In The Event of An Advent

I love advent calendars.  Adds to the antic-eee-pation of the season doesn't it?  When we were little my mom made the coolest advent calendars for us.

Now, bear in mind this is a copy and it dates back to 1994.  She drew the tree and put 31 "ornaments" on it.  We got to color in the tree but not the ornaments.  When we did what the ornament said... like, "Put out crumbs for the birds."  We put one of those circle dot stickers on it.  You know the ones, they come in red, green, blue, and yellow?  You get them in a pack of like 500 for seventy-five cents.  Yeah.  Those.  Then, at the end of the month your tree would be all decorated and your heart would be all warm from all the nice things you did.

Last night I whipped my own up.  Meaning I traced my Mom's tree but used my own handwriting to make one for my Activity Day girls.  I am only doing 25 ornaments.  (And I only filled in 20... they have to think of 5 ideas on their own.)  It'll take them right up to Christmas Day.  When the little Koley Fazoli gets big enough I'll do one for him too.  I think I'm going to try computerizing it.  So!  If you want to do it for your kiddos (young or old does not matter) here are the ideas my mom had on hers. 

1. Say "I Love You" to someone.
2. Make a Christmas card for your Primary teacher.
3. Surprise your sister by doing her after school job.
4. Use a happy voice all day long.
5. Draw a Christmas picture of your family.
6. List the good things that happened to you for 1994 in your journal.
7. Read or listen to a scripture story.
8. Write a thank-you note to a friend.
9. Share a smile with as many people as you can.
10. Thanks Heavenly Father for your blessings.
11. Help make the house look clean.
12. Write a Christmas letter to a missionary.
13. Say "Merry Christmas" to a neighbor.
14. Ask mom what you can do to help.
15. Do something nice for someone you don't know very well.
16. Make a gift to give as a surprise.
17. Do something nice for Dad.
18. Say something nice to a person you know.
19. Tell a friend why you like her or him.
20. Put out crumbs for the birds.
21. Write your feelings about Jesus in your journal.
22. Leave love notes for your mother and father.
23. Write a letter of thanks to the bishop.
24. Draw a picture and give it away.
25. Memorize a scripture and recite it for someone.
26. Clean your room really good.
27. Call Grandma Morelli.
28. Talk to someone who seems lonely.
29. Practice a Christmas hymn from the hymn book.
30. Make a list of ways you can be like Jesus for 1995.
31. Sing Christmas songs as you work.

Ma mere.

Now, don't fear, I'm not going all "how-to" on you.  I just love this idea.  And I remember being in 3rd grade and being really excited to get my whole tree full.  My Mom took her role so seriously.  I'm really glad I have a Mom that did that.  And a mom who saved all this stuff for when I need a good idea for Activity Days.

Season of Thanks

You know, Thanksgiving always gets me all sappy and sentimental.  I used to not be this way.  I would dread the dinner conversation of "What are You Thankful For?"  I don't know why I didn't like it.  Oh, yes I do!  I was emotionally closed in.  Or something Freudian or Melfi or something.
Maybe the old age is finally getting to me- but my cup truly overflows on Thanksgiving.  With gratitude.  And bubbly!
This year I am most grateful to be living with Ken again.  I remember thinking (and having people tell me) that once we are living together again and "it" is all behind us, I'll look back and see it just wasn't that long.  Well, maybe not enough time has passed yet... but I look back and go, "Whoa.  I can't believe it was that long.  How did we do that?"  Moving into the same house again and living in the same state was not easy for the first ________. Day?  Week?  Month?  It took patience and relearning about each other and negotiating and talking things out.  Which is still my weakest link.  But we did it.  And our marriage has solidified again.  Just beautifully.
I'm grateful for the Kole Bob.  He's really good to me.  Takes two naps a day.  Likes to snuggle.  Sings to the radio with me.  My favorite things about Kole right now?  Hmmmm.  He likes walking on his tip toes.  Which always makes him look eager.  And excited for what is next.  It's a good reminder.  He also sees any Santa Claus and yells, "Ho! Ho! Ho!"  Cute Central.  And finally, his long horns.  He have a field behind our place and there are two long horn cows out there.  I started putting two fingers up on either side of my head and saying "Longhorns!"  Then I charge Koley.  Now, he puts his hands on his head and yells, "Lollo!" and runs into the couch.  What a deary.
Finally, I am grateful to be blessed with another baby on the way.  I don't know how the heck it happened.  I mean I do... but... medically it shouldn't have been possible.  But according to the 5 pregnancy tests I took... I'm carrying another little cubber in there.
I have my first appointment next Tuesday and I'll get all the goods.  Like, how far along I am.  Because... I have no idea.  I know I'm somewhere in between conception and not-throwing-up-every-15- minutes.

Truly, lots to be grateful for.
Bring on that Bubbly!

Logo Logic

Last night Ken was wearing an Under Armour t-shirt.  Kole kept pointing to the logo and giggling.
"I think he likes this logo," Ken told me.
"Oh yeah, Koley?  You like that U and A?," I asked in my best, highest baby voice.
"That's not a U and an A,"  Ken informed me.
"Yes it is."
"No it's not."
"Okay," said I, "What do you think it is?"
"An H." Ken said with strong confidence.
"And what does it stand for?"
"Hero."

And I just didn't have the heart to argue with that one.

Pon de Replay

I can't resist this little shell.

Between Me and The Kole Miner

Mom (me):  Kole, Who ARE you these days? 
Kole:  The three words that best describe me are:  Screaming, Hitting, Intellectual.
Mom:  Yeah.  I've noticed.  Let's talk about the screaming and the hitting.
Kole:  What's there to talk about, shoog?  I'm happy.  And when I'm not youze has gots to know.
Mom:  Quit leaning on the wall that way.  And put that cigarette out!  Man!  Where did you get that leather jacket?
Kole:  I stole it.
Mom:  (sighs)  Look.  For the last 6 weeks or so when you would scream I would ignore you because I thought that's what I was supposed to do...
Kole:  Only gonna make me scream louder.  A brother needs heard.
Mom:  I tried telling you "no" nicely but...
Kole:  Oh, yeah!  Real effective, Mom!  "No no no little honey.  No no no."  Oooooo!  I'm scared!  Don't say "no" one more time or I might pee my pants.  Ooooooo! 
Mom:  Well I'm just telling you that all hells about to break loose up in 'ere.  And if Ize gots to get up in your grill.... I will.
Kole:  Don't try talking ghetto.  You're too old.
Mom:  Well.... Just take this as a warning.  These are about to change.
Kole:  We'll see.
Mom:  Yeah!  We WILL see!
Kole: Psht!  Whatev.
Mom:  Don't you talk back to me like that!
Kole:  Or what?  Huh?  What?  I'm not afraid of you!
Mom and Kole:  Rolls eyes

Glad To Be Bradley

I've been thinking of my sisters all day.
Will Krissy sell her house?  Gosh she is so pretty.
How are Vicky's wedding plans coming?  Man, she's pretty.
How much bigger is Julie's blog going to get? Probably lots.  Super super pretty.
I wish Andi was coming for Christmas.  Or that I was going to Cancun with her!  She's so pretty.

So, sisters, this is for you.  I watch it like 38 or 39 times a week.

I'm Awesome. Therefore, I'm Patty.

Just so you know, "awesome" is one of my least favorite adjective.

I got some feedback yesterday from my fan club.  You wondered why some current neighbors of mine didn't want to spend time with me when all of you were jumping out of your seats hoping I'd pick you to dine with.
I can see why you have this attraction to me.
I mean, come ON!

I'm (almost) 5'9".  That's tall.  They make tall jeans especially for me in order to accentuate my legs that go all the way up and make a booty out of themselves.
I have had 2 knock 'em dead hair days.  In.  A.  Row. All I've done was blow dry it and flat iron out the fly aways and it has looked stellar.  Bouncy.  Full.  Pantene Pro-V commercial worthy.  I've loved it. 
I don't bite my nails.  That's a trait worth investing some time into girlies.  They pay off is.... not really that noticeable... but anytime you reach a goal... you....  Hmmmm.  I just like my nails okay?
I'm a reader.  Which used to make me dorky- but nowadays it means I am mysterious and chic and smart and edgy.  Oh yes.  That's me all over.
I am going to start a mug collection.  (Tune in for THAT post next week.)  Collections are cool.
Kids really like me.
I still send hand written mail.
I pretty much always say "yes."  This is sometimes my undoing.  That garsh dern over sized heart of mine.
I gave up on P90X and don't feel all that bad about it.  I'm pretty without a six pack of abs and killer gymnast thighs.
I'm equally good at giving and receiving compliments.  That's super hard to come by.
I always buy stuff from school fundraisers.  Spending $17 on 2 feet of wrapping paper is totally worth it to me.
I can play the piano... quite well.
I make the best sugar cookies across 3 galaxies.  If you leave your address I will mail you some.  (Or at least the recipe.)

So you see, kiddos, I'm golden.  I know I'm golden.  You know I'm golden.  In time... they'll want some golden too.  I'll just wait in my awesomeness until they come begging for some Patty scraps.

Rejected.

Today I went out on that limb and asked someone to come over for lunch.  Gotta make a friend here.  She said she couldn't.  The rejection hit me like a 50 pound tuna sandwich but I bucked up and called someone else.  Also a "no."  I ended up calling 5 different people.  They all said no in different ways.  And not only no to today.  They had excuses for tomorrow too.  Only once did I venture out and ask about Monday.  Apparently she "doesn't plan her calendar out that far."
Seriously.
What is up?
Do I have the gang green? (What is the gang green?)
I wallowed... for about 20 minutes.
Then I sunk deep into despair.  I looked in the mirror and said mean things to myself like:
Take a shower grease ball.
Lose some weight fat bottom girl.
Crack a smile Ms. Demeanor.
Maybe then you'd score a friend.

After my pep talk I have decided I am going to shower and start my Christmas shopping.
I never really believed in retail therapy but all of the sudden it seems like a brilliant idea.
(I love how British people always use "brilliant."  Watch Harry Potter if you don't know what I am talking about.)

And don't feel obligated to leave some sun shiny comment about how wonderful I am.
I know I've got it.  Damn, I've got it in spades.

Celebrating.

They say "You are Lucky in love."
After 6 years of marriage, 0 door slams, 0 walk outs, 0 nights not talking it out, 0 big nasty nasty fights (maybe just a couple regular nasty fights)... I still wouldn't say I'm "lucky in love."
I would say I am committed to love.
And to Ken.

But Lucky in love?
Hmmm. I guess it started with luck. Lucky we were in the same Art class in college.... but beyond that? . You can't ride that wave your whole life. Being together takes work and patience. Sometimes you have to watch Clint Eastwood Dirty Harry movies all weekend long to prove you love someone. (And sometimes he has to watch back to back English Romances to prove he loves me.) I can tell you neither one of us consider ourselves lucky at those times! I can't chalk a successful marriage up to luck. That's baloney. Luck won't stop the bills from piling up, or break the blow when MRI results come in, or kick out the baby blues that never leave. Luck won't help when a job doesn't work out, or days go horribly awfully wrong. You have to be committed. And we are.
Ken and I made it to number 6 and there is no end in sight for us. Upward and onward. New horizons and challenges are coming. We can take it. We've got it pretty good. It takes practice. Trying to show you love the other person in every different way just to make sure they are getting the message is not something that just happens. Not every day is easy. Not even a majority of the days are easy. But, sixty-nine years from now when we are having a big luncheon (with deli swirls and devilled eggs) for our 75th Anniversary and someone says to me "Oh you are one of the lucky ones." I'm going to sit them down and give them a good talking to.

Because I don't believe love has anything to do with luck. And old people are like that.