« October 2009 | Main | December 2009 »

November 24, 2009

Thankful

Thanksgiving isn't for a few days but whatev. Here are some things I am thankful for these days:

-yesterday's visit with Adrianne. We always keep in touch, sometimes better than others, but when we get together it's like no time has passed at all. I love how we have a "past" together. Adrianne doesn't forget things like the .wav files I made of Jake singing when he was in Kindergarten. He walked in the door yesterday and she started singing "up, down, jump around, rumbeling in my tumbeling".

-I'm thankful for my parents. They're having us all in for Thanksgiving dinner as always and even though this year for the first time, like, ever, I'm not bringing anyone except my own huge family, mom still said "ok who are you bringing this year? Mom doesn't really understand my need to "take in strays" (her words, not mine). But daddy does. He grew up with a mom who did the same thing. I really am not trying to save the world or anything. I just know how happy my family makes me and I tend to want to share it with everyone around me, whether they like it or not. My folks are also taking the kids overnight for 2 weekends in a row so Dan and I can go out like grownups do. We really need it. I need to have a reason to do my hair and makesups. Dan just needs a full night's sleep I think.

-The kids. I spend a lot of time fretting about them and complaining about them but in the end I am so so so proud of them. Jake is a pleasure and more like a friend now that he's almost a grown up, Trevor is creative and kind and loves his siblings, Kendall is smart and beautiful and helpful, Tess is smart as a whip and keeps me on my toes, Max is my tiniest baby who refuses to grow up. I think he knows that sometimes I just need someone to hold on to. He'll grow up when I do I guess.

-Dan. Another victim of my complaints. A long time ago my mom said "it's ok to have bad days, just try not to have them on the same day as your husband...that's when fights happen". Considering I spend a LOT of time complaining, it doesn't leave much time for Dan to have bad days. Granted, he shouldn't ever have a bad day. Afterall, he's married to me. But he keeps his bad days to a minimum so I can have the lion's share.

-My jobbie job- I've been at this job for 3 years now and I love it as much as I ever have. It's not boring, I rarely ever wake up thinking that I should just stay home, and I have some of the best co-workers ever. The very best part of the job is that there is limited "talking" required. I like to save my talking for friends so I get to store it alllllll up during the day and unload later.

-Glennon's blog. I feel like reading her blog is like having a teacher. She's teaching me, through her words and actions, how to be a better person. I might just need that, believe it or not.

-Friends. I have the most wonderful, understanding, hilarious group of women (and men) in my life. They are all different and we mesh really well. Who else has a group of friend who discuss waterboarding at every.possible.event?

-Suzie. While Suzie really fits in the friends category, she also belongs in the "omgwhatwouldIdowithoutyou" category. Suzie is the mother my babies should have gotten. She's nurturing and not sarcastic to them. She doesn't tell them to "get over it" when they cry. She takes them out in public. She's not afraid of what happens when things get out of place. She not only takes care of my kids, but when I walk in after a long day at work, she offers me a beer and then she offers me her ear and her shoulder. She may not always agree with me, but she never lets on if she's not 100% on my side.

-food. I still love food more than I should, but I am thankful for it, Let's also just add in "wine, beer, vodka and champagne" while we're at it since that's what usually qualifies as dinner for me.

Posted by krystal at 7:17 AM | Comments (1)

November 11, 2009

incense and peppermints

Last week I was in a funk for about, well, a week. I spent the entire time reliving and reliving and reliving the weekend before. It was so overwhelming that I needed an entire week to just get past it. It wasn't badness, just the entirety of it. I grumbled and fretted and laughed and visited and lived my normal life and then, by this past Saturday, I was over it. I spent the weekend doing family things. We went to my brother's house for an oyster roast and then came home early enough to hang out w/ the neighbors. Sunday was all about rest, but I was so rested by this point that I got around to cleaning out my closet. I started my week feeling at ease with the world and myself. I organized papers into folders...you know, like people do. Then I finished moving the Halloween stuff inside that was outside and now I'm just waiting for someone to box that stuff up. I guess if it's still there by next Halloween, Wil can do it?

This weekend is coming up and I'm so totally stoked. I'm having a sell your gold/pampered chef/ birthday party at our house. We're celebrating Tree, Tyler, Sarah and Billy by doing fondue. I think it's going to be a blast. I'm only sad because Terri won't be here and she's usually my partner in all things fondue. I even tried to lure her here by promising Rock Band, but no dice. She SUCKS. Either way, I believe this weekend will be a very very good one.

***
Today I got Jake registerd for college. He's not enthused which makes me think it's a waste of money but whatever, he has to go to college or go without insurance. I vote for college.

Trevor and Kendall got really good report cards. Tess got her hair chopped off. I really think Max speaks philipino or something. Everyone's doing great. Dan's been at his job long enough to start closing tickets and I really think he likes his job and the co-workers.

I'm feeling calm and at peace with things. Don't worry though, in the back of my mind I'm worrying about Thanksgiving, birthdays, weddings, Christmas, new years and my big fat tax refund. I wonder what would happen if I didn't fret about things 2 months in advance?

Posted by krystal at 6:23 PM

November 3, 2009

Learning to Be Still.

I have a new addiction. Every morning when I wake up before my family and sit down with my coffee I read http://momastery.blogspot.com/ . Adrianne is friends with her up in NoVa and that's how I found her. She gives me so much to think about and helps me far more than she'll ever know. If you have not checked her blog out yet, even though I tell everyone in the world about her, you should. You must. Just do it. Later you can tell me how awesome I am for telling you about how awesome she is.

***

Last weekend we had a halloween party at our house. It wasn't my party, just my house. Anyone who has been to a Gayle and Wil halloween party knows what I'm talking about. I opened my house to the masses and Gayle and Wil and all of our kids did most of the work, but I helped. It was far more work than I remember ever doing before parties here. There were pumpkins to carve, costumes to find, decorations to hang, food to cook, but it was fun doing all of that with Gayle. I've missed her a lot. We took the babies trick or treating for about 4 houses before it started raining and then brought them back here where we had more candy than the entire neighborhood. By 7 when the party started, the house was PACKED. There ended up being 101 or 102 people there...all on one floor of the house...mostly inside. It rained.

I heard that the party was fun. I spent most of my night in the landing upstairs, hiding because I was overwhelmed. I suck like that.

***

Tonight we're doing our CD exchange and thankfully it's with people I know and love. I made a decision this summer to tighten my circle of people and I've done a really good job of that. I love being surrounded by tons of people as long as they're the people I love. There are so very many people that I do not love and I am closing my circle back up again. I've found that it protects us from people who don't like us and it protects them from us. I'm not trying to be dramatic or whatever, but I know my limit.

***

It's election day. I voted today for Suzie. I don't have any political leanings and she isn't allowed to vote so I let her do everything but push the button. I wish she could push the button.

Dan's dad is running for Mayor in his hometown so hopefully he'll do well today!

***
There's a lot bouncing around in my head these days and I feel unsettled. I think it'll be fine once I force myself to sit down and breathe. Maybe in January or December 19th...that day is free.

Posted by krystal at 3:51 PM