It's Tradition

In keeping up with the Thanksgiving weekend tradition we put up our Christmas tree today, and Mitch was sick and Megan tumbled off a chair while decorating the tree. It wouldn't be a Wernlein family tradition if we didn't do those things year after year. While we put the tree up we also watch Home Alone and sort through our favorite ornaments. It's lots of fun and something I look forward to every Thanksgiving weekend. I really wouldn't mind if next year Mitch skipped on being sick and Megan decided that injuring herself wasn't necessary. At least this year we didn't have to take her to Urgent Care. That happened last year when the stocking hanger fell on her and cut her lip open. We can be thankful she was a little more graceful this year and her flying leap left us all gasping and then laughing because it was rather funny how it happened. It's never boring around our house, that's for sure!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

From Our Turkeys to Yours!!

Muddling through

Today was hard. I remember when we lost Mati that the days and weeks following were hard and the pain of loosing her seemed like a huge ache, but this is hard. Comparing them isn't fair but when we got Gordon he picked me and really was my dog so the loss seems to be a little deeper, maybe, or maybe you just forget how much it hurts. Whichever, I feel like I have just muddled through the day, forgotten things, misplaced things, driven past places I was suppose to be. It's very frustrating. All for a little dog who stole my heart and I miss like crazy.

Goodbye my sweet boy

Today we had to say goodbye to our sweet dog Gordon. I felt my heart break in two having to do this. He was the sweetest old dog and came to us on a complete fluke about four and a half years ago. He had survived Hurricane Katrina and needed a home, desperately. I have never met a dog with a more loving and kind spirit and I will miss him greatly. He was a true Southern gentleman, waited his turn, was sweet with the kids and extra laving to the ladies. Having survived a great tragedy he hated storms, mostly rain, and always needed some extra love(even a tranquilizer) to get through some of the big storms we had in the summer. He was faithful, loyal and loving all the way to the end and I will miss his big dark eyes, having coffee with him near me in the mornings, seeing him in the window when we returned home, generally just having "my shadow" around.

To the best old guy around, I hope you are sunning yourself in a big bay window in doggie heaven. You brought me more joy in those 4 years than one dog mom could ever ask for.

I love books!

Last night our book club picked our selections for 2011. It's always an exciting night for a book lover like me. At one point I think we had over 25 different selections that we were trying to pair down, oh the joy! It's a little like Christmas and the lotto; you can't wait to see what everyone brings and what will get selected, and you also want your selections to get picked. Here is just a smattering of what made our picks...

Sophie's Choice
The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night Time
Island of Saints
Remarkable Creatures
Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Zeitoun
Cutting for Stone
The Ten Year Nap
Thinking in Pictures
The Imperfectionists




***This is my 400th post! If you are a regular reader please leave a comment so I know you stopped by, and thank you!

Proud Mom

My heart grew two sizes today during the Veteran's Day celebration at Mitch's school today. The first, was watching those cute Boy Scouts lead color guard and hearing Megan's cute little voice saying the Pledge of Allegiance along with the big kids, and the second, was when they asked if any students wished to serve our country and Mitch's hand shot up like a rocket. Mitch really aspires to serve in our country in some aspect and if you ever ask him why it will make your heart melt and bring tears to your eyes.

Thank you to all of those in my family who have served. You have been excellent examples to my children. Love you!

Dog for Sale

Did you ever read Shel Silverstein as a kid? Well I did, and one of my favorite poems was Sister For Sale. Today, or this week, I am thinking of selling this lovely new puppy we got. Oh, yes, she is quite adorable and can be snuggly cute but my ditty would go like this

Rottie for Sale

One Rottie for sale
One Rottie for sale
One Barbie shoe chewing
Raccoon chasing Rottie for sale

One Rottie for Sale
One Rottie for Sale
One mud tracking in my house

...I can't come up with any more words, but you get the gist. Really I would never sell her, but she sure is a handful with 2 other geriatric dogs and 2 kids. What were we thinking?! That's right, we love rotties and she needed a good home.

Super fab weekend!

My blah week last week was followed by a super fabulous weekend. Yesterday we got time to relax in our jammies, Frank helped me clean the house, we went out to dinner and then to an Avs game with my in-laws season tickets(thank you Earl and Rita!). The game was the highlight of my weekend. I have really gotten to be a hockey nut and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE #9 and #25 on our team, but I also have my other favs. Going to the game with my honey was also tons of fun and he was so sweet when he caught one of the free t-shirts that they throw into the stands. What a romantic! Today we were up super early because of daylight savings time and I couldn't convince the kids to go back to bed. I was tired from being out late at the game so we just hung out again and then worked in the yard getting ready for the so-called snow we are suppose to get later on this week. To round out the weekend we watched one of my all time favorite movies, Beauty and the Beast, and ate popcorn together on the couch. Really, could it get any better than a relaxing weekend, hockey, 2 cute kids and a princess movie?!! What a way to make up for such a long week last week.

The Good List

November didn't start off so well. After Halloween weekend was so incredibly fun the week rolled in with a slow start, lots of grouchies, and Mitch home from school for 2 days with a cold and an asthma flare up. I am physically and emotionally exhausted. Rather than focus on all the blah though there were some really fun things that were thrown in so I am going to rattle those off (more for myself)...

I had breakfast with my college roommate. We ate, laughed and gossiped for 2 hours!
I bought Mitch a pair of pants for $2 with the 2 store coupons I had!
Megan and I got haircuts and some girl time together today.
I had the chance to read A LOT while Mitch has been home sick.