Giving Thanks!

Tis the season of Before-The-Pre-Black Friday Sales (lowest prices of the season!), feeling guilty for putting up Christmas trees early, and, let's not forget, thankfulness. What a wonderful time of year!

I haven't jumped on the bandwagon of the "30 days of Thankfulness" status updates, but I thought I would quick write down some things I am thankful for today.

1) Pinterest. Because if I didn't have Pinterest, I would have just made normal Rice Krispie treats for Annika's Thanksgiving Party. But, thanks to Pinterest, I found these cute little treats instead...which once Annika saw them said "Let's make those!!!" (Mental note: NEVER look on pinterest for class snacks with your child).

This is how they turned out...

NAILED IT!!

At least they taste good, right Simon and Taryn?

2) 4.5 quarts of Ice Cream. Because if I didn't get ice cream in buckets, then I wouldn't have extra buckets lying around for this:

At least he's still smiling!

Staying close to home today so we can contain this thing before we have all of Dan's family come in town for Thanksgiving!

3) Scrubbing Bubbles. Because of item #2.

4) Washing machines. Because if I didn't have a washing machine, I would be doing all of this by hand.

5) 6:15 a.m. Because this is where I get to sit for 45 mins of (usually) uninterrupted time with just me and The Word.

6) Coffee. Because sometimes this is is how I feel. :)

7) My family. Because they make all the other stuff worth it. I am thankful for each and every one of them. Without them, there wouldn't be much else to be thankful for. 

Don't think I will be getting any other posts up before Thanksgiving, so I hope and pray that you all have a blessed and wonderful day being thankful for all the little, and big, things in your life!! 

A view from the other side

As I mentioned before, I am married to a stud, and, officially, now an Ironman.  I do think it's funny that when you ask most kids who are the same age as our kids "Who is Ironman?" They'll probably come up with the famous Superhero.  But not our kids, if you ask them "Who is Ironman." They'll tell you "My daddy." Take that Robert Downey Jr.!! Hmm...does that make me Pepper Potts? I have been told I look like Gwenyth Paltrow.

Anyway, Dan has been posting about the race and I thought I would share some slightly random thoughts as an "Ironwife." :)

First, just because my husband has done an Ironman doesn't mean that I am in anyway shape or form interested in doing one myself. As I had printed on the back of my Support crew t-shirt, "I don't Tri, but my husband does." That is Truth--with a capital "T." If I were to try a "Tri," I would drown. Seriously, I would swim...er...doggy paddle...to the nearest kayak and have them tow me to shore. And, you know how good I look on a bike.

Second, I have goals too.  They may just not be as impressive. I was recently asked "So, what's on your bucket list?" On my bucket list I have "Go on "The World's Longest Garage Sale." Phew! I know, it's a lofty goal, but I really think I can do it.  And, it will take me A LOT longer than the 11 hours and 39 minutes it took Dan to complete his Ironman.  I am thinking 3 days should be good. If you want to join me, let me know and we will make it happen!! We may have to hit some smaller events before, you know, as a part of our training.

Third, I am a Master at making motivational signs. "Every time a cowbell rings, an Ironman gets his wings" is my current favorite. Or "In 140.6 Miles, I get my hubby back." There is also a plethora of "That's What She Said" jokes but I didn't think they would be appropriate and I didn't want to explain them to my kids. Just so you know, it takes true talent to be able to hold a sign and not spill your coffee.  It takes lots of practice, but it can be done. If you face just the right direction you can even use the wind to hold the sign up against your body which means both your hands can be free for coffee and a doughnut!

Fourth, don't take your children to the race. If it's a race that's longer than, say, 15 minutes, leave them at home.  If you didn't catch it from one of my other posts, I will tell you again...kids do not like to watch races. Since there would not be enough candy in the world to get them through an Ironman, we left them behind in very capable hands. Every time I saw a crabby and tired child being pushed around in a stroller at the race, I said prayer of thanks for those watching over my kiddos. I am forever in their debt. Besides, if they had come with we wouldn't have this video...and Simon, I felt your pain, buddy, I thought they all looked like daddy too!


Thanks to P & L for getting this unforgettable moment on video. I think I heard their cheers all the way down in Florida.

Finally, I am proud. Very proud. My man had a goal and he completed it to the absolute best of his ability. He had a shirt made for the run portion of the race that said "Marriage is the ultimate endurance race...don't ever give up!!" The Ironman is a big race and a huge accomplishment and I was so glad I could cheer him on. But, I am even more privileged to be his teammate in life.  I know that no matter what we go through, big or small, he won't ever give up on us. There is nothing that we can't do when we're together. Except for triathlons, we don't do triathlons together.

The Ironman and his Woman of Steel

Skipping Halloween...kinda

When I told my kids that Dan and I would be out of town for Halloween, you would have thought that I told them that we were skipping town on Christmas. We try not make a big deal about Halloween, but the kids do get a kick out of dressing up and getting free candy.  I mean, really, are there any kids who say, "No thanks mom, I don't want any free candy.  But, thanks for the offer, I would rather just stay home." Yeah, didn't think so. But, since Dan's Ironman was the weekend after Halloween, I didn't want to force the friends that were so graciously watching our kids to dress them up and follow them around the neighborhood. Afterall, we wanted to keep them as friends.

We did, however, do our annual carving of the pumpkins. Every year Dan gears up for the carving.  He takes everyone's orders and spends the next 3+ hours cleaning out the pumpkins and carving them. This year 3 out of the 4 kids wanted to carve their own.  Dan didn't complain. Again, are there really any dads who would say, "I know that you want to carve your own pumpkin, but I would rather do it and have you breathe over my shoulder for the next 2 hours asking if your pumpkin is done yet."  Yeah, didn't think so.

They cleaned the pumpkins

And got started on their creations...they get the tongue thing from their dad!

Without any further ado, and before it's Thanksgiving...here are their creations:

Annika's

Taryn's

Landon's

All of them together...Simon requested Mickey Mouse (at the far end)...

Happy Belated Halloween everyone! (Yes, by the time I actually got around to posting about this all the pumpkins above are now in our compost pile).