Beyond words

An unbelievable story of goodwill and love. Love wins.

A little Valentine's Day obsessed...

Saw these adorable bookmarks on 30 Days and I can't seem to stop myself! These aren't even for the kids...I'm thinking about putting one on every desk for the people at work. Maybe with a small heart shaped banana muffin. In a cupcake paper with cellophane and some red and white twine. And maybe some chalkboard paint...gotta figure out how to add that.

This is a problem.

On the wagon

Sometimes life throws you some serious curve balls, makes you re-evaluate what is important, who you are, who everyone is around you. The best advice I've seen lately is to just...breathe. Stop, take a moment, and breathe. 

It's also about making choices. I heard a great quote from Albus Dumbledore the other day when Smith and I were watching Harry Potter 3. He said, "It is not our abilities that show what we truly are, it is our choices." I agree. Every day, every hour, we face choices big and small, and it is the direction we go that show our character, our personality. Make Good Choices. That's it, simple, sweet, beautiful. Smith and Tate both came home yesterday grumpy and tired, and I told them both that sometimes when you feel like that, you have to choose happiness, even if you aren't feeling it; a glass half-full approach to life.

Everybody has trouble, private issues, things they don't like to think about. But when you really stop and think about the lovely little things in your life, the hug from your child as they pass by you, the adoring look from your dog, the fact that you can borrow books from the library and put food on your table, these are good things. These help to make those good choices easier, from getting up and taking the kids and dogs for a walk all the way to realizing that the life you have is good, most all of the time. 

Books

I found some great book ideas on Pioneer Woman the other day - so the kids and I started "Half Magic". It's been fantastic so far - Smith tried it himself and wasn't so into it, but I find that if I read a chapter out loud, he's hooked. I read them 2 chapters, and he did one more out loud for Tate last night before bed - and it was all he could talk about this morning.

That and his shoes. How is it you can lose a shoe in such a small house?? One shoe. He tried an older pair of boots and didn't understand why they were so hard to put on until I told him they were 2 sizes too small. Good thing Amvets is coming today - just from this morning alone we have a pair of jeans and boots that were failures!

Freezing here today, literally. Yesterday's high was 35 I believe, started out 16 degrees at the bus stop. Good time for hot chocolate!! with marshmallows!

Resolutions

I am not one to have New Year's Resolutions, start a diet plan, make off with new habits. I like the idea of a clean slate, but know myself well enough to know I won't end up sticking with lofty goals that don't seem to fit in the "normal" scheme of things.

However.

I am asking a general request of myself this year - a simple concept, but earth shatteringly world changing. I am asking myself for balance. I would like to simply enjoy the present more, knowing that with enjoying the present often comes organization for the future. I would like to be. Enjoy my children when I'm with them, be productive at the work when working, clean efficiently when cleaning, exercise with passion when exercising. 

I find that I am often elsewhere wherever I happen to be. 

I think this is a lifestyle change, a new mindset, but I hesitate to call it a Resolution. I just know that being overwhelmingly busy and screwing everything up is not a happy place, and I don't want to hang out there any more. I have found through this full time work experience that I have a husband who is willing and able to pitch in if I ask (and even if I don't), and that a lot of the time, it's about me not necessarily wanting to let go of the control. Slow and steady wins the race. Balance.

Here goes, 2012!

Oh my, where have the days gone?

I started working at the office week before last, so I'll blame my lack of posts on that? Okay?? I'm home by 3, so really that's not much of an excuse.

So it snowed here, way early - see the leaves on the hydrangea behind the kids. It was a freak storm - I don't recall ever having snow before Halloween in this area. It was fun, and of course Tate tried to make snow angels! 

We did our pumpkin carving (after the snow but before Halloween) - kids drew their faces on the pumpkin, and David and I took turns carving Tate's. Smith did his all himself. We dried the seeds in our dehydrator and they are YUMMY!

Dilbert and Cheetah Girl. Poor Smith - everyone thought he was Harry Potter. Guess people don't really expect a 10 year old to be Dilbert.

At our town's parade. It was a gorgeous night!

And oh my, the loot.

Tonight we celebrated my grandmom's 93rd birthday with her favorites - split pea soup, and salty Virginia ham and cheese sandwiches, yum. I just may drink a gallon of water through the night. It was a great day, gorgeous weather, great family time, soccer win from Smith's team. Good day.

Right now I am loving...

...how oddly, quirkily funny she is
...listening to her play and what comes out of her mouth
...that she wants to take a bath multiple times a day to play with her toys in the tub (soon she will run out of water room! There are foam letters, plastic insects, polly pockets, tea set, etc, etc
...her love of school, and watching her make new friends
...her little face, glasses free for a short time more (although the pink/black frames with little mushrooms on the side are only going to make her more adorable!)
...going on nature walks to collect pretty leaves, acorns, and to check on our leprechaun tree
...how she asks me to sit with her so we can "just talk," then she asks what I want to talk about
...that she sneaks food and thinks I don't know it
...that she changes clothes minimum 2 times a day, often into seasonally inappropriate attire (sundress in October? Sure! Why not!)
...her adoration of her big brother




...seeing an open book on, seriously, almost every flat surface in this house
...his excitement over his new glasses (oh that face!!)
...how excited he was for the Jeopardy online test
...his love of school, his teachers, his friends
...watching him play Legos - the toy that has been with us for over 9 years
...listening to him talk with friends when they come over
...his brain. Goodness he has a brain on him!
...his humor - dry, wry, sometimes just plain 10 year old silly
...how his first thing every morning is to hang out with me on his sofa and slowly wake up 
...his love and ability for soccer
...his adoration of his little sister