I'm thankful for...

1.  Christmas carols all year long, thanks to Elaine.

2.  the MyFitnessPal app.

3.  lotion.  And chapstick.

I'm thankful for...

1.  cycles.  I remember being endlessly entertained by Shel Silverstein when I discovered A Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends when I was about 8.  Now Frank has discovered him, and he loves to share his favorite poems with us.

2.  the endless entertainment one of the poems from Runny Babbit has provided for us all:

     Said Ploppy Sig to Runny Babbit,
     "May I use your broom?"
     Said Runny Babbit, "Yes, fut birst,
     Please let me ree your soom.
     Oh Ploppy Sig, oh pessy mig
     Oh dilthy, firty swine,
     Whoever thought your room would be
     As mig a bess as mine?"


3.  Reese's Puffs.    

I'm thankful for...

1.  the blessings that come from paying tithing.

2.  the blessings that come from obeying the Word of Wisdom.

3.  the blessings that come from serving others.

I'm thankful for...

1.  the great talk about faithfulness Elder Maynes gave at our special stake conference on Sunday.

2.  the beautiful day and fun walk we had with the kids yesterday.  I love watching Elaine ride her tiny bike - even if I do have to run beside her to make sure she doesn't veer off into the grass.  She's doing a better job of pedaling than steering at this point.

3.  the pretty awesome swag we've gotten from Tyson over the years, culminating in a smart TV on Saturday night.

I'm thankful for...

1.   hand-me-downs.

2.  freshly detailed cars.

3.  date night!

I'm thankful...

1.  for (my) undisturbed sleep.

2.  that Elaine has started napping well again.

3.  for hide'n'seek, because playing it with a 2 year old is one of the cutest things in the world.  

I'm thankful for...

1.  the Daily Workouts app, helping me get a pretty good workout in the comfort of my living room.

2.  working vehicles.

3.  working heaters.

I'm thankful...

1.  for any poopy diapers that I don't have to change.

2.  for my sisters' generosity in letting Pete and I tag along on their cell phone service for the last few years.

3.  that Alison was there to walk us through the process, now that the time has come to get our own cell service.  I'm a real boy now!

I'm thankful for...

1.  catching up with old friends.

2.  my husband's generous nature.

3.  the rain.  But I'm also looking forward to the day when we can walk in the yard without sinking in mud.

I'm thankful...

1.  that we got to be in a Harlem Shake video tonight, dumb as they are.  Because this is probably about as close as I'll ever get to being in a flash mob.  And it was fun.

2.  that we got free movie tickets for participating in said Harlem Shake video.

3.  for making fun memories with my kids.

I'm thankful...

1.  for three-day weekends.

2.  that children are so quick to forgive.

3.  for pancakes.

I'm thankful...

1.  for antibiotics.  Especially after reading How They Croaked.  Maybe Henry VIII wouldn't have exploded in his coffin if he'd had antibiotics to heal that leg wound.

2.  that everyone in my house is finally on the mend.

3.  for sweet friends arriving at our door with sweet cupcakes!

I'm thankful...

1.  again for...sick days.  I'm starting to sound as though I really like for my children to be sick.  But this was the most pleasant Wednesday night I've had in over a year.  Usually Wednesdays are totally hectic because Pete leaves for work, and then I'm in a race against time as I help kids with homework, make dinner, clean up dinner, gets my kids to the babysitter, pick up whatever kids are going with me to church that night, then rush home to get my kids in bed at a decent hour.  As much as I love my calling working with the young women, it was incredibly nice to chill at home and have time for our bedtime routine tonight.

2.  that Elaine made me look good today, as she informed the doctor (at George's appointment) that I always take good care of her.

3.  that after a combined total of about 5 years of having kids in the school system, I'm finally starting to get the hang of things.  

Finished Scaramouche last week, listening to Jude the Obscure now.

I'm thankful...

1.  that I'm well, now that even Pete's sick.

2.  for Frank's teacher keeping an eye on him and letting me know I needed to come get him.  Guess he wasn't ready to go back to school just yet.

3.  for Tylenol, again.  Last time I expressed gratitude for acetaminophen, it was for my headache.  This time, it's for Frank's and Elaine's fevers and George's earache. 

I'm thankful for the funny things kids say.

1.  Frank:  I just noticed how long Lainey's hair has gotten.  I guess she's officially a woman now.

2.  George:  Sometimes I just walk around doing nothing at
     recess.
     Me:  Why?  What are you doing when you're doing
     nothing?
     George:  Hoping I look cool.

3.  Elaine, after being forcibly removed from the computer:  Mommy, you just broke my heart.

I'm thankful...

1.  for Goodreads.  Love being able to keep up with what everyone's reading.

2.  that Martin has an urgent care clinic open on Saturdays.  Why do kids always seem to get sick over the weekend?

3.  that Pete willingly and happily changes the oil in our vehicles.  

I'm thankful for...

1.  sick days.  Not that I want the kids to be sick, but it's kind of fun when none of the normal rules apply and you can spend the day on the couch cuddling, reading, listening to Radiolab, and watching Netflix.

2.  Saturdays with not a thing on the calendar.

3.  the excellent teachers that both Frank and George have this year.

I'm thankful...

1.  for the fun and clever parables the young women came up with at last night's activity.  Love those girls.

2.  that I woke up early enough to make the boys a hot breakfast today.  It's a rare but pleasant occurrence.

3.  for those special one-on-one moments with my kids.

I'm thankful for...

1.  a fun walk to the park for playgroup today.

2.  yoga pants.

3.  yoga.

I'm thankful...

1.  to be done with our taxes.

2.  Elaine has learned to pedal so I don't have to push her on the bike anymore!

3.  for the 1/2 hour of practice I get to squeeze in while Pete and Elaine are getting the boys from school.

I'm thankful for...

1.  brinner. 

2.  my sweet piano students.

3.  the planet Uranus, being the butt(!) of jokes for eternity.
  
     Me:  And that planet is called Uranus.
     Elaine:  My anus.
     Me:  No, not my anus...Uranus.
     Elaine:  My anus?
     Me:  No, not YOUR anus...Uranus.
     Elaine:  My anus???

I'm thankful...

1.  for my mom's delicious lemon squares.

2.  that Alison was there to talk me down when I wanted to eat the whole pan of delicious lemon squares.

3.  that 3 hours of basketball helped me burn off the calories of the 2 delicious lemon squares I did eat.

I'm thankful...

1.  for warm gloves and a warm coat on my 18° walk this morning.

2.  for google.  Because it helps me find important information, like how to type the degree symbol.  (It's Alt 0176, if you're wondering.)

3.  that my kids are growing up surrounded by their cousins.