How come my kid can learn and sing about Kwanzaa and Hanukkah in music class, but not about Christmas?
Anyone? Beuler?
Goodbye Butterflies
12 years ago
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
On Wearing Pants.
I reached a turning point in my life, today.
It was the day when you breeze right past the real clothes in the store and shop only for sweatpants and velour tracksuits.
I thought this day would never come...or at least not until I turn 70.
But, friends, I am here to tell you that I am alive and well, and rocking the pajamas-as-clothing train at 29, baby!
I am so glad I have this handy chart here to keep me out of the "those are not actually pants" grey area.
I also bought a pair of moccasins last week that I'm 99.9% sure are actually slippers.
The boots I wore today also fit into said "slipper" category.
My stretchy pants and I are totally excited for your arrival.
It was the day when you breeze right past the real clothes in the store and shop only for sweatpants and velour tracksuits.
I thought this day would never come...or at least not until I turn 70.
But, friends, I am here to tell you that I am alive and well, and rocking the pajamas-as-clothing train at 29, baby!
I am so glad I have this handy chart here to keep me out of the "those are not actually pants" grey area.
I also bought a pair of moccasins last week that I'm 99.9% sure are actually slippers.The boots I wore today also fit into said "slipper" category.
So basically, I'm sayin', "In your face, Winter!" with jogging suits and slippers, this year.
Bring it on, December. It's Christmas month, it's Giving month, it's Birthday month for 2 of my children, and it's the Cookie month.My stretchy pants and I are totally excited for your arrival.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Holiday Shopping Tips for the Men
Take note: this is not intended to be a jab at Aaron. He is a very good gift giver, better than me, actually. But I think almost anyone could benefit from a few basic tips/rules/suggestions for more effective holiday shopping.
So here we go:
1) Don't buy her jewelery. Unless you have really good taste.
2) You probably don't have really good taste.
3) things that are out unless specified on her list: electronics, exercise equipment, cleaning supplies, things for her car.
4) Ask her friends. Ask her friends what their favorite books are, and get her one that she doesn't have yet. Same goes for music and movies.
5) Instead of buying her clothes, give her a gift card to her favorite clothing store. It isn't tacky or impersonal. It's a gift with three purposes. 1) she gets new clothes. 2) You're giving her the gift of shopping. Most women will tell you that at least half the joy of clothing comes from shopping for it. That's why they call it "retail therapy". 3) You are pre-paying the way for her to go blow off some steam the next time you upset her. ;)
6) If you go unique, stick with her style. Don't give a vintage treasure to a contemporary minimalist. Do give the antique butter churner to the farmhouse knick knack collector.
7) Give the gift of time. Time away to relax at a massage, pedicure, or haircut. Time together at a concert, theater, or bed & breakfast (hey, that one probably benefits you too!) Time you spent on fixing/creating something for her.
8) Think ahead. Don't limit yourself to gifts that can only be enjoyed during the winter months. Get her and the kids season passes to the pool, zoo, or amusement park. Plant a bunch of bulbs in the yard when she is out one day, and give her the gift of anticipating a flowery springtime.
9) Think: "What will make her life easier or more enjoyable?" when giving gifts of service.
10) "Stick to the list" but make sure there is at least one surprise for her. Even if it is a pack of her favorite gum or chap stick tucked into her stocking, some hair product one of her friends recommends, or a new kitchen gadget.
11) Try not to sabotage her goals. For example, if you know she has a resolution to lose 20 lbs in 2012, don't give her a gift card to TCBY, and don't stuff her stocking with a 6 month supply of harry and davids. Instead, if you know she wants to read more, get her a book, run more, load up her ipod with good running music or get her a jogger pepper spray, Gatorade, and some Gu, or a cute bag to put her workout gear in. Notice how careful I was to not include a workout video or gym membership in that list of suggestions. Whether she wants to create, travel, write, save, or learn, try to think of ways to build her up and help her do those things, rather than gifting something that will distract or prevent her from doing what she wants. If you give her lessons or supplies for a new hobby, be prepared to support the new hobby by making it easy for her to go to the lessons/class. Get take out, make arrangements for children, don't schedule anything that will conflict with the schedule and prevent her from going, or make her feel guilty for using the gift.
12) Nothing beats a handwritten note. And words of appreciation are free.
13) Don't write the handwritten note on the piece of rectangular card stock that comes stuck to the bottom of a gift bag.
14) Now, make the holidays easy and go make a list of ideas for her to get for you. There must be at least 10 things on the list that are under $40. Because let's be real. Men are SO much more difficult to shop for than women.
Happy Christmas!
So here we go:
1) Don't buy her jewelery. Unless you have really good taste.
2) You probably don't have really good taste.
3) things that are out unless specified on her list: electronics, exercise equipment, cleaning supplies, things for her car.
4) Ask her friends. Ask her friends what their favorite books are, and get her one that she doesn't have yet. Same goes for music and movies.
5) Instead of buying her clothes, give her a gift card to her favorite clothing store. It isn't tacky or impersonal. It's a gift with three purposes. 1) she gets new clothes. 2) You're giving her the gift of shopping. Most women will tell you that at least half the joy of clothing comes from shopping for it. That's why they call it "retail therapy". 3) You are pre-paying the way for her to go blow off some steam the next time you upset her. ;)
6) If you go unique, stick with her style. Don't give a vintage treasure to a contemporary minimalist. Do give the antique butter churner to the farmhouse knick knack collector.
7) Give the gift of time. Time away to relax at a massage, pedicure, or haircut. Time together at a concert, theater, or bed & breakfast (hey, that one probably benefits you too!) Time you spent on fixing/creating something for her.
8) Think ahead. Don't limit yourself to gifts that can only be enjoyed during the winter months. Get her and the kids season passes to the pool, zoo, or amusement park. Plant a bunch of bulbs in the yard when she is out one day, and give her the gift of anticipating a flowery springtime.
9) Think: "What will make her life easier or more enjoyable?" when giving gifts of service.
10) "Stick to the list" but make sure there is at least one surprise for her. Even if it is a pack of her favorite gum or chap stick tucked into her stocking, some hair product one of her friends recommends, or a new kitchen gadget.
11) Try not to sabotage her goals. For example, if you know she has a resolution to lose 20 lbs in 2012, don't give her a gift card to TCBY, and don't stuff her stocking with a 6 month supply of harry and davids. Instead, if you know she wants to read more, get her a book, run more, load up her ipod with good running music or get her a jogger pepper spray, Gatorade, and some Gu, or a cute bag to put her workout gear in. Notice how careful I was to not include a workout video or gym membership in that list of suggestions. Whether she wants to create, travel, write, save, or learn, try to think of ways to build her up and help her do those things, rather than gifting something that will distract or prevent her from doing what she wants. If you give her lessons or supplies for a new hobby, be prepared to support the new hobby by making it easy for her to go to the lessons/class. Get take out, make arrangements for children, don't schedule anything that will conflict with the schedule and prevent her from going, or make her feel guilty for using the gift.
12) Nothing beats a handwritten note. And words of appreciation are free.
13) Don't write the handwritten note on the piece of rectangular card stock that comes stuck to the bottom of a gift bag.
14) Now, make the holidays easy and go make a list of ideas for her to get for you. There must be at least 10 things on the list that are under $40. Because let's be real. Men are SO much more difficult to shop for than women.
Happy Christmas!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Thanksgiving Break
Thanksgiving Break kicked off with class parties. Q wore a cute Indian headband and macaroni "bead" necklace. Aaron and I took the kids to have a turkey "dinner" in the lunch cafeteria with Reese. She loves any opportunity to buy school lunch, and this time, she rediscovered her love for mashed potatoes. I thought most of it was questionable. Reese tried everything, to prove to us that she should be allowed to buy lunch more often. Aaron, naturally loved everything and finished his with a smile on his face. He loves cafeteria food.
No, I don't know what is wrong with him.
At Reese's class party, I chased Corbin around the classroom to keep him from going all Helen Keller on us and eating the cupcakes off of everyone else's plates. At least one of my kids isn't a picky eater.
Reese colored and cut out a turkey, then wrote what she is thankful for on the turkey's feathers. She came up with: Family, chickens, Grandparents, school, church, God, toys, friends, sister, brother, Mom, Dad, scriptures, Mrs. Pledger, Jesus, Madi, and Jackson
I checked her out of school after the party and we started our Thanksgiving break a couple of hours early.
Reese was delighted to read an email from Grandma Lynda for her.
We did some holiday crafts.
We did some holiday shopping, got flu shots, (except Corbin, his ears were too infected), had a play date with Jackson, Hannah, and Cole, and enjoyed having Daddy home for 4 days straight!
No, I don't know what is wrong with him.
At Reese's class party, I chased Corbin around the classroom to keep him from going all Helen Keller on us and eating the cupcakes off of everyone else's plates. At least one of my kids isn't a picky eater.
Reese colored and cut out a turkey, then wrote what she is thankful for on the turkey's feathers. She came up with: Family, chickens, Grandparents, school, church, God, toys, friends, sister, brother, Mom, Dad, scriptures, Mrs. Pledger, Jesus, Madi, and Jackson
I checked her out of school after the party and we started our Thanksgiving break a couple of hours early.Reese was delighted to read an email from Grandma Lynda for her.
We did some holiday crafts.
We did some holiday shopping, got flu shots, (except Corbin, his ears were too infected), had a play date with Jackson, Hannah, and Cole, and enjoyed having Daddy home for 4 days straight! Thanksgiving dinner was superb if-I-do-say-so-myself. We took Bobby Flay's advice and cooked our turkey with 1 1/2 cups of chicken broth in the bottom of the roasting pan, brushed the bird with butter, and then buried it (literally buried it) in fresh herbs (thanks, garden!) Jamie Oliver style. The stuffing has already been bragged about.
I made Kasey's fresh cranberry sauce:
1 bag fresh cranberries
1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
1/2 cup sugar
zest of 1 orange
simmer until cranberries "pop!"
Aaron has never liked cranberry sauce, but everyone gave this recipe 3 cheers, and described it as, "Is this jam or jelly? Know why? Cuz it is so so good.", "like pomegranates, but without the seeds" and, "it tastes like Sprite." ---the last one is from Aaron.
I don't know, either. I'm just happy he likes it.
I also made a pumpkin cheesecake, gravy, my mom's famous holiday dinner rolls, and a pumpkin cheesecake. Yum. I'll be posting the recipe and adding that one to the holiday dessert rotation. Really good stuff. I used Stacy's gingerbread pita chips and almonds in the crust, and put eggnog in my fresh whipping cream.
Aaron played in the turkey bowl with the guys from church, cleaned out a clogged rain gutter, raked some leaves, put the chicken's heat light on an automatic timer, went to the gym, and grew a baby beard over the weekend.
The "beard" is gone tomorrow. It isn't good, and I think it was inspired by Tony Stark's goatee when we watched Iron Man one night. Anyway, Aaron was so happy to actually have four straight days of not shaving to even have the chance to grow one. I can only compare this to how I feel every Monday during the wintertime. It's sort of like, "Yes! I'll be in pants every day from now until Sunday. Forget shaving my legs for the 6 days! Hmmm....unless I wear a long skirt this Sunday, then I'll have two weeks! Sweet!" I imagine Aaron felt sorta like that about his goatee thing. I'm still happy to see Tony Stark leaves us tomorrow and watch a non-hairy Aaron head back to work.
Home Alone, Cabbage Patch Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Miracle on 34th Street were all watched, and we listened to a lot Michael Buble, Josh Groban, Nat King Cole, Lenka, and Old English Christmas, all while decorating the house.
Each of the kids went on a couple dates with Dad over the weekend. They went to places like the hardware store, out for a treat, Christmas shopping, to fill the van with gas, to lunch at Mc Donald's, to Walmart, or to pick out a live Christmas tree.
Yup. The Willys have a live this year.
Yup. The Willys have a live this year.
With colored lights on it.
It isn't right, people.
It isn't right, people.
What IS right is that we have the live 5 ft tree in addition to the fake 7 1/2 ft tree with white lights, 3 smaller trees, and a lot of garlands.
Five trees. I am so my mother, and I am totally ok with that.
We spent most of the weekend in pajamas, only getting dressed to go to the movie theater (a Willardson holiday tradition). We saw Arthur Christmas and LOVED it. Excellent movie. Entertaining for kids and adults alike. Go see it! Tomorrow!
I went black Friday shopping with Katie and we had a lot of fun braving the crowds together. You'd think that there would be a better looking group at Walmart at 9:30pm on Thanksgiving than at 4am the next day when at least half the people are hung over and/or half awake. Naw. Walmart rolls in the same standard crowd any day of the year from 9pm until 6am. Despite what I've heard on the news, I thought people were REALLY nice, this year. There were a lot of "after you's" and "here, you can fit that cart this way", and people were willing to help each other dig through the bins to find the right sizes of pj's and slippers for each other, or search out a certain video game for the person next to them. It was a great experience, and since we have 2 birthdays and Christmas, as well as 3 kid birthday parties to attend, this month. I was grateful for the good deals. I do hope that black Friday returns to it's normal date, next year, though. It's all fun and great to wait in line with friends and family to stake out a good price on a gift on black Friday, but pushing the sales back to 10pm on Thanksgiving day means a lot of people skipped dessert with their families to go shopping. I say we leave the actual turkey day alone and keep the fun and crazy shopping madness on the following day. PS-Katie, I am impressed with your shopping marathon skillz. Next year, we'll be armed with chapstick, gum, running shoes, water bottles, a mid-shopping/midnight snack, and the toys r us ads, baby!
Aaron and I spent the nights drinking hot cider or sparkling cider, watching movies, making plans for Christmas, talking about what our families are up to, cooking together (gasp!), and quoting our new favorite shows ("Look at the recipe! Where in the recipe does it say to put the mashed potatoes on Schmidt's face?!).
I think laughter accelerates how quickly the weekend passes.
Hope your holiday weekend was magical and filled with the company of those you love and enjoy. Here's to a great Monday. Cheers!
1 Little, 2 Little, 3 Little Pilgrims...
Ok. So I might have gotten a little out of control with the pilgrim thing. It started with Reese asking if I would make paper hats for the kids to wear on thanksgiving. I started to make paper bonnets (you know, like the one you wore at your first grade Thanksgiving feast?) but thought, "Huh. I could sew this pretty easily...."
And 30 minutes later I had cut out half a dozen bonnets and aprons from an old white sheet. I figured, as long as I am making two...might as well make enough for my preschool class, right?
Right.
But what about the boys? That's when the collars and vests started. I might have also made an Indian dress and 3 Indian vests. And bought a hat. And glued a "buckle" to the hat. And sewed that skirt for Reese. And made 4 collars and another shawl. And a bonnet and apron for myself....
I'm sure I am eating crow for the comments I made about tacky photgraphy a few days ago. I mean, look at us holding hands and running and everything...
I mean, really. shut. up. How cute are they?!
I reserve the right to brag. I'm also willing to admit that I love my kids even more with bonnets and buckles on.
I'm dying over Q's face, here. That one is a girl of a million looks.
I can't wait to add a few of these to our fall holiday photo collage.
Cheesy and shameless, yes, but I don't care. I love my little pilgrims.
And 30 minutes later I had cut out half a dozen bonnets and aprons from an old white sheet. I figured, as long as I am making two...might as well make enough for my preschool class, right?
Right.
But what about the boys? That's when the collars and vests started. I might have also made an Indian dress and 3 Indian vests. And bought a hat. And glued a "buckle" to the hat. And sewed that skirt for Reese. And made 4 collars and another shawl. And a bonnet and apron for myself....
I'm sure I am eating crow for the comments I made about tacky photgraphy a few days ago. I mean, look at us holding hands and running and everything...
But come on.
I think the result of my little sewing afternoon and photo shoot with kiddies speaks for itself.
I mean, really. shut. up. How cute are they?! 
I reserve the right to brag. I'm also willing to admit that I love my kids even more with bonnets and buckles on.
I'm dying over Q's face, here. That one is a girl of a million looks.
I can't wait to add a few of these to our fall holiday photo collage.
Cheesy and shameless, yes, but I don't care. I love my little pilgrims.Especially since they're more like this most of the time: 
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Facebook and Birth Control
I have 31 facebook friends that are pregnant, or have delivered a baby in the last 60 days.
That's a lot of ultrasounds on my news feed.
So, if you want to get knocked up, forget about ovulation calendars, just become my facebook friend. It's a pretty good system. I only have about 300 fb friends, and I'm guessing about 200 of them are female. Considering one friend usually announces a pregnancy per day, you should conceive within 6 months.
Best of luck to you all.
Oh, and if you are NOT planning on becoming pregnant in the next 6 months...too bad. You probably will unless you unfriend me. Don't say I didn't warn you. ;)
That's a lot of ultrasounds on my news feed.
So, if you want to get knocked up, forget about ovulation calendars, just become my facebook friend. It's a pretty good system. I only have about 300 fb friends, and I'm guessing about 200 of them are female. Considering one friend usually announces a pregnancy per day, you should conceive within 6 months.
Best of luck to you all.
Oh, and if you are NOT planning on becoming pregnant in the next 6 months...too bad. You probably will unless you unfriend me. Don't say I didn't warn you. ;)
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Gratitude
Mom,
Thanks for never letting me pierce the cartilidge of my ear. It was a bad idea, and I'm glad you didn't let me go through with it.
Love, Meg.
No, wait...there's more! It's gratitude month. I haven't gone "home" for Thanksgiving since I was 19, so I miss out on sitting around the table and telling everyone what I'm grateful for.
Soooo, here's a little gratitude for my family:
Mom,
Thanks for teaching me the therapeutic benefits of crafting.
Thanks for teaching us to laugh all the time.
Thanks for laughing with me when I call and tell you about a wildly disasterous day.
Thanks for giving me advice that I don't want, but need to hear.
Thanks for coming to visit me every year that you can.
Thanks for teaching me how to throw a good party.
Thanks for teaching me the importance of marrying a good man.
Thanks for many late night phone calls.
Thanks for being a wonderful Grandma to my kids.
Thanks for giving me the desire to make all things pretty, and to "go all out" and do things over the top when it is important to me and I am able.
Dad,
Thanks for passing on your high water table to me. I cry over anything. Emotional movie ending? Sentimental commercial? Good book? Beautiful song? Deep conversation? Absolutely.
Thanks for teaching me to get involved in my community.
Thanks for calling the kids to talk to them on the phone.
Thanks for teaching me how to...well, anything DIY, garden, build, paint, etc.
Thanks for helping me appreciate the beauty of the way things fit together and are organized in space. This gift has come in handy when packing a car, planning a scrapbook or card layout, organizing a closet, hanging pictures, landscaping, making a table display, and designing a room.
Thanks for teaching me the art of grilling.
Thanks for being an example of righteousness.
Thanks for teaching me how to work.
Mark,
Thanks for giving me the extra push I needed to go to college. Both times.
Thanks for introducing me to the Banana's Foster at Maveriks...and for taking me out to lunch every time I come visit.
Thanks for being willing to drive me to the airport on your way to work every time I came home to visit when I was in college, even though I got nervous and threw up in your car nearly every time.
Thanks for not telling people about the throw up part.
Thanks for loaning Taylor to me when she was little, so I could pretend I had a baby sister.
Thanks for always asking me, "but what else are you doing?" because it reminds me that I can always do more, learn more, stretch more, try harder, and be better.
Thanks for forcing me to give black beans a try.
Melinda,
Thanks for being fun and spontaneous and for making me laugh a lot.
Thanks for letting me live with you during the months that Aaron was training for the Border Patrol. I die when I think about what a messy, self absorbed house guest I was.
Thanks for the many late night talks and advice you've given me.
Thanks for the picture of the Oakland temple you gave me a few years ago. I love it.
Thanks for always passing on awesome hand me down toys for my kids. I love them, the kids love them, and I love that the toys have already been loved and enjoyed by my really great niece and nephews, who I miss a lot.
Thanks for being a good example to me.
Thanks for singing wacky songs to your kids in a silly voice. I do the same thing.
HolleeAnn
Thanks for taking me to get my eyebrows waxed the first time, and making me promise to never let them get that out of control again.
Thanks for teaching me the importance of thank you cards.
Thank you for spoiling my kids and sending us awesome mail.
Thanks for letting me crash at your place twice a week when I worked in Morgan Hill.
Thanks for giving me excellent advice for handling Reese's tantrums and anxiety attacks.
Thanks for the "sisters" frame with the picture of you, me, and Amy...and no, I haven't changed the photo ;)
Thanks for always being up for group fun when we get together, for going with whatever the kids are doing, and for taking great photos (where you photoshop the glare off my white legs) to document the whole thing.
Thanks for introducing me to the joy of teaching and for mentoring me.
Thanks for supporting my business 100% and for sending me supplies, ideas, information, and most importantly, for giving me confidence to get started.
Thanks for being a "Princess", on the phone, for Reese and Quincy to share their success with, back when they were potty training.
Paul
Thanks for letting me call you Fonzo
Thanks for dropping everything to spend time with the kids and I when we came out last summer.
Thanks for encouraging me to keep running.
Thanks for taking a 20 minute detour so HolleeAnn and I could get pics of my kids with the windmills.
Thanks for taking another huge detour to hit up some Ca produce stands and a pick your own orchard on your way to Grandma Lawrence's funeral, just I could get my fresh fruit on when we met up.
Thanks for carrying at least one of my kids on your shoulders all over San Fransisco.
Thanks for being all about family and loving my kids enough to think of activities my kids would enjoy when we came to visit.
Thanks for sharing Jim and Carla. I love your parents.
Thanks for always being so quick to offer to run errands for us, or pick something up for us while you're out.
Amy
Thanks for teaching me to sing. Literally. Thanks for free voice lessons for oh....10 years?
Thanks for letting me sift through 11 boxes of boys clothes and toys and loot anything I wanted.
Thanks for your constant example of kindness and charity.
Thanks for letting me hang out at your house a lot when in high school anytime I needed a change of scenery.
Thanks for teaching me to love showtunes.
Thanks for peeing your pants when you laugh too hard, so I'm not the only one in the family that does this.
Thanks for always being up for late late night shenanigans.
Thanks for remembering and understanding how difficult it is to throw up everything you eat when you're pregnant, for holding my hair back a few times, and for forcing dried mangos on me like candy ;)
Thanks for teaching me the importance of helping a friend.
Josh
Thanks for volunteering to chaperone my friends and I when my parents told me I was too young for the Cure/Erasure concert at Shoreline.
Thanks for being cool and not all "chaperon-ey" when we got there.
Thanks for being the "baby whisperer" so I could go to the temple with Amy back when I was too nervous to leave baby Reese with anyone.
Thanks for remembering and calling me on my birthday every single year.
Thanks for sharing your testimony with me a lot when I was growing up, and for telling me to read my scriptures.
Thanks for doing everything you possibly can to get a horrible song stuck in my head every time I visit. Oh wait. NO THANKS for that. By the way, "Mele Kalikimaka...."
bwahahahaha!
Scotty
Thanks for calling me to catch up every couple weeks.
Thanks for coming to visit me everywhere we have lived. You've seen almost every place we've ever lived...even the crummy rentals. That's a huge deal to me.
Thanks for being sensitive to how I handle hard situations, and for having the courage to ask me. Thanks for my taste in music. I'll give you nearly full credit for that one.
Thanks for telling me to start this here blog :)
Thanks for giving me the support and advice I needed to get through the transfer process at BSU and for giving constant encouragement until I was done.
Thanks for unrolling your window at the Drive Thru Safari. You know I'm too much of a rule follower to have ever been brave enough to do it myself. But I've always wanted to do it.
Thanks for rolling the window back up when the Zebra stuck his head in my car.
Thanks for helping me bite the bullet and book the Virgin Islands trip this summer.
Thanks for being cool with me calling you "Scotty" still. Even though we are grown ups, now.
Thanks for doing anything to make my kids laugh...even if that means running through the sprinklers at a restaurant, or letting a goat eat your shoelace.
Kristie
Thanks for being a great hostess when we've visited.
Thanks for being my friend.
Thanks for starting the Lawrence Family Cookbook project. It's going to happen! I won't give up until everyone is "stuffed to the muff"
Thanks for letting my kids maul Lacey when you came to visit.
Thanks for coming to visit us.
Thanks for making me laugh every time we're together.
Thanks for eating my baguettes anyway when I forgot to add the salt and they were gross.
Thanks for having me in your wedding.
Thanks for sharing your love for all things pumpkin with me.
To all the men in our family: Thanks for jumping to carry suitcases, assemble cribs and pack n plays, move carseats, set up strollers, and help with the kids every time I travel home alone with the kids. I never have to ask or express my exhaustion because one of you is already on it. Every time! Thank you!
To all the women in our family: Thank you for being mothers to my kids, great examples of womanhood to me, and for indulging my weird food cravings. And for not calling them weird, because any of you would have a bucket list of places to eat each visit if you were ever cut off from Super Taq, Running Rooster, Erik's, Togo's, or In n Out. And I totally love that about you.
To the whole family,
Thanks for being my family. We're a pretty fantastic family, and I'm grateful to be a part of it.
Love you all. I miss you bunches.
Meg
Thanks for never letting me pierce the cartilidge of my ear. It was a bad idea, and I'm glad you didn't let me go through with it.
Love, Meg.
No, wait...there's more! It's gratitude month. I haven't gone "home" for Thanksgiving since I was 19, so I miss out on sitting around the table and telling everyone what I'm grateful for.
Soooo, here's a little gratitude for my family:
Mom,
Thanks for teaching me the therapeutic benefits of crafting.
Thanks for teaching us to laugh all the time.
Thanks for laughing with me when I call and tell you about a wildly disasterous day.
Thanks for giving me advice that I don't want, but need to hear.
Thanks for coming to visit me every year that you can.
Thanks for teaching me how to throw a good party.
Thanks for teaching me the importance of marrying a good man.
Thanks for many late night phone calls.
Thanks for being a wonderful Grandma to my kids.
Thanks for giving me the desire to make all things pretty, and to "go all out" and do things over the top when it is important to me and I am able.
Dad,
Thanks for passing on your high water table to me. I cry over anything. Emotional movie ending? Sentimental commercial? Good book? Beautiful song? Deep conversation? Absolutely.
Thanks for teaching me to get involved in my community.
Thanks for calling the kids to talk to them on the phone.
Thanks for teaching me how to...well, anything DIY, garden, build, paint, etc.
Thanks for helping me appreciate the beauty of the way things fit together and are organized in space. This gift has come in handy when packing a car, planning a scrapbook or card layout, organizing a closet, hanging pictures, landscaping, making a table display, and designing a room.
Thanks for teaching me the art of grilling.
Thanks for being an example of righteousness.
Thanks for teaching me how to work.
Mark,
Thanks for giving me the extra push I needed to go to college. Both times.
Thanks for introducing me to the Banana's Foster at Maveriks...and for taking me out to lunch every time I come visit.
Thanks for being willing to drive me to the airport on your way to work every time I came home to visit when I was in college, even though I got nervous and threw up in your car nearly every time.
Thanks for not telling people about the throw up part.
Thanks for loaning Taylor to me when she was little, so I could pretend I had a baby sister.
Thanks for always asking me, "but what else are you doing?" because it reminds me that I can always do more, learn more, stretch more, try harder, and be better.
Thanks for forcing me to give black beans a try.
Melinda,
Thanks for being fun and spontaneous and for making me laugh a lot.
Thanks for letting me live with you during the months that Aaron was training for the Border Patrol. I die when I think about what a messy, self absorbed house guest I was.
Thanks for the many late night talks and advice you've given me.
Thanks for the picture of the Oakland temple you gave me a few years ago. I love it.
Thanks for always passing on awesome hand me down toys for my kids. I love them, the kids love them, and I love that the toys have already been loved and enjoyed by my really great niece and nephews, who I miss a lot.
Thanks for being a good example to me.
Thanks for singing wacky songs to your kids in a silly voice. I do the same thing.
HolleeAnn
Thanks for taking me to get my eyebrows waxed the first time, and making me promise to never let them get that out of control again.
Thanks for teaching me the importance of thank you cards.
Thank you for spoiling my kids and sending us awesome mail.
Thanks for letting me crash at your place twice a week when I worked in Morgan Hill.
Thanks for giving me excellent advice for handling Reese's tantrums and anxiety attacks.
Thanks for the "sisters" frame with the picture of you, me, and Amy...and no, I haven't changed the photo ;)
Thanks for always being up for group fun when we get together, for going with whatever the kids are doing, and for taking great photos (where you photoshop the glare off my white legs) to document the whole thing.
Thanks for introducing me to the joy of teaching and for mentoring me.
Thanks for supporting my business 100% and for sending me supplies, ideas, information, and most importantly, for giving me confidence to get started.
Thanks for being a "Princess", on the phone, for Reese and Quincy to share their success with, back when they were potty training.
Paul
Thanks for letting me call you Fonzo
Thanks for dropping everything to spend time with the kids and I when we came out last summer.
Thanks for encouraging me to keep running.
Thanks for taking a 20 minute detour so HolleeAnn and I could get pics of my kids with the windmills.
Thanks for taking another huge detour to hit up some Ca produce stands and a pick your own orchard on your way to Grandma Lawrence's funeral, just I could get my fresh fruit on when we met up.
Thanks for carrying at least one of my kids on your shoulders all over San Fransisco.
Thanks for being all about family and loving my kids enough to think of activities my kids would enjoy when we came to visit.
Thanks for sharing Jim and Carla. I love your parents.
Thanks for always being so quick to offer to run errands for us, or pick something up for us while you're out.
Amy
Thanks for teaching me to sing. Literally. Thanks for free voice lessons for oh....10 years?
Thanks for letting me sift through 11 boxes of boys clothes and toys and loot anything I wanted.
Thanks for your constant example of kindness and charity.
Thanks for letting me hang out at your house a lot when in high school anytime I needed a change of scenery.
Thanks for teaching me to love showtunes.
Thanks for peeing your pants when you laugh too hard, so I'm not the only one in the family that does this.
Thanks for always being up for late late night shenanigans.
Thanks for remembering and understanding how difficult it is to throw up everything you eat when you're pregnant, for holding my hair back a few times, and for forcing dried mangos on me like candy ;)
Thanks for teaching me the importance of helping a friend.
Josh
Thanks for volunteering to chaperone my friends and I when my parents told me I was too young for the Cure/Erasure concert at Shoreline.
Thanks for being cool and not all "chaperon-ey" when we got there.
Thanks for being the "baby whisperer" so I could go to the temple with Amy back when I was too nervous to leave baby Reese with anyone.
Thanks for remembering and calling me on my birthday every single year.
Thanks for sharing your testimony with me a lot when I was growing up, and for telling me to read my scriptures.
Thanks for doing everything you possibly can to get a horrible song stuck in my head every time I visit. Oh wait. NO THANKS for that. By the way, "Mele Kalikimaka...."
bwahahahaha!
Scotty
Thanks for calling me to catch up every couple weeks.
Thanks for coming to visit me everywhere we have lived. You've seen almost every place we've ever lived...even the crummy rentals. That's a huge deal to me.
Thanks for being sensitive to how I handle hard situations, and for having the courage to ask me. Thanks for my taste in music. I'll give you nearly full credit for that one.
Thanks for telling me to start this here blog :)
Thanks for giving me the support and advice I needed to get through the transfer process at BSU and for giving constant encouragement until I was done.
Thanks for unrolling your window at the Drive Thru Safari. You know I'm too much of a rule follower to have ever been brave enough to do it myself. But I've always wanted to do it.
Thanks for rolling the window back up when the Zebra stuck his head in my car.
Thanks for helping me bite the bullet and book the Virgin Islands trip this summer.
Thanks for being cool with me calling you "Scotty" still. Even though we are grown ups, now.
Thanks for doing anything to make my kids laugh...even if that means running through the sprinklers at a restaurant, or letting a goat eat your shoelace.
Kristie
Thanks for being a great hostess when we've visited.
Thanks for being my friend.
Thanks for starting the Lawrence Family Cookbook project. It's going to happen! I won't give up until everyone is "stuffed to the muff"
Thanks for letting my kids maul Lacey when you came to visit.
Thanks for coming to visit us.
Thanks for making me laugh every time we're together.
Thanks for eating my baguettes anyway when I forgot to add the salt and they were gross.
Thanks for having me in your wedding.
Thanks for sharing your love for all things pumpkin with me.
To all the men in our family: Thanks for jumping to carry suitcases, assemble cribs and pack n plays, move carseats, set up strollers, and help with the kids every time I travel home alone with the kids. I never have to ask or express my exhaustion because one of you is already on it. Every time! Thank you!
To all the women in our family: Thank you for being mothers to my kids, great examples of womanhood to me, and for indulging my weird food cravings. And for not calling them weird, because any of you would have a bucket list of places to eat each visit if you were ever cut off from Super Taq, Running Rooster, Erik's, Togo's, or In n Out. And I totally love that about you.
To the whole family,
Thanks for being my family. We're a pretty fantastic family, and I'm grateful to be a part of it.
Love you all. I miss you bunches.
Meg
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