P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 335 - It has begun...

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 335 - It has begun....

The first tin is filled - with a batch of butter cookies.  The cookie press cooperated this year and I think they came out pretty good.  It has begun....

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 334 - Once again

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 334 - Once again

Once again, Jersey found a comfy lap to fall asleep on - tonight it was The Princess.  I guess he wasn't interested in the Christmas show everyone was watching tonight.....

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 333 - One spoiled dog

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 333 - One spoiled dog

This is one spoiled dog.  He was sound asleep on The Boy's lap.  Earlier I had heard The Boy pleading and telling Jersey - "you can lay on my lap - you really can".  I guess he got his wish. 

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 332 - Letters to Santa

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 332 - Letters to Santa

The kids took some time tonight to write their letters to Santa - sealed with all of the hope and wonder of the holiday....  The Boy asked if I was writing a letter to Santa and after giving it some consideration I thought that maybe this year I would.  Here goes.

Dear Santa,
It has been some time since I wrote to you - but I fondly remember sitting and drafting my letters to you as my children did tonight.  I am writing to you now to send some of my own requests along with my children's.  These days, I don't pour through the Sears or Toys R Us catalogs circling and starring the items that I want.  The things that I want the most can't be found in stores, catalogs, or online.  (well except that Coach purse that I found on Ebay - but I digress Santa...)  If you can manage it I would like my children to always have the joy, wonder, magic, and love of Christmas that they do right now.  I hope that they continue to enjoy the time spent together and always fondly remember and keep all of the traditions that we have passed down to them as well as the ones that we have built together.  While they are asking for the items on their wishlists - I would like them to remember the feeling they have when they not only receive a special gift but the feeling they get when they give one.  For that matter, I want them to remember the moments that have nothing to do with gifts.  If  you can fit it in your sack, can you bring them good health for another year?  Can you stuff some packages full of laughter and silliness under the tree?  How about some magic dust to sprinkle on them when they forget how very much they love each other and they argue or bicker...Can you stuff their stockings with a lifetime of happiness and wealth not measured in money but in family and friends?
I promise that the we will leave you some wonderful cookies and of course some beer  - safe travels Santa and Merry Christmas!
Love, 
Lisa

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 331 - vacation day

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 331  - vacation day

Today was a vacation day due to the the first day of deer hunting season - yup that is what I said.  That is something that I will never get used to - days off of school for hunting. Weird.  But the kids took full advantage of the day and I managed to get the remainder of my Christmas decorations out - so I guess that's a win win.  A sweet friend of The Princess spent the day here and all four of the kids played all day long.  
Today, no matter how strange I think it is to have not just today but tomorrow off of school for hunting season, I am thankful for having had six nights that I did not have to make lunches.  Hey - it's the little things sometimes.... ;-)

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 330 - Memories

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 330 - Memories 

I started the first phase of the Christmas decorations today.  I say the first phase because with the amount of decorations that we have, it takes several phases to accomplish the decorating if I don't want to spend 12 straight hours moving bins, decorating, cleaning, etc...and I really don't...  So today was Phase 1.  The kids and I cleaned and dusted the bedrooms, put the table top trees up, and they hung the ornaments.  I got all of my "little trees" throughout the house - I like to have a tree of some kind in every room of the house because I am just that crazy.... ;-)  I hung the garland and the stockings and then vacuumed up the mess and left the last two bins of decorations for tomorrow because I was exhausted!  Tomorrow I will work on the rest and then Saturday we will go for our tree - the final phase as it were...  It's a lot of work for sure - and I even downsized a bit this year and decided to leave all of my snowmen for January after I put away the Christmas stuff - but once it is done, it is completely worth the effort.  Even in my current state of not totally looking forward to the holidays...decorating always puts me in a better mood and for that I am thankful today.  I love that I have old and new decorations mixed together. The things that My Wonderful Husband and I have gotten over the 15 years we've been together, along with the things my parents had over the years as well.  The things that have been a part of my Christmases my whole life and the things that will be a part of my kids' Christmases their whole lives.  Everything has a memory attached.  Everything has some special meaning.  Everything reminds me of times gone by.  Every year when I open the bins, I am happy to see those pieces of my past.  I am even happier that they are a piece of my kids' present.  Today's picture is a ceramic tree that was in my house growing up as far back as I can remember.  I am pretty sure that my grandmother made it...but I am certain that it sat in my parents' dining room every Christmas of my life.  That is until it started sitting in my living room.... my parents gave it to me several years ago because they knew how much I loved it.  It was the last thing I put up today before throwing in the towel and once the lights were on, I felt like it was Christmastime.... So tomorrow, I will go through the rest and finish Phase 1 1/2 - I will bring more memories out of storage, dust them off, and welcome them all back for the season. 

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 329 - nap

 P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 329 -nap

If I haven't already said it, our new dog is such a good puppy.  Based on the amount of time that he spends sleeping, I am not sure why the expression is "cat nap".  His naps are interrupted periodically by playtime, eating, or going out.  This dog loves a good nap and he is making it his life's work to find all of the cozy spots in the house to curl up and snooze.  One of today's choices was right on top of the toy he had been playing with.  Given how completely exhausted I was today, I am especially thankful that he knows how to sleep and lets me chill out on a cold, dreary, wintery day.  

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 328 - Star light, star bright

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 328 - Star light, star bright

When I took the dog out tonight, I looked up in the sky and saw stars...lots of them.  Of course my little camera and my photography skills couldn't capture a sky full of stars, but I did manage to somehow capture one.  Seeing the stars in the sky and then seeing the one star I captured in a picture made me think of the childhood rhyme I would say every night whenever I saw a star..... Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight.  Wish I may, wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.  Here's hoping that works..... 
*In keeping with the month of thankfulness (even though I caught up on days 1-16 all in one day) I am thankful for those pretty stars in the sky.... 

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 327 - Happy Thanksgiving

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 327 - Happy Thanksgiving

I wasn't looking forward to today - the start of the holiday season...I knew it would be hard.  I miss both of my parents more than I can say.  But here's what happened today...Every single dish came out perfect - everything timed out perfectly - the pie crust was spot on in one shot -  the puppy slept straight through dinner under the table - and there was a giggle fest at the table during dessert -  forces beyond our control were at work here today and for that (and a million other things) I am thankful! xo 
Happy Thanksgiving to family and friends far and near, those no longer with us and those still here. ♥

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 326 - family recipes

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 326 - family recipes

(This post is late because I was having technical difficulties last night and after a night of cooking I was too spent to figure them out.) I reluctantly got started with the Thanksgiving preparations.  I made the sweet potato casserole (mashmallows get added to the top later before it cooks), I made the stuffing, and I made the cranberry pear relish.  I am not entirely looking forward to the first Thanksgiving without both my mother and my father but I can say that I am thankful for all the Thanksgivings I was able to share with them and I am thankful that under their guidance I learned to make all of our family recipes.  Thanks Mom and Dad! xo

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 325 - Fortunes

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 325 - Fortunes

My Wonderful Husband and I went to our favorite lunch spot today and after a good chat about lots of things that we have going on we both jokingly said - "Maybe the fortune cookies will answer our questions and tell us what to do."  Well - these were our fortunes and I would say perhaps they did. 
Today I am thankful for Ping's, good sushi, and lunch dates with the love of my life. xo 
 

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 324 - "wish list collage"

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 324 - "wish list collage"

The Princess has been campaigning for an "American Girl Christmas" for several months now.  She is very persistent and thorough.  She has been collecting the American Girl catalogs that come to the house (which by the way - how did that start happening? Does that company know all of the households that have girls ages -  I don't know  - 5-12 years old?  Is there some type of rule that they repeatedly send catalogs until you spend a certain amount of money on their products? I am waiting for something like the scene in Harry Potter when the letters come flying in the through the chimney - a shower of American Girl catelogs- even though our mail isn't delivered by owls - but I digress.  I'm just curious.)  Today, she went a step further and made a "wish list collage".  I applaud her creativity and I have to say that this new step in her plan to wear us down was well thought out and nicely executed.  So, here's the deal, if I have heard this correctly (about 1000 times) she wants a "look like me" doll in that outfit (did you hear that? in that outfit)  and apparently with more expensive clothing, accessories and furniture than the ones that I myself own.  If Santa complies with this, I think I will move in with the doll.  She will be living the life.  

Today I am thankful for my sense of humor.  I am suppose to have a sense of humor about all of this right? ;-)

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 323 - Tooth Fairy

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 323 - Tooth Fairy

The Boy had to do a book report for his class and prepare a presentation from the perspective of one of the characters (he could dress as a character or make a puppet).  He read Junie B First Grader Toothless Wonder and he will be presenting from the perspective of the tooth fairy.  He went out on a limb with this one, because while the tooth fairy is a character that is talked about in the book, it is not a character technically.  (but we checked with his teacher and she was cool with this as long as he tells the story from that perspective)  The Boy decided to make his tooth fairy a man instead of a woman and I think his puppet came out awesome!  I love that all of those materials were just in the house...
Today I am thankful for imagination and outside of the box thinking.   

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 322 - Today

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 322 -  Today

While I held down the fort here with the kids and the dog, My Wonderful Husband finally got to LBI yesterday and spent the past two days cleaning out the mess.  While I took the kids for their haircuts this morning, he was meeting with insurance adjustors and ripping out drywall. 
Today I am thankful for being able to still keep a normal routine for our kids unlike far too many people we know and those we don't know that were affected by Hurricane Sandy.  I am also thankful that that trash pile sits in front of our house - a house that is still standing - because many were not that lucky.  

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 321 - Stand up and be thankful

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 321 - Stand up and be thankful

So today was Stand Up To Bullies day at the kids' school and they were asked to wear pink to represent their pledge to stand up to bullies. This was the shirt that The Boy chose to rock today. And rock it he did. ;-)

On this Stand Up To Bullies day - I decided to put my foot down as well.  I have been feeling very bullied by - The Universe.  It has been a bad year in many respects but - and listen very carefully Universe - I am done!.  I am done being pushed around.  I am done letting it get to me. ( I think) 

So, I also realized today that I have not been giving thanks this November because I have been so darn preoccupied with hurricanes, dumb decisions, lack of communication, mean people, sadness, hurt, etc. etc. etc.... So in my effort to stand up and not allow my feelings to continue to be bullied, I am going to use this opportunity to catch up on the things I am thankful for.

1. My Husband - he is my best friend and the best father ever.  He is also THE MOST reliable person I know and I can count on him and trust him in any situation.  I don't have words for how happy I am that he is ok after his car accident today.  Good thing he thinks fast and doesn't panic. The fact that afterward he got in a rental car and continued up to NJ to start cleaning and pulling drywall, only serves to prove my point above.

2. My three children - they are the best things that I ever did. They amaze me every day and I am so utterly proud of everything they do.
 
3.  My parents - while they are both gone from this world - I will forever be thankful for everything that they gave me throughout my life.  I would not be who I am without their love and guidance and I miss them every single day.

4. My family and friends - I have learned many hard lessons in recent months about the people in my life.  I have learned who is truly there for me - who loves me - and who I can count on.  I only hope they know the same from me and they should know who they are.   I have also learned who is not - does not - and whom I can not... But I am happy to finally clearly see the difference.

5. The beach - it is more than just sand and sea to me.  It is the place I feel most relaxed and at home and I look forward to being back there soon....

6.  Running - it's more than just exercise - it's therapy.

7. My photographs - I am not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination but I love to see all of the moments I have captured....

8. Books - there is nothing like getting lost in a good story...

9. Memories - everyone keeps telling me these can't be taken away even when people are gone.. I am still struggling with that but I am so glad to have the memories of loved ones that I do. I am especially thankful that some of the tangible memories were saved from the flood.

10. My dog - I am pretty sure that he was sent to us to help us heal a bit... that's a big job for a puppy but I think he is up for the job.  

11. Insurance - We are relying on three different policies right now  - flood, home, and car.  I will never question all of the money that I pay every year ever again.

12. Coffee - they can't all be poignant.  I really like coffee. 

13. Cooking - it makes me happy and I love to feed the people around me.

14. Creativity - it is an outlet for me.....

15. My Blog - I love that I have this record for my kids - in my voice...with my thoughts.  I love that I can share lessons with them through this that I hope they will cherish someday.

16. Finally on today the 16th day I am thankful that I have things to be thankful for.  It has been a hard year  - but I am blessed in innumerable ways and need to start focusing on those things... and leave the rest behind.  I will try. 

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 320 - Fireplace Addicts Anonymous

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 320 - Fireplace Addicts Anonymous

"Hello, my name is Jersey and I am a fireplace addict."
"Helloooo Jerseyyyyy"
"When I first came to this new place, my pets turned a switch on the wall and made this box very hot.  I put my nose to it and they yelled NO, NO.  I thought these pets were very strange to have a NO, NO hot box in this place.  But slowly, I started going back near the NO, NO hot box but not close enough that I touch my nose.  Because those pets were right about that...ouch.  I eventually realized that this was very nice.  So nice, that I want to lay by it all day.  But sometimes my pets turn it off.  I must learn how to get to that switch on the wall.  In the mean time, I sit by the NO, NO hot box when it is off and whine.  This seems to get my pets' attention and someone will turn it on.  Apparently even the small pets are allowed to touch the switch - if they can, I must be able to.  So, yes I have been addicted to the NO, NO hot box - which I have learned is also called a fireplace by my pets.  They have so many words.  I don't why I am at this meeting though...I don't have a problem."  

Sorry - I really needed a laugh today. ;-)

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 319 - Just a quiet night

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 319 - Just a quiet night

Just a quiet night - cleaned up leftovers in the fridge for dinner, helped Matty work on his book report, and the kids all just chilled - all 4 of them.  xo

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 318 - Are we having fun yet?

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 318 - Are we having fun yet?

So I realized tonight that I never got a picture today..apparently getting my 12 pictures for 12 on 12 yesterday tapped me out...So here I sat, thinking and turned on my FUN album..... love this band and I needed to hear my favorite song Carry On.  I am not gonna lie - this year is taking it's toll on me ..it has been a doozy and I need some reminders to carry on.  Are we having fun yet? Not so much... hopefully that changes soon. 

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 317 - Caught up

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 317 - Caught up

I finally got all caught up on the Twilight movies by finally watching the latest one tonight while My Wonderful Husband was teaching (because I figured he wouldn't mind if he missed it.. ;-))  Now it will probably be a year before I get to see the new one that is coming out the end of this week... oh well - something to look forward to. :-)

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 316 - The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 316 - The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

Our new puppy, Jersey Shore, is fitting in very nicely with our family.  He is a super good dog and we feel pretty lucky that he found us.  That all being said, I recently made a discovery about my youngest child.  Please understand that I say this with all of the love in my heart.....but ... there are many similarities between The Boy and the puppy.  Both are undeniably cute and at times this saves them.  Both make questionable choices sometimes and require some redirection.  Both can be bribed with a treat.  Both can sometimes get a little crazy..."puppy fits" and "7 year old fits" are strikingly similar.  After said fits, both usually just collapse from sheer exhaustion.  Both can get "nippy" one with his mouth and one with his words....but a toy can usually distract them.  Both dance around when they need to go to the bathroom.  The Boy loves to roll around on the floor as much as Jersey and I have caught him on numerous occasions "playing" with the dogs toys...but not with the dog.  Yesterday, while in the car, The Boy even had his head out the window....  I tell you the similarities are endless.  Who knew we already had a puppy this whole time - he just needed a playmate. ;-)  I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 315 - 4th grade hangover

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 315 - 4th grade hangover

The Princess came home from her slumber party this morning absolutely exhausted.  Those crazy girls stayed up all night long - a right of passage for sure - and The Princess paid the price all day.  She was suffering from the 4th grade hangover and moved from this chair to her bed where she slept until DINNER!  Luckily she seemed to have slept off her 4th grade hangover and I am sure this right of passage will have no bearing on her choice to pull another all nighter at any future slumber parties...;-)

 

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 314- "boy side"/"girl side"

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 314 - "boy side"/"girl side"

The Princess went to her second sleep over party in two weeks.  They were heading over to see Wreck it Ralph and since we were planning to take the kids, we took the boys and met them over there.  The birthday girl's younger brother, who is the same age as The Boy sat with us over on the "boy side" of the aisle while the girls sat on the the "girl side" - lest we interfere with the party... ;-)  It was a great movie!

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 313 - Sports Fix

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 213 - Sports Fix

TV, radio, computer...they will get their sports fix anywhere they can find it.  When I walked in the kitchen tonight, all three of my "boys" were huddled around Daddy's laptop watching a soccer game.  After that they moved to the couch and turned on the TV to watch a football game.  They may or may not been channel surfing between games - they all look the same to me... 

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 312 - check

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 312 - check

Fireplace. check. Comfy chair. check. Good doggie at my feet. check. (even if he had a "puppy fit" that lasted several hours tonight... )

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 311 - We voted

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 311 - We voted

Actually - we voted...(My Wonderful Husband and I)...but we didn't get stickers so I had to take a picture of one...But, we voted, we did our part and now we are watching the results......and waiting. 

and the results are in - OBAMA WINS! :-)

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 310 - pardon me...

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 310 - pardon me...

The devastation left behind from Hurricane Sandy is wide spread, unreal, and sad.  Iconic areas of the  Jersey Shore have been wiped away, businesses have been destroyed, people have lost their homes, the list goes on and on. Given all of that, I keep feeling guilty for being upset about the losses that we suffered which pale in comparison to the losses so many in NJ and NY have suffered.  So let me start by saying that I am grateful that our home is still standing and grateful that everyone is safe and my heart goes out to the people whose losses are so very much greater than ours.  
Homeowners on LBI were finally allowed back on the island today and My Wonderful Husband made the 4 hour trip to sit in line for several hours and got to see the damage first hand and start the process of cleaning up.... Our home sits on pilings and is raised off of the ground close to 6 ft but we have enclosed storage underneath the house.  Luckily the living spaces of our home did not sustain any damage from the hurricane and for that I am very grateful. The roof, siding, shed, shower are all fine... There was no water damage inside.  However the same could not be said for the fence or the storage area underneath the house. The flood waters literally picked the fence up and heaved it out of the ground.  The water line under the house indicates about 4 ft of water rushed in and sloshed everything around under there.  It is not a living space, so the damage is not in the same category as many of our neighbors who, not on pilings, essentially lost their entire first floors.  We have some concerns about appliances - water heater, heat unit, etc...but aside from that (and my husband's surfboards which were not harmed) there is nothing of great monetary value down there.  But there were things that had value and importance to us.  Since I wasn't able to go with My Wonderful Husband today I had to rely on the pictures to see the damage....When I uploaded the pictures it felt similar to the feeling I have heard people say they have after a burglary.  I felt violated when I looked at the pictures.  Hurricane Sandy and her thug flood waters broke into my home - my family's home - wreaked havoc and left behind chaos.  The water was gone but the wetness, dampness, mess and smell remained.  Everything was ruined.  Including and not limited to my childhood dollhouse.  My Wonderful Husband had prepared me for this so the picture was sickening but not shocking.  There it sat, flipped over after sloshing around in salt water for who knows how many days, bouncing around.  You can't see in the picture but it was soaked - beyond repair.  It went in the trash pile.  Along with my parent's holiday decorations, my children's Easter baskets, kids' toys, tools, cabinets, etc...  I remember the Christmas that I got that dollhouse - waking up and finding it all put together and decorated.  My mother would sew me bedspreads and pillows.  I loved that dollhouse.  That was why I saved it for my daughter.  She loved it too.  My dad and I were going to work together to return it to it's heyday splendor - but then life got in the way...he kept having health issues and it was not the first thing on the agenda...then we ran out of time to do it.  Now, it's in the trash.  So, tonight I am thankful that our house is standing and the damage is hopefully manageable.  But at the same time, I hope you can pardon me while I mourn the things that did not make it through the storm untouched.  Childhood memories, a sense of safety, and my heart.  

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 309 - Tomorrow

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 309 - Tomorrow

We got the word today that will be able to get on LBI tomorrow to check our house.  My Wonderful Husband will be leaving in the wee hours of the morning to get there and I am hoping very hard that he has no problem getting on the island.  
He will be bringing all of these supplies that our friends and neighbors here in PA donated for the Stafford Bucket Brigade.  Thank you to everyone that donated - we have contents for about 7 or more buckets I think...I know it will be appreciated!  Thank you to the Stafford Bucket Brigade for coordinating such a necessary and thoughtful effort and for giving me a way to feel useful this week while we watched the devastation of our home state from afar.   xo

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 308 - One came home and three left.....

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 308 - One came home and three left....

One came home and three left......The Princess came home from her first slumber party.  She was so excited to tell us all about the great time she had. Then the boys and Daddy left for their first Shippensburg football game and they had a blast.  Big day in the Leonard house....
 

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 307 - Jersey Shore

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 307 - Jersey Shore

We have adopted and welcomed a new member of our family.  He is a 3 month old golden retriever and we have named him Jersey Shore - Jersey for short.  Our other dog that passed away this year was named Sandy Shores and we wanted this new dog to have an equally "beachy" name....We gave it a lot of thought and tossed several names around. But given the week we have had and where our hearts always are, we felt it was a perfect name.... Welcome to our family Jersey Shore!

P365 (+1) - 2012 - Day 306 - One smart cookie

P365 (+1) 2012 - Day 306 - One smart cookie

Every day when I drop the kids off at school, I tell them "learn something today!".  Well when The Boy came home today he was ready to share so many things that he learned!  He was so excited to tell us what he learned in social studies - all about the statue of liberty and the liberty bell .... He was pretty proud of himself and all of his knowledge.  He also has a book report due in a couple of weeks and he got right to work reading his book.  I know I am biased, but he is one smart cookie.  In fact, biased or not, I think we have three smart cookies.