Happy Holidays!

So I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that Lizzi was BREAKING HER OWN RULES and doing her Ten Things of Thankful hop anyway.

I have to admit, that I am starting to suspend my general sarcastic self once a week and truly enjoy this chance to focus on the good things.

Then the weekend got a bit chaotic, and I didn’t get a chance to blog.

So I thought I’d be SUPER renegade and post this morning anyway.  Take THAT Interwebs!

But then I saw the hop is open until after Christmas.  So I’m really not renegade.  Heck, I’m not even late.

But I’m still in.  And I’m especially in now that I read Lizzi’s reasons for posting.  So before I start, I’ll just send a virtual hug and positive thoughts out.

My list will be a bit lighter.  But I like the idea of reflecting on the good to date from the past week before Christmas starts in earnest.

Number 10

I’m thankful for two full weeks off from work to spend with family and to get some much-needed rest.  I plan to spend lots of time with the kids and my husband; hit the gym a number of times; re-set my diet (after Christmas); read; blog; and sleep.  I’ll let you know how it goes.

Number 9

I’m thankful my dentist was nice enough to not charge us a no-show fee when my daughter and I were unable to show up on Tuesday morning this week because it was MINUS 38 Celsius and our car wouldn’t start.  To make matters worse on that fine brisk morning, we couldn’t pop the hood to jump the car because the hood was jammed closed as a result of my husband’s little fender bender from a few weeks previous (after some effort he thankfully managed to get it open).  So we got to push it into the road so we could get our other car out of the driveway.  Good times!  Or to quote the ice scraper recently gifted to us:

At any rate, the dentist was very understanding and we will reschedule in the new year.  I’d also like to quickly pause here and say that I’m thinking good thoughts to all the folks in Toronto and surrounding areas there who are without power over Christmas due to the recent ice storm and crazy weather.  I hope things get sorted there as quickly as possible.

Number 8

I’m thankful for our neighbour with a snow blower who has plowed our driveway for us about 3 times in the last few days, saving us many HOURS of shovelling with the recent dumps of snow chez nous.

Number 7

I’m thankful that I finished all my Christmas shopping on Saturday and got everything wrapped and am DONE and READY.

Number 6

I’m thankful for fun times out with my husband and friends on Saturday following Christmas shopping.  I brought some of the gifts along because, frankly, after 4 hours of grocery and Christmas shopping I figured the Koopa Troopa could use a beer too.

And now – just because it always makes me smile – a Mario a capella video for you:

Number 5

I’m thankful and moved by the surprising gift I received from one of our friends for Christmas.  We’ve talked a few times about dreams and ambitions and I mentioned my sporadic thoughts about writing.  So, he gave me this (which my kids unwrapped for me early, which is why it’s already open):

While this ambition is still firmly in the fuzzy “someday” file, the book will make my reading list!

Number 4

I’m thankful my kids are going to get to spend some time with their cousins tomorrow when we go to visit my husband’s family.  They don’t see them very often and I really want them to know each other growing up.

Number 3

I’m thankful for Christmas craft shows.  My mother knits for the local shows, so I’ve grown up around them and enjoy visiting her at various of the shows this time of year.  But this week, I was thankful for the chance to make it out with friends Tuesday night to the annual Originals craft show where I managed to get some nice gifts for family and friends – and bought myself a new hat.  I’m doubly thankful that I didn’t then forget it in a cab on Saturday night.  Which is what I thought happened until I got home and realized I had never actually worn it out in the first place.  See #6 and verification of fact that little Koopa wasn’t alone in the need to unwind.  Sigh of relief about the little things.

Number 2

I’m thankful for friends back in Ottawa for the holidays.  I had a lovely dinner out Friday with two of my oldest friends – indeed, two of my three bridesmaids – as one was back in town from out east.  We caught up; drank some nice wine; and – in the way that friends from way back do – all ordered the same meal.  Before dinner, my kids and I also got to spend some time with my friends’ two beautiful children; and her mother gave my daughters each one of these – because she remembered that my eldest had liked them the last time they visited.  So very thoughtful!

Number 1

I’m thankful that my husband and I appear to be doing an okay job raising thoughtful human beings.  As I sat here typing earlier, my 18-month-old kept bringing me handfuls of Goldfish.  Which she and her sister were nicely sharing while watching TV.  My eldest was also momentarily “reading a book” to my youngest earlier as well:  complete with her asking her little sister to sit on her lap first for story time.  They then took a reading break so they could pretend to be ballerinas with the movie playing in the background.  So they twirled around a bit, then my eldest hugged my youngest.   While I know the witching hour will come around again soon enough, I’m so thankful for these moments which let me know we’re getting some of this parenting stuff right.