The Sweetest Thing Anyone Has Ever Said To Me...

                      "You make my heart feel super happy!"

                          -Allyson, our sweet 2 and a half year old

                                                         

Thanksgiving

Our family had a lovely Thanksgiving. We ended up having a simple meal with just us. This has never happened before. Each child had special jobs to do in preparation, and despite both mine and Neil's and reservations, it worked out just as I dreamed. The kids enthusiastically helped out and actually enjoyed it! And oh how I did too! Neil spent most of the morning with his mum. (She hasn't been well, and it was very important that he was there. I was very glad that he went to share Allyson with her on such an important day.) When he returned with Allyson, he was delighted by the smoothness of it all.

Recently, we've been extremely busy with activities, volunteering, and family illness (on both sides) so Neil and I have been like two ships passing in the wind. I look forward to sharing many more moments like these with our children in the days ahead.


Thank you Ryan, Emily, Zach, Lindsey and Allyson for all that contributed to make our day so special. And Neil, thank you for all that you do daily to make it possible for me to be a mommy to our children. I love you.

Oh Man

You know your day can only get better when you try to fold laundry, dance and scramble eggs at the same time only you lose your balance and as you attempt to recover cause four eggs to swiftly catapult directly into a laundry basket filled with clean clothing.

Happy Monday!

Yep, that is a run on sentence alright!

You know what stinks?

A forgotten bag of potatoes in the way back of a cabinet!

Oh my goodness, I can't believe how much stench is in the air. I need to bake something to cover it up. Even though I immediately transplanted the dripping bag into a trash bag and raced it to the garage, the overwhelming odor is still here.

Please share some of your stinky stories here.

Voila!

I absolutely adore the sounds of summer! With that said, I need to admit that at times it can get a bit nuts around here. However, I discovered a way to get away from it all for...well....a little over 45 seconds.

I swim underwater (or just duck under). It's really quiet down there. That is until your five children discover that you can hold your breath for a really long time and decide to play the game, Guess what I just said. Did you know that "I am a dinosaur," sounds a lot like "I have a canker sore?" when you are under water. Believe me, it does.

Can you tell I'm smiling as I type this...I can't help it.

Happy Birthday Zachary!

I am sorry that I am late with this posting sweet boy... (Yesterday was his special day, but we were so busy! Happily busy!)

Happy Birthday to my energetic, creative, and warm hearted little boy. You light up a room the second you enter it. I love you so much Zachary. You are a beautiful gift from God.

Thinking of my brother

I try not to get too deep here, especially since the title of the blog is On the Brightside. However, this week marks the 30th anniversary of my older brother Kevin's death. I was eight when he died, and to be honest, for the longest time I thought he was away at a camp and would be home again some day. It's funny how a child's mind works? I am mindful of this when dealing with my own children.

Kevin passed away a week before his 11th birthday. He had a brain aneurysm, so it was very sudden. This week, whether I realize it or not, tends to make me extremely heavy hearted. It is amazing how my sub conscious works. What's also peculiar is that my mom and brothers get the same way.

When I was a young girl, I was afraid that I wouldn't make it to 11. I spent two years trying to figure out how to postpone my birthday. (Hmmm, if only I could do that now!) My mom found out and took the three of us to see the doctor that tried to save Kevin's life. He explained that we would be okay. What a great thing to do, even though in my head (no pun intended there) I thought, how do you know that I am okay? You have never looked at my brain? I stopped worrying once I turned 12.

My brother Kevin was a hero. Because of his death my mother found the strength to leave my father (an abusive alcoholic). I know that sounds a bit dramatic, but I honestly believe it. (My mom does too.) My father got even worse after Kevin died, so I am so very grateful for my brother Kevin and to my mom, who saved us all. So I guess there is a bright side after all, huh?


Happy Birthday Kevin...and thanks.