Holidays + Family = Tradition

Tis the season

"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day.  Don't clean it up too quickly."  

Andy Rooney

This year I spent a lot of time with my students talking about traditions. It went along with a unit we were studying, Charles Dickens, The Christmas Carol. As a child, even as an adult I wasn't a huge fan of this story. But, it did force me to look back into my own memories and think about the traditions our family has always had - - isn't that what the point of Christmas is about?

Today my family and I started to prepare for our traditional family Christmas Eve get together. I cannot think of a Christmas Eve when our family didn't gather at one of our homes, make too much food, laugh at life, and enjoy the gift given to us - our family. This, of course, got me thinking about the past. Christmas has always been such a warm memory for me. It is always "home" in the utmost meaning of the word. 

When my sisters and I were younger, my favorite memories always involved the being smashed into a bed with my sisters waiting for the perfect time to wake my parents up. We would yell at the top of our lungs that we were ready to get up...even if it was 5 AM in the morning. My parents would yell back that we had to go to back to sleep. It always seemed that we would do as we were told, and then my parents would come and wake us up. Of course, we had to wait in the bedroom until Mom had a chance to go and turn on the tree lights, set up the video camera, eat a cookie, and turn on the fireplace. My sisters and I would wait anxiously until we were told we could emerge. Our gifts would be set up in piles according to child. We always got a gift that was for all three of us. We would rush to rip open our goodies, share in delight at what Santa had brought, and watch as my mom chased behind us with trash sack picking up our wrapping paper messes. After gift were opened, Dad would always make us his special scrambled eggs breakfast with cinnamon rolls. 

As we got older, our families grew, but we always stayed so close. Unfortunately, every other year we would lose our little ones to the dreaded "exes". Although I have always absolutely adored having the little ones around, the years that we didn't have them always became a different tradition. We would still have an awesome Christmas Eve with the kids. But, at 8 PM they would leave. We would go to midnight mass at our church, and the everyone would come and spend the night at my parents house. We would light a fire in the fireplace. My parents would go to bed, but my sisters and their husbands would stay the night. We spread out all over the family room - pillows, blankets, and giggling until we would all fall asleep. We would wake up early, eat breakfast, open gifts and then begin working on the big Christmas dinner. Being the youngest of my sisters, and with the age difference with us, having this was incredible to me. I loved these family traditions. 

Our traditions have changed yet again, but the part that remains the same is that my family is together. Christmas Eve is still for the family to get together for our big event. We have begun making a theme for our meals...last year we had a fiesta...burritos, cheese enchiladas, homemade salsa...yum. This year is Italian! Our family has grown so much that the 10 and under kids get individual gifts and the rest of us have drawn names for families/households. I drew my nieces, Jordan and Jordyn. I am looking forward to seeing them open their gifts. We are also playing the white elephant game, and, of course, I am hoping my brother-in-law gets mine because he will LOVE it! I am looking forward to eating too much, taking a lot of pictures of my family together, and feeling the love we have for each other. It is the best night of the year. 

After the festivities at my sister's house, we will travel back into Vegas. I will spend the night at my parents house. It becomes like a mini slumber party, we get Mason ready for bed, hope Santa comes, and snuggle down for our long winter nap. The morning will be quiet, but exciting as Mason still believes. With that innocence, it's hard to not get caught up in the magic. Breakfast will be on Dad again, scrambled eggs! I love that coming home is like never having left home. It's as sweet as it was always meant to be. Below are some memories from last year. 

Merry Christmas from CoachB! 

Mason putting frosting on his cookies

Grant, my brother-in-law, always has the beer

The little boys playing the Wii

The family eating and hanging out

Jennifer and my other brother in law tormenting the baby

Big Red and Baby Kennedy

Baby Kennedy is just chillen

Our neighborhood does this for our streets

Cookie time and Santa note time

Sleep sweet

Deciding where to go first! The tree or the pile?

Mason and I playing around with Max

Gorgeous boy!

The Thomas Family

Me and my mom in matching night gowns...slumber party time.

My late night trouble makers

Good times, great memories.

Settling?

"Settlin" by one of my favorite country groups, Sugarland, is a great song that I feel describes my life. I know, it's so cliche to feel like a song is written for you, but I can't help but to think that it is...and perhaps it's written for every single person out in the world searching for "the one". 

Love? An interesting four letter word that surrounds us everyday, but is seems to suffocate us during certain times of the year...like now. I'm not cynical, I swear. I love my friends and family; I have been in love before. It's just that it seems that this time of year...until, I don't know, February, the word love and relationships take on a whole new meaning. Next year I'm going to be 29, which is really close to 30 and I can't help but look around me and think that this word and the pressure society has put on us to fall in love has taken on a different role in my life. I dread New Years because there never seems to be anyone I want to kiss at the strike of midnight, and please don't get me started on the upcoming Valentine's Day! Ack!

Let me explain. I'm a single and find my independence to be crucial. I've never been taught to just settle for anything. I fight for what I want; I work hard for the things in my life, and I take the matter of love very seriously. But, like a lot of people I fell to the society pressure...find love. In this day and age, you'd think that people would have it out of their heads that you have to be settled down and married by a certain age. Hasn't the term, "old hag" or "spinster" become obsolete? But either way, I was approaching the age of 25, and for whatever reason I was convinced that being in love and getting married was something I had to do. So, I began dating a guy and forced it to be the perfect situation. It was far from perfect, but 9 months into the relationship I agreed to marry this person. I was planning the perfect wedding to the most imperfect person. Reality hit me about 3 months from the wedding and I ended the engagement. It didn't stop me from thinking that I needed to keep searching. The next couple of years I searched and searched, and became miserable in the area of love. I don't know what hit me or how it hit me, but I realized that forcing a relationship isn't the answer. I needed to find who I was in order to find the one that could love me. Wow! Talk about a reality check. I'm a different person now. I look around at my life, and I am happy. I have a career that I love; I have a supportive family, amazing friends, and I am accomplished. I have been able to take care of myself, and whether someone came into my life right now or not, my happiness would not change. I wouldn't allow another person to take away something I have worked so hard to get, they would need to enhance my life. I don't search for that person anymore. I don't go out to look specifically for a significant other. I guess I just feel like if it was meant to be then that person would walk into my life.

This doesn't stop this "issue" from being apart of my life though. I look around and I know I am not alone. Most of my friends are in the same situation. I have several friends that have gone through break up after break up, divorces, and bad match.com dates. We are given stories like Online Dating Dangers and 36 Things Every Single Girl Must Do. What do we do with these things? It's like we, the females, are expected to make the changes. We walk on egg shells around what is expected of us. People pity us because we haven't found "a nice guy" to settle down with. What is that? Shouldn't we be commended for taking a stand on what we want, and not becoming another marriage statistic gone bad?

I have often wondered if we (woman seeking decent men) are asking too much? But, then I remember that we should never have to settle and I can't help but think that society needs to step it up to our standards. I look at myself and my best friends and think, there is no way that we aren't good enough for someone. I guess what I am really saying, in this mess of a babble, is that we are the normal ones. We are waiting and holding out for the right one...whatever or whoever that might be. With so many other pressures in this world, why should something as wonderful as love be included in on that list?

Just a few thoughts...

Baby, it's cold outside...

December 19th...Sunday...almost 5 pm...and I am finally relaxed.

I was reminded, ever so sweetly, by my mother that I had not updated my blog since August. And, with good reason...I swear. It has been a hectic year, and the changes that have occurred at the school I am currently teaching at has kept me moving from the start of school until this very moment. I won't dwell on the work situation because there isn't anything I can do about it, right? It's just a means to an end, and when I am having a day like today, I can't quite complain.

Let me set you the scenario...the weather in Las Vegas has been cloudy, dark, and windy. I am sitting in my nice clean house, with the lights from my Christmas tree and Christmas decorations glowing, and the sweet scent of my favorite candles are filling the room with my favorite Christmas smells - pine tree and cinnamon. The TV is set to Lifetime's Fa-la-la-la Christmas movie marathon, I am snuggled under my favorite pink blanket on my favorite spot on the couch, and I know that I have freedom for 2 weeks. I haven't left my little sanctuary all day, and I don't plan on it. This is a much needed rest as I prepare myself for the upcoming 2011 and what it has in store for me. I am happy at this moment.

Christmas Tree 2010

You know me and my need to list things to remind me of all that I am grateful for. Winter season is no different...

1. My family - Lord knows that if it wasn't for them, I would be a complete basket case by now. Times have been tough, I have been cranky, and they haven't stopped supporting me.

My family in Nelson, Nevada

2. My best friends - the group is small, but we are close. I can't imagine getting through the times, good or bad, without them by my side.

Me and my girls at BWW, December 2010

3. Building a relationship with my sister - our road has been bumpy but getting past those things has been important. I missed her when we weren't close. She makes me laugh, and I love that I can call her my friend again.

Gotcha...eating! HAHA

4. Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia frozen yogurt - my treat, my companion on stressful days.

Yummy

5. Kennedy Michelle  - for being extra naughty and making me laugh on a regular basis

Little Kenny, behaving for a second...

6. Mac and Cheese - my comfort food. 

7. Hugs - I can't believe how much I need them right now. I've always loved them, but right now they are essential to my existence - the bigger the hug, the better.

8. Basketball - from my girls at the middle school to my boys in Boston - I LOVE THIS GAME!

Big Baby, #11 is my love

9. Photography - my escape. Thank you to the families and friends that have allowed me to be apart of their family for a few hours and capture their memories.

The list isn't as long, but it's a start. I'm going to sign off now and enjoy my stressful evening. Let's get this new year going....

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

Frustration. Yep. That would describe where I'm at on a certain subject. What subject is that? Body. Size. Health. Body Image. I know, I know. It's the main subject/topic for a lot of people. I know I'm just hitting a bumpy spot and that I need to push through, but there are some days that are just so hard!

It is so much easier to put on the weight than it is to lose the weight! It certainly didn't happen over night. Should have seen me in high school! Going to the gym was a daily routine, as was tanning and I can only say....DAMN I LOOKED GOOD!

In the black, senior prom, April 2000

Then college came along. Hello beer, fast food drive thru, cramming food while cramming for classes. Would I change a minute of it? Nope, not a chance. It wasn't just the freshman 15, it was the 4 year 40! Well, maybe not 40, but I did fluctuate with my weight on and off during college. But, again it was easier because I was *dreaded thought* YOUNGER and things seemed to come off a little faster...

My BFF and I in San Francisco

With the same BFF a year later, with a few more added muffins

Graduating college meant that I had to grow up, and with that I thought my health sort of went along with it. But, it doesn't happen like that. I got my first real job and, of course, discovered the joy of going out to lunch with my friends. The weight has come on and I'm leaving the 20's tunnel and heading into the 30's, and this crap just isn't as easy as it used to me. Getting a full time job, eventually taking a job teaching, and then coaching plus having friends and family leaves very little time left in a day. During the school year, there are some days that I work 12 hours between games, practice and just classroom stuff; I come home to papers to grade, lessons to plan, and the end result is complete exhaustion. Wait, I know exactly what this post needs...

to accompany my bad case of....

This truly isn't the reason for my post. But, I thought that background was needed to understand me better. Being tired isn't an excuse to stop taking care of yourself. I know this. In the last 2 years my health has become an issue and my weight and activity have become more of a concern, again that getting older thing comes back to haunt me. My first scare was high blood pressure. I even was hospitalized because it was so high, dehydration had a lot to do with that, but the fact is that it scared me. My dad and his family has a history of heart disease. My grandmother died in her 60's from a heart attack, my father had a stint put in his artery to prevent some blockage and he also developed diabetes. The odds are really against me when it comes to this part, as I can't change my genes...but I can change my jeans!

Last April a friend of mine convinced me it was time to take a gym class together. I wasn't really into it; I had a routine, and classes make me uncomfortable. But, she was into it, she had been really working hard, so I was suckered into joining. We decided to take a Zumba class from our neighborhood rec center. It was one night a week for an hour and a half. O.M.G, I almost died! I was sweating and working parts of my body I had no clue worked anymore. But, I felt pretty good afterwards, and the best part was that I had so much fun. Going and working out with a friend is so much better than working out by yourself and we laughed so hard. We had recruited several more friends to go, and it was a party. I began to look forward to the weekly class...what? Liking a workout? So NOT me!

My good friend, the same one that convinced me that taking the first class was a great idea, was talking me into joining a gym. The pressure was on. My friends were going to start taking classes together at the gym, but did I really want to make that commitment (Geez, I spend more money on mindless things, yet I'm worrying about $22 a month). I also worried that I wouldn't use the membership, but I joined anyway. Pretty soon, I was going to 2 or 3 classes a week, but only with my friends. Thankfully, my friends are really good at making me feel guilty, so I kept up with the gym, showing even when I didn't want to because I didn't want to let them down. The next thing you know, I'm going now even more and trying new classes, and going without my friends. I am up to 5 classes a week. I discovered kickboxing and an instructor who refuses to let people slide with bare minimum. I've been going consistently for 4 months. And, my confidence with going is higher. I don't depend on my friends anymore, so there's a step. Here is where my frustration comes in:

One of my instructors said last week...stop looking in the mirror. Look at what your body can do and be proud. Instead of saying, "my legs are fat," you should say,"my legs really helped me get through that last kickboxing class." Hm. That's an interesting thought, and I might try to start looking at it that way. Because at this point, I'm looking for anything to keep me motivated! Change is hard, and usually I do everything in my power to stop change. Although I know this healthy and a way of life that will be a positive change...I have to keep powering through. Perhaps a small montage of changes will help...

January 2009

March 2009

May 2009

June 2009

August 2009

November 2009

March 2010

April 2010

May 2010

June 2010

July 2010

I don't see much change in those pictures. Bottom line. I'm frustrated, but I'm keeping up. Thanks to my friend Erika and Alicia for forcing me into getting in shape and for being my gym buddies. Thanks to the best instructor, Ebony, for making me work harder each time. And a big thank you to the smaller pants hanging on my door as a reminder of what my goals are. 

Magical Express from Hell - The Vacation Story, Part 2

You would think that after getting to Orlando safely The Thomas Family vacation would be stress free. Traveling is never a great time, but the result is usually worth it. Not this time...

Saturday morning, Dad, who always wakes as soon as it's light out, came to wake the troops up. He did let us sleep until 9:00 AM, which is actually sleeping in for him. So, we begrudgingly move from our soft comfortable bed and begin dressing. Mason is out of sorts and feeling homesick. We take our time to try and get him adjusted. Being the Thomas family eating is, of course, the first thing on our list to do. We head down the never ending hallway and head to Mara. This is the counter service restaurant at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We are on the Disney family plan and we are entitled to 1 entree and a dessert. WooHoo! I am getting the Chicken Cesar Salad and a cheesecake, Mom and Dad are both getting the Turkey Ciabatta sandwich, the diabetic with fruit and one with cheesecake, and Mason with world class MAC AND CHEESE! Now with happy tummy's (or so we thought) we are heading to Epcot. On the way over to the park, Dad sort of grabs his stomach and states that his tummy was hurting. We discuss all the possible issues it could be (none of which need to be repeated), but we really think nothing of it. By the time we get past the security bag check, admire our picture contribution the walls and get through the line for our first Disney ride, Spaceship Earth, it is about 1:00 PM. Mom and Dad are in one car and Mason and I are in another. This is a slow moving ride that details our progression. In the end we get to place ourselves in our future world. We get to see our future pictures. Dad loves this part, but after the ride I noticed that he was gone. I asked my mother about it, and she told me that he didn't want to make a big deal about it, but that Dad wasn't feeling well and was heading back to the hotel.

This is Mom and Dad's future life. This will be the last photo we get of Dad for a couple of days! :(

Me and Mason in our future.

Dad doesn't want us to worry about him; however, how can you not worry about someone that is leaving because they don't feel well. We take Mason to the Innovations exhibit and allow him to play and explore. Mom spends time on the phone calling and texting Dad. At this point it is about 1:45 PM. The message we receive from Dad is that he is in more pain than he has ever been in and that he is calling 911. OK...panic is setting in. If anyone knows my dad, you'll understand why this is a big deal. This man doesn't complain about anything, and he doesn't go to doctors unless he absolutely has to. As quickly as we can we board the bus to head back to Animal Kingdom. OH.MY.GOD, this is the longest bus ride ever! We board the bus by 2:00 PM and it takes us nearly 30 minutes before we arrive at our stop. As we pull up, we see the ambulance in the front of the hotel. Is this really happening? Mom is going to stay out front by the ambulance and wait for Dad to come out. I am going to take Mason back up to the hotel. As we were going into the front door, Dad is being wheeled out on the gurney. He calls out our names, and Mason and I head over to say goodbye. He looks at me and sort of shrugs and tries to smile, and Mason gets a high five. Hardest thing in the world. We are in another state, away from our family, and our patriarch is down - that's not normal and it makes everything else seem off. But, we are going to power through, we are Thomas' after all. 

Dad is taken to Celebrations Medical Center, which is located off Disney property, in a ritzy neighborhood. Apparently, this is the place where they take tourists and celebrities. You might recognize the place...

Yep! It's the place that Tiger Woods was taken after his domestic incident....

Arriving at the hospital at at approximately, 2:30, Dad was immediately rushed into the emergency room. He was started in on an IV and had multiple tests being administered. He receives a CAT scan that reveals that he has a lower bowel intestinal blockage. There are 2 procedures that can be done, the 1st is to empty his stomach and see if the bowel will become unblocked. The other procedure would be surgery, it's high risk and not the most favored treatment. They go with the first option first. Dad has a nastrogastic tube put in, which was a completely traumatizing experience for both Dad and Mom. The procedure is having a tiny tube inserting from the nasal area into the stomach to remove fluids and gas and help relieve pain and pressure. Apparently there is  ALOT of fluid and gas because it takes 3 days before the nose tube is taken out and Dad filled an entire beaker of his stomach contents. We do communicate in the 4 days he is in the hospital. While Mom and Dad are at the hospital Mason and I will text pictures of what we are doing. And while Mom is with me and Mason, she texts Dad pictures of our dinners and what we are doing. In return, he sends pictures of himself, his jello, etc.

Here are some of those texted pictures:

The view from our hotel. Any animal in my view was sent to dad!

See, I told you I could get him to sleep just fine! 

Poor Daddy, with his tube, taking self portraits in the hospital. 

See Dad, I'm dressed for dinner!

Mason misses you!

Don't worry Dad, I'll order the lobster in your honor!

We miss our daddy!

On the home front, I try and make this the best possible time for Mason. After all, Dad doesn't want us to sit in the hotel room all day long. So, I take him to the pool where we play for an hour and half, I get him showered and settled down so that we order room service (big deal for a small person!) The kid is pretty exhausted the first day and I think the trauma took more out of him, but I am not going to let down and tomorrow we head off to MAGIC KINGDOM for the day. 

Mason is an angel. He is agreeable and wants to do everything I want, for the most part. I am working hard to make it fun, but it's hard without our other half. We start our day by getting hot dogs and french fries from Casey's baseball theme counter service. I devour mine and he picks as his. I start to feel worried! Maybe I'm doing well with this, the kids not eating. Maybe he'll be hungry soon. We actually made it through quite a bit of Magic Kingdom. We ride on Buzzlightyear, Autotopia, Tiki Birds, and the tree house. Mason claims to be starving, so we head back to the hotel where I prepare a feast of PB&J, baked lays and a chocolate donut for dessert. We have only an hour to rest before we have to go to dinner. And guess who surprises us? MOM! She comes back in time to join us. Wow, we have 3 out of the 4, and that makes us a little happier. Here are some pictures from that day!

While we were eating a mother and her baby ducks came by.

Mason is weary about all the duck attention. 

Our car for the ride.

We are waiting in line for Autotopia!

Mason waiting for me to quit taking forever.

Mom and Mason at the Captain's Grille at the Yacht Club,

Me on the boardwalk waiting on the boat.

Mom and Mason with the Epcot fireworks.

The lighthouse at the end of the boardwalk.

Mason chilling on the dock!

 

 

 

Day 3 Dad is improving so much more. He is able to start eating liquids and then even soft solids. His Xrays are coming back better each time. We are hoping for a release on Tuesday. Since there is nothing that can be done with Dad he sends Mom to be with the two kids, me and Mason. All Dad is going to do is drain his stomach, pass some gas and hope for something stronger. So, we venture off to Epcot again. Mason and I go on Ellen's Energy Adventure. And of course, Finding Nemo was important. Again, it was hard to be away from Dad, so I think that we were all in agreement to head back to the hotel.

Finding Nemo

Fish are friends not food.

Sending Mason off to School....

Outside the living seas

The EPCOT ball.

We don't have to worry about Dad anymore because he is released from the hospital on Day 4. He gets back later in the afternoon, so we force him to take it easy. However, the next day he was ready to go. He made the most of the 2 days he had left and we followed along nicely.

Taking our boat ride Ft. Wilderness.

Mason and Mom after dinner at Ft. Wilderness

Mason and I at Ft. Wilderness

A little photography time

A gorgeous evening in Florida

Daddy is back and ready to vaca!

The boys checking out the surroundings of the hotel.

My beautiful mom

Me

Looking great!

Mason looking his adorable self.

 So, the Thomas Family didn't have the best vacation ever. But, we did learn a few things. We learned that in times of need we have a lot of people that would do just about anything to help our family. We also learned that even when the going gets tough, we grab a hand, crack a joke and make it work because we love each other. And in the end, isn't that what is important?