'Tis the Season

In our family of six, five of our birthdays are in November and December. As if this time of year wasn't stressful enough, then we have to fit birthday celebrations into the chaos. Not only that, guess when the birthdays of four of my closest friends in the Springs are? Yup. It's always been like this for me because my mom's, my brother's, my sister's, my other brother's and my birthdays span the same time frame. I am surrounded by Scorpios and Sagittarius. 'Tis the season... to be really freakin' exhausted.

So, since I'm gonna be real busy, I thought I'd just knock out what I'm grateful for this Thanksgiving right now. Then, I was like oh my gosh, why don't I just multi-task and include my Christmas wishes?

Thanks: We've moved back in the states.
Wish: That I felt as safe here as I did in Morocco and that the vegetables were as cheap.

Thanks: I have two dogs to love.
Wish: That my two teenagers would love and appreciate me the way the dogs do.

Thanks: Starbucks holiday blend.
Wish: That the caffeine will help me get everything done that I need to do before Christmas.

Thanks: That we're living in our own house in Colorado again.
Wish: That our house wasn't totally jacked up, sinking into the ground, that our windows would close or that the insurance company would cover fixing at least some of the expense.

Thanks: I can watch tv and listen to the radio in English.
Wish: That it was actually worth watching or listening to.

Thanks: We're driving to Utah to see my sister and her family that we haven't seen in 3 years for Thanksgiving.
Wish: That our two big dogs fit in the car with the six of us so we don't have to choose which kids to leave home.

Thanks: We have a couple more years before Sky, our oldest, can drive.
Wish: That I don't draw the short straw and have to teach him how.

Thanks: I can mute my Jillian Michaels workout dvds.
Wish: That she comes out with an interactive game where I can kick her ass kick-boxing her.

Thanks: Jade's birthday is in June.
Wish: We start celebrating everyone's half birthday by buying half-priced gifts at half-off sales. But, that would be really half-assed.

Thanks: That the Mayan's weren't right.
Wish: Our big trip right after Christmas won't be a disaster. The only way that would happen is if the Mayan's were right. Then, bonus, I won't have to teach any of the kids to drive.

Oh, I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but here's my Christmas present to thank you for reading. Oh and I'm sending holiday wishes your way, just not in a Christmas card, cause I stopped sending those a couple years ago.

CRANBERRY MARGARITA RECIPE

1 1/4 cups cranberry juice cocktail
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
3/4 cup lime juice
3/4 cup tequila
1/2 cup orange flavored liquor, such as Cointreau
3 cups coarsely crushed ice

Swirl in a blender. Cheers!