I'm thankful in December...

Here we are again...at my monthly "I'm annoyed, yet thankful" list. Here goes nothing:

• I'm annoyed that the Christmas season flies by so fast! Especially with a late Thanksgiving this year, it seems like we just put up our tree, and we're less than two weeks from Christmas. It's so fast! Yet, I'm thankful that the reason it's flying by, is that we're enjoying the hustle and bustle of this season, and that we're busy, busy!
• I'm annoyed that I've been so swamped with work that I've barely had time to do my Christmas shopping. Yet, I'm thankful that all the money I'm making is now in the bank account, and so I CAN freely go Christmas shopping!
• I'm annoyed that it's so warm out! What is that about? I mean, we do live at the beach, so there is no chance of a white Christmas, but seriously. . . is a little "sweater weather" too much to ask for? But, I'm thankful that the girls can be busy playing outside, and can (warmly) burn off some of the Christmas sugar rush by running around. They love it, so I guess so should I!
• I'm annoyed that my sweet Gracyn just celebrated her SEVENTH birthday last week. I totally cannot believe that I have a seven year old baby! I don't know why, but seven just seems so big. It seems like just yesterday she was born. . . but, I'm so, so, so thankful that she's had seven healthy, happy years with us. She's such a blessing, and is already such a little lady. She's smart, and funny, and is definitely full of her own little personality. My life was forever changed the moment she was born. I'm thankful that for the past seven years, I've been completely blessed to be her mom!
• I'm annoyed that the economy is still in the toilet, and that we're constantly worried about Dow's job. But, I'm totally thankful that in this economy Dow still has a job and a paycheck! And, although it's very stressful at times, it's a job he loves.
• I'm annoyed that Miss Maggie's favorite past time is destroying everything in sight! She loves the tree, the Christmas cards, the presents, and anything else that she can see...she doesn't just love to look at it, oh no! She loves to tear it into little tiny pieces (which she then tries to eat!) Okay...now what's the thankful part of this one? Hmmm...this one is tough! I guess that I'm thankful that she's such a curious and busy little baby? And that when she's sitting there with wrapping paper on her head and hanging out of her mouth, she's just so darn cute?
• I'm annoyed that my washing machine keeps eating socks! I know that this seems silly, but it's so annoying! I mean, really...where are they going? The girls wear knee socks with their school uniform, and I can't do one load of white laundry without ending up with three missing socks. I've searched the girl's room, in the bottom of the laundry basket, the lint filter in the dryer, under the washing machine...everywhere! They are no where to be found. Maybe one day, I'll find a huge pile of white socks somewhere. But, I'm thankful that white socks are cheap, and readily available at Target (don't they have everything at Target???) And, that they are so, so cute on the girls...there is nothing cuter than my little monkeys in their little plaid school jumpers and knee socks!
• I'm annoyed that I haven't read a book (or magazine for that matter) in months! I just don't have the time to sit down for any length of time to do anything. And, if I do, Maggie is busy undecorating the tree (see above!). But, I'm thankful that having no free time means that I'm busy living life and being busy with the things that matter...spending time with my family and friends, and making memories that last. I know that reading is important, and it's something that I really love to do, but I just don't think that on my death bed I'm going to be saying, "Man! I sure do wish I'd finished that last novel or read the latest issue of People!"
• I'm annoyed that every time we get ready to decorate something with lights (trees, wreaths, garland, etc) half of the lights seem to be out. I think that our attic has a force field that automatically kills lights as soon as they enter the area. But, I'm thankful that my "Bob-the-Builder" husband makes it his personal mission to find the blown bulb and fix it, pronto, no matter what it takes. I'm also thankful for the little red "light checker" gun that some friends turned us on to (you can get it at Target, too!). It super nifty, and lights the strand so that you can see which bulb is out...too cool. Dow is a big fan!
• I'm annoyed that for so many people, Christmas is just about Santa and gifts. But, I'm thankful that for us, it's about so much more! Not only is it one of the greatest celebrations for Christians, as it's the celebration of the birth of our Savior. But it's also such a season of love, good will, peace, and happiness. There is no other moment the entire year for me that is filled with such well being, and such a feeling of wholeness and happiness and thankfulness than at the moment the candles are lit at our Christmas Eve service. To stand there, surrounded by my family and friends, in candlelight, singing "Silent Night," is to truly be at peace. . . no matter what else is going on in the world.

So, I guess this month, my "Annoyed, yet Thankful List" has taught me to appreciate this busy time of year, and all that it entails. But, make sure to take time for your own "Silent Night" wherever that may be. Merry, merry Christmas!

I'm thankful...in November.

Okay...I promised myself that I would try and do this once a month, so here's the November edition of my top ten most annoyed/thankful list.

• I'm annoyed that the fall is so crazy busy and flying by, but I'm thankful that it means that the Christmas season is on it's way! The time between Thanksgiving and New Years is by far my most favorite time of the year. . .I love it all! The cool weather, parties, food, friends, family, the church services, the lights, the decorations, the music, the fires! I just love it! I am the cheesy Christmas girl. . . I even have a "holiday" play list on my ipod, and it will be playing non-stop from Thanksgiving on!

• I'm annoyed that the Dawgs lost so miserably in the Ga/Fla game . . .but I'm so thankful that I am not a Florida fan and am not forced to wear a hideous blue and orange combo on a regular basis (or jean shorts for that matter!) If you do happen to be a Florida fan, I apologize. But you have to admit that your color combo is awful!

• I'm annoyed that I'm so busy these days, and always feel tired and worn out. . . but I'm sooooo thankful that I have my new one-cup coffee maker and can drink a great cup of coffee when I need a little pick-me-up! I know that it's silly, but it makes me so happy to smell my little cup of happiness brewing!

• I'm annoyed that I still have 20 pounds of baby weight to lose . . . but I'm so very thankful for the little princess who put that weight on me! Maggie is just so precious . . . I'd take a flabby behind any day to be able to see that smile! And, I'm thankful that the doctor finally figured out my thyroid problem and that I'm slowly but surely losing it!

• I'm annoyed that my hair is starting to go gray. . . YIKES! But, I'm thankful that I just found a really great color that looks very natural, and that I can do myself, and it makes my hair look really healthy and shiny (a nice little bonus!)

• I'm annoyed that my dog is shedding like mad, and that there is dog hair everywhere, no matter how often I vacuum. But, I'm thankful for his unconditional love for me, his wagging tail every time I even look his way, his eyes that are just full of puppy love, and the fact that he is the sweetest, most gentle lab you've ever met! Maggie loves to climb all over him, pull his ears, sit on him, pull his tail. . . and Bogie just lays there and lets her. Bless his poor, shedding doggie heart!

• I'm annoyed that some women are so jealous, petty, mean, shallow, gossipy and silly. But I'm so thankful that most of the ladies I know are brave, honest, smart, loving, gentle, beautiful, funny, sassy, wonderful people. And, I'm especially thankful that my girls are surrounded by these women who we love and who love them, and that they can see, every day, what it really means to be a lady.

• I'm annoyed that Maggie seems to think that 6 am (or earlier!) is the best time to wake up in the morning! (Hence the reference to the coffee maker above!) But, I'm thankful that every single morning when I go in her room, she's standing in her bed, and as soon as she sees me, she gets a big smile on her face, jumps up and down, and holds her arms out to me. Who wouldn't want to wake up to that every morning?

• I'm annoyed that I'm working on my Christmas card list (already!) and that it keeps growing and growing. . . I will be making and addressing cards for weeks! But, I'm thankful that it means that we have even more people who are important to us and who we want to make sure we wish a very "merry Christmas" even if we don't get to see them. And, I'm thankful that we will get so many great cards! It's so fun for me and the girls to go to the mailbox every day during the Christmas season and see who's cute card and who's smiling face we will see in the next envelope. It's part of the reason that I love Christmas so much!

• I'm annoyed that Dow and I never seem to have time for romance, or a date night, or even a private conversation for that matter! But, I'm thankful that after twelve years of being together, we still want to spend time alone and to be romantic. He's still my most favorite person in the world, and who (if I had time to have a date!) I'd want it to be with. And that is the most romantic thing of all. . .

So, if I get anything from this month's list, it's to be thankful for the little things: the great haircolor, the one pound lost, the great cup of coffee . . . and to stay thankful for the big things: the smiling baby, the busy family, the sweet husband, the wonderful friends, the gentle dog. Even in the crazy, busy life we live, every day there is a reason to be grateful for all that we have!

I did not know THAT!!!

Okay. . . another funny story. Gracyn and Emma have pretty deep conversations in the back seat of the car on the way to and from school. I love listening in, and try really hard not to butt in unless it's something that I feel like I really need to correct. Last week, I overheard a particularly hilarious conversation that went something like this:

Gracyn: "Emma, do you know what the word 'foe' means?" (it was one of her vocabulary words.)

Emma: "No."

Gracyn: "Yes you dooo, Emma! It's like an 'ememy' (trying to say 'enemy').

Emma: "An anemone? Like that lives in the ocean?"

Gracyn: "No, Emma! Like an 'ememy'. . .like someone you don't like...like someone you fight with. You know, like Satan is our 'ememy.' "

Emma: (With a look of complete, wide-eyed amazement)
"WHAT??? Satan is a sea creature?!?!? I did not know THAT!"

Needless to say, I did step in and correct that Satan was indeed not a sea creature, and that the word was 'enemy', not 'ememy'. . . after I got control of my laughter! I could just hear the conversations on the kindergarten playground about that one! And, I could also imagine that Emma, armed with that little tidbit of knowledge, might not ever venture into the ocean again. So now, all is well in the minds of the Drury girls . . . Emma learned a new vocabulary word, and we all learned that Satan is not a sea creature . . . no matter what Gracyn says.

Halloween Fun!

This fall has been crazy busy, but we've had so much fun! Last week especially...on Thursday, the kindergarten classes went to the pumpkin patch, and had a GREAT time! They picked a pumpkin, went on a hayride, went to the petting zoo (that's Emma with the baby bunny!), jumped in the bouncy house, had a picnic, raced tricycles on the race track, and learned how to grow pumpkins...all in one morning! It was so much fun being there to see the little faces light up as they learned about the different animals and other fall related things. I think that the moms and the teachers had as much fun as the kids! Afterwards, we went back to school, did a craft, and had a Halloween party...complete with a giant blow up pumpkin, trick or treating, and a spooky sounds CD. I never knew so much fun could be had in one day!

On Friday (Halloween), Maggie and I dressed in our finest Halloween attire, and went to school for the first grade party. The kids were all dressed to the nines, and were (literally) bouncing off the walls in a combo of excitement and a sugar rush! They had a carnival type party, and played games all afternoon. Gracyn loved that we were there, and was happy to show off her little lamb to her friends.

Later that night, the real fun began! We went to a friend's house for pizza and a trick-or-treat hayride. We loaded up Alice in Wonderland, Minnie Mouse, and our lamb and made the rounds...the girls had so much fun! Maggie was a trooper and wore her costume all night...I think that she was probably the only warm one on the hayride! Needless to say, we had one action packed, fun-filled Halloween week...whew! When does mom get a rest from all the "fun"???

Only Gracyn!

I love to record the funny things that the girls say in this blog...both so that you can read them, and so that I will remember them!

Friday, at school, Gracyn got to choose a surprise out of the treasure chest in her classroom. She chose a little green notebook, and has been busy all weekend writing notes, and drawing pictures in it. Thinking that she was playing "reporter," I asked her what she was writing. She turned, looked at me with a smile on her face, and said, "Oh, mom! It's private! I'm just writing in my diarrhea!"

Obviously, she meant diary, but it was still hilarious! I couldn't stop myself from laughing! She, of course, wanted to know what was so funny. When I explained (in gory "mommy" detail), exactly what diarrhea was and that I thought she meant diary, she turned to me with a look of total horror, and said, "Oh my goodness!!! THAT is disgusting! I am totally NOT writing in diarrhea...I'm writing in PEN!" Again, she didn't understand, and again, it was hilarious! I stopped trying to explain, and since she's still carrying around the green notebook, I guess not too much damage has been done. It's true what they say, kids will say the darnedest things!

I'm thankful...

A sweet friend of mine did this on her blog, and I thought that it was a great idea! We all get aggravated and annoyed, but there is always something in it to be thankful for! Every month, I will list my top ten annoyed yet thankful points. So...

• I'm annoyed that our house is full of loud, squealing little girls...and thankful that our house is full of squealing little girls...and that our one man loves all his girls to pieces, and still doesn't hate pink!
• I'm annoyed that I'm constantly cleaning this house...and thankful that I have this wonderful house to clean, and that it's full of little girls, dogs, and a precious baby who are busy making all these messes!
• I'm annoyed that Dow's job is so very stressful, and thankful that in this economy, in the construction business, he has a job and a paycheck!
• I'm annoyed that I still haven't watched the Grey's Anatomy season premier...there's just been no time! But I'm soo thankful for the invention of Tivo and that I can live my life and watch the tv shows that I love on my schedule, not the network's!
• I'm annoyed that love bugs and sand gnats have taken over the outside...and thankful that their arrival means that the beautiful fall weather is here!
• I'm annoyed that the girls have to be at school soooo early in the morning...and thankful that they are in such a wonderful Christian school, and that they are so excited to jump out of the car every morning! I'm also thankful that Dow knows when I need a morning "in" with a large cup of coffee, and will make the coffee and take the girls to school for me...if that's not love, I don't know what is!!!
• I'm annoyed that my computer and printer are constantly humming, and that my email inbox is overflowing...and thankful that all this busyness means that orders are coming in and my business is doing well!
• I'm annoyed that I'm constantly washing clothes...and thankful that I have a husband with a sometimes messy job, two little girls who are healthy and happy and love to play outside, and a baby who really enjoys her food and likes to wear it when she eats!
• I'm annoyed that every weekend is so busy with birthday parties, dinners, and activities...and thankful that we have so many sweet friends who want us to share in their lives!
• I'm annoyed that I have so many pictures that need to be printed and framed...and thankful that I have captured so many special moments that I want to remember!

Our lives may be busy and hectic, but thankfully, they are full of the people we love! How boring would it be if it wasn't? I'm flat out thankful that my life is a fun, messy, full, busy, crazy, hectic, but ultimately blessed one!

It's FALL, y'all!

Well, fall is finally here...changing leaves, college football, pumpkins, and the occasion cool day when the temp is in the 70's...even in South Carolina! We love it, and the girls have been spending every waking moment playing outside. We "decorated" the house this weekend, and pulled out the fall leaves, spice scented candles, and jack-o-lanterns. The girls had so much fun figuring out where to put everything! Maggie's new favorite activity is pumpkin bowling...crawling by and sending my pumpkins spinning across the floor...we'll see how long they last!

Last week, we had our nieces (Kendall & Reagan) staying with us while their parents went on a cruise. The girls had so much fun playing together...and Maggie loved trying to keep up with Kendall! Kendall is almost 18 months old, so she loved acting like a big girl and playing with Gracyn and Emma.







Reagan is almost four months old, and she is the sweetest baby! To get a big, blue eyed smile, you just have to talk to her. She is precious! It was great for us to be able to spend some time with them, and we hope to be able to do it again soon!

Gracyn and Emma have been participating in a cheer clinic every week, and have been using everything they've learned to cheer on the Dawgs on Saturdays. This is a picture of our smallest Dawg fan in her little smocked, bulldog dress. She's just learned to say "Go Dawgs!" Well, it actually sounds like "gooooo da!" but we know what she means! Then she smiles and claps... She must be the cutest little fan out there!

Gracyn and Emma are both really enjoying school, and are learning new things every day! They are really looking forward to Halloween and to our trip to Disney over fall break in mid-October. They're already planning (mom takes care of the boring stuff like which hotel to stay in, while the girls take care of the important things like which ride to go on first!)

Happy Fall, Y'all!

The Zoo & Maggie "Firsts"

~The girls at the Botanical Gardens...such cute little flowers!~

~Gracyn & Emma watching the giraffes. ~

Sometimes I feel like we live in a zoo, but today we actually visted one! It was Labor Day, so Dow was home from work, and Gracyn and Emma were home from school. We decided to visit Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Columbia, South Carolina and make the holiday a special one for the girls.

It was a great day! We saw some really neat animals, learned a lot about endangered species, and the girls got to do some really fun things...like riding a pony and milking a cow (a fake one, but still, it was fun!)

Maggie was on her best behavior..except when it came to picture time...the flower picture is the only one that I could even get her to look in the right direction to take! She's definitely come in to her own, and is very interested in everything around her!

Maggie is growing up so fast, and had a few "firsts" this weekend. Her first visit to the zoo, her first time on the swing set, her first time trying to eat grass (in the picture, she's looking at it closely and really thinking about it!)and her first time standing on her own...of course, once she realized that she was standing on her own, she promptly sat down and cried!

Now, it's back to the grind of a normal week...it really was such a great holiday weekend, and a perfect end to summer. Now, if we could just get some fall weather???

Only Emma...

Okay...so those of you who know Emma know that she can be very quiet, but then can just come out with the funniest things! Today, after I picked the girls up from school, they were riding in the back seat. I had the radio on, and was humming along to the country song, "I've Got a Brand New Girlfriend." After the song ended, I wasn't really paying attention, until I noticed that Emma was singing her own song in the back seat. Needless to say, my ears perked up, and this is what I heard:

"I've got a brand new girlfriend!

Her name is Emma!

She's a swimmer!

She's a winner!

The whoooooole CHICKEN DINNER!"

Hilarious! Don't I wish that all it took for someone to be a "winner" in my mind was that they were a swimmer? (FYI: the girls really got swimming this past summer. They've known how to swim for a while, but now they can go wherever they want to go both on top of the water and under it, so I guess that is the "whole chicken dinner" in Emma's mind!)

Our Anniversary

Dow and I recently celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary. We had a great day! Poor Dow was in Charleston all day in meetings, so he sent a friend and I to Truffles for lunch, and then we had a wonderful "date" that evening. We went to the Inn at Palmetto Bluff, and really enjoyed ourselves!

Little did we know, the girls were working on an anniversary surprise. We came into the kitchen, and this is what we found:

• two polka-dot cups with a two-liter of Diet Dr. Pepper (our favorite drink)
• two HUGE swirly straws
• two Hershey Kisses with Almonds (my very favorite candy)
• a "Happy Anavrshry" card (actually pretty good phonetic spelling, we thought!)
• a colored picture of Ariel and Eric getting married stuck to the refrigerator with "wacky string" (courtesy of Emma...she couldn't find tape!)

We were so thrilled and excited that the girls went to so much trouble to make a surprise on all on their own. They added things that they new that we loved, and things that they liked and that made it special for them (i.e. polka-dot cups and swirly straws!) Every day it's a blessing to have such sweet girls, but sometimes they just take my breath away!

First Day of School

The big girls (Gracyn and Emma) started school this week. Gracyn is in first grade, and Emma is in kindergarten. They are so excited, and so far, seem to love school!

First grade is a bit different, and more strict than kindergarten, but Gracyn seems to be adjusting well. She has several friends in her class, so she's excited about that, too.

Emma has Ms. Meredith (who was Gracyn's teacher last year). She loves her class, but is more excited that she gets to wear a uniform. On the second day of school, I asked Emma if she'd like to wear her uniform skirt or jumper, and she answered, "I think I'd rather wear my jump rope, mom...it's way cuter!"

The Drury Girls

The big girls are in school now at a Christian school that we love! We are constantly surprised and blessed by what they are learning. Maggie is home with me, and is learning to be very busy! She can crawl (fast!), just learned to climb stairs (at not even eight months old...oh Lord!) and is very interested in anything that makes noise or is different! She tries her best to keep up with the big girls...she wears me out, but she's so much fun!

I'm hoping that this blog will help me record funny, touching, and wonderful moments from the girl's lives that we will remember forever, and am using it as sort-of a digital scrapbook.

Funny moment: We just got back from Disney World a few weeks ago, and it was a wonderful trip! On every ride we went on, at the end, the Disney "host" would say something like "Please grab your belongings, exit to your left, and enjoy your day in the Magic Kingdom!" After about five rides, Gracyn looked at me and said, "Mom, why do they keep asking us to grab our baloney?" The Lord only knows what she was thinking...