Giving Thanks

Chris, Mary Catherine and I made the long haul to my family's house in New Hampshire for Thanksgiving. We alternate Christmas and Thanksgiving each year spending the other holiday with our family in Maryland.

They always welcome us with open arms and offer the promise of a memorable holiday. We had dinner for 23 people today, 21 of which was immediate family. It's a big family in a big house filled with lots of teenagers.... I mean memories.

Chris is sitting with the men watching television, Mary is tucked in bed upstairs in Ellie and Muffie's room and I should be helping my sister pick up the fourty-seven different dessert offerings we had today. Instead I am in the wacky "Harry Potter's room under the stairs" sort of computer room. It's perhaps the coziest spot in the house.

I thought I would take a few moments to give thanks.

I am thankful for............

The two people that hold my heart, Christopher and Mary Catherine.

Our family. We are truly blessed.

It has been an incredibly difficult year for our family the Browns in Florida. I am thankful for healing hearts and new beginnings.

Flat irons

Automatic timer coffee makers

Miss Peggy. Please promise to keep the doors of your in home daycare open until Mary and any of her future siblings are pre-school age. Pretty please?

Our fantastic neighbors, Erik and Stephanie. They are true friends.

Our mothers. Thank you both for helping us in your own ways.

My sister's fantastic Thanksgiving stuffing. To die for.


I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Here's to full bellies, football and pumpkin desserts!

2nd Birthday Party

Here are a few pictures of the birthday girl. She has a great time at her party. Thanks to everyone who celebrated with us, sent cards, balloons, gifts and called the birthday princess. What a lucky girl!

Somebody was caught having an early birthday treat!


Mary and her cousin Madison who came all the way from Florida to celebrate. We are still talking about her visit. We miss you Maddie!

It's a Bunny Party! We had Max and Ruby cake of course.

Our girl made quick work of her cake.

Mary took a break from the party to color with Uncle Dave.

Here is the little baker enjoying some of her birthday gifts. After I took this picture I told her it was time to take a bath. She replied "No mommy, Mimi cooking for two minutes".

Halloween 2008

Mary Catherine dressed up like Ruby from the Noggin show Max and Ruby. Ruby is very popular at our house (see birthday pictures). Her Auntie Robin took a plain ol' bunny costume and made Ruby come to life. Thank you Auntie!

Due to the large amount of sugar rushing through her system, Ruby wasn't very interested in being photographed.

Kennedy was a sweet little girl monkey. You can't see it very well in this picture but her costume had the biggest belly. So cute! Also worth noting is the fact that her parent give out full sized candy bars on Halloween. They made our fun sized Charleston Chews and Junior Mints look pretty sad.

This was Mary's third Halloween but her first time Trick or Treating. This was one of the first houses we stopped at. Don't be fooled by their light being on and the jack o lanterns on the front steps. These people were not handing out candy. How confusing for a little person.

After knocking on most of the doors in our little neighborhood we headed over to Noni and Pop Pop's house.

Finally she could sink her teeth into that Tootsie Roll she had been eyeballing all night.

Overhead at the Polls

Earlier tonight I was signing the little slip of paper that certifies that I am in fact Kathleen P. (no id check, what's up with that?) and getting ready to move to the voting booth. Out of nowhere Mary gets stock straight and yells "Yook Mommy, Kennedy rock the vote!".

Mary's best friend and her mother Steph were in fact standing at a nearby voting booth.

Oh and the concept of a secret ballot doesn't exist in the mind of a two year old. It didn't bother me too much but it did make it a bit awkward for the others nearby when Mary announced "Me mommy vote for Bama."

Election Day 2008

I was really going to try to keep this blog non-political but for those of you who know me you know that is just impossible. It's part of what makes me me!

For political junkies Election Day is like Christmas (not the religious part, just the wake up Christmas morning and see your gifts under the tree part) but it only comes once every four years. And while the past eight years I've only had tube socks and itchy wools hats under the tree, this year..... this is the year I get the pony!!!

I was listening to CSPAN (geek!) on my way to work and Mr. Zogby of Zogby International, the highly respected polling experts said these magical words, "If you are coloring in your electoral map at home tonight, you might need an extra blue crayon".

Okay, I just had to get that off my chest. And to all the loved ones I have offended with this post (thank goodness Aunt Jean doesn't have a computer) I hope you know it is all in good fun.
I just want to encourage everyone to vote today!

And as they say in Chicago, "Vote early and vote often!". I kid, I kid.