Embracing Life

The music filled my head as I drove my car along the winding river road on that dark and snowy night.  I had just left my grandpa's wake and was headed home... alone.....  My husband had the stomach flu, we had moved into our new house the day before my grandpa passed, and I was 5 1/2 months pregnant.  The baby boy inside me kicked along with the song, as I cried and listened to the words. Mama told me when I was young Come sit beside me, my only son And listen closely to what I say. And if you do this It will help you some sunny day. Take your time... Don't live too fast, Troubles will come and they will pass. Go find a woman and you'll find love, And don't forget son, There is someone up above. I've always found comfort in songs... the words of the artists resonating with me through even my darkest times. Lynyrd Skynyrd's Simple Man is one of those songs that just happens to play on the radio at the precise moment that I need a remind...

As much as technology has made my life easier, I am still a paper and pen sort of girl.  I love notebooks, journals, colored pens, etc.  And I really love my Erin Condren planner!   I will admit, they are pricey.  But I've tried to go cheap. I bought a really nice Target planner. And was left unimpressed. So I broke down and made the 18-month commitment to Erin Condren. ;)  My package arrived last Thursday, and it was super hard not to skip supper with the family to start filling it in: They wrapped it for me! It's like Christmas in August! The planner came with a coupon, as well as some stickers. The front This is in the back. They have now included a perpetual calendar to list birthdays/anniversaries so that you don't need to write them down year after year. I love love love a 2 page monthly spread to see all our big events. I use the 2 page weekly view to write down work meetings, kids' stuff, my to do list, etc. ...

T-minus 8 days until the start of school! And to get back in the routine of school, homework, and just the general busyness of life, I thought I'd post about some things we are doing at home to help make the transition from summer to school a little easier this year: Prepare the night before: Lunches and backpacks are ready to go.  Clothes are set out for children and mom!  Set the timer on the coffee maker.  Double check your cal endar to make sure you aren't forgetting a treat or permission slip.    Here is a picture of the wall/counter right by our back door.   Under the counter , Keith built cubbies for coa ts/back packs.   We use the old shutter for bills/ permission slips/important papers. Hover over this picture to see the "Pin it" button! Hug I t O ut: I've read this in numerous parenting mags, so it must be true... right? Sometimes kids are especially needy in the morning because they've been away from ph...

http://darkfaeriecreations.blogspot.com/p/my-illustrations.html I grew up in a world of Princesses waiting for their Prince Charmings to save them. A land of mystery and make-believe. I didn't see these princesses on tv (as my kids do today), but rather through words.  I devoured books like chocolate, constantly reading (and re-reading) a never-ending supply of books from home and the local library.  No one told me I couldn't, no where was it stated that in my land of make-believe, with princesses and horses and murder and secret clocks, my life would be outwardly affected.  You know, the way it is today.  As quickly as Disney creates a new princess movie, the media and people around me complain about how we need to stop the princess syndrome, we need to teach our little girls independence, we need to show them that it's not necessary to wait for Prince Charming to ride up on a white horse and slay that dragon. Now I hear about how inappropriate Barbies are be...

We had a busy weekend: Legoland on Friday and the firehouse open house on Saturday. Keith was gone a lot, and I didn't feel good. My plans for Sunday included the mountain of laundry and a week's worth of house duties that I didn't have time to complete during the busy week. I also thought I'd stop by the library, let the kids get a couple of DVDs and books to keep them busy, pick up lunch, then hurry back to the chaos I currently call "home". Get books, get lunch, get home was my mantra for the day. Once at the library, the kids were finding books and playing (the boys like to have a contest to see who can build the most blocks with these connector-things they have.)  I got my three books (Nora Robert's Blood Brothers trilogy for some spooky October reading). We got our DVDs, books, and a couple of CDs.  We were good to go. Until the librarian asked if we were staying for the craft/story activity at 1 p.m.  I sighed as I looked at the clock....

Well I can see that Tima beat me to posting, but she is 7 hours ahead of me..... ;) Happiness is not one, but two of your favorite authors/series publishing new books on the same day. The book on the left is Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost. This is part of her Night Prince series. And it stars Vlad, as in Vlad the Impaler.  Most don't know this, but my love of vampires began while reading about the real Vlad Dracul when I was in high school. I even wrote a paper in college, discussing how Eastern European folklore (namely from Vlad and Countess Elizabeth Bathory) found its way into modern day America.  And the book on the right... ahhhh... The Black Dagger Brotherhood. Blay and Qhuinn. Wrath and all the others.................. Sorry, I was day dreaming about being a BDB shellan. I devoured the first seven books of the series when I discovered them (thanks Melissa and Juliet!) a couple of years ago. Since then, I have eagerly awaited each new release. In the new...

Well, I'm debating giving up the blog.  Not necessarily something that should be posted on  something titled the Happiness Project,  but still I wanted to put it out there.  Until I actually make the decision,  I can still play along with Leigh and  post things that make me happy. For instance, this cabinet/credenza/thingy that Keith found on the side of the road.  Check out our new entertainment center!  I cannot wait!  The top needs some staining,  and one of the corners has some scratches.  Once those are fixed,  I can't wait to see it sitting pretty in our family room. Side note - that's a toddler bed on top. Not some weird extension of the cabinet. And please ignore the mess behind... I'm not allowed to clean the garage. Hey, while you are here, why not check out my giveaway ? Or not. Whatever. It's cool.

I try to participate in Leigh's 52 Weeks of Happiness when I can.  But it's been awhile.   So I've compiled a list of things that are making me happy these days. My new Keurig And my new fancy k-cup holder! My bright and shiny Kindle Fire (Look at all those beautiful books!) Lavender and Chamomile lotion (And that funky item in front is a coffin sent to me from Mary Shelley... ;) ) My grandmother's bracelet Penguin artwork by Boy

One of the things I love about autumn is pumpkin everything.  I can't help it.  Keith bought me some pumpkin creamer for my coffee,  which I love. I got back late Sunday night from a refreshing weekend away,  then ended up working 12 1/2 hours (there was a big event).  This morning I was exhausted.     But pumpkin-flavored coffee,  plus my favorite Halloween mug made this morning bearable.

Nothing says summer like hearing the tinkly music of the 'ding-ding' man driving down the street.   When I was younger, on those hot days when we were at my grandma and grandpa's house,  my sister and I would run down the sidewalk to his truck.   We'd each get an orange push-up, sit on the front steps,  and happily eat our summer treat. Now it's my turn to make summer memories with my kids: They loved hearing me talk about being a little girl, and asked to hear the story twice.

Which one is Connor age 2/3 and which one is Cousin Reid age 2.5??? As a side note, when we go out with Reid,  he is the same height as my almost 4 year old twins.  People always ask if I have triplets.  Happiness is family. And cute kids. ;)

I am blessed that both of my grandmas are still with us and have been able to see their great-grandchildren growing up. Both are not in the best of health, but we know in our hearts this is Gigi L's last Easter. She has celebrated 86 Easters in her life.  Part of me hopes this was the best one: Egg hunt in Gigi's backyard Checking out the loot Gigi watching the kids

Some people do not understand how a book can make me happy.  (Namely, my husband. Although for the record,  I did ignore him on my first morning home so that I could finish the book. But still...) Anyway, I waited patiently for book 10 of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series to be released. It just so happened that it was set to be delivered to my kindle while I was in Vegas for a conference. The magic of my iPhone continues to surprise me (mainly because I never bothered reading the manual that came with it). I had started reading the book on my kindle, yet later that day had some time in between sessions. I checked the kindle app on my phone, and it automatically synced to my last location read on my kindle.  It's magic, I tell you. The next day, I had time before my flight left:  I read on the flight.  And the next morning after the kids went to school (much to the chagrin of my husband). The book was all I could hope for and more. There is something ...

I've been behind in blogging lately. In fact, I still have one last Disney post to share. But that will have to wait. I was going through some old pictures recently, and this one stuck out in my mind.  Partly it's because 4 years ago this month, I was shocked at an ultrasound appointment. I was pregnant with my second child. We were headed in for the 20 week ultrasound to see if it was a boy or a girl. There are the two heads. I've said this before. The tech thought we knew it was TWINS. We did NOT. Life changes when you have a baby. Life does back-flips, somersaults, and trampoline jumps when you have two babies. (Especially when you have an almost 2 year old at the same time.) We've made it through the sleepless nights (no wait, they still get up in the night), the trying twos, the TERRIBLE threes. My babies turn four this summer. I can't even fathom it. But these babies preschoolers are my happiness, my heart.