Midol! Need I say more? I think Mark is pretty grateful for that about now too!

Teachers! My kids have lucked out and have some really great teachers this year. I've gotten 2 calls from the middle school this week to let me know that Lauren has done a great job in her creative speech class (which she was very nervous about) and that she should do well in honors classes as a freshman next year. Our 2 teachers at the elementary school are so fun and creative and Sierra's teachers and therapists have done wonderful, fun things with her.
Sunshine! Although it is not particularly warm outside, sunshine brightens my mood and gives me hope that spring is just around the corner. Even if Mr. Groundhog says there are 6 weeks to go!

Sonic! I admit I have a Diet Coke addiction and Sonic 1/2 price drinks during Happy Hour and their 99 cent large in the morning just make me smile!

Basketball, Braces, and Roller Skates?

Our life has been quite hectic lately. We have been to countless basketball games for Lauren's middle school team. They have done really well and have had a couple of unexpected wins. Last night's game was very exciting and the Hornets posted a 2-point win over our rival school. I yelled so much that I don't have much of a voice today, but it was a great game! Mackenzie's rec team continues to be undefeated and are also a lot of fun to watch. Mackenzie is having a great time. And our church team has also posted some unexpected wins which have been very exciting. The older girls' indoor soccer teams are doing well and have had some close games too. Several weeks ago we were informed by our family dentist that Mackenzie would be ready for braces soon. She had 2 molars that still needed to come out and then we'd be set. One of those teeth was out by the end of the day (no joke!) and the other within a week or so. Today I took her in for her consultation. She is very excited about getting braces and was already talking about colors and how many she can have at the same time. So Mackenzie! She'll be in them for about 2 years and will spend one of those years in some fancy contraption called the "Herbst Appliance" to help with her uneven jaw. Looks a little uncomfortable, but she wasn't phased a bit. We'll be getting a second opinion (and hopefully a cheaper option) next week and go from there.
And last night after the basketball game we headed up to the skating rink for the Elementary School's skate night. The girls were very excited about that, although I don't think my littlest ones realized how much work it would be. They both did really well and kept at it for a while. I'm sure it will be more fun when they don't have to hold on to Mom's or Dad's hand. They were exhausted by the end of the night and ready to go home and get into bed! They were asleep within minutes of lights out! (You'll have to forgive the fuzzy pictures. During Lauren's game, Sierra amused herself with my camera and the lens was covered in little fingerprints!)

Thankful Thursday

Mayfield Chocolate Almond Ice Cream! Nothing better at the end of a long, busy day. Especially if you can pile it high on a sugar cone. Helps me unwind and feel like I can do it all over again tomorrow.

Texting! Because most days it's the ONLY form of communication with my hubby until he walks through the front door! Sometimes even after he comes home. We'll be upgrading to an unlimited plan this month!

Surprises! This week I had some very wonderful friends bring my family dinner because I hadn't had time to cook for days. Another night our primary presidency brought me a chocolate pie after a highly stressful Sunday at church with Sierra. Even after I ditched my sweet little 4-year-old class to take said child home. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The Minute Clinic! Mackenzie was sick again on Tuesday and since she had just finished taking an antibiotic for strep, I was sure that it hadn't cleared up. A quick trip to the Minute Clinic and I was assured this was some new virus (unless the long test comes back positive!) and she can (and will) return to school tomorrow.

A "hands-on" kinda Dad! Mark is so helpful when he comes home from work. He'll bathe the little girls, clean up after dinner, fold laundry, help with homework, and dish up my ice cream! Definitely a keeper!

Blogging! Because I love reading other peoples' blogs and realizing that my life is indeed as "normal" as it gets!

*Logo courtesy of Shark Bait