Day by Day

This year Keera received an elf on the shelf.  It sits wherever she puts it and then randomly is in a different spot when she goes to find it.  It is a sneaky little critter.  I guess the elf is watching for Christmas. She was so surprised when she found it in a different spot but now she is mad because it won't talk to her.  Oh boy....

Friday afternoon meant big hugs and kisses to all of our children.  How could you not want to rush home and hug and most precious beings in your life, in light of Friday's events?  We have no control over anything really, just the ability to try to deal with life happenings-the good and the bad.  How could anyone life without faith in a world that can be so harsh and cruel.  Faith that good exists, faith that people are good and trustworthy and faith that beyond what we have here is a world full of peace and kindness. 

Keera turned 8.  I said to Katie that 8 seems closer to 10 and 7 closer to 5, so to me, she is really growing up.  Today, one day after her birthday, she got up and made me breakfast and put out cereal for Connor.  She didn't react negatively to things in the way she has in the past.  If I didn't know better, I would think that her knowing she was 8 made her grow up.  Happy Birthday baby girl!

Connor turned 17 today....I remember the day he was born.  He was a big baby...9 lbs and back then, I don't think I weighed a whole lot more than that.  What a great baby he was....he didn't cry and he smiled all of the time.  I am so proud of who he is! Second milestone....Brendan had jury duty today....the worst situation too....they had him there until 4:45 and then said they didn't have time to finish interviews.  The times I have had it, I have been let go by 1 or so.  It's tough to grow up.

Chinese teachers and students were visiting Wallingford school systems and Connor was chosen as an ambassador to guide the students around. I love how the feds make it sound like other countries spend way more time in school, but according to Connor, they told him they go to school the same amount of time during the day as we do (but 8-12 and then 2-5), and they have two months off in the summer.  The teachers from China said they like the way there is more freedom in the classroom for our teachers.  I am really not into this "we are all behind in education" concept.  Maybe if we could get to the point where we dropped grades and taught kids to think and find solutions to problems, we would no longer be behind.  And what is so bad about not being number one in the world?  Most Americans graduate and go on to enjoy their lives.  If anything we should be tackling the poverty problem in our cities so that students could worry more about learning ...

Brendan and his friends (grew up with on 7th Ridge with) take an annual Christmas picture.  This is the rough draft.  The finished product is in a card.  Ian, Julie, Aaron, Pat, Eric, Brendan and Donny must be taking the picture at this point.  Cool to stay friends that long.

Cousins - minus Bren, who had to go back to work.

I came home about a month ago and there was a new little Christmas house in a box with my name on it.  I could not for the life of me figure out who did it, but I want to thank them.  (I added it to my collection that day...houses go up in November and down in January). It motivated me to try to do a random act of kindness every day in December.  I am like 1 for 4 right now, but I will try to make up for it as the month goes on.  It just makes you feel good when someone thinks about you.  I hope a few weeks from now I have made someone's day somewhere, somehow.

This is a Christmas classic.  Anyone who has not seen this movie, should.  Anyone who has seen this movie should watch it again. Every year I watch it.  I cry every year; I laugh every year and it makes me think different things every year, based on where I am at. It is so realistic in our expectations of people, ourselves, love of family, sibling rivalry, parent-child relationships, societal issues (homosexuality, racism, economic levels). It is as down to earth as it gets.  The actors and actresses are incredible. I love this movie!

Here is what I love about swimming...... 1.  The first plunge into the freezing cold water....knowing it is coming....feeling a sensation of waking up after feeling drowzy on a cold evening......coming up from under the water and swimming so hard and fast to get warm that I am exhilarated, physically, feeling as capable as possible. 2.  Doing the back stroke on my laps back.  With my ears submerged in the water, I can hear sounds muffled, so it is almost like I can imagine heaven is like.  There are still sounds, but everything is softer than how we hear it.  It is so peaceful. 3.  Seeing all different ages and types at the pool.  Sometimes there are elderly, like really elderly and they just keep swimming, just keep swimming.....slow and easy wins the race.  Sometimes there are athletic true swimmers, who amaze me with their swiftness and ability.  Sometimes there are disabled people walking the pool, using little boards and kicking do...

September was energy and I am still living by what I set my goals to be....I am doing yoga and continue to swim at the YMCA 2-3 times a week for 30 minutes each time.  It is so wonderful....another entry. October was my relationship with Bob (because it was our anniversary month).  I did really well I think, but fell back to the easy and lazy ways by the end of the month.  It takes a lot of energy to be in a relationship.....no wonder so many marriages fail.  I guess remembering that underneath it all, if you had it to do over again, you would pick the same person, keeps you on the right path. November was family month (turkey day and they are tied for most important as Bob)....didn't do too well with the goal of not nagging as much (that is a tough one), but did good with the being present goal.  Had a day devoted to each child.  Brendan and Connor still have cashed in on theirs.  They decided they wanted me to get a tattoo with them.  They w...

Did you ever notice how little it takes to make people smile or brighten up?  Did you ever just spend the day saying to people, "Have a nice day"?  When I leave the YMCA pool, after swimming a half an hour, I always try to say to the life guard on duty, "have a nice day".  When I leave the cashier, who has to spend the rest of the day standing and scanning items through the register, dealing with happy people and not so happy people, I try to say, "have a nice day".  It is surprising how good it makes me feel and I think it might make a difference in someone else's day too.  So, "Have a nice day".

It is hard to believe a year ago today we found out that Travis had gone to heaven.  I am not sure how Dannie and Eric have moved on.  Time heals most wounds is true, but the scars usually stay.  Travis was such a sweet kid and a good person.  I know he is looking down and smiling at his family.  Peace to Eric and Dannie.

At work the other day, Brendan's area had the Christmas party for the dementia patients.  He told me that he was dancing to the music behind the counter.  The women workers convinced him to go out and dance with the patients and their families.  He ended up leading a conga line for all of the patients.  He said the families told him how much fun it was.  I imagine that it made the day for some of the elderly dementia patients.  I am so proud of who Brendan is.