Into The Thick of It

Sea of blankets

The house is still quiet, although people are beginning to not snore quite so heavily. The only thing I can hear is the sound of the fan, which whirrs away every night as white noise. There's one slight problem with my hearing there:

The furnace hasn't kicked on.

I'm pretty sure it was turned off a few days ago, because it was really very unseasonably warm. Beautiful, actually. Now? Not so much. Not so much at all!

It's the last Sunday morning before we get back into the swing of things. Schools. Driving here and there and having to make it on time. Being in the house alone a few days a week. Bedtimes that are pretty strict. Some old routines, some new ones.

Part of me can't wait. And part of me doesn't want to remove myself from under the mountain.

I wonder which side will win?

Music and Iced Tea

I should be working right now.

As you can see, I am not. I am blogging. Don't get me wrong...blogging is a lot of fun. I should do it more often. I'm drinking iced tea (homemade - no mix or jug stuff for me). I'm listening to Pomplamoose music in iTunes.  iTunes is also calling to me, not very softly, to organize it.

I have an ocd issue with organizing iTunes.

It's also a lovely evening outside (sincerely). It's thunder storming, and I love the sound of it. The cats are all relaxed and stuff (I thought they'd freak), and even M has finally gone to sleep (it took a bit because of said storm).

So why the heck am I not working? This is a perfect working night.

My brain is SO full. I'm down to two more days of being 35. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I have a teacher conference with Melanie's teacher tomorrow. Brian's health has some unanswered questions. I have yet ANOTHER test next week. I have a zillion ideas in my head to design, but not a pinch of umph to do such things with.

Also, my iPhone headphones are deadish.

Ok, really. I need to stop blogging. And at least try to work. But here's a pic of Mel to help your day go better :-)

Snow days & bacon sandwiches

Weird topic, eh? (And here I type as if I am from Canada - I must be thinking Olympic thoughts!) You know, I've really been learning a hard lesson as of late. And that is to live in the moment.

In this moment, we are having a snow day. It's almost over. Tomorrow we're pretty sure everyone will be back in school and on the road to academia. School clothes are being picked out, books are being read, "discussions" (a secret word for "arguments") are being had about what shirt matches what pants, and what project is due when. It's part of the nightly routine here. But earlier today, there was shoveling. Tromping through snow higher than knee deep. Homemade blueberry heart shaped pancakes. Snuggles with kittens. Sitting under a snuggy to work. All things that really scream "Snow Day" to us.

Tonight, supper was simple and filling. I have a zillion fires going at once, and Brian has about a zillion more with school stuff being due at midterms. Melanie was busy writing songs for her upcoming album (I have no clue how she thinks we're going to record this - but she has three songs written for it) and reading the day away. So, bacon sandwiches it was. Some of us with Miracle Whip, and some of us with real mayonnaise. (Let's just put it this way; I am in the minority, and I do NOT do Miracle Whip.) But it was a tasty and easy supper, and we're all satisfied.

Sometimes I let things that are so far ahead - or so far OUT of my head - take over what is really important. I get so freaked out and so overwhelmed about things that I think that other people MAY be thinking, that I drive myself half bananas. I'm constantly and lovingly being reminded that I create this chaos inside my head a lot. All by myself. I'm really good at it. And I need to STOP!

One way I'm working on that is by reading a book called "Feeling Good". It came highly recommended, and so far, it's terrific. It's a continuation of the therapy I was in for over a year, and it is full of great reminders of what my brain does to sabotage me again and again. The other thing I'm doing is listening to some stress reduction and management recordings that were recommended to me by my doctor. They have been a huge help too - when I take the time to do them (duh, Chere!). I am forgetting to take care of myself a lot of the time. I need to get back into the swing.

In other news, I had a blog post published on the ScrapGirls blog here. It was fun to write, and fun to photograph for. I do love my boys! They make me warm and happy!!

Take time and be at peace today. It's a journey. I'm working on it with you!

Laundry and Other Quandries

Today has been a typical Monday. Lots of crazy things to get done in the morning, and things to do here at the house. One of the things that I try to do on Monday mornings is to start a load of laundry before we leave the house, to try to get us off on the right foot.

Well, today I was in the laundry room, looking at the dirty clothes, and I realizes that we sort our laundry into 4 piles: whites, darks, sheets/towels, and PINKS.

This is a load of Melanie's clothes. I think I might have some unmentionables in there. I'm pretty sure that Brian doesn't have anything in there (or so we hope!). The child just has a mainly pink wardrobe. Here she is right now, coloring on the floor.

And just for fun, look around at past blog posts. I'd venture a guess that most of the shots you see will have her in pink. I don't know what that is; I know that if giving a choice, her dad will always pick the pink outfit. He was actually looking for pink Penn State and Panthers stuff. I remember having the same thing happen to me as a kid, until I revolted and started to wear black. I need to give her better choices more often now, or we're doomed for the goth thing. The other thing that has really struck me lately is how "for granted" I take her speech patterns. For instance, there's this Veggie Tales song that she really loves right now that talks about this bowling professional named Art Begotti. (The "got" is like the word "got" not like the word "goat".) So today, she was singing the song, and do you know how she prounced it? Bark O'Goddy. Brian and I laughed so hard. I guess you'd have had to hear the song to think it's funny, but trust me, it is. Another case in point: we're having bagetti for supper. We go to "themnaskiks" on Monday morning. When her undies go up her hiney, she has a "veggie". I just asked her if she can think of anything else we should write about, and she can't "bamember" anything.

Getting caught up...

That's what I feel like I've really been doing lately. The kitchen is probably as clean as it will ever be, and has ever been. Laundry is almost all caught up - folded, put away, etc. Bathroom is clean. Melanie's room is clean. My room is...NOT! But that's on the list for this week, so I'm pretty sure it will all get done. I don't know what has come over me (scary!) but I kind of like it!

I've also decided that I like to drink coffee - even by myself. I used to consider myself a social drinker, but lately I like a cup (or two) in the morning just because I can. Of course, I have to call and ask Brian how to make it when I make less than an entire pot, but that really shouldn't count. I'm converting over from tea (which I still enjoy, don't get me wrong. I think I'm going thru a phase!)

Melanie has had a good few days here. She and her daddy had some good quality time yesterday doing several different activities, and I got a little bit of a nap thru the race. Race, you say? That's correct. My husband has suddenly started to watch Nascar. Not sure where it came from...but it's really good to sleep thru. I just follow the orange Home Depot car. Tony Stewart is the only dude I know. And I know there are two brothers whose names begin with a K but that's about it. I don't get the points system, or the crashing, or the pit stops....it just doesn't click for me. I must be neglecting my heritage!

Anyway, Melanie...

She had curly hair yesterday, after a night in the rollers again. She had received a really cute outfit last year for Christmas (as in over a year ago) from one of Brian's Aunts, and even though we thought she'd be in it (it's 24 month size), it's still a little big. The skirt I don't think will ever fit because she just doesn't have a waste or hiney. So, we found another skirt that looked good with the sweater and tights (the skirt is 12 months....sad!) and she was all set. Her feet have finally outgrown her size 6 shoes, too. 6 1/2 is where we are, and one pair of 7 - although that's mostly because she begged for the Strawberry Shortcake shoes that had been in her closet since the day she came home, and I just couldn't tell her no anymore - I mean they had been in there for a year! So, I think we're finally hitting a growth spurt.

So here she is in all her cuteness. I have to admit, she is a sweetheart most of the time. We're blessed with a smart, beautiful little girl.

More later...I need to go fold some laundry and make some lunch for some little wee one :)