Thankful for the Annoying Little Things!

Of course, I'm thankful for the usual: my husband, my kids, my family, my friends and our health. But this year I find myself focusing on things that usually annoy the crap out of me, and have found how truly thankful I am for these little things.

Working out- I dread this normally. And I am still not seeing the great results I want, but I have found that I am so thankful for the ability to work out. And I'm trying not to complain about it! I started seeing this man in a wheelchair working out. I thought about his hardships and how challenging it must be to get to the gym in his condition. What the heck am I complaining about? I am thankful to have a totally working body that I am able to work out, without much effort.

Busy Schedule- I often find myself complaining about going here and there and everywhere. I am starting to be thankful for this busy schedule. I use to get a little stressed. We have to visit so many people on the holidays. Split our time, keep the kids happy and clean, etc. I am so thankful that we have so many houses to go to for the holidays. Some people don't have one, and for all this love that my kids get to experience, I am thankful. All the family we have is what MAKES the holidays so special.

Body image- Being a girl, it's easy to pick out what's wrong with myself. I can do it at the drop of a compliment from my husband. "Thanks, but this doesn't look good," is my usual response. I am starting to focus a little less on these flaws and focus on what I do like. I have been reading a blog about a woman who has been badly burned, but is still so happy. I am thankful for all the things I have, regardless of my appearance. And I'm thankful for this new outlook.

The Non-Stop Noise- I am so noise sensitive, and my kids are talkers, singers, noise makers and drummers. Sometimes at the end of the day I love to sit in the quiet house and listen to...nothing at all. Lately, the noise hasn't been bothering me as much. I am so thankful that their minds are always engaged and that they are healthy happy kids. In fact, I am so thankful to have this noise around, I have even started making noise with them.

Transportation- I often complain about gas prices, driving from one side of the town to the other and back again. Lately, I have been just so thankful for being able to drive two working, great rides. It was really cold one morning and I saw a lady standing at a bus stop with her young child. I couldn't believe how a little perspective can change my outlook so much. If I think it's hard loading up two kids in the garage to get ready for school, imagine how hard it must be to walk in the freezing cold to catch a bus with a toddler. My life is really a cake walk and I have no right to complain!

So, after our second Thanksgiving dinner today, I wanted to write about how thankful I am to gain perspective in my late twenties. Everyone can feel bad from time to time, but really, I am thankful for my life and how little there really is to complain about!

Toy Party

The other day I got a call from a friend inviting me to a Discovery Toy party. I was like, "Oh, you are having one too?" She said, "Yeah...are you? If you come to mine I'll come to yours."

Cool Deal, I thought.

We continue talking and she says, "The daycare kids just love these toys! They are the best."

The line goes dead for a second....

I ask, "Oh, these are toys for kids, like kid toys?"

She said, "Yeah, what kind of toys were you thinking?" Awkward laughing follows.

Then she asks, "Well, what kind of toy party are you having?"

I said, "Well, not the kind for kids, that's for sure!"

Lesson: Always clarify before you insert foot in mouth!

My Life Can Speak for Itself

OK! For those of you that read yesterday's post, it turned out to be a "little" of a ranting blog. I decided to delete it for several reasons. I wrote it out of hurt and on the defense. I now think there is no reason to have to defend the way I live my life to anyone. I am secure enough and know I am making the right choices for my family. "Actions speak louder than words." I don't need to state the obvious about my life, like being happy and loving my kids. I will let my life speak for itself.

Secondly, I think we all love our kids the best we can, anyway we can. There is no reason for me to put down someones way of life, even if they are attacking mine. I don't claim to know the answers and don't need to make other people feel bad to justify the way I feel, even if they are doing that to me.

You know those posts, the ones you should write but never really press publish or send? That was yesterday. It felt better to let it all out, but afterward realized that what I wrote wasn't exactly my style. So I am censoring myself. Sometimes, you should write, get it out and press delete!

When are you REALLY Done?

Content with my Two Cuties (one of my favorite fall pictures)

When I was younger, much younger, and didn't realize how much energy goes into raising one kid, I wanted like a trillion kids. Well, at least four, just like my family. There was never a dull moment growing up with three other siblings. At the time I didn't appreciate it, but realize that I long for the chaos that comes with a bigger family. But....

I am totally content with the two healthy happy little kids I have now. I dread being pregnant again. The thought of feeling sick and pushing and the whole bit doesn't appeal to me. I am not sure I want to start all over with infant car seats, cribs, diapers, bottles, the whole thing. But....

I also can not give away any of my infant things. We have an attic full of stuff that could warrant another baby boy or girl. SO MUCH STUFF! I just can't let it go. I am trying to do some soul searching to see if it is the memories I can't let go of or if it is the suppressed desire to have another baby.

As time passes between kids, I am leaning towards "no more kids," but there is always that little tiny voice saying, maybe?? But by no means am I sure. Bobby has agreed to have the procedure to make this all pretty permanent. Since I did have trauma done to my parts twice, he can definitely deal with an out patient surgery once. Recently, I thought I was for sure over the infant stage and told him to make the appointment. He said he wasn't ready.

It seems as though we can't get on the same page. When I think maybe, he is a no. When he thinks maybe, I am a no. All I know is.... until we are BOTH sure either way their will be no permanent decision making either way.

I just can't believe I may never smell that sweet smell of MY infant again. You know...the almost gross but sweet smell of their necks. It's a mix between spit-up and baby bath. Yes, I miss that smell. But....

Will you always miss that smell when you are done? Does there come a time when you wouldn't miss that smell? I mean look at those crazy people with 18-19 kids!! Did she just say, " I will miss the smell of that baby too much?" I think even when you know you are done, you will miss those beautiful infant moments, but maybe that doesn't mean having more kids for me.

We are constantly asked when we are having more kids. People are actually shocked when I tell them, probably not. They say, "I see you with more kids." I'm not sure what that means because I also saw myself with more kids but feel like I'm PROBABLY done. I'm not sure what I'd be trying for. I have everything I want in these two Lil kids. Perfectly content. And I know the feeling of wanting another one. Almost immediately after Bryce I wanted another baby. The desire isn't the same now, so I'm guessing that's a clue that we are done.

My worry is, although I say I'm done, in 3 years will I want another one? This all leads me to think no permanent solution is a good one for now...just in case. Wish I knew the answers so I could clean out the attic. I wonder how and when you know for sure. I don't want to end up with a baby right before menopause, when my two kids are entering college. Nope, we will have to decide before then.

Better Late Than Never...Halloween!

This year we had our traditional Halloween. We had our annual adult Halloween Party to kick things off a week early. I must say that I was planning on NOT having it this year, but my friends convinced me with their excitement, as most of them had already planned their costumes. So glad we decided to have it! As always it was a good time and fun to be adults and be silly for the evening with great company. For the past three years, Bobby, Katie and I have dressed as a trio but with the addition of James, her boyfriend, we had to come up with something for all four of us. WAY harder! We tossed around several ideas and decided on Oprah and friends, even though we weren't content. One night over Mexican food, Bobby came up with a mariachi band. Could have been the margaritas talking, but we decided it was genius! Here was the final outcome:

My kids are finally at the age where I do not get to pick their costumes and I'm OK with that. Leah surprised me by not picking a princess and went for Tinkerbell. She was completely adorable, even though they were probably 5 other Tinks in her preschool class. She was my obvious favorite though! Here she is:

Bryce wanted to be Bumblebee from Transformers. He got two of these costumes for his birthday so it made it pretty easy for me. I am usually against pre-made Halloween costumes because every kid in America has the same damn thing, but I got way into letting the kids be proud of their selection. Some kid came up to Bryce and told him he looked awesome! Made his day and mine! Here is our little (macho) Bumblebee:
Bryce was extremely sick this Halloween. He had a fever and horrible cough. He ended up trick-or-treating for a couple houses and then had fun handing out the candy at home. This is usually his favorite part anyway. Man, what an awful day to be sick! My mother-in-law made her corn chowder, just like every year. YUM! The grandparents came over to check out their little prized possessions, the kids. Overall it was a great time, sickness and all, now if I can just get rid of all this candy...it's not helping with the diet!!!