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The Almost December Thankful Edition

Filed Under: Birthdays, BLOG, Crazyiness, Family Life, Life in General Tagged With: , , ,

Might be a day late and dollar short as far as sharing thankful moments here being that Thanksgiving was indeed last week, but in case those who do read and follow my blog hadn’t noticed over the last two weeks, my site was indeed not up and running properly, especially during Thanksgiving week.

This almost #December what are you thankful and hopeful for?

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A special shoutout and thanks to those who did reach out by contacting me to make sure I was aware.  As frustrated as I felt, I couldn’t have felt more loved with the outpouring of support I received during the hosting and technical server issues.

Still, I refrained from posting much as the week went on at least until I knew what I was up against and had the situation under control.

For those, wanting the back story of what I went through with my past hosting company (HostMonster), please click here as I laid out all on my sister site, J9 Designs.

Needless to say the issues are finally all cleared up and it was a Thanksgiving miracle that took place with A Small Orange migrating my sites on Thanksgiving Day.  

You read that right, Thanksgiving Day found me concerned with blogging issues.

Yet, life did go on as I did find more than enough to keep me busy last week aside from blogging and this site.

See last week was indeed Thanksgiving week, but also not only found me busy not just with Thanksgiving, but my younger daughter’s 5th birthday, her school kindergarten Thanksgiving feast, as well as her Frozen baking party with her school girl friends.

However having my sites hosting being touch and go, nearly put me over the top for just how chaotic it was here.

It was indeed a whirl wind week.

As I was sitting here on late Sunday night, uploading and remembering all while going through the photos from the past week, my now 5 year old appeared in my bedroom.  She should be sleeping, but apparently she was also having trouble letting go to begin the new week.  

For the next thing I knew she told me very seriously with tears in her eyes, “I don’t want my birthday next year to come as I am not ready to grow up too fast. On second thought though, I may not need the birthday next year, but don’t forget the presents.”

Once I calmed down her little 5 year old mind and got her off to bed, I couldn’t help but want to relive the best moments from this past week here on my blog.  Mind you this is just a small sampling of the photos with a brief photo bombing recap that I truly just couldn’t resist displaying here in my little space in the big, old internet.

Sit back and enjoy now!

The week started off on Sunday night with my youngest’s last evening of being four before turn the big 5, the following day…

last-night-being-4

Her last night being 4…

And then she was 5!  This 5 year old wanted a unicorn for reaching the whole hand milestone.  So a unicorn, she got indeed…

Star-Lily-Unicorn

Finally, she turned 5 and got that unicorn she had been talking about non-stop for weeks…

This 5 year old asked for a Carvel cake and it of course, it had to be pink.  Hello Kitty was added in for good measure!

Hello-Kitty-Carvel-Cake

The first cake on her real birthday…

Over the next two days, as class mom I got the honor and pleasure of preparing and also celebrating with her kindergarten class for their Thanksgiving feast…

Smiling at the Thanksgiving Feast

Smiling at the Thanksgiving Feast with her juice box

As crazy a day as Thanksgiving was including having this site migrated, I couldn’t help but share these two as they are my most thankful thing always!

Thanksgiving-Night-2015

These two are on the top of my list to be thankful for not just on Thanksgiving, but daily!

Thanksgiving weekend gave way to this girl’s 5 year old Frozen baking party celebration!

Getting ready to celebrate at her Frozen baking part

Getting ready to celebrate at her Frozen baking party…

Getting Ready to Make Her Cake

Let the Frozen Cake Baking begin…

Getting ready to blow out her cake

All excited and ready to blow out the candles on her special Frozen blue cake…

Having her cake and eating it too

Finally having her cake and eating it too!

Now, it is Monday morning here and so very thankful to have my site back up and running better than ever.  

Tomorrow is December 1st and we are quickly approaching the holiday season.  

I still can’t believe Christmas is now only a little over 3 weeks away. Still need to decorate, bake all sorts of yummy cookie creations, visit with Santa and that is just the tip of the iceberg. 

As more busy times ahead for sure, but I am never more thankful for all the messy and organized times here. Because even still so much fun does indeed take place as witnessed from the quick photo roundup above through it all.  

Honestly though, I wouldn’t have it any other way–happy and thankful for this and so much more–just hopeful that as much as time needs to keep moving that we can slow things down a bit to take it all in.

Signature 2015

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About Janine

Janine is a published author of the books, The Mother of All Meltdowns and Only Trollops Shave Above the Knee. She has been featured on The Huffington Post, Mamapedia, Today Parenting Team and SheKnows. She also runs her own graphic design company at J9 Designs.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nellie @ Brooklyn Active Mama says

    aw they are so so beautiful! I totally get not wanting to grow up too fast as i still feel this way and I’m 32! I didn’t realize your blog was down I got an error message but I thought it was my phone acting crazy!! Glad all is well now!

    • Janine says

      Aw, thank you Nellie and I know here feeling quite well here at 38, as well. As for my blog, I am sorry again that you too had issues accessing and just so happy that I could get it fixed and up and running so quickly here now. Hugs and again very thankful for you my dear friend always!!! xoxo 😉

  4. Kenya G. Johnson says

    Love the pictures! They are starting move away from looking like each other. Of course one looking just like Kevin and they other you. Sorry you had technical difficulties. Going to check out what I missed on J9.

  5. Kristen says

    Oh girl i had the same problem in November, I had to migrate and it was awful! I’m so sorry you went through that! At least your Frozen baking was a success! Hope your holiday was sweet!

    • Janine says

      So sorry this happened to you, too last month and just glad we both got it sorted out now. Also hoping your holiday last week was wonderful, too!!! Thank you always again 😉

  8. Seana Turner says

    First, I’m so sorry about the blog hassle. It is so stressful. I went through something similar earlier, and I felt kind of powerless. I had to just be patient and keep reminding myself it would all work out. Second, I can’t believe she is five. My first reaction to the photos was, “Wow, I can almost see what she’s going to look like as a teenager!” Isn’t that crazy? You are a wonderful Mom with the unicorn and Frozen party – such lucky little girls:)

    • Janine says

      Aw, thank you Seana and I totally know how to do migrations, but three sites and Thanksgiving week was truly overwhelming for me. Just very thankful that A Small Orange had staff working and got the job done. Was one less thing that I had to actually do during the crazy week. As for my younger daughter loved that you could see the teenager in her and just hope again that doesn’t come too quickly though! 😉

  9. Nicole Johnson says

    It is so hard having blogging issues and I totally get the stress that comes with having so many things happen all at once. But your daughter looks so happy to be 5 and that makes everything so much better!!

    • Janine says

      Aw, you are so right about both and I know definitely was not the ideal time to have blogging issues, but just glad it all ended on a much better note still! 😉

    • Confessions of A Mommyaholic says

      Aw, thank you Alison and that was the cooking place’s stand mixer, but don’t be jealous I do have one in my home, but my grandmother bought it for my bridal showers years back. Still is my favorite gift from that day by far 😉

  11. Bill says

    Life moves on and things work out, no matter how much we worry about them. 🙂 That’s something I had to learn the hard way. I hope you find it out in an easier fashion. 🙂 Happy Almost December, Janine!

  12. Kathy Radigan says

    Your girls are so adorable!!! And may I say, that cake is great!!!! Lizzy is a huge Hello Kitty fan! So glad you had a happy, if not insane, holiday and birthday celebration! xoxo

  16. Tamara says

    Ugh, hosting issues are the worst. They nearly ruined me, as you know! Kudos to you for leaving. Those companies are up to no good.
    Love the recap! A perfect pink cake and an awesome unicorn for a great kid!

    • Janine says

      Aw, totally the worst and just so glad it is behind me. Fingers crossed that I never have to go through this again now. And thank you always Tamara xoxo 😉

  17. Echo says

    Wow, I am so glad you got your blog issues sorted out! I use A Small Orange too and I love them! I can’t believe your baby is 5! Our kids are growing up way to fast, but you are right. There is a lot to be thankful for!

  19. Diane Roark says

    Janine,

    I cannot wait to get caught up on your blog issues. From Thanksgiving to Christmas is by far my busiest time of the year and guess what happened Thanksgiving eve. My server crashed! We were in KY and just experienced 3 days of funeral stuff. I was exhausted and frustrated.
    Yesterday, I had to go to the grocery store after not being home in 3 weeks. We went to SAM’s. I could not help but to think about your precious girls. Every aisle was full of FROZEN things from food to toys to clothes. I looked at everything and I do not have small kids. My kids were asking me what I was doing. I told them I was checking the Frozen things out for my friends. I think really I was just trying to chill after a long week.

    I sure hope you had a good Thanksgiving and a Wonderful Frozen Party!
    Blessings,
    Diane

    • Janine says

      Diane, I am so sorry you too had server issues. Are you with BlueHost? I know they also were having major server issues last week, too. And we are still so into Frozen even years later here and my girls would have been in 7th heaven shopping with you. Hope you also had a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday, too 😉

  21. Julie says

    Wow what an ordeal with your hosting. But happy birthday to your sweet handful (get it, 5 fingers, 5 years, yea I’m a bit delirious today). Those photos are lovely 🙂 You have a great family and so sweet that she doesn’t want to grow up too fast.

    • Janine says

      Aw, thanks Julie for the birthday wishes and shake my hand with delirium today as I am truly coming down off the craziness that was last week still 😉

  22. Allie says

    Oh Janine, I’m so sorry you had to endure all those blogging issues on the holiday. No fair. And you are a brave woman to do a baking party, but I’m sure it was fun!

  23. Britta says

    Ugh, blogging site issues make me feel insane. I’m glad you were able to overcome them and have an awesome thanksgiving with your family. Your daughter is adorable too!

  24. Dara says

    I’m so glad you got everything back up and running and it sounds like it was a very busy week for sure! I loved seeing the photos of your girls!

    • Janine says

      Aw, thanks Dara and just been insane here with the blogging host issues and happy I can at least get a bit of normalcy back at the very least 😉

  26. Bev says

    Happy birthday, Lily! Looks like she had a wonderful time celebrating 🙂 I can totally understand her sadness in not wanting to get older. I feel that way about Eve!
    Glad the website issues were fixed. I’ve heard great things about A Little Orange.

  27. Aunt Gloria says

    So glad you are back on track with your blog….but sorry you had all that hassle, especially with Thanksgiving and Lily’s birthday to plan for. But it sounds like all ended well. Lily looks so happy with her birthday cakes and gifts and celebrations. She’s smart not to want to grow up too fast…..but still wants those presents! So cute! Glad Thanksgiving was a good one….here too. Have a good week. It’s nice and warm here – near 80. Love to all…..xxoo

    • Janine says

      Aw, Aunt Gloria, she is such a smartie that one. And yes glad that all did turn out well. 80 degrees though I am surely jealous of. Love back at you xoxo

  28. Ginny Marie says

    I have to admit, I must have been too busy to notice that your blog was down! I know how stressful that can be, and am sorry it happened during such a busy holiday. I’m glad you’re back up!

  29. Jen says

    Hosting issues are the worst! I am so sorry. I was worried, but figured if anyone could fix it that would be you. I hope not too many tears were shed in the process. What a great company you found to migrate your site, and on Thanksgiving. They sound like a keeper! Happy 5th birthday to your sweet girl! How does the time just fly by?

    • Janine says

      Thanks Jen and truly appreciate your faith in me. I could definitely do the migration job, but honestly didn’t want to on Thanksgiving Day. So, yes very thankful that A Small Orange was there and willing to do this for me on such a large scale holiday. Oh and you are so right time just keeps flying by!

  30. eli@coachdaddy says

    God, those moments (with the kids, not the blogs – i’m just on the WordPress freebie platform). But I’ve gotten better with age, I think, of staying in the moment. That might be as much a conscious shift as it is that I can’t remember much of anything else in a given moment.

    Either way, bliss.

  31. Carrie Groneman says

    Oh Janine, I feel like such a louse! I kept trying your site and when I couldn’t get through I thought it was my server (Bluehost) because I could hardly stay on line myself so I figured it was all me! And when I could get on line we had more family very serious issues that came up; meaning more people to help and about 30 at my house for Thanksgiving due to that also. I apologize for not checking your FB page and sending your an email…..I feel terrible:/ You’re always to thoughtful and I do appreciate you. I hope it’s all fixed and that you can forgive my overwhelmed situation. You are a good friend and I couldn’t bare to lose that. Carrie

    • Janine says

      Oh Carrie, sorry you had issues too and had heard BlueHost was affected, as well last week. Seriously, please no apologies and it was Thanksgiving. So believe me I get it and you are a great friend and truly have nothing to worry about it as I am just blessed to know you and call you a friend. Thank you always!! 😉

  32. Dana says

    Your blog picked the perfect time to go down, didn’t it? Ugh. At least you had plenty of good things going on, and now it’s all fixed. I’m sure the chaos of December with two kiddos will keep you busy enough!

    • Janine says

      I know total perfect timing, right?! But still you are also right about my kiddos keeping me busy this holiday season now, too!! 😉

  33. Jack says

    Happy Birthday to your little one. Looks like you guys had a lot of fun together.

    Sorry for the hosting issues. I have been through that a couple of times, it is never fun.

  34. catherine gacad says

    both girls are getting so big and beautiful. i would like a pink hello kitty ice-cream cake as well on my birthday!
    i hear great things about a small orange. i decided to renew recently with godaddy. have had them for years and not any big issues…although i’ve heard they’re not that great.

    • Janine says

      Catherine, I have not heard bad stuff recently about GoDaddy and think you made a descent choice there, too and just glad you haven’t had any real issues either 😉

  35. dudemom says

    I spent YEARS battling with hosting issues, so frustrating! Happy birthday to your sweetie! My soon-to-be 8 year old is infatuated with birthdays -makes them so much ore fun!

    • Janine says

      Aw, so sorry you too have had issues with hosting and hope they are indeed better now. I know the birthdays are truly more fun, when the kids are into them for sure 😉

  36. Kristi Campbell says

    I love the reminder to be thankful all all the time and I’m so glad that your blog issues have been fixed. What a pain! And awwww five! They do grow up too fast. Happy birthday to her and all of you and I love the Frozen theme! 🙂

    • Janine says

      Kristi, I know the Frozen theme probably seems redundant but to both my girls they are still so head over for the sisters and this movie. So, I was so happy we could find a place that did a baking party with this theme. And thank you for your birthday wishes for her, too 🙂

  38. Leslie says

    I remember having trouble on your site last week. One minute I had your page up, and the next it wouldn’t load. So sorry I didn’t get the chance to contact you (that’s normally the kind of thing I would do). Your girls are just so adorable and look just like you! Such a sweet story about your little one not wanting to grow up. Heartbreakingly adorable.

    • Janine says

      Aw, thanks Leslie and my server was up and down just as you described pretty much the whole week. Just so thankful to have that behind me here now.

  39. Chris Carter says

    OH my friend! I have been MIA for a while now because of family in town (STILL) and I am just reading this now and SO sorry you had issues with your sites!! There is nothing more NERVEWRACKING!!

    Actually- I have had a major devastation happen the SAME time you did and I’m STILL trying to climb out of the rubble. I upgraded to windows 10 (I think?) honestly by accident (I suck) and consequently lost ALL MY FILES. Yep. HUNDREDS of my documents – no maybe thousands… GONE. All my images, letters to kids, articles, ministry info ETC vanished into the unknown. I did not back it up.

    It’s been a nightmare. Still trying to retrieve them all… and many have been corrupted. It will take weeks to figure it all out and find them, if I can at all.

    It’s been traumatic to say the least! UGH.

    Anyway- I’m really just so glad you have all restored here and on your other site now. WHEW!

    • Janine says

      Oh Chris, just reading this I feel absolutely terrible for you and can’t even begin to imagine. I did in the summer have some issues with images being lost through plugin use on my site, but nothing to the scale you describe and most if not all were backed up on my computer. Still though I was so upset and in panic mode over that. Thinking of you right now and truly hope that you get this all sorted out sooner rather than later now. Hugs!!

  40. Rabia @TheLiebers says

    Happy birthday, sweet girl! I noticed your site was down once, but I figured it was me and I was too busy to try again. I”m glad you got all your hosting issues figured out. That must have been a nightmare!

    • Janine says

      Aw, thanks Rabia and do think as far as traffic goes it was not a bad week to go down, but as far as life anything but! Just am glad it is indeed over.

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