Happy Thanksgiving 2020

Thanksgiving was a bit weird this year. Clearly Covid-19 put a kink in our usual holiday plans but we made the best of it. Adding to the holiday dilemmas, Dads birthday was on Thanksgiving this year and because of the virus we had to find other ways to celebrate safely. We all stayed home. 

After having dinners apart from extended family for the first time in years, we met up, masks on, went and wished Papa a happy 80th birthday. We hung out in and out of the garage, lawn chairs about, kids running everywhere and eventually sang him "Happy Birthday." Maybe we didn't adhere to all the CDC recommendations but we tried our best.

It was something we all needed to do today. To remind ourselves why we all had something or someone to be thankful for. Even though things didn't go perfectly,  it was as good as I usually expect things to go. My kids go nuts when they see their cousins, people get anxious and E gets fixated on something, today it was cupcakes, which ended with him getting scolded for poor choices. And this only happened within the first 20 minutes of our being there.

Despite the chaos, I was glad that we could have that family moment. My kids needed it and I think others did too. I know my dad was happy to be surrounded by us all, even if it was at a distance and masked. To me, these masks are now ant act of kindness and love. 

If you did get out with family and friends, I hope that you were able to do it safely. With all that was lost this year, it is my hope that we all did our best to keep things in perspective and realize how fortunate we are to be alive, especially now.

Be grateful, while also being considerate of those around you. We don't live in a bubble, though these days I try my best to. Do your part in helping the nation get through this pandemic. Feel good about yourself through caring for others. 

We are blessed for sure!

With love and dedication anything is possible!

Seven, I can’t believe it!

Lucky Seventh Birthday-🎂🎂👧👦

I want to say that yesterday was an easy day and all went perfect. That there was no fighting, arguing or refereeing. I’d like to tell you that but I can’t. What I can tell you is that my kids had a great day. It was their birthday. They are officially 7 years old. Seven. I can’t believe it.

We have come so far in the last seven years. When they were born, I recall how worried I was for them in the NICU, praying on when I could take them home. Now, I look at them and though I still worry about them, they have come so far, strong and confident kids. 

Together they have taken leaps and bounds, plus a few falls along the way too.  I see how they encourage one another and how they use their “Spidie twin” senses and come to one another for comfort, support or to just check in. To show growth, this was the first time my son didn’t bite into the cake this year before us serving him a slice.

My husband and I are grateful for family and friends that reached out with special messages of love and celebration. Additional thanks to those of you that sent gifts even when we said you didn’t have to. (When I say “we” I mean me because they would never say that.) It made the day all the more special for them. Plus, they made out like bandits this year. COVID-19 birthday guilt I guess. 

No party, no problem. We zoomed family and friends in for cake time. For the kids, it felt like we were all really present. Yes, the singing was out of tune and delayed (Oh wait, that’s typical for us)  but the true meaning of it all was there...a celebration of life. Two lives in this case.

My wish would have been that my parents could have been with us in person. Not going to get many more birthdays with my dad. I hate to say it, to even think it, but it is true. To them, it was like having them in the room, so I guess that counts for something.

You can see the far stare that my son has. He has had some challenging times that he is working through. We all are doing our best to help and love him through it. He may not be smiling as often these days, but I promise, we are doing are absolute best to get to the other side of ALL of this to see him smile regularly again. For now, his sister has his back. Literally. 

Thank you all for you best wishes. It was just what they needed to boost their spirits during this difficult time at home. Please leave me a comment and let me know how you are sharing time with your family. We would love to hear from you. 

I pray you all are staying safe and making the best of this time together.

We are blessed for sure!

With love and dedication anything is possible!