Today is the type of day I wish I could sit somewhere near a window, read a good book, and periodically look outside at the beautiful falling snow. Unfortunately there is no time for that luxury today.
This morning Kevin tried to make me excited about the blanket of white on the ground but I was too groggy. It wasn’t until he left for work that I really started to appreciate it.
But like I said, today will be too busy to spend very much time taking it in.
Here’s something for my hall of shame. I still haven’t unpacked from our trip yet!! I’m just now starting laundry. Meredith has been sick and wants to be held constantly. Today is the first day she’s seemed more autonomous. Plus, I have a work deadline fast approaching and that tends to take first priority around here.
I’ve never been a working-outside-the-home mom, and I’m sure that brings its own set of challenges, but my theory is that it’s just as difficult, if not more difficult, to be a mom working from home. The reason is because all your spheres of duty overlap and intertwine. I often find myself having to juggle everything at once vs. being able to leave one thing at home and escape to an office where I can sit at a desk with limited interruption.
So, anyway, I’m not trying to gripe right now. But working at home with a toddler, and trying to meet a deadline, is a really difficult thing at times.
Okay, off to do laundry. Maybe in between trips from upstairs to the basement, where the washer and dryer are located, I can catch glimpses of that beautiful falling snow.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Friday, January 12, 2007
Seven Sunny Days
We got back last night from Los Angeles where we enjoyed every drop of sunshine that was generously sent our way. People kept asking us what we wanted to do for the day. Our answer was always: “We want to be outside!”
The day after arriving Meredith spotted a Friberg picture my parents have hanging on their family room wall. It’s of our first president kneeling in prayer. We asked Meredith to say “George Washington” and she complied. Every twenty minutes thereafter, for the rest of our trip, someone asked her to say it. She was always happy to do so.
We enjoyed walking around both Huntington beach (where Kevin happily ate his fish tacos) and Newport beach and going to IKEA with Betsy. We also went to the Ronald Reagan library, which was fantastic. A highlight of the trip for me was playing kickball with nearly the whole family. I haven’t played kickball in years. Another highlight, which is something we always enjoy, was having my dad make fresh squeezed orange juice from the tree in the backyard.
My family is more scattered now with Christy living in Hollywood and Betsy always being out of town. I was grateful to see all of my family on this trip, including my grandma who flew in from Missouri.
Here are some pics …
The day after arriving Meredith spotted a Friberg picture my parents have hanging on their family room wall. It’s of our first president kneeling in prayer. We asked Meredith to say “George Washington” and she complied. Every twenty minutes thereafter, for the rest of our trip, someone asked her to say it. She was always happy to do so.
We enjoyed walking around both Huntington beach (where Kevin happily ate his fish tacos) and Newport beach and going to IKEA with Betsy. We also went to the Ronald Reagan library, which was fantastic. A highlight of the trip for me was playing kickball with nearly the whole family. I haven’t played kickball in years. Another highlight, which is something we always enjoy, was having my dad make fresh squeezed orange juice from the tree in the backyard.
My family is more scattered now with Christy living in Hollywood and Betsy always being out of town. I was grateful to see all of my family on this trip, including my grandma who flew in from Missouri.
Here are some pics …
At Huntington Beach with the fam.
Games, games, games. This is mainly what David and Melissa want to do while we are in town. As you can see, Kevin is the "rule man."
Did I mention games?
At Christy's new apartment.
Air Force One at the Reagan Library.
View from the back of the Reagan Library.
At grandpa's church - I hadn't heard him preach in years.
Melissa enjoying her horse back riding lesson.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Meredith-isms
Here are some Meredith-isms as of late.
She goes hysterical when she gets a piece of hair in her mouth. She hates nothing more than to have hair in her mouth. She cries “yuck” and spits at the same time, while taking BOTH hands and furiously wiping them at her tongue. It’s the funniest thing to watch!
When daddy comes home she always insists that he promptly take his shoes off.
She doesn’t always obey the first time around but whenever we ask her, “Are you being obedient?” she immediately runs to us and says “THANK YOU!” (As if, “Please don’t spank me mommy, I’m such a good girl.” She definitely knows what the word “obedient” means.)
She pays attention to where we are going when she’s in her car seat. She always notices if there is a playground outside, especially if there is a slide. Whenever we pull into our driveway she yells, “HOME!”
Her absolute favorite song right now is “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” She sings it whenever she wakes up from her nap and also throughout the day. She sings: “Happy and you know it … ah, ha, ha!” Then she claps her hands. Then she repeats this over and over and over.
We are starting to think that Meredith is OCD. She has become obsessed lately with having certain toys lined up in a row and having certain things in their place (like her water must always be in the cup holder in her stroller, etc.).
Meredith smiles and laughs all the time and loves to sing all day long—no matter where we are. The other day we were at the mall and she was singing in her stroller, without any inhibition or regard to who was listening.
I know I’ve talked about her strong will but lately Meredith has had such a sweet and thoughtful spirit. Over the weekend I babysat a little boy who was a little bit forceful toward her. She was so good to him, shared all of her toys, and kept wanting to give him hugs and kisses (which he did NOT want). Whenever he cried for his mommy she would cry too, out of empathy.
We love this little girl so much. Whenever we think it’s not possible to love more, we find that, yes, it is.
She goes hysterical when she gets a piece of hair in her mouth. She hates nothing more than to have hair in her mouth. She cries “yuck” and spits at the same time, while taking BOTH hands and furiously wiping them at her tongue. It’s the funniest thing to watch!
When daddy comes home she always insists that he promptly take his shoes off.
She doesn’t always obey the first time around but whenever we ask her, “Are you being obedient?” she immediately runs to us and says “THANK YOU!” (As if, “Please don’t spank me mommy, I’m such a good girl.” She definitely knows what the word “obedient” means.)
She pays attention to where we are going when she’s in her car seat. She always notices if there is a playground outside, especially if there is a slide. Whenever we pull into our driveway she yells, “HOME!”
Her absolute favorite song right now is “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” She sings it whenever she wakes up from her nap and also throughout the day. She sings: “Happy and you know it … ah, ha, ha!” Then she claps her hands. Then she repeats this over and over and over.
We are starting to think that Meredith is OCD. She has become obsessed lately with having certain toys lined up in a row and having certain things in their place (like her water must always be in the cup holder in her stroller, etc.).
Meredith smiles and laughs all the time and loves to sing all day long—no matter where we are. The other day we were at the mall and she was singing in her stroller, without any inhibition or regard to who was listening.
I know I’ve talked about her strong will but lately Meredith has had such a sweet and thoughtful spirit. Over the weekend I babysat a little boy who was a little bit forceful toward her. She was so good to him, shared all of her toys, and kept wanting to give him hugs and kisses (which he did NOT want). Whenever he cried for his mommy she would cry too, out of empathy.
We love this little girl so much. Whenever we think it’s not possible to love more, we find that, yes, it is.
I miss food.
This weekend was the first time I cooked a decent dinner in weeks. I’ve been much more nauseous this time around than my first pregnancy. The thing that’s worse (well, almost worse) than the nausea is my intolerance of food.
Let me just say that I MISS FOOD!!
I want my old life back … the one where I used to love food. The one where I would appreciate food and it would appreciate me.
Do you know how awful it is to be hungry but to not want food? Do you know how horrible it is to eat because you have to and not because you want to and you enjoy it?
[Note: To those who haven’t experienced it, pregnant-nausea is different than sick-nausea. With sick-nausea you don’t want to eat and that’s okay. With pregnant-nausea, oftentimes you have to eat to make the nausea go away. So, the thing that will help you is the thing you cannot tolerate and do not want. Ugh.]
Let me just say that I MISS FOOD!!
I want my old life back … the one where I used to love food. The one where I would appreciate food and it would appreciate me.
Do you know how awful it is to be hungry but to not want food? Do you know how horrible it is to eat because you have to and not because you want to and you enjoy it?
[Note: To those who haven’t experienced it, pregnant-nausea is different than sick-nausea. With sick-nausea you don’t want to eat and that’s okay. With pregnant-nausea, oftentimes you have to eat to make the nausea go away. So, the thing that will help you is the thing you cannot tolerate and do not want. Ugh.]
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Government Snooping
I'm glad that my SIL Megan can live in China and serve the people over there because that is something that I, personally, would not be able to do. I'm too free-spirited and would not tolerate the restraints on my freedoms that living in a Communist country requires.
GET THIS. Here is an e-mail I just got from Megan. I sent her a Christmas package and a birthday package--one in November and one a few weeks ago. She got both of them around the same time.
"I just got my birthday package today. I love the shirt. It looks adorable and I can't wait to try it on.
"I do have a strange question though. On the outside of the birthday package, the little green note [customs form] said that there was clothes and a book. The package had been taped shut with China packing tape so I don't know if there really was a book enclosed and China decided they wanted to read it ... Just curious."
You know what it was? It was a book of Sudoku puzzles for Megan to do when she gets bored! I thought I was being so brilliant by remembering to NOT send her anything religious, too.
Why would China censor a book, with hardly any words in it, that originated in Japan? I guess I don't know very much about foreign relations. I know China hates Taiwan but I didn't realize there were hard feelings toward Japan??? Or maybe the customs guy over there just wanted to do the puzzles himself and stole it? I don't get it! But, in any event, it makes me really annoyed.
Just knowing someone who lives over there and--and being on my end of it over here--makes me appreciate my freedoms in America even more. At least in my country government officials don't snoop through my mail and take things that belong to me.
GET THIS. Here is an e-mail I just got from Megan. I sent her a Christmas package and a birthday package--one in November and one a few weeks ago. She got both of them around the same time.
"I just got my birthday package today. I love the shirt. It looks adorable and I can't wait to try it on.
"I do have a strange question though. On the outside of the birthday package, the little green note [customs form] said that there was clothes and a book. The package had been taped shut with China packing tape so I don't know if there really was a book enclosed and China decided they wanted to read it ... Just curious."
You know what it was? It was a book of Sudoku puzzles for Megan to do when she gets bored! I thought I was being so brilliant by remembering to NOT send her anything religious, too.
Why would China censor a book, with hardly any words in it, that originated in Japan? I guess I don't know very much about foreign relations. I know China hates Taiwan but I didn't realize there were hard feelings toward Japan??? Or maybe the customs guy over there just wanted to do the puzzles himself and stole it? I don't get it! But, in any event, it makes me really annoyed.
Just knowing someone who lives over there and--and being on my end of it over here--makes me appreciate my freedoms in America even more. At least in my country government officials don't snoop through my mail and take things that belong to me.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Snow Flakes and Bran Flakes
Christmas was so much fun this year because Meredith “got” it. She was so excited to partake in everything. The first present she opened was a little rocking chair from my parents. She didn’t want to open anything else right away. She just wanted to rock back and forth with her dolly. We had to hide every present as soon as she opened it in order for her to want to open the next one. I’m sure this is a familiar story to a lot of you parents out there.Here is a picture of Meredith with her new rocking chair. As you can see, she is very happy about it.
This was our first Christmas, since being married, to be in our own home for Christmas morning. After doing our thing here, we went to Kev’s parents’ house for more gala and a Christmas brunch. Then more family came over. Then, as soon as family was leaving, friends from church came over and stayed until midnight. Right before we left Kevin’s family’s house, the rain that had been falling all day turned into mammoth snowflakes!
I got my wish … a white Christmas.
___________________
I have been wanting to get a few things to help celebrate next Christmas – like a felt advent calendar and a kid-friendly nativity scene that Meredith can play with. So on Tuesday I hit-up the after-Christmas sales.
A friend had given me a coupon book for the Circle Centre mall. The coupons included a free ring-cleaning and a free gourmet coffee from the Nordstrom Espresso Bar! I had a blast shopping by myself and getting my freebies. Kevin thinks I’m weird because I like to shop by myself.
___________________
I should have realized after having such a good day that I would have a bad one. Today I’ve had the worst morning sickness yet. To top it off, I didn’t sleep well last night and was exhausted this morning when Meredith got up. So, I let her freely roam the house while I tried to get more sleep.
I woke up at 9:30 to discover that she had climbed on the table and dumped a box of Raisin Bran everywhere. There were trails of crushed bran flakes scattered all over the kitchen, dining room, living room, and partially up the stair way.
Curiously, there were not any sugar-coated raisins (“rai-rais”) to be found anywhere. Not even a single one! She had rummaged through the bran flakes and eaten the thing she liked, leaving the rest behind.
Ah, well … At least I got a nap out of the deal.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Christmas at the Zoo
Who would want to go to the zoo in the dark when it’s raining, just four days before Christmas?
That’s what we did last night and I would love to make it an annual event. Although I think snow would be better than rain for next year.
A tourism website described it as experiencing the “soft glow of a million twinkling lights.”
It was amazing. I have never seen so many lights all in one place. The zoo is fairly wooded and every tree was strung with hundreds of lights, with lights on all the buildings, and lots of separate light displays set up along the walkways. It was truly beautiful and very festive.
The best news is that our tickets are good through December 30. So, I’m hoping we can go again!
Afterwards Kevin’s family came over for hot chocolate and shortbread. Actually, I’d never done it before but I made homemade marshmallows. They were very yummy and surprisingly easy to make. I’m going to see if I can freeze them successfully. If they’re still good after being frozen I’m going to consider making them in bulk to enjoy all winter long. Yum.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Monkey Influence
I was so happy to realize that Meredith’s hair is now long enough to put in a pony tail and piggy tails. The only problem is that she keeps ripping out the hair bands.
Yesterday I put my hair up in a pony tail to show her how nice it looks on me and how pretty she could look too. This was not convincing to her at all. She looked at me for five seconds and then, once again, ripped out her pony tail and walked away.
This morning I was reading a book to Meredith and noticed that a cartoon monkey on the page was wearing her hair pulled up in a pony tail. I pointed this out to Meredith. Then I went and got a hair band and put her hair in a pony tail “just like the monkey.” I kept telling her that she looked “so pretty, like the monkey.”
She kept the pony tail in ALL morning long, until her afternoon nap! From time to time she would point to it and very happily say “monkey!”
I’m sure it helped that Meredith has really been into monkeys lately, including Curious George.
Apparently Meredith thinks monkeys look cool--and she wants to be like them--but her mom does not. I'll try not to be bothered by this.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Downhill towards Christmas …
Kevin is smiling happy smiles today as he just finished taking his fifth and last final exam. His exams were spread out over a two-and-a-half week period. (F-o-r-e-v-e-r.) We are all glad he’s done! I’m very proud of him for working so hard this semester. It’s been a big adjustment to go from practicing law for three years to being a student again, while still juggling work responsibilities and family time, but he’s done well. And here is very exciting news – he’s one-fourth of the way done. Yippppeeee!!
Meredith has been enjoying her chocolate advent calendar that a friend got for her. It’s from Trader Joe’s and every day she opens a new window where there’s a toy-shaped piece of chocolate awaiting her. She has a very hard time understanding why she only gets to do this once a day. Every time she passes by it she asks, “Chock-it?” She has learned at a very early age the delight and value of Chocolate.
I had a Christmas Cookie Exchange party last week with some girlfriends and we had a lot of fun. While I was planning the party, Kevin was in the thick of studying for final exams. I felt guilty that the most “important” thing on my mind was a party while he was wrestling with legal theories and something that actually matters.
Then I had an epiphany. What I was doing was very important too!
If we don’t take time in the middle of busy seasons to do things like have parties with friends then our whole lives will pass by without anything special in them. So, after that, I felt validated in my party-planning efforts.
I wish you all a special and wonder-filled Christmas season!
Meredith has been enjoying her chocolate advent calendar that a friend got for her. It’s from Trader Joe’s and every day she opens a new window where there’s a toy-shaped piece of chocolate awaiting her. She has a very hard time understanding why she only gets to do this once a day. Every time she passes by it she asks, “Chock-it?” She has learned at a very early age the delight and value of Chocolate.
I had a Christmas Cookie Exchange party last week with some girlfriends and we had a lot of fun. While I was planning the party, Kevin was in the thick of studying for final exams. I felt guilty that the most “important” thing on my mind was a party while he was wrestling with legal theories and something that actually matters.
Then I had an epiphany. What I was doing was very important too!
If we don’t take time in the middle of busy seasons to do things like have parties with friends then our whole lives will pass by without anything special in them. So, after that, I felt validated in my party-planning efforts.
I wish you all a special and wonder-filled Christmas season!
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
So far ...
... only one broken oranament (Meredith defied the "one finger" rule and grabbed a little ball) and one other broken Christmas decoration. Hopefully both can be glued and will be good as new.
"Merry Christmas from Meredith!" (She didn't want to wear this hat but we told her she had to before we would give her what she wanted - her pacifier. You can tell that she has a look of resignation in her eyes.)
And here's one I took today - lately Meredith has become really attached to her dress shoes and this white hat. She wants to wear them all the time. I think we're going to have a little dress-up princess on our hands!
Today is Kevin's first final exam. He just left a few minutes ago. I'm amazed at how relaxed he is about these tests. He didn't study at all last night and he hardly studied at all this morning. He has two exams this week, two next week, and the last one on December 19.
"Merry Christmas from Meredith!" (She didn't want to wear this hat but we told her she had to before we would give her what she wanted - her pacifier. You can tell that she has a look of resignation in her eyes.)
And here's one I took today - lately Meredith has become really attached to her dress shoes and this white hat. She wants to wear them all the time. I think we're going to have a little dress-up princess on our hands!
Today is Kevin's first final exam. He just left a few minutes ago. I'm amazed at how relaxed he is about these tests. He didn't study at all last night and he hardly studied at all this morning. He has two exams this week, two next week, and the last one on December 19.
Monday, December 04, 2006
First Snow
Our first snow has arrived. It happened last night during the evening service at church. Afterwards I watched the children bounce up and down, grab their coats, and run in circles in the parking lot. Some were jumping high into the air with excitement, yelling, “It’s snowing, it’s snowing.”
I always forget how beautiful falling snow is until I’m suddenly surprised by it.
I hope that, at least on the inside, I’m always like those little kids in the church parking lot, bouncing up and down with excitement at the sight of our first snow.
Snow is not always convenient but it is enchanting. What is convenience worth in light of enchantment? I’ll take the latter.
When we got into the car, strains of “The Snow is Falling” met our ears. We love our new “Santa Baby” Christmas CD!
I always forget how beautiful falling snow is until I’m suddenly surprised by it.
I hope that, at least on the inside, I’m always like those little kids in the church parking lot, bouncing up and down with excitement at the sight of our first snow.
Snow is not always convenient but it is enchanting. What is convenience worth in light of enchantment? I’ll take the latter.
When we got into the car, strains of “The Snow is Falling” met our ears. We love our new “Santa Baby” Christmas CD!
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Fun at the Doctors'
Meredith has had a recurring cough and congestion for the past month. She seems to get better for a few days and then starts coughing again. So today I took her to the doctor.
While we waited in the exam room, Meredith started running around wanting to explore everything. She kept climbing on top of the step to get up on the exam bed and then jumping off the step. Then she wanted to push all the buttons on the exam bed. Next she went over to the doctor’s stool and started spinning it around and around. After getting bored of that, she spotted the blood-pressure-gauge-thing and all the ear-inspection-things hanging on the wall and started yelling “Toys, toys! More!” No, Meredith, those aren’t toys, I told her. Then I told her the doctor would be in at any minute. Every time she heard a noise outside the door she would yell “doctor?”
This is the first time I’ve taken her to the doctor since she’s arrived at the toddler stage. I couldn’t believe how much work she was. It was crazy trying to contain her in that little exam room! It was all I could do to keep her from exploring the toxic waste can.
After what seemed like an eternity the doctor finally arrived.
To make a long story short, she isn’t even sick. She has no signs of a virus or infection, or fluid sitting anywhere in her lungs, ears or throat. So, he thinks that she has some allergies. I got a prescription for some allergy meds and we’re going to try it. Let’s hope it works. Poor girl! We just want her suffering to go away!
While we waited in the exam room, Meredith started running around wanting to explore everything. She kept climbing on top of the step to get up on the exam bed and then jumping off the step. Then she wanted to push all the buttons on the exam bed. Next she went over to the doctor’s stool and started spinning it around and around. After getting bored of that, she spotted the blood-pressure-gauge-thing and all the ear-inspection-things hanging on the wall and started yelling “Toys, toys! More!” No, Meredith, those aren’t toys, I told her. Then I told her the doctor would be in at any minute. Every time she heard a noise outside the door she would yell “doctor?”
This is the first time I’ve taken her to the doctor since she’s arrived at the toddler stage. I couldn’t believe how much work she was. It was crazy trying to contain her in that little exam room! It was all I could do to keep her from exploring the toxic waste can.
After what seemed like an eternity the doctor finally arrived.
To make a long story short, she isn’t even sick. She has no signs of a virus or infection, or fluid sitting anywhere in her lungs, ears or throat. So, he thinks that she has some allergies. I got a prescription for some allergy meds and we’re going to try it. Let’s hope it works. Poor girl! We just want her suffering to go away!
Monday, November 27, 2006
We never knew ...
We never knew, or at least we forgot, how nice it is to be HOME for Thanksgiving weekend. I have traveled for Thanksgiving each of the last six years. Kevin has traveled the last eight years.
It was so nice to not have to fight crowds at the airport at the most crazy travel time of the year. Because we stayed home, it felt like we experienced three Saturdays in a row. Nice!
Thanksgiving itself was a good combination of relaxation and excitement. There were also a few surprises that were mixed into the day.
One particular surprise I am waiting OH-SO-PATIENTLY for someone else to post about on their blog. As soon as they do, I will link to it.
I made stuffing for the first time. I found a great recipe that has dried cranberries, apples, sausage, and lots of fresh herbs. It was great. The only problem is that I made way too much and have a ton of it still in the fridge. We’re going to be stuffinged-out. Can you freeze stuffing? Something tells me no.
The rest of the weekend I spent either being lazy or working on Christmas stuff. It’s great to start the Christmas season on a low-key note, rather than getting home tired from traveling and already feeling behind.
Kevin, of course, had to study for finals and read for classes. He spent Friday morning at Starbucks and I joined him later in the day. We gave Meredith her “coffee” (that’s what she calls it but, really, it’s just a cup filled halfway with water and a straw, so she thinks she's getting what we're getting too). We all drank our coffee together, Kevin studied and I started addressing Christmas cards. The Christmas music was playing, the fire was lit. Ahhh ...
What a great four-day-weekend.
Oh, Shannon posted some Thanksgiving pics here. I'll try to post some later too.
It was so nice to not have to fight crowds at the airport at the most crazy travel time of the year. Because we stayed home, it felt like we experienced three Saturdays in a row. Nice!
Thanksgiving itself was a good combination of relaxation and excitement. There were also a few surprises that were mixed into the day.
One particular surprise I am waiting OH-SO-PATIENTLY for someone else to post about on their blog. As soon as they do, I will link to it.
I made stuffing for the first time. I found a great recipe that has dried cranberries, apples, sausage, and lots of fresh herbs. It was great. The only problem is that I made way too much and have a ton of it still in the fridge. We’re going to be stuffinged-out. Can you freeze stuffing? Something tells me no.
The rest of the weekend I spent either being lazy or working on Christmas stuff. It’s great to start the Christmas season on a low-key note, rather than getting home tired from traveling and already feeling behind.
Kevin, of course, had to study for finals and read for classes. He spent Friday morning at Starbucks and I joined him later in the day. We gave Meredith her “coffee” (that’s what she calls it but, really, it’s just a cup filled halfway with water and a straw, so she thinks she's getting what we're getting too). We all drank our coffee together, Kevin studied and I started addressing Christmas cards. The Christmas music was playing, the fire was lit. Ahhh ...
What a great four-day-weekend.
Oh, Shannon posted some Thanksgiving pics here. I'll try to post some later too.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
The Coat
Meredith has a new coat. It was given to her as a hand-me-down but it still had the tags on it. Meredith thinks she’s a princess when wearing it. You should see her smile at herself in the mirror.
Last week we went to brunch with Kevin’s family and Meredith was wearing her new coat and hat. As we were walking into the restaurant a little boy standing outside asked, “Daddy, is she a SHEEP?” Ha, ha.
And here’s a cute one of daddy and daughter.
Last week we went to brunch with Kevin’s family and Meredith was wearing her new coat and hat. As we were walking into the restaurant a little boy standing outside asked, “Daddy, is she a SHEEP?” Ha, ha.
And here’s a cute one of daddy and daughter.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
My Second Favorite Day … and Toys
Sunday is my favorite day because Kevin takes a break from studying and we have the whole afternoon together as a family. It’s a restful day and a day of worship.
Thursday is my second favorite day because my crazy work deadlines (on Wednesday) are complete and I usually take the day to fool around with Meredith and regroup. Kevin doesn’t have evening class so he gets home in time for dinner. And the promise of another weekend is so close I can almost feel it. That’s why Thursday is my second favorite day.
This Thursday, today, is especially nice because Shannon came and picked up Meredith for the afternoon. This has allowed me to get some extra rest which is good because I’m sick.
Shortly after they left I picked up all the toys that were scattered around the house. That was nearly three hours ago. And, guess what? The house is STILL picked up. Amazing! That, like, never happens in my life. Three hours of sitting quietly and then walking downstairs to find that the house is clean? Incomprehensible!
I find that I must constantly choose between two evils – picking up toys all day long, which is exhausting, OR living with chaos, tripping over everything, and stress, from having toys strewn all over the place.
In theory, Meredith should be learning to pick up after herself, and play with only one or two things at a time.
Yeah, right. I think I’ll try my hand at cat herding first.
Thursday is my second favorite day because my crazy work deadlines (on Wednesday) are complete and I usually take the day to fool around with Meredith and regroup. Kevin doesn’t have evening class so he gets home in time for dinner. And the promise of another weekend is so close I can almost feel it. That’s why Thursday is my second favorite day.
This Thursday, today, is especially nice because Shannon came and picked up Meredith for the afternoon. This has allowed me to get some extra rest which is good because I’m sick.
Shortly after they left I picked up all the toys that were scattered around the house. That was nearly three hours ago. And, guess what? The house is STILL picked up. Amazing! That, like, never happens in my life. Three hours of sitting quietly and then walking downstairs to find that the house is clean? Incomprehensible!
I find that I must constantly choose between two evils – picking up toys all day long, which is exhausting, OR living with chaos, tripping over everything, and stress, from having toys strewn all over the place.
In theory, Meredith should be learning to pick up after herself, and play with only one or two things at a time.
Yeah, right. I think I’ll try my hand at cat herding first.
Family Pic and Alleged Trendy Color
Okay, we rarely get these nowadays … a family picture.
Also, for those of you who asked what we thought was a “trendy” color, here is one example. Our living room is a color called “smoky mountain.” The thing I love most about this color is that I’m never sure exactly what color it is. (I must love confusion, huh?) It’s grayish but sometimes I think it leans more toward blue tones and other times I see a lot of green in it. Probably nine out of ten people who come over squint and ask, “What color is that?” I love it!
I tried to take a picture of our dining room wall but it didn’t turn out – the color there is called “dried grass” and is a pale grayish green color.
Also, for those of you who asked what we thought was a “trendy” color, here is one example. Our living room is a color called “smoky mountain.” The thing I love most about this color is that I’m never sure exactly what color it is. (I must love confusion, huh?) It’s grayish but sometimes I think it leans more toward blue tones and other times I see a lot of green in it. Probably nine out of ten people who come over squint and ask, “What color is that?” I love it!
I tried to take a picture of our dining room wall but it didn’t turn out – the color there is called “dried grass” and is a pale grayish green color.
Monday, November 13, 2006
“It’s the most wonderful [and potentially stressful] time of the year …”
Tonight I put Meredith to bed. This is usually daddy’s job (which he enjoys) but daddy wasn’t home when Meredith was tired so I took over.
Kevin’s routine is to rock Meredith, sing a few songs, pray, and then put her to bed. The only songs I could think of tonight were Christmas carols. This must be indicative of what is slowly but surely seeping into my mind – the awareness that Christmas is just around the corner!
After singing Silent Night, Away in a Manger, and O Holy Night I was reminded of how much I really do love Christmas. I love the meaning of the season and all the festivity, but I dread the oft-associated stress.
To make the upcoming season more calm and enjoyable, I decided to start my Christmas shopping early. Before heading to the mall I conducted a two hour brainstorming session and wrote 2-3 gift ideas next to each person’s name I was buying for. I did this last year too and found that it helped tremendously. My shopping time was cut down to a fraction of what it would have been if I had wandered the aisles aimlessly.
I will admit, however, that I felt really self-conscious when pulling out my wrinkled piece of paper in the respective stores and crossing off names and items. I’m the only person I’ve ever seen do this (except at grocery stores) – so people probably think I’m a freak. But I honestly don’t care. It’s a system that works for me.
The other night we passed by someone’s house and they already had their Christmas tree up in the window. Now, if we really want to talk about over-achievers, there’s an example for you!
Lastly, I don’t know how helpful this website would be to the rest of you but I think there are some ideas to glean from – Christmas Organizing – check it out.
Kevin’s routine is to rock Meredith, sing a few songs, pray, and then put her to bed. The only songs I could think of tonight were Christmas carols. This must be indicative of what is slowly but surely seeping into my mind – the awareness that Christmas is just around the corner!
After singing Silent Night, Away in a Manger, and O Holy Night I was reminded of how much I really do love Christmas. I love the meaning of the season and all the festivity, but I dread the oft-associated stress.
To make the upcoming season more calm and enjoyable, I decided to start my Christmas shopping early. Before heading to the mall I conducted a two hour brainstorming session and wrote 2-3 gift ideas next to each person’s name I was buying for. I did this last year too and found that it helped tremendously. My shopping time was cut down to a fraction of what it would have been if I had wandered the aisles aimlessly.
I will admit, however, that I felt really self-conscious when pulling out my wrinkled piece of paper in the respective stores and crossing off names and items. I’m the only person I’ve ever seen do this (except at grocery stores) – so people probably think I’m a freak. But I honestly don’t care. It’s a system that works for me.
The other night we passed by someone’s house and they already had their Christmas tree up in the window. Now, if we really want to talk about over-achievers, there’s an example for you!
Lastly, I don’t know how helpful this website would be to the rest of you but I think there are some ideas to glean from – Christmas Organizing – check it out.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Tired of this Ride
Twice every two years I ride the election-night-and-day-after roller coaster. I check online throughout the day to see how various candidates and ballot initiatives are doing. Then, before I go to bed, I check again.
I begin to digest, dealing with my various elations and disappointments.
When I wake up in the morning, and check again, I am always surprised by something that has transpired through the night. Then I begin the process all over again.
The ride continues throughout the day.
Oh, my head hurts. Get me off this coaster.
I begin to digest, dealing with my various elations and disappointments.
When I wake up in the morning, and check again, I am always surprised by something that has transpired through the night. Then I begin the process all over again.
The ride continues throughout the day.
Oh, my head hurts. Get me off this coaster.
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