Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Ode to my mother (Warning: super sappy posting to follow!)




H

Our fantastical mother!


With Mother's Day coming up this weekend, it makes me think about our own mother. On top of the everyday questions, crisis's, dilemmas and help we are asking for (that phone gets plenty of use!) she also manages to make sure every event is special and memorable. 
Our Family

A recent example would be this last Easter. Our mom planned a full weekend menu which included options for one nearly vegan sister and one very not vegan son-in-law.
YUM
She had everything ready for an Easter egg decorating contest and Easter egg hunt.
Clearly some are better artists than others

And if that wasn't enough, she had put together Easter baskets for all of us which included nut-free candy (L is allergic), personalized necklaces for the girls, and outfits for the boys. 
My necklace

So with Mother's Day around the corner; I just want to say a sappy thank you for always taking our phone calls-always being a shoulder to cry on-always being there to plan our birthdays, graduations, weddings, baby showers, baptisms and all the other thoughtful, wonderful, thankless things you do--if I become half the mother you have been I will consider myself a success.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Perma-nesting


There are few things that I enjoy more than organizing, it's like I am in permanent 'nesting' mode. This became a real problem when I was actually nesting...but that's for another post.

I can't get enough of list making, re-arranging, and timelines/timetables/calendars.

Isn't there something about making a list or calendar that makes you feel like you are on top of things? Is it just me? I think it is similar to 'pinning' a workout on Pinterest...you may not have actually done anything but you feel a real sense of accomplishment.

Some would say it is a problem (J), but in her defense, I once told her that I was so excited that I was completely overwhelmed because I've got to make like 20 different lists to deal with it.

I should clarify: I have a love for organizing, NOT cleaning.

Here is the difference:

Organizing--Putting up a family calendar complete with
1. A monthly calendar-color coded for each family member
2. A daily calendar divided into columns for morning, afternoon, evening, and babysitting plans for the boys if necessary
3. A 'To Do' List ; and as if that weren't enough
4. Pockets with the To Do list items broken out into a more detailed 'To Do' list.

(Thank you Thirty One https://www.mythirtyone.com/441495/)


Color coded calendar

Family calendar=list-making heaven


Cleaning--While attempting a workout yesterday, I almost impaled my foot on a piece of pretzel on the living room floor. After that, every time they told me to 'focus' all I could focus on was how I should really be vacuuming. This got really distracting when I was doing pushups and felt like I was about to fall open mouthed onto the dirty old pretzel. How's that for motivation! Let this be a lesson--working out only leads to more work! That will teach me.

Update: I still haven't vacuumed, BUT I did pick up the piece of pretzel: mostly because L spotted it with a hungry look in his eye and I prefer he only eats food off the floor that he throws off his highchair thank-you-very-much.

The culprit
My workout partner-not very motivating, but pretty cute!


Well, I better be off, I have a vacuum to locate.