what i should be doing is...

What I should be doing and what I am doing are two different things.  I SHOULD be doing laundry, cleaning, painting, decorating, but instead I am sitting here at my kitchen table with a box of Jingles and a big glass of milk.  I love Jingles, they are an acquired taste because they are anisette cookies, but I love them.  Just like Good and Plenty's.  I never have to wonder if these two little gems will be sold out of a store.  Ahh...  

I thought that since I was gone over Thanksgiving that I would take the time now to say what I am thankful for:

My family.  I was talking with my friend Leslie this morning about this trip that Mom, Dad, Steve and I took to Springfield, Illinois in June of 2006.  It was a trip mom wanted to do with us, and we had a blast.  I am so thankful for that memory and the family that I have.

That wouldn't be complete without saying how grateful I am for my amazing, wonderful, loving, talented, silly, caring husband.  I couldn't have been through what I have been through without him.

I am so thankful for my three little chickens.  You can never fully understand your hearts capacity to love until you have children.  There are so many times where I my heart is just going to burst because I love these little miraculous beings so much.  

I am thankful for my creativity and abilities.  I sewed this dress for Penny for Thanksgiving.  My mom was an amazing seamstress.  She would whip up little outfits and dresses for me overnight - using old bridesmaid dresses, whatever she could get her hands on.  Now I couldn't put a patch on mom's ass when it comes to sewing (like that little phrase do ya?  It was one of my grandpa Tom's, I could write a book on his phrases), but I can hold my own. I saw this fabric and fell in love, and then used a shirt of Penny's as a model and made my own pattern and went to town.  It was a little snug at first, so I let up the back and now it has the same accent ribbon zigzagging up the back through matching grommets and yes, I made matching bows for her pigtails. I am so happy with how it turned out and since Thanksgiving was harder than I expected to not have mom around, it was a wonderful reminder of her legacy that she left behind.  She was my biggest cheerleader and I'd like to think she'd approve.

Now I would normally put another picture here, but honestly I don't have pictures of all my friends all together.  You know who you are.  I am so grateful for their friendship, companionship, love, support.  I love my girlfriends, old and new.  The ones on go on ridiculous adventures with, with our children and the ones that I can curl up with and chat until the wee hours of the morning.  I am thankful, so very thankful.

So I have packed up the Jingles, drank all the milk and now the laundry beckons, as does my floors.  I hope everyone is enjoying this holiday season and from the bottom of my heart, thanks!