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erin

erin

I'm Erin Jo. I'm thinking, writing, dreaming, mothering, loving, living, praising, BLESSED to be Fiona to my Shrek and Mommy to my four amazing kiddos.

dave

dave

Shrek is "like an onion with many layers" but has a heart of gold. He's my husband and my friend, and we just get better all the time.

lily

lily

Lily is my first baby and only girl. She's smart, funny, tall and kind. Keeping up with this girl is a challenge and a joy. She's terrific!

max

max

Max is one part ogre, two parts lover and all boy! Our little man has a temper but gives the best hugs of anyone I know!

colby

colby

Colby is as ornery as he looks. He flirts shamelessly, even with strangers. He's all mouth and curls and the loudest by far.

luke

luke

Luke is the baby of the family, but holds his own. He's happy and adorable. And he's a terrible sleeper. =)

An Attitude of Gratitude

Tonight, I am trying to switch into recovery mode. I’m not gonna lie. The Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday loop of my life lately has been kicking my ass. I’m dragging in major ways. So what I’m thinking is this: I’m going to fake it until I make it. That is to say, I am sick of the waa-waa-waa-I’m-exhausted me. I like the calm, peaceful, grateful me so much more.

And so, tonight, I am writing a gratitude list to aid in my transformation back into the real me. In no particular order, I am grateful for:

1) The driver of the car that slowed rather than hitting me this morning after I made a really dumb split-second driving decision with all of my most precious cargo in the van.

2) The warm gas fireplace hissing in the corner of my living room and my beautiful live tree flashing from the other.

3) The early bedtime Dave and I have established for the kids. They go to sleep and are still tired by the end of the week, so we must be on target.

4) My Crock Pot that makes the M/T/W loop just barely possible. I often make breakfast, lunch and dinner at the same time in the morning on work days, which cuts down on the intensity of “the witching hour” of 5:45 p.m. or so when my hubby gets home with three hungry, tired kids. (I usually roll in around 6:15…)

5) My mother, who stopped in on her “break” between jobs today, called me and asked what she could start for supper because I had not had time for said Crock Pot this morning. (The beef and noodles hit the spot!)

6) The fact that all of my Christmas work is nearly done, given the second fact that I haven’t seemed to be able to focus on it for more than twenty minutes at a time lately.

7) My husband finally changing my oil in the van tonight. He had to head back into work at 8 p.m., so it will be forever before he’s back home, work and oil change complete….

8) My endless supply of fresh water, which I’m chugging all the time since I’m so thirsty. I really feel for these women in poor countries who are parched and pregnant, working in the fields up until delivery and then back in the field within days with newborns strapped to their backs. Really. And I think my life is tough. Give me a break. Or rather, give them a break, for pete’s sake!!

9) I’m grateful for the option of sinking into a hot bubble bath with a cuppa dark chocolate cocoa after I finish this post. Although, come to think of it, my sleeping form in my bed sounds even better. And, really, who wants to read the headline, “Exhausted 8-months-pregnant mother of three drowns after slipping into bubble bath”?

10) And finally, I’m thankful for Roberts 4.0 kicking and growing like crazy. Kid, you’re getting extremely heavy. I feel like I’m heading to the bathroom every thirty minutes just to get rid of a half cup of liquid, but you’re worth it. You are worth it all.

There. Isn’t that better? It really is. It’s much better reading and writing than telling you how tired, disenchanted, sickly, comatose and indifferent I’m feeling right now.

For an added bonus, I’m going to add a photo sequence to make you laugh. Remember that gingerbread house? It is no longer….







I tell you, the gingerbread house came down much faster than it went up. But I daresay it brought as much joy.

And really, isn’t that what matters most?

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