Christmas Corgi Art and Dailiness

Just came across this lovely blog with one of my favorite things, Corgis of course! See all these pics of these adorable animals makes me miss my sweet fuzzy creatures. There are many lovely animals to be had, but until you've had a corgi...there is nothing like it! www.christmascorgi.blogspot.com.

Black Mountain Jewelry

I posted about this wonderful jewelry a year ago but here I go again. Go to www.blackmountainjewelry.com and see the beautiful pieces that can be made to represent a loved one, family - something personal in your life. You can also learn about other wonderful products like this one at www.techsavvymama.com.

We're ready!

I haven't had many complaints lately, nothing worth mentioning. Mentally, I think I'm still trying to recover from all the snow days even though there isn't any snow in our yard now. Having many weeks home and trapped has put us in a continuing mood of laziness. I can't explain it. We come home - put on pjs. Haven't bothered to pick up or clean up much (the house is suffering!). Been behind on laundry (more so than usual) and cleaning the bathroom has taken a backseat (something you can't do with 3 boys using it). Maybe we just have the winter blahs. The weather has been bad so why bother? We use to be motivated so we could get up and out. Not these days. All I can think about is...how many more days until Spring break when we don't have to bother with school or homework or whether there are clean clothes. I'm also thinking of summer....shorts, tshirts and bathing suits. NO COATS! Life takes a turn to simple when summer arrives. The boys live in their bathing suits like they have been living in their fuzzy pjs this winter. My laundry load goes WAY DOWN! Instead of there being a flurry of snow....there is a flurry of activities outside going on in the area. Living in DC, the nations capitol is a wonderful thing in spring and summer. Have metro will travel. There are so many places to explore, discover, and learn about. I can't wait. Last summer we started exploring museums....so many more to cover this summer. Artists to study and recognize at the Art Gallery, learning American History and seeing it first hand at the American History Museum or Archives, a visit to the Capitol. The bottom line is, if you don't want your house to be a mess or want to cook or clean up - keep the kids out of the house! After being snowed in for so long, I'm ready to pack lunches, grab a metro card and head out. Come on spring, we're ready, willing and able!!

Prayers for Haiti

It's hard to believe that once again, right at or after the Christmas season, we are dealing with another horrible tragedy. As if the tsunami wasn't bad enough but now an earthquake in such a poor country. My heart aches for all those that are there. Despite war and terrorists, when a tragedy such a this happens - it is heartwarming to see so many countries come together in a matter of hours. May all our prayers be heard and that those in Haiti will still hold on to hope and their faith.

The moment

Just being in the moment is such a rare thing these days. Just having the time to chill and actually enjoy it. Today was a wonderful day at church with a renewal of our baptism. We came home and the kids quickly stripped and put on their pjs (a clothing favorite since the snow). Hubbie got a fire going in the fireplace and we've spent the rest of the day playing magnetic legos, junior scrabble and hungry hungry hippo in front of the fire. Even ate lunch there. Needless to say, I keep losing. It does my heart good to have all 3 boys actually wanting to hangout together and with me in the living room, by the fire, playing games and building all afternoon. Just getting back to the simple things. What a wonderful way to start the new year. Blessings.

Snow madness

I love snow. I love my children. I love days home. I love all the things I do with my children. But honestly, after having them home now for 10 days because of the blizzard prior to winter break...I think I'm about to break! Every second of every day, they want to do something and continue to ask "what's next"? I don't get it, any other time, they are complaining when I make them go do something. Those extra days home have definitely thrown us all off. Their sleeping and eating schedules are off and my mental well being is OFF! Thankfully, tomorrow sons #2 & #3 are heading off to ice skating camp for the day. All day! Whew! The older one is having a friend over to play hours of Wii....leaving me an entire day of quiet. I'm so excited I don't know if I can contain myself. I know that at the end of the week, I will be moaning about where the time went and I want more time home. No matter how much you love each other, you still need some time apart. Quiet. Peace. Can't wait to snuggle with my boys tomorrow night. I think I'm missing them already!

Resolutions

When I started this blog, its purpose was for me to vent and write about things off the top of my head. But then after I started writing...nothing was coming to me. Or if they did, by the time I had a chance to write about it, I was too burned out. This year, 2009, was overflowing with challenges. Though in years past, we have been challenged before but for some reason, I feel like so much has been drained from me. All of a sudden, when I enjoyed reading other blogs daily, writing and communicating on my own, I seem to have lost interest. Why? I don't know. Usually when there has been a crisis in the family, the focus has been on one or two things. This past year, it has been on many - money, jobs, kids, school, parents, etc...the list goes on. I think that instead of having all the emotional, physical and mental focus being on something specific, this year it has been scattered among many various things. Stretching my time, energy and brain in too many directions. I decided that it was time to settle back for a while. That it was too much to "pretend" that things were fine and keep up all the activities and involvements. I have kept to my word. Not volunteering as much, stepping back and letting someone else take the reigns for activities and projects. Its hard for me to do these things but I am proud of myself for actually doing so. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted and that I've learned, it's okay to not volunteer or to say no once in a while. I've put a little bit more focus on myself - okay, not alot but a little is better than nothing. Going to much needed dr appts, following up, taking medication. Now 2010 is just around the corner. Wow. What will it bring for me. Well, 2010 will start off slowly but try my very best to include about 20 minutes of exercise in each day. I will wake up each morning and think of one thing positive and write it in my notepad. I will also carry this over to my sons and give each of them a notepad and write something positive to them each day. That is it for my New Year things to accomplish. Keeping them simple, keeping them uncomplicated. If I do well with these, then I will have a back up list to add some a few months down the road. I don't think we should think of all our resolutions the first of the year, but maybe break them down to several times a year - quarterly maybe. Then you could spread them out, not feel so pressured. I like that. The less pressure the better. So on that note, I say, Happy New Year and may whatever resolutions you make at this time, may they be something that gives you a better quality of life and add a little happiness to each day!