And To All A Goodnight

I've fretted over this post. Not sure why.
      Last post of the year? I thought, "maybe I should write about semantics again because it's a topic I find extremely important and powerful." - I worried it wouldn't be good enough.
      Trying to keep a good rhythm of four posts each month? Eh, it's not a like I have a google followers; "a google" as my son would say. You know I've actually heard a number of young children lately refer to google as if it were a number, presumably a large number.
      I thought about picking a few of my favorites from this year and then highlighting them. - In the flurry of Christmas and getting ready to open the boutique, I just haven't had the time for that. On a more positive note, I have had time to clear my house of Christmas decorations! I know, that should sadden me but I really felt the weight of Christmas chaos in terms of decorations this year. I also had one of the best Christmas holidays I can remember this year! I got to see all of the family I wanted, I didn't have to miss any celebrations I desired to attend, the children were absolutely marvelous to watch opening gifts and such, the food was awesome, my eldest still believes in Santa and we all enjoyed celebrating the birth of our Savior! But... the decorations... they were just too much for me this year. I took to throwing out all of my glass ornaments because with a 15 month old and tile floors, why bother trying? I only got about half way through putting up the rest of the ornaments and didn't even touch the box of handmade's and the kids' first Christmas ones because with an almost toddler,

that looks something like this:

Next year, I'll just do this :)

Pull ornament out of box

Admire it

Put ornament on tree

Pull ornament out of box

Admire it

Put ornament on tree

Pick up ornament from the ground

Replace it on the tree

Pull ornament out of box

Admire it

Put ornament on tree

Pick up ornament from the ground

Replace it on the tree

Pick up other ornament from the ground

Replace in on the tree

Scavenge to pick up all of the ornaments suddenly dumped on the floor while the dog thinks it's play time!

Well, folks - I think I'll call this my final blog post for the year! Thanks for reading and I'll see ya next year!

Practicing Distractions

Source: Urban Parenting Magazine

Nomophobic: The fear of being without cell service.

I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty
I've got whozits and whatzits galore
        You want thingamabobs?
               I've got twenty!
              But who cares?
                  No big deal
                 I want more



I don't think Disney had our current state of being in mind when this song was written. But take a look around you. In restaurants, at the bus stop, in line at the state fair - everywhere you go you'll find someone on their cell phone or practicing some other form of distraction; 

We always have to be doing something! 

You're doing something right now- reading this blog, perhaps you're even on your cell phone. 

I challenge you to stop practicing distractions. Take the time to enjoy your kids- be there, be ALL there. Enjoy empty moments of time. Don't think you have any free time? You just might find some by taking on this challenge. For 48 hrs- when your dinner date goes to the ladies room, don't tweet. When you find yourself in line at Starbucks, don't try to beat the next level of candy crush. When the kids have gone to bed and the last one's made her last "peep", don't check your Facebook, or your email, or even your missed calls. Breathe in the silence. 

My son (6) and I were driving home from Prescott the other day and he discovered his Nintendo DS wasn't charged. He asks me "mom, can I play on your phone" which I denied him. "Mom, do we have a coloring book?" and we didn't. "What am I supposed to DO?!" he exclaimed. I told him to just chill, enjoy the view, relax. He matter-of-factly replied, "Mom, kids these days don't know how to chill."  

Chill out and enjoy the Journey of Life. 

What distractions are you prone to practice? ;-)

Five Years

I know it's been a while since I've posted and I apologize for that.... 

by Nick Galifianakis of Nick and Zuzu

A Quick Errand

Those words do not belong in a mommy's life!  Nothing is quick.  The simplest task becomes much more arduous when you have an infant in tow.  You have the kid, the carseat, the diaper bag, your purse, your water bottle, the keys, baby blankets, the binky, the beanie and did you remember to do your hair this morning?!  Do you see the picture I'm painting here? 

So enjoy my most recent 'quick errand'

The baby's just nursed so now is a great time to return our latest rental to the video store.  I'm parched so I fill up my nalgene, set it by the door and proceed to change the baby's diaper.  I get him all bundled in the car seat, being sure he's wearing his beanie and has his binky. 

I finally find matching shoes and begin to pull on my jacket and realize, I've forgotten to pee!  It seems to be that the instant you have children you can no longer remember your own basic needs; eating, sleeping, peeing, drinking.



Round 2: I pull on my jacket, grab the diaper bag -we're guaranteed a blow out if I don't have that with me- and lug the car seat out the door with a quick snatch at my nalgene bottle. 

Grab the hide-a-key, snag the car keys off the counter and zip back out.  This is now round 3.  Maybe I should stop counting.  I can't be the only person who takes multiple tries just to get out of the garage.

Now, here is where I must explain that I live kind of far out.  My husband would roll his eyes if he read this because he really used to live in a rural area out of town!  Let's just comprimise and say that I live on the outskirts of town.  So off we go on a [not so] quick errand.

About half way there I realize "crap! I forgot my wallet."  Am I the only paranoid person who carries their I.D. at all times?  And then I pull up to a stop light and look at the car next to me- windows down, music blaring, three young gels having a good time.  "Nope.  They all have their I.D.'s handy; not out of caution but because they're headed to the club (we don't have clubs in this small town) the bar, ready for a good time!" Afterall, isn't that what young, hip gels do on a Saturday night? No matter that it's actually Tuesday but the point being-  Bar? What's that?I don't even remember the last time I had a nice glass of wine.

Now-a-days I'm hoisting a child up for a sip out of the drinking fountain because the childrens' water bottles was used to make a 'river' under the slide at the local park.  No more bar hopping.  Now it's play dates and park hopping.




A little further on my drive I realize "Sh**!  I forgot my phone!"  I'm one of those people who gets anxiety when separated from my phone.  Not to mention I'm on-call.

 Finally, I've arrived at the video store and lo and behold, brace yourself.....

I've
fogotten

the movie!

Welcome to the Journey of Life with children.  When every moment is a mommy moment, quick errands don't exist, your wardrobe may be malfunctioned but it's ok, cuz the little guy holding your hand is wearing a suit with a vest and tie, and a gladiator cape- as handsome as they come!