P365 - 2016 - Day 335 - #bethankful2016

P365 - 2016 - Day 335 - #bethankful2016

On this last day of November, I shared my 30th thankful post.  Since I shared these on Instagram all month, I thought it would be cool to include all of them in this blog.  So here goes.....
1. I'm thankful everyday, but for the month of November each year, I stop each day to remember some of the many things for which I am thankful. Today I am thankful for running...for what it does for my body, mind, and soul, for the friendships it has brought into my life, for helping me push my limits and get outside my comfort zone.... And for the fun socks I have discovered I love. 😏 #bethankful2016
2.I am thankful for our yearly tradition of thankful notes. I love this tradition and love to read all the reasons why everyone is thankful. I love that as the calendar turned to November, the kids were looking for that thankful basket and I love that there are already quite a few notes in there. #bethankful2016
3.I am thankful for this guy.... My best friend. It was 23 years ago this month that he walked into my life (and dorm) and I count myself lucky to have had him by my side all these years as a friend, my husband, and an amazing father to our kids. I can't think of anyone else I would want along for this crazy ride. Xo #bethankful2016

4. I am thankful for our home, for the beach that is our playground, the ocean air we are lucky enough to breathe, and the ones I love within these walls that ultimately make this home. ❤️ #bethankful201

5.I'm thankful for this sweet boy who protects me from all scary things like washing machines, squirrels, and mailmen. #bethankful2016

6.Today I am thankful for a day that looked like this on the calendar. Empty. No games and no where to rush off to. I got a bonus hour of sleep and woke up to meet a friend for an early morning 11 mile run then came home to do nothing... A little snooze, homemade pizza and laughs with Eric and the kids. I am thankful for this day. #bethankful2016

7.I am thankful for these three amazing people that I get the privilege of raising. I ❤️them.#bethankful2016

8.I am not going to lie, I've been having a very hard time coming up with a thankful post given the election results as they are coming in. I am slightly (ok more than slightly) disappointed in humanity and the fact that so many people think that a blowhard lunatic who has no respect for women and has brought the collective conversation of our country to the school yard or the locker room could possibly be a good choice. But I digress... I am thankful that there are still kind, thoughtful, and genuine people out there. I know there are and I refuse to let this change my view. #bethankful2016

9.The weather yesterday reflected my mood ... It was rainy, chilly, and gloomy. I was thankful for no where to go and these comfy slippers. I love my slippers. #bethankful2016

10. I am thankful for bootcamp!!! At 43 years old I feel stronger than I ever did in my life!! #bethankful2016#strongisthenewsexy

11. I'm thankful for Eric's delicious chicken soup. It is the best and cures what ails ya. #bethankful2016

12.I'm thankful that I had a week off from grabbing lunch bags out of this cabinet to pack lunches. It's the little things sometimes.... #bethankful2016

13.This weekend Matty guest played in a tournament. I made it to see his last game and when the coach introduced himself to me he said "Matty is a great player but even more importantly he is a very nice kid." Today (and everyday) I am thankful that all three of my kids are not just great at the things they do,but more importantly, they are nice. Because nice does matter. I can't think of a better week to be reminded of this simple fact. #bethankful2016#nicematters #raisingthefuture

14. Last night I was thankful to finally be done shuttling everyone to and from practices and carpools, finally change out of my work clothes, and settle in with a good book and my pillow. I may have only got a few pages in before... 💤😴 #bethankful2016

15 I am thankful for my quick, nutritious shake for breakfast everyday. I always know my day starts off on the right foot. # #bethankful2016

16.I am not a fan of the weather getting colder but I am thankful for cute boots .....#bethankful2016

17. I am thankful for Wednesday's but especially this Wednesday. Eric comes home and doesn't go back to work for a week and a half!!! Yeah!! #bethankful2016

18.Thursday night I was feeling especially crappy... Coughing, achy, the whole deal. I had to make the decision to call out of work the next day and I was feeling awful. So as I lay awake coughing for hours I thought of warm sunshine, ocean air, and the sound of the waves. I am thankful for my happy place. #bethankful2016

19. Last night after a day of sleeping on and off to try to shake this nasty virus, I was mostly thankful for my sofa, this blanket, and Netflix. #bethankful2016

20.Today I am thankful for finally getting off this couch. I am still coughing but the fever has finally gone down so that's something. #bethankful2016

21.I am thankful for this antibiotic that I finally got and hopeful that it kicks this nasty cough.#bethankful2016

22.With the holidays approaching, my mom and dad are on my mind even more than normal. I wish they were here to share the holidays with us... I wish they were here to see their awesome grandkids... But I am thankful for the all of the years and holidays I had with them. I will always feel robbed but I was lucky to have had them. I am thankful for my awesome parents. #bethankful2016

23.Everyday can't be poignant... Today after days of being sick I managed to get out for my hair appointment. Tonight I am thankful for that. (And hair dye). 😉 #bethankful2016

24. I am thankful for family traditions... The ones I grew up with and share with my children and husband and the ones my husband and I have made for our family. I love that my children love the traditions too. Xo #bethankful2016

25.I am thankful for a Thanksgiving spent with my favorites. #bethankful2016 #leonardfive#smallgrouplotsoflove

26.Call me a dork but I loved this show then and I love this show now. I may have had a house full of of sickies today but in between filling water glasses, taking temperatures, and fluffing pillows, I managed to run 5 miles and binge watch the girls. You can keep all your Black Friday shopping. This was close to perfect. I am thankful for Netflix, Gilmore Girls and nothing else to do on the day after Thanksgiving.#bethankful2016

27.I am thankful that it is time to start decorating for Christmas. I spent today cleaning but took this guy out from the safe spot I keep him in all year. Let the decorating begin. #bethankful2016

28.I am thankful for a friend that is my kind of crazy and challenges me to do things like this run today. It was a hill and we crushed it! @sherunsjerseystrong#bethankful2016

29.I am thankful for carpools. My Monday's and Wednesday's have been crazy all fall and Mondays just got even crazier. I now have to get three kids to and from four places. I couldn't do any of this without the help of several other parents that take turns with me and give me a hand. (Or my cousin who steps in as needed too!) I can't be in three or more places at once even if I fancy myself supermom... So I am thankful for the carpool help. #bethankful2016

30. I'm thankful that I get to be a mom. It is the job for which I am most proud. There is nothing more important to me than my family and I am thankful for each of them every day. #bethankful2016

31. 30 days of thankful done for 2016. I am thankful for all I have, where I am, who I'm with, and what I get to do. I am thankful for this journey full of all its twists and turns. #bethankful2016

And as it turns out... I did an extra thankful in there...  :-)  I guess I am extra thankful! 

P365 - 2016 - Day 334 - ready to shave

P365 - 2016 - Day 334 - ready to shave

It is the final days of No Shave November and here is my handsome husband.  :-)  He is very ready to shave again.....but he needs to wait until December 1st.

P365 - 2016 - Day 333 - 1000 miles for 2016

P365 - 2016 - Day 333 - 1000 miles for 2016

I did it!!  I reached my goal of 1000 running miles for 2016!!!  and I still have over a month to go!  This was such an awesome challenge and I can't wait to see my final total for the year and start over for 2017.

P365 - 2016 - Day 332 - "It's a hill, get over it."

P365 - 2016 - Day 332 - "It's a hill, get over it."

My friend and I ran the Navesink Challenge - a 15k run through scenic Middletown, NJ.  Scenic is code for hills.  Many hills... and gravel roads "that time forgot".   Given the hills and terrain, we pretty much kicked butt and I am super proud of us.  Like the run's slogan says, "It's a hill, get over it.".... and that we did.

P365 - 2016 - Day 331 - little faces

P365 - 2016 - Day 331 - little faces

The holidays always make me sentimental....these little faces just make me smile.

P365 - 2016 - Day 330 - how I spent my Black Friday

P365 - 2016 - Day 330 - how I spent my Black Friday

This is how I spent my Black Friday.... not out shopping the latest deals with the masses.  After a nice 5 mile run in the ocean air, I parked myself in front of the fireplace with Netflix and binge - watched Gilmore Girls.  Perfection.

P365 - 2016 - Day 329 - "just us"

P365 - 2016 - Day 329 - "just us"

When I was a kid, we didn't have large family holidays, we didn't travel to see extended family, or have family that traveled to us.  That's just the way it was, so our holidays were small and "just us". As a child of the 80's and a product of sitcoms and cheesy movies, I was always a little disappointed that our holidays didn't include a parade of people, potluck dinners, and everyone dressed in their holiday best.  But that just wasn't what I was raised with.  As I got older, I hoped for those large family gatherings to materialize but that just wasn't in the cards it seemed and our holidays remained small over the years.  As My Wonderful Husband and I began a family, I worried that I was giving my children the same small holidays of "just us" - especially when first my mom passed away and then my dad... we ultimately became truly, "just us" for the holidays and I worried that my kids would feel sad without a large extended family during the holidays.  This year, however, I have had an epiphany.  At 43 years old and after 13 plus years of being a parent, I have realized that yes, the holidays are "just us" right now.  But "just us" are the most important people in my life, and I hope more than anything that these three amazing people, that we have brought into this world, forever hold the memories of the holidays spent together - just us - and hopefully want to and are able to spend their holidays together in the future.  There may come a day when our holidays of "just us" will have grown and multiplied - somewhere in the future....  But in the meantime, I can not think of a better way to spend my holidays than with "just us".  I am blessed beyond measure and grateful every.single.day.  

Happy Thanksgiving 2016 

P365 - 2016 - Day 328 - help in the kitchen

P365 - 2016 - Day 328 - help in the kitchen

The Princess is always a great help in the kitchen for the holidays... she has been making the cranberry pear relish for 5 years now.  I love that she gets involved in the cooking and all of our kids love the traditions that we have made.

P365 - 2016 - Day 327 - counting the days

P365 - 2016 - Day 327 -

Week three update to No Shave November.  He is counting the days until he can shave again.

P365 -2016 - Day 326 - TLC...best medicine

P365 - 2016 - Day 326 - TLC...best medicine

Another day of laying around being sick and coughing like it's my actual job and The Pooch was getting worried.  He decided that I was in need of some TLC and he was right.  Best medicine.

P365 - 2016 - Day 325 - Congrats!

P365 - 2016 - Day 325 - Congrats!

Congrats to The Princess and the Twin County Storm for their Finalist finish in the Crusa/FC Buck Adidas Classic Tournament this weekend.  From yesterday's summer like weather to a quick turn to winter today, they played fantastic!!  Wish I could have been there. :-(

P365 - 2016 - Day 324 - Love my soccer girl

P365 - 2016 - Day 324 - Love my soccer girl

I spent the day on the couch sleep off the yuck in my system while The Princess was in PA at a soccer tournament.  I was bummed to miss it - especially the beautiful weather it turned out to be for a Saturday in November and even more, the two winning games the girls played.  So I was happy when her coach posted this adorable photo of The Princess and one of teammates so I could feel like I was there.  Love my soccer girl.

P365 - 2016 - Day 323 - where I ended up

P365 - 2016 - Day 323 - where I ended up

This is where I ended up by Friday.  I called out of work, spent the day in and out of sleep on the couch, and went in to see the doctor.  Have I mentioned how much I hate being sick?

P365 - 2016 - Day 322 - here we go

P365 - 2016 - Day 322 - here we go

I muscled through the day at wok today with a crazy cough building, a fever brewing, and overall feeling like garbage.  But I had one more thing to do on this Thursday night.....  The Boy made the SRMS basketball team and there was a parent meeting to attend.  I apologized to those around me for "coughing up a lung" but I promised The Boy I would go to this meeting to get all of the info for the season, so I did.  So, here we go....soccer isn't over, he is trying out for RedBull as well, but here comes basketball season - ready or not!

P365 - 2016 - Day 321 - just a little bit more

P365 - 2016 - Day 321 - just a little bit more

I love Wednesdays every week.  But this week, I love Wednesday just a little bit more.  My Wonderful Husband comes home and doesn't go back until the Monday after Thanksgiving!  I am so happy to have him home!!!!!

P365 - 2016 - Day 320 - two weeks

P365 - 2016 - Day 320 - two weeks

Two weeks of No Shave November and he has moved from "scruffy" to "furry".    Furry and handsome and raising awareness for a great cause.

P365 - 2016 - Day 319 - my Monday mantra

P365 - 2016 - Day 319 - my Monday mantra

This is my Monday mantra ... back to school, back to work, back to practices....just get through it all.  We can do it!

P365 - 2016 - Day 318 - guest played

P365 - 2016 - Day 318 - guest played

The Boy guest played in a tournament this weekend.  He had a great time with this team, scored a few goals, and assisted in a few too.

P365 - 2016 - Day 317 - pan

P365 - 2016 - Day 317 - pan

I have been saving stamps from Acme for months with my eye on this pan.  I finally earned all of the stamps to get it for free and I was maybe more excited than I ever thought I could get over a pan.

P365 - 2016 - Day 316 - "just a little cold"

P365 - 2016 - Day 316 - "just a little cold"

After almost a whole week of feeling sick during a school break, I finally took The Princess to the doctor.  It no longer seemed like "just a little cold" anymore when she woke up with a bloodshot eye and a cough that wouldn't quit.  We came home with this...and an ear infection and pink eye.  Ugh!

P365 - 2016 - Day 315 - any day

P365 - 2016 - Day 315 - any day

I have decided to stay out of the conversations revolving around the presidential election.  I made my choice, I would do it again, I was disappointed, and yet... there are things in my life that are more important and pressing and that is where I turn my attention as always.  Those things are my family - my children.  So when The Boy asked me for some help with his posters for his student council election I didn't hesitate.  He sketched out some great ideas and we set to work.  His three posters cam out great and he wrote a wonderful speech.   Good luck to my little politician - I would vote for him any day!

P365 - 2016 - Day 314 - No Shave November update

P365 - 2016 - Day 314 -

It's a No Shave November update... more than a week in and this is my scruffy husband.  

Remember if you can.... donate.... https://no-shave.org/member/ekleonard20

P365 - 2016 - Day 313 - election day

P365 - 2016 - Day 313 - election day

It was election day and I exercised my right to vote!  This was first presidential election back in NJ since 1994.

P365 - 2016 - Day 312 - it's her room...

P365 - 2016 - Day 312 - it's her room...

The Princess woke up on her first day of break and asked if she could pack away some of the things in her room.  I am not going to lie...that made me a little sad, but I get it and I remember when I did the same thing with my room around the same age.  Looks to me like there might be some redecorating happening soon.  And we all know how much I like to decorate!!!  Ok, I know it's her room... geesh.  ;-)

P365 - 2016 - Day 311 - Shh- don't tell them

P365 - 2016 - Day 311 - Shh...don't tell them

She came back!  Call me a sentimental sap, but I like all of my kids to be at home.  I miss them when they are gone.  I think they might even miss each other.  Shh....don't tell them.

P365 - 2016 - Day 310 - outnumbered

P365 - 2016 - Day 310 - outnumbered

I was outnumbered tonight.... The Princess went to sleepover at a friend's house and that upset the delicate balance within the house.  A balance that is already heavily weighted to one side.  But without The Princess, I was the lone girl in the house listening to this trio watch and talk sports all.night.long.  Even The Pooch was in their little club.  So, I bid this group goodnight and headed up to bed.....I'm not sure anyone heard me over whatever game they were watching. ;-)

P365 - 2016 - Day 309 - newest printable

P365 - 2016 - Day 309 - newest printable

My newest printable for November.  I love this frame and all of the cool printables that I found throughout the year.  This one is one of my favorite sayings.

P365 - 2016 - Day 308 - Shore Conference All Star game

P365 - 2016 - Day 308 - Shore Conference All Star game

Congratulations to The Bear for being selected to represent his SRMS soccer team at The Shore Conference All Star Soccer game.  Great assist to a fantastic goal!

P365 - 2016 - Day 307 - riding shotgun...going over notecards

P365 - 2016 - Day 307 - riding shotgun...going over notecards

When you are a busy family with three kids going in three directions, you need to find pockets of time.  The Boy didn't have practice tonight but his brother and sister did.  I needed to get his sister to her carpool ride then get home and get his brother to practice.  Then I needed to go and pick everyone up.  The catch was, The Boy had a test to study for and he wanted me to study with him.  With 6 20 minute trips back and forth over the bridge, the best way I could make that happen was if he rode shotgun with me.  So, if you were driving around and saw me with my interior light on (I know that's a no no...sorrynotsorry) that was because The Boy and I were going over notecards together.

P365 - 2016 - Day 306 - No Shave November

P365 - 2016 - Day 306 - No Shave November

The Princess asked her dad if he would participate in No Shave November this year... and he couldn't say no - not to the great cause and not to his daughter.  So, here he is on November 1st.  He shaved last night for the last time until the end of November.

https://no-shave.org/member/ekleonard20