Blessed to be a blessing!

I just want to say...

Evan and Emma...

I think what you did for your friend tonight was awesome.

Sometimes we do things...
And we will never know...

Just how much it touched a person...

Just how much of a seed was planted.

Continue to serve others...

And you will always be...

Blessed to be a blessing!

"You can always spot them...certain kids just stand out"...

The phrase that I titled this blog, is referring to what one of Nate's teachers said to me a couple months ago.

When we walked into open house at the beginning of the school year...

One of his teachers came right over to us...

Had never met or spoken with us or Nate...

And she said,

"Nathan!  I am SO happy to be your teacher this year!  I have seen you around school all these years and I just have to say what a kind, respectful, responsible student you are!"

I was in awe...

That this woman whom had never met my son had observed this much about him!

She looked at me and said,
"You can always spot them...certain kids just stand out."

I was just amazed.

THIS, my friend, is a teacher who is "IN TUNE" with not only HER class...

But with ALL of the students in the school.

She is OBSERVANT of what goes on and how kids act.

I have a highschooler and a fourth grader.

I've been going to parent-teacher conferences for many years.

I've spoken with dozens of teachers.

They come and go.

I always get good reports...

Because my boys have always been good students.

(They're not perfect...but at least they're good at school, LOL!)

But anyway...

I've always liked most of my boys teachers.

We are blessed to live in a really good school district that is safe, the teachers care, and the kids are educated as a "whole" person I feel.

(not just academics)

But anyway...

This year...

I feel we REALLY scored one particular AWESOME teacher.

She is SO "into" each individual student.

She shows not just "professionalism"...
She is GENUINE.

You walk away from talking with her and you feel like she REALLY CARES about YOU and your STUDENT.

She is awesome.

And to share a little story...

Nate is doing awesome.

She shared how in one of his reading assessments that they do at the beginning of the year, middle of the year, and end of the year...

He's already reading beyond end of the year for fourth graders!

With nearly perfect comprehension!

I was so proud.

She continued to share things with me...

All his achievments.

She really didn't have anything negative to say...

And then asked if I had any concerns.

I share how every year...

From Young 5s...

All the way to...

Third grade...

I have asked EVERY single teacher about his handwriting.

His handwriting is really hard to read.

Every other teacher has blown it off telling me,

"Don't worry about it...it's so small in the scope of things."

Well, as always...

I asked this teacher...

And told her my story of how I ask every year...

She said,

"Really?  You're kidding?  Yes, I have noticed it...but I don't think he's being sloppy or in a hurry.  I watch him and I think it's more of a struggle with the pencil, his fingers, and letter formation.  I think his small motor skills are a little underdeveloped for his age."

THANK-YOU!

She took such an interest!

She even had noticed right down to his fingers as he wrote and how he struggled!

I couldn't believe how in tune she was with it!

I asked what I could do to help.

She suggested that we get some "pencil grips" and she would give him one at school.

Then she gave me a big stack of paper to take home for him to practice on!

How nice!

Now...

Every time I get frustrated with another teacher...

I'm going to look back at this one...

And remember...

There are exceptions to the rule!

There are AMAZING ones out there!

Not very many...

But there are a few!

Thank-you so much Mrs. ________.

I now know why Nate loves you so much!

She told me...

"Nate is such a responsible, respectful, sweet, empathetic, friend to all.  He talks about his family, church, and Royal Rangers.  Whatever you're doing...you must be doing something right...keep it up!"

No, Mrs. ___________, YOU are the one who's doing something right!

YOU keep it up!

We heart you!!!

The BIG, BAD, HORRIBLE MONSTER...a.k.a. "The Television" (ooooh shiver)

I have to say...

I am thankful for and LOVE my television.

I am not a tv addict.

I don't have it on all day long.

I don't sit around watching soaps.

I survive if I miss one of "my shows".

But I also have to say...

I LOVE MY TV.

Life is stressful.

Tv is one of my escapes from reality.

I love my dramas...

Medium

House

Lie To Me

I love my reality tv...

Survivor

The Biggest Loser

The Amazing Race

I love Food Network.

I love HGTV.

I do.

I love it all!

In my line of work, I get so many parents telling me how horrible they think tv is for children.

I'm sorry.

I don't think it is.

Sitting in front of a tv all day might be.

But there are some AWESOME educational shows out there!

I have seen first hand with my own kids and kids in my line of work, just how much they learn from some of these shows!

And then there's the silly ones,

The ones that annoy parents,

And maybe they're not so educational.

But do YOU sit around all day watching educational tv?

Are the books you read all educational?

Don't you ever just like to veg and watch something or read something for the fun of it?

I love SpongeBob Squarepants!

Bring on iCarly!

I don't care.

I monitor what my kids watch.

I just don't think tv is the big, bad monster all these people are making it out to be.

And the thing is...

All these adults saying tv is so terrible...

ALL GREW UP WATCHING IT!!!

I believe moderation is the key to everything.

Are the kids being creative?

Do they draw, play with blocks/legos, etc.?

Do they play outdoors and get some exercise?

GREAT!

Then there's nothing wrong with tv!

So this Thanksgiving season...

I for one...
AM THANKFUL FOR MY TV!!!

And all the entertainment it provides me!

And so...

"THE TRIBE HAS SPOKEN"

"YOU HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED FROM THE RACE"

and

"I'M SORRY TO TELL YOU, YOU'RE NOT THE BIGGEST LOSER"

LOL!

So go make a big bowl of popcorn and as they used to say...

"Turn on the boob-tube!"

LOL!

"Not till the last bite of turkey is eaten!"

I never as a child put much thought into Thanksgiving.

But now that I'm getting older (yeah, 38 is old!)...

I get a little more sentimental and enjoy Thanksgiving so much more.

I look forward to being home that day with my family.

Just relaxing.

Being in the kitchen, smelling all the wonderful scents!

I am so blessed to have a hubby who will prepare and cook the turkey.

Because I have NO CLUE how to prepare a bird...

And furthermore...

Touching raw poultry grosses me out!

I know, silly...

But thank-you honey for tending to that chore!

I can't wait to just veg all day with my babies and hubby.

The boys are off school all week.

I only wish I was off work all week!

But alas...I'll take my four day weekend!

As Thanksgiving draws closer, I start seeing Christmas decorations, lights, displays, etc.

I can handle the Christmas music early.

I'm ok with that.

I listen to the two radio stations that have already got it playing non-stop till Christmas.

But what I can NOT handle is all the decorations.

Can we PLEASE give Thanksgiving its due time?

Please?

I am so thankful for my husband, my babies, my kitty, my home, my car, my church, and so much more!

Now...

IT'S TIME!

As I always tell everyone else...

No Christmas decorations...

"Not till the last bite of turkey has been eaten!"

LOL!

At our house...

The Christmas season is kicked off...

Right after Thanksgiving dinner!

THEN...

And ONLY then...

Do we haul out all the boxes of Christmas decorations.

THEN...

Do the little turkeys, pumpkins, cornucopias, and autumn leaves get put away.

NOW...

You may haul out the Christmas tree!

But not a moment sooner!

LOL!

The one good thing about getting some snow...

Not that we have any yet.

But...

The one good thing that I'm looking forward to about snow is...

We have a deck (stained white) on the back of our house.

It is in DIRE need of repainting!!!

We were planning to do it this past spring.

Then this past summer.

Then in the fall...

We decided we were going to have a room added off the back of our house and completely rip the deck off and rebuild a new one!

So...

We figured,

What's the point of painting it?!?

So...

Needless to say...

Our plans changed...

And it doesn't look like we'll be adding the new room till next spring.

So,

We are stuck with this awful, ugly, peeling white deck!

YUCK

YUCK

YUCK

So...

This you see...

Is why I'm excited about getting a little snow!

Once the ground is covered...

My deck will look white again!

At least till March, LOL!

Then hopefully we'll know whether we're for sure proceeding with the room addition...

Or if we're postponing it again.

And IF we decide to wait again...

Dear husband...

WE WILL be painting the deck!

No matter if we're planning to rip it off or not!

LOL!

Santa baby...

Santa baby...I've been a really good girl this year.

At least I've tried.

And I've got a couple things on my list for you!

After our trip to Chicago this past summer...

I discovered I wanted a Keurig coffee maker.

They had one in our hotel room at Hotel 71 and I LOVED being able to make just one cup for me morning or night!

How awesome!

And to be able to select exactly what kind I want!

I love that there's no waste because right now I'm the only one who drinks coffee in the house for the most part.

It's very rare that Jamie and Evan drink any.

So this is perfect for me Santa!

I hear they have tea and cocoa pods too!

Just puttin' that out there Santa...variety is good!

Ok...Evan got me started on this one.

HE really wants an Ipod Touch...but now...

I DO TOO.

How cool to have music, video, pictures, internet access all at my fingertips?

I'm not a techno-gadget kinda gal.

Don't even have a "real" cell phone...

Just my handy-dandy "TracFone".

Laugh if you will...

I don't even know how to text.

Never done it in my life.

But I really want one of these Ipod Touches!

So, there ya go Santa...

I'm tryin' my best to stay on the "nice" list!

Back to basics...the good stuff!

So I'm getting back to the basics...

The daily stuff I always said I'd write about.

Our day to day life...

With the fam.

Enough drama.

Life is too short to dwell on or worry about the future.

God is with us!

I bought our turkey for Thanksgiving today!

I'm about half way prepared for Thanksgiving dinner.

Just a little more shopping to do.

We are celebrating at home this year.

As much as I love being with family...
I am so exhausted...

Physically, mentally, and emotionally...

I'm looking forward to a long weekend at home just the four of us.

Looking forward to a yummy turkey dinner.
Looking forward to sleeping in all four days.

Looking forward to DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS!

Yes...

Thanksgiving is always the "kick-off" to Christmas in our house.

It drives me nuts to see people jump the gun and decorate before Thanksgiving.

I always tell people...

Not till the last bite of turkey is eaten in our house!

LOL!

It should be interesting.

This year we are going to attempt a REAL tree for the first time in our married life!

(All 17 years!)

We are doing this in hopes that it will keep Oreo (our cat) out.

He loves to scale our fake tree, climb it, and then sleep on the branches!

And he's no lightweight!

He's somewhere around 14 pounds!

AND!!!

He steals my candycanes!

He goes prancing around the house with candycanes in mouth and then bats them around the hallway!

Crazy cat!

So...we are thinking...

With a real tree...

Maybe it will be "prickly" and he won't want to get into it.

(OUCH!)

Also, real trees limbs aren't as sturdy as fake trees so he won't be able to climb and lay in it.

WE'RE HOPING!!!
LOL!

Cross your fingers!!!

I'm looking forward to having some time off with the boys and my hubby.

Need to do a few things too.

Get Nate some winter boots.

Get some more frames for all the family pictures Wendy took for us so I can start the collage on the wall.

Just a little of this and that.

So that's what's been going on lately.

Here's to more day-to-day "basic" posts...

And less fear, worry, frustration.

Life is good!

We're so blessed!

Bully vs...

So Evan was reading the paper at the table tonight and told me the article he was reading was about the speaker they had in assembly at school yesterday.

They had just had an assembly on bullying.

I said, "So Ev, do you have any bullies at your school?"

He says, "No, but we do have some terds."

So apparently there's a different in bullies and terds.

LOL...teenagers...LOL!

Just keepin' it real...back to the positives...

I know my posts have been rather negative lately...

And I hate that...

But my blog is THE ONE place...

Where I come to "get it all out".

If you're here...

Then you're in for the "real deal" with me.

The good, bad, and the ugly.

My main goal when starting the blog was ONLY to share about our family's everyday adventures.

But as time went on...

I found this was the one place I could come when I was angry or upset.

Writing has always been an easier way of getting my emotions out, rather than talking.

I cry.

I write.

I feel better.

Usually.

Not always.

But it helps to get it out.

Sometimes I can't say EXACTLY what I want to...

Because let's face it...
The blog is open to the world...

And I don't want the world knowing EXACTLY EVERTHING I'm dealing with...

Though I am pretty much an open book anyway, LOL!

So, in an attempt to get back to the positive today...

I wanted to share some more of the "simple", "everyday", "little" things that I'm grateful for with the Thanksgiving season upon us.

I'm thankful for...

Applebee's flavored lemonade

(strawberry, raspberry, kiwi, mango, wild berry)

Parmesan Garlic Cheez-Its

Mackinac Island

Great fitting jeans
(not that I have many)

Beautiful sweaters

Boot with heels

(yeah baby!)

My internet connection

My tv

My soft cozy bed

Holiday decorations

Socks

Mittens/Scarves/Hats

Coupons

Fricano's Pizza

A safe neighborhood

Good schools for my kids

I love him because...

Of course I love him for the wonderful husband he is.

Of course I love him for the incredible father he is.

Of course I love him because he's so dang cute.

Of course I love him because he cracks me up.

Of course I love him because we can talk endlessly.

Of course I love him because we can say nothing at all and be completely at ease with that.

Of course I love him because we enjoy doing so many of the same things together.

Of course I love him because we're so different and we're completely ok with that.

But why else do I love him?

Because he changes our furnace filters.

Because he remembers to get the oil changed.

Because he pumps the gas.

Because he calls in the pizza order.

Because he can fix all the minor glitches in the computer.

Because he has learned SO much over the past 17 years slowly becoming more of a handyman!

Because he hooks up all the wires and cables on the tv.

Because he knows how to shop for video games for my babies.

Because he turns on and shuts down the sprinkling system each spring and fall.

Because he mows the grass.

Because he shovels the snow.

Because he'll wear jeans (for me) when he'd rather wear sweatpants.

Because he cleans up really nice!

Because he smells so good!

Because he colors his grays "so he can look youthful because his wife is nine years younger and he has young kids and doesn't want to look like their grandpa".

(Isn't that cute?)

Because he adores kitties!

Because he still wishes on birthday candles and shooting stars.

Because he ALWAYS takes care of me.

Always.

In every way.

He wants me to be happy.

He wants me to look nice.

He wants the best for me.

Because he adores his boys.

Because he would do anything in the world for them.

To those who don't know him...

And maybe some who do...

He may seem gruff...

Assertive...

Or

Grumble.

But to those of us who love him most...

He is...

The Best.

And that is why we love him.

To "ring" or "not to ring"...that is the question!

I have had my nose pierced for...gosh...how long has it been now?

Three years maybe?

Anywho...

I've always just worn a teeny, tiny white or pink diamond stud in it, similar to the one below.

But lately...

I've really been wanting to try a teeny, tiny gold or silver "ring".

Just an incy-wincy hoop!

Nothing gross or nasty.

But I'm a little nervous.

Hmmm...

What to do...what to do...

Movin' right along w/ Christmas!

I can't believe how good I'm doing this year!

I used to be really good at "doing the holidays".

I was always so on top of things.

Then...

Something happened.

I'm not sure quite what it was.

But I got really bad.

Started procrastinating.

Waiting.

Unorganized.

Just a mess.

Stress.

But this year...

I feel like I'm back at it!

I got all my photo Christmas cards finished and ordered!

Hubby and I have been Christmas shopping for the boys and I'd say we're about 50% done!

Hopefully I can get all the gifts bought up quickly so that all I'll have left is the fun stuff.

Decorating and baking!

I'm feeling better right now.

I've been really stressed.

But things seem to be FINALLY moving in the right direction.

At least for now...

LOL!

Shhhh! I saw a shooting star...can I share my wish?

Tonight on the way to church,

I saw a shooting star.

It had been a while since I had seen one.

Jamie and I used to see them nearly every night when we'd take our nightly walks.

But alas, we haven't been doing too much walking lately, LOL!

(naughty us)

So anyway...

It caught me off guard, as they usually do.

They happen so fast, you hardly get to enjoy them.

By the time you realize what you just saw,

It's over!

But I always make my wish, that's for sure!

Should I tell you?

I'm sure those closest to me know my wish!

But I better keep it a secret!

It might not come true!

Teeheehee!

The Little Drummer Boy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiAHtCmd0x0

I am ashamed to admit that I never added this last year (2009) when Nate made it!
At school, all of the students were given the chance to record a Christmas song.
Sooooo...
Without further ado...
Here's Nateeeeeee!!!
Singing...
"The Little Drummer Boy".

The best things are here...

The best things...

Are right here at home.

Nothing in life...
EVER...

Will make me happier...

Than my sweet little yellow home on the hill...

My very naughty adorable kitty...

My messy, fun-loving boys...

My wonderful husband...

My soft warm bed...

My full cupboards, pantry, frig/freezer...

My cluttered kitchen...

My dusty bedroom...

My junky basement...

The best things in life are here...

Tv and snacks...

Games...

Pizza...

Holiday decorations...

Working in the yard together...

Being completely silly as a family...

Nothing is better than here.

Home.

Family.

Love.

I'm thankful for the little things...

This year...

I'm thankful for...

The simple things.

My lower-level bathroom FINALLY getting tiled.

(HATED that nasty linoleum!)

The trim around my garage getting replaced!

(Builders put up that cheap wood that cracked/rotted!)

That my upstairs bathroom WILL SOON BE tiled within the next couple weeks!

(Yucky carpet/linoleum will be gone FOREVER!)

A friend who is a handyman with reasonable prices who needs work, LOL!

Coupons.

(Those who know me well, need not ask more, LOL!)

Great deals found on photo prints!

(Thank-you Snapfish, Shutterfly, RitzPix, York, Walgreens!)

A new friend (WENDY!) who volunteered to do an outdoor family photo shoot for us!

(YOU ARE AMAZING WENDY AND WE LOVE YOU!)

Potato chips and french onion dip.

('Nuf said.)

Oreo Flower.

(My beautiful, silky, EXTREMELY naughty, but WONDERFUL, tuxedo rescue kitty!)

Jeans and sweaters.

(For those of us who never saw a size 0 or even a 2 for that matter, even as children...we are thankfully glad that your beloved swimsuit season is over and we can return to nice fitting jeans and beautiful warm sweaters to cover our "fluffiness".)

Baked goods.

(Pumpkin muffins, Cinnamon bread, Harvest Apple Cake, Snickerdoodle Pie, etc.)

Reality tv.

(Ok, even those who won't admit it, get sucked into it when no one is looking!  It rocks!)

Evan.

(My eldest son.  Disorganized.  Messy.  Compassionate.  Giving.  Gentleman.  Runner.  Lacrosse fan.  Chef-to-be.  My friend.)

Nathan.

(My youngest son.  Strong-willed.  Stubborn.  A friend to everyone.  Sympathetic.  Empathetic.  Loving.  Snuggly.  Bike rider.  Outdoor lover.  Chocolate fan.  My friend.)

Jamie.

(My husband.  My soulmate.  Assertive.  Bossy (LOL, well...).  Gentle giant.  Giving.  Caring.  Intelligent.  Wise.  Patient.  Awesome father.  Best friend.)

My God.

(Ever-patient.  Always loving.  Forgiving.)

This is my list for today.

I think it would do us ALL good to make these lists more often.

It is my goal to make at least one...each week until Thanksgiving arrives.

(Hopefully three more will appear!)