Here’s our tentative menu for this year. It’s subject to changes because something else may come along that sounds better.
Turkey – using Pioneer Woman’s brine
Brisket
Cornbread stuffing
Sweet potatoes & even better sounding Sweet Potatoes
green beans
brussels sprouts
cranberry sauce
rolls
pumpkin bread pudding
pumpkin pie
Cherry pie
Since the daily post was a little short today (on a side note, I think some of them will be. I actually read through the list and most of them are just goofy), I thought I would leave you with this. A few weeks ago I got a new camera as an early birthday present. We have been experimenting with taking pictures and in general just having fun. It is amazing what a difference the quality of picture you can get from a great camera vs an adequate camera.
Maybe I am just not the right person for introspection. Or, maybe I just don’t take things serious enough. Who knows.
I know I have done some awful things, but I forgave myself for them a long time ago. This goes back to the post for day 1. There really isn’t much point in making yourself suffer for the things that you either have no control over or can’t go back in time to change anyway.
It’s hard to know what to say that you love about yourself. I mean, it feels sort of conceited. “This is what’s so awesome about me!”. What do I love about me? I never really take the time for self examination. Is this supposed to be just about myself, or can it be the things that surround me? I wonder if it is supposed to be physical, mental, spiritual, or a combination of all?
Here’s the least humble. I love that I am smart. I’m by no means a genius but I like knowing that I can solve a problem if needed. If I can’t do something, I love knowing that all I have to do is some research and I will be able to do it.
I love that my life is filled with love, my husband, my children, my family and friends. I love that I am a good mother. I know that I don’t always make the right decisions, but I love my kids, and they know that I love them.
I love that for the most part, I am calm under pressure. There is no use in freaking out about something that you don’t have control over. If you have control of at least yourself, then you can rationally solve whatever problem there is. I’m positive there are situations that I would not be able to remain calm and rational. I hope that I don’t have to face something like that.
I love that my body is healthy. It has been strong enough to give me three amazing children. I don’t get sick that often (knock on wood) and I have the energy to try fun new experiences like completing a 5k and the DFW Mud Run.
Right out of the gate with a bang! This is pretty hard. Hate is such a strong word. I like to think if there were something I actually hated about myself, that I would try to change it immediately. In general, I’m pretty happy with myself. There are things I wish I could change, but if they don’t change, it’s not really that big of a deal. I’ll start with a list of “don’t really like” and see if any of them change to hate.
My weight. I don’t like that no matter what I do, it never fluctuates by more than a pound or two. The scales haven’t really changed in about 3 years. I’ve come to terms with that. There is a tiny bit of muffin top that I am working to get rid of, but I’m happy with my body. So, no hate there.
I am often scatterbrained. If someone says something directly to me and I am already on some other train of thought, I will have to ask them to repeat themselves. This is who I am though. Maybe I need some extra vitamins.
Parenting is hard. I hate that I second guess myself and constantly worry that I am going to completely mess my kids up for life based on any one thing that I do wrong.
I guess that’s it. There is my hate thing. For the most part though, I don’t hate anything about myself. There just isn’t reason enough to make myself miserable.
I saw this on another person’s blog and think it is a great idea. I say that, but I haven’t really read the full list. I hope there aren’t days that have something incredibly lame. If so, there may just be a few lines for that day. An apology note and a picture. Something is better than nothing, right?
Maybe it will help me actually stay motivated to keep putting up new posts. We’ll see.
This is the list if you want to add your own:
Day 01 → Something you hate about yourself.
Day 02 → Something you love about yourself.
Day 03 → Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 04 → Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 05 → Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself
I wrote this post six years ago. One, I can’t believe the blog has been around (more or less) this long. Two, a few years ago, I wrote about Zoey turning seven. She seemed so grown up. That’s nothing compared to today. I know it is only the beginning.
Today is Allison’s seventh birthday. We are celebrating her birthday in a similar fashion to Zoey’s. A drive to Shreveport with a few of Alli’s friends and a movie.
My baby, my youngest child. The one who has my eyes and still loves to snuggle with me. The one who reminds us so much of her brother when he was her age (a side note: On his next birthday, he will be DOUBLE her age). They share the same strong sense of right and wrong, this ranges from caring about the environment to standing up for others. Unlike her older siblings who are a little more reserved, she is not afraid to speak her mind out loud. Where the other two were more quiet and shy at her age, she is outgoing and spirited. She is a singer and likes to play pretend, whether it is with G.I. Joes or Liv dolls. The girl is super smart and has a huge heart. Greg and I like to say that she is our retro child. This one who loves all things about the 80′s, so much that we introduced a whole new group of six year olds to Ghostbusters last year and dressed as Princess Zelda this.
I don’t know how to write down how I feel about my children. There is so much love and not enough words to describe it. All this week Allison has been telling me that she was the best birthday present I ever had and will ever receive. She is absolutely correct.
Happy Birthday to my youngest child.
This won’t be a very exciting post. Fair warning 
Over the summer our kids spent plenty of time away from home and it brought something to my attention about (pre)teenagers and their cleaning habits.
Teach them to pick up after themselves and to offer to help out around wherever they are being sent. Sure they might not do it at home very well, or even happily, but it has been my experience that most kids don’t mind helping out and do a much better job of it when they aren’t home.
Remind them to offer their help (doing dishes, picking up rooms, babysitting, whatever) just before they leave for their trip.
Even if they are the best kids ever, they are still (pre)teenagers, not completely dependable and slightly self-absorbed. Remind their host that is is perfectly acceptable to ASK their guest to do things. If they are like my children, they will gladly help with whatever the task, it just won’t occur to them to offer.
A couple of weeks ago, I went outside to close up the chicken coop and noticed eggs in the nesting boxes! I asked Greg if he put eggs from the refrigerator into the boxes and he promised that he hadn’t. I excitedly ran in to grab Alli and the camera. We ran through the house yelling, “Eggs! Eggs in the chicken coop!”, and, “Wooohoooo!!!!!”! Only after I started to take a picture did I realize that they were ping pong balls. Some dirty pranksters name Greg and Nathan had put them in while Alli and I were taking a nap.
Finding eggs wasn’t too inconceivable. At least two of the hens are close to the right age to start laying. It was a hilarious trick. So, I was a little skeptical when Greg mentioned the past two days that the wood shavings in a couple of the nesting boxes looked like they had been stirred up and shifted. Skeptical until we found this today!
An EGG! A real, fresh, non-store bought egg! Hopefully the first of many.
Originally written March 22,2010. I know some time has passed. This post was mostly written, I’m not sure why I just didn’t post it then. Maybe I was waiting until I got back. Anyway, I’ll write more about this another time.
On Thursday we went to Houston for the rodeo and a concert. Not just a concert, but The Blackeyed Peas.
Alli completely rocked out.
I was sure we were annoying the people behind us because we stood, danced, and sang along with most of the songs. At the end though, they told us that it was great to see the girls having fun.
Super early Friday morning I flew out from Houston to California.
My grandmother passed away a little over a week ago and I didn’t want my dad to have to make the drive back alone. A huge perk is that I got to visit with Christi and her boys. They are absolutely adorable. I doubt they will remember who I am, but I am really glad I got to see them.
My grandmother has a live-in boyfriend, Ray. He’s a 90 year old, super active guy. So far he seems to be doing well, but every once in a while he has a hard time. Once he told me that he misses my grandmother even more than he misses his wife. Sweet and sad at the same time.
The rest of the days have been filled with cleaning; the deep freezes (there was stuff in there 20 years old) and my grandmother’s closet. I found some really old, very cool pictures of both my grandmother and great-grandmother. It is strange to see pictures of people who resemble me and not really know much about them. It looks like my great grandmother was a hoot.
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