The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

It's autumn. Contrary to the popular Christmas song, I believe the fall is the most wonderful time of the year. And while I LOVE Christmas, Thanksgiving holds it's own in our family. My mom makes everything special. She is an advocate of the Norman Rockwell way of life. It's not only about looking good with her, though. We MUST have fun.

This is a picture of my Grandpa Reneer. Oh, how I miss him. In the case that you are wondering, yes that is a bingo card. Mom made up this game a really long time ago called Turkey Bingo. She wraps up all these presents and stacks them just out of reach. Really, it looks like Christmas has come early! When you call "Bingo" you get to pick a present. Some of the gifts have a turkey in them or a turkey sticker on them somewhere. If you get a turkey, you get to "steal" another gift that you've been coveting in your sister's pile. You know the one that she's trying futilely to hide under her chair. This is the one time of the year that my ex came in handy. He ALWAYS got the turkeys and he always let me choose how he would "spend" the turkey. (It's good to remember the good times, too.) My brother-laws-can get quite obnoxious, but no one is more competitive than me when it comes to this game. We all kiss and make up in the end, though. It kind of makes you want to be part of my family, doesn't it?
This was 2004, we had just bought the house and Mom and Dad where living an apartment while their house was being finished. So, I got to host. I had fun being an amateur Martha Stewart, but Mom's shoes are HARD to fill. She always makes it look so easy. (I'm sitting here crying as I type. Calla just came in and asked if I needed a hug.) I'm kind of a neurotic control freak when I'm in charge of doing stuff like this. If I remember correctly, Brian (my ex) spent the day in bed puking. I think he was probably sick of me bossing him around. I never said I was perfect. This is Molly at age 3. She still missed her old house at this point. I loved this outfit from Target. Once she grew hair, she was the cutest thing ever. She's probably sitting here thinking, "My mom is a control freak. I hope I don't spill anything today."

My beautiful, blogging, coupon cutting, sister, Annie, sitting here with

her hubby Brian.Here's Joni, the Arlene of this trio of sisters (if you get that one, let me know). She's always the fashion icon at our gatherings, even in jeans and a tee. She drives a Ford-F350 with a gun rack in the back. Don't mess with this debutante.

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I'm looking forward to the fall and winter with my kids, my family and friends, new and old.

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9/11

Seven years ago today, we were eating leftover chili in our pajamas, with our eyes glued to the tele. Calla's soccer game got cancelled and Brian didn't have to go to work. I still can't go downtown without seeing a plane running into a building. That day was one of the worst days of my life. More foundations than those of the twin towers where obliterated that day.

smooch