... for Kindergarten!

I have the most adorable kindergartner in the world.  I know others may disagree, but I am certain.  Here are some pictures to prove it.

Waving from her very first school desk...

See, my name is on my desk, Mommy?! 

Oh and for those of you who believe she is an innocent lamb, her desk is right behind her best friend.  I am curious to see how long it will take for her to get in trouble for too much talking or giggling.  In some ways, I think it may be good that the giggling girls are far outnumbered.  There are 5 girls in this class and 14 boys. 

Anyway, I am so proud of her.  I can't believe she is old enough already for school.  I got a little teary thinking about it but I am really excited for her too.  I will let you all know just how much fun she has tomorrow, although I suspect that she will end up falling asleep really early tomorrow.

So, Today I am Thankful for Kindergarten!

... for Commericals!

Odd, I know, but true.  You know how there are just some commercials that get you right there (imagine me pointing at my heart right now).  Well this is one of them.  It combines 2 of my favorite things, Disney and my sister.  The two adults in this just remind me of Jen and I and how much fun we have together at Disney. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCqGww-5UvY

There is no one I would rather go to Disney with than her and if there is ever a time that I won't have that possibility anymore, it will be a very big loss.

Love you Jen!

So Today I am Thankful for Commericals!

... for the Afternoon Off!

This afternoon, I was off to get another pre-kindergarten doctor visit checked off the list.  Hannah and I had our eyes checked.  My eyesight is as bad as last year and Hannah's eyesight is just as good.  Hannah did great with the pictures that they took of her eyes (much better than last year) and she was willing to try out a new test and did fantastic with that as well.  I was very proud of her.

Then, instead of going back to work for the next 2 hours, I had decided to take the rest of the day off.  It was nice.  I took Monday morning off too, so this is the second half day I took off this week.  On Monday I spent the morning prepping for things at work and Hannah had a bad morning anyway, with the 4 shots that she got - in her words, "I did NOT like them!  I thought I was gonna die!"  (Yes, she actually told the optometrist's assistant this today).  So this afternoon was the better half day off. 

So what did I do, you may ask?  Well, I sent Hannah to bed for her nap and I fell asleep myself.  Boring, I know, but apparently needed.  When I sent her to bed, I didn't actually expect her to fall asleep but at least she would be resting (ish).  As she walked up the stairs she said that I should make sure she was up at 6:30.  That was at 4:00.  Well it is 6:30 now and she is still asleep.  And I have no intention of waking her.  Yeah for peace and quiet and a well-rested 5-year old!

So, Today I am Thankful for the Afternoon Off!

... for Growing Up!

Today marks the end of another long weekend.  Last night, I spent the evening at my 20 year class reunion.  First, let me say that I am still shocked that it has been that long.  Somehow, the idea of chasing after Hannah has made me forget, or at least pretend, that it has been fewer years.  Anywho...

We had a reunion dinner and watched a video with pictures and video clips from our school days.  It was fun watching some of the clips from those days and seeing all the big hair (yes, people, it was the late 80's and early 90's).  But I found myself realizing that while I enjoyed my time in school, the parts of high school that were memorable to much of the class were not the parts that I remembered.  I remembered gatherings with friends, long phone conversations, and a ton of homework.  What seemed to be featured the most in this video was football, basketball and cheerleading (and the associated parties of the cool kids).  To be fair, the person who put it together was on both teams so I am sure this did mean a lot to him, but I think he and I led two totally different lives. 

And as the night wore on, I realized that what I wanted most was to get out of that room and go home to my life.  Yes, it was good to see the people I spent my childhood with, but I wanted to be back with the people I spend my ADULT life with.  I am very glad that I am no longer in school and that my life is not focused on those experiences.  Yes, my life was easier back then, but my life is so much fuller now.  I have Hannah.  I have my own life.  Oh, and I have much smaller hair.  ;-)

So Today I am Thankful for Growing Up!

... for my Beautiful, Wonderful, Giving, Loving, Fantastic Sister!

So this week has been tremendously difficult.  A good friend left suddenly last weekend to be with her father in India.  Of course, that is where she needs to be and my prayers go out for her father during his recovery.  In the meantime, we have been covering for her at work.  This is on top of the fact that another colleague quit last week and we have been short-staffed to get the work done.  Then, another colleague took a vacation for the last 3 days.  SOOOO, 6 of us have been covering the work that was normally a little too much for 9 of us to handle.  Needless to say I am drained. 

On top of that, I have had a lot going on at home and feeling inadequate.  But I suppose that is normal.  So tonight, when I was talking to my sister (see all the descriptors above), I mentioned that I was not looking forward to this weekend and my 20-year class reunion.  After the conversation was over, I got a very long text from her.  She was giving me digital support that only a sister can.  Made my evening, even on top of the wonderful night Hannah and I have had.

One of these days I will give you some reasons why my sis is beautiful, wonderful, giving, loving (ok, that should be pretty clear from the story you just read) and FANTASTIC!  But for now, just take a gander at some of these shots of her.

 Here she is getting some loving from her favorite neice.

 Playing at Santa Claus.  She wronte the return letter from Santa to Hannah.  She also ate the big guy's cookies. Hope he didn't care!

This is one of my favorite pictures of the two of them.  The look great together don't they?

And taking a good look at the camera.  Beautiful!

So, Today I am Thankful for My Beautiful, Wonderful, Giving, Loving, Fantastic Sister!

... for Forgiveness!

Two nights ago, Hannah and I had another "discussion" about her behavior.  We had walked in the door and since it was already past her bedtime, I told her it was time to head to bed.  She immediately burst into tears and complained that she didn't want to go.  After a relatively short battle that ended up with me being annoyed and frustrated, she calmed down, and we had a discussion about how upset I got with her fits and the fact that she didn't seem to listen to me as well as she did to others.  To be fair, this isn't really true so even when I was saying it I corrected myself, but still I am not proud of even bringing it up in the first place.  After many tears on both sides, we forgave each other and prayed, among other things, for God to forgive both of us for our naughty behavior.  I hadn't acted like the most Christian mother in the "discussion" but I am thankful (hey two for one tonight) that I at least had enough sense to admit I was in the wrong too and ask Hannah to forgive me.

Then, I told her we could read a story before she got into bed.  To my extreme pleasure, she hopped off my lap and said, "Let's look for a book about forgiveness!"  I was so proud of her.  And humble too knowing she got it better than I do sometimes.  Unfortunately, we don't have a book about forgiveness, but I promised we would get one the next time we go to the library.  All in all the night ended much better.  And I believe God taught me a great lesson, one that I need to keep relearning, it seems.  When Hannah forgives, it is forgotten.  Much like our sins, that when forgiven, are thrown into the sea of forgetfulness.  God says they are as far from us as the east is from the west.  Unfortunately, I often find myself unable (although sadly the better word may unfortunately be "unwilling") to do the same for others.  Hannah deserves far better. 

So I get up and try, try again.  In the meantime, I am thankful that she is willing to forgive me and forget it.  And, Today I am Thankful For Forgiveness!

... for Coming Back!

Wow!  Has it really been a month?  I find myself wanting to quote a silly line from the movie "Dances 'with Wolves":  Now why don't [she] write?!

Yes, I have been thankful for many things in the past month, but as usual, life got in the way of the blog.  So tonight, I am thankful that I am just coming back to this page to get back in the groove. 

I promise there will be more tomorrow, but now I have to get on to my other work.  So, Today I am Thankful for Coming Back!