evidently, my blog and facebook updates have been quite worrisome to a few of you out there, which is totally flattering and super cute. but here i am! happy and chipper again! this TMJ will not get the best of me (even though it's bringing me to my knees with the intense pain...and no- i have.not.seeked.medical.attention...that's for you people who love to tease me about my lack of medical interventions).
so i bring to you...
my gratitude list!
* humongous salads filled with green apples, baby spinach, nuts, feta, craisins, black beans, croutons, and a whole bunch of other delicious stuff. healthy? not so much. but delicious!
* lulu walking! and now she's trying to run, which is totally hysterical and will certainly end up in a broken bone at some point. seeing a 10 month old walk is really funny- looks like it shouldn't be happening. and if you ask me, IT SHOULDN'T. how is this possible?
* gray's two ginormous front teeth
* joey sleeping on the couch under the christmas tree
* beef stew on the stove
* the best kinds of visitors this week, bringing gifts of calzones, gelato, a bouquet of flowers, fall flavored breads, painting supplies, a new bar of soap, babies, listening ears, and love
* the end of crazy PMS
* l.j. smith's new vampire series
* the forecast of a bit of snow tomorrow night
* checking my mailbox for christmas cards every day (you might say i'm sort of a junkie)
* real emails from friends that make me feel not alone
* real friends showing up with open arms making me feel not crazy
* using hot cups of tea as hotpacks for my face
* waking up at 2am every morning, going downstairs, turning on the christmas tree, and laying down and looking at all the ornaments like a complete dork
* family-time that we call "church"
* being on-call for a birth that promises to be magical. as stressful (sitter-wise) that being on-call can be, there's something really exciting about waiting for the phone to ring, letting me know that mama and baby are ready to rock
* have i mentioned that i think twinkle lights on my headboard equals therapy?
* leaving in a minute or two for the bus stop and taking the kids on an afterschool adventure to meet santa in haverhill, which is just sort of funny if you know haverhill.
* seeing lulu on the floor right now pretending to read jack kerouac.
* vintage pillowcases
* homemade fudge. and brownies. and fudge brownies.
* sweet sweet 6pm bedtime. xx
you were santa hats and gatherings with family:
you were thrifting:
you were full of celebrations, including a birthday for a special four year old boy:
you were crafty:
you were nutcrackery (thank you mom!):
you were homemade marshmallows:
and cooking with family:
you were full of friends and love:
you were handmade lotion:
and ornaments:
and lots of sewing on the machine:
you were kitschy:
and resourceful:
and full of simple creations:
and also filled with lots of naps by the christmas tree (and red cheeks):
you were fires outside in the snow, just because:
you were sledding:
but when you get down to the bare bones of it, december, you were pure love. 
