Take Out

#7 - I am thankful for takeout .. especially when its cheap

We used to order Dominos .. delivered once a week. A medium Hawaiian and a medium Meat Lovers, throw in tax, delivery fee and a tip and you were talking a $25 night out (at home).

For the last several months Dominos has offered a large 3 topping pizza for $7.99 Monday thru Thursday and when we throw in the breadsticks its $12.74. The only stipulation is you have to pick it up .. we can handle that when it cuts our bill in half. Given that I have the total memorized I think that means we are creatures of habit .. same order, usually on a Wed or Thurs, almost weekly. 

Last night was one of those nights .. I ordered our pizza .. for dinner .. at 9:05.

#7 - I am thankful for takeout .. especially when its cheap

Second Chances

# 6 - I am thankful for second chances

Paul and I met in 2002.  I was newly divorced and he was still in the process of finalizing his.  Two people in their 30's, emotionally beaten, battered and worn out. We met at a mutual friend's 40th birthday party.  Some friends were skeptical, some protective, others convinced we were a good fit.  It took a LONG time from that first introduction for him to call and ask me out .. like over a month .. he's so lucky that I waited.  

I had learned much from my previous experiences and knew what I wanted going forward -- marriage, kids, a partnership.  I told him this on our 2nd or 3rd date and that if he didn't have the same plan, we shouldn't waste each other's time.  It still amazes me that it didn't end that night .. I mean we had been out maybe THREE times. 

Here we are all these years later - we've built a marriage, a family and a freaking house ... all have a very strong and solid foundation.  I think part of the strength comes from always owning what came before .. not forgetting.  Don't get me wrong - we don't dwell on it but we let the past remind us of how lucky we are in the present.

# 6 - I am thankful for second chances

A Right and a Privilege

#5 - I am thankful for the right to vote

This is not old news, in fact, I have been thankful for this for a long time and even blogged about it last year in this post

We are electing a Mayor this year in Norwich as well as City Council and Board of Education members.  The Republican Mayor is running for re-election, a Libertarian candidate is on the ballot as well as a Democratic contender.  There was so much interest in the Democratic Party that there was actually a Primary in September. The endorsed candidate in that primary happened to be my ex-husband.  I am a registered Democrat and planned on voting in that primary.  I read the propaganda that both candidates delivered to my mailbox, I had a lovely conversation with a member of the Hinchey campaign and appreciated the fact that my Ex chose to drive by and not stop, especially since my entire family was home and out in the yard.  I went to the debate that was held and I listened, intently, to the candidates speak.  

Most of the people who follow this blog might have known me when I was married to him or they know that it was a particularly messy and miserable divorce and most know that there was no reason that it had to be like that.

I will not lie, it was difficult to ride around town and see the signs with his name everywhere, to get postcards with his big head and shit ass grin in my mailbox. It was hard to listen to his supporters talk about "all the good he has done for this city."

When you know what I know, saw what I saw, experienced what I experienced you would understand how frustrating it was to keep quiet and to let Karma take control. 

All I could do was vote and I did.  He did not win that primary and he was not on the ballot today.  It might make me seem shallow, petty or small but when I learned that the signs were all coming down and he was out of the limelight until his next "big thing" I celebrated with a fist pump in the air and a gigantic hot fudge sundae from the ice cream shop at the bottom of the hill. 

#5 - I am thankful for the right to vote [and particularly thankful this year]

Dinner Time

#4 - I am thankful for the nights when we can all have dinner together

There was one of those rare occasions last night .. the "man in brown" was home a few minutes after 6 PM. I know, I could hardly believe it myself.  It is November after all and everywhere I turn I see Christmas trees and hear that "Black Friday" specials are in full force.

Regardless, he was home at 6, we were all sitting down to dinner around 6:40 even if one child refused to eat the pancakes and sausage that were being served.

In addition to us all sitting around the table together exchanging laughs and stories about our day and only having to cook dinner one time, there were other benefits.

The "other" benefits included me getting to the gym for quality time on the elliptical with an old episode of Scandal.  It meant me getting to the grocery store at 8:30 not 9:30 and it meant that I was peacefully tucked in bed playing Suduko with the TV in the background for white noise at 10 pm. It meant lights out at 10:30 and no trouble waking when the alarm beeped at 5:00 AM today.

I've heard that it works like this in lots of households almost daily and I know that there are lots of households where it doesn't EVER.  I am thankful for every single time it does here in Romanskiville. 

I mean who wouldn't want to eat dinner with these three?

#4 - I am thankful for the nights when we can all have dinner together

Nap Time

#3 - I am thankful for naps

Sunday was the first day of Daylight Savings Time so theoretically we had an "extra" hour of sleep.  Everyone seemed to be up at their normal time which translates to an hour earlier. The girls needed baths and showers before Christmas pictures at 12:30.  Everyone needed breakfast, Church, quick snack, into their dresses, hair done before heading to the mall  .. phew we were out of the house about 5 minutes ahead of our scheduled departure time!

We did our errands and grabbed a quick lunch and headed home.  The girls snuggled up on the couch with an episode of Sofia the First and I snuck upstairs to see if I could sneak a little nap.

I was successful and clearly was out cold because when my mom called the house I was in that "I've been asleep for 40 minutes but it feels like 4 days" fog ...

I think before the phone rang I looked something like the girls from a few mornings ago.  I needed it though and once I shook the post nap fog I felt refreshed and ready for the rest of the day. 

#3 - I am thankful for naps

Baby Days

#2 - I am thankful for babies and the miracle that they are ...

Earlier this year, my cousin and his lovely wife were blessed with a daughter.  Alayna Stacia arrived in early June and the Holliday Family could NOT be happier. Last week we were lucky enough to get the call. "Could you keep Alayna while I work on Saturday"  We excitedly and anxiously said "Yes".  She was quite a little trooper and seemed to enjoy the excitement and movement around her - the waiting area in the dance studio and the chaotic madness at the bowling alley.  

She napped here and there in the carseat and then the swing, she played on the floor with Brooke and Kristen and she watched a Barbie movie with them .. the girls are determined to introduce her to their whole collection.  She is just so easy to have around. 

I can remember a few years ago my dad telling me how much he enjoyed being a grandparent. How it was all of the good and none of the bad, that they were taken care of and he didn't have to worry or wonder about their futures because, well, I was doing that.  It was pretty much the same for me today.  When Alayna comes we just enjoy her, I don't plan on getting much done on my perpetual list of "to do's", there will be time for that tomorrow.  

The weather was gorgeous and I snuggled her up in a blanket and we sat in a rocking chair on the front porch.  She laid so still, resting her head on my shoulder and had a hold of my sweatshirt sleeve so tight in her grasp.  We must have rocked for 30 minutes and she barely moved - we just rocked holding onto each other.  Absolute, complete joy to have that time.  I barely remember my girls sitting like that at 5 months, I'm sure they did but I was probably so sleep deprived, worried about dinner, laundry, bills or if I was going to do something that might inadvertently harm them that it all flew out of my memory.

Pretty soon Alayna will be walking around when she comes to visit and she'll spend all the time she is here in the playroom with the girls.  It won't be so easy to get her to rock with me for a while on the porch.  

I am thankful for this time with her now.  She reminds me of how miraculous babies are!

#2 - I am thankful for babies and the miracle that they are  ... 

Thirty Days of Thanks

I like to think that I really appreciate all that I have - tangible and intangible - but last year I jumped on the bandwagon with some other Facebook peeps and for the month of November I called out things that I was thankful for.  Today is November 1st and I find that there is something powerful about saying these things out loud for 30 days.  It started conversations with my kids, it reminded some people what an important part of my life they are, and some posts just bring a smile to the faces of my faithful Romanskiville Readers.  

Here's to 2013's Thirty Days of Thanks!

#1 - I am thankful for a peaceful and quiet Friday night

You might be surprised to hear this, but we do a LOT of running around.  Two girls in dance class, 2 girls enrolled in the Saturday Bumper Bowling league, preschool, second grade, 2 working parents, a dog who spends one day a week at doggie daycare .... not a lot of idle time. 

Tonight we were idle ... we came home from school, we walked Bradley, the girls played dress-up in their Halloween costumes while I heated up dinosaur chicken nuggets.  We ate and then the 3 of us climbed up on to the couch, each with a fleece throw and we watched this weeks episode of "The Biggest Loser".  It might seem like an odd choice, but I swear, they picked it!  

The girls seem genuinely invested in the contestants and their success. Sometimes we even have a conversation about our own healthy habits or how we can be more active [oh the irony of that as we snuggle on the couch, on our butts.]  The best part is that the 3 of us fit on the loveseat.  I'm nestled in between them, Brooke on my left, Kristen on my right.  One rests their head on my shoulder, the other holds the hand at the end of the arm I've draped around her. 

No one is whining and no one [Me] is barking orders.  We are just sitting there peacefully together.  Oh and the added bonus .. NO 5 am alarm tomorrow morning to get in a workout at the gym. Ahhhhhh.....

#1 - I am thankful for a peaceful and quiet Friday night