Once A Week?

Seems like I can only get myself to blog once a week.

I hesitate daily blog posts for fear of burn out and fear of, well...becoming annoying.

(Yea, I said it)

But lately I've just been sad. 

Like, SAD.

So sad I've resorted to the "husband-pay-me-a-compliment-NOW" phase, which of course we all know doesn't work 100% and boy does it suck when it's not the time that rolls in your favor, am I right?

LOL

Life is hard for everyone.

EVERYONE.

Not necessarily "bad" but just...

hard.

Hard to push through, hard to fight through, hard to be grateful and smile through.

Some days I think we feel it more than most.

Some days the strengths seem to not shine bright enough, the successes of the day are for whatever reason overshadowed by the shortcomings.

And sometimes I think that's ok.

It's ok to not beat yourself up about not being happy or content with something that's disappointing.

It's ok to admit that today I did not enjoy my daily life for the day.

Maybe it does sound ungrateful.

Probably.

But no one enjoys everything all the time.

We're all learning through this.

And we dont' always get the A+.

We aren't perfect.

Not yet.

So I'm ok with being upset. 

I'm ok with being sad for the day.

I'll move on.

We all move on.

It won't get better but we'll get better.

Down for the Count

Well a week has flown by...

Monday was a school free day because of the holiday so we took a family trip to Oak Glen. 

It was so fun!

And it was great to get away, even just for the day.

This week has contained lots of sniffles and coughs from the little ones and hardly any school work during the hours at home.

Work in progress people.

Currently I sit flat on my back hopped up with a little ibuprofen, trying to relax during nap time.

Good grief they say things get easier after childbirth has occurred but...

No such luck.

I.

HURT.

I did push through the pain and go gorcery shopping at 6:15 AM this morning.

It's going to be a 14 hour day today so I had to either

1) Miss sleep

or

2) Starve/try and unload a car full of food with kids.

14 hours is a blessing-

it makes the 12 hours seem like cake.

Consequently, I'm grateful for the 12 hour days-

they've prepped me for the 14 hour ones.

;)

14 DAYS UNTIL THANKSGIVING!!

What are you thankful for?

Nailed It!

I'm sitting here typing while one monster is at school and the other one is enjoying the freedom of exploring EVERY toy in the house and not being harassed while doing it.

I got up, made pumpkin pancakes for the SECOND morning in a row, got the kiddo dressed, fed, hair done and teeth brushed and on to school. 

Now I'm at home soaking up time.

Why did I ever try and work again?

Yes, it was fun dressing up and doing make-up, it was fun putting on a 'face' every day and getting compliments about what I was wearing and how I looked, and financial comfort would be nice, but it didn't feel right. 

I tried to think it did.

I wanted to think it did.

But it didn't...and now it does.

HALLELUJAH!

So I sit, in old jeans, a $5 tee, running shoes and an old, beat up college sweat shirt with no make-up, day old hair, and my glasses on. 

And I feel at home! 

We've had family dinner together the last two nights.

Like, we actually SAT DOWN and ate. 

Not rushed.

Not freaking out.

AND...

we had family home evening.

(You can read about that here)

Yea, usually it's intended for Monday nights but for right now it works better for us to hold it on Wednesdays.

But anyway...

Regaurding my last post:

No nap is NOT HAPPENING! lol

I didn't even try. 

So we are still on the hunt for a schedule for homeschool activities.

Next week's game plan:

After school...

Nap

Park Play (depending on day)

Home for Free Play during dinner prep

School Activity while dinner is baking/cooking

Dinner

Church Story

Bath

Story Time

Bedtime

Maybe that will work?

*****

It's another long weekend for us...but it's ok.

Last night one kiddo said to me out of no where, "This is really good soup Mommy."

"Really?"

"Mm-hmm."

"I'm so glad you like it!"

*big smile*

AWESOME!

I made roasted red pepper and tomato soup from scratch for the first time.

(I LOVE my Vitamix!)

It turned out pretty good apparently.

But this is why I'm not worried for the ugly time crunches we are still having to face.

Things are good.

We are doing good.

Hooray for family success!!!

:)

Lastly, if anyone has any clothes they are intending to get rid of my church is holding a clothing drive THIS SATURDAY

where you can either donate clothes 

OR

if you have a need or know of anyone who has a need you can come take clothes.

We are trying to serve the immediate needs in our community.

The left over clothing will then be donated to Deseret Industries.

Leave a comment if you are interested.

Thanks, and have a great Thursday!

2 Days Down

So the monster finished the second day today.

Well, let me back track to pick-up on the first day...

**********

My munchkin talked about EVERYTHING they did at school that day.

And the little crazy kid was actually singing on the way home (and the rest of the day) the songs that they had sung at school.

I was told about the panting, the specific colors, the Hokey Pokey, the 'Jumping Shoes' song, the snack, and got a great explanation of the picture was of our family.

We went home and took a rest on the couch.

I folded laundry.

A half hour later it was up and at 'em and school work time.

We did letter tracing and sounds and then watched Leap Frog to continue through the sounds of the alphabet. 

AWESOME!!

Then today was late start day and carpool.

I didn't get up AS early, a mistake I will not repeat again

(hooray for mistakes! lol)

and wouldn't you know it this kid PASSED out in the car on the way home.

We came home and had lunch and I insisted on some more nap time and holy cow 2 HOURS LATER...(yea, seriously!)

it was up time.

But GRUMPY mood.

We've got some adjusting to do.

So we cut some leaves and there were some emotional frustration moments but we got through it. 

Kid scissors are awful, by the way.

Then, I said 'screw it' and instead of doing school work we went to the park.

And then came home and played on the patio until Daddy got home.

This kid is nuts about gross motor, that's one thing we all share in common.

So I don't think today was a waste.

We spent it together.

And aside from the after-nap-grumps things have been running smoothly.

If the grumps continue we might need to look at what's being served for snack and maybe provide a substitute but we'll take that as it comes.

On another note...

I got our 'Grateful Tree' up! 

Too bad I didn't know it was a trend right now. 

Oh well.

I always thought it would be so insanely cool to have a huge fake tree in the common area of our house to decorate for each season; something made out of chicken wire and plaster of Paris. 

Since we don't own our property I settled for using some brown grocery bags I'd been squirreling away for craft projects and some green, yellow, red, and orange craft paper I bought a few months back for the leaves.

This thing extends to the top of the wall and then onto the ceiling a bit- it's so cool!

And I love how big it is because it's been a fantastic constant reminder.

I've been really concerned, especially in the last 24 hours, about our temporal needs.

Like, really.

And when I got on my computer to start spinning my wheels to "look for jobs" that tree was in my peripheral vision.

It's like it was speaking to me! Like that John Smith moment from 'Pocahontas'.
(You SO know what I'm talking about.)

tree: "W.H.A.T. are you DOING?"

me: "I know, I know, but you know what things look like!"

tree: "Hello!! WHAT. ARE. YOU. DOING?"

me: "Yea, but...I know. But....You're right. Ok, I'm good."

tree: "DARN RIGHT I'M RIGHT, I'M A TREE, IN YOUR HOUSE, THAT YOU MADE BECAUSE YOU HAD TIME BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T MENTALLY CHECKED OUT AND STRESSED THINKING ABOUT CAKES, PRICES, ORDERS, MARY KAY MARKETING, DEADLINES, AND EVERYTHING ELSE YOU HAD TO DO WHILE TAKING CARE OF YOUR KIDS. Have faith. You're being a mom."

Thank you, Mr. Tree.

Or maybe it's a Mrs.? 

We haven't named it yet.

I wanted to, but my munchkin told me no.

I'm still going to name it.

:)

Actually, it's probably a female because this tree seems to tell it like it is. 

*It was Leo Buscaglia who said it best when he said, "The fact that people think I'm crazy gives me a lot of latitude to live my life." 
Obviously tonight I am taking my latitude and running with it!

Ok, enough with the jokes.

It's whole wheat pumpkin pancakes tomorrow with real maple syrup 

(somethings we just don't skimp on when it comes to health- i.e. low glycemic index natural, pure, Earth made sweetener in small amounts, of course).

And then after school it's park day, bible story work sheet, numbers, and math!

I think we'll forgo the nap and see how it goes...

Totally Did It

So we did it.

Today was the first day of school.

And the little one went.

And it felt right.

It helped obviously that we visited last week, of course.

After last time I think both I and Mr. Spin needed to calm our jitters from the previous trauma of the school our kiddo attended prior to today's facility.

Yea, that was awful. 

I don't really want to relive that again.

Hopefully I learned my lesson so I won't have to.

I've been making a ton of mistakes lately, but at least I can say I learned from the school one.

Or so I think.

Or so I hope...

*shuddering at having to relearn this lesson*

Last night Mr. Spin and I actually had some time together to decompress. 

It was pretty awesome.

You might think I'm crazy when you read what we did, but it was what was needed in the moment.

......

Once a month we are asked to fast in our church, the first Sunday of every month, actually. 

(You can read more about our beliefs here)

Most individuals start Saturday afternoon and end Sunday afternoon for a full 24 hours and can still enjoy a nice Sunday dinner.

Well, this weekend was like most for parents. Plus I was having some pretty intense health issues...again. 

(Like I said, lots of lessons and mistakes and learning)

So come 7:00 PM Mr. Spin and I still hadn't started our fast. By about 9:00 PM I finally said, "Hey, I'm going to fast, if you want you can jump on this train with me and we can do this together or I can fly solo." We typically like to fast for things together as a family unit, but if it meant doing it alone or not at all I was just going to do it. 

Honestly, sometimes we forget with our rush and hustle of life. And I figured better late then never.

So we did it together.

Starting at 9:00 PM.

Yea....

Well, we kept our fast all day Sunday. 

I had planned to roast a chicken for dinner which sometimes takes FOR-E-VER.

When we got home from our church meetings the kids took a nap and so naturally we capitalized on the time by...

taking a nap, too. :)

This meant the chicken didn't get to start actually thawing until about 4:00 PM.

It didn't get into the oven until 6:30 PM.

Luckily we had left overs for the kids so they were content while we waited.

The kids went to bed by 8:00 PM.

Then, Mr. Urry and I got to sit down TOGETHER to break our fast and have real discussion without interruptions.

Wait, 9:00 PM Saturday to 8:00 PM Sunday?

That's only 23 hours.

But you forgot...

DAY LIGHT SAVINGS!!!

So, it actually worked out so amazingly well.

We were really blessed.

I mean, not to get all religious but, c'mon, we're talking about fasting after all. 

So, last night as I got in bed at 9:00 PM, Mr. Spin and I still spent another hour and half talking.

It. Was. Perfect.

Even though it was late and we hadn't eaten all day I felt like I had a weeks worth of good rest because we were just able to be us, together.

With that clear mindset I set my alarm for 6:15 AM.

Well, I tossed and turned all night. 

One kiddo was up for almost a full hour at 2:00 AM.

Then again at 6:00 AM before my alarm.

Well, it was the first day of school and I was determined to wake up and be a mom.

So I did.

And it wasn't hard to get moving.

Whether it was the time with the hubs or the fasting or both I felt like a legit mom again.

So I got up, got the kiddo dressed just as everyone else started to stir.

I handled breakfast.

Diapers.

Hair.

Teeth brushing.

Tuition payment.

AND we did a homeschool bible lesson before we left.

We even got some pics in before family prayer and our departure. 

This is how it should be, I feel like.

For me.

And my family.

I quit consulting for Mary Kay this week and as of January 1st, 2014 I will no longer be doing cakes for the time being (I have outstanding contracts for December).

Everytime I start to get bored or freaked about being with the kids I search for something to do outside which means more time crunched, less quality time for me, my spouse, my kids, or growth.

Yea...I'm not down for that.

But I keep making the mistake.

I hope I can remember what I've learned and just hold on through the ugly moments.

When school is out today it's lunch time and then homeschooling.

We're doing the letter sounds, courtesy of Leapfrog Learning, writing, cutting, and math (with triangle shapes).

Then maybe a brief nap? Haven't yet decided.

But today is a take it easy day for me so I can fully recover.

And it's been such a huge comfort and blessing.

Can't wait until class is out today!!!