Happy Thanksgiving.

Last night, while I was falling asleep, I was thinking about how thankful I am for my cozy house, cute husband and fun kiddos. But what I am really thankful for this morning is my computer and every digital camera I have worn out since Todd was born in 2002. What a treasure to be able to put in a disc or push a button on my computer and instantly see hundreds of special moments that would have been forgotten without that split second of photography. I won't bore you with all the perfect snapshots of our last seven Thanksgivings, but here are a few.

The first are from our first Thanksgiving in Japan, 2003. Dick and Vicki came to visit and we headed to Disneyland for a cold day of fun. I chose these pictures because today is the first Thanksgiving since that year that we have spent Thanksgiving with Grami and Grampi. Gobble gobble.I took this picture right before leaving for our Thanksgiving feast in 2006. I was so thankful for my two sweet kiddos that morning and loved this photo of them happily sitting together on my new white chair. I can't wait to see what photos today will bring.

All Done!

I finished my book this week and took all 54,973 words to the printer this morning so I can read it all the way through. I haven't read the entire thing yet and am interested to read what I actually wrote in the whirl wind of the the last three weeks. Regardless of the results, I am thrilled I actually reached my goal and am looking forward to next November's novel.

New Moon

Three of my fun mama friends and I headed out to see New Moon, the second movie in the Twilight series, early this morning. Our adventure began last night at 9:30pm when we arrived to get our seats. We held our therapy sessions while we waited for the the movie to start at 12:10am. I had a really hard time keeping my eyes open during the first twenty minutes, but was wide awake when the werewolves came on the scene. I may be switching sides from Team Edward to Team Jacob. I really want to go see the movie again this weekend, just not at midnight.

89 Resons to Love Todd, Plus 2!

Todd had a rough day on Monday so I spent the thirty minute ride home telling him all the reasons I love him and what I like about him. We got to 89 with only a few little pauses for mama to regroup and pull from the recesses of my tired, old brain. Well, yesterday I thought of two more reasons to love my little Toddo.
#1 He read Moby Dick (I have to read it now, never have). When I asked him what he liked about the book,I was blown away by his very grown up and long answer. Love my little reader!
#2 He has perfected his kneeling dive in swimming lessons. Take it from a pretty average person, who can't dive, being the kid in swimming who is the best diver in the group ("finally I am the best at something" were his words)is a big deal to him and to me. Love my little swimmer who has been practicing hard to perfect his skills.
LOVE THAT KID!

What do you think?

I actually am intrigued by this idea. I think I could convince Jacy
if it was easier than putting a tree up the "right way".

Photo from www.apartmenttherapy.com

I could really go for a donut right now...

...and if I had my pick it would be from here. Leonard's, in Oahu, makes these yummy Portuguese donuts that are a warm, sugary mix between a popover and an elephant ear. I really want one right this moment.
I realized this morning that I haven't blogged in TEN days. I have been working on my November novel (36,588 words, 13,412 and 14 days to finish) and thinking about another blog that I am going to start called Rainy Day Mom. I am excited to use my brain and my love for children's literature to create a blog full of our family's favorite authors and books. Rainy Day Mom is coming soon, hopefully in December.
Until then, I am back to writing the drivel that is the bulk of a novel set in a wedding dress shop. Nobody said it was Write a Good Novel Month!

It's November and Movember too!

Jacy and I have a lot going on this month. I am writing a novel and he is growing a mustache. That's right, he shaved his face clean on November 1st and it's as smooth as a baby's bum. In an effort to raise some money, and just have fun, he is participating in the Movember events that involve growing a mustache and raising some funds for prostate cancer. Check out www.movember.com for more information or to pick up the great t-shirt with Tom Selleck's epic mustache on it.

It's a Jungle in Here

Our sick day was saved by Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. Todd and I started reading it last week and settled into finish Mowgli's story this afternoon. I read to the boys and they created scenes from the book using their Indiana Jones playset and all the plastic jungle animals they could find. It was a lovely day at home.

Sick Days

Todd has been feeling under the weather and stayed home from school today. He spent the morning creating Lego statues while I read The Jungle Book to him. Now he and his brother are tucked in front of the TV for a Playmobile movie and I am ignoring the sick day messes to write. I am 5 days into novel writing and am loving the act of doing something different from my normal routine. I have taken a lot of joy in being selfish with my time and am surprised by how much I like creative writing. I just checked my word count and I have over 11,000 words (the goal is 50,000 by November 30). I am happy with what I am writing although I have no illusions about how good it is. It's just nice to set a goal for yourself and chase it for awhile.

BOO!

Jacy and I took our little trick or treaters out to beg for candy Saturday night. We had originally picked out Star Wars costumes because we were going to a Star Wars party (I even bought myself some cute Princess ear buns and Jacy wore his Darth Vader costume to a party later in the night). Unfortunately, we weren't able to go so we took our little Jedi knights to the mall and around the loop of our neighborhood. Wylie refused to wear he Yoda hat on Halloween, but trust me he is the cutest little Yoda I have ever seen.