Happy Thanksgiving!

May you all enjoy this wonderful holiday with family and friends, blessed by the abundance all around us.

Joyful Noise

Today is the 3rd morning I've taken Leighton to Joyful Noise. It is her little "Playschool" where she gets to spend 3-1/2 hours with a handful of other kids approx. her same age. They swing, play games, do fun little projects with play-dough and have scheduled snack and lunch times. I must admit that I had some anxiety about taking her and leaving her to defend herself against any supspected playground bullies. My dear friend Sarah gave me such good advice and knowing Leighton as she does, reminded me what an independent spirit Leighton has, and how she'd probably do great! Not only did she do well, she loves it. She says "joyful noise" and "miss susie" all the time. When I drop her off, she shows no concern...just blows me kisses until I can't see her anymore (and I stand behind the wall hidden from view blowing her kisses for about 10 minutes, hoping I don't hear her cry for me...she hasn't yet.) When I pick her up she is happy to see me, but doesn't quit what she's doing to greet me...I practically have to bribe her to come home. The best part of her visits is the "art project" she completes while she is there. It is waiting for me when I pick her up, her name on the top left corner.

Home Improvement?

Since we moved into our SB bungalow 3 years ago (to the very weekend--Halloween was on a Saturday 3 years ago when we unloaded our UHaul,) we've undertaken a myriad of home improvement projects. The largest and most "improving" project (the landscape and new paint job on the house) have not yet been revealed on this blog...please stay tuned.

What I expected to be the least difficult and carrying the fewest inconveniences is the project we are knee-deep in at this very moment. As I type this entry, the contents of "my" closet, soon to be "our" closet with the addition of exactly ZERO square feet, and the contents of Kelly's closet, soon to be Leighton's closet, are stretched across 2 very unconfident looking temporary hanging rods in the midst of our respective bedrooms. (Picture anorexic metallic saw horses with elastic powers.)




I thought we'd just call the closet people and then one fine day, switch out our crappy hangers for some nice ones and magically, all our space needs would be solved! Ta-Da! No can do.
First, you must very loudly rip the old closet (circa pre-me) from the plaster walls. Then, some guy comes in the morning to patch the walls where you destroyed the perfectly good plaster job removing the perfectly good old closet. Then, you must paint...because won't the new closet and your (same old crappy) clothes look SO good with a velvety new paint job as a back drop?!? THEN, the closet people come. Then you can put back your crap. So, next time you visit us, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ask us for a tour of our new closets and say "oooh, aaahh" when we point out all the nifty new features that came with them...shelves, rods, hangers...OH BOY!