The Awesomeness of My Parents

(Yes 2 posts today...I'm having a busy brain day and it needs to be released) With every life event there is a lesson to be learned. I feel very strongly in that. I've always known that my parents were great, but I think I really took that for granted. My parents are not just great, they are AWESOME! They would bend over backward for any of us. I have always been thankful for them, but I am even more thankful for them today than every before. They have raised three great girls who have all branched out and started their own chapters in the book of life. My Dad - where do I start with him...Did I mention he is awesome? I have always had a very special bond with my dad. I was the athlete and since my mom and dad had no boys, my dad and I spent a lot of time together. We are exactly 30 years apart in age and 2 years ago our family threw us a surprise 60/30 Birthday Party! It was great and I could never imagine celebrating with anyone else. He's stubborn and has a temper - I get that from him. He's clean and particular (I only like big paperclips, can't stand the small ones and am really particular about the paper I write on, the pens I use and highlighters...no comments please) - I get that from him. He likes popcorn, sugar and soda - I get that from him. He puts everyone else before him - I get that from him. I could go on and on. The thought of life without him is traumatizing to me, but I try not to think about it. He's a great Dad! My Mom - Growing up my Mom and I always got along, but have grown much much closer in my adult years. She has been a very strong sense of reason for me, especially as of late and I appreciate her even more for that. She loves to read books and magazines - I get that from her. She loves Target - I get that from her!!! She loves girly movies - I get that from her and love watching them with her. She's likes to make jewelry, loves CPK and Pizza Hut - I definitely get that from her. She's thoughtful - I hope to be like her. Growing up I can always remember my Mom's little notes. In my book bag, lunch, anywhere where she knew I would find them and they just brightened my day. I definitely get that from her. My husband gets little notes and cards from me all the time. I love to do it. It feels good to make someones day. The thought of life without my Mom is devastating, but I try not to think about that either. She's wonderful. Thanks Mom & Dad for setting such a great example of what it truly is to be a parent. If only every child were as lucky to have you as we are! I love you, The Middle One

When Life Gives You Lemons...

Family.drama.on.Christmas...yep, it's happening and unfortunately to my family. It's draining, emotional and heartwrenching. After much anger and devastation over the situation I am searching for the positive in all of this, as I feel no matter what you can find a positive out of most anything. Christmas should be an exciting time filled with family, laughter and gooooood food, amongst so many other things. I have always loved Christmas and all of the fun events leading up to it - christmas lights, Rudolph, Frosty, decorating the house, making gingerbreads and so much more! I still get excited when I go to bed on Christmas Eve and I'm 32. There is still a lot of excited Christmas morning child running through my blood. And I am so excited to be a Mom on Christmas morning. Each year it will get better and better. My husband, on the other hand, does not like Christmas. He is not a big fan of the holiday season and this is the first year I have truly understood why. I found a quote that is very fitting and sent it to my husband who is having the roughest time of all of us. “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.” I hope you find the Merry in your Christmas!

Da and Da and Santa

Mia's vocabulary is getting stronger and stronger each day. It's amazing to watch her learn. She can identify a lot of things around the house: clock, lamp, dog, TV, tree, light, fan, and so many more. She recognizes so many objects and ideas. Give Momma a huggie, she will and follow it with an awwww....., what does a cat say....eow.....Old MacDonald had a farm....eieiooo (we normally do that part together). But everything goes by the same name...da!...and I love it. All night long, it's da...da...da...da as she points to the object. Our poor dogs, who now get very little of our attention, will bark a lot and play with each other to entertain themselves and in an attempt to get our attention, a pet, a treat or something. I think we say No and yell at them more than we think because Mia has started mimicking us when it gets really loud (the dogs, not us LOL). She will stand there and point and shake her arm up and down and yell No or some other unidentified noise. It's too funny! On a separate note, tonight is Mia's first official picture with Santa. We're heading up to Chesterfield Mall after work. She'll be all ready with her Christmas outfit on (including tutu). I just hope she wants to sit on the Jolly Ole' Man's lap. We practiced at a Christmas party a few weeks back with her cousins and let's just say she was fine, but Santa almost dropped her. I think three kids on his lap was one too many. Anyway the picture should be sent to Ellen because it's hilarious! It would be a great addition to her Bad Santa photos - www.ellentv.com. Assuming we don't have to pay $100 to buy a copy of the picture and/or I can scan it, I will post it tonight or tomorrow. Happy Day Before Friday and The Last 5 Day Work Week For Two Weeks (but who's counting...)

Wordless Wednesday

I'm kind of feeling like this today...

Annoyed

I'm am very easily annoyed by people who are not good communicators, especially at work. This is not a difficult task or something that is hard to understand. Should you need something from me that you need me to get for you discreetly, gather all of your thoughts and tell me everything at once. Don't ask me to get something for you, I then deliver and then you want me to go after more information. News flash...that is not being discreet. I work with two brokers (one is the building owner) on the property I manage. They are both heavily involved in our new deals, but they do not communicate well with one another. They often have me do the dirty work for them, which I'm used to and on most days I do not mind. What I do mind is when they do not communicate well with one another and have me running around in circles for them to get the answer to their need at no benefit to me. I am more than willing to help, but let's stop wasting so much time. There is a lot of wasted time in real estate; a lot of it is a BIG game. I don't like to wait or dilly dally, let's just get down to business. I am also annoyed by people who call me just to point out that I have an alternative schedule that they do not. I don't have time for your attempted guilt trip or pity party. I work 7:30 am - 4:00 pm and seldom take a lunch. It is not my fault that people choose to wait until the very last 15 minutes of my day to call me for things they need. It is not my fault that people don't start working until 9 or 10 in the morning and therefore have to work into the early evening to get their work done. If it has to wait, it has to wait. I have other priorities and responsibilities as a Mother and Wife that I have to attend to when I leave work. I've been working this schedule for a year, if you are not used to it by now that is your inefficiency as a time manager, not mine. I get my work done on my schedule unless it is an emergency. If you need me to do something for you, I would be happy to do so, between 7:30 am and 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday, advance notice appreciated. Venting Session Over....have a wonderful Tuesday!

That's All

I'm getting my hair did Monday (thank god because the root situation I have going on right now is not good) and I'm going to shop for a new camera tonight and it's FRIDAY...that's all. Have a great weekend! Make sure to take the time to catch your breath and do a little something for yourself. Who else is excited about waking up on their own and not the alarm tomorrow morning?!!!

Reason #1,451 why I love my Mom...

Back in 2007, my mom sent me an email with a very important message accompanied by a picture from one of our favorite movies. I have kept that email and every once in a blue moon I will open it, read it and laugh. It's the little things that make her the best Mom. Here is what her email said: Today's Message of the Day is: Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you smile. Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance.... And here is the picture that accompanied it:

Love you Mom!

Now it's your turn to share. What do you love most about your Mom?

Yep....

She's just that cute...And even cuter here... And don't you just want to squeeze her cheeks and give her hugs and kisses?

Happy Wednesday!