Sunday, November 4, 2012
Thankful Days 3 & 4
I have been off the computer for the last few days, so I missed posting for day 3 & 4.
Day 3
I am thankful for friends who help enable my stockpiling / canning / cooking from scratch habit. I was out running errands on Saturday when I got a call from a friend who was another friend's house. They wanted to know if I wanted some big pumpkins that were left over from Halloween that were not carved. They figured I could use them to make my own puree - which I gladly accepted. I even got them delivered to me! So my to-do list tomorrow includes getting those cut up , baked and pureed so that I can still have pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread in July!
Day 4
Both my boys had upset tummies last night and in the process created some messes and a few extra loads of laundry. So today I am thankful for a working washer, dryer and solar clothes dryer at my disposal so that I can be sure that my boys have clean bedding to sleep on tonight.
What are you thankful for today?
Friday, November 2, 2012
Thankful Days - Day 2
Today I am thankful for my Girl Scout sisters - both young and old! The girls keep me young (IMHO) and my fellow "grown-up" girls keep me sane.
I have been an active Girl Scout for 12 years - 5 as a girl and now 7 as a leader. I learn something new from my girls every time we get together and I hope they learn something from me as well - even if they don't know they are learning at the time. :)
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Thankful Days - Day 1
Day 1
Today I am thankful for the simple act of being able to flip a switch and turn on an electric light. So many people are surviving without this simple luxury right now. It isn't the end of world, and I know we could survive without it (we have before) but it is so helpful to have the means to operate our electric servants everyday and to light our home when it is dark and gloomy outside.
What are you thankful for today?
Thankful Days
I am taking up the challenge to be thankful the entire month of November. Want to join me?
The Princess, The Mad Scientist and The Tank
My children.
Some days I look at the three of them and think, "Therapy is going to be really expensive." I second guess and question myself everyday.
My lovely daughter is going through the beginning stages of puberty and has her poor Daddy bewildered. Having been the youngest of four children, and one of three boys, his sister was in college before he realized there was a difference between boys and girls!
She has a sharp mind and she wants so badly to be involved with "grown up" topics, but she is still a little girl clinging onto her innocence. I want her to keep clinging for as long as possible. She isn't ready to give up her baby dolls and princess fantasies some days and that is okay with this Momma. In some ways she is so mature and others, so naive that she is having a hard time finding her way through life right now. My oldest son has been diagnosed with a learning disability. It is hard, as his Mom, to not have major guilt over this. I was, and still am, his earliest teacher and maybe I screwed up somewhere along the line. The school is hesitant to label him, but from my research and what I know of my Mad Scientist, I think he is dyslexic. It is frustrating as someone who reads for pleasure to know that my son may never pick up a book just for the fun of it. He is so smart and comes up with some amazing theories and topics about science and history. We need a way to bring is skills up to par with his knowledge. My youngest is my Ferdinand the Bull. At just 8 years old, he is already 54 inches tall and weighs around 95 pounds. His is a solid brick of a boy - rough and tumble and plays hard. BUT he is also super sensitive and when he is redirected, he loses it. It is hard at times to remember that he is only 8 and because of his size, I catch myself expecting more of him. He is a sweetheart and loves to help in the kitchen. HE has all the ladies at church wrapped around his little finger! There is never a quiet or a dull moment in our house.
Some days I look at the three of them and think, "Therapy is going to be really expensive." I second guess and question myself everyday.
My lovely daughter is going through the beginning stages of puberty and has her poor Daddy bewildered. Having been the youngest of four children, and one of three boys, his sister was in college before he realized there was a difference between boys and girls!
She has a sharp mind and she wants so badly to be involved with "grown up" topics, but she is still a little girl clinging onto her innocence. I want her to keep clinging for as long as possible. She isn't ready to give up her baby dolls and princess fantasies some days and that is okay with this Momma. In some ways she is so mature and others, so naive that she is having a hard time finding her way through life right now. My oldest son has been diagnosed with a learning disability. It is hard, as his Mom, to not have major guilt over this. I was, and still am, his earliest teacher and maybe I screwed up somewhere along the line. The school is hesitant to label him, but from my research and what I know of my Mad Scientist, I think he is dyslexic. It is frustrating as someone who reads for pleasure to know that my son may never pick up a book just for the fun of it. He is so smart and comes up with some amazing theories and topics about science and history. We need a way to bring is skills up to par with his knowledge. My youngest is my Ferdinand the Bull. At just 8 years old, he is already 54 inches tall and weighs around 95 pounds. His is a solid brick of a boy - rough and tumble and plays hard. BUT he is also super sensitive and when he is redirected, he loses it. It is hard at times to remember that he is only 8 and because of his size, I catch myself expecting more of him. He is a sweetheart and loves to help in the kitchen. HE has all the ladies at church wrapped around his little finger! There is never a quiet or a dull moment in our house.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Big Plans
There is nothing like a new year to motivate you to set new goals. Its almost as exciting as the first day of school!
Money
The hubby and I sat down this morning and worked out our budget going forward. We have a goal to pay down some debt and to set aside more into savings. We are using a combination of Dave Ramsey and Mary Hunt with a little of our own plans thrown in for good measure. The good thing about our plan is that we have agreed to sit down once-a-week to review our plan. This is huge for us as our schedules are so insane!
House Projects
We also sat down and made a list of all the little projects that need to get done. We went room by room and made notes about what we wanted to do from painting to patching holes. There isn't a crazy amount of stuff, but we'll hit it a little at a time.
Children's Routines and Chores
My children have had a bit of a free ride since school started. We had so many changes that we focused more on surviving the day to day chaos. That in turn, just created more chaos. Starting today, we are getting back on track. After all, I am training my children to become adults, not to be children for the rest of their lives! Its time they start doing more.
Menu Planning
This is another area that I have let slip in recent months. Our food budget and my sanity do so much better when there is a plan. I am even thinking of joining the pantry challenge at Good Cheap Eats.
Weight Loss
That is another area where I need to commit some changes. I weighed myself this morning and I am heavier than this time last year. Hubby and I are going to start watching our portions, I am going to try and give up soda (my vice!) and work out regularly. On of my goals is to walk/run 400 miles this year. That is just a slightly more than a mile a day! Definitely doable.
So what are you working on for the new year?
Money
The hubby and I sat down this morning and worked out our budget going forward. We have a goal to pay down some debt and to set aside more into savings. We are using a combination of Dave Ramsey and Mary Hunt with a little of our own plans thrown in for good measure. The good thing about our plan is that we have agreed to sit down once-a-week to review our plan. This is huge for us as our schedules are so insane!
House Projects
We also sat down and made a list of all the little projects that need to get done. We went room by room and made notes about what we wanted to do from painting to patching holes. There isn't a crazy amount of stuff, but we'll hit it a little at a time.
Children's Routines and Chores
My children have had a bit of a free ride since school started. We had so many changes that we focused more on surviving the day to day chaos. That in turn, just created more chaos. Starting today, we are getting back on track. After all, I am training my children to become adults, not to be children for the rest of their lives! Its time they start doing more.
Menu Planning
This is another area that I have let slip in recent months. Our food budget and my sanity do so much better when there is a plan. I am even thinking of joining the pantry challenge at Good Cheap Eats.
Weight Loss
That is another area where I need to commit some changes. I weighed myself this morning and I am heavier than this time last year. Hubby and I are going to start watching our portions, I am going to try and give up soda (my vice!) and work out regularly. On of my goals is to walk/run 400 miles this year. That is just a slightly more than a mile a day! Definitely doable.
So what are you working on for the new year?
Saturday, December 31, 2011
20 minutes left of 2011
Wow - I can't believe that 2011 is almost over.
This has been a rough year for my family. Just over a year ago I went back to work full-time outside of the house. With that brought adjustments for my time as well as my children not having Mommy all to themselves which is still taking some getting used to.
The same week, my Dad - "The Old Fart" - had a stroke and then a heart attack. It threw my whole family into turmoil in the weeks and months that followed. It was touch and go for a long while, but he is still with us and is working toward his independence everyday.
In August, I lost my Papa - my Grandfather. He was a career military man who was an awesome testament to his generation and his family. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and I miss him every day.
My parents moved and now live just four doors down from me! It is an excited change and I am so glad that they are nearby. Now if I can just get my brother and sister to move closer!
My husband changed locations at work and with that brought an even crazier schedule which I am still trying to get used to. He didn't think he would like it at first, but now he is able to let some of his strengths shine, and I am so proud of him!
So, 2011 might not have been the best year, but I know I have grown as a person in countless ways and I am still here to tell about it!
I hope that you and yours have a wonderful New Year!
This has been a rough year for my family. Just over a year ago I went back to work full-time outside of the house. With that brought adjustments for my time as well as my children not having Mommy all to themselves which is still taking some getting used to.
The same week, my Dad - "The Old Fart" - had a stroke and then a heart attack. It threw my whole family into turmoil in the weeks and months that followed. It was touch and go for a long while, but he is still with us and is working toward his independence everyday.
In August, I lost my Papa - my Grandfather. He was a career military man who was an awesome testament to his generation and his family. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and I miss him every day.
My parents moved and now live just four doors down from me! It is an excited change and I am so glad that they are nearby. Now if I can just get my brother and sister to move closer!
My husband changed locations at work and with that brought an even crazier schedule which I am still trying to get used to. He didn't think he would like it at first, but now he is able to let some of his strengths shine, and I am so proud of him!
So, 2011 might not have been the best year, but I know I have grown as a person in countless ways and I am still here to tell about it!
I hope that you and yours have a wonderful New Year!
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