Crafting Together

Today is my mom's birthday. Happy Birthday, Mom!

It is from my mom and my grandmothers that I learned to craft. I remember making stuff for as long as I can remember. Grandma S. used to knit and crochet. I still have 2 pairs of mittens she knit for me back in the 1980s. She taught me to crochet granny squares. Grandma A. was more into glitter and glue. Over the years, we made a lot of different Christmas ornaments out of all sorts of styrofoam and beads. Mom would sew and crochet mostly. She also did some embroidery.

While none of them were particularly into cross stitching or rubber stamping, it is from them that I learned my love of crafting. I've started doing easy projects with the girls, to get them interested too. To that end, the three of us made these cards. The girls helped stamp the leaves and acorns. L. at first didn't want to share her paper. She wanted to stamp only red leaves on her paper. We finally convinced here to pass the paper around, and so produced the following background paper.

Today, I am thankful for being able to craft, especially with my family.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

Campfires (AMOT 22)

Today, I am thankful for campfires (or "fire camps" as the girls call them).

My MIL held a meet-and-greet for us today. Some of the extended family came as well as some of the neighbors. Also included were her beau's kids and grandkids. I wasn't sure how this was going to go, but we all got along and found common ground. It was fun, and the little ones had a grand time meeting all their new "cousins".

In the evening, DH built a campfire (in one of those free-standing fire pit contraptions). I *love* campfires. We even had s'mores. The smell of campfires always brings back memories of my grandparents, Girl Scout camping, and summers with my family. They make me happy, and it was a great way to end the day.

AMOT 21

The girls are having a grand time in SATX visiting my MIL. They're having fun exploring a new house and running around a huge backyard. (We have a narrow yard in DC.) They're also having fun helping with household chores, like sweeping the deck.

Today, we spent most of the afternoon and evening at SeaWorld. This was their first real amusement park. Fortunately, the National Aquarium in Baltimore had given them a glimpse of what this would be like, so it wasn't overwhelming. Plus, there weren't many people at the park today.

Today, I'm thankful that my girls are adaptable. They like exploring. They're open to new things: new places, new foods, new people. They are very much go-with-the-flow kids, except, perhaps, when Mom says "no" to bringing home the Shamu stuffed animal when they're extremely tired at the end of a really long day. I am grateful that they adjust to things very quickly and enjoy new experiences.

Flying (AMOT 20)

Sunday, we took the girls on their first plane rides. It was a direct flight from Dulles to San Antonio, and everything -- and I do mean everything -- went smoothly. It's remarkable. The thing I am most thankful for today is being able to share in such a grand adventure with my daughters and recapture that sense of excitement and wonder that children have.

Gettysburg Address

148 years ago, Abraham Lincoln stood at the cemetery at Gettysburg and gave his most famous speech. 13 years ago, I took my first professional job as an archivist. Among the many experiences I've had, being able to hold this copy of the Gettysburg Address in my hands and share it with visitors to the archives ranks at the top.

I am thankful to be in my profession, which is endlessly fascinating.

AMOT 18

Today I am grateful for search engines. They make finding obscure information and items so much easier.

Charity (AMOT 15-17)

I'm in charge of my office's fall charity campaign this year. It's been a lot of work.

On Tuesday, we had a chili sale. I am thankful for everyone who participated in the event, but most especially for my coworkers who volunteered to cook and serve the chili. Volunteers are awesome!

On Wednesday, several of my coworkers turned in their pledge forms. I am thankful for their generous contributions.

On Thursday, we hosted "Denim Days". My office has a formal dress code, and so this was an easy way to raise a few dollars for charity, by allowing staff to come to work in jeans and pay for the privilege. I am thankful for all the people who got into the spirit of the event and had fun with it. (And nothing can beat a low-cost, low-effort fundraiser!)