Journaling Reads:
Nathaniel, I must tell you that you have some magical powers when it comes to getting your way. You are really good at being charming and pointing at things you want. Most of the time they are things David wants or has or does. And you often start by asking nicely and snuggling up to get it from him. But David’s learned his lesson and doesn’t always give in. Then you start the whining and crying and we love you so much, we often give up and let you have what you want. You’re a lucky boy.
I ended up staying up much later than usual last night so I woke up all tired this morning, which meant I just relaxed and enjoyed my morning with the kids and with checking email and blogs. While I was on the computer, the kids put the pillows on the floor and fell on them and laughed. Watching them laugh gave me endless joy.
Then they started playing legos.
Nathaniel would give the pieces to David and he would put them together. It was amazing to watch and they were so so cute, I almost cried. Nathaniel even got up and hugged him.
Because I missed it, I tried to get him to do it again so David helped me out. But Nathaniel wasn’t biting.
So David just hugged him anyway.
Then he started playing Wii and Nathaniel played by himself. Fully content and happy. (Look at the way his legs are sitting. Yikes.)
It’s been pouring rain here so when Nathaniel heard it, he rushed to the back window and watched it all come down. He was really excited and confused at the same time.
David took a lot of breaks today. He just didn’t feel like playing Wii if you ask me. Another example that if I just let him do it, he will get sick of it and do other things. He colored, played, and then found a Sudoku book so we did it together and he colored it.
We did a lot of cleaning up today. Went through all of David’s stuff in the living room and my piles all over. I am sure it will all accumulate again but for now it’s so much cleaner and so much less overwhelming and I have so much more room to put more scrapping stuff. I also did a big crafty projects I’d been thinking of for a few days. It turned out quite neat, but took hours and hours. I have no patience as I find out again and again. So the plans for tomorrow are to keep things simple. And play with the kids for hours. Cause really there’s nothing else I’d rather do.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that we cleaned up so much. I feel lighter and more librated.
2. I am grateful that despite the relaxing day, I finished a big task (well, 90% finished) that was on my list.
3. I am grateful for my kids and my husband and my sister and my nephews and my parents. I just feel so loved and so grateful. I often worry that I do not have those close friends I seem to think I need but I have such an amazing, loving, supportive family and I am so deeply grateful for all of their kindess, company, love and kindness.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. coloring. {* his pick for the journal}
2. playing wii.
3. doing sudoku with mommy
So today was a great day! I put a bunch of tasks on my calendar last night so that I would keep getting alarms and just finish the tasks. And that’s exactly what I did! I did my work, my tasks, my exercise and even made some videos. I even went to the doctor because my knee’s been hurting a bit so I wanted to make sure it wasn’t something really bad. (It’s not. Runners knee. Be careful. Ice. Do inner thigh exercises. etc.) And then after I picked up David, I went grocery shopping with both kids and filled the house with fruit and yogurt and veggies. Yey! Good way to jumpstart my weekend.
All of this meant that I lost sunlight by the time I made it home. So I rushed the kids outside and tried to catch the last tiny bits of light. David gave me some funny faces.
And some sorta sad looking ones.
Nathaniel just ignored me altogether and rejoiced in being outside. Put shoes on, grabbed the ball and went for it.
I love that he’s wearing David’s shoes on the wrong feet. Love this boy.
Love both my boys so much. David and I did another grateful page in his journal and then the kids ate, played, etc. Jake’s out of town for the weekend so I have quiet time to read and craft at nights. My calendar is full of weekend reminders too, so let’s see how many of them I get to finish before he’s back.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I crossed of some of the annoying tasks on my list. Always happy to have those done.
2. I am grateful that the doctor told me I could keep exercising. I am worried if I stop now, that will be the end of this venture.
3. I am thankful that I talked to a friend tonight who gave me good advice and changed my perspective on something that was bothering me. Now I feel so much better and it’s amazing how a tiny shift can change an entire outlook.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. doing sand art in Native American Day.
2. walking in the Native American Day parade at school.
3. going shopping with mommy and Nathaniel
Journaling Reads:
So many people ask me how I manage to work full time and still take care of the kids without help. The thing is, I have help. Not professional help but you are my greatest treasure. You are kind to me and Nathaniel. You clean up. You help out. It all works thanks to you my wonderful boy. I love you.
Because I thought it would be fun, I videotaped myself while making this layout so you can watch it if you’d like.
And it’s not even for the reasons you might think. I don’t like shopping and don’t spend hours online buying things. But I love looking through etsy and discovering more independent artists. I love the web. I love reading the blog of someone I admire, and then being able to go to their etsy store and purchase a piece of art by them right away. I love being able to support them and have them be in my life, and inspire me.
When I moved to my house and saw this huge empty wall in the living room, I knew immediately that I was going to cover it with the works of artists I admired. Artists who made me happy. And looking at this wall makes me happier than any other piece of art in my house.
I am so thankful that we live in an era where people can share across the globe. That I can see, be inspired by, and support an artist miles away. Whose work I would have never ever seen otherwise. And I love the thousands of souls who create art and put it out there for people like me to get inspired.
I am so sorry about all the emails you just got. I was trying to update some old posts to make sure they had the right categories and unbeknownst to me, the program decided to just email them all out. It won’t happen again and I apologize profusely.
Journaling Reads:
One of the greatest joys of having a little boy around is that he can find laughter and joy in the smallest things. You found that when you stepped on these sheets your feet stuck a little and made a funny noise. IT was so cool to you that you kept doing it again and again and laughing and giggling each time. Within minutes David and I were watching you and giggling along. You have made our life so much better and filled it with laughter by just being you. Thank you my son.
I read the Backyard Saints between long novels when I thought I needed some down time. I have mixed feelings about the book but I think, over all, it’s not a favorite. Not that there’s anything wrong with it but the author’s voice didn’t really speak to me and I feel like the time spent reading that book could have been better spent elsewhere.
I also think i need to work on my review-writing skills. Just feel like that time is better spent reading 🙂
I was low on photos today. Not exactly sure why. I have this sweet boy.
And this sneaky one who’s smirking.
I’ve done a lot today. I’ve scrapped, worked, edited and uploaded some videos, played with my kids, walked 3+ miles, and yet I still feel like I have this todo list that I am putting off. Items I don’t want to do but I should. Items that I am wondering if there’s a reason I’m dreading doing them or if I am just tired.
I must admit all this exercise is making me tired. and worn out. I am going to try to power through tonight and get a bunch of items done and maybe the euphoria of that will help me get the others done. That’s how it works isn’t it?
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I am still working on the getting fit project. I have lost 12 lbs so far. Not enough but still a good start. I am working at this goal with determination.
2. I am grateful that my parents are coming next week. There’s some stress with visitors but I missed them so much and I love them so much.
3. I am thankful that I have only one more item left on my calendar. Which means I am home for the next few days after tomorrow. I can relax, play with my kids, and not feel like I have to be somewhere when I’d rather be home.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. playing with the big yellow alphabet classroom toy
2. music class at school
3. having daddy come home early cause he came home late last night
Thoughts:
I made this layout back in May but it’s a perfect example of what makes me happiest in my life. Seeing my kids and my husband and my parents and sister laugh. Seeing the people I love happy is the biggest source of joy in my life.
This morning started much better than yesterday. I woke up without pain so I was thankful. Especially since today was Nathaniel’s MMR shots. He was blissfully playing before we left for the doctor.
Especially with David’s toys while he was at school.
He cried a lot during the shots (MMR, flu, and chicken pox) of course but then was quiet soon after. When we came home, I put him down for his nap right away cause this week David has 3 minimum days in a row. When Nathaniel woke up we went to get David and I asked for a smile. Here’s what I got.
Yes, we need work. But I love the faces he makes as he speaks. He’s so full of expressions.
And so is this little one. Who’s been in good humor despite the shots.
And he’s been making messes and playing with everything in sight. Especially if it’s David’s.
I have book club tonight. A big group this time and I am not sure how they will fit in my house but I am not going to stress or try to look good. I am going to do my best and be me and hope for the best. Three cheers for authenticity.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I made a layout today. It had been three days since my last one.
2. I am grateful for some amazingly good news that I cannot share just yet. But very thankful today.
3. I am thankful that most of what I was worried about for the last month seems to have dissipated. I am still more stressed than I’d like but I am slowly coming around to that calm, happy place.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. watching some sprout
2. playing on nickjr.com
3. making a picture for mommy and one for daddy
4. making a vest at school for native american day
For the last 11 months, I’ve been writing down three things I’m grateful for every single day. That’s 957 things so far. Of course, there are many that are repeated but still. That’s quite a few things that I can look at on a down day.
The thing is we have blessings to count even on the worst of days. Little things and big things. Health. A stranger’s smile. A favorite song on the radio. A roof to sleep under. The list might be different for each of us but it’s there. So are the bad moments. Even on the best of days, there might be a sorrowful moment, a missed opportunity, a negative comment. These are the pieces of life. Good and bad.
And you can choose to focus on either. The choice is completely yours.
Practicing daily gratitude forces you to take a moment and remember the good. Put the light on the positive moments of your day. And if you do that day after day, you eventually realize that all days have something good in them. You realize that life is pretty good for the most part. You realize that focusing on the good makes life feel better. Even during the rougher days, when you look back, you remember the good because you took that extra time to note it down. Memory is magical like that.
So, even if it’s just for the next few weeks, I hope you take the time to focus on the positive in your life and take the perspective of gratitude.
