kids eat free sign

Take a piece of old barn board, paint it black, add some hand-painted lettering, distress a bit, seal with clear coat and you have a really unique birthday gift for someone special.

I'm pretty sure she liked it.

giving thanks

I’ve been a bit of a bear today. Little to no tolerance for anything - and no significant improvement after half a pot of French roast. Unfinished chores irked me. The snow on the ground chilled me. Even the sound of the humidifier drove me crazy. And I just realized that my hips and shins ache incredibly even though I’ve done zero exercise in the past, ahem, let’s just say a really long time. When I realized that I have likely caught the same thing hubby has been suffering with for the past few days, I grumbled and mumbled some more.

After reaching for the Tylenol PM I realized that I really should be grateful for the comfort I know it will provide (as soon as it powers through the caffeine from both coffee and chocolate I recently consumed). Duly chastized (by a pill bottle no less), I am making a feeble attempt at counting my blessings at 10:10 pm. before I get too drowsy to write and while I’ve got enough angst in my head to make me sound clever.

Here goes. I’m thankful for: the daily opportunities I have to test my patience and see zero growth in my ability to keep my cool when I hear whining about math, doing chores and pretty much anything else I ask the boys to do. I’m sure there must have been some improvement in the 13 years I’ve been a mother, but the grinding of my teeth tells me otherwise.

I’m thankful that my sense of smell apparently is still intact. After diapers, sweaty feet, boys who refuse to take showers even though they smell like a gorilla’s armpit and the skunks that wake me up at night, the olfactory senses haven’t burned out, yet.

I’m thankful that my sons are not picky eaters, or at least have the wisdom not to turn up their noses at whatever creations I come up with out of the pantry - whether that be some mystery casserole or oatmeal or beef stew three nights in a row. (Who knew a soup bone would make THAT much broth?!)

I thankful that God has allowed me to breathe another day and that the pain in my body is a good sign that I’m still alive.

I’m very thankful that my boys get their own breakfast in the morning since they get up at unreasonable hours like the crack of dawn.

I’m thankful I’m not 40 yet.

I’m thankful my boys have all reached the age of thinking Dad is cool and want to bug, ...er...spend quality time with him.

I’m thankful the very friendly dog that mysteriously showed up here a few weeks ago vanished just as mysteriously 36 hours later.

I’m thankful the local library doesn’t have a limit on how many books we can check out. At last count we had 87 out at once. And only 6 of those are overdue.

I’m thankful that the new van doesn’t have any unexplained interior smells, yet.

I’m thankful that four boys in one sport makes life a little less complicated. I’m thankful for all five of the blank spots on the December calendar and I’m trying not to shake my fist at the remaining 26.

I’m thankful that God doesn’t give me everything I ask for any more than I fulfill my boys’ wishlists. We’re probably all spoiled enough. But, it is nice that He listen

I’m thankful the propane tank is full.

I’m thankful for Caribou Daybreak blend and peppermint mocha creamer. And Chipotle burritos and Dairy Queen Blizzards and pizza and Dr. Pepper and Reisen’s chocolates and dark chocolate and hot chocolate and... I’m also thankful I’m not 400 pounds.

I’m thankful the older boys can teach the younger ones really useful things like wrestling moves, how to take apart radios, how to set alarm clocks for 2 a.m., how to grow beans in a wet paper towel, how to make someone scream bloody murder, how to wear 18 articles of clothing in one day, how to drive their mother nuts in a grocery store, and the fine art of sarcasm. Well, that last one they may have learned from me.

I’m thankful that all the testosterone in the house makes me actually look a little bit feminine, I think.

I’m thankful for my toys: power tools, knitting needles, Photoshop and my Mac. I’m also thankful that I don’t have to share them. (And yes, I know how horrible that sounds and I’m not really sure that I care.)

I’m thankful for diversion/addictions like Facebook, Amazon, Pinterest and Ravelry.

Right about now, I’m soooo thankful for Tylenol PM - which means that I should really share my actual list of things for which I’m thankful (before I fall asleep on my keyboard). God. My husband. My boys. Friends. Family. Health. Laughter. Life. In that order. I am so very, very blessed.

May God grant you many blessings to be thankful for as well.

Merry Christmas.