Already Day 18! It's an Adler Day~

Perhaps I should be thankful that Time Flies. How can it already be the 18th? Two of my kids are already on break for Thanksgiving. The high school kids have two more days of school. It's cold and rainy and chains are required over the summit. Christmas music is playing in stores and I'm pretty sure that there is at least the draft of a letter to Santa on my mantle. 2011 is quickly coming to an end. Amazing!

Today I'm thankful for Adler. He and Tate are such good friends. Tate is always asking when he can see Adler next. They're not in Kindergarten together which is a good thing because when the two of them are together everyone and everything else fades in to the background.

When I found out that Josh and Honi were having a baby I gave all of my baby stuff to them - books and gear. I went out and got cute lil baby outfits to send to Portland. Who knew that I would need my books and gear again? Luckily for all of us, both babies turned out to be boys.

Adler

Tate 

 These two boys love spending time together. I am thankful that Tate has someone just his age in his family since his siblings are so much older than him. I'm thankful that I got to borrow Adler today to keep Tate busy. Legos, Squinkies, soft serve ice cream, 2 Sullys, 2 blankies= Cousin Sleepover Heaven

Kaleb

Today Kaleb joins the Teenager crowd. Ah, Buzzy. How did that happen exactly? Weren't you just a tiny little guy saying "Where is that Stupid Fatcher Anyway?" while looking for your pacifier?

Sometimes Kaleb thinks that he was neglected or I was mean or something. Whatever. He never let me put him down. I wore that kid forever. I stacked a cord of firewood with him in a backpack. I worked in his preschool class even though the kids in there were SO much harder to love than the ones in Chase & Chloe's preschool class. Seriously, they are legendary.

He's always been a little bit silly. Sometimes we apply the word Drama to Kaleb. He loved his tap dancing class and show. Going with the Baker kids to drama camp was so fun for him. He's a tiny bit different from his older siblings. If he wasn't, it would be boring, boring, boring. That is a word that we don't often apply to Kaleb. I met with his teachers today and they all love him because he is cute and fun. They also said that he's hurry to finish his work so he can have more fun. He can tell a story to rival all stories and negotiate a deal better than Donald Trump.

Today, I'm thankful for Buzz. He's a creative, smart, kind, fun kid who adds so much life to our family. He oozes energy and people respond to him.Watch out world, he's getting closer to being let loose on the rest of you!

Failed Yesterday

Yes, I failed to be thankful yesterday. Officially in writing, that is. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself, though, at the end of the day. I had planned in my head that we would all go to the Placer soccer game and then we would all come home, pop popcorn and watch the final Harry Potter installment together. What really happened is that we came home, they inhaled food as quickly as possible and then most of them left. Chloe went to a friend's house to help her kid sit her little brother. Kaleb and Chase went to play flashlight tag with the Rosengreens. Tanner was going to watch it, then wasn't, then was, then sort of did but actually went in the other room & watched a movie with his girlfriend. Tate fell asleep during the movie. Jake kind of watched it and when it was over shook his head and muttered "I seriously don't get it."

insert series of sighs here

During my period of self-pity here is what I failed to be thankful for. Chloe went to a friend's house to help out & have a sleepover. Her friend is a lovely girl from a very sweet family. Chloe is willing to hang out with her while she hangs out with her little brother. Chase & Kaleb got to go and have a bunch of fun in a very safe environment with kids that I genuinelly like overseen by parents that I trust completely. Tanner's girlfriend came here & they watched a movie here.

My kids have a great group of friends. This is a blessing for which I should be thankful even when it messes with the plans that I've made in my head.