And back to work and back to school means back to our regular schedule. Up at 6, reading, eating, packing, dressing, bus, layout, etc. etc. And the little boy is still being funny.

So many people ask me how I get so much done in a day and can work from home. A big part of it is this.

My kids are just amazing. They play by themselves for hours. Happily. Every now and then they interrupt and we play together, we laugh and then they go back to playing alone. I am lucky, I really know it. Here’s David, showing off his gratitude journal.

And then having a bit of silly time.

I missed it but this is seconds after Nathaniel went over to hug him.

And then went back to playing.

And playing some more. He still into the blanket carrying of course.

And here’s David, playing on the iPhone which he gets to do after writing his gratitude, eating his veggies, and reading with mommy.

Nathaniel learned the word yellow today and he also started taking my finger and making it point at the things he wants. He’s getting more and more communicative and he’s so very cute. When we get food, he’ll nod yes or no and then point at his tray to show us where to put the food. Love that boy.

I have two more layouts to do and I am ready for CHA. Phew. I will like having something else to do in the mornings. I will like printing new photos out and gathering some stories. I need a little break after this. I will enjoy taking time to journal more and work on my classes more.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. Today, I feel a deep gratitude for my children. I am truly blessed as a mother. I have two incredibly nice, kind, loving and fun kids. They are so full of personality and character. I hope that it continues to be so. I feel so grateful.
2. I am grateful for another day of exercise. I must admit even after 109 days, it’s still really hard. I still have to drag myself to the garage. I still think I won’t ever get through it. I still feel tired at the end. But I do it. I am thankful and proud that I do.
3. I am grateful for a good, productive day. Some days feel out of control but today felt good. I have some todo items and I am woefully behind on email and replying to comments but still I don’t feel like I am drowning which is good for me.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I got a card from school (it’s a photo id) {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I played on the phone
3. I am grateful that I went to school. He had a good day at school and worked on some fun projects, he tells me.

And here we are, already at the end of our long weekend. It’s 6pm which means I have this entry, a few more entries, a portrait, possibly some journaling and bedtime. And then it’s officially next week.

Our morning started with a trip to the dentist. Where David did awesome, as always. I took this with my phone.

I took another photo when we got home to show off his newly cleaned teeth.

Nathaniel made lots and lots of his expressive faces.

And laughter.

More faces. Oh uh.

Then he watched his brother play on the phone.

After nap time, it was time to take another family photo. As I set up, Jake ate some peanuts and, of course, Nathaniel wanted to be a part of that, too.

I cropped this out of one of family shots. He looked so wonderful.

There’s always much laughter when we do these shots. So we have a lot of outtakes.

and blurry shots.

Then, while I processed the photos, Nathaniel showed his dad some of his books.

And then spent some time looking through David’s notebooks.

While he played on the iphone.

I love this shot of both of them occupied and engrossed.

I spent most of the weekend doing homework and as of this morning I have a ton more (and even more is coming tomorrow). I decided I will have to come up with a schedule for all the homework I have in Misty’s class. I want to, scratch that, need to, spend more time drawing before I can move to painting. And same with painting. So once CHA comes and goes, I will spread it out. A month of just drawing, a month of painting, a month of collage, etc. Next month, I have the sketching class, too. Not to mention the two I’m teaching. Ugh. It looks like things will stay busy for a while.

Just the way I like it.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for a quiet day. It was busy in the morning but I spent most of the middle of the day lying on the couch, watching misty paint. Can’t think of a better way to spend my day.
2. I am grateful that we took another set of family shots. We already have more photos of us than we did in all of 2010.
3. I am grateful that I made an appointment for Nathaniel at the dentist. I am a bit scared since it’s his first and we haven’t been so good about brushing his teeth but I am grateful to start taking care of it.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I played on mommy’s phone {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that mommy and I read together
3. I am grateful that I did my workbook.

It’s so nice to have a three-day weekend. I sort of wish they were all 3-days. In 2002, I used to work 3 days a week and I never ever got used to it in a way where it felt long. It was the perfect number of days to work. Just when I started feeling tired, it would be time for my long weekend. I volunteered and took classes on the two weekdays I didn’t work and it just was the perfect schedule for me. So if every week was a 3-day weekend I think I would still enjoy it to bits.

Today started on the same schedule as everyday. I try to take family shots every day that all four of us are around so we set it all up but it was really early so there’s a lot of noise in the photos. Here’s one of the outtakes.

And another.

After I scrapped and exercised, it was time to read. We took the book basket down and Nathaniel picked a choo choo one.

And David picked a level 3 to read to me. Which he read beautifully. Then I read to him.

After that, it was quiet time for all of us. I did manage to snap this wonderful photo of David before I sat to draw some and journal some.

The little boy played.

And I love this photo. Jake took this while I was sitting and drawing. But look at the face Nathaniel’s making to try to get David’s attention (he was watching harry potter.) I love that Nathaniel sits with David so much and looks up to him so much.

And I love that David’s nice about it almost all the time.

We briefly had some friends over and then I had to run out and buy some shoes. Which reminded me how much I hate shopping. Then it was time for family night. We played some more Zingo and then Jake and David got to play a tiny bit of Wii because Jake had promised him earlier and they hadn’t gotten around to doing so.

And now the kids are asleep and I am moving a bit slowly but I feel good. I’ve done most of my homework in most of my classes. I have a bunch of setup I have to do for my blog and creative therapy, etc. But that’s on schedule for tomorrow. Tonight is about my portrait, some journaling, and some more drawing, all while watching the Golden Globes.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for family night. I love family night, even when it’s short.
2. I am grateful that I finally bought some shoes. I’ve been meaning to buy flats for a really long time.
3. I am grateful that I took the time to draw today. It was calming and I am thankful for the time.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I get to play will with daddy {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful for family night
3. I am grateful that I get to play with my legos a bit in my room

I don’t want to start each of my entries with how tired I feel so I won’t tell you that today. But rest assured, I do. Anyhow… Despite the fact that it was a weekend, I spent my day with a very similar schedule to my weekdays. Except, instead of working, I lay on the couch and read all the content and watched all the movies for my classes.

While I scrapped, the little boy read some more books.

And reacted to each page.

While the big boy played with his legos.

Then Nathaniel went down for his nap, I read to David, I exercised and then showered and took the Christmas tree down and then set up the camera for our family photo. Here’s me doing a test run.

And another. I told Nathaniel there was a squirrel in the backyard to get him to look at the camera, hence the expression on his face.

Here’s an outtake from our shot. David looks like he’s hurting cause he was playing wii and focusing too much. He took a long break after this photo.

Then he and Jake went to Target while Nathaniel and I rested.

And I snapped some photos.

While he laughed.

and laughed at me.

and then he realized his brother was gone which meant he could mess with the remotes.

The boys came back, we all put everything away and had dinner and now they’re almost ready for bed.

I plan to do a lot of the homework in my classes tonight. I stopped doing portraits two days ago and plan to restart that tonight, too. I must admit that I am most behind misty’s class. It’s partly because there’s a lot of homework but mostly because I truly feel like I can’t draw. I try and it looks terrible and I get impatient. I know it’s practice but when it sucks so bad you don’t even want to practice. Several of you commented on doing more emotion or shading etc with my portraits. The thing is I feel like I am so far from the basics that I am not ready to add expressions, feelings, my style yet. I can’t even draw two eyes that look the same. I can’t make noses or lips I like. I am working on those for now. I work hard every day to quiet the voice inside me that yells “you’re not an artist” or “you’re no good at this.” Again, I know it’s a lot about practice but it’s hard to feel inspired to practice when I think so little of what I create. anyhow….so I put it off. Which, of course, doesn’t help at all.

So off I go to journal, draw my portraits and maybe do another few drawings from misty’s homework. And then journal more and make some cards for the soul restoration class. Long night but full of joyful work. Let’s see how far I get.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that the tree is down. I loved having it up but I also like it gone for some reason. I put some lights up so that I can still feel the joy.
2. I am grateful that I have only five layouts left to do for CHA. I like making them but I think I’m ready for a break.
3. I am grateful for some quiet time tonight. I have some jaw pain again and I look forward to curling up and being artsy and introspective for a while.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that i got some shirts for school {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I played wii
3. I am grateful that I get to stay up and play in my room a little tonight

I am really really thankful it’s Friday. I am still continuing my schedule but I am ready for a 3-day weekend. Here we come! I didn’t even take photos until the afternoon today but when I saw Nathaniel reading books, I couldn’t resist.

I adore this child.

And he’s so funny, he laughs at himself even.

When I picked David up from playdate, this is the first look he gave me.

But then I got a better one.

And the little one is still with his blankie. Blankie everywhere.

We have company tonight which means I have to rush again. I’ve been doing that too much lately. Six more layouts to go. One more delivery coming tomorrow hopefully. And then things will start to settle down. I even did some of my homework today in Soul Restoration. Photos coming Tuesday since it was in the art journal. I have to draw my portrait tonight since I skipped yesterday. And that’s it. Then I go to bed, wake up, and do it all over again.

I am so grateful for my life.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. So David went on his first alone playdate today. He got off the bus with his friend Maggie and her mom. He called me to let me know he was safe and there. He played and then I went to pick him up about an hour later. I was all worried about it. I kept thinking about all the things that could go wrong. But I decided to be brave and let him to this. And I am glad that I did. All went well and he had a great time. I am grateful that I had the courage to just let it happen. It’s hard for me so I am proud of myself.
2. I am grateful it’s the weekend! Especially since it’s a 3-day one!!!
3. I am grateful that I did some art today. I broke down and cried for a moment when doing the homework but it was wonderful and powerful and that’s exactly why I took the class so I am deeply grateful.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that i went to Maggie’s house {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I sat with mommy
3. I am grateful that I have a new partner at school