ok, and i’m also thankful for… my darn dog. mikey once asked me why i call her my darn dog.  i replied because she does darn things like poop and pee where she’s not supposed to, swallow lego bits, chew the hands and feet off of barbies, bark like a deranged pyscho killer dog whenever the doorbell rings, and sneakily try to get on the table to eat our food.  darn things like that. but then again, she’s super sweet and calm (whenever the doorbell’s not ringing or some other unseen imminent danger is not present), she’s chosen me as her most favorite person in the world, she’ll do anything…

i’m thankful for… fourteen and a half years (dating and married) with this guy.  it’s amazing to me how it’s been so long but still feels like not that long.  how spending time with him is still my most favorite thing in the world.  how he still surprises me every now and then.  how we never run out of things to say to one another.  and how if we don’t have anything in particular to say, the silence feels just as companionable too.  i look at him now and can’t imagine my life without him in it.  through all our highs and lows, i’d still choose him every single time.…

and i am thankful for… this one. the only one who is allowed to come sneaking in to sleep next to me in the middle of the night.  actually, she’s never asked if she can, she just does.  and truth be told, i miss her on the rare occasions she stays in her own bed. this one is mama’s girl, through and through.

i am thankful for… every single day we’ve had with this one. who, me?  yes you, jone bones. because even though the initial discovery of his existence caught us completely by surprise and we weren’t quite sure how it was all going to work, he has since filled our lives with more love and joy than we ever thought possible. and even when he’s clearly plotting his next no-good, very bad move, i can’t imagine a single day without him. nor would i ever want to. even when he does stuff like this. feeling the need to hug my babies extra tight tonight and praying for the dear parents who…

i am thankful for… this boy right here.  our firstborn.  still such a little guy but so often we forget that and expect him to carry the weight of our expectations on his shoulders.  yet he takes it all in stride and remains an amazingly kind and gentle-hearted kid.  i often tell him i have a lot to learn about patience from him. i am so thankful i’ve had this year to have him home.  i’ve found that i just really like being around my kid and have enjoyed the talks we’ve had and the laughs we’ve shared.  he’s just such a great person to know.  and i also really…