Happy Birthday to a guy who will take a discount.

Today is Kevin's birthday and we took him out to breakfast at The Original Pancake House to celebrate!  At breakfast Kevin mentioned that he knows someone who knows the person who started The Pancake House.  Emma asked if this guy gets a discount.  Kevin didn't know but said "he's not really the kind of guy who would take a discount anyway" to which, without so much as a moment's hesitation, Emma replied "Well you are".   Kevin and I laughed so hard at her honest response.  The girl knows her dad well!   

Happy 38!  I love you so much!  

The Great Purge of '14

We have too much stuff.  It's that simple.  I've been wanting to purge for awhile now but the time just wasn't right.   But today?  Today the time is right.  Just Lucy and me and a nice long day.  I started with toys and books.  The picture below is some of what has been saved from my wrath.  Double that pile and you've got what is on its way to Goodwill...or the trash.  

It's going to take awhile and I'll need to ask for some more patience but I am so excited by the thought of the end result....less stuff to manage.  Because honestly that's just how it feels sometimes like I'm the manager of whole bunch of junk.  I'm a little embarrassed to admit we have an over abundance of stuff but it's true and I have to face the music...or in this case, the toys.

It's Monday

Today I'm thankful for

This gizmo

 I always put my smoothie in a jar and often end up not making it too far through the smoothie before having to leave to take the kids to school.  Now with this new thing a ma jig I can take my smoothie to go!  I'm not much of a kitchen gadget person, in fact I don't really like them but this is awesome.   

Patience and Grace

 I pray for it often and boy God gives me a lot of little ways to practice my desire.  This morning as I got everyone out of bed much, much earlier than anyone wanted to be moving, I kept asking for patience, and a gentle voice and lots of love.  One of my girls howled in bed for a good 20 minutes, the other two had sleepy eyes and quick tempers.  I just kept praying and smiling and hugging and I can happily say that everyone left for school with a smile.  I'm so thankful for God's grace and for the moments that I share that grace with my girls.

My Core Group

We started up again this morning after a long holiday break.  Really, rather than going to Core Group I wanted to do a lot of little chores that have been piling up around the house.  I kind of wanted to run outside at 9am rather than on the treadmill at 5am.  I would have loved to have read my book on the couch with a cup of tea.  I went to core group anyway because I knew it was where I was supposed to be.  As always I left thankful to my core that I get to spend time with these amazing ladies.

Emma and her pencil sharpener, which was maybe her favorite Christmas gift!

If I were to write a book......

I'd title it "Listen to me, schedules work, I'm living proof---the life and times of an ordinary mom".  We are just kind of hanging on by a thread over here.   Our brains tell us we'll feel better once we're back to normal but we're struggling with the follow through.  All I can say is --Hooray for Monday!  It's going to take a few days but I'm looking forward to the easy way things flow when we're on track.

Lucy at the play room at the zoo on Friday.

Oh January

It's our second snow day and I'm hoping for another happy one.  I started my day nice and slow in front of the living room window and the fireplace making plans.   

Best day!

A whole day at home with no plans!  Though I know it's early in the year, I think it's safe to say today will be one of the best of 2014.  A walk, the park, great meals, a homemade pie, lots of snuggles, warm blankets and a fire, cocoa, Matlock (they're hooked!), last minute homework, anticipation and then confirmation of a snow day, a musical performed by the Baum Girls, and all that wonderful snow! Let me linger in my bliss before you remind me that sometimes one day more is one day too much.  However,  I'm already making my plans for tomorrow so bring on that snow day!

Eleanor is 8!

Eleanor turned 8 on Tuesday!
What at gem she is.
She's insightful, honest, thoughtful and observant.    
She is wise and empathetic, calm and good deep down to her toes.
She loves to laugh and her laugh fills our house with happiness.
She doesn't like sarcasm or poking fun at anyones expense.
She has high expectations of herself and everyone else
She likes sports and art, and zebra print, lots of zebra print.
She is a whiz with numbers and her words flow beautifully too.
In addition to all of this she is a contradiction every single day and I love that.  She reminds me to never put limits on anyone, don't box them in.  We get to change our minds, we get to be who we want and are called to be.

Christmas morning.  

"Do I contradict myself?  Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes"
Walt Whitman "Song of Myself"
Whitman wrote it and Eleanor  lives it!  Oh, how I love you Ellie!!