Loss

This has been a tough week. Work is crazy, my schedule is a nightmare, I'm exhausted, I haven't had any sugar since February 1 and Diet Coke in a week- but that's ok, I'm not complaining.

I am thankful.

One of my co-workers died unexpectedly this week. She was 33 years old and had a 4 week old son. I didn't know her well but we had been involved in some projects together in recent months. In the short time that I did know her I learned a lot about her.

She loved her husband.
She loved her family.
She was so excited about having a baby.
She was so thrilled to be having a son.
She was so good at her job.
She had a great sense of humor.
She had a whole life ahead of her.

I can't stop thinking about her and how unfair it is that she's not going to be able to see her son grow up and to be his mom. And how sad that this baby won't know the woman who gave him life, who wanted him so much and who such hopes and dreams for him- for all of them.

And as I pray for strength for her family, I say prayers of thanksgiving for mine- and prayers of hope for all of us.

Pull Up Your Pants!

Is anyone else dying to reach through their TV's and pull up the pants of every US Team Member in the Men's Halfpipe semi-finals??

I get it- they're cool......but still.

Planning Ahead

I got an e-mail yesterday from Jess recounting some "car talk" with her 5 year old.

Enjoy!

******
Here’s the conversation in the car yesterday:

S: Mommy, did Cooper turn 8 yet?

Me: No, Cooper’s birthday is in June like yours.

S: What day of the week is it?

Me: I have no idea. I don’t have a calendar with me.

S: Can you call his mom and ask?

Me: Babe, his mommy probably doesn’t even know that now. Why do you need to know?

S: I don’t want to forget to wish him a Happy Birthday.

Me: It’s 4 months away…you have plenty of time.

S: I was just planning ahead.

*****

How great is that?

The cuteness behind the planning? Here's a shot of S and Cooper from this summer.



And not to be out-cuted....

Meet S's little brother P.
Can you even stand it??

The lesson in all of this?
A little planning ahead never hurt anyone.

Go forth & plan!

and they're always glad you came....

Cooper and I went to see my parents for a few days. We didn't have school/work today but Jon did and he graciously said that he wouldn't mind a bit if we weren't together on Valentine's Day.

He's all romance that one!

Anywhoo- the visit to my parents was a slice of heaven. Sometimes you just need your mom to make everything in the world ok. It's nice to be home- the home I grew up in, not the home that's mine now.

In my growing up home there is no stress, the thermometer is set at 70, everything feels familiar, my mom makes the best meatloaf ever, I laugh, enjoy shopping tax free, sleep in, rummage through memories in the attic, make everything from scratch and there is time for grandparents to spoil both of us.

What could be better?
Not much!

On the drive back home I got this message......

Not sure what time you're coming home but be careful around the kitchen. I spilled a bunch of olive oil although I think I got it all up it may be slick in a few places. Gypsy also has burrs all over her....I've been working a little at a time to get them off but she still has quite a few and she smells like river mud.
Hope your little trip was fun and I'll sure be glad to have you all home.

And poof.
I'm back in the land of reality.

Hope you have a good week (or at least one free of olive oil on the kitchen floor and burrs on your dog!)

Happy Heart Day!!

Hope you're spending your Valentine's Day with someone or something SWEET!!



Enjoy the day-

Thankful Thursday

It feels like forever ago that we were here...



But I'm so thankful that we were.
Thankful for the change, for the sun, for the ability to go, for the time we had, for the laughs, for the fun, for the pure happiness of the day.

We've also had more of this....



And while I can't say that I'm thankful for the snow, I am thankful for a few things about it.
Thankful that we never lost power during the storm, that I have flexibility to work from home when school is canceled or delayed, that my hubby is obsessed with shoveling the walk, that I had all of the ingredients for a yummy bean soup, that we are all warm and dry and safe.

I'm looking forward to the weekend...the end to a week that was much too long and pretty stressful...but that I am thankful for none the less.

The Trip

School was canceled on Friday.
So we hopped in the car and headed south!

This was the view for more than 300 miles-


And then we saw this!!


Although outside was miserable....inside, everyone was well behaved.


When we finally stopped for the night, this was the view-


Pure, bliss!!!
Sun, warmth and best of all NO SNOW!!!

We stayed with friends of Jon's and had a fabulous time.
And in the morning- we headed here.


Jon and I hadn't been since we were kids.
Cooper had only heard about it on tv or from friends.


Even Gypsy got into the spirit!


We could hardly wait to get inside....


And when we did, we had such fun!




The pure joy on his face was worth every mile we drove....


And as the day came to an end, we walked away from the magic.


It was a weekend we'll never forget!!

Thankful Thursday

They've started....the tear jerker commercials for the Olympics. And they get me every time. EVERY TIME.

Like this one- about 2 Janes...

I can't help it. It's who I am.
I'm a sap. And a sucker for a touching moment.
And I'm thankful...thankful for moments that are touching- that make me smile, or cry, or laugh, or think, or rejoice, or sigh, or reflect.

I had a moment that made me do most of those this morning.

The weather forecast is calling for snow. Lots of it- maybe.
We're on the line.
The line between a few inches and a few feet.

But that may not matter-
Because this morning, Jon got out of the shower and said
"Hey, if they cancel school tomorrow....we're going to Florida."

And the thing is- he's completely serious.

And in that moment, I wanted to run over and throw my arms around him. Instead, I burst out laughing, silently rejoiced and said-

Ok, sounds like a plan.

Because it is.
And I'm so thankful- for our moments, for his spontaneity, for him!!

Sugar.....less. It's sad!!

Today is day 3 of my quest to stop eating sweets in February.
So far, I've been successful.

Things like this don't help-



Have you ever been visited Bakerella? You should.
I stalk her. And I drool over things that she makes because they are so fantastic.

FROSTING SHOTS????
STOP.THE.MADNESS.

Bakerella participated in something called Sugar Coma. At Sugar Coma you get to eat Frosting Shots.
And lots of other AMAZING things.
Sugar Coma is what I'm dreaming of right now.

Instead, I'm in sugar withdrawal.
And I'm DYING.

Only 25 more days to go.
Do you have any words of encouragement? I need them!