Giving Thanks for 2008

I have been busy with my new career at HP since the last time I wrote in the blog. I enjoyed my 20 months break when I took time off with then 6 month old Annelise, and 3 year old Rylan. But, I am now happy to be working again.

I decided to fill everyone on our family by focusing on what we are most thankful for 2008.

In his own words, Rylan is most thankful for his sister (he calls her “little sweetheart”), house (I tell him we could live in our neighbor Helen’s barn if mommy or daddy didn’t go to work so this has stuck as something he’s happy to have), mommy, and daddy.

Rylan will turn 5 on the 31st. He’s thankful for legos, transformers, music, and books about dinosaurs and animals. He spends time building things in his room until his sister finds him. He enjoys looking at his books, and will even “pretend” reads to his sister, if she will listen. He also looks forward to our ritual after I pick him and his sister up at school where we turn the radio on and dance. Sometimes he gets his guitar.

We are thankful Rylan is such a good student at school – he’s in Pre-K. His teacher says “he is an extremely hard worker and has a lot of focus.” He spends a lot of time perfecting his art projects, and will even not allow me to take projects home from his box if he is still working on them.

Annelise is 2 ½ years old. Annelise is thankful for “pink” and “anything princess”. On a good day, she will go through several outfit changes to fit the occasion, and each to look like a princess. If the clothing isn’t pink, it must have a flower, heart, pocket (go figure), or picture of a princess, to meet her standards. She will even look in the dryer or “to be folded” pile to find specific clothing for a “look” she’s trying to achieve. She dresses up anytime we go somewhere (except school) because she thinks we should be going to a party. Luckily one of our friends is always having some sort of party!

Everyone that engages with Annelise is thankful she is “so entertaining and funny” (teacher Donna), “the kids and friend Dash are so patient with her” (teacher Donna), “a spitfire” (teacher Pricilla), “she’s tough” (a teacher’s aide said after she ran fast, fell, and everyone went running to her thinking she was seriously hurt, and before they got there she was up and running again).
In his words, hubby Roger (Jim) is thankful for… “I’m riding the (spin) bike, honey; I thought you weren’t writing a Christmas letter.”

I am thankful I have a husband that likes to be fit (thinks he’s slacking even though he still commutes half way to work most days of the week – 40 miles a day), gives great hugs and complements, enjoys playing with his children, likes to use a chain saw and build rock walls to help make my garden projects look good, chooses to go grocery shopping because he knows I’ll come home hours later with WAY more things than were on the list, and puts up with my attitude and ability to hurry when we are on our way to a function (he has a desire to be early or exactly on time – whatever).

I am thankful for all of the above, and also for our great group of friends who enjoy getting outside - gardening, hiking, biking, sledding, or going to the park or other fun places with our kids.

2009 New Years resolutions:
*Have a tea party with some Auburn girlfriends & neighbor ladies.
*Drop by a local friend’s house unannounced w/ cookies.
*Take the kids camping, and help Jim to like it.
*Teach our kids that good acts can be rewarded with things other than “presents” or “treats”.

I hope everyone that reads this has a great New Year!