Christmas Blessing!

I know I know, it's been a while. Please forgive me, but I have been soaking up every single second with my Hubby while he is on break from school. We have been all over and spent wonderful time with friends and family. We have crafted, been all over the city taking in the beautiful season and making Christmas memories.

Today, I was wrapping up my last few projects and my last gifts when I got a call from Hubby who was out to lunch with an old friend. He said, "Honey, you won't believe this, but he paid for my lunch. AND then, he gave us (large amount of money) and told me to take you out for a nice date (more like 5 or 6 nice dates:) and when I refused he said that him and his wife talked about it and wanted to bless us. Is that AMAZING!?! Right before Christmas, when times are tough and he has his own family and children to bless. I was just shocked and then I cried. These are friends we don't see often anymore and just an invite to lunch was a blessing to Marcus but everything else was so unexpected, but oh so appreciated. Hubby and I don't exchange presents on Christmas so we can focus on the boys and this gift today gives us a chance to spoil each other a little bit and the gift of time with my Hubby is the best thing I could ask for!

Izzy surprised me yesterday morning by giving me his favorite stuffed animal. When I asked why he wanted to give it to me he said, "Because I am learning about the spirit of Christmas and that means giving and sharing your favorite things, so I give you Jack, but I need him back after Christmas. :) I'm so glad he is learning to be a giver because we have been given so much. My prayer is that I teach my boys to give and be thoughtful of others first,because in the end, God always takes care of every single need or desire. Today is a perfect example of that.

I hope that I have been able to bless my friends and make them feel as special as I feel today. Praying the rest of 2010 finds you richly blessed and surrounded in love! Merry Christmas! Michael

Another heart melting moment...

Do you ever feel like you are pulled so thin, that you aren't doing anything to the best of your abilities? Especially, the stuff that counts like being a Mommy? Well, I feel like that a lot. I mean A. Lot. Hubby is in his second year and his schedule is beyond crazy and as much as I hate to admit it, I am not perfect. I know, SHOCKER!

With Hubby being in the midst of finals, and the holidays quickly approaching, add in the holiday parties, required family gatherings, school functions, play dates, projects and oh yeah, Mothering children, it sometimes feels like I give them all of my time, but my focus isn't quite there as it should be.

Just when I am feeling a little down, I can always rely on my sweet Izzy to surprise me with his flattery.

Back story:
Last week, Izzy came home from school with a note saying that he had been a tad too talkative and had to miss 5 minutes of play time with his head down. Now, if you know me, you know this devastated me. I am a rule follower. I am obedient to my core and for my children to disobey, well as dumb as it sounds...it hurts. After a talk and a day without electronics as punishment we regrouped and finished the rest of the week out right. Add this situation to a finals weekend with no Hubby support and Izzy who is desperately missing his Daddy time (read: SUPER EMO) this weekend left me feeling like I can't handle everything and do it in a way that make my kids feel full of what they need all of the time.

Sunday night, I put the boys to bed at 7. No fussing, no problems. I walk upstairs to my room to get dressed for a craft night with a friend and within a minute, my Izzy is standing in my doorway. I didn't even have time for a sigh or a eye roll because before I could process anything, there he stood with a sweet innocent smile on his face and he said, "Mama, I know I am 'posed to be in bed, but I have to tell you something special. I like you very much and I really appreciate you. You are always nice to me and I just thought you should know that. I love you Mama, and don't be mad at me cause I got out of bed, okay?" He then proceeded to come give me a huge hug and kiss that was one of those moments Mommy's live for. The kind of hug where the love just pours out over you and refreshes you. It is a moment I needed so badly, and one I will never forget.

On my drive to my friends that night, I thought about what he said and realized, that just as I don't expect perfection from my kids (although it would be nice ;) my kids don't expect that from me either. All of the pressure is self induced and I need to take a few more deep breaths during the day and just give a few more hugs and kisses. I think we would all feel much better this season.

Hoping all of you Mama's out there get your moment of refreshment very soon!

*deep breath*

There's a Party in his tummy...

There's a party in Ashers tummy, except it isn't much like the Gabba song. It is more like an out of control college party where the neighbors call the cops due to noise and everyone gets kicked out. Except instead of college kids getting kicked out, it was chocolate Carnation Instant breakfast drink. Yep, the party was shut down all over my bed this morning. It was exactly how you are picturing it, not pretty. Of course, I had just showered, dressed, curled my hair and completed my make-up when it happened. Either way, I hope his tummy has learned it's lesson and won't be pulling those shenanigans again because it could take days for that smell to leave my memory.

Even with all of that, I wanted you to know that I am sticking to my Daily List and being all efficient. It also helps that all of this just happened to fall on laundry day. Convenient.


I've also learned that I need to get different dry/erase markers because mine are too wide to write my menu items, so I settled for a washable crayola but, you/I get the point. Just need to add 12 extra pounds of laundry to the list, clorox wiping, 2nd shower-dress-hair-makeup, 2nd bath and dress for Asher,and take out play time and insert lots of snuggles. Oh, and I have to clean the basement because my Dad is having band practice at the house (bad timing). But, for an efficiency win, I have dinner made and in the crock pot, crocking away!

Here is my little lovey, sick sick sick, but even still his quest for knowledge doesn't end. Sitting quietly learning his letters and enjoying a little Max & Ruby on the side. His clean jammies say "Loveable" on them and that is the truth. He is my Lovey. So sweet, and huggable. Makes all those extra things I added onto my list today so easy to forget.

Christmas Wish Lists

Translation & links:
1. R/C 4-Wheeler (similar to this)
2. BMX bikes great for playing on the tech deck ramps!
3. Wipeout is Izzy's #2 show. Should bring the giggles.
4. Nerf Lazer tag. Mommy likes this idea because I don't have to search for bullets!
5. Playmobil gym set found here. He would also like the school, if we feel like spending $100.00

Translation & links:
1. Imaginext make everything my kids want. Find their latest must have here.
2. BMX bikes same as Izzy's request. They love those things!
3. Flashcards. He especially loves these.
4. Trains. He will take any kind, he is slightly obsessed! Choo Choo!
5. Puzzles, same as train. He loves anything that takes focus. Simple kid, I love him.

I was hoping Izzy would write out his list for the first time this year. That didn't work out so well. While he enjoys writing, he is only in Kindergarten and their writing skills are only a couple of words at a time. You would of thought I was asking him to write a novel and he was complaining of hand cramps and finally I gave in and wrote it for him. Maybe next year! Still, cute and funny to see how after a day at Toys R Us, what items really stuck out in their minds. Also, happy to see that the little things make them happy.

Quiet Weekend * Updated*

This may have been the quietest weekend I have ever had. Friday I was still feeling pretty yucky. I finally made it to naptime, shut the door to Ashers room when I got the call from Izzy's school saying that I needed to pick him up. 101+ fever and a horrible headache, poor guy. My dream of a sweet nap faded away and the realistic ideas flooded in of taking care of another sicky all weekend. Hrmph.

Those selfish thoughts quickly faded when I saw my sick little one. His face was flushed and his eyes were weepy. I practically had to carry him to the car because the weight of his own body seemed too much for him. He went straight to bed and slept for 4 hours. All of those selfish thoughts for nothing...I got a nap after all.

We spent the next two days in our pj's doing crafts, having nerf gun fights, watching movies, making yummy snacks, making our Christmas wish lists and napping when needed. I had plenty of time to prepare for the week and the house (maybe for the first time ever) was clean when I woke up on a Monday morning! *cue Angels rejoicing*

Asher decided to take what seemed to be a sinus headache for Izzy and turn it into a full blown cold for himself because now my little lovey has quite the cough and warm to touch. I am so over the cold/flu season already.

Today is going to be another quiet day for me so I have decided that since I will be home anyway I should take full advantage of the time and get myself organized. I like to think of myself as a pretty organized lady. My kids are scheduled like they are in an Army bootcamp and my days run pretty smoothly. My closets have a spot for everything. I have a label maker and I am not afraid to use it. There does, however, always seem to be one cleaning project that is just out of my reach on a daily basis and no matter how much I have accomplished, it leaves me feeling a sense of failure for the day.

Then I came across a cleaning spreadsheet that you can view here.
Brilliant! Now, I do have my cleaning routine in my head, but I am a total list person. If I write down a list of 40 things to get done in a day, I can cross that stuff off like nothing. I have certain days that are more heavy cleaning than others, like for instance, Tuesdays, which is when I start my laundry. I start my laundry at 7:30 a.m. and normally by Wednesday night everything is folded and I start putting everything away. I know in my head I am normally home on Tuesdays and I arrange playdates and errands for other days. My idea is to print of my cleaning schedule and put it in one of those plastic slips and put it in a clip board to hang in my laundry room. Add a dry/erase marker and each day I can cross of my list as I go making my time as efficient as possible and hopefully adding much more quality time with my sweet boys.

This whole idea gave me flashbacks to my childhood, because growing up each Saturday my Dad would write a list of To-Do's on a yellow legal pad and he would work on that list for the weekend. His favorite quote when we were little was "If you fail to plan, plan to fail."


My goal today is to print of my personal cleaning list and start my week off right with planning that hopefully ends up with a lot accomplished! I can't wait to see the look on Dad's face when he sees my clipboard! All of those inspirational quotes worked, Dad! :)

*Update*
So my link didn't work, and that is okay because Hubby challenged me to make my own spreadsheet and make it more personalized to how I would use it. So I did. I am super excited. I just have to find a clipboard and I am ready to go.
Here is my list hanging up and ready for me to start crossing off items! I have it in a plastic sleeve and that way I can write in my menu and grocery items each week! Fabulous! And below the list is a closer shot of the first column.

Yay for organizing! Feeling much less overwhelmed already.

Blah.

Sorry for the absence. You probably think I have nothing to blog about, but it is quite the opposite. I have TONS of blogging stories, and yet I haven't had a moment to sit by myself to get them out of my head. Then Wednesday night, it was like a storm exploded in my head. Suddenly, right at dinner time I could barely open my eyes, the light, the noises everything made me feel like I was going to melt into the floor. Migraine. UGH!
A couple of days later, and while my head is slightly less dramatic, I feel puny. I think I can blame this on a sinus infection. Major annoying and energy zapping.

I hate being sick, but I especially hate being sick on the weekends. I like to go. I like to have plans. But, this time, this weekend I am so tired and drained that a rainy weekend in bed sounds wonderful to me. Just hoping that my kiddos are understanding that a couple more days of quiet play are needed and I am also hoping my creative juices kick in to provide them with ideas. This weekend also happens to be Daddy's study weekend so he needs quiet too.

Right now, Asher and I are snuggled warm in our pj's and enjoying a Toy Story marathon. The original TS should take us right to lunch time and then nap where I can muster the energy to pick up Izzy from school and pray that 7:00 comes quickly.

I love Fall, but I hate the yucky colds and flu's it brings with it.

Blah.

Like an Herbal Essence commercial...

I have a super-duper talented friend Katie. She can cook ridiculous yummy food, she can bake anything and she is super crafty. As if that isn't enough, she used to be a hair stylist. Whenever my hair turns into something from the Lion King, she has me over for a night of relaxation and works her hair magic on me.

Monday night was one of those nights. Hubby is on break and after we put the kiddos to bed, we headed over for a night of delicious food and I got a makeover! Needless to say, it was like a perfect night. Hanging out with our friends, eating from what could have been a buffet of food-we had our choice of Italian, Mexican or her Famous Spicy Beef. I believe Hubby indulged in all of the food choices as well as dessert pumpkin bars and oreo balls...you can see why we are such great friends, right? ;) It is impossible not to love them.

While the guys were eating to their belly's content, I was off getting pampered and had some good ol' girl talk. Isn't it amazing how something like a hair cut can do so much for how you feel about yourself? I feel like a new woman!




Didn't she do a great job? Please excuse this "myspace-ish" picture, Hubby is out for the day and it is difficult to take a good picture of yourself, it doesn't do her great work justice. I should have taken a before and after photo so you could see just how gigantic my hair gets. It was all one horrible thick mess of a layer and had no style to it. She put a rich glaze on, which deepened my color and made it ridiculously soft and trimmed and gave my hair its body back! It feels so great!

Thanks so much to my sweet friend Katie for making me feel like getting my hair out of the Mom pony-tail and breaking out the styling products again! :)