Grateful Day #25

Greetings on Grateful Day #25.  Back in New York and here's what I'm grateful for today:
(1)  I'm grateful for being home.  It was a great vacation, but it's also great to be home.  MIS was so happy to be here.  She was thrilled to see "doggy" and her toys.
(2)  I'm grateful for MIS finally falling asleep on the flight.  After 15-20 minutes of screaming and crying, she finally gave up and crashed.  I'm confident the man that sat next to us is telling his family tonight that he sat next to a terrorist toddler.
(3)  I'm grateful for how pretty the country was today as we flew over it.  MIS was excited about the clouds.
(4)  I'm grateful that neither of the wine bottles we packed broke on our travels home today.  It would have really been rotten if our clothes were covered in wine.
(5)  I'm grateful for a wireless connection that works for more than 30 seconds.  Writing this will take half as long as it did all last week.  Lots of great things about Disney...wireless service is not one of them.
(6)  I'm grateful for Althea holding down the fort and being in good shape upon our return.  It's always a little stressful when we leave her for the first time in a new home.  She's a good old dog.
(7)  I'm grateful for the "Happy & You Know It" app MIS and I found today.  She loves it.

(8)  I'm grateful for being unpacked.  As little as I wanted to unpack when we got home, I would have been very unhappy to have to do it in the morning.  Particularly since I need to pack again tomorrow night.
(9)  I'm grateful for the Terry Gross interview with Maya Rudolph we heard on our way to the airport.  Love Terry Gross.  Love Maya Rudolph.  Will have to find it and stream the rest of it tomorrow.

(10)  I'm grateful for our last morning in Florida.  We played at a different playground and MIS dug in the sand.  It was fun.
Until tomorrow...

Grateful Day #24

Greetings at the end of the week.  It's grateful day #24 and our vacation is rapidly coming to a close.  It's hard to see a good thing end.  Here's my top ten list for the day:
(1)  I'm grateful for being here at Epcot during the flower show.  It was just gorgeous today.  I am simply amazed at how they create life-size characters out of flowers, moss and other garden-like materials.  Awesome.

(2)  I'm grateful for the three playgrounds we found at Epcot today.  They were absolutely fantastic and MIS had a wonderful time playing.

(3)  I'm grateful for knowing that when MacKenzie is happy, it's priceless.  I watched several parents yank their young kids kicking and screaming off the very cool playground equipment saying, "we didn't pay this much for you to play on a playground."  I do understand that coming here is very expensive, but for me, if our girl is loving a really cool playground, that's the place we'll stay.

(4)  I'm grateful for the way that Florida rainstorms work.  While it looked threatening today, there were really only three downpours and we were able to enjoy the day regardless.
(5)  I'm grateful for Dana and Lisa arranging this week's events.  They are definitely the Disney experts and it was awesome to have the week with our family.  Thanks guys!
(6)  I'm grateful for the Disney guy who stopped us today and asked if he could take our picture.  We really have so few photos of the three of us and it was really cool of him to take a minute to get a nice shot.
(7)  I'm grateful for the fact that it's going to be 65 degrees in New York tomorrow.  That will make for an easier transition back to the North.
(8)  I'm grateful for MIS learning to say "hail" in the hail to the victors song tonight.  She was yelling "hail" in the store.  What a moment!
(9)  I'm grateful for the many funny conversations that you can't help but overhear when you are in an amusement park packed with people.  The highlight from today was a conversation Scott overheard. A mom was talking to her small child who was having a tantrum.  In a very quiet and calm voice she said, "You'd better stop acting this way now or you will regret it.  Also, you'd better stop embarrassing me right now or I'm going to start embarrassing you."  Seriously.  People do talk like this.  My second favorite comment was one that I overheard.  A dad went over to one of the people working at Epcot and said, "Excuse me.  I just wanted to let you know that there is a rabbit dropping over there.  I wanted to tell you before someone stepped in it."  Good times.
(10)  I'm grateful for the nap I was able to take this afternoon while MIS napped.  I was really tired and am trying to fight off this cold.  It was good to get some sleep.
Wishing you a happy Friday.  Until tomorrow...

Grateful Day #23

Greetings on Grateful Day #23.  I did miss day #22.  There was simply no way to get to my laptop last night, so tonight, there will be 20:
(1)  I'm grateful for the Pooh Bear ride at the Magic Kingdom.  Absolutely loved it as did MacKenzie.

(2)  I'm grateful for bananas.  MIS ate three today.  She's a super big fan.

(3)  I'm grateful for anti-congestion medication.  It makes dealing with a rotten cold tolerable.
(4)  I'm grateful for sunscreen.  I'm not sure what we'd do with MIS' fair skin without it.
(5)  I'm grateful for Space Mountain.  It was my first roller coaster ride in probably ten years.  It was fun to scream and giggle.

(6)  I'm grateful for Faye Stearns.  She has been my bath time helper every night in Florida with MIS.  It's really nice to have another set of hands.
(7)  I'm grateful for having a few more years before MIS is coming home with homework.  Watching the kids do homework on this trip has got me slightly nervous for the homework to come.
(8)  I'm grateful for Alice in Wonderland.  Seeing her this week reminded me of how much I love that story.  I'm especially grateful for the Mad Hatter.  I would love to have tea with him.

(9)  I'm grateful for the joy on Grandma Margie's face when MIS reached over to hug her several times this week.  It's really cool to see how much people love our girl.
(10)  I'm grateful for all the help that Grandpa Jeff gave us this week with MIS.  She really does adore him and he has a great way of quietly taking her and letting her stretch her legs and get the space she needs when she is melting down.  My favorite moment was when he suggested renting a surrey.  We biked around the big loop with MIS and Faye in the basket in front.  So fun.
(11)  I'm grateful for all the green in Florida this time of year.  It does my heart good to see so much green.  I can't wait for the spring in New York.
(12)  I'm grateful for that MIS didn't get stung by a bee today.  Not only would it have been awful for her, but it would have brought the day to a screeching halt.
(13)  I'm grateful for the little playground by the pool.  MIS and played there this morning before we left for the park and she was super happy to slide down the slide three times.
(14)  I'm grateful for giggling kids.  It really is a great sound.
(15)  I'm grateful for swim diapers.  I gotta ask: what did people do before those were invented?  Yikes.

(16)  I'm grateful for that Scott's glasses didn't break completely when MIS pulled them off his face at the Animal Kingdom.
(17)  I'm grateful for the times in my life when my toes have looked so much better than they do now.  I'm hopeful that they will look that good again.
(18)  I'm grateful for being mostly disconnected from technology for most of the week.  It feels good.
(19)  I'm grateful for not inhaling any dog hair this week.  As much as I love our girl Althea, I do not miss waking up with hair all over when I'm trying to sleep.
(20)  I'm grateful that I haven't yet seen a snake on any of my runs.  I've been very nervous all week that one is going to peak out at me.  Let's hope I make it for the rest of the week without an encounter.

Whew...twenty in one night is tough.  Until tomorrow...

Grateful Day #21

Greetings on a Tuesday & Grateful Day #21.  We spent the day in Animal Kingdom here at Disney.  Here's my top ten for the day:
(1)  I'm grateful for the Boneyard at Disney's Animal Kingdom.  MIS had a ball running around and digging up "bones."  She really was ready to be out of the backpack and mobile.  It was fun to run around with her.
(2)  I'm grateful for pina coladas at the pool.  I hadn't had a pina colada since Scottie & I were in Mexico years ago.  It was delicious and MIS ate our pineapples.  She loved those.
(3)  I'm grateful for being with Grandparents who I know are taking pictures.  There is a certain amount of pressure I feel as a parent to capture the moments in MacKenzie's life.  When I'm with my parents or Scott's parents, I feel a little less of that pressure because they take great pictures.
(4)  I'm grateful for the new book I'm reading by Adam Mitzner.  It's called "Conflict of Interest."  Having finished the last Stieg Larson book, I was really hoping for another great read.  I'm enjoying it so far and he refers to "Mr. Brown Can Moo."  Made me smile.
(5)  I'm grateful for being able to watch MIS sleep a bit more than normal this week.  We are very disciplined with her sleep schedule and we also don't allow her to sleep with us.  So, I very rarely am "up close" and personal watching her sleep.  This week we are sharing a room and she's also had a few naps in my arms which is highly unusual.  We won't make it a habit, but I do love watching her sleep.  She is so incredibly peaceful and sweet.
(6)  I'm grateful for USA Today.  It's just a fun newspaper and because I only really read it when I travel, it reminds me of traveling.  I also love their crossword puzzle.  It's challenging enough to be fun, but not so brutal that I have to give up.
(7)  I'm grateful for Runners World.  I was able to read my copy yesterday during nap time.  I just love that there is a magazine that is all about running.  Love it.  I do miss the Penguin's articles though.  I'd vote for him to come back.
(8)  I'm grateful for Michigan gear.  I have seen more of it this week than I have in a long time.  Every time I see someone in a U of M shirt I smile.  Go blue.
(9)  I'm grateful for the new books that Grandma Margie got for MIS:  "What am I?" and "I Howl, I Growl."  She's a big fan of both and it's really nice to have a book to read that I haven't memorized.
(10)  I'm grateful for all of the cool animals we saw today on the safari "ride."  I just love seeing animals.  The baby elephant was my favorite.

Sorry for no pictures again on this post.  The internet connection here is brutal and it's been all I can do to get the posts complete.
Until tomorrow...

Grateful Day #20

Grateful Day #20
Greetings on a Monday. Here's the list for today:
(1)  I'm grateful for MIS having a good nap today.  She really needed good sleep and she got it.
(2)  I'm grateful for the collaborative efforts of credit unions.  It really is wonderful how willing credit union folks are to share.
(3)  I'm grateful for balloons.  MIS's cousins brought her balloons and she was so tickled.  Hysterical.
(4)  I'm grateful for my vegetable sandwich today.  Delicious dinner.
(5)  I'm grateful for not seeing alligators today.  Scottie & Jeff saw one when golfing.  I really hope I don't see one.
(6)  I'm grateful for the ESPN restaurant. I'm not sure what we would've had for dinner if it weren't for them. Yeah.
(7)  I'm grateful for our friendly waitress.  She was very kind and it helped make our dinner.
(8)  I'm grateful for pedicures.  I need one and am hoping I'll get one soon.
(9)  I'm grateful for Dumbo.  MIS loves Dumbo and all elephants.
(10)  I'm grateful for water bottles.  MIS loved playing with them while we waited.  Fantastic.

Grateful Day #19

Greetings from Grateful Day #19 which is also our second day in Florida.  Here's the top ten list for today:
(1)  I'm grateful for cheese & crackers.  Stearns & I used to have wine, cheese & crackers once a week before MIS arrived.  We had it tonight with the Stearns clan.  Simple. Delicious.

(2)  I'm grateful for MIS loving the characters at the character lunch.  She was so pleased to see Pooh, Tiger and Piglet.  She tried to kiss Pooh and Tiger and had a high five for them all.

(3)  I'm grateful for finding a Publix.  We really needed some of MIS' staple foods and we weren't finding them at Whole Foods.  Publix did the trick.

(4)  I'm grateful for the baby pool.  MacKenzie had such a great time tonight.  Dumbo was spraying into the water and she loved it.  She was enjoying splashing me in the face.  Every time she splashed me she roared with laughter.  Awesome.
(5)  I'm grateful for the hot tub.  I was so cold after the baby pool and it felt so good to be warm.  It also completely relaxed MacKenzie.  Awesome all the way around.
(6)  I'm grateful for making it back alive after my run this morning.  There was a pretty intense thunderstorm and I had a branch drop on my head.  It was slightly frightening.  It felt good to get back without any major injury.

(7)  I'm grateful for our cousin Chris' ice cream bowl and spoon.  Licking his spoon and bowl kept her happy for nearly 30 minutes today.  It also made most of us laugh for about that same amount of time.
(8)  I'm grateful for the coffee Dana made today.  It was so much better than the crappy coffee Scott tried to get for us.  Delicious.  Caffeine.
(9)  I'm grateful for naturally curly hair.  As much as I've fought it all my life, it's nice to be able to make a choice and wear it either way.
(10)  I'm grateful for how sweet MIS looked when she crashed in the backpack after the character lunch.  Darling.  Peaceful.

Until tomorrow:  Cheers!

Grateful Day #18

Greetings on Grateful Day #18 from Walt Disney World.  Here's my list for today:
(1)  I'm grateful to be sitting down.  It's been a long day.
(2)  I'm grateful that MacKenzie enjoyed licking Shirley Temple off of straws at dinner.  It was the thing that finally settled her down.

(3)  I'm grateful to Faye for sharing her Shirley Temple so pleasantly.  What a sweet kid.

(4)  I'm grateful for our iPad.  It made flying with a 17 month old (almost) manageable.
(5)  I'm grateful for there being two parents for travel.  It was vastly easier than it could have been if I were doing it on my own.
(6)  I'm grateful for sweet potato fries  Sam shared a few with me and it was the highlight of my dinner.
(7)  I'm grateful to our waiter at dinner being so observant of my need to basically take in diet coke intravenously.  He is my hero.
(8)  I'm grateful for being at Disney World for the first time since I was four.  I'm excited to be here.

(9)  I'm grateful grandma Marge bringing fun new summery clothes for MIS.  I'm hopeful that because they are 24 month sizes that she'll be able to wear them this summer too.  Grandma's rock.
(10)  I'm grateful being able to run without gloves tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to it.
This traveler is a bit weary.  Until tomorrow...