My Chaos -

Today I am thankful for helpful, energetic and optimistic service industry employees.  When I showed up with a receipt to return a pricey purchase, one particularly enthusiastic customer service employee not only took my return, but didn't even mind the fact that the important side (with said purchase) had been washed clean.  Way to go Tide - no trace on ink here!  Oh! and I have to give a little shout out to the technology that allowed this exuberant employee to look up my purchase...  

Today I am grateful for positive teachers.  My son has a really good group of teachers this year for the most part.  5 of them truly believe in him and go out of their way to encourage him.  I adore his Math, English, Science, Robotics and Orchestra teachers.  They have made a real impact in his life already this school year!  

Today I am thankful for my husband.  He is my best friend, my partner in this adventure called life.  We were kids when we met - heck, we were kids when we got married, but we've learned and grown together.  We aren't perfect spouses; we aren't perfect parents, but I think we're perfect together and we seem to be doing pretty well after almost 17 years together.  He picks up where I fall short and he almost always knows what mood I'm in with one look at my face (even if I say otherwise).  So, for all that he does just to make me happy, I am truly thankful.   

Today I was thankful for fuzzy socks.  Seriously...it was cold this morning!  

Today I am thankful for my cell phone.  It allows me to attend a conference call WHILE waiting in the car for my kid to get out of school.  

Today I am thankful for my Mami!  It's so nice having her here - just wish we didn't always have to try to squeeze so much into such a short period of time...  

Happy Veteran's Day to all those who have served in the military in the past and those currently serving!  Also, a big shout-out to all of the military families holding down the fort out there!  There will always be a special spot in my heart for service members and their families. 

A few photos from Tanzania.  I really need to finish the monumental task of scanning old negatives so that I can post pics.  So...today, I am thankful for the United States Marine Corps (BTW, today is the Marine Corp's Birthday).  I am fully aware that I did not serve in the Marine Corps myself, but I did spend the first 17 years of my existence following a die hard, gung-ho, devil dog around the world.  For so many reasons, I am grateful to the Corps, but one of the top reasons is that I got the most amazing opportunities to see the world, learn about other cultures, and make life-long friends from different countries.  For that, I am thankful!  

Today, I am thankful for being able to work from home.  It makes life so much less stressful to be able to work from home.   

Another kiss from across the room.  :) I am totally grateful for this little ham.  He's exhausting, full over energy and trouble, he's funny and smart and I am in so much trouble when it comes to this little boy.  Shorty is mini me and he loves telling me that. :)  He makes me laugh every single day and just like his brother, he gives the best hugs that always manage to cheer me up when I've had a rough day.  I don't know what I'd do without him.  

I am so very grateful for Little B.  I know, he isn't so little anymore.  He's in full on teenage mode and I absolutely love spending time with him.  I love that he is a complete individual.  He's a nonconformist without even realizing it.  He still loves to hold hands when we're walking together and doesn't mind when I kiss him goodbye in front of his friends.  He doesn't care what other people think and I love and admire that about him.  It's gone by so fast so far and I find myself really trying to slow down and cherish the time we have together.  Before I know it, he'll be off to college... I love kisses from across the room!  :)  

On voting day I was thankful to be an American - to have the option to vote.  I consider it not only a privilege, but a responsibility.  I may not have liked the outcome,  but I still love my country and pray that it's leaders make good, honest choices.  

I am soooooo thankful for photos and memories.  I love looking at old pics that make me smile.  Like this one.  Look at my little guys showing me their silly faces!  

I'm thankful for super lazy days spent having some sort of TV show or movie marathon with one of my boys.  This Sunday, it was all about a Supernatural marathon with Little B.  

  I'm thankful for kisses - Sweet and Silly   Like this sweet goodbye kiss from big brother to baby brother.      Or Butterfly kisses... Or Eskimo kisses...

I'm thankful that I can celebrate great friendships - even from long distances.  Happy Birthday C!  

        I'm thankful for these little hands.  Maybe they aren't as little as this:      but they still like to wrap themselves around my arm and pat my cheeks when he REALLY wants my attention and they still like to play with my hair.  For that I am thankful.

Hope everyone had a fun-filled Halloween!  This first pic is of Little B's costume.  He made it all by himself and I loved it!  It was especially fun coming across people who recognized what it was.  :) Shorty's costume got a lot of attention too.  I don't think anyone expected a midget Freddy Kruger.  LOL!