what are YOU thankful for?

In the wintertime, things are gloomy. 

The sun hardly comes out, the kids are stuck indoors therefore driving eachother (and me) crazy, the house starts smelling musty no matter HOW well and how often you clean it, etc. 

It's cold, dreary and gloomy out.  I ACHE for springtime, I even planted an herb garden and it's starting to grow.  I know it's a bit premature, but at least my oregano has little teeny leaves on it!

I find myself being grouchy.  I'm irritated that the kids are out of school for the second day this week...seriously are they EVER in school?? I'm irritated it's raining/snowing outside and my head seriously hurts.  Rather than complain, I wanted to share 5 things that I'm grateful for today...

1) Nick Jr.--it makes it possible for me to BLOG this morning!

2) Good friends--they pick me up when I need it most while simultaneously answering a prayer.

3) My super-huge green chair--Otherwise I'd have NO place to put all the clean laundry that needs to be folded and put away. 

4) My FRIENDS episodes on DVD-- I always have one playing to keep me company.  Could I BE any more obsessed?


5) Bon Jovi CDs-- Upbeat, uplifting and always inspires me.  Thanks be to Josh Hobbs back in 11th grade for starting my collection.

Okay, not so gloomy anymore.
What are YOU thankful for?

the pellet with the poison...

Mystery person revealed...

Danny Kaye!

He could say tongue-twisters faster and better than anyone I've ever heard and had a beautiful singing voice.  I love all of his movies and grew up reciting "The Pellet with the Poison" routine.  He's amazing!

I'll gladly lend my Court Jester or The Secret Life of Walter Mitty for those of you who haven't seen his work! Better yet, come over this weekend and we'll do a movie night!

your challenge, if you chose to accept...

Identify the mystery person!

Here are the stipulations:
-No GOOGLING, NO BINGING, NO looking up the facts.
-Give me your honest-to-goodness guesses of who my mystery person is.

Here are 10 clues:
1) He was one of the original owners of the Seattle Mariners baseball team

2) He would have been 97 on his birthday, which is this week

3) He is a talented singer, actor, pilot and chef

4) He is one of my favorite people, although I've never met him

5) He was married to his wife for 47 years and had one child

6) He was told early in his career that his nose was too big and he'd NEED to have plastic surgery.  He refused so to take the focus off of his nose, his hair was always dyed lighter.  He has blonde/redish hair in all of his roles.

7) The musical "The Kid From Brooklyn" chronicles his life

8) He served as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and is known for his charity work

9) He conducted the Philharmonic Orchestra with his FEET at Carnegie Hall

10) He never used understudies

(Here's a bonus hint...his birthname is David Daniel Kaminski)

Okay...can you guess it? I'll reveal the mystery guest tomorrow...GOOD LUCK! And please, NO PEEKING! Give it your BEST shot!!

all about ryanna

From the mouth of Ryanna:

Favorite color-- "Um, purple, pink, red and blue."

Favorite food-- "Um, vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup and add a strawberry on top just for fun!"

Favorite song-- "Momma Mia by that beautiful singer named Abba." (yep, haven't mentioned to her that it's actually a GROUP!)

(Ryanna performing at half-time after her Sweet Liberty Dance camp!)

Favorite book-- "I have too many.  I'm spoiled! Junie B. Jones series, The Classroom at the End of the Hall is a good one right now."

Favorite friend-- "Mitchell.  You already knew that, Mom!"

Favorite memory-- "Having Carter in our family when he was born up in Moscow."

Favorite stuffed animal-- "Peppermint.  My big furry polar bear from Grandmother Velta and Papa."

Favorite dinner food-- "Pizza with JUST cheese on it."

Favorite school activity-- "Drawing time.  Because you get to draw whatever you want and afterwards you get to color it."

Favorite after-school activity-- "Chess Club.  If I still had dance, I'd say dance, but I can't so I won't."

(this is at Ryanna's chess tournament last week! Her first one!)

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? 

"CHINA because Grammie went there and I want to learn Chinese."

What are you going to be when you grow up?

"A teacher because I love learning and I love teaching."

Where do you want to live when you grow up?

"In a mansion that owns a hotel; that has an indoor swimming with two billion rooms in the hotel."

(her ribbon she brought home from her tournament!)

What famous person would you like to meet?

"Taylor Swift because he's a beautiful singer and I love to sing."

What instrument do you wish you could play?

"Violin."

Which book are you reading right now?

"Harry Potter... the second book."

Love you RYANNERS!!! You're a great kid!