So I'm a little behind in my bag count, unless you count the stomach bug that has gripped our house for the last 15 days. Oh, we have had some moments of thinking we were through it before the next member of our house got it. Currently, both Daryl and I have it with the girls manifesting various symptoms of it without being fully down:-(. Yeah... we're a bit tired of this.
On Monday, I did get rid of a bag of outdated medicine at the police department in town. Yeah, kind of gross that I had a full bag of old amoxycilin as well as various other OTC and prescription medicine. Also, I had my sharps container from my time with gestational diabetes during my pregnancy with Hannah. Both things are gone and the process was SO easy.
Last Saturday, I went through Elizabeth's clothes and was able to weed out 1 bag of clothes.
So 2 more bags are added to the total! --> Despite the sickness in the house, I'm at 14 bags!
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
Ah ha moment in parenting
I have a screamer. My beloved middle daughter has a habit of making sure everyone on the eastern seaboard knows that she is displeased with something. It could be anything from no getting her way while playing with her sisters to a minuscule scratch on her hand to someone calling her to dinner. She is not happy and EVERYONE knows.
Our habit has been to pick her up (as a 4 year old, that is getting to be tough) and placing her into her room which causes another round of screaming, kicking and various protesting.
Today was my work day. The moment I walked in the house that atmosphere seemed to get charged with negative energy. What was I bringing with me? The girls stopped playing and started yelling; frustrating me and causing me to wish I would have stayed at the church just a bit longer.
I was trying to help get dinner on the table when it happened. My beloved daughter let out a blood curdling scream in the playroom. I felt the tension (already present in me) escalate dramatically as I went into the playroom, but for some reason I didn't respond as I felt I wanted to... instead I said...
"Did someone lose a leg in here?"
Both girls paused, looked strangely at me and burst into laughter. In a spirit of laughter we were able to talk about how Grace could use that scream any time she lost a limb or even a toe. Ah Ha... so that's what diffusing a situation looks like.
So for one day and one battle, laughter won!
Our habit has been to pick her up (as a 4 year old, that is getting to be tough) and placing her into her room which causes another round of screaming, kicking and various protesting.
Today was my work day. The moment I walked in the house that atmosphere seemed to get charged with negative energy. What was I bringing with me? The girls stopped playing and started yelling; frustrating me and causing me to wish I would have stayed at the church just a bit longer.
I was trying to help get dinner on the table when it happened. My beloved daughter let out a blood curdling scream in the playroom. I felt the tension (already present in me) escalate dramatically as I went into the playroom, but for some reason I didn't respond as I felt I wanted to... instead I said...
"Did someone lose a leg in here?"
Both girls paused, looked strangely at me and burst into laughter. In a spirit of laughter we were able to talk about how Grace could use that scream any time she lost a limb or even a toe. Ah Ha... so that's what diffusing a situation looks like.
So for one day and one battle, laughter won!
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Dice Walk through Gloucester
On Sunday, we had one of our first pleasant days of the spring. The temperature was "easily" 40-something and the sun was shining. The kids, who still have "let's stay inside, its winter" blues... unfortunately probably picked that up from their parents the last few weeks, were complaining about going outside. To tempt them, we suggested a walk with dice. At each corner, we would roll the dice. 1 = mommy's choice, 2 = daddy, 3=Hannah, 4=Grace, and 5=Elizabeth. A 6 was "roll again."
On this walk, Elizabeth wanted to take the camera and be our photographer. Here is what she found.
I thought "not bad for a 3 year old"! Happy "soon to be spring" everyone!
On this walk, Elizabeth wanted to take the camera and be our photographer. Here is what she found.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Lenten Journey ~ Day 7
Today is another sick day at our house. This is the 5th sick day we've had in the last 8 days. I didn't think that I really wanted to face the day today, but I got up. Daryl prayed for me and at 9:30 this morning I sent out a request for pray to our church's prayer team.
While there wasn't a complete healing for Gracie, she did start keeping down fluids and a bit of food. While she and Elizabeth drew and watched a movie (or two... don't judge me), I tackled another shelf in the playroom. There was a huge tub of old sports equipment (my rollar blades from 22 years ago) and my scrapbook container.
I do believe I accomplished more than my goal today. I filled half to 2/3 of a barney bag (Gloucester's required trash bags) and almost a full paper bag of paper scraps. In addition to that I completed a promise I made to my mom almost 3 years ago! (Mom, start looking for a package just as soon as everyone is well enough for me to to get the post office).
I do believe that I accomplished the equivalent of 5(?) grocery bags today. All that and a recovering sick daughter, I am grateful for the slowdown of my schedule which allowed all of this. Although I do wish that Gracie would start feeling better for her sake (and for mine as well).
While there wasn't a complete healing for Gracie, she did start keeping down fluids and a bit of food. While she and Elizabeth drew and watched a movie (or two... don't judge me), I tackled another shelf in the playroom. There was a huge tub of old sports equipment (my rollar blades from 22 years ago) and my scrapbook container.
I do believe I accomplished more than my goal today. I filled half to 2/3 of a barney bag (Gloucester's required trash bags) and almost a full paper bag of paper scraps. In addition to that I completed a promise I made to my mom almost 3 years ago! (Mom, start looking for a package just as soon as everyone is well enough for me to to get the post office).
I do believe that I accomplished the equivalent of 5(?) grocery bags today. All that and a recovering sick daughter, I am grateful for the slowdown of my schedule which allowed all of this. Although I do wish that Gracie would start feeling better for her sake (and for mine as well).
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Lenten Journey ~ Day 4
Today is the fourth day of Lent. It has been interesting to progress through my purging. On the first day, I went through two areas (the towel bureau and the laundry shelves) and got rid of 2 bags of outdated saline solution and medication, and 1 bag of baby towels, crib sheets, and pack and play sheets. The second day I didn't have to do anything, because I did everything the day before. Yesterday I went through the bathroom cabinet and threw away leaking hair gel as well as some outdated makeup.
Today the goal was the hallway bureau. The strangest thing that caused me to pause was my medals from middle and high school. Awards for doing well in classes as well as a medal for winning(?) or placing in the 4 x 100 relay race. Why did I want to keep them? Did I need to be reminded of my childhood accomplishments? Did these medals say "I am someone"? Not really... then I thought "maybe my kids want to play with them"? What? Why? After this internal dialogue with myself, the medals went away.
Another bag lighter! :-)!
Today the goal was the hallway bureau. The strangest thing that caused me to pause was my medals from middle and high school. Awards for doing well in classes as well as a medal for winning(?) or placing in the 4 x 100 relay race. Why did I want to keep them? Did I need to be reminded of my childhood accomplishments? Did these medals say "I am someone"? Not really... then I thought "maybe my kids want to play with them"? What? Why? After this internal dialogue with myself, the medals went away.
Another bag lighter! :-)!
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Journey through Lent
As we enter this time of the year that Christians for ages have called Lent, I've been thinking about how I will intentionally mark these 40 days. Probably high on my list will be pulling back from Facebook. That is clearly an Achilles heel for me. This time instead of deactivating my account, I believe I will each day make the conscious choice to not go on. I may, from time to time, share my blog there if you want to see the rest of my journey through Lent because...
My second way of observing this time will be to participate in the 40 bags in 40 days. It is something that I saw on pinterest and decided I wanted to try.
My challenge will be to go through my house and get rid of a grocery bag (or more) of stuff each day. It could be by throwing stuff away or giving stuff away. I feel like I have a bit of a head start because on Sunday I gave away my last box of maternity clothes. That was both harder and easier than I thought. What could 40 bags lighter mean for me?
So, if you want to encourage me along the way, please comment here. I may not see the facebook comments until after Easter.
Here is my plan for going through my house:
My second way of observing this time will be to participate in the 40 bags in 40 days. It is something that I saw on pinterest and decided I wanted to try.
My challenge will be to go through my house and get rid of a grocery bag (or more) of stuff each day. It could be by throwing stuff away or giving stuff away. I feel like I have a bit of a head start because on Sunday I gave away my last box of maternity clothes. That was both harder and easier than I thought. What could 40 bags lighter mean for me?
So, if you want to encourage me along the way, please comment here. I may not see the facebook comments until after Easter.
Here is my plan for going through my house:
- towel drawers
- laundry shelves
- bathroom cabinet
- hallway dresser
- Elizabeth's room: large shelf
- Elizabeth's room: small shelf
- Elizabeth's dresser
- Elizabeth's closet
- Hannah and Grace's closet
- Hannah and Grace's desk
- Hannah and Grace's shelves
- Hannah and Grace's dresser
- Hallway closet
- Our closet
- our dresser
- Bedside tables
- Hannah's school papers
- Grace's school papers
- Craft shelf
- Playroom books
- Playroom closet: 1st shelf
- Playroom closet: 2nd shelf
- Playroom closet: 3rd shelf
- Playroom shelves by the door
- Toy boxes
- Show box
- Junk drawers
- Under table cabinets
- Other Kitchen cabinets
- Desk
- File cabinet
- Game shelves
- Livingroom Bookshelf
- Outside Toys
- Ann's Basement
- Van
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
Elizabeth' Birthday Party and Cake
Monday, a week ago, we had a little birthday supper for Elizabeth. We asked her who she wanted to come and she said "Karis and Elsa." As much as we would have loved to have her cousin, Elsa, an Idaho plane ticket didn't seem likely, but we did have Karis and her brother, Nico, as well as her mom and aunt. For a third friend, she invited Michael. He was not able to come, but his mom came to represent the family.
Hannah was our party planner and designer. She and Daddy made this penguin and polar bear for a table centerpiece. The theme became "North and South Pole" because as everyone knows penguins and polar bears do not live at the same pole.
Hannah and Daddy created two "poles." Here is Elizabeth and Hannah standing in front of one of them.
Here are our party guests enjoying Elizabeth's request of pizza, tootons (croutons) and poppyseed dressing.
Then, the Crème de la Crème daddy's birthday cake for his 3 year old!
Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!
Hannah was our party planner and designer. She and Daddy made this penguin and polar bear for a table centerpiece. The theme became "North and South Pole" because as everyone knows penguins and polar bears do not live at the same pole.
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