Reminder
Today is the last day if you wanted to order holiday wrapping paper or chocolates from the kids fundraiser.
Just go here or here.
Each link will take you to the website to order one is for Cade and one is for Camryn to get the credit.
But it really doesn't matter.
Project Pictures
The Art Wall.
I got these frames and painted them my favorite color and placed the kids art work behind them. The art can be changed easily and often I hope.
If you have kids, know kids, or have seen kids around ...
Print out this coloring sheet for them. You can print as many as you want!
It will make their day and maybe even yours!
(credit: inch by inch publications, thanks, Cathy!)
Keep an Eye on the Prize
I was following Monica around the soccer fields last night and fielding off Ana from wanting to visit the concession stand for candy, when I thought to myself, "There should be a crown in heaven for all the mothers who go to soccer practices with toddlers". It is a small sacrifice, one that really doesn't merit a crown surely, I know, but when the sun is setting, there is no place I want to be but home. The best days are the ones that don't end with me fighting with tired girls, but where they are bathed and in bed at their bedtimes.
Last night I had a dream that I lost a crown. I was at a party or some such social event and I felt my back teeth were loose. Then out popped a crown from one of my molars. I don't have any crowns on my teeth but I assume God was trying to make a point to me. Like, "you wanted a crown for looking after toddlers when they should be in bed, well here you go".
Am I the only one that does that? When life is a challenge to assume you will be rewarded in Heaven for all your work? I really do believe it and truth is it works like a charm for me to set my sights upward to focus on my heavenly reward rather than focus on how hard the challenge at hand is for poor little me.
And when I think about it that way usually I see right away what a privileged life I have to begin with. I see a bigger view than just the narrow lens of my humanness.
I see for instance that my kids are just on loan to me in the first place and I was picked especially by our Creator to take care of them for a very brief time. When I realize that, the task at hand becomes a great reward in itself to be so privileged to have been blessed with the responsibility.
So, I took a deep breath, and I felt at peace last night as I watched the sun slip into some clouds in the west. I settled down on the grass and watched my girls spill out the contents of my diaper bag for their amusement.
And guess what I found as a result? The memory card that has been lost for 2 weeks.
Take care of your babies like you are being watched....
because you are!
Helping children, crossing something off your Holiday TO DO, and saving the planet
It's that time of year again. The schools send out the kids to peddle wares and candy in order to fund the fun year round. Our school in no exception. This year my kids are peddling wrapping paper, and chocolates.
They sell the same stuff every year so at least I can plan for it. I was very pleased with the paper quality and the convience of having it delivered is definatly worth it.
The only changes the company has made this year is that they too have hopped on the "green bandwagon" so all wrapping paper is recycled, inks are water based, and use corrugated boxes to ship in.
SO..this year you can help the poor deprived kids go see some museums, be ahead of the game by ordering your holiday paper early, AND help save the environment.
Now won't you feel good about yourself after all that??
To Order:
Simply click here for Cade to earn the credit or here for Camryn to earn the credit.
And shop! It's really that easy folks.
All prizes in this household are shared so don't worry about evening out the score so to speak.
Yea! I finally got my new camera uploaded , USB cord arrived, new batteries
bought and all is good.
Enjoy! We sure did.
If you only knew...
If you see me struggling to strap my screaming 1 year old into my shopping cart, while her 3 year old sister is crying and begging me to let her ride instead, don't feel sorry for me.
Really.
I mean it.
Because I don't feel a bit sorry. Sure I have my share of meltdowns in public to deal with usually on a daily basis. But, what I wish I could tell the people who look at me with pity, is "if you only knew....."
I imagine most people think what they see is my life 24/7. Screaming babies, disagreeable toddlers, older kids fighting over whose turn it is to do who knows what?! Me in the center of that storm just holding on and trying to get my caravan in my van away from downcast eyes and frowning strangers.
I see that too.
But more often, I see shining eyes of varying ages as we sing together while riding in the car. Or I see the soft gestures of siblings as they help a small sister get a drink out of a big glass, or roll on the ground kissing a baby tummy. Or the way three sisters will actually sit together for an entire football game because their brother is out there. I also get to watch the above mentioned screaming baby as she closes her eyes slowly, softly and peacefully ending the day. I get to talk to that disagreeable toddler about fairy tales and dance with her like a prince will someday. I also hang out with two of the coolest kids anytime I want and they are up for anything.
So really, if they only knew, they would feel sorry for any one but me.
I love my life, I love my kids. If you only knew.
Losing it
In the past month or so I have lost a new pair of pants, the USB cord to my new camera, my memory card, and various papers, and phone numbers.Actually, I know where most of these items are..the trash. Why would I throw away these items? I didn't, not on purpose anyway. They were thrown out on my whims of organizing. I lost the pants while purging my closet of unnecessary clothes. I lost the USB cord while cleaning out my car, and I lost the other papers while cleaning off my desk. I realized that while I am engaged in organizing or cleaning, I am not fully present. I am often also watching my kids, talking on the phone or with another child and I am therefore neither here nor there so to speak. I had not realized how bad this is to be preoccupied with so many things that I am literally not present in the moment and my brain being on auto pilot can not discern which pants to keep and which to toss. Or which wires are important and which are not. Or which paper may be needed and which doesn't.
So, for my sanity's sake I am trying to slow down and be present in whatever I am doing. That is why I am not blogging so much, or talking on the phone as much. I need to focus on each moment and the task it brings.
It is extremely hard for me, a natural multi-taskerdoitall type. To be in the moment means that I am NOT folding the laundry while listening to Camryn read to me. That is hard. Or that I am NOT on the phone while cleaning, driving, or out for a walk. That is the hardest. So, I am cutting my losses but trying to remain truly wherever I am.
Thank goodness for Peggy's Daybook otherwise I wouldn't know where to start!
FOR TODAY September 8, 2009
Outside My Window... Clear sky sun shining
I am thinking... about the people I am praying for
I am thankful for... my clean garage..I parked the car inside ...makes for a much cooler car.
From the kitchen... Breakfast: Yogurt and English Muffins
Lunch: Open faced bagel cheese and turkey melts
Dinner: Chicken Souvlaki sandwiches
I am wearing... A one piece dress..put on after my swim this morning...not for long though breastfeeding will prove impossible
I am creating... A workout training schedule for my first triathlon
I am going... to the farmers market after nap
I am reading... The Alchemist
I am hoping... to clean my bathrooms today
I am hearing... The air conditioner..have I said how much I love that sound?
Around the house... There are alot of things laying around for me to post on freecycle
One of my favorite things... my salsa and a glass of iced tea
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Cade's 1st football game, soccer, music class with the girls, Curriculum night
What's in a name?
Have you ever wondered about the names of each hurricane?
Yeah, us too. Then I found this site and now we know what or who rather is waiting in line.
I have to say, this is one list of unpopular people I really don't need to know.
