Goodbye 2013, I'm going to miss you!

As a family, we're going to look back at 2013 and say "what a crappy year!".  It's been full of trials that have tested each of us.  But I refuse to let that be our legacy.  In between all of the "crap" were wonderful moments that outweighed the rest.  Don't believe me?  Take a look.....

In January, Will got his license and Hunter met Gordon Gee.  I learned how to sew and Jeff enjoyed the rare 65 degree weather.  Then February rolled around.  I became a member of the 40-somethings.  Hunter attended his first hockey game.  Will got a new car and Jeff walked out of Las Vegas a winner. 

It was in March that Hunter announced he would be working at Ohio State for the summer.  He also made his first trip to New York City.  Will, Jeff and I spent the entire month parked in front of the TV, avoiding the cold and catching up on Smallville.  Creations by Memories in a Flash came to life. Which took us into April and warmer weather.  We watched the bunnies grow, the flowers bloom and Hunter managed to visit for exactly one week.  Will was too busy playing dodgeball to notice.

By May, we were all enjoying the great outdoors.  Jeff and I spend a long weekend at the castle, learning to entertain ourselves.  Will rocked the range.  Hunter left home for his first real job.  Oh, and Jeff set the deck on fire!  And before we knew it, June had arrived.  Hunter made it home for graduation and Will got a job!  We said goodnight to SimCity and hello to Reese's sixth year.  Hunter fed me french fries and Frosty's as we waited for the cardiologist and Will learned to wake board.   We all found some much needed quiet time in Blue Ridge.  Except Daniel, who screamed on the tube.

July rushed in...and brought Clark and Ollie to us.  Hunter turned 19 and we got to celebrate with lunch on the lake.  Will and I bought a camper.  Jeff took on a second job of fixing her up.  Hunter made it home for his weeks vacation.  We even got to share a family dinner together...right after Will got home from Warped Tour!  August started with tears as we moved Hunter back into his dorm (as an RA!) for the fall semester.  Will could only be found at work or at band camp, which left me time to fall in love with Little House on the Prairie.  The bugs invaded, Abby turned ten and we began our weekly trips to Hocking Hills.

In an instant, we were into September.  Will finally cut his hair, Hunter passed through Cincinnati and Jeff and I continued our weekly trips to Hocking Hills.  Mama Renie's pizza became a staple in our diet.  Every day for Will included band and their hard work paid off at Little Miami's first Band Festival.  And Mom, Jeff and I enjoyed every minute of it.  Ben turned 10 and Grandma Trees turned 90!  That's when October came crashing in.  Sessions kept me on my toes every waking minute.  Except for the times we were enjoying the new camper and our new "home away from home" in Lost Hollow.  Jeff and I managed to winterize the house by ourselves.  Hunter came home for his first interview with 5/3 and Will...well he was busy with work and band.

And just like that, we found ourselves facing the first of November.  It started with Hunter getting the job with 5/3, Varsity Show for Will and our first snow fall of the year.  Tornado sirens (in November) made us run for cover and before we could say boo...Thanksgiving had arrived.  For the first time, we had two Thanksgiving dinners, one with each of the boys.  Jeff found a new hobby, Mom found a new apartment and Will got to meet Brutus (thank you, Hunter!).

And boom, just like that, here we are in December.  Warm weather was a treat for a day or two, just as Will broke out his ugly Christmas sweatshirt.  Ryan turned three...and celebrated by helping Mom move.  Hunter made it though finals and finally came home!  Will and Hunter walked away from their first accident with not a scratch on either of them.  We wrapped until we ran out of paper and Mom got to share Christmas morning with the kids for the first time EVER!  The month ended with a lot of monkeying around.  And that brings us to today.

And today, I'm counting my blessings.  Each and every one of them.  

Happy New Year from the Thomas Family!  I can only hope that 2014 is just as wonderful!

Progress!

What do you think?  I've been working and working and practicing and practicing!  There are so many ideas going through my head.  I've pinned more projects than I can possibly complete in a lifetime.  If I have my way, the boys and Jeff will be wearing "ugly" Christmas sweaters next year...that I made for them! 

So easy to entertain!

Who would have thought that watching updates load was what Toccoa would find to be interesting?  I wonder what she would think of defrag?

Leave it to me.

Facebook.  I know it doesn't seem very exciting to anyone.  You've all seen it a million times.

But for me tonight, it's the best thing I've ever seen.

You see, a few days ago I performed a very poor version of a juggling act with a glass of cranberry juice (and a splash of Vodka) and i drenched my laptop.  In all the years, with all the computers...not one of us, not even the boys, have spilled ANYTHING on a laptop.  Leave it to me.

So for the last few days, I've been trying to keep up on my phone.

Thankfully, I'm married to the nicest, most understanding person on the planet.  So a replacement has arrived.  Not as fancy, but just as functional.   And I am the most appreciative person in our house.

Thank you Jeff!  And I promise to use a sippy cup from this point forward.

Shhhh....

It's so quiet here, you could hear a pin drop.  Even the dogs are silent.  They've scoured the house looking for signs of life other than Jeff and I.  Mom, Hunter, Will....they'd be happy with anyone!  And I have to agree.  It's pretty quiet after such a wonderful yet chaotic week.

Food for thought.

The holiday is over and just like that, the Christmas spirit disappears for another year.  Just a few hours into the "day after" we found ourselves in the midst of "he said/she said", "I want" and "too bad" behaviors.  It still amazes me that the season of peace on earth, good will towards man can be forgotten in a matter of minutes.

I'm not a martyr.  I'm not a cynic.  But I am completely and utterly defeated by those who can't seem to grasp the season of blessings and love.  And while I feel sorry for them, I can't help but wonder what they're teaching the next generation.  Are they teaching them that he who yells the loudest wins?  Are they hypocrites?  Have they taught them to give in to pressure vs. standing by their convictions?  

I don't often blog about my faith, my beliefs or my views.  I leave religion and politics to those that like to hear themselves talk.  But I would be remiss in my duty to the boys if I failed to say that those that preach love, peace, forgiveness, compassion and understanding are often those that have failed to learn the lessons themselves.  Those are traits that are practiced, not preached.  Respect is earned, not demanded and love isn't something you say, it's something you show. 

Monkeying Around!

Since it's not our Christmas day with the boys, they had to leave at noon.  So we decided to make the most of the morning and just enjoy the few hours we got together.

Hunter and I worked all morning to make a wonderful breakfast for everyone.  It included our first "loaf" of monkey bread as well as a fair share of monkeying around.  I admit, it was the first breakfast we've been able to cook together in quite some time and it was wonderful!

We all hope everyone had as much fun as we did today.  We wish you all the merriest of Christmases and hope your day was filled with family, fun, laughter and great food....and a little bit of monkey business :)

Love you all!

It's Christmas...Eve.

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house....

Christmas bells were ringing!  This was our last year celebrating a "Christmas Eve" Christmas, so we made sure that we did it with style.  Cowboy style, that is.

The kids had a ball and it was wonderful to have Mom join us too!  I always forget to take as many pictures as I'd like, but I'd much rather be swept up in the fun.  And if I can throw in a surprise or two, it's that much better.  

We ate too much and watched Christmas movies until we couldn't keep another eye open.  Everyone's jingled out and have headed off to bed...I'm right behind them.

Merry Christmas Eve, Everyone!

It's Christmas Eve...for us!

On Dasher!  On Dancer!  On Prancer!  On Vixon!  On Comet!  On Cupid!  On Donner!  On Blitzen!

It's Christmas Eve in the Thomas house and we were determined to find the best way to deck the halls.  And if you live in Maineville, you look no further than the short jaunt to The Christmas Ranch to find your jingle!

We braved the cold to share Christmas Eve dinner, stroll through the lights and warm ourselves by the campfire.  It was a perfect evening.  We even got to visit with the big guy himself.  And with no prompting, the boys jumped in line to meet him!  I've asked for years, only to be met with an eye roll.

But tonight, we all found our Christmas spirit.  The boys took a moment this season and shared it with everyone in Santa's workshop.  There wasn't an adult in the place that didn't think that Santa, Hunter and Will were the best shot of the evening.  Mom got the opportunity to watch the boys in action, laughing and joking with the big guy as they struck a pose.  And I got the opportunity for one more Christmas picture.  I love the ones of the boys, sitting on Santa's lap, whispering gift ideas in his ear.  But this one is far more special. 

So tonight, it's not about the ribbons, the bows, the paper or the packages.  It's not about the stockings or the tree.  It's about the two minutes the boys spent giving me the best gift ever...without even knowing it.

A Christmas Laugh

The house is completely clean.  The presents are all wrapped.  The boys will both be here for breakfast and mom will be here for lunch.  We've decorated and shopped until we were ready to drop.

And with all of that, I forgot to take a picture today.  So instead, I figure we can all use a few laughs.  The stress of the season is almost over and it's time to laugh and love.

So here are a few of my favorite laughs of the season!

Ahhhh, it's warm!

Sixty five degree weather, thunderstorms and very windy winds.  If I hadn't spent the day wrapping Christmas presents, I'd swear it was April.  Maybe that means winter is over?  Probably not since Monday is supposed to only be in the low 30's.  

Truest Statement.

They say that having a child is letting your heart walk around outside of your body for the rest of your life.  Today, I believe that to be the truest statement.  

Through the years, I've gotten my share of scary calls.  The calls from the school to say one of the boys had fallen and cracked his head.  The call from the baseball coach to tell me to "get here now" when Hunter got his teeth knocked out with a baseball.  Hunter and I have taken a few trips down the stairs when my feet went out from underneath me and poor Will has had more black eyes than I can even mention...all as a result of broken glasses when roughhousing got a little out of hand.

But nothing (and I mean NOTHING), prepares you for the call that says the boys have been in a car accident.  Let me first say, they are both ok.  No one was hurt...although they're both a little shaken up.  But not a bump or a bruise on either.

I've thanked God at least a million times for keeping them safe.  I've hugged them each the same million times.  I've shed just as many tears.  I know that I can't protect them forever, but I'd damn sure like to try.  The realization that I can't came crashing down on me and it's terrifying.  But with that being said, I've also realized that they're growing up and while I'd love to keep them under lock and key, life doesn't work that way.

There will be a few new rules as a result of this.  They think I'm strict.  I know I'm strict...because I think they hang the moon and it's my job to keep them safe.  For as long as I can.

 

Just a little early!

Some of the best presents come from the people who know you...inside and out.  It's not about the cost or the size of the box, it's about the love that went inside it.  

Today was Christmas for Will and Daniel.  They both were too excited to give their gifts to wait another day.  Funny enough, they exchanged the same thing.  Will gave Daniel Yu-gi-oh cards with a Batman pillowcase.  Daniel got will Yu-gi-oh cards with Superman boxers.  

Who knew that at 16, they'd be sharing a card game and superheros?  I think that's awesome!  And so did they!

But apparently it'll be a few more years until the patience to wait until Christmas actually arrives.

The long wait.

It's the biggest shipping day of the year for the US Postal Service.  More packages are dropped off today than any other day of the year.  And guess who needed to go to the post office today?  I had to drive through twice to find a parking spot.  I stood in line for 35 minutes for these little buggers ('cause the machines don't sell the cutesy Christmas ones!).  All so that our Christmas cards would be as Christmas-ey as possible!  I just need someone to remind me next year to go a little sooner! 

On Sunday?

Look at the boys...all dressed up and heading off to school.  Yes, I said school.  Apparently no one told Mr. Brinkman that today was Sunday and a much needed day or rest.

So Will spent the afternoon giving presentations and testing for BPA (Business Professionals of America) and Hunter spent the same time judging the presentations.

They left here laughing and returned the same way.  So I guess it doesn't so much matter how you spend your day but who you spend it with.

HoHoHo!

There's no place like home, especially during the holidays.   And thankfully, Mother Nature was fair and allowed us the opportunity to get there.

Although it wan't actually Christmas Day, it sure felt like it for a while.  The little ones dug thorough their stockings and tore through the wrappings eager to see what was underneath.  The adults ate and laughed and unwrapped a few gifts of their own.

I took my camera with the intention of capturing the whole event.  I think I took three pictures.  Playing with cars, hearing about Frozen and stuffing my face with warm banana bread was much more appealing.  Until I got home to blog!

So I've "borrowed" a few pictures that Scott took today...thank goodness one of us had our game on!

The boys are back in town!!!!!!

The Christmas season is officially underway.  Hunter surprised us all coming home a day early....so let the festivities begin!

Angry Puppy :)

It's Throwback Thursday, I didn't forget.  But while I was eagerly searching for the perfect memory to post, Jeff grabbed a new Angry Bird out of the bag for Toccoa and I just couldn't ignore it.  

That puppy can smell an Angry Bird toy at a hundred paces.  She knows the sound from another room.  No matter how many toys we get here, these are her favorite.  I have no idea why, but if they keep her from tormenting the cat and doing zoomies around the house the we've won.

Jeff tried to hide if from her for a minute or two....she wasn't having any of that!  And she hadn't even seen it yet!

Go Away!!!

I've said it before, but this time I really mean it.  I'm winter-ed out!  Go away snow, cold, ice and grey skies.  At a minimum, please let us make it to Columbus to celebrate Christmas.  I know it's December...but this is crazy!

Almost perfect :)

Nothing beats a snow day, a hair cut/color and an afternoon coffee.  If it was January and I was all caught up with orders, shopping, wrapping and such...it would have been perfect!

When work feels overwhelming....

This is the meme that Hunter sent to me this afternoon.  It made me giggle.  And then remember that it's the truth.  I thought that may during the craziest time of year, everyone could use a reminder :)  And a glass of wine!

Merry Christmas from Cedar Village!

Each house is up, the street lamps are lit and every tree has been placed.  I missed it so much!  I'm sure I'll bore you all with pictures for weeks, but I love the little village and can't wait for you to see it in person!

Santa's Bag

Well, I was so busy watching the game, I forgot to blog before midnight!

Anyway, I thought I would take a second to thank one of the most under appreciated people of the year....our mail lady.  This was her haul to us today.  Think she's ready for the holiday season to be over?

And thank you to Amazon....for all of the gifts that I can't find "handmade", I do appreciate all you do!  You've made my Christmas season a little easier!

Tomorrows plan?  To wrap!

Winter Storm Cleon

Well, it wasn't the eleven inches they thought, but it certainly was a winter event!  When Little Miami cancels school without a delayed start first to contemplate it, it's definitely a winter storm.

Layers of ice, a few inches of snow, a little more sleet and ice and a few more inches of snow.

The good news?  Jeff worked from home, I got caught up on some work and Will got to watch two seasons of The Walking Dead (I know, but he loves it!).  The bad news?  This is going to make for a very, very long winter!

Brrrrrr!

Tonight's a quickie!  I'm too busy watching the live performance of the Sound of Music to blog!

So I just thought I'd summarize the day.....

If this doesn't get us all sick, I don't know what will!  It's not every day you get a 30 degree swing in just over 12 hours.  Lets hope the cold is all the crumby weather we get this weekend!

It's a joke...right?!

First, please accept my sincerest apologies for missing the blog last night.  I thought about it, I had a plan.  But apparently that's as far as I got.  Whooops!

Since the weather seems to be the talk of the day, I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't blog about it.  I mean really, it was 62 in Ohio today.  It's December.  Apparently it was a gift from Mother Nature...just before she lets loose on us since we also have Winter Weather Advisories.

The last models call for 11 inches of snow in the next 48 hours, followed by a "significant" ice storm on Sunday morning.  Really?  This has to be a practical joke.  It's moving weekend.  I'm behind on Christmas shopping and Will is all ready to attend the Bengals game.  It's looking like all of those will be put on hold...hopefully not for long. 

So I'm doing a little sunshine dance, saying an extra prayer and sleeping with my fingers crossed that the meteorologists are wrong.  But if not, we're in for a LONG weekend.  Stay warm and safe everyone!