Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.  ~Native American Saying

"My bery OWN trophy"

Friday pizza night of thanks

"The first Thanksgiving" as told by 3 and 4 year olds

There were Pilgrims and there were Indians. Each said something very important that we really couldn't hear (Cooper's line: "That is "bery" good of you")

They told of the Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock and how the Indians taught them to live off the land.

 And then they waited for the music to start

So they could sing the "Ted the Turkey" song and dance the Gobble Gobble Boogie

 And get their final waves in as the curtain began to close

These Pilgrims and Indians then hosted us all for a Thanksgiving Feast. 

 And that was "bery" good of them :)

End of soccer season

 Today marked the end of soccer season for the "Columbus Crew".  

They made great progress this year.  They went from having no clue what to do and from not wanting to let go of their momma's hands, to running, kicking and MAYBE even scoring.

Most days they spent more time on the sidelines getting drinks and snacks, crying over someone "stealing" their ball or running toward the wrong goal....but in the end.. it was a great first season!

Today, all kids got to get a goal... Cooper had to be convinced but as you can see below...he did it :)

"Whip" and other 4 year old adventures

There are so many fun things about being 4 years old. Cooper lives in that magical world that involves learning, growing, eating and playing.  Everyday is an adventure and it makes my heart swell with joy to see his eyes light up when he learns something new. There are so many funny things he is saying and doing now that I just can't capture them all!


- The other day we went back and forth as he told me he wanted me to sing the "Veggie Tales WHIP song"....I could not for the life of me figure out what he was saying. "I don't know a WHIP song" I would protest and he got more and more frustrated and said "WHIP not WHIP".  He finally pointed to his LIP and I was like "OHHH LIP" and he said "YES!  I said WHIP!"


-He now cries at church at communion.  He "is a good boy and wants a cookie too".  He is very upset he is left out.  He pouts the whole way back to our pew as Grammie and I explain he isn't old enough for the host.  He still "wants a cookie"


-Cooper loves to play make believe (I am "Peta Pan" British accent like the stage play he watches over and over), He is Captain Hook.  Woody and Buzz are STILL an almost daily event with all the Toy Story characters getting in on it.  Zurge steals Jessie, Lotso pushes all the toys in the garbage....all variations of parts of the movies really. Last night we played "photographer" he snapped pictures on his fake Buzz Lightyear camera while I pointed out imaginary animals all around the house.  

We still both treasure bath, book and bedtime routine, it is hands down my favorite time of the day.  Now he shares with me parts of his day, who is his best friend at school this week, who is in heaven and if we can fly there on a plane. Conversations are getting more mature, more interesting and I am learning way more than you'd imagine!

 I am sure I will still be wanting to snuggle and rock him to sleep well into his teen years.  I doubt he'll still want to share so many moments of his day but I hope so...rocking to sleep...optional!  Just kidding :)

It's Friday!

Halloween Weekend and other ramblings

Having Halloween fall near a weekend rocks! You get to eat candy the whole weekend, fall into a sugar coma and not have to go to work the next day.  It's been great...also because on a weekend like this I hate to get out of my jammies.  So eating candy in my pj pants is the ultimate :)

Our tradition the last few years has been to go to a local Trunk or Treat at a church and this year again...they did not disappoint!

(please note Cpt Hook was "mean" for the end of the night pics. ...he says " like Hook" I say ..

.like tired and cranky)

What is most disappointing...is that my dear friend Jennifer lost her courageous battle with Melanoma on Friday and I just can't shake my heavy grief even now Sunday night.  One thing about  grief that I hate...is that it never leaves you.  EVER. (bold, underlined and caps people....EVER!) Once you have gone to that place of true loss, once those you love are gone from you forever, I know they say time heals all wounds... but they haven't for me yet.  My wounds get scabbed over but keep getting ripped off and feel fresh again.  I grieve all over again for all those that have gone before Jen who I miss.  Who she is with now and I am not.  Words don't comfort me..."praying you for" is nice but I am numb to other's compassion. My newest hate (NOW all 3-4 of you reading are sure to stop reading!) is October being "pink". I don't want a Mother "F"ing (yes I get that mad!) pink bagel at Panera!  I don't want to walk in a pink boa or tu tu for "survivors".  I don't know any. My friends and family are dead.  My friends remind me detection is key in breast cancer and we need to educate.  FINE but I don't want my cereal box with a pink ribbon!!  It REMINDS me they are gone.  All of those I lost to cancer...my dad has nothing to do with breast cancer but it still is cancer and it really stings.  It rips open my wound and I am left crying in the cereal isle for Hope as I picture her in her "Making Strides" pink boa the year she "beat it." Before she got tongue cancer that the "practicing doctors" claimed was unrelated and died.  That pink ribbon really just pisses me off.  

So....I tell people "I am not in a good space".  That's all I can say really.  Again...my blog my ramblings...terrible I know but I have made it the whole month with the pink EVERYTHING BLASTED THING and Jen's loss (FYI the melanoma ribbon is black) has like I usually say "taken me from teetering on the edge of a breakdown, right into one"

Sangria is now a staple at night.  The Halloween candy combination with the sangria in my NON RIBBON-ED pirate skull pjs with the draw string makes me happy.  That's all I have...so hate me.  It's ok...I'd hate me too if I didn't know any better.

I know this place I am in I will move from.  I know I will change my mind, my feelings and my opinion a thousand more times in my lifetime. Each experience shapes me and I hope I continue to grow as I move through the grief stages (clearly I am in anger! ha) 

Tomorrow I may smile at the lady offering me to "donate a dollar and get a pink ribbon posted on the cash register for breast cancer" and nicely say  " no thanks" instead of what usually runs through my head before I grunt "no"....oh wait...November's right around the corner and tomorrow is Halloween...Ahhhhh...I get to forgive "pink" October month until next year.  Thank GOD! Because the pink dye in the bagel is probably giving everyone cancer anyway! :)