Miles is REALLY thankful...and so am I

1. I wasn't expecting to be at the top of the list...even though, he makes it clear with his last item that they are not in order of importance. But still, I made SIX appearances on this thankful list. I'm thankful for that. I don't deserve that.

2. Fifty-four items, people. Serious stream of consciousness thankfulness.

3. Brent and I love how much is misspelled. It's adorable.

4. We were surprised by some of the items. Really? Rugby, plastic and crossword puzzles all made the cut? nice.

5. You can click on the images if you want to see the list more clearly.






Here's my quick list of what I'm humbly thankful for...




Totally undeserved. Thank you, Lord.

i like to know what i'm eating

I was looking through recipes when it occurred to me that I don't like recipe titles that include the word "surprise". To me, "surprise" in this context is a euphemism for "you'll never guess what freaky ingredient is in this!!!"

So, when I read Golden Potato Surprise in the Taste of Home mass email dealio, my mind translated it to Potatoes That You Would NOT Eat if You Only Knew the Truth!!!

Incidentally, when I actually looked at it, this recipe did not have any freaky ingredients.

pathetic highs

I guess it doesn't matter if you're job is primarily in the home or corporate or in school. We all have little things that give us a rather pathetic high. Just a moment ago, I thought, Sweet! I'm going to treat myself to a load of sheets and towels! A whole load of laundry, but MUCH less to fold.

seriously. super and lame at the same time.

How about you? What lame thing gives you a minor thrill??

phoebe joy. 11 days old. (which was 11 days ago.)

hello out there (quiet echo) hello out there...(repeat echo even more quietly...)

My Mom called today, following up on letters she wrote to the boys, wondering how they liked them. A friend called and asked the other day, "Was the meal I brought okay?" Last night, my friend Allison called and stated quickly, "Just need a health report."

So, yeah. I have had major communication fail these days.

So, the last post was the day before the FLU--yes the FLU, and maybe THE Flu--hit our home. Wow. Phoebe wasn't even a week old, and we had fevers of 105, puking and lung-convulsing coughs in our home. lovely.

So, yeah. That's where I've been. So far, Brent, Phoebe and I have NOT gotten sick. Jillian still has sniffles and a nasty cough. She's heard everything from, "Cover your cough with your arm," to "Go cough in that room," to "Honey, if Phoebe gets your cough, she'll die." (I don't have a reputation for my tact, k?)

Here's some brain dumpage on one general topic: Changes

1. My hair. A.) What the heck has happened to it? Is it my age? A fourth pregnancy? It's fuzzy and stringy at the same time. It totally requires the use of a flat iron. B.) I'm actually willing to take time to do my hair. Up to this point, I've required THE lowest hair maintenance of ANYONE I know. Seriously. I DON'T OWN A BOTTLE OF HAIRSPRAY. I do have a spray that is used for flat-ironing. And it's getting used. Even with all the newborn/flu stuff going on, taking time for my hair (so that I don't scare the children) has become necessary.

2. Newborn fingernails. While we're on the subject of personal hygiene, I'd like to mention that I trimmed Phoebe's super long nails the day we came home from the hospital. None of this emery board silliness. I think that's just one difference between Jenna2000 and Jenna2009. I'm using nail clippers on my newborn dang it.

3. Before I had the baby, I thought I was nesting because of all that cleaning I was doing. No. I think I'm just a changed woman. I think that having SIX members of our family in a small home has made me a freak about keeping a clean home. There is simply no time, nay...there is NO ROOM for crumbs, mess, dirty dishes, GERMS and so on. In fact, that's another reason it's hard to sit down and write. I could be cleaning right now. so tempting...


4. How many times can I tell you how much I love the boys' new school??? Huge change. I LOVE IT! I NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER thought I'd be satisfied with a school. So glad I was wrong.

5. Change. me not make sentences very good. That's how I feel when I talk to people these days. I left the most awkward voice mail yesterday. Make that (at least) two awkward voice mails. I actually got feedback from one friend that I sounded DRUGGED. nice. I'm not even on ibuprofen, people. I feel like a schmuck that I've dropped the ball and hardly called or facebooked or emailed anyone. But, me not make sentences very good. I'll get better soon. Perhaps when I get a four hour stretch of sleep, okay?

I'll write this quickly (because I'm delusional if I think I'll get it done any other way in the next 48 hours):

I have LOVED getting packages in the mail! Thank you, A & W, Mom and Dad, Carol, Mom #2, Priscilla & Dave and Joy & fam! (I probably missed someone!)

Also, we have LOVED every meal that has been dropped off! Ah-MAZE-ING, people. Delish.

This is not to replace official Thank Yous. I have actual thank you notes I want to send, but in the meantime, just know that we love our gifts and not only have the meals NOURISHED us, they've tasted delish-y-oso!

Ending post abruptly (it's "publish" now or never, friends!!)
pictures coming soon...