Being Sick - The List...

1.  I hate to be sick.
2.  I believe that all sicknesses can be cured with Advil and Gatoraide.
3.  Unlike most people, I don't want my Mom when I am sick.  She is a horse.  She would tell me to do my hair, put on make up, and suck it up. 
4.  I don't want my hubby either.  He is a nurse.  You would think I would want him.  But his compassion for his patients doesn't necessarily extend to the wife.
5.  Children should not be allowed to be sick at the same time their parents are. Especially not two of them.
6.  I want my bed.  I want my pillow.  I want a book.  I want a Do Not Disturb Sign.
7.  Self-employed people don't get sick days.
8.  My hair is done and make up is on.
9.  I have Advil and Gatoraide.
10.  I still feel sick.

5 Things...

When I was in college my Mom and I - and sometimes my sister...  would email each other lists of 5 things.  They would have no text around, no how are you doing...  just 5 simple things that we were thankful for on that particular day.   I loved when we did that.   It was reflective and made me smile.  So here goes...  my list for today with photos to boot!

1.  My children when they all are on at the same time for a picture.

 

2.  Organized shelves.

3.  Paperwhites in bloom in my living room.

 

4.  Clean sheets. 

 

5.  A teacher who cares enough about my Hannah to write a note home saying - I'm proud of Hannah.  (Hannah was so touched she taped it above her bed.)  

Policy Change

During this new year, I have been determined to walk everyday and to be so organized during the day that I have real quality time to spend with my family.  There are things I just don't have time for anymore in order to make family time happen.  So cleaning the floors everyday is out.   I just don't have enough hours in the day.  When I asked around for volunteers to take the job from me, I heard silence.

So new policy change at our house...  No shoes in the house.  Slippers are allowed and shoes that have not been outside for a very long time are ok.  Otherwise, get them off.   

This policy change has not gone over so well - there have even been tears and name calling.  I swear I heard Dave say the word crazy with my name in the same sentence - but certainly that could not be.    However, I hold my ground.   And in doing so, I have turned into my Mom and my Little Noni - who both adore slippers.  Check these out!

And my sister who knows my affinity for multi-tasking really helped me out.

I have to admit, I miss my tennis shoes.  Even though my slippers are way cool.   I think I am going to start saving my change for house only sneakers.  :-)

Update:  So I just finished hitting the post button...  turned around...  and Biscuit, my dog, threw up all over the carpet.  Boy - I am feeling like the born loser.  I am not sure I am going to win this one.   

See a Pattern?

I was getting ready this morning and took a close look at my lotions.  How funny is that?  A lotion for all moods!   So if you smell eucalyptus or spearmint when I am near by - be warned...  it could be bad...   But honestly, I don't know if it is in my head or if it really works, but that stress lotion calms me.   When I taught Algebra, I used to take it with me to class and gave it to the kids to put on their hands.   Yep, that would be me passing along my craziness to another generation...

My Special Talent

Hannah came home from school the other day and told me that her teacher told her that each of us have a special talent...  something that makes us special.   She was pretty excited about it.  She then asked me what my special talent was.  "What makes you special Mommy?"  


hmmmm....

My entire life I have only ever had one answer for this type of question.  I simply said to Hannah - I am very organized.  That is my special talent.  Really Mommy?  Yep, Hannah that is my special talent.  I am very organized.  My brain just works that way. 

So I got to thinking about where I inherited this organization talent from.  And I honestly don't know.  Because it is just not organized in life - my career is a constant project of taking tasks and organizing them.   My Mom and Dad are organized in their own way... in their own thing...

I didn't marry organized - quite the opposite.  In fact, upon first meeting Dave, my Mother told him - she will organize your world.  I am still trying...

My children are really not showing signs of any organizing genes.  Noah shows me glimpes now and then.  See below - he is attempting to organize his legos.  But for him it is all in the timing.  This was not the time.

Hannah is funny.  She is the worst kind of organized.  She thinks she is organized - but honestly it is not happening.  These are her special shelves of treasures.  She worked for a long time on this.  So I am leaving it be.  This is not so easy for me.

So... I am not sure you really inherit special talents or you pass those on...  I think they are like little gifts that you are given to do with as you will.   I guess I have elected to use mine in almost all aspects of my life.  Sometimes it is hard though.  There are times when I can't get past the unorganized and relax.  (Ask my sister Aimee about the time I woke her up at 5:00AM to start working organizing her apartment.)  But most of the time, I see it for the gift that it is.   And it makes me smile.

Welcome Back!

After a few months off, I am back!  Life got in the way of my special blog project, but there is no time like the present to start again...

 So Happy New Year!