Build Me Up, Buttercup.

Today I am grateful for progress.

Progress on building our swingset. finally.

Let's back track a little bit...when we first bought our house, The Marsh and I were so stoked about having a great big yard for B & G to run around and play on, that we went out and bought a swingset. a very big swingset. We put together the climbing wall attachment. and the mini-sized picinic table. then we got the basic frame put together so the kids could at least use it to swing.

It's kind of hard to tell here from this picture, but to the right of the babes there is only a frame and a basic flat platform up in the air. nothing spectacular. just the basics.

and it's been that way since 2010.

yup. we're procrastinators around here.

but today! PROGRESS!

My awesome brother came over today and helped The Marsh add to the madness. You see that empty platform is actually suppose to be a cape cod style playhouse.

yea. there is a reason why it hasn't been worked on. it's awesome. but just a tad complicated.

However, there are now several more support beams, an entire front wall, and a bay window up on top of that platform. It's not finished yet, there is still all the siding and the entire roof to be put on. but it's definately an improvement. it's actually beginning to look like a playhouse. We paid my brother in pizza and alcohol for his help today. as is expected and the social norm when helping someone put something together. or when helping move.

The babes are definately excited by the progress. and I'm excited at the prospect of getting all of the swingset pieces out of my garage. so it's a win all around. and i'm always grateful for a win.

Thanks for reading!
Lana

Beantown.

Today I am grateful for a very fun weekend.

On Saturday morning The Marsh and I headed out for a 3 hour drive to Boston for a little getaway. It was a beautiful day. and a very enjoyable drive. even though it was a bit windy. The purpose behind our getaway was for my very dear friend David's wedding. and if a wedding isn't something to be grateful for, then I don't know what is.

The wedding was held at The Seaport Hotel in Boston, which is absolutely beautiful. We also stayed there for the night, liking the convenience of walking back to our room at the end of the reception. which just happened to be open bar. much easier than having to keep a designated driver :0) .

We lucked out with our room too. It was  very very nice, a corner room on the 11th floor. Which meant lots of windows.

and now presenting...a window!

The view wasn't super spectacular, but hey, we were in Boston for the night sans babies. It was like a little slice of heaven. The Marsh and I sported some of our finer clothing for the evening and attended the wedding. It was a very nice ceremony. David and Alison were previously married last fall in a small ceremony, so this was an affirmation of sorts for them. The pastor made a lot of jokes about it in good humor. and The Marsh and I enjoyed it because we did the exact same thing, choosing to be married in a small ceremony, then doing it again on a larger scale a year later.

The reception was fun. The Marsh and I had a fabulous time people watching. and we even made it out onto the dance floor a few times. I'm also grateful that I got a chance to share a dance with the groom. we danced to I'm Sexy and I know it. It was perfect.

After the wedding we went back the hotel and the original Buffy The Vampire Slayer movie was on. JACKPOT!

On top of having an amazing night, we then got to see my beautiful best friends Kristy and Christine this morning for brunch. Christine's birthday was on friday, so this was a little birthday get together for her. She absolutely loved the cupcakes I made for her the other night. and now that she has received them I'll tell you what they were. They were Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Bailey's Ganache filling and Bailey's with of Caramel Buttercreme Frosting. They came out very well. and I couldn't be happier.

The Marsh and I enjoyed our little mini vacation so much. It was wonderful to get away, even if only for a night. I'm also so very grateful that The Marsh works so hard so that we can take an overnight trip to Boston without worrying about how it's going to effect our budget for the rest of the month.

I hope that everyone else had a wonderful weekend too. The sunshine was nice, but I'd be grateful if some of this wind died down. jeez.

OH!

We also let Temperence stay out all night while we were gone. I knew he would be miserable if I made him stay in all day, so I took a chance and left food on the porch for him. I'm pleased to say that he managed just fine. but he's now currently curled up on the couch next to me enjoying some love and warmth.

I'm grateful that he made it through the night okay. His mama worried!

Thanks for reading!

Lana

Abracadabra.

Today i am grateful for magic.

Kitchen Magic.

If any of you out there have ever made any new baked good from scratch, i'm sure you know it can be trying. You're never quite sure if something is turning out the way it's suppose to because you've never made it before. There can be alot of guess work. and alot of faith. but I believe that a little bit of magic happens when working in the kitchen.

It's possibly my favorite moment when cooking. When you are looking at something in the mixer or on the stove top and you think "I've totally managed to fuck this up somehow." and then..the magic happens. it all comes together exactly the way it was suppose to. I'm sure this is actually the result of chemistry or physiology or some other science like reason. but I'm gonna go ahead and call it magic.

and I'm very grateful for that moment tonight while I was making some very special treats. I thought the whole thing was going to end in disaster, but alas I prevailed. (thanks in part to my mother in law who drove over to my house at 9:00 because I didn't realize I was out of sour cream)

I'd tell you all what I made, but they are a gift for a dear friend's birthday. I will, however, give you a clue...

Yes. This boozy baker has struck again.

Happy friday everyone. and if any of you are doing any baking, I wish you some kitchen magic.

Thanks for reading!
Lana

safe and sound.

Today I am grateful for another safe flight.

not mine.

but my older sister's.

My sister, her fiance, and my adorable niece all flew out to Washington State this morning to officially meet her new future in-laws. considering we live in New England, this wasn't a little flight. and it was my niece's first flight as well. all the way across the country. my sister informs me that she handled it beautifully, she even managed to sleep the last four hours of the plane ride.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I hate to fly. and knows that I may be a smidge paranoid. So even though I knew with almost my whole being that they were going to be fine, I obviously still worried. I actually started panicking a little bit when it hit 10:00 pm or so and I still hadn't heard from her. I wasn't exactly sure what time she was supposed to be getting in or how long her layover in Texas was, but I felt like I should have heard from her. Our weird sister ESP must have been going off in her head right about the same time because less than two minutes later she texted me to say they had just landed in Washington. and then she called to tell me how well the trip went and how great Theresa (that's my niece) did.

I am so grateful that everything went well. and that they landed all in one piece. I know that supposedly flying is safer than driving. but my mind is literally incapable of accepting that logic. you're flying in a tin can. it's scary. So tonight I send a little prayer of thanks to the god of safe air plane flights and sleep a little bit easier knowing that they are okay.

I, of course, am completely ignoring the fact that I will be worried all over again when they fly back in two days.

Thanks for reading!
Lana

Clorox. How I love thee.

Today I am grateful for Clorox Bleach.

specifically, Clorox Bleach wipes.

Oh How I adore them.

and so is the life of a mother.

I can say this because I remember when these bad boys first came out. and I remember thinking my mom was crazy because she thought they were the greatest things ever. I mean, come on. they're cleaning wipes. nothing to get all choked up about. and then I became a mom too. and now I buy them in bulk....I would say that should speak to my level of adoration for them, but i tend to buy alot of things that way. (note to self: be grateful for bulk.)

anywho. tonight I am grateful for these handy dandy cleaners because my adorable, precious, sweet little babies managed to cover my bathroom floor in all kinds of yuckiness. not once. but twice.

the first time my daughter used "the froggy potty", which is the toddler size potty, to go to the bathroom. and then she decided to be helpful and try to empty it into the big potty all by herself. and it went everywhere. and it wasn't just pee. FML. after getting that all cleaned up and bleached wiped in every nook and cranny, the bathroom was once again good to go. then bedtime happened. and the kids raced to the bathroom while Georgie was screaming "me first! me first!". then she proceeded to take 15 minutes to try and put her "dora" toilet seat on top of the big potty while still standing backwards and not paying attention to what she was doing. I was not so patiently waiting for her to finish up so her brother could use the potty too. and then he gets the idea that he wants to use the froggy potty instead of waiting. I felt like a deer in the headlights in that moment. Like I was staring at something really bad but was helpless to prevent it from happening. upon trying to stand up from said froggy potty (which he is now too big for) he fell alittle sideways and the whole freaking thing tipped. once again covering my floor with grossness. FML. again.

I, of course, remained completely calm and composed through all of this. in a yelling and screaming sort of way. The neighbors may or may not know that my floor was covered in piss. just saying.

and while it totally sucked. i'm so grateful that we have nifty little products like bleach wipes that make clean up that much faster. and easier. thank god. with two toddlers I'll take anything to make my life easier. I'm sure my mother felt the same way with 5 of us running around.

Thanks for reading!
Lana

Little Moments.

Today I am grateful for one single moment.

It wasn't necessarily an overwhelming moment.

It was just a moment.

You see, ever since starting this blog I find myself thinking thoughout the day "what am I grateful for?" sometimes I know right away. and sometimes it comes late at night. sometimes it's overwhelming. and sometimes it's silly. today it was just one quiet little special moment. so ordinary. but then I thought "right now, I am so grateful for this.." and suddenly that moment changed from ordinary to extraordinary.

The babes and I were in the car taking a sunday morning drive up to Sams Club. The Marsh wasn't with us because he was at home trying to catch up on his sleep after working the night shift. Feeling the need for the music to match the quiet, peaceful mood we were all in, I changed the station to the local classical station. which yes, i do have on my pre-set buttons. Mozart was playing. I can't remember what symphony it was right now, but naturally it was beautiful. The babes were content to be quiet and enjoy "the instruments music" as they call it, gently swaying to the music in their car seats. and in the one single moment I knew. This is what I am grateful for.

Driving along in my car listening to Mozart with my two favorite red-heads I felt so blessed. this is what my life was meant to be. Not living it up trying to be Carrie from Sex in the City somewhere. not living perfectly content with dogs whom I pretend to be my children. not partying it up or clubbing every weekend. no. I was meant to be right there. I could feel it.

Don't get me wrong, i enjoy the occasional partying it up still. but I have found a way to balance my life in a way that still allows me to feel young and have fun. but still gives me meaningless but meaningful sunday drives with my children.

and today was exactly the kind of day that I never want to take for granted. recognizing in that moment how perfect it was...and how fleeting it was..well, I'm grateful to have had it. and to hopefully have many many more. I wish everyone out there a perfect moment just like it. and I hope you realize it when it happens.

Thanks for reading!

Lana

ps. We have found the blanket! Success!

She Sleeps.

Tonight I am grateful that she sleeps.

She being Arch Nemesis Numero Uno.

A.K.A. Miss G.

Why yes, I can control you with my cuteness.

Why am I grateful that she is currently passed out down the hall?

because her pink blanket is M.I.A. and she ALWAYS sleeps with her pink blanket. when she wakes up in the morning, she carries it into my bedroom with her to wake me up. she takes it into the living room and watches her first cartoon of the morning with it. She makes forts with it through out the day. she hides under it when she's mad at me for...whatever. are you getting the picture here? It's an extra appendage. She's reached the point where she doesn't need it when she's away from home. But when she's here, in her bed. it's like WWIII when doesn't have her blanket.

and I looked everywhere. and my house isn't that big, people. I even searched all the extra places she likes to hide it. the hall closet. the pantry. the cubboard that holds my pots and pans. and then I asked the dreaded question, "did you take it outside?" and in her teeny tiny little voice she hesitantly said "yes".

Can I tell you a "not so secret" secret. I do not like the dark. at all. in fact, I'm terrified of the freaking dark. but there i was wondering around my very large front yard that is just conveniently surrounded by lots of dark and equally scary woods. not my idea of a good time. and you know the worst part? I didn't even find the thing!

so I officially have given up for the evening. luckily, so has she. I'm hoping maybe in the full daylight it'll turn up. Actually, I'm praying in the full daylight it will turn up. although I'm sure it probably will. it always does. usually in the dumbest most obviously place ever. here's hoping right?

as for now, she's made it through one night without it. I really don't want to face her wrath if we have to go for a night number 2. wish me luck

Thanks for reading!
Lana

Lunch Date.

Today I am grateful for my lunch date.

with my husband.

and it was a suprise date too. cause he's all adorable like that.

Obviously.

Anyway. I was actually having a great day at work. Don't you love days like that. when everything runs smoothly and everyone around you is in a good mood? That was work today. Very 'zen'like. Things are quiet in the office on fridays for the most part. it's usually just the crazies on the phone that fuck the day up. But today was just so peaceful. No crazies. no phones ringing off the hook. no co-workers in bad moods raining on eveyone else's parade. Just a quiet, happy work environment. Trust me, I'm grateful for that too.

and then at 12:03, right as I was thinking that I needed to go and get some lunch, The Marsh called and asked me if I wanted to have lunch with him. because he was cool enough to have the day off. I'd call him a loser for it, but I just got done telling you about what a great day I had at work today. so that would be silly. wouldn't it? Of course, I wanted to have lunch with him. and of course, I wanted him to buy my lunch and bring it to me, so that I didn't have to 1. pay for it myself and 2. drive anywhere to go get it. It made lunch even better. AND he brought me one of Subway's meatball and pepperoni subs. I'm so grateful I married this man. It's the little things, really.

After lunch, sitting back at work, one of my co-workers commented on how cute The Marsh and I were eating lunch together. The Marsh and I were outside eating at the picnic table away from everyone else, but we sat on the same side and occasionally held hands as we talked and ate. feel free to gag a little. we're so cute even my teeth hurt. I thought it was nice of him to comment on how cute we looked and once again I am so grateful to be in such a happy marriage. I love that I get excited about having a 30 minute lunch date with my husband. and I love that he misses me enough during the day to suprise me with a lunch date.

I hope everyone else managed to reach a zen-like state today! If you didn't, have two glasses of wine. It helps. or you know, have two glasses even if you did.

Happy Friday!

Thanks for reading!

Lana

Who You Gonna Call?

Today I am grateful for patience.

again.

except this time I'm not grateful for my patience. I'm grateful for yours.

You see, things around thses parts are little crazy with The Marsh's new schedule. Usually I carve out a little time to write my blog while The Marsh is reading to the babes. But right now everything is upside down and I am doing the whole bedtime routine by myself.

Things were going well. I was on a roll. the babes were in bed, one story down and then i was going to be out the door and at my computer. but then this little lady right here...

looked at me with complete terror in her eyes and said "Mama, don't leave me!"

Why was she terrified? because her older brother has recently discovered this gem..

Ghostbusters!

Oh yes. Ghostbusters, circa 1984. and while I LOVE this movie. and Brey is beginning to love this movie. Miss G isn't feeling the Venkman love. She was so scared last night of the "gargoyles" (thats what they call the dogs Dana and Lewis turn into) she wouldn't let me leave her alone in her room. even though she sleeps in the same bed as her brother. So instead of settling down on my couch and finishing my wine and writing my blog, I was laying in a twin size bed with my sleeping son and my seriously over stimulated daughter. It lasted a long time. and then it was past midnight and all i wanted to do was go to sleep. and I'm a little paranoid too so I ran to bed to avoid being eaten by any gargoyles.

The Marsh's schedule isn't changing again for another few weeks. and I'm hoping to keep posting without fail. but the babes make life a little unpredictable. and I'm grateful in advance for your patience if I miss a post in the future. you know, because I'm keeping my children safe from gargoyles.

Thanks for reading!

Lana

Mushy Mush.

Today I am grateful for Hulu.

seriously.

Have you checked out Hulu yet? If you haven't, you really need too. like, yesterday.

Well, I guess if you are one of those cool people who have cable, or dish tv, or whatever...i guess you don't REALLY have to check it out. but still, you should. Hulu is a website that has soo many tv shows available for viewing the day after they air. I know that alot of individual stations play their shows on their own websites, but Hulu has shows from all different stations available in one place. which is super great for me, because I don't have cable, and have to catch up on all my shows via my computer.

My top runners right now are Bones, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Castle, Dancing with the Stars, GCB, Glee, Grimm, Once Upon a Time and I'm on again off again with The Biggest Loser.

yea. I know. I watch alot of TV.

I'm not apologizing for it.

ever.

and if any of you follows any of those shows, you know they span more than just one station. I like being able to sit down when the kids are asleep or otherwise occupied and just power through a few episodes. all in one place. without having to move from one website to another. and sure, alot of the shows I watch are on ABC, so I guess I could watch them all at one station's website at a time. but i don't like feeling forced into anything. if i wanna watch a show on fox right after catching up on Castle, I'm gonna do it. i'm crazy like that.

I discovered Hulu about a year and a half ago and I have no plans to stop using it anytime soon. and The Marsh is grateful for Hulu because i haven't even so much as mentioned getting cable to him, because I really don't need it. Yes, sometimes on a sunday night i wish i had cable to i could curl up with a glass of wine and watch Once Upon a Time as it's airing. but i don't think that watching it on monday morning (actually it's usually more like wednesday by the time i get to it) with a cup of coffee is so bad. it saves The Marsh money, which he is always grateful for. and it keeps him from using the "B" word with me. you know, Budget. and anytime he isn't using the word 'budget' is a time that I am grateful for.

Thanks for reading!
Lana

Hot. Hot. Hot.

Today I am grateful for ceiling fans.

more specifically, the one in my bedroom.

.
.
.
.
Let me just back this up by saying that I absolutely hate ceiling fans. UGLY.

oh sure, you can buy very pretty ones. but the ones that came with my 1994 ranch? not so much. The very first thing I wanted to do was tear it down. but then I spent my first night in the house. in june. and I realized just how amazing the ceiling fan was.

You see this little man?

adorable right?

Well this little dude completely changed all of my body chemistry when I was pregnant with him. I became hot. all the time. and I thought it was fine. I could deal. It's only a few months of pregnancy right? HA! Now my body temperature feels like it runs 10 degrees higher than everyone elses. and it's the worst at night when I am trying to sleep.

Now, I sleep with my fan on it the winter. so after enjoying this nice 70 degree weather today, my house is almost 80 degrees. It makes me a cranky bitch. justalittlebit.

So tonight I am so grateful for our ugly ceiling fan and the very nice breeze it will be blowing down on me as I attempt to sleep in this gross, hot weather. In about 2 months or so, I'll also be grateful for my AC. and be wishing that it was only 70 degrees again.

Thanks for reading!

Lana

REM.

Today I am grateful for sleep.

or I guess I should say better sleep. hopefully.

I haven't actually experienced it yet. but i'm seriously hoping for some better sleep tonight.

The last 3 nights, The Marsh and I have been on seperate sleeping schedules. I'm "sleeping" at night. and he's sleeping during the day. which completely sucks. because i hate sleeping without him. and three nights is the longest in the more than 5 years we've been together, that we haven't slept in the same bed at the same time.

and I'm exhausted.

I guess I could be more tired. My sister was here this weekend, so she slept in bed with me so i didn't feel quite so alone. but it's just not the same. I miss The Marsh. I'm used to him being there. I've slept next to him almost every single day of my adult life. I mean, sure, there have been other nights when we've been on opposite schedules, but i've never allowed myself to get used to it. I've never had to. because it's never more then one night. I can go one night without sleep. I'll just catch up the following night....

that doesn't work out quite so well when it's three nights in a row.

BUT! tonight, we're back in sync. and all is right in the world. and when I crawl into bed, I know that he'll be there too. I'm not a snuggler at all, so I'm not all crazy about missing out on my "spooning" time. I just like knowing he's there. hearing his breathing. I also keep him on the side closest to the door, you know, in case anything crazy comes runnning in. he can deal with it. not me.

and The Marsh being back on the same sleep schedule couldn't have come at a more perfect time. I have to work tomorrow. and one more night sans The Marsh would have resulted in the following....

I need to call in tired....

and considering the only reason I'm working tomorrow is to cover for TWO people already being out of the office...well, I don't think calling in tired would have gone over so well.

so here's hoping for a few solid hours of REM.

and I'm not talking about the rock band from Georgia either.

Thanks for reading!

Lana

Pyromaniac.

Today I am grateful for fire.

Ok, so I'm not actually grateful for fire. but I thought it might be fun to say I was.

although it kind of makes me sound like a pyromaniac.....

there are worst things to be called I guess.

moving along. per usual.

What I'm actually grateful for is the socialness (yes, I am making that a word) that comes with a campfire. I mean, who doesn't love a campfire? I'm seriously not an "outdoor" kind of girl. My sister and I have a running joke that my idea of camping is a three star hotel. but I love campfires.

or maybe I'll call them yard fires. is it still a campfire if it's not at camp?

Wow. get to the freaking point, right? WELL! Tonight was the first camp fire of the spring/summer/fall season at our house. YAY! My oldest sister is spending the weekend at my house and my brother came over as well. We grilled up some hot dogs for dinner, then got the fire started. A couple of lawn chairs. my ihome for some music. a few blankets. It was nice.

I love that after all the years of trying to find the balance between friendship and utter hatred (like most typical siblings growing up) we've all settled into a very comfortable friendship. My siblings are my closest friends. I have the most fun with them. and laugh so hard with them. or you know, at them. I'm grateful that my mother, who was an only child, decided that she never wanted her children to experience that kind of loneliness. She assured us friends for life.

all aboard the crazy train...

and nothing is more fun than sitting around a campfire all together. especially when my brother, who is not a little man, flips his shit because a spider is crawling on his arm. I'm sorry to say I missed it. but my sister assures me it was hilarious.

So tonight I'm grateful to have so many siblings. whom I love so very dearly. and I'm grateful for the campfire. for giving us yet another excuse to get together.

and maybe be pyromaniacs.

Thanks for reading!
Lana

Round 4.

Today I am grateful.

I'm grateful that my father-in-law in still doing well.

I'm grateful that even though he's lost quite a bit of weight, he's still hanging in there like a champ.

I'm grateful that after two months of blogging about being grateful for life, because my father-in-law was so sick, I don't have any bad news to report.

He's recently completed his fouth round of chemo. his fourth! I can't even begin to imagine going through one round. and he's done four. He's also more than halfway done. because he was only scheduled to do six. I'm not quite sure what happens then, Scans, most likely. re-evaluate and see where we are from there. I'm praying for good news. i would appreciate it if you prayed for good news too.

and this isn't me getting all Jesus on you. you can pray to the macaroni noodle god if it floats your boat. just please keep him in mind.

and I'm grateful that even though the odds seem to keep being stacked against him, he keeps fighting. for his kids. and mine.

I'm grateful for every extra day. because things happen all the time. to people who aren't sick. or who haven't been sick. My mother's cousin just recently had a stroke. She's my mom's age, which is 34...PLUS or minus 10 years. and she isn't doing well. its incredibly sad. and all I can think is how grateful I am that it wasn't my mom. and that no matter what the odds, so far, it hasn't been The Marsh's dad.

anyway. super depressing, huh? Geez.

Sorry. I'm also grateful for wine. that's nice and cheery right? (ignore the fact that alcohol may or may not be a depressant.)

and really, this blog was more about happiness than sadness. My father-in-law is kicking chemo's ass. So yea, I'm grateful. as always..

Thanks for reading!
Lana

Back in Business.

Today I am grateful to have my computer back.

and completely functioning.

YAY!!!!

My mom and dad fixed it for me. because they are much better at the whole "computer" thing than The Marsh and I are.

Yesterday The Marsh and I finally gave up and dropped the computer off at their house knowing they could probably fix it for us. and they did. even if it meant doing a complete restore. so everything on my computer was wiped off. blech. But my dad was super awesome and uploaded all the windows updates on to it for me so I didn't have to suffer through all that. (or somehow manage to fuck up the computer again before it even had a chance.)

So here's a big THANK YOU!!!! to my Momma and Dad. for saving me again. you know, like you do.

Yea. We're the coolest parents. Ever.

and I've already caught up on my shows.

Alana -1, Universe -0.

Thanks for reading!
Lana

meh.

Ever have one of those days that it seems impossible to be grateful for something?

For instance....

The Marsh is working another new work schedule. for almost 6 weeks. and I HATE it. It is, however, a means to an end. so I will endure. but I still hate it.

and my computer is still fucked. The Marsh hasn't had time to fix it. and today he started talking to me about what needed to be saved to the external hard drive. like he expected me to do it. I'm not quite sure it's possible to do more damage. but I bet I would. I'm not in favor of this. at all. and I'm still pissed that I am stuck in one freaking place by an ethernet cord. no matter how grateful I am to actually have the internet back. i wanna take my freaking computer into another room. and can't. FUCK.

AND my living room looks like the easter bunny walked in and threw a hand grenade. toys everywhere. candy everywhere. it's driving me crazy!

BUT. I'm grateful that because of this new schedule, The Marsh will have the time off he needs at the end of the month. and I'm grateful that even though I am stuck in one fucking place, I at least can still use my computer. for the most part. ahem. and no matter what my house looks like, I'm grateful my children have people in their life who love them so much that they shower them in presents during special holidays. or birthdays. or you know, because it's Wednesday.

So I'll keep trying to take the good with the bad. and be grateful that nothing has happened in this life to make me so jaded that I cannot accomplish that.

Thanks for reading!

Lana

Happy Easter.

Today I am grateful for Easter.

B & G say Happy Easter Everyone! (aren't they the cutest little things you've ever seen?)

Today was a wonderful day filled with fun and family. and really, that's what Easter is about.

Ok, so I guess there is some bit about Jesus in there too...but it's hard to celebrate Jesus when your babies just want to celebrate the Easter Bunny.

Moving along.

I spent the day with my ENTIRE family today. It was wonderful. It didn't happen all together or anything. The Marsh had to work all day so My older sister, Steph, and her daughter joined the babes and me for a car ride to our grandmother's farm. We met up with my parents and the rest of my siblings there. My little cousin Jess was there too! She's adorable. I don't get to see her often enough, so it was a nice little visit. The children, however, were only concerned with one thing.

Just riding this horse bareback, Mom, no biggie.

The Horses.

Well the girls anyway. All my son was concerned about was making sure he found more easter eggs than the girls. Leave no egg left behind. that was his motto.

After a nice little visit with my family, we headed home. Soon enough The Marsh was finally home as well and we gave the kids their Easter presents. they were very excited. it was adorable. I tell you what, this age may be challenging, but I'm certainly going to miss it. They're so fun during holidays right now, they get so excited about everything. you can't help but be happy. and I'm always down with being happy.

After giving the babes their stuff we headed over to my in-laws house for dinner and for the babes to get MORE presents. They certainly cleaned up this Easter. Tonight while putting G to bed she got all excited and said that Christmas was coming and Santa was going to bring her presents. she's an optimist. Dinner with my in-laws is always nice. and after the rough beginning to the year, I'm grateful for another Easter without any empty seats.

I hope everyone else had a wonderful Easter too!

Oh, and I'm grateful for mashed potatoes. and if you're not, we're no longer on speaking terms.

Thanks for reading!

Lana

Crashed.

Hi.

anybody miss me?

yea. sorry about the delay.

My laptop is pretty much FUCKED. and I was without blogging powers for a few days.

The Marsh is supposed to be fixing it for me. unfortunately, he always works. so he hasn't had a moment to get it done yet. However, lucky for me, I can access the internet with an ethernet cable. I'm still severely limited in what i can do on my computer, but hey, at least i can get on the internet again. I thought I was gonna go into withdrawals.

So I'm grateful today that I can update. YAY! I'm grateful that, even though I am chained to this couch and all of the freedom that I have been brought with the installation of wi-fi in my house is gone, I can still check my facebook. and pintrest. and the blogs i follow.

What am I ungrateful for? That this freaking happened the week both Bones and Glee came back from their winter breaks. and my computer isn't letting my have any kind of access to videos. so I still haven't seen them. not to mention the other shows I watch on a regular basis. I have no idea how Katherine did on Dancing with the Stars!

Well played, Universe. Well, Played.

Anyway, I hoping that this computer thing will be cleared up sooner than later. But if for some reason there isn't a new post up for the day, please know that I would be here if I could. and that I am still finding reasons to be grateful every single day. even if I can't share them with you all. Who know, maybe you're grateful for that?

Thanks for reading!
Lana