Thursday, November 17, 2011

Thanksgiving


I am sure you all are expecting this super downer post about how I hate The Holidays, and honestly, I have spent the entire week in a funk about how much I absolutely cannot stand The Holidays, but I have decided to change my attitude starting now! No more complaining about how there is too much to do and about how I can't stand being around XYZ. Here's the thing, each year, I will be thankful that I am still here to be around the people I love, and the people I can't really stand. It makes for some funny stories, and when I look back on The Holidays, I never remember hating every single moment of them, so why should I spend the next six weeks dreading every second. The thing is, we are REALLY lucky. How many people can still spend The Holidays with their grandparents?
I dread the day when I can't spend The Holidays with my grandparents. Sure, my Grandpa might be REALLY into finances right now, and he might ask what everyone makes and how much something cost, but that's where he is at in his life. They are retired and trying to make money stretch is tough, so I get it, and I am thankful that Jackson and I inherited all of our math smarts from him. My grandma, oh my gosh, will I be sad when she is gone because it means I am going to have to cook, my mom offered to cook, but no one would want to eat that meal (LOVE YOU MOM!)! She manages to have all of the courses out at the same time, she looks forward to it, loves it, and can't wait for Thanksgiving every year. She makes the best of every situation, has the biggest heart, and would do anything for anyone.
We don't get to see everyone on the Holidays, and I am certain that is soooooooo hard for some of the family because I would like DIE, D.I.E! if I couldn't see my kids on a Holiday, and I now appreciate so much more what certain family members have sacrificed so that we don't have to run around like crazy people on Thanksgiving going from house to house to house and eating from house to house to house. It is just too much, and I hope that when I am older and my kids have their own families I get over my fear of DYING and celebrate The Holidays in a way that is meaningful to us. Thanksgiving is just a day, but any day can really be Thanksgiving.
So, this Thanksgiving, as you sit around the table with some you love, and some you really can't stand and probably wouldn't talk to if they weren't related to you. Think about how lucky you are to be sitting at that table. Think about how blessed you really are, and think each and every day how you are going to make it a great day!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Ten on Tuesday!

1. Tyler's very last Fun Run was last weekend. She had a blast. She was super excited that Rylee was able to participate in a different division. They have so much fun together, and I am so happy they are growing up to be such great friends.

2. I attempted to take some candid shots of Jackson this morning before he went to school: (1) because I don't want to take the time or money to go see a professional photographer (2) because I have social anxiety and these types of experiences make me sweat (3) because I am lazy and try not to leave the house if at all possible. When you see the photos I took of him below, you will see (1) the time and money may be worth it (2) why I end up sweating because I have to perform circus tricks to get him not to smile like The Joker (3) I would rather stay home and drink wine.







3. What do you guys do if you have a neighbor that has crossed the line? I know I have to live next to them for at least the next ten years, so I can't totally go off on them, but I have to say something (I struggle with this middle ground-I either love everyone or hate them, need to work on my middle ground tolerance). You know how I hate when people ring my doorbell or knock on my door. The fear of that occuring has now multiplied by ten. All I want for Christmas is a security door and my doorbell disconnected.

4. I got Jackson signed up for a soccer team. He is soooooooooo excited. I am hoping that Tyler will play t-ball again this Spring, which will make for an incredibly busy sports season.

5. I am seriously struggling to get past number 4, I feel now that things have settled down for a hot moment, I don't do anything but laundry and dishes while the kids are at school, and nothing really exciting happens each and every day.

6. Jackson's class is going on a Field Trip. There isn't a lot of space, so you had to turn your name in if you wanted to go. I didn't want to go, but I figured I would turn my paper in, not get selected, but Jackson would still believe I wanted to go. UM...what would you know-I got selected. Jackson is super excited, but I struggle being around children I don't have an authority over. When I taught, it was MY CLASS, MY RULES, MY WHATEVER. When I am with my kids, it is the same thing. I can discipline them as I see fit, and for the most part they listen. The kids that go on these Field Trips have a tendency to be ape shit bonkers, and if they don't listen, what am I going to say, "Stop It Right Now, or I am going to tell the teacher!?" I sound like a first grader myself!

7. Made Baked Ziti for dinner tonight, and it is so nice to get it done while the kids are at school. Then, I can answer the first question they both ask when I pick them up, "What's for Dinner?"

8. This is usually followed by cheers or groans.

9. This has taken me over an hour to write because I keep thinking of something, googling it, and finding myself on a different website!

10. Anyone else OBSESSED with Revenge!? Best new show on television for sure!

Friday, November 4, 2011

Fabulous Friday

OK, here it is, the long awaited blog post. . .sometimes after it has been so long since my last post, I get overwhelmed and keep putting it off, but today, blogging is on my to do list.

1. Tyler is now FIVE! How is she five?? You know that car commercial, where the little girl is in the driver's seat, and she is talking to her dad, and when they flashback it is actually a teenage girl sitting in the driver's seat. Something about Tyler makes me think I will feel this way about her forever! She is such a tiny little thing, and she DESPERATELY wants to be big, but she will always be my baby!

2. We had a little surprise party for Tyler the day before her birthday. She loved it, she was shocked. She kept coming over, giving me hugs and kisses and telling me she loved me! MELT MY HEART!








3. Jackson and Tyler LOVE Halloween. I guess what kid doesn't, but they LOVE IT! We had a little potluck with the neighbors. It was interesting to say the least. I missed our annual potluck with people I have more in common with, but we couldn't be the people on the street that didn't go, AND our house just isn't anywhere near ready for a lot of people or kids to be over! Jackson was Spiderman (thank you half off at the Disney store a week before Halloween-JACKPOT!) and Tyler was whatever the Barbie's name is in Barbie Princess Charm School, and since I don't know her name, I just called her Barbie Princess Charm School.




4. About a week ago, Pat received a LARGE envelope in the mail from Pepperdine Law School. I think I had a momentary panic attack when I saw it. I am VERY familiar with such envelopes, and knew exactly what it was. I tore into it and saw a letter that said, "Dear Mr. Howell, Thank you for your interest in our law program!" My heart damn near stopped. I was like, not only is a law school sending him something- HE REQUESTED IT! I was for certain in was for a doctorate in law, that doesn't even make sense, but there is such a thing. I don't know what to call it, since technically attorneys are doctors, but whatever, it is the next level. I was like, NO WAY IN FREAKING HELL am I surviving through that. And where are we getting the money to move to CALIFORNIA, please dream come true, but does he have an off shore bank account I don't know about. Anyway, turns out all these thoughts were for nothing, Pepperdine offers a one week seminar on becoming a mediator, which Pat would like to be, blah blah blah-I am a drama queen!

5. Jackson has been playing basketball and LOVING IT! It is fun to see how much the kids have improved throughout the season. This Saturday is his last game. While I think watching the games is fun and what not. I will be very happy to have my Saturdays back. Especially now that the weather is nicer, and we can hit up the North Central Farmers' Market! I am obsessed with finding random things and coming home to see what I can find to make with it. THANK YOU PINTEREST!

6. "Pinterest: where a person never has to have an original idea again in their life!" That's my motto for it!

7. Thanksgiving is coming up-it is my favorite holiday! It won't be when my grandparents die, and I have to cook!

8. Went to Z'Tejas 20th Anniversary Party last night-it was lots of fun, but I didn't get home until like 10, and then after talking with Pat for awhile, I couldn't wind down until almost 1. Needless to say I am really tired today!

9. Andrea and I are to make a balloon arch tomorrow morning for the preschool Fun Run. I have to be there at 7:30-it is supposed to be cold, and neither of us have ever made a balloon arch. How do I get myself into these things??? I have gotten so much better at saying no, but somehow. . .STILL A SUCKER!

10. OK seriously, Justin Bieber fathering a child! I still can't even imagine he has the parts needed to father a child, he looks EIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's all I am going to say about that.