Lesson in excercise

Today's lesson was about my fitness level.  I learned that I am not in as good of shape as I had hoped.  On the positive side though - I picked the perfect workout!  I thought it would be too easy for me but it was perfect.  30 minutes of my heart rate at the perfect level. 

My next dream purchase will be a heart monitor to wear so when I am jogging I can always stay at the level I need to be. 

Tonight I really made my son mad too!  I actually followed through when I gave him a choice of listening and getting story time or just going straight to bed.  He chose bed by not listening!  Boy did that make him mad.  But I did it! 

I learned that I can stand up to my two year old and he will still tell me he loves me in between his gasps for air and tears. 

Happy New Year!

It has been a year almost to the day since my last post. So many "lessons" have been learned and I wish I had taken some more time to share them.

I am working on my attitude toward improving my emotional balance. That is the goal this year. If you are interested in my ramblings, you are welcome to come along for the ride.

One day I want to do something like Julie and Julia movie - but I am not that creative so I will just ramble as my brain allows. It is odd that I have become one of the masses that feels the need to shout out in this bottomless pitt of social media.

I am not sure what that says about my emotional balance, but whatever. It is what it is.

Math Lesson

2 Children in Daycare + Winter = Illness, much illness

It is done.

So this is funny how the last post I made was about the Christmas spirit and this one is about it being DONE!

It is January 2009 and I am so excited to start fresh with the new year. I won't bore you with all the things I have promised myself for the upcoming year since putting that in writing would only embarass me more when I don't end up accomplishing much or any of it.

Christmas was great and New Years was pretty fun (Thanks Mom on both counts). But now we are headed into the first 5 day work week in three weeks. I say three because the week before Christmas I lost two days due to this blasted snow. And no, I don't have chains yet. Why you ask? Well because I was counting on something that I shouldn't have. On a positive note, they say the snow should be melted in the morning. Oh yea, it is snowing again!

My sister bought me a book called The Shack by William P. Young. It is interesting and I am enjoying it. It is making me think for sure, which I think was her purpose. She is a good sister.

Since I have lost my camera cord and am a failure in getting the pictures from family, I have nothing to share from my Christmas with my kids and family. I am sorry. Maybe in 2009? Yea right you are thinking.

A good friend told me a quote she heard. I do not know who to credit for this but here it goes:

Everything is not OK, but I am OK with
everything.

Happy New Year!

Christmas is really here

Well tonight I finally found it! The Christmas spirit is within me. I am part of an amazing group of women in my industry. Tonight was our "Holiday Party" Come on people, it is CHRISTMAS! *steps off soapbox*

My friend Sharon is one of the most generous and welcoming people I have ever met and is the one who hosted the party. It was a magical evening. I saw old friends and teared up just at that. I met a couple new people and that was fun.

Sharon lives in an area called Manchester. What this means is that she has the most amazing view from her house of the entire Seattle Skyline. It was awesome. Then as we are all chatting and having a grand time, Sharon yells "here come the boats!" For 59 years the Christmas boats have been cruising the Puget Sound and making stops along different places. Tonight was Manchester's turn. 5 boats came up and anchored. they are part of the http://www.argosycruises.com/themecruises/xmasSchedule.cfm Argosy Cruise lines. Now not only are they decorated with Christmas lights but they have a choir on board. Yes, a live choir. The choir then is put on a loud soundsystem and they stop long enough to provide Manchester residents with 20 minutes of Christmas joy.

It was a freezing night as I stood out there with other women holding my hot buttered rum. I didn't have my coat with me and Sharon says, Oh Aime, I have lots of coats. She came out with a FUR coat! Oh my gosh. I stood on a beautiful deck on a beautiful crisp December night with hot rum, a fur coat and my friends all around me listening to amazing Christmas music.

I teared up with how blessed I felt tonight. This is not about presents, or trees or shopping. This season is about the gift that was given to us. About friends treasuring time with each other and about Family being blessed to have each other.

Christmas this year, as it should be every year, will be my treasure with my family. Bundling my children to take them to Grandma's house. Seeing my sister with her family. Enjoying the warmth of the morning and the music of the day. Enjoying my parents and my day of appreciation for the things that matter the most.

I am truly one of the most blessed people in the entire world.

Random musings

My (Not so original) thoughts from the other day

When you really sit and listen to your children, you will undoubtedly hear yourself.

What do you want to sound like? Driving in the car the other day, I listened quietly while my 3 year old talked to her "little friend" Nisha. Nisha arrived around the time Ethan was born. What Jaiden said over and over and over that day was "No, not today" "Another time" "Maybe later" Wow, Nisha must have been very disapointed to hear that Jaiden didn't have time for her. Last night, I skipped bath time, and I skipped Ethan time. I went straight to my little girl's room and played castle. We built castles with the blocks her Grandpa made her. We made stairs and created a "crocodile lake". I do not say "OK, now is a great time" nearly enough.

Thought for the day

Be careful. In your efforts to have everything, you may just end up with nothing.

Halloween

The most sinister thing about Halloween is the candy that your kids bring home!

Lessons from Mom

Believe your mom when she tells you that bath time is a treasure. Never take for granted the time your kids are in the bath.

You will learn about their day, their thoughts and their favorite things. What an amazing thing, to be forced to sit and listen to your children.

To see your son smiling at you as he is getting all clean and learning to kick in the tub.

What a blessing.

What a treasure.

OH Noooo!

Lice at Daycare! We are fortunate to be able to keep the kids home tomorrow, but Thursday and Friday we are forced to take the risk.

Wish us luck! I don't know what I will do if my baby girl comes home with lice!

Tempers Flare

Sometimes you just need to be proud of the fact that you were able to reign in your temper enough to just speak VERY sternly and not beat your three year old to a pulp.

Today was a poor Love and Logic day. But I look at it this way. Now I know I definitely have better heights I can strive for!

tomorrow is another day.

Busted

I was busted today for throwing away an art project that the little one brought home from Day care. Oh boy was that some fast talking. Needless to say, the coffee grounds covered squirrel is happily living on the fridge right now!

I, of course, had no clue that it was in the garbage and was soooo grateful to her for finding it and making sure it was not lost forever! She just couldn't understand how it got in there. Goodness neither could I! I mean it had been on my counter for a week, how could it have hopped into the garbage? I told her the dog must have done it! LOL

In the end I was found innocent of the charges. I wonder if she will take me to civil court next?

Fun in the Sun......Roof

Get it? Fun in the Sun... roof? This is what happens when you teach your 3 year old that it is a good idea to lock the car when you get out. THEN you leave your keys in the car - you are just running in for a second! LOL

Thankfully my niece was around to re-live her declining youth and crawl on top of the car.

Living day to day

I think reading my sister's post here at http://www.jennsjazzygems.typepad.com/ has made me really think about priorities and what I need to accomplish in the time I have. I constantly feel guilty about the things I am not getting done when I decide it is time to go to bed. I want to be the best mom, the perfect daughter and sister, then still be the inspirational friend that some look to me to be, all while having the perfect house and a healthy dinner on the table each night.

I can not do it all. So when I have to feel lacking in one in order to feel good about the other, I have to sit down and take a breath. What do I want my kids and family to remember me as? The perfect housekeeper and employee, or the mom that sat down and played before bedtime. Maybe the daughter that left the dishes and laundry to spend the day with her mom. Maybe that day, it would be more important to be the sister that I want to be, listening and supporting and loving my sister the way that she deserves.

I know I do not have many outside of my mom and sister that read this, but if you do, please visit their blogs, as their insight is much better then mine. After all, I can't do it all!

I did truly enjoy walking at lunch today taking in one of the last crisp days we have left of fall!

Hope you all can do the same. Love the time you have with the ones that mean the most.

First days of Day Care

Tonight I learned that I can feed my baby and make my daughter dinner at the same time!

So yesterday was Jaiden's first day and it seemed to go well. Today was Jaiden and Ethan went together and Odessa seemed happy as a clam to have my screaming, but adorable little man with her.

We came home and I fed Ethan while I made dinner for Jaiden. Then off to the baths for them both and story time and kisses.

My hubby brought me ice cream for dinner so that was very nice :) Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday. I gave up on soccer so Saturday is free, free, free! I will ignore the house as much as possible.

Back to work

Bibs are the bomb! Don't tell my mother I said that though! I never used them with Jaiden and have finally found out how great they are.

I am back to work and Ethan is growing so fast. Today I did the laundry, cleaned some gutters - which was not fun with my fear of heights, played with Ethan and Jaiden, worked in the yard some and made a gourmet dinner of eggs, applesauce and toast!

Phew, now I am watching a cheesy movie and writing these few sentences.

There, that is the last few weeks in a nutshell!

Step by step

Ok, I know normal people would only post the final picture. But since you never know when I might turn the sewing machine on again, I am not normal and will share each step.

The top part is all done and I am ready to put this thing together and quilt it. Now it will be interesting to see how long that takes to get me motivated enough to finish!

I love spending time with my sister (missed you mom!) outside sewing the day away. Well sewing in between feedings, tantrums, meltdowns and throwups at least.

I did it again

I did it again! I actually used the sewing machine. Ethan laid on his new play mat and listened to classical music (which I personally can not stand) and I sewed my blocks together!

He then slept all night until 4 am. That boy is getting good.

Today I might try to venture out for Backing and Batting for my new wallhanging, but that might be too much effort and I will wait for another day.

Parenting

A patient parent can help to show patience in the child. An angry parent can teach anger in the child.

What a concept. I hope I can remember this as my children grow. This is proven each day as we raise our kids.

Needs...

I need a small stroller to keep in the car at all times.

I do love my front carrier, but wish it was more comfortable.