Thursday, November 26, 2009

Feeling Grateful

In honor of Thanksgiving, I thought I'd pause for a minute and reflect on aspects of my life that make me thankful.

1) Family
I've said it before, and I'll reiterate it here: to me, family is the most important thing. Ever. Life can break you down, you can lose a job, you can have a bad run of luck, but true family members will stick by you through thick or thin. They'll love you no matter what.
I think once I became a stay-at-home mom, I've realized how much I lean on my family for support, and it's nice to know that they're there for me.

I feel blessed to live relatively close to my parents; it's nice to see them every-so-often, especially for the kids. My dad stopped by on Monday just to take me out to dinner. I talk to them a few times a week. After losing a family member recently, it's that much more important to me that I keep in constant contact with those who mean so much to me.

It's well-known how much it pains me to have my brother and his wife so far away. I know this is what is in their heart to do, and I'm beyond proud of the both of them for the work they are doing. But I miss them. Tremendously.

My mom, brother, sister-in-law and dad.

2) My freelancing options
I'm grateful to have supplementary income, no matter how annoyed or frustrated I might get. My main source of income abruptly ceased communication with a majority of its editors/writers earlier this summer, leaving many of us in the lurch. For a while, I was able to work with my old company doing fact-checking work, which wasn't bad, but not very steady. Then I answered an ad on craigslist, and surprisingly, have found steady work (furiously knocking on wood). It's not the world's most exciting work, but it's nice that I can work at home, once the kids are in bed, so we can do fun things, buy nice stuff for Christmas and be comfortable.

I'm not the best at marketing myself, or even promoting myself, so I thought I would be in much more dire straits than I am, so it was wonderful that this job "landed" in my life. It requires me to work 15 hours a week, which at times can be daunting, especially after a rough day with the kids or life in general, but it's been painless so far.

Plus, it doesn't hurt that Phil still has a job that he enjoys and will be getting a nice bonus next month. And he works one day a week at home. So I'm thankful for that.

3) My kids
Yes, certain days they drive me absolutely up the wall. And there are days when I cannot believe that I chose to stay home with them. All. The. Time. And on days like yesterday, when they've both been home due to a day off of school. And I've had to scold them several times. For stupid stuff. Like not sharing toys. Or pestering each other. Or annoying each other. But that's what wine is for.

Those goofy kids.

But then there are other days when I can volunteer in Riley's classroom. And watching her play sports. Or having either kid hand me a freshly made picture. Or days when all Jeremy wants to do is play games and tickle.

This was taken a few years ago. Look how little the kids are!

And the kids crack me up. Literally, there is not a day that passes where I don't laugh at something. Just tonight, I covered Jeremy up with his blankets, and he asked, "Mom, I don't know where I am." Or at our mini-Thanksgiving dinner tonight, where Jeremy took one bite of the turkey and pronounced: "This is absolutely delicious!"

4) My husband
I might not talk about how wonderful he is, but he is at times. He knows that I need a break, and he insists that I take an hour for myself each day. He knows how much I enjoy Dairy Queen, so every week he drives over there and gets me my weekly Blizzard. (By the way, DQ closes in just a few weeks, so that's always a sad day in my world.) When I was pregnant with Jeremy, he would draw a bath for me every Friday. Just because. And it was heaven.

Our wedding day, 8+ years ago.

He puts up with my nagging, my never-ending lists and my overall crabby moods. He knows when to take the kids in the basement after pjs to just let loose. He knows when to have massive tickle fights. He knows in the summer when to take them outside and play bat and ball, throw the Frisbee around or bust out the bubbles. He's the best dad to those kids, and I've never once doubted his ability to do what's best for those kids. They greet him with massive hugs and a welcome that could make anyone smile.

He knows me better than anyone, which is good and bad. It prevents me from getting away with anything, but we all need someone who can put us in our place. We've been together 10+ years now, and I can't imagine my life without him. I hope he knows that.

5) Hockey
Yeah, that's right. I'm SO grateful for hockey. As an early Christmas present, Phil got me tickets to a Blackhawks game earlier this month. We just purchased a new camera, and I've yet to install the software needed to view the pictures, but the game was fantastic. It was Jeremy Roenick heritage night, and those who know me know that I'm a HUGE JR fan. In fact, we named Jeremy after him.

It was an awesome game as the Hawks won 4-3 in a shootout. The crowd was the largest of the season (so far), and it was fantastic to be a part of the team's success this season. I've been enjoying the games on television and cannot wait to see how the rest of the season pans out.

It does make me sad that I no longer work in the professional sports arena. In '98 turned down a job to work for the Chicago Wolves minor-league hockey team. I thought they were offering me too little of money to do too much work. I know, though, that I would've missed out on so many aspects of life if I would've taken that job, but it does make me wistful.

Anyway, the kids know several of the players by name, and they're always asking if Patrick Sharp, Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews scored. I think it's pretty cute. I cannot wait until they are old enough to enjoy attending a game. Of course, we'll have to refinance the house to do that when the time comes. Maybe I should start getting Jeremy on those ice skates so he can be a Hawk someday. Wouldn't that be great?!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Belated Halloween Pictures

I should stop prefacing every blog post by saying that I'm so woefully behind. But I am. Here it is one week from Thanksgiving, and I'm finally posting Halloween pictures. *sigh* If only I had a few extra hours per day.

Who am I kidding? I'd probably use those extra hours to catch up on all the sleep I've missed out on in the last several years. Or find something meaningless on TV and veg for a few hours.

Anyway, as for Halloween, we had the pumpkins delivered to us by Papa and Nana about 6 weeks before Halloween. A big shout out goes to my uncle Ron for providing said pumpkins. So the vegetables sat on our front step for most of October, until we finally decided to carve them, oh the day before Halloween. Yeah, we're slackers in the real world, too!

As always, Phil cut open the top of the pumpkins and "allowed" me the honor of gutting the thing. He hates touching pumpkin seeds and the strings inside. What a wimp. And this was the first year we did two pumpkins.

Phil carving the pumpkin.

Cutting the face after I gutted the pumpkin.
At least Riley attempted to help touch the guts.

The kids and their masterpieces.
Hamming it up.

When Halloween arrived, we noted the weather was quite different from last year. Last year it was about 70-80 degrees, and poor Jeremy was sweating in his fleece costume. This year it was freezing, about 30-40 degrees. Some might say that's typical Halloween weather. I might complain.

Here are some pictures of the kids for Halloween. Jeremy actually had two costumes: a fireman and Woody from Toy Story. He opted for the Woody costume for a Halloween party at a friend's house and for preschool, but the night of Halloween he went with the fireman costume.

Say cheese!

Ready to brave the weather.

She's such a ham.

Jeremy flexing his muscles.

A neighbor lent Riley a handmade poodle skirt, and Riley went as a 50s girl. I'm not quite sure if she knew what that was, but she looked cute regardless. She wasn't allowed to wear the costume to school unlike Jeremy, so she was giddy to put it on.

We were supposed to go to houses with neighbors, but seeing as Halloween was on a Saturday, the kids were itching to go by 3 instead of 4:30 when we were to meet with our neighbors. I decided to take the kids out, and then found that Jeremy only wanted to go to 1/2 a block. Good thing I brought the wagon! We made it around the block and then he was done. Riley and I warmed up and then headed back out again.

The crowd was much smaller this year, I think in part to the cruddy weather. And then the following day was when I started feeling sick, garnering an ear infection, sinus infection and bronchitis! I'm just now feeling better, on November 21! I think next year Phil takes the kids out and I stay warm inside and hand out candy.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Six Years Ago Today

This time, six years ago I was a mom for the first time. While eating dinner last night Phil and I were reminiscing as to what we were doing six years ago. He said we were watching The Wizard of Oz and I said he was eating Portillos while I was left eating ice chips and Jolly Ranchers!

Riley entered the world at 12:44 AM on Monday, November 17, 2003. It's so crazy to think it's been six years. Some days it seems like it should be more than six years and other days six years seems too short of time.

When she was at school, the boys and I flipped through her scrapbook of her first three years of life. From pictures with Uncle D to spending a month living at Mom and Dad's before we closed on our house, from celebrating holidays with family members to becoming a big sister, the photos sure brought back a lot of memories.

We're celebrated her birthday with a bunch of her friends on Saturday (pictures to come, I swear!), and we're having family members over on Saturday. Happy birthday to my baby girl, my sweetheart. I love you so very much.

Riley's kindergarten picture from school.
Where did my baby girl go?

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Childhood Memories

I've been feeling under the weather now for more than a week--I blame the bitter cold temperatures we had for Halloween (mental note: still need to post about that). I finally went to the doctor on Monday, and I was diagnosed with the trifecta: ear infection, sinus infection and bronchitis. Seriously, what adult gets an ear infection?! I'm loaded up on antibiotics, but today (Thursday) I called the doctor's office again because I'm still not feeling well. I have a horrible cough and haven't been able to hear out of my left ear since Saturday (I'm thinking that certain children are trying to get away with things since I can't hear that well). I got another prescription today, so we'll see if that works.

Anyway, add to my illness the fact that both kids were off school last week from Wednesday through the remainder of the week, add two kid doctor visits and a funeral, and it makes for one tired mom.

So who do you turn to in order to entertain the children for a few minutes? Ah yes, the Internet! And in honor of Sesame Street turning 40 years old (how crazy is that?!), I've found a few of my favorite Muppet/Sesame Street clips online. And of course the kids love them. So I thought I'd share:

(I'm not sure how to attach the YouTube files, so just click on the titles below for some entertainment. Oh, and since I've shown the kids the videos, they've been asking daily to view them.

Manamanah

Dance Myself to Sleep

Ernie and Bert Go Fishing

Near and Far


Friday, November 6, 2009

More Than a Great Aunt

Today has been a rough day. My great aunt passed away on Tuesday,
Nov. 3 after a long and fulfilling life. She had lost her husband nearly 40 years ago; my dad mentioned today that he never got a chance to meet Aunt Helen's husband. She raised her four kids all by herself, never remarrying. Then her son died of a severe heart attack when he was only 20-something.

All my life, she has been a part of it. Every Christmas she gave us cousins (who, technically weren't even her grandchildren) one Christmas ornament. By the end, there were eight cousins, not to mention her six grandchildren. We all looked forward to Thanksgivings at her house where she'd have the ornaments placed in paper bags with our names on them. And the bags would be stapled. The ornaments were wrapped in Christmas paper, which we made sure to place beneath the tree. We stopped receiving them when we graduated high school, and that, honestly, was a sad time to see Derek bring home an ornament but not me. My mom was smart and put the years on each ornament (and to whom the ornament belonged), so when I moved out, I received all my ornaments from Aunt Helen.

For birthdays, she would send us a $5 bill every year. She was so thoughtful to do that. Again, that tradition stopped once we hit college. She sent my kids cards for their birthdays, too. A funny sidebar is that when my Aunt Helen turned 80 just 9 years ago, my dad started sending HER $5 bills for her birthday. Just to let her know that she's being thought of.

She attended our bridal showers and baby showers. She was there for graduation parties and summer get-togethers. She was the glue that kept our family together for Thanksgiving, hosting it numerous years at her house at Brookfield and a few times in Downers Grove. Just within the last few years it has moved to her son's house, but she'd still be there, reminiscing and joking with us. She had an infectious laugh and loved to hear what was going on with everyone.

My maid of honor for my wedding had a journal for guests to sign. I found it tonight and want to share what my wise Aunt Helen wrote:

Dear Darcy:
Words of wisdom? I could use a few myself, but will try to write something of lasting value!

The wedding ceremony was so nice, and your pastor gave much good advice--nothing--or very few things in marriage are 50-50! It doesn't hurt to "give in"--as long as it's done honestly with "no strings attached later."

Always cherish each other and each day appreciate the wonderful things you have. It never pays to envy anyone.

May you have a wonderful future together.

Much Love,
Aunt Helen

One of my cousins flew in from California for the funeral, and she said that she was met with mixed reactions when she said she was going home for her great aunt's funeral. She was SO much more than that. Heaven has gained a wonderful woman. I hope she's able to be with her two boys and keep watch over the rest of us. We will most certainly miss you here, though.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Pumpkin Patch

The weather never really cooperated for us during all of October. Especially on the weekends. We had the best of intentions on getting the kids to the pumpkin patch, but then the one weekend it was nice enough, Jeremy became infected with that horrible virus/bug/fluid-in-his-lung thing. Ick.

The only day we had free was the Tuesday before Halloween, mainly because Phil works from home on that day and we had to make sure to include Riley. We went after she got off the bus, and although it was chilly, the kids still had fun. And as an added bonus, the pumpkin patch is cheaper on the weekdays. The kids pretty much had free reign of the entire place, and they were a tad muddy afterward. We didn't get a chance to try out the corn maze because the pathway was muddy and had tons of puddles. The kids saw plenty of animals, from sheep to goats, bunnies to pigs, cows to even a llama.

I was bummed that the kitchen wasn't open because I was in the mood for some hot apple cider. But we did pick up some apple cider donuts, which the kids and I enjoyed the next morning, and Phil surprised me with some delicious fudge. I'm a sucker for yummy food.

Jeremy with SpongeBob.

Giving Diego a high-five.

The kids with Bob the Builder.
Riley posing in the wooden train.

Riley and Shaggy. I love how excited she looks!

Jeremy on the big pile of straw.
(You can see our church in the background.)


The kids behind the train.

Inside the inflatable train. Since we came during the week,
the kids had unlimited turns going in and out of the train.
They couldn't have been happier.


We already had our pumpkins, thanks to my uncle. My mom picked them up about 2 months ago and we placed them on our front steps. Of course we waited until almost the last minute to carve them, but I'll leave that for another post.