Things to remember

Today was not ordinary, but the ordinary moments are the ones I choose to remember. Snowday meant we got to sleep in. Sophia did my hair into a tragic mess of 5 rubberbands that took a large chunk of my hair with it upon removal. The kids went out in the slippery wet mess and sledded.  Breaking the made in America sled in little more then 30 minutes. It didn't matter, that memory was well worth the $9.00. Then we went to see Star Wars and out to eat.  The moment I chose to remember today though is no more than a minute.  I took Logan to the john before the movie and he held my hand.  Still 7 and always so busy it is a rare moment when he slows down to walk with me. His feet are rarely both on the ground at once. One is on a curb the other lunging for some other point while twisting or dabbing or wiggling and jiggling. Today though his hand, warm and a little sticky held mine, and it felt just right.

Dogs

Dogs are such amiable creatures.  They shed, you gotta pick up their poo, and don't even talk to me about stepping on one of those dog kibble first thing in the morning, it is only second to Lego pain.  Yet, they are unconditionally there for you at your best and at your worst.  They snuggle and lick when you need it most and they are just so darn happy it's hard to stay mad at them. 
To that I say cheers to the dogs in our lives!

A new year

It has been a long winding road since I last blogged. A lot of great, some good, and of course a little bad.  I miss this space a place free to say and be who I want.  A place to put memories that are far too easy to forget.  Looking back is fun especially when you have a life as full as mine.  Not small, not big, just right.
Happy new year world make the most of it.

Shamrock Run

A couple of weeks ago we did the Shamrock run.  Sophia did the Leprican Leap and I the 5k! I am in no way a runner but it was a kick in the pants running with so many people!

When she was done she wanted to run it again!

Long Weekend!

Oh how I love long weekends but this one... this one I am willing to give back.  Spent the first two days moving from the couch to bed and back again and today so behind on the weekend work (laundry, toy pick up, weekly planning) hat I completely overdid it and feel the need to go back to bed!

 In the midst of all of the required to function rest my darling husband decided he needed a haircut and then Logan wanted the same.... The only way to describe it is in pictures which will have to wait until tomorrow...

I rest in the knowledge that they both have good shaped heads and that hair grows back.

Lovely

With a busy run around kind of day I dropped off David and the kids at one store so I could run to another.  I stopped they jumped out ... holding hands they ran into the store.

I sat a few moments just watching them go in....
Sometimes I just wonder how I got so lucky,

Tails... Socks...Shake-it

What do you do on a rainy day???

Steal your mama's socks right off her feet and take them out for a tail shakin'

That's right those would be my worn socks hangin out on their bums.

Again why do they have toys??

Lists

Looking at a new year is always so appealing to me.  With library books and some birthday books on hand I started my list of things I would like to take a crack at this year. 

Vegan

Sewing

Blog

Crafting with kids

Writing

Home projects

Art

I could go on and on.... I read a book over Christmas break that really helped me get it all organized.

"Getting Things Done" by David Allen

One of his tips is to get it all down on paper so it's not all floating around in your head.

I got this awesome journal for my birthday from a dear friend and I put it to use.  I added tabs with categories and I started writing things down as they came up.  I added a sticky note to the back for work items (then I can just take the sticky out and add it to my work list and put in a new sticky.

Wow has it made a difference.  I am noticing that as I have written things down when I see something that relates I know just where to put it.  I also have a few projects started.  The next thing he recommended was putting down the next action step.  For example I always have clean house.  No no no... now I have sweep front porch. (which I did today and got to check off)  So as I did this I started noticing themes of things I need to do and those I want to do.  Blogging more would be on the want side.  So I started a plan in that little notebook.  From those next action steps I needed to do some research so off to the library I went.  Here is what I came back with.  There are also a few Christmas books in there.

I must say armed with information and next action steps I actually feel empowered and not overwhelmed.

So let's just see how far Mr. David Allen can get me this year.

Little bits

This is the reality of having young kids.  Sometimes... well many times it makes me nuts.  Little bits of this and that strung through the house.  As you are cleaning up one mess another is being created right behind your back.  It truly is amazing how things go from zero to 500 in the amount of time it takes you to use the lou.

The other day Logan was playing in the junk drawer and I just about had a fit.  David looked at me and said just watch him.  So I did I sat down on the floor and just watcher as that little boy turned all sorts of nothing into something.  A "bobot" (robot) to be exact.  A thank you was said to my husband and even though I still feel the hairs on my neck raise when I see the mess I also remind myself to breath and look at it all through the mind of a child.  They are only little once, don't let the mess drag you down.

Normal Sunday

What's a normal Sunday?? HMMM well they are never the same lets take today for example...
My day to sleep in... Wake up at 7:30
Go for a 5 mile run... come home and realize its daylight savings and it's only 7:30 could have slept another hour
Make a to do list.. Clean all three bathrooms, sew for Sophia's Birthday, work on pile of laundry
Check off bathroom number one
Wash windows and mirror's downstairs (side track number one)
Take a shower (start thinking about Phia turning 5)
Decide Phia's room needs some attention (side track number 3)
Start cleaning get a couple ideas for organizing
She asks me for a mural.....hummmm mural...  rope in David who has completed his list of three
Hit IKEA for baskets for organizing her stuff
Come home David has drawn the mural
I paint and paint and paint.... oh we missed dinner...
Paint and paint
oh wow it's almost time for the kids to go to bed    wow never completed jobs 2 and 3 oh well better finish that mural.

Happy Sunday All!  Hope yours was productive.

Be courageous

There she stands the tallest in her class my little girl growing and learning with all her might.  She stands at the ready excited and loving that she alone, is going to school. (Little brothers are not aloud you know).  I miss the excitement of that first day,  but she tells me all the important things.  She is the "Rock Princess" as her shirt announces and that her skirt is perfect for being a pirate.  All her old friends have gone on to kindergarten but that's ok because now there are new ones.  Except Sydney who she wishes "was just a little more her age and not bigger."   She tells me that a mommy liked her skirt and she told her that I could give her the pattern because I made it and then she could make one for her little girl.  That Mr. Tonio (Antonio) doesn't have a toehawk (mohawk) like daddy said and that he is still very tall.  That she likes her new teacher and that she wants to write "a newsletter for Daddy but don't tell him it's a secret."  That her favorite word is still courageous and that she liked playing kitchen with the boys.

I listen...
children maybe born to us or raised by us, but they are really only ours for a short time.  The world is ready for sweet Sophia and she ready for it, even though I am not ready to give her up.  I guess though, I am happy to share her.

Be courageous  Phia, Mommy is watching.

Last Week

We Had Rain!

Olives

Is there any other way to eat them??

Went to a Wedding!

All gussied up for Kanesha and Nate's outdoor wedding.  Was beautiful!  Rained right up until the day and then it was beautiful and HOT!

Logan thought he was going to "Wook Wook."

That's right!

Another dead appliance!  We believe the fairy's are being very naughty at our house.  Not to fear it has been replaced!

The wound!

My kids are talented!  Proof... Phia was riding her bike around the staircase in the house in her Thumbalina dress and high heels when she flew off and caught her tongue on the corner of the banister.  The first picture is after 4 days and the next 8.  It is remarkable how quickly it has healed!

We are a family of long tongues and oh so proud!

My pretty 4 year old!

Loving

The  month of May has been a stinker.  As you may have noticed the blog has been well ...abandon.  The end of the school year for a Librarian is amazingly busy and this year we will be replacing the carpet in the building which has made inventory and move my middle name.  I can't complain too much as I have had some amazing helpers which has jump started me further into the process then I could have imagined. There are some things at this point that are keeping me sane and happy!

My father-in-law left this sweatshirt last year and it is my new favorite walking jacket.  The hat is David's.

This is e-meals.  You pay $15.00 for three months and you get a menu, shopping list,  cooking directions and they choose foods that are on sale.  Truth is I stink at cooking and David was well totally incompetent.  The best thing about this is the recipes are EASY and David since I subscribed 3 weeks ago David has been doing at least 50% or more of the cooking.  We have also not had one stinker of a meal yet.  The only down side is I have no idea what I am looking for in the store so it has taken me a bit longer to search the isle.  Completely worth it though as we have not eaten the same meal twice in 3 weeks and I have not had to do one bit of planning!

My worn out walking shoes.  Call me crazy but I love my 5 am walks. 

This is the one appliance that I would run into a burning building for.  It's not pretty but it brews a dang good cuppa Joe!

Geez

So we went to the parade and it was great!  Then I get this pic of an awesome train....  and as it rolls past David points to writing on the top of the back that says "One nation...One language."  Now I don't want my blog to become political but hello!!! I am married to a Deaf man who was born and lives in this one great nation and does not speak the majority language.
OK here is my attempt to turn my thinking positive!
Open minded people rock!

What's for Dinner

The famous story of Ginger and the paper bag. 

For several dinners I brought a brown paper bag to dinner, set it on the table next to me and ate.

Mom kept asking whats in the bag and I told her worms.

She laughed and on with dinner we went.

Then one night I mistakenly left the table without my bag. 
When she opened it to look in and saw actual worms I heard the scream from outside and rushed in to see what was the matter.

Needless to say I was not allowed to bring them to dinner again.

Here is my girl... What more can I say!

Medals

Our 12 year old beagle Blue deserves some kind of medal.  He is pinched, pulled, tugged, dressed and in this photo bandaged daily.  When I arrive home from work it is not out of the ordinary for him to be wearing a tutu around his neck and a hair tie on his tail.  He takes it all in stride the poor guy.

To all the dogs out there who live their own personal clothing attire hell I salute you!