Day 10 of Thanks: Small Chairs

Today I am simply thankful that after three children and little consistent exercise . . .

I can still sit in a child's rocking chair.

That's right! I can fit between the arm rests and sit comfortable with any 3 year old rocking side by side.


Glory Day! Now THAT is something to be thankful for!

Day 7 of Thanks: Office Supplies for the OCD

Some of us are, as some others might say, a little particular about how we want things and LOVE organization.

I happen to be one of these individuals and embrace this about myself FULLY.

You should see my closet. It's color coordinated and then organized by sleeve length. Shirts, skirts, bottoms and dresses (long and short) are all in their categories.

Don't worry, I organize my husbands clothes for him. He is just overjoyed I do this for him. No really, he is because it means he is not responsible for putting up the clothes because I will do it so it stays in order. He loves me.

My pantry is also organized by categories: tomato based, soups, vegetables, fruits, breakfast foods, etc.

So it is with absolute joy in my heart I declare at the top of my lungs my Day 7 of Thanks:

 

Label Maker and Double Sided Sticky Tape!!!!!!!!

 

(Do I hear cheering?)

Yes, you may think this is strange. But when my life gets crazy and out of hand. . .I organize it.

Labels make things so. . .well. . .organized. You can easily see where everything is and where it belongs.

Doesn't it just make you breathe easier just talking about it?

I know me too!

But another great joy is Double Sided Sticky Tape. You can attach things and not see the tape. I hate when you can see the tape on something. I think it looks tacky and half done. Just speaking the truth. Just, speaking the truth.

And that is why they invented Double Sided Sticky Tape.

What a great day. I got to use both today. Just because.

Happy Day 7 of Thanks all you label maker-double sided sticky tape lovers!

Day 6 of Thanks: Football and Friends

I love football season. I am thankful each year it comes. And I am thankful each year when it goes.

I am thankful we have been blessed for two years with incredible coaches who care about the boys. They care beyond the score or the play.

That is something to be thankful for.

This year's team was young and most were new to the sport.

Although the scoreboard said we lost, the coach never made them feel like they lost. Not in a all kids are winners type of way, but in an encouraging, supportive, proud of what you did accomplish kind of way.

We waited the entire season to win a game. And win a game we did. The last game of the regular season.

Under the lights!

Brody got a sack in this game.

His mom (aka me) was really proud!

They went on to the playoffs and won another game in the first round, but unfortunately lost in the second round.

As fun as 3 to 4 nights of football are, we are now thankful the season has come to an end.

Well, all except Addy and Sadie and their friend who played with them at the ball fields while all the boys practiced. I truly think the girls are the most sad that football season is over.

I'm thankful for all that football brings to our family.

Day 5: Crock Pot Liners

Yes, you read that correctly. One of the greatest inventions of all time next to the crock pot is the crock pot liner!

I am a huge fan of crock pot cooking, it's so convenient for busy families and you can cook almost everything in it. . .including a cake!

But today I choose to be thankful for the liner. I hope whomever thought these things up is a millionaire. They deserve it.

Here is the before cooking. . .

Look how clean it looks!

 

Then you add food.

 

 

Detour: Tonight we had Taco Soup which is one of my favorite cold weather foods, but there is one thing about Taco Soup that I am not crazy about. . .

 

All the beans. 

Three of the main ingredients.

 

 

So I make sure I set a great example for my children and eat the beans pick all the beans out and put them on my cornbread plate.

 

Addy asked me tonight how can I like Taco Soup and not like beans. I asked her if she wanted them. She had no more questions and now believes this is a great partnership as she LOVES beans. She did not get this from her mother.

 

So, back to crock pot liners.

 

Once you spoon all the good stuff out of the crock pot. . .

 

 

You just gather it up. . .

 

 

And throw it away.

 

Ta-da! Clean up done!

 

 

No having to clean the awkwardly shaped and heavy crock pot by hand.

 

No residue to scrub off.

 

It's just FANTASTIC.

 

I am thankful for Crock Pot Liners!

Day 4: 1st World Problems

Today I am thankful that most of my problems are simply first world problems. . .therefore I am thankful that I do not have to struggle to find food or clean water or shelter for my children. I don't worry about the health care of my family or safety like most do throughout the world.


Here are some examples of problems I have faced in the last 24 hours.

 Problem #1:  Not being able to walk into the living room due to the enormous amount of clean laundry.

Taking applications for a maid. Must be willing to work every day. Must be willing to work for love. Pay rate: Take the number you are thinking of and multiply it by 0.

Problem #2: I no longer have any tapes. . .how will I use my tape player in my car.

Why does my car have a tape player???? Maybe that should be the bigger question. It was made in the 2000's and  I am not aware of any tapes being made after 2000 or 1991. . .just saying.

Problem #3: Finding a spoon in the powder sugar and wondering how long it has been in there.

Breakfast for dinner. . .one of my favorite meals!

 

Problem #4: Having to wait almost 2 mins for my seat warmer to get my seat extra warm on cold brisk mornings.

Confession. I use my seat warmer year round. I live in the South.

Problem #5: Using the restroom only to notice you are out of toilet paper.

I hate when this one happens.

I'll spare you a picture. . .but you know it's true.

Problem #6: Walking around for days unsure what time it is because I may or may not have changed all my clocks for day light savings.

Yesterday I actually changed a clock back two hours. That's right.

So you see, I don't have real problems and I am thankful that I have the ability to have all of these problems. I live a charmed and blessed life.

Day 3 of Thanks: A's and Bowl-Plates

I am so blessed that for the first 9 weeks Brody-man has made the principal's honor roll with all As. He's in competition with his dad who also brings home all As.

I couldn't be more proud or thankful that the determination and hard work of both. . .has paid off.

So straight for the brain of my all A student, here was our dinner conversation tonight. He was apparently inspired as he ate White Sauce casserole from a bowl tonight. Kelley, I think of you every time I make it. And yes, we call it white sauce casserole. I've officially named it that.

Brody: Have you ever heard of a bowl-plate?

Brooks and I just look at him and each other, because sometimes there are no words nor is there a way to find out where this conversation is going.

Brody: I just made it up.

Inside my head: So, if you just made it up, were you just

• A. Verifying there wasn't one already invented?
• B. Asking a ridiculous question because if you just invented something then it would be obvious that we had never heard of it?

But without hesitation and a grin on his face as if saying "I. AM. A. GENIOUS!" he continued.

Brody: You see it's a bowl but a plate. You see it would be a bowl but be shorter and would have a dip in the middle.

Watch out world! Here he comes!

Straight As and all!

Day 2 of Thanks: Math and Laughter

I am thankful I successfully passed all my college level math classes and I have the honor of helping others learn this beautiful subject which will be forever useful if you are like me and love statistics.

In my spare time, it has become a hobby of mine to tutor math. Probability and statistics to be exact. For a couple months, I helped my brother-in-law while he was getting his masters and now I have the honor of helping two lovely ladies with their probability and statistics.

I believe all math can be fun if you know how to make it practical to your life.

So in an effort to teach about probability and how it can apply to our lives and how we use it everyday I made the following example:

What is the probability of getting an orange candy corn?

Here are the answers which followed:
Blonde: 2 out of 3
Brunette: 2 out of 3!

Me: Are we color blind??

Blonde and Brunette: Huunnnhhhh?????

The correct answer for the purpose of this exercise was 2 out of 5.

I love teaching math!!!

These two are going to be so much fun!

And they said I am an adult!

30 Days of Thanks: Day 1 -- Dance Party

I wont even begin to think that I will be able to post for 30 consecutive days, but I will do my best to keep up. So in honor of 30 Days of Thanks, I shall begin with Day 1: Dance Party.

I am thankful for the random dance parties at my home. The moments where we spontaneously breakout in song and dance and let our dance feet go!

Sometimes I am the only one who is dancing, other times it's me and the kids, and like tonight it's the whole family showing their very impressive dance moves.

A family who dances together stays together.

I think everyone should take the time to dance with one another.

Take the time to slow dance with your spouse.

It allows you be close to them and reminds you how to move as one.

One has to lead and the other follow. Trust and let go.

It brings you both physically and emotionally together.

It can comfort a broken heart, spring laughter from deep within your soul, and humble you all at the same time.

So to the tune of giggling girls and a grossed out boy. . .

Under the light of a Halloween disco ball. . .

. . .We Danced.

Arm in arm, Brooks and I took the stage (aka our living room) tonight and danced. Sadie and Addy were very specific on how we should dance and would quickly correct us if we weren't dancing "right."

According to them you are not allowed to dance while standing on each other's feet and you have to have more than a few spins and dips.

Have no fear, everyone got a chance to dance, because again. . .dancing brings a family together.

Day 1 of Thanks: Dance Party

So. . .funny story. . .It begins with water?

I have come to believe there is something about my house and water and the month of October.

APPARENTLY, the roof over our garage and laundry room has had a more than small leak in it for maybe an extended period of time.

It may have been long enough to rot out my laundry room floor and create a sizable amount of mold covering the entire sub-floor and parts of the wall.

And maybe it required some construction work

which was possibly not covered by our insurance

Because according to said company the problem has been going on for an extended period of time and we should have caught it sooner

Yes, Mr. Insurance company you are right, I enjoy living with mold. . .

Oh wait no.

But the good news, I still like our insurance company. We have always had great and prompt customer service and I understand our policy is in agreement with what they have informed us.

And I got a new laundry room!

and a new roof!

For the record, I don't need anything else new in this house. . .we have re-done almost the entire house at this point.

A Square is a Rectangle

I got into a very heated debate the other day on a very important subject: A Square is a rectangle but a rectangle is not a square.

The other person did not agree with the above statement.

I was obviously on the side which was right.

See every square can be a rectangle, but every rectangle can not be a square.

Every puppy is a dog, but not every dog is a puppy.

Every blow pop is a sucker but not every sucker is a blow pop.

Every Girl Scout Thin Mint is a cookie but not every cookie is a thin mint. This is sad.

These are your words of wisdom for the day.

This is my contribution to society.

Singing and Dancing

So, I was looking through pictures and it came to my attention that I sing and dance. . .a lot. Then I began to think about it. . .and, yes, I do sing and dance. . .A LOT. . .Everyday. . .all day.

Why wouldn't you?

So here are a few of my favorite pictures I found exhibiting several of my favorite dance moves and a little dancing from the wedding I was in earlier this year:

Dancing with Brooks. . .

Singing. . .

The pencil sharpener. . I made up this dance. . you are welcome world. 

Sprinkler. . .Classic.

The Duggie. . 

Slow dancing. . .

Lawn mower. . .Another classic.

This is me trying to convince Brooks to let me jump and he lift me up like Dirty Dancing. I jumped. He didn't catch. 

Line dancing. . .

Here's another random line dancing picture from a few years back. . .

And one where I felt like dancing in the middle of a field next to a bon fire, because everyone else was also dancing. . .no. . .no. . .I was the only one. 

I love to dance, so please accept this as an advance apology for anyone I may begin dancing next too. . .no worries. . .you probably can't hear the music. . .the voices in my head are singing the song. 

1st Graders and Animals

1st Graders and Animals or 1st Graders are WILD animals

I got to go to the zoo with Addyson's class this week. Our zoo decorates for Halloween every year and this year they already had their decorations set-up. It made it just a little bit more exciting for the kidos. . .and me.

I got to spend half the day herding a group of monkey/kidos around to see the flamingos and baby giraffe and elephants.

One kid in my group kept pointing out that you could see the animals "private parts".

Yes, you can.

You can see them go to the bathroom.

Yes, yes you can.

We would move on to the next group and guess what?

Repeat above conversation.

At. Every. New. Exhibit.

Same conversation.

Who doesn't love 1st graders and their conversations?

One of the best things about going on the field trips is getting to meet the faces of the kidos you hear about every day. Getting to see your child interact with their friends is one of the most rewarding feelings as a parent.

To see my child happy. . .

fills my heart. 

Aunt Erin: 11 Times Over

I'm an aunt for the 11th time!

My nephew was born to my brother and his wife and I couldn't be happier! 

Yeah, they're pretty happy too.

I love babies!

Especially babies who I can give back when they cry or spit up or poop or my arm gets tired. I love babies!

When you look at a baby people will often ask you who you think the baby looks like, the mother or father. I don't mean to be rude when asked this question, but I think most of the time a baby looks like. . .well, a baby.

Did I mention I love babies!

For the record I have the best name as an aunt. . .Aunt Erin. . .say that five times once fast. I like to make my nieces and nephews say it. It makes me laugh. I may or may not have a weird sense of humor.

What's in a name?

Well, for my side of the family, this birth was the guarantee of the last name being passed down.

My Grandparents had THREE boys to carry on the family name. Of those THREE boys, there is only ONE boy grandson to carry the name. Now that ONE boy has a boy.

The name lives on!

NO sympathies!

I would like to state for the record, I hold no bitterness towards my sister-in-law who brought this amazing child into our lives, but rumor has it she did not feel ONE REAL contraction. Again, I love her, but her water broke and she had some back labor pains and then got an epidural. . .No want-to-punch-someone-in-the-face, why-did-you-do-this-to-me, I-can't-stand-up contractions.

No really, bless her, I would have wanted to do it the exact same way if I could!!

I love babies!

Especially this one, Mr. #11!

Oh and I love my nieces and nephews #1 through 10 too! They just aren't babies any more.

The Brick Room: Rainbow #2 and #3 and #4

So as mentioned before there were a few things I hated about our house, but they were functional so we weren't in a hurry to change.

1. Brick floor.

I had a brick floor in my house. We call it the brick room. I know we are so creative! You didn't see that one coming.

Well, brick is not practical INSIDE your home.

Spill milk into grout. . .go ahead.  . .let me know how that smells.

Stump your toe on the brick. . .but don't bleed on it! You can't pressure wash inside your house. People apparently look at you funny when you ask for them to install a drain in your floor so you can pressure wash in your house. Stained forever.

I couldn't have been more excited until we realized what an undertaking it would be to remove the brick. . .not easy. . .not for the weary. . .very heavy. You can only haul out small loads at a time because of the weight of the bricks.

Who built this house? Brick inside? Carpet in Bathrooms? REALLLLLYYYY???? You do NOT have children.

2. Parquet?

So the engineered hardwood was neat. . I guess.

But it got wet. No big deal, we'll remove it!

Chief, one board at a time.

It can't be as hard as the brick.

My heroes: Brooks and my Dad

Oh wait, someone glued each piece down individually.

Thank you floor guy. Now we have to dig it up and sand the floors.

3. Vinyl- ahhhh

Look at all the shinny vinyl. . .aka water.

Who likes vinyl 1980's style? Not this guy. Bye. Bye.

That one was easy.