Gratitude....

I missed Thanksgiving dinner this year. My son was sick. Toad took Lulu to my parents' house, and I stayed back.

Baby Boy recovered - he had a 24 hour bug. Fortunately for me, our previously scheduled family dinner occurred tonight. My parents, siblings, and grandchildren gathered for chili at our house.

This was my Thanksgiving. It was beyond great to have my entire family together tonight - my parents, the five siblings, four spouses, and eight grandchildren.

We spent time with our newest niece - the best baby ever.

Cousins played....

I am so thankful for this family. As a parent, I am so grateful that my children know the love of grandparents, uncles, and aunts as well as the joy of cousins. It's a forever gift.

Giving thanks...

(in no particular order, but with much sentiment)

for siblings who make me laugh....

for time spent at a place that refuels my heart and soul..

for being able to let go of the rules (at times) and being present for my kids....

for kids who hug one another when no one is looking or requesting it...

for a the rare, but precious moments away from home with my husband...

for a being part of a big, crazy, generous, supportive, and fun family....

for those who I hold closest...

for being a part of lives that matter so much...

for new beginnings and God's blessings....

for the two who will forever hold my heart...

wishing everyone a full heart (and a full stomach) today. happy thanksgiving.

Things My Kids Do

Last Minute Company

Do you entertain during the week? We do fairly often. It's not easy, but it breaks up the week and is sometimes the only time to see friends.

We had unexpected company this week. I had the groceries, but my house... well, my house was another story.

Here's how I scrambled and got the house ready in 15 minutes. That's right. I spent a grand total of fifteen minutes getting my house in order.

Wanna know how? Well, here are my secrets:

I lit some candles...for whatever reason, if candles are lit, the assumption is that major preparation occurred.

I hid the toys behind the couch and in the closets. As kid-friendly as we are, toys don't create the aura of relaxation or sophistication when hosting adults at night.

I set the table with everyday china (who wants to hand-wash on a Tuesday?), but I used the crystal....

Most importantly, I dimmed the lights....

It's hard to see the dust, smudge marks, and toddler-mess when the lights are dim.

Voila.... dinner was served... time was spent with a good friend, and the food was delicious. Really, isn't that all that matters?

Do you entertain on school nights? How do you do it?

{linking up at A Soft Place to Land's DIY day. Check out the fun.}

Things My Kids Say

BB - "Mom, why is my butter dying?"

Me - "What?"

BB - "Look at my bagel. The butter is dying."

Me - "Honey, the butter is melting, not dying."

Quirky? Oh, yes....

We all have our quirks, right? Some embarrassing, some we stand behind, right? Inspired by One Fabulous Mom, here is a short list of three quirks I have. Hardly complete, but just a sampling...

My kids don't know what cold milk tastes like. They are one and three, and they have only experienced warm milk. By best friend teases me about this relentlessly.

I use Splenda packets every day. Wouldn't it make sense to use the larger bags and store it like sugar? Not me. I like opening the packets over and over and over.

If my kids are wearing a collared shirt - it's popped. Always. I catch hell for this too. Whatever...

I am sure this list could go on and on and on. I wouldn't even dare ask my husband. He could probably rattle off ten items quite quickly.

What about you?

Need a chuckle?

Well, my sister's post made me laugh out loud.