Embracing Life

From the time my children were little, the amount of parenting advice that one can find on the internet has quadrupled (at least!).  It's easy to scroll through my FB feed and read up on many different ways that I "should" be parenting.  What's best for my kids, according to 80 other mom bloggers, doctors, HuffPost, friends, family.... you get the point. The newest thing I see is how to have a schedule-free summer! Great! Although that totally conflicts with what my children's teachers have advised - we must work on math and reading skills so that the kids don't forget them during the less than 90 days they are off for break. So now what do I do? Make them work on math or let them play in the sprinkler? Well, I guess it doesn't matter - I work full-time and don't get off for summer break.  I can convey my thoughts to the grandmas who will be hard at work this summer, taking care of my children, but in the end, I just want my kids to have fun.  My tho...

Normally I do a great big bucket list, with lots of fun things planned.  This year, it's a little different, due to my health situation.  But still there are things that I'd like to do.  It's hard to plan certain things, especially since I do not have surgery date scheduled. So we will work with the time we have! I like to have fun with these things, and I don't hold myself to completely everything on there. But the kids get a kick out of crossing things off!

I'm that person - the one who makes a list of resolutions - floss more, lose weight, etc - and then never follows through.  It's not because I don't have good intentions.  Truthfully, I just don't have the time. I thought when the kids started grade school, I'd have more free time, more time to myself.  Instead, I find our lives are even more busier than before. Sometimes I find myself wishing for the diaper stage again - at least then they took naps. So this year, I decided to take a different approach and make a list of what I am NOT going to do this year.  Let me tell you, on day 6, I haven't completely succeeded but that's why there are 365 days in a year! If things don't go the way you planned, there is always tomorrow. 1 - STOP being negative.  This is a hard one. By the end of 2014, I was really feeling the pull of life.  I was (am) overworked and stressed out.  That, of course, cannot change overnight (or even by the end of January), but...

Last week, a co-worker leaned across the table and whispered loudly, "You look tired!" The other people at the table turned to me and stared, their gazes scrutinizing me,  causing me to stammer something about how I am running a fundraiser for the kids' school. She responded with a comment on how I work full time and have three kids, so why am I volunteering? Ummmmmmmm........"because that's what moms do" didn't really seem like the right response. Neither did "well no one else stepped up", although those both are the reasons. The real response I should have given to "you look tired" is not completely professional or work appropriate. Yelling loudly, "Well of course I do! I'm trying to balance 20 million things at once, and I'm overloaded! I don't sleep well since I can't shut my brain off at 10 p.m. when the to-do list didn't get done, and I feel like crap because of some health issues I have! Not t...

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...

When I got home from work, the kids saw the turkey pin I had on my coat.  They got really excited because they know we get to go up to Gigi's (my grandmother) house for Thanksgiving.  I'm trying to find an easy art project we can do this weekend so that the kids can make a centerpiece for Gigi's. Last night, I went to my abs class.  I left to one child screaming for me.  That's normal.  I got home, and Keith told me that Colin quieted down a few minutes after I left.  Keith even went back in to check on him after he put Connor to bed, and Colin was happy in his crib.  I went upstairs to check on the kids, like I normally do.  No wonder Colin was so happy and quiet.  Kids that are naked usually are.  Pajama pants and diaper thrown haphazardly on the floor. This morning, Keith took Connor to his mom's for the day, and the twins went to my mom's house.  They were happily eating breakfast before we left.  The thing is, on these...

My facebook status last night read: "went to check on Colin who was fussing in his crib. Then went to cover up Keira & noticed she was naked." In my head, I'm already preparing for Hallowe'en. It's the best time of the year.  I had a credit for Amazon that I used towards this book:                                                                   I can't wait to read it. Our plan was to go to the zoo this weekend, with my sister, my niece and my parents, but due to this stomach bug that is making it's rounds, I'm not too sure. Connor seems to be better at school, at least he was yesterday.  However, he told me he can't brush his teeth there because h...