Mood thermometer today reads THANKFUL

It's not quite November yet, the Month of Being Thankful, but I'm feeling thankful for lots of things these days.  I go in spurts of being super appreciative and attentive and thankful which inevitably swings into dismissive and bitchy and contrary.  I'm not sure why that is but I'm pretty sure it has to do with the beauty of being a woman.  Anywayzzzz, I'm feeling thankful today and thought I'd share just a few of those on my list.

The perimeter of our backyard is lined with mature trees which gives us complete privacy from the two story house behind us.  This crape myrtle, however, stands in the dead center of our large grassy yard.  It is too weeny to provide any shade and is a great obstacle when running through sprinklers or throwing a baseball.  It's pretty worthless.  Except for now.  For these two weeks out of the year it's pretty and serves a purpose.  The other 50 weeks of the year it's just kind of... there.  I am thankful for my crape myrtle that is finally providing us with some pretty.

I woke up the other morning singing the What The Hell Are We Going To Do Today blues.  Then I came up with the genius idea of going to the park for breakfast!  We were there by 8am, ate breakfast and played for a solid hour before it got hot.  Not only were there no dishes to clean up, they were pooped and productive by 9:30am.  I am thankful for situations that end in a win/win.

If you look up summer in the dictionary I'm pretty sure you will find this picture - a nakie kid eating a dripping ice cream cone.  I am thankful for nakies and drippy ice cream.

This is Lauren on the Huntington Beach pier a few days ago while we were down spending a week with the kids' Grandma and Grandpa.  She disapproved of something I did and let me know it.  And all the passerby people as well.  I am NOT thankful for two year old fits but I am thankful for my ability to not let this bother me at all.  As you can see I stepped away from her and took pictures.  Without a sense of humor this could have been a day-ruiner.  I am thankful for having a sense of humor in all situations.

17 years ago this month we met in college.  I am thankful for that and everyday that has followed.