A Creative House is a Messy House

I may be wrong about this one. So far, it is VERY true for me. I haven't figured out a way to get everything done on my list and everything clean in the house and then sit down and "be" creative. Every time I am "creative" the house goes to pot! I have been working on Invitations for Enrichment Night at church, throwing the kids an impromptu party for the long weekend, and writing this blog. Oddly enough, (as my Dad always says) the laundry is scattered, the dishes are piled high, and there is "stuff" everywhere! Oh well. We could be clean and BORING!

"Happiness is a State of Mind"

I have heard this idea and concept before. It sounded nice. However, it wasn't true for me. Happiness was the result of things going well in my life. I was happy when I was getting along with my husband, when I was at my "perfect" weight, when I had cute clothes to wear, when I liked my haircut, when I had good friends, when I had something "fun" to do, when my house was clean, and when my kids were well behaved. (To name a few) Surprisingly, I wasn't "happy" very often. In my ignorance, I believed that outside influences had something to do with the whole thing! What a giant misconception!
My husband used to tell me, "nobody can 'make' you happy" or "nobody can 'make' you mad!" (This argument usually used in his own defense) "Phewey!" I used to think. You are making me mad right now!! How truly wrong I was.
As life has happened to me over the last few years, I have discovered that the old adage has some clout! You mean I have some control over this? Fascinating! As it turns out, happiness is a choice that I get to make every day. I have found that the strongest tool to have in my toolbox is gratitude. When I become grateful for my life, I am free to be happy.
The next enlightening realization for me was that I had to stop "expecting" my life to turn out a certain way. A wise friend of mine always says, "all frustration stems from unmet expectations." I should expect to have trials, and expect for things not to go as planned. That is life. Now that I know that, I can choose to BE happy because I AM a happy person, not because my life is exactly what I want it to be.
I am going to choose to be happy. I hope you will too!


*I have been interrupted four times since writing this and Rachel and Adam have been given chocolate milk and goldfish crackers for breakfast to keep them quiet.

Becoming Mom

I have decided to change the whole focus and idea of this blog. Originally, the idea was that I would start this blog with all of my "Mom" friends and we could all contribute ideas and experiences. Since that concept has not evolved, I have changed course. I told James the other day that I had decided to keep writing this blog for the sake of my own children. Someday, I would like to give them a book of this blog's contents. I would love to know of the processes that my own Mother went through as she "became Mom." I always picture her as she is now, with all of her wonderful characteristics and habits in tact. Someday I would like my children to look at me that way. However, I would like for them to read about the times when I fell short! I want them to know how difficult it was for me to develop the habits and character traits that I hope to possess in the distant future. I hope that they can learn from my mistakes and hopefully from some of the things I do right as well: a guide book to Motherhood if you will. So, if you continue to read, this is about to get a little more personal. I am comfortable with that.

Music

My Dad has taught me that music sets the tone in your home! All of my childhood memories are rooted in this idea. If you lived at my house growing up, this is what you could expect:

Fourth of July - Patriotic band music blasting throughout all rooms of the house at 6:00 a.m. to get us excited to go to the parade.
Christmas - All different kinds of Christmas music from spiritual to sacrilege!
Birthday - The Beetles "They say it's your Birthday" wake up call
A weekday Morning - "The Hills are alive with the Sound of Music" compliments of my Dad sung over the intercom!
Sunday Morning - Hymns or Classical Music
Playing cards or games as a Family - Soul music
Road Trips - You name it . . . this is when we were helplessly subjected to all kinds of music whether we liked it or not!
Around the Campfire - Silly songs that Dad picked up along the way. None of the words were sung correctly but we always had so much fun.
Bedtime - Much like campfires without the smoke:)
Dinner - Depending on what we were having for dinner, we listened to Italian, Latin, Indian, you name it! Eating pasta is much more fun while listening to "When the Moon hits your eye like a big Pizza Pie it's Amore . . . "

The list could go on.

My Father doesn't think that he passed on his love of music to us kids! He recently gave me a playlist of "Light Classical" music that I have been playing in the morning for the kids. It is AMAZING the difference that this makes! The tone of our home instantly improves. I love my Dad for sharing with us his gift of music. (He is a composer and musician by trade)

Play music! It adds color to life!

Starting Your Day By Choice

I can think of few things worse than waking up in the morning to crying kids! There is something about being ripped from your sleep to the shrill sounds of discontent coming from the other room. You immediately go into "Mommy" mode. You are barely able to wipe the sleep from your eyes before you are knee deep in diapers. By contrast, you hear the sound of an alarm, you look over and actually CHOOSE to wake up. That's right, you choose to get out of bed and start your day. There is something empowering about it. At this point, I am working out, reading my scriptures, and praying before my kids (and husband) get out of bed. At first, just getting up 15 minutes earlier to take a shower can do wonders! You give your mind a chance to wake up and you feel in control instead of victimized. It will change your whole perspective!!

This . . .


VS. This!

Inevitability

in⋅ev⋅i⋅ta⋅ble:

–adjective
1. unable to be avoided, evaded, or escaped; certain; necessary: an inevitable conclusion.
2. sure to occur, happen, or come; unalterable

"You look like I used to when I needed to study for a big test," James said to me this afternoon. Ha! I remembered it well, the slap happy, fidgety, distract-able, demeanor that he would take on in moments like that. He would do ANYTHING but study; eat, start random conversations, complete odd jobs around the house (even if they were not pressing at all), anything to keep him from hitting the books. He hit the nail right on the head. That is EXACTLY how I am feeling today. ANYTHING but cleaning up this mess . . .really. Do you ever get like that? I have such a mental block about it right now. I just simply do not want to do it. How many times have I stepped over that pillow? looked at those dollies? Stared at that laundry basket? Avoided those shoes? and shamefully, walked past that diaper! Yuck! I don't want to be a housekeeper today. Unfortunately, there is a true principle looming over me and that is the law of inevitability. I will inevitably have to get up off of this chair, inevitably have to unload my dishwasher, inevitably have to put away my laundry, and inevitably have to get on with my chores and responsibilities! Oh reality - how I hate thee!! Your cruelty is immeasurable! Denial is so sweet.

Simple Words

As many of you know, my Adam is a man of few words. He struggles with words; both speaking words and listening to words. I never knew that it could be so difficult to "teach" my child to speak, a process that I took for granted as it naturally happened with my two girls. Adam has been in speech therapy now for a few months. He is making progress, slow and painful progress. Throughout this process, I have come to truly treasure the few words that are spoken by my sweet (sometimes not so sweet) little boy. Last night while I was reading to him and tucking him into bed, he said very simply, "sing." SING. Oh, of course I'll sing! It was a special moment. He was able to articulate a desire and I was able to fulfill his wish. Simple human interaction - profound progress.

Mental Health Days

My Husband was amazing today and gave me a "Mental Health Day." He took the kids to a Birthday party and then went grocery shopping and then took them swimming and to the park. This meant that I was home today from noon until 7:30 p.m. It was so nice to have a little peace and quiet around here. I baked some pumpkin squares with cream cheese frosting, did a little laundry, layed around, and basically just tried to get my bearings again. I don't know whether it is just that it is August in Texas or what but I have been going nutty! I just can't seem to get ahead. After a day to myself I am feeling much better! Thank you honey!
Model Husband +



Yummy Dessert =

Happy Wife!

Reality Check

I'm yawning from my early morning workout! It's going to be a long day! Still worth it!

I'm WAY behind on laundry again! Uggh! I hate this chore!!

Early Morning Workouts!

I know. I know. It is SO hard to get out of bed for these! I have tried so many times to make this one a habit! I have only gone for two days in a row now but I swear this will save you and give you so much more time in your day. Imagine a day where you have exercised and showered before your kids are even out of bed! So invigorating! I even try to squeeze in a little scripture time as well. If you can muster it, it makes all the difference!

Life Saver for you and your toilet bowl!

I picked up some of these and threw them into my toilet tank and didn't really think too much about it. My upstairs toilet doesn't always get flushed as often as it should (Rachel thinks that witches come out of the closet when you flush the toilet). I don't "go" up there very often so this can go unoticed. Since having these in my toilets, they have stayed clean so much longer!! I am definately a fan!

I love chocolate! I hate being fat!

This is a serious problem! I know that many of us suffer from this great dilemma every day of our lives! I have one of the worst sweet tooth's known to man. I tell myself that I am going to go off of sugar and before I know it I am half way finished with a bag of peanut butter M&M's (my personal favorite!). Is there anything worse than a fat day? I can't stand it. If my pants are tight I am instantly in a bad mood. Working out is too hard! There is no instant gratification to be had! I am so discouraged!!!! Whenever my husband tries to simplify things for me, I tell him to try gaining and losing 30 to 40 lbs every other year for the passed eight years and then tell me how he feels. I hate men!! Know it alls! I'm sure you have all heard the saying, "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." Some things sure get close!

Fresh Air

Lying in the grass in my parents backyard I breath in. The air is cool, thin, and sweet. The sunlight bounces off the leaves in the tree overhead as they sway in the light breeze. It's quiet. The world around me is still. I can't remember the last time I had a moment like this. Thoughts flood my mind, "I need to do this, I can't forget that, I must call____." Stop. Take this in. Relax. It hits me. This is important. Perhaps more important than every other task on my list. Take time to breathe. In and out, in and out, rise and fall. Breathing. It's simple really, takes no thought at all, or does it? There is of course, the air we breathe every day all day long, but a real breath, now that takes some effort. Taking a breath requires being still, quiet, calm, and listening. I must do this more often.

Reality Check

It has been five hours since my last post and I have not vacuumed one thing! Between lunch, speech therapy, nursing, dishes, and laundry, I am exhausted! I am going to have to vacuum tomorrow.

So much to do . . . where do I start? (I think I'll just sit down)

Doesn't she look so Happy??
I'm writing this post primarily for myself. I just went on a week long trip without my kids. It was wonderful but I came home to a house that was without a Mother for six days! There are fingerprints on everything! So, take a deep breath and start with the basics. When I am faced with a messy house I go one room at a time and straighten up. FlyLady suggests that you bring a clothes basket along and place everything that doesn't belong in that room in the basket so that you are not running back and forth from one room to another. Clear the clutter, make beds and Vacuum! Vacuuming is rejuvenating. It makes you feel like things are cleaner than they are. The other reason that I love to vacuum is because in order to vacuum you have to clear the floor. So, I'm off to clear the clutter and vacuum! Have a great day!