Happy Thanksgiving

From the Thomberg House to yours, Happy Thanksgiving! Surely my family and I are very blessed today and every day. We give thanks today, tomorrow, and the next. I wish you all the same, today, tomorrow... and the next!

Lipton Cup-a-Soup

Dean got the stomach flu this weekend. He started throwing up around 4 am on Sunday. Later that morning, you could have set a clock by his illness. Every 1/2 hour, he would look at me with his big hazel eyes and say, "....again Mommy...." He was so good about it. He didn't whine, he didn't cry, he rested. Oh, and he asked for french toast. We didn't let him have french toast.

Late in the day, after a good long nap, he was finally ready for my childhood remedy to the stomach flu - Lipton Cup-a-Soup. Mark and Marly went to the store earlier in the afternoon for Dean's stomach flu supplies, including ginger ale and soda crackers.

I remember my mom making Cup-a-Soup for me when I was sick when I was little. My mom served the soup to the sickie in a coffee mug. The sickie got to sip at it, or use a spoon when their stomach was ready. It's salty goodness was pleasing to the sickie's empty stomach. Surely, the sickie felt special when Mom heated up their cup in the microwave (or from the tea kettle when I was really little in our old white house with blue trim, and a blue kitchen).

And so, I reverted to Marlys's handy go-to for my own little sickie. Boy was it a pleaser for my little man Dean-er. I showed him how to sip his soup from the big Caribou mug, and use his spoon to dive for those noodles on the bottom. Dean felt special with his big mug (just as I had). The brothy liquid brought a smile and a "Mmmmm!" to his lips.

Later Dean had spaghetti for supper, and was busy begging Marly to play with him. This morning the first words out of his mouth were, "I am ALL BETTER!"

It must have been the Lipton Cup-a-Soup! I have plenty more on hand if anyone else comes down with the nasty bug. Mark had never had Cup-a-Soup. He didn't realize the box was a multipack, so he bought 3 boxes for good measure.

Back to Work!

I went back to work on Wednesday. It was a good thing too. Any longer at home and I would have hoped to never return to the career force, and might have actually taken up baking for/with my kids! I enjoyed my time off immensely.

On my first day on my new job, I actually needed to leave early to attend the going away happy hour with Gillette employees. While there, my friend Jenny asked about my "to do" list from the earlier post. At the time I felt somewhat accomplished. When I went back to the list... well... 1/2 and 1/2 is more like it.

- I was up and down and all around just putting things back together. You know, spackling up and painting nail holes. Adding wood glue to this and that. Hanging up a picture or two. Replacing things broken far too long.

- I did make a meager attempt at sanding a Craig's List dresser collecting dust in our garage. I quickly decided it was a candidate for white paint, and for use in the kids' room. Then, I discovered one drawer appear to be missing somewhere in the garage. I did purchase an electric sander, but the project is shoved to the side in the garage again, to collect more dust.

- I did spend time with friends.

- I did get the Ikea shelf. It is hung neatly in the living room and has various pumpkins on it for Thanksgiving!

- I did enjoy my kids. We made a trip to the library.

- I did stay mostly close to home.

- We did have little Viv (and mom Jenny) for a play date.

- There is a patch of sample paint on two walls of our bedroom. Place your bets now on how long before we actaully paint. I am going to aim for New Year's....

Now it is Sunday, and back to work again Monday. I am excited about my new job. The first three days have me just sufficiently overwhelmed. You know - the just right amount where you know you have a lot to learn, but hopefully have the skills to do it.

So, after an icy home bound Sunday, tomorrow morning (after dropping off the kids) you will find me at Caribou (1/2 way into my SHORT commute), ordering a 1/2 caf latte with the fantastic gift card my former co-worker sent me away with, and ready to start a new day!

Catch you all later!

Polar Bears

I am sure I have mentioned before Dean LOVES polar bears. Handy Manny, Mickey Mouse, Diego... sure their okay, but for Dean - POLAR BEARS RULE!

I think his love of the world's largest land predator started with that Bill Martin Jr book, illustrated by Eric Carle. You know, "Polar Bear, Polar Bear what to you hear?"

Then, there were two pairs of Gymborie Gymmies with polar bears last winter. He has one pair on in the photo below. He has a book about polar bears, has watched polar bear videos on U Tube, got a polar bear video from the library last week, and owns a polar bear t-shirt from Land's End. He has informed me they eat seals. I have mentioned polar bears would also eat Dean.

Anyway, last week on my time off we were running an errand to Super Wal-mart. I happened upon a thrift store in my community I had never noticed before. I prefer non-profit thrift (Salvation Army, Good Will, St. Vincent DePaul) to for-profit, but never mind. My car suddenly moved toward the left turn lane. It was time to introduce my kids to mommy's odd obsession. It was a quite, rather grungy establishment and my kids thought everything was a treasure.

Marly struck GOLD when she spotted this ceramic polar bear for Dean! It was a $1.50, and it was coming home with us.

Dean wanted to display it on the picture shelves in our dining/living area. Thank the Lord it was too wide. He has taken to napping with his new polar bears (along with Oscar).

SNOW! 7:41 AM on Saturday

Saturday the Twinner's were delighted when they woke up and looked out their window. They could not be contained. At 7:27 AM we began the process of putting on snow pants, boots, jackets, hats and mittens over their PJ's!
The first snow of the season! Dean set to work shoveling the yard.

Marly ate snow for breakfast. (Actually they went in for pancakes a little after 8:00 AM.)

Snow Angels.

Marly is eating snow in pretty much every picture I took.

That was so much fun! (This photo is after round two of play before their afternoon nap).

**Darn good thing I used my last Gap Groupon and BP rewards last Saturday (in 60 degree weather) to get the kids their winter gear.**

R&R

Before starting a new job later next week, I get to enjoy some time off! So... what will I be up to?

• This morning I took the kid's to Jack's Bakery for donuts. I love to watch Marly eat the chocolate sprinkle top off of her raised donut. Dean opted for a raspberry Bismark today. He always offers to share with Marly and I. Marly doesn't let anyone touch her donut.
• I ran errands getting supplies for various things around the house I hope to accomplish, while the kids went to daycare.
• I have 90 tulip bulbs from Costco ready to be added to the 90 I planted last fall.
• I have spray paint, and thrift store items waiting to find a new home.
• I have thrifted furniture I hope to try and refinish for our bedroom. I bought an electric sander today!
• I have a sample of paint I hope will be the new color in our bedroom.
• I have a "honey do" list from Mark.
• I get to hang out with Gretchen when she comes to town for a meeting.
• I will probably make a pilgrimage to Ikea with Gretchen.
• I hope to finish our Riverdale Readers book club selection from LAST month.
• I may take the kids to see Grandpa David some day for lunch.
• The kids and I will probably go visit Mark's mom. She broke her knee cap, had surgery last weekend, and will be spending many weeks in a rehab care facility.
• I hope the weather stays as nice as today, so I can let the kids enjoy the outdoors.
• That's plenty enough and I probably won't accomplish half of what I hope.
• I am going to try and STAY HOME more then I RUN AROUND.

Saying Goodbye

For over 5 years, I have worked for an amazing health care facility serving kids with disabilities and special needs. It has been a good 5 years. It has been an inspiring 5 years. It has been 5 years which will forever change me. Today was my last day with the organization.

At Gillette, I admire the health care culture and model with which we serve the kids and their families.

At Gillette, I have co workers who have become my true friends.

At Gillette, I have met patient families who have invited me into their lives and inspired me.

At Gillette, I have encountered kids who are braver at age 8 then I could hope to be at age 80.

At Gillette, I have worked with sponsors who are dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the hospital. As I worked to thanked them, they praised me in return.

I have been lucky to get the opportunity to work at Gillette. Despite all of this, it is time to move on for a new career adventure and an opportunity that is good for me and good for my family. Change is exciting! Change is also inspiring.

Because of our in touch world, thankfully it is most certainly NOT good-bye!

Happy Halloween!

In a world with digital photography everywhere, documenting EVERYTHING, I feel a little sick admitting it appears my camera card containing our Halloween photos is permanently missing. I am desperately hoping the little blue chip miraculously appears somewhere so the 2010 holiday is not forever lost, but it looks bleak.

Here a list of the missing photos I am unable to post.

• Me wearing a black BP dress, orange tank top underneath, with a a purple cardigan, and orange, lime and purple argyle knee-high Halloween socks (with black pattend leather mary janes). I wore this outfit Friday to work for the patient trick-or-treat and it made a repeat appearance for Sunday School.
• The kids and etc. creating our jack-o-lanterns
• Family gathering for baked ziti for a Halloween supper at our house. The baked ziti turned out dry. Oh well...
• The kids in their costumes. Dean was a king, and Marly was a fairy butterfly princess.
• The kids dressed up to trick or treat and posing with Brett, Rachel, my Dad, and Grandpa Gary and Grandma Pauline.

That's all I have for you folks. What a bummer. Shhh... don't tell Mark (he rarely reads the blog).

I Voted - An Observation

I know, I know... where is the Halloween Post?

It's coming...

In the mean time, I voted this morning. I dropped the kids off at daycare, then cruised back to my polling place before going to work. While there, something occurred to me. I am destined to be an election judge volunteer.

Someday.....many, many years from now, when I am retired, I am going to be one of those ladies with coiffed hair, smiling, asking your name, checking the list, and explaining how to fill circles. I'll be chit chatty with everyone. By then, the technology will have changed, but the friendly volunteers will have not!

I envision myself bringing one of those giant percolator pots and making Caribout coffee for the crew. I am sure the same people volunteer every year, and they have a pot luck system down pat. I will most likely show up with treats (that I buy at Costco of course)! Thirty years or so from now, I'll be there.

GET OUT AND VOTE if you haven't already.