Thursdays Happy Thoughts, Thanksgiving style!

Ten things that make me happy and Thankful....

1. I have a family...who loves me unconditionally. I didn't have that growing up. I do now!
2.I have friends who mean the world to me and who would have my back no matter what...oh..and they'd have bail money too! :)
3.Our puppy is potty trained..truly something to be thankful and happy about!
4.It's raining and windy...I don't like Thanksgiving on a nice sunny day! lol...
5.My Christmas cards are all done and ready to go, and half if not more of my shopping is done!
6.We get our tree tomorrow!
7.Mark isn't on duty today! YAY!
8.Eight more months and Mark is out of the Navy and onto a new adventure....can't wait to see what it is and to see where life takes us!
9.The kids school conferences were awesome! They are right on target for their grade levels, and that isn't their 'true' grade levels, that's their 'gifted' grade levels!...I am so proud!
10. I have a Church family that is amazing!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Hugs,
Jaye

First Snow of the 2009/2010 Season!!!

November 21.....That's right, not even Thanksgiving and we've had our first snowfall!! WOOHOOOO!!! This happened last year as well and we had one of the snowiest winters in WA state history! Our last snowfall last year happened in APRIL!!! So it will be interesting to see how this year goes! Mark woke me up at 1245 am to let me know it was snowing. Being the children that we are, we both leaped out of bed to go outside. We TRIED to wake Paige and Ben up but they were having none of it. So we woke up the dog! After all, he's never seen snow before! He didn't quite know what to make of this cold stuff on the ground, but dutifuly made some yellow snow, then ran back into the house and hopped back onto our bed, looking at us as if to say 'you people are WEIRD'. Guess he's onto us!
I had to convince Mark that the neighbors wouldn't appreciate it if he fired up his new, as yet untested snowblower! :) Maybe on our next snow fall!



Mark and Dexter out in the first snowfall...





The swing on our front lawn all covered with snow....let it snow, let it snow, let it snow..

Hugs to all,
Jaye

RIP Gramma Ruth

Yesterday morning, around 830am our time, Grandma Ruth passed away at home surrounded by family. She was a few weeks shy of turning 99...such a long and wonderful life.

Born in 1910, she arrived on the scene only a few years after Ford offered the first car for sale. She was four when the first world war broke out...she lived through the Great Depression and was a young woman on the cusp of her 30's when the second world war broke out. She gave birth to and raised two sons, one of whom she outlived. Grandma also outlived Grampa Elmer...and although she missed him and talked about him every day, she managed to live the rest of her life with happiness and a joy that was infectious.

Having lived almost a 100 years, Grandma was able to watch as the world changed around her...not only on a global scale, but right in her own backyard. She was also fortunate to live long enough to be able to know not only great grandchildren,but Great GREAT Grandchildren!

Grandma will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She was a part of a family that is large and loving and joyous and her presence will be missed for many many years to come.

We are Thankful for her long life and the fact that almost right up until the end, she was able to get around on her own and enjoy a daily routine. She is with Grandpa Elmer now and that brings a comfort to our hearts....

She was a neat old lady...as Grandma herself would say 'She was a real corker'.

RIP Grandma...we love you.

Hugs to all,
Jaye

Thursdays Happy Thoughts!

Here we are..Thursday again! Here is my list of ten things that make me happy this week!

1. It's been raining most of the week. The kind of torrential downpour accompanied by wind that we get every Autumn in WA state. The leaves are ripped off the trees without apology and at times, the wind is so wild that the rain is coming at you sideways! I love this weather!

2. Ben did an outstanding job at his Veterans Day performance....he can name all 50 states off by heart!

3. I had a day off midweek! YAY for days off!

4. I have incredible friends...strong, amazing women who inspire me constantly. It's good to be inspired!

5. I am happy that Marks Grandmother has been able to have such a long life. She is nearing the end and that makes me sad...but she is almost 99...we should all be so blessed!

6. My three year old daycare girl sat in the backseat of the van yesterday on our way to go grocery shopping and she sang 'Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer'. It just isn't the Christmas season until you hear a child sing a carol.

7. Shelby is coming for Christmas!

8. Our building is done! We can finally get all our closets purged of storage bins and the other outdoor shed we have can finally be organized as well..wooohoooo.....our house will feel a million times bigger now!

9. Mark has a job. I have a job. Sam has a job. Three jobs in one house. Not bad for this economy!

10. I am loved.

Hugs to all,

Jaye

Finding my happy place on Thursdays!

When we were back in WI in August, Mark and I went out with an old high school friend of his and her husband. We got to talking about Mary and all of the crap that goes with it and at the end of it all, she looked at me and said 'there are days when you just have to find your happy place'. She's right....and I DO do that....but in the spirit of it all..and wanting to do MORE in that vein, I have decided to take an idea a fellow blogger friend has (hers is Ten on Tuesday!) and turn it into something productive for me as well as giving my fans at least ONE post a week to read! lol
So here I go...the Launch of my 'Ten Things on Thursday that Make me HAPPY'

1. It's raining today. I love the rain.

2. I have a coffee date with a great friend tomorrow! I look forward to my earl gray tea and my cherry galette. If you have NOT had the cherry galette at Starbucks, I recommend you get your butt down there TODAY! :)

3. Another friend just called and I am going to Kohls with her to give her my opinion on clothes! Woot woot! I have great friends!

4. My dog is SO cute!

5. Ben made the most awesome clay musical instrument in art and brought it home yesterday. My kids continuously amaze me!

6. Christmas is coming and I've started my Christmas shopping..and we'll do it debt free again this year!

7. I am making my mom the most AWESOME Christmas present this year. She's going to love it! (And she reads my blog so this will drive her nuts! ahahaha)

8. I am going to bake cookies today. Ginger cookies. Yum.

9. Tomorrow is Friday. Then the weekend.I love the weekends!

10. I had closure this week. After 27 years.

Hugs to all,

Jaye