Thankfulness

So I suck at blogging. There, I said it. I really really want to write all kinds of things. Blogs and novels and stories and diary entries, and letters to people that I love and to people that piss me off. But apparently I suck at all of those things. So... Oh, dawn... made a list of what she's thankful for, and I think maybe I should try that. An attempt to pull myself out of this weird funk I'm in.

So...things I'm currently thankful for....let's see...

1. My kids - they are really at the perfect ages. The oldest (9) is so smart and independent and fun and cautious and thoughtful and sensitive. Third grade has really helped her blossom. She's got great friends and everyone loves her, she's doing very well in school and LOVES school, which is excellent. The youngest (4) is also super smart, inquisitive, and imaginative. She loves preschool and is learning all kinds of things. She asks me questions the oldest never did, so she's giving me a clue about what a pistol she'll be in a few years. Then I guess I'll be grateful her sister is the cautious one.

2. Preschool - Thank GOD for Noah's Ark Preschool. She is learning so much, and socializing so well and it's such a nice break for me to focus on work for a couple hours. I'm really looking forward to next year when she'll be older and goes for three days a week instead of two (and in the afternoon so I don't have to rush around in the morning with two kids).

3. My Job - All jobs have drawbacks, but I love the work and I love most of the people and I'm grateful to have the flexibility to work from home and be with my children as necessary and still use my brain every day.

4. My family - Whatever our dysfunction, I love them. All of them.

5. Books - I live vicariously through books. In a related vein I'm super thankful for my Kindle and the local Library. I cannot imagine not wanting to read like I do, and I'm hopeful that my girls develop that love of reading as well. The oldest is well on her way.

6. Video Games - I love xbox live and the ability it gives me to mindlessly shoot people or things and get out some aggression without injury. Right now, Gears of War3 is my current addiction. I love it so much, it's probably unhealthy.

7. Financial planning - I'm grateful for our EdwardJones guy. For his advice and expertise in planning for retirement and helping us to grow our money to serve us best when we're ready to retire. He's also a really nice guy with kids of his own, so he's reliable and trustworthy, which is sort of hard to find right now.

8. My faith - as shaky as it is sometimes, my faith keeps me from running away screaming. I am a true believer. A Christian, follower of Christ. As much as I want to go to church, and don't, I still know He is always with me and hears me, whatever I need. And I rely on that regularly.

These are in no particular order - only in the order they occurred to me. I wouldn't want to indicate that anything was more valueable to me than my family or faith, but the order of importance changes daily.

Ok forget it.

I'm really screwing up this NaBloPoMo thing. Apparently I don't consider weekends as part of the month or challenge, so I just randomly skip the days. This weekend was sort of busy I guess, with the oldest turning 9. NINE! And the in-laws came up to visit and see her and we just generally had some things going on. Good things, trips to the library, movies, McDonalds, because a birthday isn't complete without MickeyDs.

Honestly, my brain just can't hold enough information or content to keep the household running AND blog every day. I guess I'm a reader, not a blogger.  Sigh. I guess no blogging fortune for me. Maybe I can write slower..and turn something I ramble into a book. A girl can dream.

Huh. It's the 5th.

Well, I thought I could at least post something inane every day. Apparently I can't even do that. Oh well. I'll keep trying.

We celebrated the oldest's 9th birthday today. NINE. She's so big and smart and wonderful. I love pretty much every age after 6 months.

Also finally beat gears of war level 50 last night with my brothers and husband. That was pretty awesome, even if we were up until 2am.

Parenting lists

Apparently parenting is mostly about making lists.

Get up kid #1, feed breakfast, etc...send off to school
Take dogs out in the middle of above.
Get kid #2 up, dressed and talk her through breakfast for the love of...
Drive kid to preschool.
Work.
Pickup kid from preschool.
Work.
Feed kid #2 and self lunch.
Work.
Work.
Get kid #1 off bus.
Get snacks and TV for kids.
Work.
Work.
Work extra to make up for preschool stuff.
Kid homework.
Kid awana prep.
Dinner.
Take kid to awana.
Target trip to get necessary groceries, birthday prep stuff, Christmas stuff.
Feed self.
Pick up kid from awana.
Get both kids up to bed, tuck in.
Shhhh just go to sleep.
No really, go to sleep.
Ahhh thank you.
Play gears, yay.
Sleep.

Repeat as needed.

NaBloPoMo yes?

NaBloPoMo means.. national blog posting month. So, blogging every day of this month, November.  I don't know if I can do it, but I'm going to try. In fact, I think I'll even just post 'Hello' if I can't come up with something genius and witty. Like this one. Hey, I'm working here and tonight I'm busy, so back off.

Olive Bungalow Giveaway

I'm just a little bit grateful that not very many people pay attention to what I write here. Olive Bungalow is having a giveaway and I get an extra entry by blogging about it. However, I don't want to decrease my chances of winnning...so...shhhhhh! :)  Check out the giveaway here!