What a Nice Evening

What a truly wonderful evening. Actually nothing out of the ordinary...but oddly, very revelatory. John had basketball games tonight, and for the most part, we usually go. But tonight, the kids and I decided to hang together. We ran to Kohl's and TJ Maxx...then to Market Street. We bought slices of pizza (and mac n/ cheese for Mere) and sat down at the tables. The little area that we sat down at was sparsely filled with a few families, but relatively quiet. Mere and Cam were blessedly happy with their little plates of food....but it was an odd experience for some reason. Normally when we get fast food - it is just that - FAST. Tonight was different. We sat and ate...not really in any hurry to be somewhere else. Of course, Meredith chatted with me thru the whole meal, and Cameron sat happily listening to us (I really think that kid will be a good listener like his Daddy...after all, he's surrounded by 2 girls who love to GAB!). But they were happy tonight.

And the thought hit me...I think that the majority of the time I am with them, I am in 'get where we need to be next' mode. That 'mom' mode that tunes out the emotion and focuses on what 'MUST' be done next. Get your shoes on. Go brush your teeth. Make your bed. Pick up your toys. Hurry and get in the car, we're running late. It 's time for gymnastics...it's time for church...it's time for school....it's time for.................

And I'm embarrased that tonight's slower pace is just not our usual m.o. Oh that's just sad to me...I sit here and think to myself how that must feel to be rushed around all over the place, ALL the time. And after we finished our little meal, we headed home. And when we got here, I resisted the urge to structure the time (that's code for "boss them around") and let them do as they pleased....Mere got out some toys and she wanted to play me with her.....Cam ran all over the house, ran outside in the backyard, chased the dog (notice the theme of running?!) and occasionally wrapped his sweet little arms around me before he took off again.

And at the end of the night, there was peace. No, the dishes aren't done yet (what else is new, anyway?!), but my kids had some down time. Time apparently that I need to build into the week more often. I think moms (unless I'm the only one here!) get so caught up in what 'needs' to be done that we don't stop and let the 'nothing' happen. We're so afraid that we might let something go undone, that the world will stop. I have a feeling that my kids will remember more what I did WITH them than what I did in the kitchen. Lesson learned. Posting now, and heading to bed...happily and peacefully.

Cowgirl Meredith

Oh my! We have a cowgirl on our hands! A week or two ago (yes, I'm SOO good at uploading pics right away....), we went to the stock show. At the end there is a "pee-wee show" - here are a few of my faves of Mere (and Cam too!) getting a taste of StockShow-Mania!

Before we left....we MUST pose in the tree......

Mere and THE PIG. Need i say more?!















Here, Mere w/ her pig. Notice Cam holding one of those sticks too...yeah, that's a little scary.

The pigs liked to run (imagine that!) from the kids...particularly to corners of the arena where lots of them huddled....I'm thinking....If pigs could fly...it would have happened that afternoon!

Okay, not the best pic...but Mere was so proud of her trophy!

Well, these are officially my first pics posted. I think she was in HOG-HEAVEN that afternoon. Yes, pun intended! Hee hee! Oh so fun. It was just great watching her, and I have a feeling I'll be posting pics of the same thing along this time next year! Love that cute cowgirl!

Wow it's Cold!

Well, winter has really arrived. Seems that the dog, Max, didn't even want to go outside this morning. frankly, I couldn't blame him! The weatherman said it was 19 degrees when i woke up. That's frosty, ladies and gentlemen!

I did make it to the gym this morning...although i think i froze at least one pound off on the way inside (boy do i wish!). Cameron goes to the childcare room while I go work off every brownie I've ever eaten...or wish i had eaten. So this morning is cardio and weights. Cardio is good...I like the eliptical and the treadmill....I even like the big machine at the end of the room that tells me how many calories I've burned off! But.......weights. Oh how I dread the weigh-lifting part of my workout. No, it's not that I'm a sissy, I know the benefits of lifting weights.......it's that when I walk in the weightroom, I feel like I am completely out of place! It always seems like there is that ONE guy who has muscles ripped on him everywhere, or the she-woman who looks like she knows everything she's doing. So, on I go...with my little 5 and 10 pound weights...while Sheera and Hercules hold up cars with each arm. Oh I was glad to get out of there! Now, I sit....feeling like jello for the remainder of the day!

As for Meredith and Cameron...an update on their worlds....Their closets are put back together, thankfully, and my house has returned to somewhat normal (although laundry is seriously still oozing out of the laundry room)....But as for Mere and Cam - they are good. Both have decided that the other is really fun to chase through the house! Seriously, each night we have marathon running.......all over the house, one will chase then the other will be the chaser. it is hysterical. The best part is when I hide........and jump out and yell BOO! when they run by! Hee hee...that's when they scream their heads off and run the other way! Yes, I'm so very easily entertained!

Well I should close. I took a shower two hours ago, and still haven't blow-dried my hair...It's starting to do an 80's thing that noone really needs to see. Glory to God for hair gel and flat irons.

Response

Just a thought tonight...I'm in a bit of a 'deep thinking' mode....tell me....when the Lord asks something of you, typically, what is your response? When He lays something on your heart that stretches you...makes you feel 'uncomfortable'...how do you respond?

i'd love to hear your thoughts...obviously i'm working on a "Response" of my own....

Small Victories

I am amused by so many things as i sit to write tonight. first of all, i am amused by the simple fact that if your house is a wreck, you can bet that folks will show up to visit. On Saturday, i decided to clean out my kids closets completely - COMPLETELY - and paint their closets...re-organize, the whole 9 yards. little did i know that doing that "simple" project would destroy the rest of my home. Nor did i realize, as in my days of yon, that doing projects with small children in the house increases the duration of the bloody project by no less than 500%. Seriously. Back to my children's closets.......my children are ridiculously blessed. they have enough stuff to entertain a small country, i do believe. seriously.

So here I am in all of my nasty-houseness...doing laundry (THE ultimate thorn in my flesh. I could care less about having a house keeper. Send me someone to do my FREAKIN' LAUNRDRY!) Okay, back to my nasty-houseness..........And of course, what happens? My precious next door neighbors show up. Thank goodness they are about the coolest folks on my block..But regardless of their seemingly unworried attitude of the plethora of CRAP all over my house, I was mortified. I may have apologized thirty times, I think. It seems that this sort of thing is my luck. Or my lack of organizational skills. Or my amazing blessing of having two children under the age of 4. I bet it has something to do w/ my organizational skills...but i'm leaving it up to you to decide.....

However tonight, I have decided to focus on the small victories. After my neighbors left (both running, and muttering, i'm pretty sure, that it was the most hideous home they'd ever been in), I got busy. With the help of a Curious George movie (GOD BLESS DVD PLAYERS!), I actually got my entire kitchen cleaned and all my dishes done! YEah! And as if I hadn't done enough (yeah, that kitchen was in BAD shape) I picked up the Living room and the Family room. I think that deserves a pat on the back. And a nice glass of red wine. Cheers! More posting soon.........

First Post

What a fun thing I believe this will be! After looking a several other blogs on blogger.com, i finally decided I had to do this for myself. I know how much I enjoy writing, so maybe this will serve as a way to put my ideas and words into a written form. More soon!