Thankfulness Abounds

Finally I sit down to post a blog about the splendiferously magical Thanksgiving the family and I enjoyed together, all to the sounds of the oldest playing her heart out on the cello next to the Family Christmas Tree. And what comes to mind most as I reflect back over our holiday is the I'm most thankful for prayers we shared, and it just makes me smile all over again at how hubs and I are raising such well-grounded, gracious people.

Not an easy feat, that's for sure.

As icing on the cake, Cello Playing Peep presented us with a letter that would make even the grizzliest Scrooge of all time shed an actual tear. She even allowed me to post an excerpt on this blog for all the blogosphere to see, even though she's the humble type and would never have the audacity to brag so openly like her shameless mother:

Dear Mom and Dad,
I am thankful for all you do... Mostly, I am thankful that you decided to give birth to me in the first place... I am thankful that you bought me instruments... and that you always take very good care of us, that you buy us food and cook for us, that you clean the house... have jobs to make money for our family and pay the bills. I am mostly thankful that I am here on this earth and that it is all your doing.
Thank you,
Thank you,
Thank YOU!!!
P.S. I didn't even mention all the things you do for us. :)

Feel the love. *sniff* (New piece is still a tad rusty, but I thought the giggles were cute.)

Personal Letter to MWP Blog

Dear Married with Peeps Blog,

We need to stop meeting like this. You've taken a backseat to my other online haunts, namely Facebook & Twitter, but to no fault of your own. The reason, I think, is the sheer fact that by the time I post something on you, it's already old news. That's right – been there, done that. The world has already moved right on past that information and is yawning about the outdated material! Such is the difference between instant Twitter/FB updates vs blogging, I'm afraid. You understand.

Not to imply that I'm ditching you. Oh no – so not happening.

Instead, you should be happy to know that I'll continue posting here indefinitely because, if anything, blogging really does help me keep my head in the game of what is also known as LIFE. And being married with peeps requires a person to clearly focus on the bigger picture and, hopefully, find meaning in all of the running that goes on every. single. day. Plus, having a log to refer back to is pretty darn handy when trying to remember what we did and when we did it. Twitter and Facebook are not helpful in that way, unless you get a kick out of sifting through streams of mini-140 character sentences.

No thanks.

So how to close out this letter? Ok yes, let's continue meeting up here; I'll send you my updates, a visitor or two might stop in and comment, I'll have my log of events for future reference, everyone leaves a happy camper. Sound good? I knew you'd agree. Such a nice blog, you are. ((hug))

All Best,
Chief Peep from Orchestra Mom Chair

P.S. We're celebrating Thanksgiving at home this week! Isn't that great? Seems like we haven't done that in at least 3 years, so I'll be sure to send you more details about what happens. Be excited about this news. :)

i is in teh pile being ur branches.

The State of Peepdom

Just when I thought last week couldn't possibly get any more overloaded and jam-packed with events, it actually did just that. From the youngest's band concert and the oldest's strings performance with the schlepping of huge instruments to/from events and lessons in between, to communal reconciliation service with the 7th grade CCD'ers and Big Hot Date with Hubs in celebration of our blessed 16th wedding anniversary. *Whew!* Can all that actually happen in one week with life puttering along as usual? Apparently yes, and it was amazing as ever.

Side note: Big Hot Date involved attending school band concert (free!), eating lunch at Chilis, and topping the date off with sky diving (Wii Sports Resort-style). We old timers really do know how to party it up good. *cough*

But the crazed madness is not quite over yet. Geez, I had to go and say that, now didn't I?

So as I sit here in my famous Orchestra Rehearsal Mom Chair blogging on my cute lil Dell mini, I bravely decided to pull out my planner to sneak a peek at the upcoming weekly schedule. What's this? 2 more concerts, client web work, and a visit to the salon - an appointment originally scheduled for last week but changed when my lovely stylist contracted H1N1. Speaking of, I'm thinking a few more lighter face-framing highlights would do this person good, maybe brighten up the Fall dreariness. But there I go digressing again.

Pampering makes the world go round.

Cardinal Rule

No matter the year, all mornings of wedding anniversaries should start with The Card Swap. And as you can see, we did just that which tells you there will be no Dog House Time this year for either of us:

Hollow WHAT?

Seems like November jumped right out from behind the sofa screaming SURPRISE! at us, which basically means hubs and I need to get moving if we're planning to celebrate that wondrous time in our lives known as the 16th Wedding Anniversary. But hold on just a minute. According to my trusted online sources, traditionally, only 5 year increments are gift-worthy after that 15 year mark. In other words, starting this year we're supposed to hold off from giving those special kind of gifts on years 16, 17, 18, etc. and save it for the all important 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, etc.

Four words: Homey don't play that.

Needing backup support, I dug further and found this site with modern day wedding anniversary gift ideas for those 'in between' years. So now guess what? Year 16 puts us with holloware, and I'm all What the heck is holloware? More research, and now I've got the perfect gift idea for the hubster: a $900 silver BOWL.

Wait... let's see, braces for child's teeth vs. big shiny bowl that might get used once a year.

Homey's rethinking the situation.

Peeping Tom

Or rather Peeping Cat captured here in digital form peering at the oldest child who is finishing her math homework. And look out - she actually looks a little miffed after being interrupted from her Neighborhood Watch Operation:

Now Ann Takes a Turn

My peepsters are just loving the latest Today Show series called Today Gets a Laugh, and being a parent who strongly supports fun, cool, make-you-laugh-out-loud kind of stuff, I couldn't resist posting yet another video from the series, this time with Ann Curry:

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Fast Food Funny

What better way to start a Monday-after-Halloween-weekend than with a video of Today Show's Meredith working the McDonald's drive thru. Hilarious!

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