thankful thursdays

my friend chelle is starting this, and i think it is a smashing idea!

thankful thursdays: a day to think of and share 5 things that you are thankful for at that moment. they can be anything at all, from the very big to the very simple. it’s important to remember all that surrounds us that is good and worth being thankful for. gratitude is a powerful, and hopefully infectious, thing.

i do not guarantee that i will get this done *every* thursday, but even once in a while is good. so here goes:

1.  i am thankful that jeff is such a great dad. he came home today from work, and after the obligatory, potty stop, he easily and happily took a cranky baby off my hands so i could cook. he sat with her on the floor to play and dealt with nate's crankiness when he woke up, too. thanks jeffy, i love you.

2.  i am thankful for baby swings. ours is getting quite a workout this time around. it obviously never got used with jesper. nate didn't particularly like it. but willow sleeps in hers almost every single night. sometimes most of the night.

3.  i am thankful for my DVR. i know that tv shows are not important in the scheme of things, but they sure do make my life a little bit more enjoyable. and the DVR means that no matter what is going on around here, i don't typically miss anything.

4.  i am thankful for LEGOS. nate is growing up so fast. i didn't think he was "ready" for legos, but it turns out that he is. we are careful not to let any of them stray so they don't end up in willow's tummy (and eventually her diaper). it is so fun to see his imagination bloom when he plays with the things he builds, destroys, rebuilds, destroys again. between legos and matchbox my baby has become a real boy. i miss the baby that he was, but i like the boy he is becoming. i love you, my nate-o.

5.  i am thankful for friends. i made a meal tonight for a family with a new baby. they are such a sweet family. she hasn't left the house too much with her little one yet, so i haven't seen her around town at all. i've been wanting to hear the story of her son's arrival; i waited patiently, didn't ask around, wanted to be able to share it *with* her. and tonight i got to hear it. she is a great mom. beautiful (but aren't we all in our own way?). strong. and oh so happy. she seems to have her priorities in great order. hope you liked the salmon, mack family.

all blogged up

i suppose it is the blogging equivalent of having a stuffy nose. there are so many blogs in my head that i can't hardly think around them. so the best thing to do is just get them out, right? 

i need to post some updates about the kids (with pictures, of course).

i need to tell you all about what has been going on. i just haven't had much time these days. so, for now, i will ask:

how do you like the new look? i feel refreshed!

hopefully tonight i can get some stuff on here. first, i must download some pictures from both my camera and cell phone.

News

i was on the news this evening with my friend, Carin, to talk about the MISSing Angels Bill.

we did well. 

here's the link:  http://www.koat.com/video/18669100/index.html

OK, i'll play

my friend jenn is doing this on her blog, so i'm going to play, too. (i'm borrowing your rules, jenn.)

The rules have varied from blog to blog, so I’m going to meet in the middle and put this offer out to 4 of you. Here’s how it works: the first 4 people to leave a comment on this post will receive, at some point during the year, a handmade gift from me. What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise!

The catch is that you must participate as well: before you leave your comment here, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going. Then come back, let me know you’re going to play, and sit back and anticipate the arrival of your gift! Remember that only the first 4 comments will recieve a gift from me, so be quick!

i'm excited to see who signs on! 4 seems like a number i can manage. i considered increasing it to 5, but i think i had better stick with 4 since i have limited time on my hands these days.