Thankful Thursday - People are Awesome

I posted yesterday about a collection going on in Fairfax, Virginia to be delivered to those in need from Sandy.  It was so heartwarming and I hope a lot of people take advantage of this time to do something so huge for people so in need.  

While I was trying to figure out screen shots to share the information - I saw something else that just made me so thankful and happy and get all weepy.  My favorite place to go for drinks and dinner, Vino e Formaggio, shared some information on their wall about Thanksgiving:

Doesn't it make you cry?  Its beyond sweet and I can't wait to hear how it goes.  Maybe I can install hidden cameras or something so I can sneak a peak at the happenings while we are doing our own Thanksgiving.

And then my friend Kristin posted this on my wall: 

This was such good news as I wouldn't be able to drive out to Fairfax tomorrow and we really don't have the funds this week to buy extra.  Now I can get into the attic for our extra coats, pull together the clothes I had set aside for donating, and check sale ads for deals on items that are needed.  Yay!  

Source - Liveinthenow.com

So besides being thankful for these people in my life and in my town who want to pull together to help others, I have spent a lot of time this week thinking of how thankful I am for the little things that others might not have had with Hurricane Sandy and then with the Nor'easter Athena. 

I am so thankful for my home, my 75 year old furnace that heats my home, my silly striped socks that keep my feet warm in my boots, my favorite blankets that I keep in each room ready for snuggling.  I am thankful for my old wood floors that don’t ever seem cold on our feet.  I am thankful for my coffee maker that brews my favorite organic, fair trade coffees for me. I am thankful for my not so creepy basement that has a french drain and keeps it from flooding.  I am thankful for neighbors who look out for each other and my great location so we can walk anywhere.  When I was 9 months pregnant with Liam, Tim was out of town and we got the first of two huge snowstorms. We had 2 feet of snow on the ground and I was home with the 2 boys thinking that if I went into labor - I could just walk to the hospital!  

I am thankful for old friends and new friends and knowing that I can count on people if we need anything.  I am thankful that today I got to have lunch with Tim and Liam and Kyle at Kyle's school.  We even stayed for recess and got to see Kyle keeping an eye out for Liam and Liam hold his own with the big kids.  We got to get lots of hugs from Kyle in front of his friends.  And once we got home Liam brought me a teddy bear that was scared of a raccoon and we worked it all out.  I am thankful that the Angry Birds people made a Star Wars edition because it has made my kids so happy from the moment it was downloaded.  I am thankful to be here and to get to enjoy all of this every day.

How to help after Sandy - really really help

Today I read this awesome Facebook status update from some awesome, crazy women I adore. 

I am so not on top of this screen shot stuff but I wanted to get you all the info.  Please help in any way you can!  Something as simple as picking up an extra $10 worth of groceries (things that are ready to eat would probably help most.  We don't know if cooking  is an option).  Coats that you or your kids don't wear (seriously - you know you have some you won't fit in, don't like the color of, don't wear often, is so last year).  Towels (Target and Walmart have surprisingly nice towels that are inexpensive).  Imagine needing diapers or formula or hand soap.  Think of things that you would bring to be comfortable camping:  those facial wipes (I love Simple brand), granola bars, toys and games to keep the kids busy and to keep you all sane.  These people need us.  Please help however you can. 

Check out Rants from Mommyland's awesome blog here.  And enjoy.  You're welcome.  

Thankful Thursday - After Halloween and the Hurricane

Let's start with the most obvious on this dry Thursday afternoon.  I am thankful that my friends and family were largely untouched by Hurricane Sandy.  I was trying to not obsess about the storm but wanted to stay on top of storm coverage and be completely prepared to lose power for several days with 3 kids under the age of 7.  So of course- with all that - obsess I did.  I shopped and shopped to make sure we had battery-powered light sources, dog food, diapers, water (even though we don't lose water when we lose power), boxes and boxes of Cheez-its and Triscuits, and tons of hummus and peanut butter.  Plus fruit and soup and vegetables to saute for wraps and sandwiches.  I watched NBC 4 and checked Twitter every 30 minutes.  I worried about the dog next door who's owner moved the dog in although he and his family haven't moved yet.  This poor dog spent a cold, rainy Monday shivering and curled up in his half doghouse.  I finally called Animal Control after noticing the owner's truck come and go several times throughout the day without taking the animal indoors.  Animal Control came and then the owner came and put the dog in the shed or garage.  I felt like I could breathe again!  I was so relieved that this poor dog wouldn't have as miserable a night as he would have exposed to the elements.  Definitely thankful for the animal control officers who must have some of the hardest jobs ever. 

Poor dog! 

My two younger boys ended up falling asleep early in the evening on Monday so I played Battleship with Kyle and then Go Fish with Star Wars cards.  He creamed me.  I bowed out and asked Tim to take over and Kyle destroyed him in War.  I read to Kyle from The Hobbit at bedtime and gave him a headlamp and flashlight in case the power went out.  I assured him I would wake up and camp out with him if it did.  I tried to relax knowing I had my family at home and that we still had power and no trees on our house.  I had an IPA, texted with some friends and went to bed early.  Tuesday brought us light rain and cooler temperatures but we didn't get snow like some friends in the mountains.  So I spent that day checking Twitter and seeing the devastation north of us.  I checked in with my family and was so thankful that everyone from Richmond to Brooklyn was doing fine and hadn't even lost power.  

We were able to move on from Sandy unlike those north of us.  We sent the boys to school on Wednesday and met at a friend's Wednesday night for a gathering where the parents got to have a beer and the kids got to run around outside before we set out trick-or-treating.   The kids had a blast and were ready to head back home about the same time as me.  Tonight is Cub Scouts and we will be touring the Government Center and learning about the changes in our town from 50 years ago.  

Iron Man, Jango Fett and Peter Pan heading to a Halloween party.  Peter Pan refused to dress up.

Spending 4 days cooped up inside with my boys (with the exception of a great Halloween party on Saturday night) means that there is a little too much TV, a little too much bickering, and too little space.  I should have planned some fun activities for us to do, but Tim was in NYC over the weekend and I was still getting over my strep and some days I just get the bare minimum done.  One thing that I was able to enjoy was Zac's voice!  He was singing so much, reciting songs from You Tube videos that he started watching in preschool and reading books aloud.  He also surprised me on Tuesday by saying "I want to have milk please."  I was so excited I jumped up and hugged him like the maniac mom I am!  Its so exciting to hear him make a sentence without prompting.  And its not even one I ask him to use!  He used it again later asking for peanut butter and I was just the proudest Mom ever.  It makes me realize once again how lucky we are to have the amazing teams he has had at school these past 3 years.  From his bus drivers and aides to his teachers and therapists.  Everyone works so hard for my child each day and I get to enjoy all these little moments because of that.  

And I am also thankful for moments like these: