Thankful Thursday

It has been rainy and cloudy for almost three weeks now.  I need the sun.  Seriously.  The daily darkness puts me into SAD (seasonal affective disorder) mode.  It usually strikes during the winter and subsides in the spring when the sun is out more.  Except this spring, the sun has forgot to come out.  It becomes really easy for me to be negative and depressed.  I have to make myself focus on the positive and find things to be grateful for.  As I have said many times on my little blog, there is always something to be thankful for.  Always.

This week I'm thankful for:
     ~ finding out the numbness in my feet, caused by diabetes, can be reversed
     ~ my children are happy adults
     ~ a fun birthday celebration
     ~ a low carb, sugar free chocolate birthday cake that didn't spike my blood sugar!
     ~ a husband who makes me laugh
     ~ getting out of the house and junking even though I didn't find anything

     What are you thankful for this week?

Thankful Thursday

Shylee turned eight this week.  It's crazy how fast the last eight years have gone by.  But what a joy it is to watch her grow up.  She is smart and funny, dramatic, girly, creative, full of never ending energy, and she never stops talking.  I am so very thankful to be her Grandma! :)

I'm also thankful for:
     ~ being able to do things I couldn't do two years ago
     ~ Erin got a job
     ~ cold rainy mornings that turn into warm sunny afternoons
     ~ April
     ~ Shylee's latest artwork on the fridge
     ~ happy mail
   

What are you thankful for today?

Christmas 2013

I hope you had a most wonderful Christmas with the ones you love.  The only thing that would have made my celebration better, is if Sean had been here.  But we had a good time with a tree to decorate,

A note to read

A stocking to pick through

Presents to open

Bubble wrap to pop

A new keyboard to play (the only thing she asked for from Santa was a piano)

A helicopter to fly

Birthday wishes to make

And lots of hugs

And it all went by way too fast.  And they went home before I was ready for them to leave.  And another Christmas is done.  

I'm looking forward to the new year.  Are you?

xo Annette xo

Thankful Thursday

Every Thursday I share what I'm thankful for.  Sometimes it's a serious or big thing, and sometimes it's a goofy or small thing.  I believe that no matter what is going on in our lives, there is always something to be thankful for.  Always.

This is one of those silly, kind of trivial things, but I'm thankful that sometimes I actually get the shot of a critter while he's standing still!  Seriously, I usually end up with a blur because they move right when I click!

I'm also thankful for
     *  my children and the privilege to be their Mom
     *  my Mom
     *  birthday cake and ice cream
     *  Shylee telling everyone they should make me a birthday cake so I could sit and relax. We bought a cake!
     

What are you thankful for today?

Have a great day!

xo Annette xo

Thankful Thursday

Dear Friends,
Every Thursday I share what I'm thankful for.  Sometimes it's a serious or big thing, and sometimes it's a goofy or small thing.  I believe that no matter what is going on in our lives, there is always something to be thankful for.  Always. 

Today is my Daddy's 77th birthday.  I was thankful to spend time with him and my mom this past August when we visited them on our way home from Colorado.  I'm thankful for the things he taught me, like the value of hard work and being honest.  I'm thankful he was always there for me.  Like the time I worked at the mall and was getting threatening phone calls from someone who was watching me.  Security couldn't do anything so Daddy came with Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson and waited with me until the shop closed, and then drove me home so I wouldn't have to drive alone.   I'm thankful I still have him.  He might be a little more forgetful, a little more bent, a little crankier, and a little more cynical, but he's still my Daddy and that will never change.  Happy Birthday Daddy!

I'm also thankful for
     *  the arrival of a new great nephew (the day before his great grandpa's birthday)
     *  the excitement of the Christmas season
     *  the internet
     *  Michael's job  

What are you thankful for today?

xo Annette xo

     

Celebration

We celebrated my birthday yesterday.  There was chocolate Coca Cola cake and presents.  But the very best part was spending the day with my family!  It's becoming more difficult to get all of us together at the same time, so I cherish these snippets of togetherness.  And having cake when that happens doesn't hurt either!

Hoping you have a marvelous Monday!

Thankful Thursday ~ Blogtoberfest Day 13

Hello and welcome back!  I hope your week is going great so far and you have something to be thankful for.  No matter what is going on, there is always something to be grateful for.

Today I'm thankful for my son, Sean.  His birthday was yesterday and we were all together last weekend to help him celebrate.  Sean is and always has been a quiet, gentle soul.  That doesn't mean he didn't get into his fair share of mischief!  He was quite good at that.  He is funny and smart, sometimes cynical, and always a joy to be around.  I don't see him often enough, but am grateful for the times when I can.

I'm also thankful we could all be together.  It's been too long.  I enjoyed seeing my Sweet Pea and letting her help me make Sean's birthday pie.  She's at the age to get excited about birthdays, so we're doing candles and decorations again for her sake.  

I'm also thankful for 

     the beauty of the season

     encouragement from friends

     the last outing for ice cream while it was still warm

     music that brings back memories of falling in love

     not seeing anymore frogs

I have been thinking about making Thankful Thursday a weekly linky party if enough people are interested.  Please let me know if this is something you would be interested in.  It would start the first Thursday in November.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful Thursday

Every Thursday I share something I'm thankful for.  It's so easy to get wrapped up in the problems of every day that we sometimes forget that we have something to be thankful for no matter how small.

Today I'm thankful for my husband Michael.  Today is his birthday!  I won't tell you how old he is, but I will tell you I met him shortly before his 21st birthday and we are well on our way to growing old together!

I'm also thankful for:
     safety through the storm
     A God who keeps His promises
     friends who keep me distracted
     buttered popcorn and chick flicks

What are you thankful for today?

In honor of National Sewing Month, I'm sharing a sewing tip at the end of each blog post.  Here is today's tip:

Press the seams of your project as you go.  Whether you press them open or to the side, the finished project will look neater and professional when it's finished.

Do you have a favorite sewing tip?  I would like to hear it and I might just use it in a future post!

   

Happy Birthday!

...to me!  Today is my birthday and I'm still 39!  It's okay if you don't believe me.  My body gives me away a little bit more everyday!  Because my birthday and Mother's Day fall in the same week (and sometimes the same day) we celebrate them both together.  This time we went to Baltimore's National Aquarium and most of my pictures didn't turn out.  But this shot of a dog walking by did turn out and I just love it!  I smile every time I look at it!

I want to let you know I will be away from my blog for a little while.  When you read this, I will be in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania visiting Amish country.  My daughter and granddaughter were going to join me for a road trip to Arkansas to visit family, but due to the flooding of the Mississippi River, we had to cancel that trip.  So instead, we will spend a few days in Pennsylvania.  When I get back, I have some things that need my attention before I get back to blogging.  I will be checking your blogs and commenting when I'm able.  And hopefully I'll have pictures that turn out so I can share my mini vacation with you!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!!!

A Lunch Cruise in Baltimore

We celebrated Michael's birthday a second time when we took a lunch cruise beginning at the Inner Harbor of Baltimore.  This was Michael's birthday present from our children and it was a fun way to spend an afternoon.  There was dining, dancing, entertainment and some incredible views!  The weather was cool and crisp and the sky was blue with abundant sunshine.  A perfect fall day.

When you look at the first photo, you can see a bride and groom on the top deck!  They had the ceremony before we left and the reception during the cruise! 

Ft. McHenry where Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner

View of Baltimore

State Flag

Baltimore is home to the hospital ship Comfort.  It goes anywhere in the world where it's needed.

If you're ever in the area, this is a fun way to spend an afternoon.  Even if you don't take the cruise, the Inner Harbor and downtown have enough to keep you busy for days!

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!!!

My Favorite Son

Some of you may remember reading this two part post where I told the story of having a broken leg while I was pregnant.  The baby I was pregnant with turns 27 years old today!  Sean was a happy little boy full of energy and mischief. 

He loved Ghost Busters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, GI Joe, Batman and Sonic the Hedgehog.  When he had to have nine baby teeth pulled by the dentist, he giggled and laughed so hard the dentist couldn't pull his teeth because he was laughing just as hard as Sean.  Nitrous caused the fit of giggles!

When he was 18, he saved his money and bought his first car.  He was so proud of it, and we were proud of him for the discipline he had to save money for it.  Today, Sean is still happy and somewhat mischievious!  He is laid back and easy going and has a fabulous sense of humor.  Dry at times but nonetheless fabulous!  He's one of my favorite people to be around!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEAN!!!! 

(Aren't you glad I didn't use the naked baby pictures???)



A Perfect Weekend

Have you ever had one of those weekends where you were totally relaxed and stress free AND at home?  It's rare that I feel that way without going somewhere to get away from it all, but this weekend was one of those rare ocassions for me.

Sean and Erin (our son and daughter) and Shylee came down on Saturday to celebrate Michael's birthday.  We packed a picnic lunch and headed for the Patuxent River to spend the afternoon.  It was 78 degrees, breezy and low humidity.  In other words...perfect!  And there were no crowds to get in the way!
We ate, played on the playground (Michael got some quality grandpa time), walked on the beach and enjoyed each others company!

Sunday was another perfect day because I spent it in the sewing room creating and learning how to miter corners! 

Sneak peek of things to come

Happy Birthday!

Isn't he just the cutest?  That's my husband, Michael.  He's just as cute today as he was then!

Happy Birthday Dear!!!!  I hope you have many more for us to celebrate!

It's My Birthday AND I'm Having A Giveaway AND It's Eat What You Want Day!

Someone once told me that birthdays aren't for celebrating growing a year older but for celebrating you and your life!  This sounds good to me since I don't want to think about being a year older!  The best way I can think of to celebrate with my blog buddies is to have a giveaway!

This giveaway includes a lavender sachet, two vintage hankies and a generous handful of vintage buttons!  The sachet is handmade by me from a vintage hankie and is embellished with three vintage buttons and a strip of vintage lace. 

The deadline for entries is Monday, May 24 and I wll announce the winner on Tuesday, May 25.  Here is how you can enter:

Simply follow this blog and leave a comment telling about your favorite birthday memory!

For extra entries:

Mention  this giveaway on your blog with a link to this post (leave a comment with a link to your post).

Mention the giveaway on Twitter and leave a link in a comment.

Mention the giveaway on Facebook and leave a link in a comment.

Visit my Etsy shop and heart either the shop or an item and leave a comment about it.

Oh, one more thing.  Today is Eat What You Want Day!!!  It was created to give people on a diet a guilt free day of splurging on their favorite foods. But it's back on the diet tomorrow!  Can you believe it?!  I guarantee you it's pretty much what I do anyway and especially on my birthday! 

I hope you have a truly great day!

Life Happens....

 You know that saying, "while we're busy making plans, life happens".  My daughter Erin, Shylee and I were supposed to leave yesterday on a road trip to Arkansas.  Instead, Erin went to NY for a funeral and I've had Shylee since Saturday.  She was home all of 4 days before she came back to me!!

Remember last week when I had her?  You can read about it here.  This week has been so much better.  The tantrums have been only 2-3 times a day and I even ventured out with her on Tuesday because it was her birthday!  We went shopping for some new outfits and a booster seat for meal times since she doesn't like the high chair.  She will be leaving me tomorrow night which is a good thing because my husband gave me his cold and it's going to get worse before it gets better.

We celebrated Shylee's second birthday on Saturday.  She was the center of attention and loved every minute of it!!! 

If we go to Arkansas, we won't make it in time for the Bon Jovi concert.  I guess I can console myself with memories of the concert my sister and I went to almost 4 years ago!  Oh well.....there will be other concerts and other trips and I had a good time with my sweet pea this week!  Life happens and we refocus and go on.

Have a wonderful Thursday!!!