Beginning Blogger

Hello to the blog world. I have been a blog reader for a short time and I am inspired. Inspired to write it all down. Inspired to post it, photograph it, document it, share it, hence...a blog is born. I'm not really sure where this blog will go. But, for now, as the title foreshadows, I will be taking it slowly. I am not out to conquer the blog world. I am not out to climb every mountain. Nope. That's not me. I am quite happy taking a long, slow climb over one mountain at a time, enjoying every step along the way. I want to stop to smell the roses. Or skip stones. Or play batman.....again. Or yell at the teenage neighbors for making too much noise while my babies are napping. Or eat another cookie. Or whatever.

I am a mom, a wife, a teacher, a friend, a daughter, and a sister....blah, blah, blah... I am a cousin, a niece, a grand-daughter, a neighbor, a co-worker, and now, a blogger.
There's a lot going on in my life. A lot. I'm absolutely certain there a million moms out there that could start an introduction the same way. It's nothing special right? We've all got jobs and husbands and kids and errands and chores and bills and pets and cars and laundry and dishes and well, busy lives. But the thing I'm starting to realize is (partly from reading so many other awesome blogs) is that all of this mundane everyday crap really is something...it is something for me to think about, write about, and maybe even begin to share. Maybe, just maybe someone else might be inspired by what I have to say. A story I tell, a craft I make, a recipe I totally destroy, or a picture I take. I love all the little crap of my life, but honestly, most of the time I'm too busy doing it all to stop and reflect on it. I don't journal or keep a diary. And how many stinkin' times have I said "Man, I should totally write that down" when my kid says something absolutely hilarious? And you know what? I never do.
And so enter blog. I'm hoping that blogging will bring me an opportunity to reflect on my life in a new and meaningful way. And I realize it is quite possible (likely at that) that not another person will care one iota what I have to say. But like I said, every other mountain around here. This blog is for me. If others wanna climb a mountain with me here or there, that'll be great. But for now, this is for me. A way in which I get to think about the funny, awesome, silly ways my kids connect with the world and really, just really think about it and put it into words or stories. I can blab on and on here about the stuff, the junk, the good, the bad, the ugly (well, I'm thinking I'll spare you the really ugly) of my life. And I think that's pretty cool.

So, I begin....
With my first Thanksgiving. I mean, MY first Thanksgiving. Like the first one in which I actually roasted a turkey and made stuffing and had my entire family over. And I hosted...well, I should say WE hosted. My husband did help....a lot. SO, WE hosted our first Thanksgiving together and it was a success. I must share. Because it was awesome.
Oh, sidenote. I am not a photographer. I know lots of totally awesome blogs in which those darn awesome ladies post awesome pictures. Um, this is not like that. sorry.

 I got a little crafty and painted river rocks. Then I added all kinds of feel-good Thanksgiving-ish words to them and used them instead of place cards (our family is a little more casual, so these were better than place cards, plus everybody got to take one home and they were more fun than having a rock with your name on it).

 I totally pillaged my mom's candle holders and candle sticks to make the tables full of candles. The mismatched candle holders ended up looking really good with the mix of candles and flowers. I painted one of the candle holders the same color as the rocks.

 Turkey girl with her turkey bib.

 Turkey boy and turkey girl. I rarely get a picture of them together. So I love it.

 The girls doing the hanging-out-in-the-kitchen thing. We always end up around the island. So why not grab a pic?

 I used runners, doilies, and cloth placemats under the candle clusters to catch wax and to add a little funkiness.

Ah, it was lovely. I thought about using paper plates and keeping it simple. And maybe just picking up a bouquet of flowers at the grocery store. But you know, there is something about all the candle light that made it feel really cozy and beautiful. 

I am thankful for a fantastic first Thanksgiving and ever-so-grateful for my family that was there to share it with me. Kids running around, wine glasses being refilled, gravy being stirred, phone calls in and out from the out of towners, and lots and lots of laughter. The best! 

And the best part of the entire weekend? Was that I did NOT, I repeat, I did NOT even look at a single sale paper and/or go to a single store the day after Thanksgiving. And that, my non-existent blog friends, is a real accomplishment for me. Miracle actually. 

Okay, I think this is the world's longest first blog entry. 

Nice to meet  you and hope to see you again soon.