New Favorite Site

Grooveshark is my new favorite website.  For those of you who like internet radio and have used something like Pandora in the past, Grooveshark is so much better and has the capability to really manage the music you like! 

Blessed

I have the most amazing in-laws and extended family on Mike's side.  This post has nothing to do with my family, they are awesome too, but my in-laws deserve some special recognition for all they do for us.

Last Friday Griffin came down with a little cough, and it continued throughout the weekend.  He was totally fine, playing well, eating well and I took him to daycare on Monday morning.  At 1pm I received a call that he had a temperature and I headed out to pick him up immediately.  Griffin's daycare has a policy that he cannot return until he's been fever free without the aid of Tylenol or Motrin for 24 hours.  Being that it was already afternoon I knew I'd be out of the office Monday and Tuesday for sure.  I called Mike's mom to tell her that Griffin was sick.  She likes to know so she can worry more effectively for her grandson.  She told me that Mike's dad had Tuesday off from work and they would happily jump in the car and drive down.  Which they did.  My father in law drove 6 hours to our house, slept, and drove 6 hours back home.  On top of this he is driving back down on Monday to spend a week with us. 

When you marry into a family you are never sure what kind of craziness you might be surrounded by.  If I have said it once, I've said it a million times.  My in-laws, and the entire family of siblings, grandparent, aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family beyond them are so generous, kind and amazing.  I am so blessed to ahve them in my life, and in Griffin's life.  Thank you for all you do!

Give

Haiti.  Enough said.  Dig deep, give as much as you can.  Help those less fortunate than yourselves.  We made our donation.  Go ahead, make yours!

Swoon

Clive Owen is in town and was having lunch two blocks from my office.  I love him and hope I can see him on the street while he is in town filming a movie.  I LOVE that Ann Arbor has become so popular to film movies in.  I think there are three currently being filmed here.  It's fun to see celebrities walking around town!

Planning for Christmas...Early!

Halloween just finished and I know we're still weeks away from Thanksgiving, but I've been giving a lot of thought to Christmas this year already.  I absolutely love buying gifts for my friends and family and take pride in find the "perfect" gift.  Having an energetic toddler and trying to shop for more than a few minutes does not mix, and with Mike's very unpredictible schedule, I rarely get time to shop for non-essentials or Griffin related items.  This is especially true right now with Mike's schedule, so I will be doing what I can this year.

While I will be buying some gifts this year, I am also striving to incorporate as many handcrafted, sentimental and non-commercial items as possible.  It might be easier to shop online and pick out gifts quickly, but I want those who receive these items to know that I was thinking just of them while creating it just for them. 

I have an especially great gift to some members of my family and I can't wait to share it with them!  It's an idea I've been playing around with for three or four years now, but have finally figured out a good way to implement it. 

Movies I Have to Watch

There are a few movies that I absolutely have to watch if I see they are on t.v.  These include off the top of my head:

Footloose
Sixteen Candles
Sabrina (the Julia Ormond / Harrison Ford version)
Lorenzo's Oil
Pretty in Pink
The Notebook
A Christmas Story
The Fugitive

Randomness

I'm taking a little inspiration from the Simple Woman's Day Book below:

Outside my window... beautiful vibrant fall leaves

I am thinking... I should really start on all of those homemade presents for Christmas

I am thankful for... being able to get Griffin his H1N1 shot

I am wearing... gray cuffed pants, navy short sleeved sweater and ballet flats

I am remembering... some fun childhood memories of me and my brother

I am going... to Old Navy tomorrow to pick up $2 Halloween costumes to put in a play dress up area for Griffin

I am reading... Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult

I am hoping... the snow won't come early this year, I am enjoying Fall wall too much

On my mind... looking forward to visiting family in Fargo over Thanksgiving

Noticing that... our office bought WAY too much Halloween candy, we have about 20 bags left around here

Pondering these words... "A baby is born with a need to be loved - and never outgrows it."  Welcome to the world Oakley John.  I can't wait to meet you!

From the kitchen... Apple Crisp (this weekend)

Around the house... installing new doorknobs in the basement