weekend update: Thanksgiving Weekend

Hello, my friends!

Well, it's Monday, and after a week off, it's time to get back to work.

It's ok. I only have to power through for 17 more days, and then I have another week and a half off. Whoo hoo!

We were supposed to watch one of Bug's friends last week, but that ended up not happening. We suddenly had a week with no plans! That almost never happens. We went to a pottery place to make
ornaments for the grandparents, we played basketball, we baked cookies, we were generally lazy.

We went to my dad's house on Thanksgiving, and probably the best part of the day was that I didn't have to bring anything to dinner. Usually  get stuck making the vegetable, and of course nobody-- at least not in our family-- will eat the vegetable when there's so much other good stuff! I got a little annoyed because other than a glass of wine at dinner, I wasn't drinking. they just wouldn't let it go! "Why are you such a fuddy duddy? Are you not feeling well?" Gee, I didn't know I was such a raging alcoholic that it would become national news if I didn't drink for one night!

And if I have to hear my grandmother say one more time, "you look so tired, Lovely" I will seriously lose it. Saying you look tired is really just a euphemism for saying you look like crap. I work full time and I have a husband and two kids. I ALWAYS look tired.

Friday was better. My stepmother and I went shopping and I got ALMOST all of my Christmas shopping done. I just need to get Bug's Santa present and some stocking stuffers for BK, and gift cards for the teachers. I love being done early!

Saturday was decorating day! Away went the fall decorations, and out came all the Christmas stuff.

The Agent and I have quite the argument over Christmas decorating every year. The Agent refuses to decorate the outside of the house in any way. He allows me to decorate the inside, on the condition that our Christmas cheer is not seen from the outside, so that means that our Christmas tree can't be placed in front of the window of our living room, which is where trees belong. The Agent's logic is that if robbers are looking to loot and pillage, they will pick the house they know is filled with presents before they pick the grinches. I guess I understand that, but I also think that if thieves want to break in, they will, regardless of your choice of decorations.

Sunday was filled with normal errands, getting ready to go back to the grind. We picked up our Christmas cards, and I must say.... my family is incredibly good looking!

Now it's off to an incredibly busy day, trying to catch up on everything I missed last week! Say it with me: we can do this!




  

So Very Thankful

1. Name a color you are thankful for.The red on the leaves of this tree

2. Something your spouse does that you are thankful for.
He loves to cook, and I'm thankful for that! Tonight it's fried chicken wings. Right now, they're soaking in buttermilk

3. Something your kids do that you are thankful for.
They cleaned their rooms without a fight today

4. A food you are thankful for.
Homemade chocolate chip cookies!

5. What recent good news are you thankful for?
This one is stumping me. I'm trying to stay positive, but this one is throwing me off. I recently received a teaser from our Christmas card photo shoot-- I'm thankful that she was able to get at least one cute shot! 

my photographer is awesome

6. Name a drink you are thankful for.
My new favorite: rum and coke milkshake

7. Name a restaurant you are thankful for.
I'll say the last one we went to: Macaroni Grill. Bug made a cartoon while she was waiting for her food: 

8. Talk about an animal you are thankful for.
My sweet Willow. She likes me best

9. Name a beauty product you are thankful for.
This foundation primer from smashbox is life changing

10. Name a cleaning product you are thankful for.
Baking soda is the only thing that gets the black grossness off my oven grates

11. What social media platform are you thankful for?
Thank you Pinterest for the cute stuff we were able to make this week! Here's breakfast on Tuesday:

12. Tell us why you are thankful for the last person who texted you.
That would be my dad. He is an awesome father and grandfather. It's hard to get specific on why I'm thankful for him, But I know it will be difficult to live without him. Here's his most recent picture, Bug took it of him on Saturday. Looking at this picture terrifies me. When did he get so grey? Why are his eyes watering? He looks so sad. Be happy, Dad. Your family loves you. 

13. Name a candy you are thankful for.
There's still lots of Halloween candy! I'm thankful that no one else in the family likes Butterfingers! 

14. Name an app on your phone that you are thankful for.
Cartwheel is the best!

15. What are you looking forward to that you are thankful for?
Turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes and pie! You guys are all invited! See you at my dad's house at noon! 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Family Values

American Girl magazine published a lovely article about 11 year old Amaya, who was in the foster care system for three months and lived with 6  different families before she was adopted. She tells a touching story about how she had to carry her belongings in a garbage bag when she first arrived, the day she received the first nightgown she ever owned, and how fully loved she is by her parents and her three brothers. 

Here is the picture of her family: 

A group called One Million Moms wrote an article on their own website, criticizing American Girl's decision to feature a family with two dads. The article states “One Million Moms is extremely disappointed that American Girl is promoting sin. American Girl is attempting to desensitize our youth by featuring a family with two dads. We must remain diligent and stand up for biblical values and truth. Scripture says multiple times that homosexuality is wrong, and God will not tolerate this sinful nature.”

This hurts my heart. 

There are so many children in the foster care system, and these children just want to be loved. I am sure they don't care if their parents are two dads, or two moms, or two space aliens. I applaud American Girl for featuring  Amaya's story, which frankly had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that she has two dads. In fact, if a picture hadn't been included  of the whole family, the readers wouldn't have even known. 

Now One Million Moms is raising a big stink. What difference does it make? Whether you agree with the lifestyle choices or not, shouldn't you at least feel good that this couple made the choice to 
create a forever family for four children who just wanted to be loved? Would One Million Moms rather have these four children remain in foster care? It just doesn't make sense to me. It's like a vegetarian telling me, "Lovely, you eat meat, and I don't agree with your lifestyle choices, so you probably should just send BK back to family services." 

One Million Moms is inviting its readers to reach out to American Girl to chastise them for the decision they made to publish Amaya's story. I wrote an email to American Girl myself, thanking them for the touching story. I figured they're going to have some backlash from the One Million Moms fiasco, and I wanted to let them know that not everyone feels that way. 


The definition of family has changed, but it does not mean that we value family any less. 

Whatever you opinion, feel free to voice it in the comments, or you can email American Girl yourself at  susan.jevens@americangirl.com