Thankful

Today is the baby shower for my friend and I am thankful that she is almost done with her pregnancy and thankful that so far things have worked out well for her and her beautiful family.

Big News

My little sweetheart made the front page of the local newspaper! Remember that auction I mentioned earlier this week? Well they got a picture of her with the painting that grandpa bought for her. She was so excited!

Thankful

Today is Friday the 13th, so I am thinking about superstitions and fate and God, etc. Today I am thankful that every time in our lives that it seems things have taken a turn for the worst or something seems to be unfortunate happening that makes us take a certain path, it has always worked out for us and I am thankful for the guiding hand the keeps us safe.

Thankful

Today the kids spent the afternoon with Grandma & Grandpa Tanyon. I am so thankful for their health and feel very blessed that my children will have memories of FIVE of their great-grandparents.

Thankful

Today is Veteran's Day. So today I am thankful for my dad, who is a veteran, and all others who are serving (or have served) in the military.

Thankful

Now that we've successfully eradicated all of the Halloween candy from the house I am thankful for our beautiful weather lately that lets us get out and play tennis and golf and hike to work off some of those snickers bars.

Thankful

With Christmas fast approaching, my kiddos are already looking forward to the big day and asking all sorts of questions about Santa and chimneys and reindeer, etc. One of the most recent revelations by my daughter was that Santa might not know that we are going to be spending Christmas here, in California, rather than Oregon as we have all other Christmases. So as a solution, she wrote her "letter" to Santa (really, it was just a page full of individual letters, but she's 3 so cut her some slack) requesting three items in her stocking and informing him of where we will be staying. Of course, not to be out done, her brother had to put pen to paper too. If you thought her letter was illegible though, his will surely need translation. I am so so very very thankful for getting to be a part of these magical moments for both of them.

Thankful

My husband is being great this evening and watching the kids so that I can have a night out with the ladies. So today I am thankful for good friends and our good times together.

Going Once - Going Twice...

Tonight was the annual Rotary auction and we found a few things that we could use and won them and then...well, there were a couple we found that we didn't necessarily need. All I can say is that the party will be at our house next summer.... We got this 24 foot Sun Chaser pontoon boat and a...vending machine? Yes, you read that right. A VENDING machine...maybe sales from the vending machine will pay for the boat...Oh well, it's all for charity I suppose. I'm glad at least that the money went to a good cause. We definitely did our piece for the cause. Support your local Rotarians - they are an under-appreciated group who are worth every penny and minute that you donate to them.

Thankful

I was thinking today how much I miss my sister and I suppose in a round-about way, it makes me thankful. I am thankful for having her at all, even if it has to be only a few times a year and by phone.

Thankful

Today is Friday and I am looking forward to spending time with my husband this weekend so I am thankful today for how hard he works and the things he sacrifices every day so that we have easier lives.

Five whole years!

~Congratulations Chris & Lyss~

Thankful

We are having a playdate at our house today so I am thankful for the mom's group up here on the mountain so that my kids have friends who live close enough for playdates at home.

Thankful

I missed my kiddos all day Monday and Tuesday while I was in tax class so today I am thankful that I get to stay home with them and not drive in traffic an hour each way for work like I used to.

Thankful

I am finishing my two-day class in taxes today so today I am thankful that the kids' grandparents live so close that they are able to help us out when we need it.

Thankful

My hubby is gone fishing in Laughlin so I am thankful today for our great dog that protects the house while we sleep.

Thankful

Since it's the season for being thankful, I've decided I will write something for every day until Thanksgiving that I am thankful for.

Today I am recovering from Halloween night so I am thankful that my fridge is tall enough to keep the overflow of candy out of my kiddos reach.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween - California style

Halloween Pre-Party

Yesterday, the kiddos and I went to a Halloween party playdate. There was pumpkin carving, hot cocoa, apple cider, treats, they played games like hot potato, hide & seek, bean bag toss,
and feed the animals,
and had a fun time playing with friends. This was a great way to get them all hyped up for Halloween tomorrow…oh, and let Mom & Dad get some well earned sleep. When it comes to putting the kids to bed easily – playdates ROCK!

Patriotism

I came across some quotes on patriotism that I found particularly thought provoking today and thought I would share them:

The government is merely a servant -- merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them. ~Mark Twain

To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. ~Theodore Roosevelt

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. ~Mark Twain

If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin. ~Samuel Adams

I am certain that nothing has done so much to destroy the juridical safeguards of individual freedom as the striving after this mirage of social justice. ~Fredrich August von Hayek, Nobel Laureate of Economic Sciences 1974 (you know, back when they gave them for doing something of value)