Give Thanks

As we approach Thanksgiving, there are so many things to be thankful for. Of course I'm thankful for my family, health, and the usual cliche answers (not to minimize the importance of any of them). However, I'm reflecting on a few outside-the box things that I'm also thankful for.

Here are 25 things I am thankful for in 2010:

1. Not knowing KFC's secret eleven herbs and spices (because then I'd always be the one stuck making fried chicken for potlucks)
2. Crockpot liners. Go ahead, pour on the bbq sauce-- it's not going to stick.
3. The excitement of turning left on red when you're on a one-way street turning left onto another one-way street. Simply thrilling.
4. Those little golf tee games on each table at Cracker Barrel
5. Drive through windows at the bank
6. Toys for the kids that don't require batteries
7. Maternity clothes that do NOT have a big bow on the stomach.
8. The beeping censor thingy that beeps during Hell's Kitchen when Chef Ramsey talks. I don't think I want to know what he's really saying.
9. Velcro. Enough said.
10. Sippy cups. What on earth did parents do before sippy cups???
11. Those little chocolate mints at Olive Garden that you get with your bill. You're always completely full from dinner but when those mints come out, everyone lights up. Suddenly, you have more room in your stomach.
12. Scanners & UPC symbols at the grocery store. I remember when I was little and everything had a price sticker that someone manually put on each item. Then the cashier had to hand-type in every price on every item. Did I just date myself?
13. Fossil. I'm pretty sure that's my new favorite store for clothing when I'm not knocked up.
14. Souvenirs that other people bring me back from vacation..... because I don't get vacations during this phase of life.
15. JELLO. So many uses, so little time.
16. The kids not being old enough to read yet. So, if they pick a super long book that they aren't very familiar with, I can skip sentences or even pages. (again, please nominate me for mother-of-the-year)
17. The weight listed on my driver's license. One can dream, can't they? (btw- I really was that weight at one time, I've just never changed it.....)
18. Having the option to get your pizza at Papa Johns cut 'regular' or 'party cut' style. I just recently learned this and love the new inside knowledge (Thanks, Jessica).
19. The feeling of washing your hands after bowling because your fingers feel so cruddy after using one of their balls.
20. Precut cheese slices..... because slicing cheese sounds like too much work sometimes.
21. Moving sidewalks at airports.... because they are just plain fun. (However, why don't they also have them at the mall?)
22. Being pregnant in the winter so it's easier to hide my fat under layers of long sleeves and sweaters.
23. The "ignore" button on Facebook. I have no problem ignoring your Farmville and other requests. In fact, it sort of feels liberating.
24. Bacon. Doesn't bacon make ALL of my lists!? Whoever though to slaughter a pig and fry it was pure genius.
25. My blog readers. Let's be real; some of you are stalkers. Others are friends. Some of you don't even live in my country. But, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy to know you care about everything from my obsession with bacon to how my placenta is doing. You rock.

There are so many things to be thankful for; these are just a few!
As we enter the week of Thanksgiving, let's reflect on so many wonderful things!