Happy Thanksgiving

We just had our first Thanksgiving in our apartment. We hosted, and split the menu with friends. It was a grand afternoon and evening filled with Turkey, Ham, Cranberry sauce, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Bean casserole, Broccoli and cheese, Rolls, Pistachio Salad, Deviled Eggs, with a variety of Olives, cheese, baguettes, pickles, and baby Tomatoes. Wine and beer. Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Ice cream, freshly whipped Cream, coffee and Eggnog. My apartment was filled with laughter and love, and it was almost overwhelming in one of the best ways. There are many things I am thankful for...but 2 things that I normally wouldn't think of is 1-having a new windshield, and 2-  that we got home soon enough for me to see my keys in the parking lot before they were buried in the snow. I am currently waiting for Midnight to see if I can get the girls Christmas Present off the Walmart website for less, because I know I'm not making it to Walmart early, and I have no faith in them having enough Toy Story dolls stocked. I will still have a busy day ahead of me tomorrow, I'm determined to get a good chunk of my Christmas shopping done.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Praise God from whom all blessings flow! :)

Gotta keep going!

I'm sick. I can't remember the last time I had a real cold. I've often had that "inkling" that I was getting sick, but it was always gone the next day. Not this time. I've got the runny nose, congestion, head feeling like it will explode, and no relief with decongestants and antihistamines. What makes it more fun is that it happened just a few days before we have friends over for Thanksgiving. So I can't just lay around and do nothing, I HAVE to clean. I was going to call in some reinforcements, but the crazy snow yesterday has prevented them from coming today. But you know, it's an ok thing. I had a nice list ready on Sunday, specifying what I would do on each day this week to prevent me from going in total overload. And I'm getting it done! All that's left for today is to vacuum the living room, and that's it! I'm finished! Leaves the bathroom for tomorrow (Which Tim prefers to do anyway...did I marry the greatest guy or what!?!?!?) and some minor cooking. I love that a little organization can make sick days that much better! Now to get well before Turkey day (colds tend to take away my appetite, and I want to have a full one on Thursday), and Black Friday!

Ready yet?

So are you ready for the holidays yet? Oh Thanksgiving I'm not worried about at all. We're spending it with some friends, splitting up the menu, and most everything I plan on making I've made many times before, so I know it will be alright.

Christmas on the other hand....yea....we have a ways to go there :) Nicole however, seems totally ready for the holidays.

Still not there

Tonight after I put the girls down the bed I began my usual "lets straighten this place up so I'm not set into a depression first thing in the morning". And of course, just as I was hitting a rhythm I hear "Mom!!" Once again, my children needed a drink at bedtime. I give in because, to be perfectly honest, I never think to give them one BEFORE bed. Instead of a quick drink I took the easy route and tossed them their sippy cups. They were only halfway full anyways. As soon as I head out of the room I hear Riley again "Mom!!". I go back in there and she says "There is juice in here". My initial reaction is annoyance. Wouldn't you think my child would be happy for her drink? The next thing she said hit me hard "I need water because you said we can't have juice in bed". I emptied the juice from her cup, put fresh water in there, gave it back, and thanked her for telling me she needed water instead. I then proceeded to the living room to cry. I hate that my first reaction to my child wasn't one with an open and loving heart. 4 years, 2 kids, and I still have so much to learn. Thank you Lord for my children, who often show me in the most humbling ways what I need to work on.

Computerless

Wednesday afternoon our computer got sick. Tim took it to EMSI on Thursday morning, hoping one of the guys here could fix it for us, they can, but it won't be ready until next week.

Not having a computer definitely has it's up's and down's.

The downs, I'm not able to keep up with my family on FB, a lot of the recipes I like are still online, and Tim and I aren't able to watch Chuck.

The up's, this has caused me to realize exactly how much time I was wasting. I've been keeping the apartment clean, I did 4 loads of laundry yesterday including folding, putting away, AND ironing. And as sad as it is to admit, I'm spending more time with my kids.

As a stay at home mom it's so easy to say "I just need a few minutes to myself", and to say it many times a day, and act on it. At least it is for me. I'm exhausted at the end of every day, no matter how much or how little seems to get done. And I always seem to think it's because I don't have enough time to "breathe". That's a very lame excuse. At least it was in my case (not for everybody, but DEFINITELY for me). No, it's because I was spending too much time focusing on "me".

Yesterday Riley really wanted me make "cakes" with her. I was in the middle of deep cleaning my room. I remembered reading something online once where a parent set a timer for 20 minutes, and told the child that when the timer went off they would set it again for 15 minutes and spend that entire time with them. When the timer went off again, it was time to clean more and they would once again set the timer. So I decided to give it a shot. It was easy to finish my room within the 20 minutes, and it was nice just sitting with Riley and having her serve me her circle cakes that she so carefully had assembled for me. That's how the next few hours went until the apartment was cleaned. The rest of the day was spent just being with them By the time the girls went down for the naps they had full love tanks, and I had a clean apartment, and truly time just for myself. The computer wasn't used at any point to keep my girls happy, it was all me.  It occurred to me how often I not only used the computer to entertain myself, but the girls as well. It's embarrassing, but the truth.

I find that I am loving our new schedule. The girls are happier, I'm happier. Now I'm not saying that I won't be happy when our computer is returned home (I'm currently at EMSI with Tim and the girls), it's great for keeping up with my family and friends, great for new recipes, great for relaxation with my hubby. But I won't be turning it on until my checklist is complete, and I've had some good 1 on 1 time with each of my girls.