Friday, December 18, 2015

Some Thankfuls and a Giveaway!! TToT 131

Ah, my poor neglected blog.

Not much longer before I can get back to writing a bit more.

Until then, it's all about the thankfuls!

1. Cuckoo took charge and got the ornaments on the tree while the other kids slept and I made breakfast. I merely told him, after seeing he had done the usual kid thing of putting 8 ornaments on two neighboring branches, to try to spread the ornaments out.

2. He listened and did a good job decorating the bottom half of the tree. Plus, when Turken woke up and began helping, I didn't have to go in to remind Turken to keep the ornaments spread out. Cuckoo totally took care of it by screaming, "I TOLD YOU NOT TO PUT THEM CLOSE TOGETHER!!!" at least 5 times.



3. My family got together for Christmas in Kentucky last Saturday. The weather was nice and warm, so the kids were able to get plenty of time outside to play. Everyone had fun visiting and sharing a meal.

4. It just so happened that Phoenix's volleyball tournament took place the next day in the Louisville area, a mere 30 minute drive from my mom's house. It was very handy, and several family members were able to come out and watch him play.

5. I have been having some seriously crazy dreams lately. I'm glad my life isn't as bizarre as my dreams.

6. I am so thankful for Bryan and his ability to make me laugh every single day.

7. Finals are over! We have over two weeks in which homework and studying and early rising does not have to be done. Except for Bryan. Poor guy still has to go to work.

8. I got to have a night out with my book club last night. We went to a new place for dinner downtown then a funny Christmas show. It had been quite a while since we'd gotten together, so it was extra nice to have this chance.

9. I was only able to go because we have lots of babysitters in our house. (Bryan had a work thing to go to.) The boys were on their own for half the night, and I'm grateful that I can leave them without a worry for their well-being.

10. A couple of weeks ago, my blog friend, Diane, sent a book for my kids. Her brother-in-law wrote a kids' book about soccer, and she immediately thought of me. Yay for us! I read Soccer Sami and the Big Meanie Coach to the boys, and they asked me to read it 3 more times. While they liked the story, they were especially enthralled with the illustrations. We spent 20 minutes just looking at the page numbers!

BONUS thankful! Diane sent an extra copy for me to give away!! If you would like your name in the drawing, just comment below about a favorite coach, either yours or one of your kids' coaches. I'll choose a winner on Tuesday.


Did you know that these thankful posts are interactive? Either link up a list of thankfuls or let me know in the comments what good things happened in your life this week!

Have a lovely day!


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28 comments:

  1. I'm always amazed at how you manage to keep up with all your kids' activities and still make time to get stuff done! I wish I had a tenth of your energy! Your tree looks HUGE and so pretty. I hope you and your beautiful family have a very Merry Christmas :)

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    1. Well, I'll tell you how. I don't. Balls get dropped and some things are actually forgotten. :)
      Our tree is shaped better than any we've had in many years. It's also one of the smallest. Our ceilings are 12 ft high, and we usually get 10-11 ft. trees. We went the easier route this year, getting one only 8-9 feet. :)
      Merry Christmas to you, Jen! How's it feel to celebrate Christmas pain-free??

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  2. …wait. a. minute. awfully smoothly organized sounding activities out there in 'the land of straight roads and stop signs that can be seen from a 1/2 a mile away'!! (nope, not gonna jinx a thing…. and, for the record, I've stopped listening to weather reports…. just gonna enjoy).
    Best of Christmasation to you and everyone else there.

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    1. No joke. Things and activities just fell into perfect place. I love it when that happens.
      Thank you! Merry Christmas to you three!

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  3. Love the Christmas tree decorating story. Lots of dreams mean lots of serotonin, and I think that's a good thing. I have two favorite kids coaches. My daughter's soccer coach, Vince Mango, who always kept his sense of humor and love and made a real team. Winning was only secondary. And then there was Steve Perra, the basketball coach who made each kid feel like Michael Jordan. It's amazing how positive self esteem can affect ability. The book looks like a treasure. Merry Christmas to you and your wonderful family.

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    1. I hope it's a good thing, 'cause it's been crazy dreamin' this week!
      Sounds like your kids have been very fortunate to have some great coaches.

      Merry Christmas to you!

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  4. Sounds like Cuckoo has got leadership in him! And the tree looks fab. Have a merry one, Christine.

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    1. Ha! That is one nice way to put it. :)
      Merry Christmas to you, Michelle!

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  5. This is the first time I've ever done this. I'm glad I read this last night, and learned that I could do this on a Saturday. I'm honored to do this on your site! And I love the story about the tree decorating, and as a nice soccer coach, I'd love to read that book, too! (I *think* I'm nice.)

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    1. I'm so glad you jumped in! It can be written and linked up anytime from Friday night to Sunday night! We don't like a lot of rules around this here hop. :)
      I imagine you are a very nice coach.

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  6. I love your kids, I love your family, I love your thankful.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

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  7. My blog has been neglected, too. Love the Christmas tree story! Merry Christmas!

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  8. I can't always do it. But I try to make time for TToT out of my busy week. :)

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    1. It's not easy to get it done each week, but the more you do, the better you feel! We're glad to have you whenever you can swing it.

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  9. Hehehe I can SO see Cuckoo doing that! What a laugh. Glad the tree got decorated though, and that you all had fun in Kentucky. How lovely for the kids to all be able to play outside! Looking forward to you coming back a bit more, but ENJOY all the Real in between :)

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    1. Yeah, it's not much of a stretch to picture him screaming at one of his brothers. :) I am grateful for his determination to get that sucker decorated, though. I didn't know when it was going to happen.
      It isn't often that the kids can go out to play in mid- to late- December. When there are 8 boys running around, we jump on the opportunity! We couldn't be more grateful for the warm weather.
      I'm looking forward to it, too. I'm missing you all!

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  10. My kids used to decorate like that too...miss those days! I finished making the gifts I was going to make this year today! So thankful because I leave on Monday to drive 750 miles to spend a few weeks with my dad (he's 94.5) and my Army daughter will be there for 2 weeks also, so I get to see both of them!

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    1. I learned long ago that a perfectly decorated tree, in which the kids didn't get to help, was not worth it. It's much more fun and festive to have ornaments hanging so low they are hanging on the floor. :)
      Yeah! Good job, you, getting those done with so much time left!
      Wow! That's a long trip. Be safe and have a marvelous time. Merry Christmas!

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  11. Love the Christmas tree story - well done to Cuckoo for listening to you and doing a good job, and making sure Turken did it properly too :)

    Sounds like you had a good time with family in Kentucky and it's great that the kids got to play outside.

    The night out with your book club sounds good. What a coincidence you went to the Phoenix Theatre - we also have a very similar-sounding Phoenix Theatre here in town, run by a local couple who were pet sitting clients of mine. My ex used to do all their odd jobs and repairs and I had a room there for my aerobics and fitness classes. The theatre is run by someone else now but I still occasionally go to their shows.

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    1. Ha! He certainly enjoyed the power. :)

      We did, and everyone there was very, very grateful for the 8 boys' ability to play outside.

      Sounds like your Phoenix is a great place, and surely holds a special place in your heart. I do love the intimate, small theaters. I mean, I'll go to just about any live production, but the small theaters are my favorite.

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  12. Cuckoo would have had a hay day at our house decorating. Tee hee!

    Nice having built-in baby-sitters. :D

    Thanks for the plug for the book!! Glad you guys enjoyed it!!

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    1. Hahahaha!! I can just see Cuckoo and Riley working together. Ha! Working together. hahaha

      It is fabulous!

      You are very welcome. I'm glad they liked it, too. How awkward would that have been if they hated it? ;)

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  13. wrote the TTOT and then forgot to link it !!!! sheesh...maybe you will get two next week !

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  14. OK. I'm losin' it! I came by yesterday and could have sworn I left a comment!
    Sounds like all your ducks lined up for your trip. Glad you had a nice Christmas in Kentucky (could be the name of a holiday movie!!) with your family. The tree looks great, btw :)
    Laughter. Just as important as communication in a relationship. May you and Brian always laugh together :D
    Have a wonderful Christmas Christine!

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  15. On the days when my ONE child keeps me moving at breakneck speed, I always think "If Christine can keep up with her big brood...surely I can handle one!" :D You inspire me in many ways, always.
    My poor blog is also so very neglected - and I believe I've lost just about every reader I ever had as a result. The price to pay for not bothering with my space, I suppose. But I'm really hoping to get back into a groove after the holidays.
    Bizarre dreams - I always seem to have really strange ones if I wake very early and go back to sleep for a while or if I nap in the morning. So weird.
    Have a very blessed Christmas - to you and all of your family!

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  16. Sounds like a great time. I was looking forward to an outing with my writing group, an end-of-the-year drinks and appetizers sort of a gathering. Unfortunately, my brother ended up in hospital and I chose to visit him with my family instead. Hopefully there will be more outings like that in 2016.
    How nice your kids get a break, even if their father does not.
    :-)
    Poor guy, but that's the fun of being a kid, that often ends as an adult.
    I always enjoyed Christmas break off with my siblings.

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