For not wanting to be there, and not wanting me to take pictures of him I got some really kick ass shots!

I love how this is just a silhouette.

A long time ago Jenni asked me to do a Musical Monday guest post. I finally did one and got it to her. It's all the same artist but that's what I was feeling at the time. I promise that my taste in music is far more varied. Another Musical Monday guest post will prove it!

When I was a little girl Thanksgiving was a big deal. It was a time when all of my Mom's family would gather at her parents farm and give thanks. Everyone would wear their Sunday best. The tables were decorated lovingly by my Grandma. Each setting with it's own little cup of nuts-n-candy corn. She paid so much attention to the details.Those mini-cups of nuts-n-candy were one of my favorite things, along with the sweet tea in beautiful green glasses, and the singing of The Doxology (each year a different family member would start us off..."Praise God from whom all blessings flow..."), my Grandpa's farm weathered,wrinkled hands clasped in prayer and thanks. One of my all time favorite things was watching the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade with my cousins while the adults were busy preparing the meal.

I always dreamed of someday getting to see the parade with my own eyes.

In 2001 that dream came true.

I feel so blessed that I was able to go. We even went to view the balloons on the street as they were being filled.

Seeing Willard Scott up on that turkey was unbelievably cool!!

I forgot my extra roll of film. So I didn't take as many photos as I had planned on.

I'd like to take all 3 of my boys to the parade someday. Only the tween got to go. What makes me sad is that the only thing that really sticks out in his mind about going was his Daddy being mean and grumpy. Daddy doesn't like crowds. 3 million plus and a jam packed subway = a grumpy, stressed out Daddy. Here is where a photo of the grumpy daddy would go nicely if only I were allowed to post his picture on my blog. But I respect his wishes! :-)

I'll share a few of my favorites that are probably really crappy scans, since they are from our first scanner not our current. Ya get what ya get!

Happy Thanksgiving!!! I am so thankful for so much, but I'd like to let you know that I'm thankful for all of the friends that are in my life that I never would have if it weren't for blogging. May you and your families be blessed.

Okay! So I have many addictions. We're just going to focus on the one today. gah!

I love this time of year. It's when the stores start selling all the holiday foods that are only on the shelves for a limited time, just shy of 2 months. Not long enough, in my opinion.

I've had my eye on the lookout since the start of November.

Wednesday November 18th I saw them for the first time in 2009.

My favorite treat.

*sigh*

*swoon*

*drool*

I love these with a passion.

I love them so much that I only share a couple with my boys.

My hubby gets on me about that, and I don't give a fuck!

Momma deserves a lil' somethin', somethin' that's all her own.

And booze doesn't count! That's a given.

I feel no shame about keeping my sweet treats (mostly) to myself.

Oh no!

My shame?

It resides in my freezer, and this year it just might get it's own shelf.

It was ironic. I felt like my calendar was trying to give me a message. At the time I flipped it I had been feeling pretty angry about my hubby's impending departure and my year without him, all alone. Of course not at him. But I was pretty mad. And sad and apprehensive. So when I saw this

It's time I play Macro Monday again! The lovely and talented Lisa is the Momma of this fun weekly photo series. Anyone can join. Any close up will do.

I took these photo's back in August. I had quite a few spider subjects around my house this summer. This is as close as I got to any of them. I SO need a Macro lens!

Hope you enjoy. Click them to make them bigger, unless you are like me and get the heebee geebees when you look at spiders-then don't do it!!

I want to post more. I miss it. I miss you. For DAYS I've tried to write something and for the life of me I can't even string a flippin' bullet post together! I finally decided to just start writing and see what spews forth!!

I have made it 6 days sans hubby. I count the day he left because we parted at 6 AM! For the record 6 AM is too fucking early in the morning to say goodbye to the love of your life! I was an absolute mess standing outside the airport hugging him goodbye, tears and I'm sure some snot were streaming down my face. I HATE that I can not hold that shit in until he's walked away.

People say I'm strong, but I'm not that damn strong. I think that means I just love him too

damn much!!! ;-)

The week leading up to and the day of departure were the hardest for me. Although I did hang our outdoor X-mas lights the afternoon of Day 1. It was 70 degrees out! How could I not?! Even I impressed myself that day!! Day 2 through 6 have been surprisingly tear free. Well, except for yesterday. But I think that was due to weather and frustration with myself for feeling like a complete and utter failure with my kids. I'm so on EDGE. I feel like a huge ball of tension and stress. Any cry of "Mommy!" is more than likely snapped back with a yelling, or screaming

"WHAT?" One of the times I did that and MM said sadly,"I got two of my bonus words correct." I felt like the biggest piece of shit in the whole wide world. OK. That makes me tear up again!

I'm working on this. Change subject!

I have my very own dinner story to tell!! I know I'm no Janet, and if you haven't read her very latest Birthday Dinner post, leave NOW and go read it. Where have you been? Living under a rock? On with mine...

Last night my Mom took us out to eat. Mouth and MM wore their Packer jerseys to school yesterday. MM left his jacket on at the restaurant while Mouth chose to take his off. A couple had to walk past our table to be seated and the guy said, "Go Packers!!"

Mouth replied,"Yeah!(said like DUH!) They won last night(still said with an hint of DUH!)

The guy asked Mouth, "Did you watch the game?"

Mouth answered, "Yes, I did!"(sounded like You bet I did! With a hint of dumbass.)

Laughter all around.

The written word does not translate Mouth speak very well. He is extremely expressive with his annunciation and his tone. Not to mention you are missing his über animated facial expressions too! Gawd he was so adorable during that short exchange! I didn't expect him to answer the stranger, nor do it as comfortably as he did.

That boy's a natural.

Mouth and Middle Man