Back to life

So we just got back last night from 8 days away from home.  Our trip began Saturday morning as we drove north on I43 towards Green Bay and Peshtigo, where we met Denny and Jean.  The drive continued to Manistique, Michigan, where we set up camp for the night.  Chris had made reservations thru the internet, sign unseen.  The campground was beautiful.  Quite the find he had with this one.  The campground was very quiet and clean.  The bathrooms, while very dated, were spotless.  A few times when I was in there, I saw a volunteer checking out the status of the bathroom ready to clean whatever needed to be cleaned.   The campground was laid out around a lake.  The lake, while cool in temperature, was beautiful and completely unused!  It was a beautiful Saturday and noone was on the lake, anywhere.  The lake was pristine with not a single jet ski/wave runner or boat on it.  The campground is a sure place to go back to.

The next morning, we took down camp with Traverse City as our next destination.  Our first stop on the way was Kitchitikini Big Springs.  This is a large spring with 10,000 gallons a minute gushing in thru fissures in the underlying limestone.  (yeah I got it from their website).  It was crystal green water that you could see all the way to the bottom of the springs.  You took a raft across the spring and were able to look thru to the bottom of the spring from the center of the raft.  The raft is guided across a wire by way of a large wheel.  The girls took their turn turning the wheel to make us travel.  Nadia took advantage of her size by holding onto the wheel traveling around floating off her feet for half the diameter of the wheel, if that makes sense.  The springs  was a beautiful site to see.

We then continued our trip towards Traverse City.  We made a few stops including lunch and ice cream snack.  We then arrived at Traverse City State Park.  There was a foot bridge that took you over to the beach.  Very pretty.  Much different looking than the west side of the Lake, but the water was still cold.  After setting up camp, we decided to walk to the beach.  I was amazed at how fearless both girls were, just walking into the cool water.  It was warm outside which made the cool water feel refreshing, but come on!  Even Nadia just ran right into the water.  Crazy.  She acted like it was bath water.  Never even came out telling me she was cold.  I was impressed.  Hannah ran out as well and continued deeper in the water with Dad and Grandpa just swimming away.

Our next four days were spend around the city.  Traverse City area was a beautiful area with many things to offer to tourists.  I would love to make it a destination again in the future as the girls continue to grow.

I will continue with more on our excursions in future posts.

Now I have to complete the folding of the last two, of four, loads of laundry from our trip.  Till later...

Just get away from me...

Have you ever had a hard day, emotionally or physically, or even worse, both? We all have them. We feel drained. Our fuse is short. We snap at things we normally wouldn't snap at.

So tonight I had an ah ha moment. My girls have been so naughty for the past week, not listening and breaking every rule I have ever made, even the good ones. It wasn't until now that I realized, maybe they're just wanting some mommy attention, but not showing this in the right way. After a lot of bickering and fighting, we sat down to play a game of Trouble. We just moved out pieces around the board to the number that we rolled. No other rules. Just a nice and friendly game. Before we started I said the game is immediately over if anyone starts arguing, fighting or whining. Ten minutes later we ended a very nice game. I think we all had a good time. Yes I had to stop what I was doing and take the time to sit and play, but it was well worth it. And we had not fighting! From anyone!

So next time, maybe I can take the cue better and spend a little time with them. Even if it doesn't sound like a pleasant thing to do with whining, etc...

Oh would I do that different...

As I am writing this I am thinking to myself, remember to read this next year before Easter!

This year marked the first year we were home for Easter since having a family - okay actually our second but our first Hannah was only a few months old. We decided to hide Easter Eggs outside, or have Heather and Tom hide them for us. It was really a lot of fun. They did a fantastic job hiding them and the girls really enjoyed finding them. What I wish I would have realized is that you can hide more than candy in those eggs. I had some candy and some fruit snacks that we stuffed into each egg. Heather and Tom also brought some eggs. Heather had some great ideas of things to stuff into those eggs including hair clips and ties. Duh, why didn't I think outside the box and put other stuff in there. So, next year I hope to be smarter to this one and stuff the eggs with other things such as toys or hair things. Then I don't have to watch my oldest stuff candy into her mouth at the same pace that Cooper eats his food. It was quite disgusting! But whose fault is it for giving her all this candy? **bowing my head**

Time off?

PTO - Paid Time Off, or in other context Parent Teacher Organization. So if you work a job, you get PTO, or as others call it, vacation time. But for those who do most of their work for their family at home, what do we call it? I have to start by saying I do not mean any negative toward my loving husband on this. He is always supportive and makes it happen for me if and when I do want to go somewhere. I just had one of those ah ha moments this weekend. While we had family here, we decided that going to the zoo would be a perfect thing to do for the afternoon on Saturday. I was feeling overwhelmed with life and the house and really preferred to get a few more things done, such as taking that pile of stuff sitting by the garage door, to Goodwill. And running to the grocery store for the fixings for our taco dinner we had planned for that night. Because of what I was looking at needing to get done yet, I asked my loving husband if he would mind if I stayed home to finish these last few things. As always, he was supportive and took everyone else to the zoo. Apparently they had a conversation in the car on the way to the zoo about the amount of time that I am away from the girls - that being not very often. This translated as this time that I had without my girls, while they were at the zoo, was my "time off". In the time they were gone, I went to Goodwill to donate a trunkful of items, went to Sendiks for produce and meat and then to Pick n Save for the remainder of the fixings needed. I then headed home to grab the Red Box movie that I forgot to return to Pick n Save. While at PNS, I also grabbed a new toy for Cooper. I then proceeded home to play with Cooper and get a lunch/snack spread ready for the crew that was returning home. Then everyone arrived home. so that was it, my time off. Is that really my time off? That's what I get, time to prepare and organize things for my family. What a bummer. Should have just forgot about all those things and gone to Starbucks for coffee and a book. What was I thinking?

Easter

So what is Easter? What is Good Friday? How do you explain these things to a four and six year old in a way that is understandable? I don't want to underplay the importance of these days but I also don't want to lose them in too many words.

I try to show them how important it is to appreciate each day you are given as it is a gift from God. We are blessed with everything in our lives, from those material things to the loving people that surround us every day. But how is Easter any different from a normal Sunday or Monday or whatever day it might be. How do you explain to anyone why Easter is the most important of Christian holidays? If you looked at the world around us, you would think Christmas was the most important. We all get off of work for Christmas. We talk about it for weeks before hand. We have huge celebrations, huge dinners and parties at Christmas time. What do we do for Easter? Eat some ham and gather with family. But we don't get any time off of work. It's just on a regular day off right? In fact, the Catholic Hospital system I work for doesn't even count it as a holiday. Is that really right?

Easter is the day that Jesus was resurrected, brought back to life, raised from the dead. He was put to death on the cross on Good Friday and came back from the dead on Easter. Brought back from the dead? Can you imagine if something like this happened today? What would any newscast report on this? Someone put to death on a cross? Brought back to life? And he did this for us to pay the penalty for our sins? How would we even explain this? The ultimate sacrifice. And we give it a day on a weekend? Not even any special time off or any special gatherings?

This Easter, I hope to celebrate the meaning of Easter. Help teach my girls what Jesus did for each and every one of us that believe in him. That we are to respect this gift we've been given.

I hope that this year we can all celebrate the special gift we've been given and share our gifts with all those in our lives. Happy Easter!

Constant Contact

So it seems my life has been consumed over the past six days by the fact that I cannot find my cell phone. Initially I thought, oh I just left it downstairs. I'll hear it if it rings. Well I hadn't heard anything or seen it for a few days. Then I realized, hey wait a minute, I haven't seen or heard it for a few days...So I ran thru my week in my head of when I last had it and where I went. I put together that I last had it Wednesday night after swimming. After that, no idea...

Sunday I tore apart the house cleaning and looking for it. No success. How can I lose my phone? Argh. While I do not like the fact that I can be reached 24 hours a day because of our phone accessibility...I am also bothered by the fact that I cannot find my phone anywhere. I looked under cushions, under furniture, in coat pockets, on closet floors. I just cannot find it. I called the YMCA and the coffee shop we went to on Thursday. No one has it. Where in the world can it be? I am even starting to lose sleep over this darned thing.

I did not think to call work to check in if they needed help. I just figured, I didn't hear from anyone so they must be okay. I told them to text me if they needed help, and apparently they did. I feel horrible. But then again, why can't people still call at home. I understand why people don't have an answering machine now or screen calls. I am tired of the way others can reach you 24/7 and have come to expect you to be able to reach you 24/7. I do not always have my cell phone at my side and do not like how people expect you to have 24/7 access. I like having private time and just to get a little alone time. I want to help where I can but also want to have my alone time. I guess this is once again about finding that balance in life.

Here's hoping that I either find my phone or can get the used one I am supposed to pick up tomorrow after work, working tomorrow.

One of those gals...

So I normally blab about my life and my kids but I am going to rant on something new for a change. I have been hearing lots of messages over the past week about how important it is to offer yourself to better others. While I know I need to continue to work on this, there is another concern I have. You know how you see those people that look like they have never done anything for themselves since 1980? Or worse, 1970 or 1960? You see these women, often times moms, that are dressing in the same clothing that they did 25, 30, 40, 50 years ago. Nothing has changed in their appearance, including their crazy hair. I really want to be there for others that need me, but does it have to be at the expense of me? How to I make sure I don't get trapped in 2010 or even worse the 1990s? I think back to the glorious fashion trends of the 1980s and early 1990s and realize how long it took me to give up some of those trends, especially the big hair. I finally met my now husband and came out of the big hair phase. I fear getting trapped again. I don't want to look back on photos of myself and say, oh my, look at that horrible outfit or that awful hair. I would like to look back and know that I was comfortable in my skin and proud of how I looked. The challenge is how do I make that happen. If anyone has any secrets on this little ditty, I'd love to hear them.

Patience

Warning - I sense a big giant rant is about to occur...

Why is it sometimes that I have absolutely no tolerance for anything and other times I can put up with a lot. Tonight I just give up. I am tired of repeating myself. I am tired of asking for things that the girls should already know. I am tired of being the bad guy. I try to do fun stuff with the girls and don't seem to get much of a thank you in return. I go out of my way to sit through the play places, playgrounds and kid zones to get poor listening and no favors in return. Ugh. I'm not sure if this their way of saying thank you, fatigue or just kiddos acting their age.

For once, could I get a, gee thanks mom for taking us somewhere fun to play and have them

brush their teeth nicely

keep the toothpaste in their mouth

keep the toothbrush off the floor, wall, counter and off each other

spit nicely in the sink

nicely return the toothbrush to that magical place it sits when not being used

put on their jammies without whining

neatly place dirty clothes in the hamper

sit nice for a book or two

and finally, give nice hugs and kisses before falling into a sound sleep

I guess I just ask too much! Now it's back to reality and time to attempt to get my children to bed. I just hope for no tears from anyone, including me.

It's a simple life

I have been trying to sit back and watch what I can learn from my children. Their lives are so simple. They live for instant gratification. If they want something, they ask. No mind games. No grudge or payback. As adults, we make our intentions much more complicated. We play games. Instead of "using our words" to say what we want, we give hints and signs for others to hopefully "read". It's like we are too afraid to expose ourselves by stating our wants, needs and desires. Okay not in a dirty way but in our daily communications. Yeah, there are times that we, as adults, need to do things that we don't want to do because they need to be done. But those other times, why can't we live more in this simple "say it like you mean it" kind of world.

I spend so much of my time trying to teach my kids how to be the best people that they can be. But then I sit back and think, am I being a good example? How can I live in this simplified way with a bit of added maturity? Do I act this way in my relationships with my husband and children? If I do not like something between he and I, why not just talk about it instead of getting angry and leaving "hints" when he likely has no idea what I am getting at? Why not tell my children how I feel? One important thing that I hope to teach my children is to share how they feel and how things others do make them feel - good and bad. As I've been trying to lead more by example on this one I have realized how hard it really is. In this digital world we live in, it is much easier to type these feel goods and feel bads, but how are we at sharing this stuff face to face. Oh boy, I have some work to do on this one!!

Appreciate those little things

So it was Valentine's Day last week. A day I enjoy referring to as a Hallmark Holiday. I feel like it is so over advertised that it just creates pressure to those in a relationship and hardship to those who are not. If you are in a relationship, you feel the pressure to do something that will make your partner happy. Guys buy flowers, women get all dressed up and try to make the night special, both making an attempt to create a romantic night. Meanwhile, singles mourn over the fact that they have no partner. And this is supposed to be a good holiday? I think not. I would like to think that it is important to show your partner every day how much you love and appreciate them. But do I do that? Or do I often just get hung up in the every day stresses like getting upset because he didn't put that cereal bowl in the dishwasher, or he didn't take his dirty clothes out of his work bag and is now out of clean work clothes. What a waste of energy. I know that if, God forbid, anything were to ever happen to the one of us, I would wish these little things that are irritants now, to return to my life to create this normalcy.
I've been told by five different people that the book Love Personalities is great for discovering the type of love personality for you and your partner.
In summary, I hope that I can show my girls how to appreciate one another and how to effectively show your loved ones how much you love them and care for them everyday, not just Valentine's Day!

Motivation

Post #2

Perhaps the pressure of post number one is off so I can get going on this...We'll see

Motivation - anyone learn the secret on where to find this? I have so many ideas in my head of what I would like to do but struggle making the time to do them. And no, it's not because I am too busy. Yeah I have two kids but I can still do things in the evenings and mornings. Nadia plays well while I craft. In fact, she helped me make my latest project, my felt wreath. She had to have folded half of those flowers that were pinned to the wreath. I think she is as proud of the finished project as I am. Now to get on with doing my menu board, week activity board and sleep board. All great ideas, just not done. So, if anyone knows the secret to getting motivated, please clue me in.

The definition of motivation is "the driving force which causes us to achieve goals." Driving force? I guess I need to get one of those! Then there are to do lists. I am good at making those! My favorite part of these lists is crossing things off. And yes, I have to admit, I sometimes write something on that list that I have already done, just so that I can cross it off. So maybe that is what I need to do, make a list of those projects that I want to get done and start crossing out!

So to do this week:
1 - Find a driving force
2 - Make a to do list and cross off those accomplishments

Intro - Where to start??
I have to start by saying I am stumped on where to start. I had one post but then deleted it because I didn't like it. So here I am again at square one. The pressure of post number one.

I decided to start this blog in an attempt to capture those moments that get swallowed up into the existence of everyday mundane happenings. Since I am almost always home with my girls, minus the two days a week that I work, I have been struggling with avoiding getting stuck in a rut. I notice that some days, especially these dark January days. I have noticed that I set little time goals for myself like, okay we just have to get to 815am, when we walk Hannah down to school. Now we just have to get to 315pm when we need to pick Hannah up from school. Now we just have to make it to 430pm when we go to the YMCA for a class. I feel like I am missing these little moments where I could be teaching the girls something. Maybe just writing about this will help me make better use of these moments. We'll see.