With Praise and Thanksgiving

Trying to link up with Kelly for 7 Quick Takes. I've never done it before, because I'm not a real  blogger, but it's a new year and I'm drinking peach whisky and orange juice, so I'm really living on the edge. You can read Kelly's fantastic blog, and link to other great blogs there as well. Once you're done here, I mean. 1. Earlier this week, I drafted up a post all about the feeling of refreshment, about how the new year brings me a sense of feeling refreshed. Or maybe that was just how I felt upon returning home from our 9-day, 2-state, 950-mile Christmas bender. Before I had time to publish the post, I was back my usual grumpiness and figured it wasn't "authentic" of me to post such a happy piece when I was actually a grouch. Although I don't really have New Years resolutions to post, I really do enjoy the excitement surrounding a new year and its potential. I'm still trying to take a moment each day to acknowledge gratitude, but I...

Many families' Christmas celebrations are over, but on the fifth day of Christmas 2016, we are just gearing up for round two. My husband and I are both grateful that we get along with our in-laws so well and look forward to spending time together. I've heard countless stories of visits to in-laws' houses that are less than joyful, and so we know to appreciate the relationships we have with each others' family.  We're happy to be at grandma and grandpa's, awaiting the last of the cousins. There's snow, footballs, Legos, cookies, movies, sleds, wrestling, lots of old toys, and a fridge full of Bud Light, so we're doing great! Merry Christmas!

Today would be my grandma Helen's 97th birthday. She was one of the kindest, sweetest, and most generous people I've known. I know everyone says that about their grandma, but I don't know anyone who knew grandma who would disagree.  I had the privilege of spending a ton of time with grandma growing up, since she lived mere blocks away from me for all my growing up years. We stayed with her when mom and dad were out of town, and spent most holidays in her presence. Her house was my second home, and I was always welcome there. It is such a gift to have a grandparent as part everyday life as a child. I certainly didn't realize how lucky I was to have her so close and so available. I  know she would have done anything for us.  Grandma taught me to count in Norwegian, which is what she spoke at home in early childhood. The only time we ever heard her swear was when our holiday "nerts" games got heated. She was quiet and softspoken, faithful, and strong. ...

I like homemaking. There, I said it. Don't tell the new feminists! I kid. I'm no June Cleaver, presenting dinner hot on the table each evening clad in heels and pearls and never getting upset, but I'm happy to embrace my role as homemaker right now. This is not to say that I love all the cooking and cleaning and laundry and child-rearing duties that are mine. That's not exactly what I mean. What I do love is the making of the home.  I like organizing (or trying to) in order to make our home flow well for the way we use it. I feel satisfaction when my people have what they need when they need it - work shirts, winter boots, the purple marker, an occasional vegetable. I enjoy making my home comfortable and welcoming for guests. Procuring what we need and getting rid of what we don't brings me a sense of accomplishment. It's fun to do things like St. Nicholas Day chocolate coins for the kids and to help my family celebrate large and small events throughout...

We had family movie night last night. We chose Disney's The Emperor's New Groove  based on a 17-second Google search of movies approved by my favorite bloggers. It was OK.  There was a time not so long ago when I laughed at friends' family movie nights, thinking, "Yeah, that will never happen here." But it happened! We've done it before, but usually it lasts as long as the popcorn, which is about 45 minutes. Last night the big boys sat through the whole thing, and the toddler dumped out all the Duplos, snowballs and hockey equipment. I got to thinking as we were all snuggled up on our comfy sectional about how our family has evolved. Whenever we're in a certain stage, newborn, infant, toddler, etc., it's hard to see outside of that particular stage. Many challenges and joys exist in each phase, and even though we know better, it can be difficult to see past those stages. I keep hearing "little kids, little problems, big kids, big problem...

Saturday was a great day all around, and I'm hesitant to start typing because I could just give you boring play-by-play of all the moments I enjoyed so much and everything I felt gratitude for that day! We were in Fargo (Moorhead, actually) for our monthly couple's group, Teams of Our Lady. We met at our good friends' house and our kids and theirs got along great being banished to the basement with a babysitter for 3+ hours. We enjoyed a fruitful meeting and discussion and a great meal. In the afternoon, I helped a friend set up for her Noonday Collection debut trunk show. The jewelry and accessories were so beautiful and I had a blast trying on all the things and creating my wish list. I hadn't planned on really staying at all, then I thought I'd leave after setup, and then I ended up staying for the whole thing and I had a blast! We ended up milking their hospitality for all it was worth, staying for supper and until bedtime so the kids would sleep on the w...

My brother and his family stopped by yesterday unexpectedly and it was such a joy. We haven't had many visitors here and there's not much that excites the kids more than seeing their cousins. I've gone on and on about how great my nieces are, so I won't do that again today. Day 312's birthday festivities have worn me out and I'm heading to bed. Today in linkdom: Most people won't read this but I REALLY WISH ALL OF THE INTERNET WOULD DO SO. I'm sorry to shout. Not that sorry. Check out Jenny's  When we are offended .

All Saints Day! Love me a good feast day. We went to school mass and the 4th graders did an adorable saint procession, which the little guys and I all loved. On Tuesday most of my gratitude was that Halloween was over! Whoop! Halloween is my least favorite holiday. Not for religious or any actual  reason, but mostly because procuring costumes is a pain and dealing with a gazillion "can we have more candy?" questions every waking minute until the candy is gone gives me a headache. I'm a downer, I know. I do get pretty in to some other holidays, so it's acceptable that I lack any enthusiasm for this one. My Santa and two elves did turn out pretty great, if I do say so myself. Loot sorting

Yesterday was our 11th wedding anniversary. Traditional and modern gifts both listed as steel. Hm. Well, we don't do anniversary gifts, so instead, we stayed home and ate shrimp (him), salmon (me) and fishsticks (kids). We listened to some good music, ate a box cake with sprinkles. We drank gin and tonics and watched baseball. Yes, there's an 11 there. Don't act like you're not impressed.  I remembered our wedding first dance song, Bob Dylan's "Never Say Goodbye," and smiled. I tried to find a link to it on YouTube to post, but of course I could only find covers. Classic Dylan. We thought of some more upbeat-sounding songs, and had intended to take dance lessons. Then things happened, checks got "lost" and we didn't. So we settled for this slower number and I don't regret it. Babies. My spouse is good, holy, hard-working, generous, kind, patient, smart, and fun. No one else would have put up with me for this long. He daily an...

Saturday we held a fairly impromptu birthday party at a hotel in Fargo for #1, who will be turning 6 in a couple of weeks. The cousins I mentioned in 295 were there and we were joined by a friend family, grandma, grandpa and Auntie Kathy. I managed to forget all the things at our apartment, including my sanity, and I had a mini-meltdown. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law swooped in and saved the day by actually remembering stuff and thinking about things we might need.  Details. So often my pride tricks me into thinking that I'm the only one who can do the things correctly and that everything will fall apart without me. It turns out that it's possible to pull off a casual sixth birthday party without super detailed plans. It worked out and he and his guests seemed to have a great time. We only broke one planter at the hotel, so that's a victory, I guess. As it usually does, hindsight proved that it was actually a pretty great day. AND Saturday was the feast day for m...

Friday we had my sister-in-law and her husband and their two kids here, and we had a great day. I channeled my inner Janis (my mom) and made apple pie and lasagna. We ate well, played, laughed, and Katie took the boys to the park so I had some quiet time. Yay! I got a few minutes to enjoy a beer and some knitting on the porch since the weather was fabulous. I actually felt continuously happy throughout most of the day, which is big for me. With my melancholic temperament, it's easy for crabby or at least indifferent to be my default. I needed a happy, fun day and that's just what I got! I also found my missing Babb's Coffee House gift card, and if that  doesn't elicit some gratitude, nothing will. You know it's a good day when this is the only picture on your phone. Do you text your friends when you find gift cards? Like in Luke 15?

Friday was fun! The toddler had his checkup and besides his cold, was deemed healthy. He only cried for a minute and the rest of us managed to get our flu shots without crying. Aside: Here's a story about how my brother almost died, but then didn't, of influenza. Talk about gratitude! Please get a flu shot if you can!  The boys and I were in the big city for the doctor appointment so we used that as an excuse to visit some of our favorite friends! Obviously. We had such fun watching the kids interact. We saw them practically every other day all summer, and so they behaved almost like siblings. The kids were so happy to see each other and I was pleased to see the familiarity still there between them even though it's been a while since we hung out. I loved not having an agenda and just spending a "regular" afternoon. We didn't have to rush, we stayed for supper, and I am pretty sure I smiled the whole way home. I also started Joan of Arc by Mark Twain on...

Sunday was my sister's birthday. I still haven't sent a card, because adulting is hard. I did remember I ordered a part of her gift; it's just not here yet. So maybe I'm not a complete failure.  I love my sister dearly. I used to wonder how two people raised by the same parents in the same household could be so different. Then I discovered the temperaments. I'm melancholic choleric and she's phlegmatic sanguine (I think). She's spontaneous. I'm organized. She dresses cute and trendy. I wear jeans and a solid-colored t-shirt most days. She's a school counselor. I worked with spreadsheets. You get the idea.  Despite our differences, we've mostly gotten along, save those couple of teenage years when we were both living at home. She's been generous to me with her time and advice and her kids' old stuff. I'm endlessly grateful for her and I sometimes pity women who don't have a sister. It's a special thing, sisterhood.  I had inten...

Today we were a little hungover from our day of fun yesterday. We finally made it out of the house by about 5:00. We went on a little hike near the river and I'm calling it the high point of our day. We were experiencing a wind advisory, so we chose a trail that was pretty sheltered. We only hiked about a half hour, but it was the burst of exercise we all needed, and out of the wind it was actually a pretty nice day. Here's a picture of my finger. That's what I get for not actually stopping. I feel like it could have been legit if I'd tried at all. #nofilter Here's one with my finger cropped out. You're welcome.  I'm not into editing photos, as you well know. You can't really see the beautiful fall colors, but trust me: they were there.

I can't write anything good enough to express my gratitude to my parents, my siblings and their families during our summer house cleaning/selling/packing/moving adventure. The kids stayed at mom and dad's again for three or four nights while we moved. My parents fed them ice cream and juice boxes and my nieces spent hours entertaining them. Moving would have been so much more stressful with three little guys around trying to "help" and I'm just so glad it worked out that my parents and nieces could help, and that the rest of my family was around this summer when we needed them. Living hours from our families can be challenging, but these times when they are willing to go out of their way for us are so gratifying. The kids have an absolute blast there and they love their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins endlessly. It's fun to see their excitement about the time they get to spend there with the family.

My parents, also known as Grandma and Grandpa or G & G, arrived yesterday! Cue celebration music! Pop the champagne! Or juice boxes! One of my favorite sites is the kids' faces when they see G & G walk in. I grew up with one grandma three hours away and the other three blocks away, so I got I experience both setups. I had fantastic relationships with and memories of both of them. I took grandma Helen for granted, I suppose, because she was always available to me. I could stop for cookies on my way home from school, or call her to come over when my babysitting gig got a little out of control. She is one of the many reasons I'm grateful to have been raised in dad's hometown.  Visiting grandma Bess was a different experience since I didn't see her as often. Spending time with her and at her house was always special, and I envied my cousins who lived in mom's hometown.  Living away from both sets of grandparents can be challenging at times, especiall...

Is it super lame to do two posts about TV in a row? Especially after you have just said you don't watch much TV? Oh well! Yesterday when the boys were doing their bedtime stalling version of playing well together, I got sucked into an episode of Genealogy Roadshow . My husband left to go vote and returned to find me still staring mindlessly at the television, learning about how someone's three second-great-uncles died in 1872. (Spoiler: it was smallpox.) I am a sucker for ancestry, even when it is not my  ancestry, I guess. I really enjoy Finding Your Roots , too. I find it a bit lame that they always take some small detail and try to spin it dramatically, but it's TV, so I should expect that. Why is everyone so shocked that their ancestors owned slaves? It sounds awful now, but it was an accepted practice at one time and I don't think we should all reasonably assume our  ancestors were the ones living counter-culturally. But I digress. This is my stunning gran...

I reflected a bit today on hospitality. I just spent almost a week making myself perfectly at home at my parents' house. My sister and brother's houses were not spared either. I know not every family is so comfortable with each other that they can feel quickly make themselves at home with each other or in each other's spaces. As I thought about that, I have a few close friends who show that same type of hospitality to our family. Relationships can be so shallow these days that time spent together doing nothing is rare, and we can be so wrapped up in appearances that we don't let people "in."  I can think now of a few friends who would give us anything we need, who welcome us to their homes, feed us, and let our kids trash their family rooms! What a gift that type of friendship is! I only hope I can be that to my friends and family. 

As we set out for a quick boat ride between rains today, I grasped my middle child's hand and headed down the steps. I briefly swelled with gratitude when I realized how natural parents and kids hold hands. Even when we're in a hurry or mad at each other or just having a terrible day, I instinctively reach out my hands and the kids seem to instinctively grab them. I take great comfort in knowing that and hope the kids do, too.

Our nieces and nephews are the best. I'm grateful that on my side, our kids are the younger ones, and that the big kids are so great at caring for the little ones. I would highly recommend having 11- and 13-year-old nieces! Our kids and the grandkids of mom and dad's neighbors played and ran around all day.  I reminisced about my own childhood as the pack of 9 or 10 kids aged 4-14 ran around playing kickball, basketball, baseball and kick the can. Kick the can! I'm so glad that game is still surviving and thriving! Adult intervention played little to no role in the activities of the day, besides just knowing vaguely where in the "neighborhood" they were, and ensuring people wore life jackets near the water. I'm pretty sure there was at least one application of sunscreen, I promise! The day encapsulated what I feel is missing from many childhoods today: freedom to play, run, be bored, make up games, and get to know other kids all without adults l...