Mrs. Sasquatch Was Just Making a Point

Dear Caspian,

You know when you come home from work and smell like rubber and dirt? Yeah, not the most appealing smell. I know too that you think of this as an aphrodisiac and that with one whiff I will turn into your love slave. I hate to inform you of this, but you are mistaken my love.

Contrary to your belief that this makes you "manly" the smell is revolting. Not only does it make your clothes smell, but your skin and hair smell as well, which in turn stinks up the sheets on our bed. It's a mood killer. You wonder why I don't jump you the minute the juveniles are snoring?

Let me remind you of the early years, when you would jump into the shower before bed every night. You would snuggle close, smelling of soap. The mix of your smell and the laundry detergent on the sheets was sheer heaven. Intoxicated, I was putty in your hands.

I realize we are older, more comfortable and that the new has worn off. I know too that I could make an effort to be *ahem* smooth, but until the smell of your job is taken away from the bedroom, off the sheets and scrubbed from your skin, the *forest* will grow wild and free.

I hope you understand and my conditions have been made clear.

Much love,

Your Sasquatch in Training, KD

Time to Heal

Dear TH,

I love you, my dear, sweet, kind, goodhearted, innocent cousin. Your special "needs" were anything but. They were special "gifts" that you gave the world. Thank you for choosing to share them with us. Stay close.

-K

The service for my cousin was today. It was in the town he spent most of his adult life in. A small community on the other side of the Mountain. A community that loved him at least as much as my family did. It was warm, funny and sincere. Just like he was. It was perfect. I feel that not only was my family able to grieve and also celebrate him, but we also can now move on to remember him. That is really what we need now. Time to heal. Thank you all for your support...

Hopefully an Offer that cannot be refused!

Once again I have not been as active in the blogging community as I would like. However, I have a really good excuse:

WE ARE PUTTING IN AN OFFER ON A HOUSE!!!!

Yep! We found a great house this weekend. It is about a block off the water in a cul-de-sac off a dead end street (the street that leads to our cu-lde-sac dead-ends into the water!). It is the perfect size and layout for us, and the neighborhood and town complete the package. We are so excited!! I will keep you updated and get pictures posted once the offer is accepted. I hope to visit blogs this afternoon or tomorrow! Don't give up on me!

xoxo,

Happy Halloween! (Pictures)

Happy Halloween Nutty Readers!!

I Was Quite Comfortable Thank You Very Much (SFMTY)

We Are That Family Hosts Sincerely 'Fro Me To You and I thought that I should share this picture with you all:

Now to some this may look like bad parentinting (HOW could they let her sleep like that?), or at best a bad case of wedgie, but no. That picture represents the way I woke up most mornings from about 7 months old until I was out of the crib. According to my mom she tried moving me after I was asleep to only hae me end up in the same position by morning, so instead of fighting my love of crib wedgies they embraced that I was not like normal children (and believe me--understanding that when I was young was a blessing).

Play Titled: What the Hell? or Morning In Squirrelly-Ville

7:45am. Ringing phone as lights come up on stage left. Hurried commotion of a family getting ready to leave taking place. Daughter is putting on shoes, son is crying about his toast, and dog is pacing excitedly, knowing that she is about to be left.

Mom answers phone, lights come up on stage right showing Dad at work on the phone:

KD: Hello?!?!

Caspian: Hi. Are you up yet?

Mom rolls eyes and ties daughter's shoes

KD: Ummm, YES! Of course I am! We have to leave in 5 minutes. If I wasn't up yet we would be screwed--Muirne get your raincoat and backpack, Bardolf get your blanket if you want to bring it!--what's up??

Caspian: Nothing. Just thought I would call to see what you are doing.

KD: ...and???

Caspian: ...

KD: ......

Caspian: ....Well...

KD: ...I have to go!

Caspian: ...okay I will call you later.

KD: OKAYBYELOVEYOU!

*click*

Dad looks at phone confused

Caspian: Bye?

Light fades to black on Dad on stage right. Mom runs around like a chicken with her head cut off and scrambles to get out the door, shaking her head while wondering what the Hell her husband is thinking sometimes...Lights dim, then fade to black.

I am an AWARDS Slacker!!

I am a total slacker who received two awards recently and haven't properly addressed them! So here goes!!

Fat Cat Crochet Gave me this award!! Thanks Linda!!

I got this award from Mamasphere:

Here are the characteristics of the Smile Award:

~You must display a cheerful attitude.
~You must show love to others.
~You must make mistakes.
~You must learn from others.
~You must be a positive contributor to blogging.
~You must love life.
~You must love kids.

Here are the rules for the Smile Award:

~You must link back to the award creator. (IDK who it is! Sorry!)
~You must post the rules if you are a recipient.
~You must choose 5 people to pass the award to.
~You must fit the characteristics of the award.
~You must post the characteristics of the recipient of the award.
~You must create a post sharing your win with others.
~You must thank the giver of the award.

I admit I am terrible about passing on awards, so I want to pass long both to the following blogs:

1. Aimeepaloosa
2. Barking Mad
3. Simply Shannon
4. Mommie Mayhem
5. MommyCosm

We Almost Lost Her Yesterday

We spent a beautiful Labor Day at my Dad's and his wife "B's" property (Papa D). The weather was perfect for yard work and with Papa D's arm in a cast and sling my bro and Caspian had their work cut out for them sawing and hauling downed trees for firewood. I spent my time doing dishes and chasing the Juveniles around the house and property while Lizzard napped and supervised from her tie-down in the front yard.

Things went surprisingly smoothly, considering the use of chainsaws, axes and log splitters dominated the work. The juveniles played until they could hardly move from exhaustion and Lizzard found a spot in the sun to nap.

Just after we finished dinner, Muirne took Lizzard for a walk around the cleared part of the property. When she was finished, Caspian tied her to the deck/porch that runs the length of the back and front of the house. The deck has slats in the railing which Lizzard was tied to. We went inside to clean up and let the Juveniles relax for a few minutes before we made the 45 minute drive home.

Suddenly we hear a banging on the door leading to the deck. Standing there with Lizzard in her arms is B Papa's wife (who is allergic to dogs). Before I could figure out why she was holding Lizzard Caspian jumps up and runs to the door. B yells for us to come outside and tells Muirne to stay inside.

We rush out and Lizzard is completely limp and not breathing. He tongue is purple, her gums white, and her eyes glazed. Immediately we try to get her to breathe. Nothing. I tell Caspian to lay her down and we gently rub her body and try to encourage her to take a breath. She starts to gag and cough as Caspian gentle whispers "come on girl". She starts to pant and take deeper breaths. Her eyes dilate then focus and she lifts her head. We move her to the garage and wrap her in a blanket. My dad has some oxygen that is used for welding, but none-the-less is purer then the air. We lay her down and tent her head and the valve of the bottle. After about 30 minutes her color returns and she stand up and wags her tail.

Caspian stays outside with her while I load up our belongings from the house. He is wracked with the guilt of tying her to the railing. He didn't think that she would jump off and make herself a noose out of her collar and leash. B said she was completely still when she found her by accident while locking the basement door. She was most likely hanging for a while. She had been out there for about 20 minutes before she was found. I guess we will never know for sure.

Lizzard spent the ride home asleep in my lap and Caspian and I were quiet. "You didn't know she would jump off." I whisper quietly to him. "It's not your fault." He nods his head ans stares down the road.

The Juveniles are asleep when we get home and we carry them into the house. Lizzard is turned loose in the backyard where she jumps and barks announcing her return to her domain to the squirrels. Once the juveniles are in bed Caspian and I decide to make it an early night ourselves, emotionally and physically drained from the day. Caspian lays Lizzard next to him in the bed instead of her chair that she normally sleeps in and pats her gently. "Good Girl Lizzard" he says. And there she slept, peacefully forgetful of the events earlier that evening.

Blue-Eyed Brainstorm

Greeblepix Photo Contest for October from Greeblemonkey!

Here is my submission:

"Blue-Eyed Brainstorm"

Makes Me Laugh Monday--Wine

In honor of Our Night Alone and the time we spent with friends leading up to it by drinking wine and eating fabulous local seafood, for MMLM I found some Wine Funnies for you all! Drink up!

Don't Answer the Door! It's Child Protective Services!!

Bardolf is going to be the death of me. I know that he is a boy, but CRAP! Does he have to always fall on his head?? I mean it is a big head, but he only has one and his little brains are still developing. I blame his stuttering on all his head trauma. He must hit it at least once a day.

Getting back to my point. Bardolf almost had to be taken to the ER Thursday night, for hitting his head HARD, for the second time in the last 6 months. The kids were in the back yard eating fudge-cicles and I was popping in and out of the back yard and house trying to get a little housework done while they played (our backyard is fully fenced and I can see into it from several large windows while inside--so don't get all high and mighty on me for leaving them back there m'kay?). I grab the garbages from the bathrooms to empty them and then I hear it. THE cry. I rush outside, Bardolf and the wagon that I had put up on the outside toy bin so I could sweep the deck were both on the paved walk next to the deck. I asked Muirne what happened and being that she is 5 her description was vague at best. I rush him into the house and call Caspian to tell him that he may have to come home if I need to take Bardolf to the ER. I then call the Advice Nurse at the Juveniles' Ped's office and she gives me these guidelines:

1. If he passes out/goes unconscious take him to the ER



2. If he convulses or seizes take him to the ER



3. If he falls asleep and cannot be aroused take him to the ER



4. If he acts dizzy or can't walk take him to the ER

Okay maybe it is just me, but I WOULD FREAK THE HELL OUT if Bardolf did any of those things and call a freaking ambulance. Ummmm don't those things seem kinda like common sense that they are like SUPER BAD? She then asks me if any of those things happened....Yeah. I would NOT have called the Advice Nurse if any of that happened. There must be some real geniuses out there for them to have to spell out those symptoms as needing immediate help.
The last time he went to the ER was because he ran into the corner of our wall and had a lump the size of a large walnut popping out of his forehead within 30 seconds of the accident. That time we took him immediately to the ER calling the doctor on call just to let him know what we were doing. When we got there, we met plenty of judgemental glares and were grilled by EVERY MEMBER OF THE ER STAFF about what happened. I thought for sure CPS would be knocking on my door later that week. My description of the accident must have been good though because they never came...After this incident though, who knows!
Okay so after getting him calmed down and back into clothes (he wanted to be nekkid and I wasn't gonna fight him on it) he ate some dinner and went to sleep. This morning he said his head hurt, but other then that seems to be fine. Thank goodness! Just in case you were wondering the Mother of the Year award goes to me.

Here are some pictures of the brutality:

My Life Stopped for Six Minutes

Muirne's school just called. She was marked as absent. I dropped her off at 8am. The same routine every morning. Get in line in the turn around, pull up to the drop off area, give her a kiss goodbye, watch her walk in and pull away.

Today though, after I watched her walk in, she didn't go right to class. It is a short walk from the front door to the kindergarten wing and her class in the first in the hall. She was marked absent, which results in a phone call from the receptionist. Of course this call sent me into full panic.

My thoughts took over my mind. I tried to rationalize, telling myself she was fine, there must have been a mix-up, there are plenty of explanations. Then my emotions took over, I ran all kinds of scenarios through my head. What did I need to do. Who did I need to call. Oh my God my baby....

The receptionist said she would call me back as soon as she called down to Muirne's classroom. I am sure every mom has had a moment when they have lost track of their child at the playground, the wading pool, even your own yard and the few minutes they are missing feel like hours in which your mind and body reel with emotion and thought. I started feeling faint when the phone rang. It took 6 minutes. The longest six minutes ever.

She is in class. She was marked absent, then tardy. There was some miscommunication on the roster. I wash washed over with a sense of relief and confusion. School didn't start until 8:15 and I dropped her off at 8am. There is no reason she should have been late. The receptionist suggested I call her teacher after school. So I will.

I don't really care that she was late, but instead just happy that she is there. Of course I will be investigating and making sure she understands that if she wants to continue walking in alone she needs to go STRAIGHT to class. I am not sure I could take another scare.



**UPDATED** So she was in the cafeteria eating breakfast?? What the hell. I do actually feed my child before I send her to school believe it or not. She said she was still hungry so she went to eat. Oh and it was okay because one of her classmates ate breakfast at school and didn't ask her mom first if it was okay. I guess we will be having the "If all your friends jumped off a bridge would you too?" discussion sooner then I thought. Awesome.

SGRT: Road Trek Recap--Beware of KD in a Bikini

So as promised I am posting a recap of the SGRT 2008. This post will be in pictures and captions as to keep you somewhat entertained with visual stimulation as there is not much to report as far as shenanigans go. I know, I know, you were expecting a tirade about how much I hate road trips and how awful it was. Well other then the trip being over 1000 miles instead of the estimated 950, and Bardolf peeing in his car seat because Caspian didn't heed the pleas of a two-year-old, it was pretty uneventful. The scenery, however was breathtaking, and our marriage is safe...for now. Enjoy the onslaught of pictures and beware of KD boob-less-ness and cellulite in a bikini. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Muirne, Bardolf, Lizzard and Caspian pretty much looked like this the entire trip:





First stop (well second stop after the in-laws) Deception Pass:

There was a group of pastel artists sketching scenery, must have been about 15 of them. This artists rendering was my favorite:



Caspian and the juveniles posing on a log:



Bardolf and I feeling the pebbles between our toes (not much sand there):



Driving over the first pass on the way to Omak (Most of the scenery was this gorgeous):



Stopping in Omak Lake to swim. This lake is phenomenal and feels private because of the not being much to the park. It is on reservation land and there is a whole story as to how it became so quiet. It is over 7 miles long and fantastic:



Lizzard not wanting to swim and KD (here it comes, if you have a weak stomach turn away) in a bikini:



After Omak we headed to Wenatchee, also one of the most beautiful places in Washington State. Somehow the camera didn't make it out of the bag. If you saw one of my twitpics there was a little coffee shop called Naughty Monkey....heehee.


Our last stop before heading back to Squirrelly-ville was Kent, WA at the drag strip for the NHRA drag races. I had never been to pro-stock drag races and these cars made your chest actually vibrate--unreal:



I found my next Christmas present--well either this bike or boobs--you tell me which you think I need more:



Caspian and I posing for a quick snapshot. Yes dear readers all is still well after the SGRT. Only because he is getting me that bike or boobs:



XOXO

~KD

Right Now Is Never Better

"Your life is right now! It's not later! It's not in that time of retirement. It's not when the lover gets here. It's not when you've moved into the new house. It's not when you get the better job. Your life is right now. It will always be right now. You might as well decide to start enjoying your life right now, because it's not ever going to get better than right now--until it gets better right now!"

~Abraham-Hicks/Esther Hicks

That. That quote right there was what I needed today.

Today my mom and her husband took the juveniles for the day. Caspian was at work, so I was left to my own devices. I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself, so I decided to tackle the task of going through the kids toys in anticipation of Christmas and the most likely move we face in just a few short weeks. I ended up filling the entire interior of my mom's car and took it to the Goodwill. The kids rooms are now completely ready to be packed. Then I ran into the bank and thru McD's. I didn't have to share my fries. It was just what I needed at that moment.

Shortly after I went to the store, bought some flowers and went to an open house at my Aunts. She was showing off her new remodel where I sipped wine and mingled with many new faces. I rounded out my day picking up the Juveniles and meeting Caspian at home. I felt calm and focused. Exactly what I needed at that moment.

Tonight the juveniles are in bed. Caspian is watching a show about logging and nursing a tequila. Lizzard is asleep on the floor next to me as I type and reflect on all the changes and excitement coming our way. Mostly though I am enjoying this moment which is exactly what I need. This day. This time. It's getting better every moment and I better make sure to enjoy it!

Stretchie To Six Pack Guest Post!!

Remember how I said fitness blogger Mark Salinas, MN would drop by Squirrelly-Ville for some tips and tricks to help with my Stretchie-To-Six-Pack goal as a part of the Derfward Manor 5K Ass project???? Yeah so he TOTALLY rocks and pulled this together for myself and you nutty readers. To read and be inspired by his incredible fitness journey go here. Don't forget to stop by his blog and add him to your reader to get a daily dose of fitness inspiration!!



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Core Burn: Mark Salinas

As a parent I know how difficult it is to find time to get a work out in. Let’s do some core work while watching TV!

The core exercises consist of three exercises with 4 timed sets. The first set starts at 60 seconds for each exercise, 2nd set decreases to 45 seconds, 3rd set to 30 seconds and finally 4th set to 15 seconds each.

The three exercises performed one after the other are:

Plank on Elbows and Toes

1- Lie face down resting on the forearms, palms flat on the floor.

2- Push off the floor, raising up onto toes and resting on the elbows.

3- Keep your back flat, in a straight line from head to heels.

4- Tilt your pelvis and contract your abdominal to prevent your rear end from sticking up in the air holding form.

Left Side Plank

1-Lie on your left side.

2- Place your forearm in front of you onto the floor/mat. Position yourself so that only the forearm of your left hand plus the left side of your hips and legs are in contact with the floor.

3- Position your other hand either palm down onto the mat in front of you or on your hip. Maintain good core body posture and balance by first using your right hand as leverage on the mat.

4- Set your left leg directly atop the other or place the top (left) leg in front of the bottom (right) one. If you place them atop one another then the inside curvatures of your feet should touch in a way that they mirror each other.

5-Inhale and contract your abdominal muscles, pulling them inward.

6- Exhale as you lift slightly upwards using your left forearm and left foot.

Right Side Plank

1- Lie on your right side.

2-Place your forearm in front of you onto the floor/mat. Position yourself so that only the forearm of your right hand plus the right side of your hips and legs are in contact with the floor. 3- Position your other hand either palm down onto the mat in front of you or on your hip. Maintain good core body posture and balance by first using your left hand as leverage on the floor.

4- Set your right leg directly atop the other or place the top (right) leg in front of the bottom (left) one. If you place them atop one another then the inside curvatures of your feet should touch in a way that they mirror each other.

5- Inhale and contract your abdominal muscles, pulling them inward.

6- Exhale as you lift slightly upwards using your right forearm and right foot.

Take a 30 second break in between each set of three exercises.( Modify if necessary.)

You should feel the burn primarily in your chest, back and core abdominal muscles.

Stop over and take a look at some other “fun exercise” at Mark Salinas, MN

Stay active and NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give up on your journey!

Cap'n Underpants Has Something to Say

Happy birthday Cap'n. We love you big three year old boy!

(Bardolf is sporting a new red thermal as a cape and Hot Wheels undies that he got for his birthday from my grandma, thus deeming himself Cap'n Underpants. He's so awesome.)

Parade Princess

While at the In-laws this weekend Muirne was asked to ride with Papa J in the local parade with his car group! She of course was the perfect little red-headed royalty and made sure her elbow-elbow-wrist-wrist was perfect!

Thankful Thursday with Mister Linky!

I am so excited to officially start A Bit Squirrelly's Thankful Thursday gratitude carnival! This week instead of having a theme I chose random things that really brought me joy. Next week we can have a theme if you would like, or just leave it up to you to chose your own! Please leave a comment after linking to let me know if you would like a theme, to suggest a theme, or to leave Thankful Thursdays theme free!

I am so thankful and grateful:

• for celebrating the SIXTH birthday of my miss Muirne!
• for Fall. I love the leaves and colors.
• for halloween candy, though my thighs aren't going to like it!
• for all the movement in Caspian's company. Big changes are coming!
• that we are all healthy, happy and loved.
• that the laundry is done, the house is clean, and my family is home.
  
  
  
  **On a personal side note, on Tuesday I lost my cousin tragically and unexpectedly. This Thankful Thursday post was written before that, but I have left it as is, because it is so important to me, especially while my family is dealing with our loss, to focus on the wonderful, joyful, loving and positive things in life. My cousin was a being full of love, joy and light, and I know now he is enveloped in Pure Bliss. Thank you for sharing your posts of gratitude this week, I really need them.
  
  

Thankful Thursdays: Simple Pleasures

This week I wanted to focus on the simple, little things that I am grateful for. My list is just ordinary, everyday things that I may take for granted so I felt it important to show my gratitude.

• My coffee-pot that reliably brews my cup of sanity for the day


• The bath and body wash, lotion and spray that my best friend gave to me. It reminds me of her every time I use it!


• The candles that I have in three rooms of my house. They all smell like laundry soap/white florals and it is the perfect scent to relax me. It also seems to be tolerated by many and doesn't seen to irritate allergies so it is ideal for company as well!


• My favorite pen--my Sharpie fine point. No matter what I write it looks nice! Be it a bill or a thank you note!


• My Swiffer duster. Seriously cuts down my dusting time by half.


• My SUV. I love that we always have room for extra people. That it is reliable and under warranty, and that it has a DVD player for road trips!

So Nutty Readers, what are some of your simple pleasures?

Getting in Touch With His GLAMOUR-ous Side

Caspian was especially quiet while I did the dinner dishes this evening. After I finished (the dishes and my glass of wine) I peeked out of the kitchen to see him like this:

Flabergasted that not only was he not watching SPEED, but that he was taking an interest in one of my more girly hobbies aka fashion mags, I HAD to see what had grabbed his attention:

You all can read that, right? Maybe you know best synthetic urine  Yeah....I totally got why he picked it up too....he thinks that since he brought me home wine he is getting lucky (that may be true, but he better not be getting any ideas...at least it isn't a COSMO article).

Reason Number 31 That Lizzard is Mental

So if you have been reading for a while, you know that Lizzard is not what we would call "normal". She has several issues that we have been dealing with since we got her from a local rescue group a year ago. These issues include:

• Relentless chasing of squirrels


• Garbage Day Anxiety


• Jumping fences (up to five foot tall) and running away


• Mental Grins


• Trying to End it All


• Burping, yes she Belches

Of course she does other things that most dogs do which doesn't really make her unique, but just adds more things to the every growing list. However, I have to say that her need of Prozac and Tranquilizers may be something that we have contributed to:

Bedtime with Bardolf and Muirne

Muirne: "Tell us a story Daddy."

Bardolf: "Yeah Da-ee, tell you, us ,me sor-ee Da-ee!"

Caspian: "Okay, once upon a time there was a dog named 'Lizzard'... ...and they all lived happily ever after."

Muirne: "Thanks daddy that was a good story. I need a drink of water. Mommy will you snuggle with me and rub my back?"

Bardolf: "I dink wa-er too Da-ee, Momma snugle me too, rub my back?"

KD: "Okay lemme snuggle sissy and daddy snuggles you."

Bardolf: "O K Momma, Da-ee you ge me wa-er and rub my back?"

Caspian: "Okay buddy."

KD: "okay ni-nite love you sissy love you brother, sleep big."

Caspian: "Ni-nite, love you."

Muirne: "Love you momma, love you daddy!"

Bardolf: "Momma! Cov-a up me Momma!"

KD: "Okay lay down--put your feet down."

Bardolf: "O K Momma cov-a up dis banket Momma--Cov-a up dis one?!"

KD: "Okay all covered up. Love you! Nite!"

Muirne: "Night Momma."

Bardolf: "Ni-ni Momma!"

......

Bardolf: "Momma! Cov-a up me Momma! ... Momma! Cov-a up me Momma ... Momma! Cov-a up me momma!"

KD: "It's your turn and Lizzard and I are snuggling so I can't get up."

Caspian: "Just ignore him he will stop."

Bardolf: " Momma! Cov-a up me Momma!"

KD: " He won't stop until you cover him up with Blanket."

Bardolf: "Momm-Da-ee! Cov-a up me Da-ee!"

Caspain: "Okay buddy there ya go. That Blanket?"

Bardolf: "Tank-qu Da-ee."

Caspian: "Welcome Buddy, ni-night, Love you, Love you sissy."

Muirne: "Love you daddy."

Bardolf: "Lu you Da-ee."

Caspian: "Love you too buddy."

Bardolf: "Lu you Da-ee."

Caspian: "Okay love you too ni-night."

Bardolf: "LU YOU DA-EE!"

Muirne: "You already said that three times Brother."

Bardolf: "Oh."

Smoothalicious-ness

Okay so because of my recent 5lb (okay 10lb) weight gain I have been making an effort to make more nutritious snacks and meals, not only for me but the whole Squirrelly Gang. So in my genius I have rediscovered my frozen berries and started making Smoothies. Bardolf and Muirne *love* them and the best part is that they are so easy! We made some this morning while Loaner Baby napped.



Okay now for the real secret: There is an entire cup of fresh spinach in these smoothies. The juveniles have no idea. Though they do like veggies that much veggie in one sitting is a tough feat. So I pat myself on the back as they slurp each last bit from their cups.



I know. I rock out loud. Be impressed.

You May See "L" for Loser

But I see #1!

Hope you have a weekend full of #1's and no Losers!

xoxo,

Thankful Thursday: Week One

So not to get all mushy here, but I think that I would like to start taking time on Thursdays to write out what I am thankful for that has happened in the past week, or people I am thankful for, or projections of gratitude for the future. Feel free to join me and if you post something you are thankful for leave your link in the comments! Happy Thursday everyone!

For some time now I have kept a Gratitude Journal that I write in before bed each night. I have found that making a list right before bed sets me up for peaceful thoughts and I drift to sleep easily and contentedly. For this first Thankful Thursday I wanted to tell you the first three things I write in my journal every night.

I am Thankful and Grateful for:

• My children, their life, love and health


• My husband, his life, love and health


• MY life, love and health

Seems simple, right? That is the beauty of writing things that you may take for granted but really should be aware and thankful for daily! I surprise myself when I get butterflies EVERY TIME I write those three phrases at night. No matter what happens throughout my day those three things don't ever seem to change and I can always be thankful for my family.

So nutty readers! What are you thankful for today!?

Bowling is a Sport, Right?

I am so sore. I mean hurts to walk, sit stand, move period sore. I had an impromptu workout session Saturday evening. I wish I could say it was one of Mark's spectacular routines that has me downing the Ibuprofen and reaching for ice packs, but it is much more embarrassing then soreness from not working out in a while.

I went Bowling.

My hips, thighs, butt and forearm (right only) are so sore TWO DAYS after bowling three games Saturday. Caspian thinks it's the funniest thing ever and with each mumble and groan takes jabs at my all too apparent state of physical impairment.

I know that I need to work out. I know that I am a better place not just physically, but mentally when I do. I know that the two 24 oz beers I downed while at the bowling alley is not helping my cause. I know that the drive thru meal on the way also is to my detriment, yet I do it anyway.

What the Hell is wrong with me?

The sore, burning and annoying pain is a huge wake-up call. There are no more excuses. I need to make some changes and I need to do it now. I am diving in head first and not coming up for air.

• No longer will I be out of breath when I play tag with my kids.
  
• No longer will I groan when picking up my bulk food items to heave them into the cart.
  
• No longer will I ignore yard work because I just don't feel like putting forth the exertion.
• No longer will I order take out because I don't feel like throwing together a salad.
• No longer will I be sore for days after Bowling.

Hold me accountable Nutty Readers. The dawn of Squirrelly Buffness has come. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Photo stolen from here