A Classic Housewife, Daily Life

Mid-Winter Recess Blues

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This time of year does me in, I know this is a common time of year for people to get a little down. It’s the winter. The mid-winter blues. For me, it’s not that I’m down or depressed it’s more like consistently frazzled. With the winter comes shorter outside play time, less recess breaks. Call me spoiled and a whiny baby but I live in Texas, and I’m a weenie when it comes to cold weather.

I’m sure I could send the kids out in it anyway, even if only for ten minutes but honestly, I resist that because it seems like it’s more trouble than it’s worth. It’s easier just to stay inside. I don’t want to go through the trouble and time it takes to find all the gloves and hats and matching shoes, make sure everyone has socks on and appropriate outside playwear, to only have them come back inside ten minutes later because they are too cold, tracking in mud and dirt and stripping off their dirty clothes in the laundry for me to wash.

As if Mt. Laundrymore wasn’t big enough already.

And yeah, I know that if more laundry was washed and everything was put away and the shoes were where they were supposed to be then it wouldn’t be that big of a deal. I know that. I do. But it’s not. It’s rarely ever that way around here. And that stinks. I keep saying that we should stay inside and get caught up on our stuff instead, and that if we could get that done we could have playtime after. But the best laid plans..

Not to mention that there’s school that needs to be done.

And there’s a four year old who doesn’t understand why we can’t watch tv all day, or that the girls need to be left alone to finish their work, and who (without adequate running outside time) ends up running around inside and wreaking havoc on the house. It’s really, truly, more of a need for him than it is for the girls. He gets “cabin fever” so much faster than they do. Like on a daily basis.

But then, those days when I just give up and throw my hands up in the air and send them outside anyway..they go off and they play and I have peace and quiet. And they run off some energy. And even if for ten minutes, it’s worth it.

So why do I fight it??

{Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/see-through-the-eye-of-g/ / CC BY 2.0}

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Welcoming 2010

I can’t explain why I’m excited about the New Year because I’m usually a little sad and melancholy to see the old year go. But. I’ll take it! I think this year’s going to hold good things for us. Of course, I’m just guessing, but either way we’re headed into 2010 so I might as well go with a good attitude – right?

Typically I tend to over-plan and set too many, too lofty, goals. Not just on New Year’s but in general and on New Year’s too. I could probably cut and paste last year’s list and just keep working on that one, because I’m not really sure if I completed any of them.

This year I thought I’d do something a bit different. Instead of making a list of things I want to change or work on (because I do that all the time anyway, and I’m already working on a weight loss challenge and getting my home back in order,) I thought I’d make a list of specific things I want to do in 2010. Kind of the same thing, but not. A “bucket list” for the year if you will.

In 2010 I’d like to:

1. Write, complete and sell an e-book. (Part of my blogging goals for 2010 anyway…)
2. Grow and harvest and not kill at least one tomato plant.
3. Learn how to can something. Anything I can do on the stovetop. Strawberry jam perhaps?
4. Lose 55 lbs – and keep it off for the rest of the year. Awfully close to a goal – but goes with the exercise challenge.
5. Move out of this really old rental house. Most likely going to happen this spring.
6. After we move, paint my kitchen in a coffee theme again — and this time finish it!!
7. Replace one of our vehicles with a “new” used car so we have two reliable vehicles again.
8. Meet up with Heather@Sprittibee again – that was fun!
9. Finish a non-fiction book. Any non-fiction book. Just to prove it can be done. By me, I mean.
10. Read the bible in 90 Days, just not starting in January. And it doesn’t count for number nine!

Also in 2010, our little Princess will turn 10, which doesn’t seem like it would be a “big deal” kind of number but if FEELS like one! Maybe because it’s the first double digits? Drama Queen will turn 7 and Little Prince will turned 5 but since he only just turned 4 that feels soooo far away. Then again, last year, 4 year old felt far away too – and look where we are! We’ll be sitting here making resolutions for 2011 before we know it.

I pray 2010 brings many blessings, new discoveries and accomplishments for you and your family. God Bless!

This post has been happily submitted to 5 Minutes for Mom’s 2010 Resolutions/Goals/Intentions Link Up.

{Image Source}

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Reflecting on 2009

Wow, what a year! Many ups and downs.. and though the optimist in me would say, “It’s still a good year overall!” I’m ready to see it go and I’m looking forward to 2010.

Some of the Lows from 2009:

1. I completely failed at my attempt at container gardening by ignoring it too much and wasted who knows how much money on it.
2. I don’t think I’ve completed a single book I’ve started and I didn’t even start most of the books on my 2009 reading list (though ~I did start a few that weren’t even on there.)
3. I take that back, I completed 2 books, Dean Koontz, fiction, not really edifying or helpful in any way. Doesn’t count.
4. I got out of the habit of menu-planning, daily routines and all other manner of home organization and maintenance. We’ve been flying by the seat of our pants for most of the year.
5. In July, James broke his pinky and then two weeks later I broke my big toe. (In hindsight it’s actually kind of humorous. We were quite the pair there for a little while.)
6. Because of my forced inactivity, I gained weight, and now weigh more than I ever have, even 9 months pregnant with any of the three pregnancies, and it’s really scary.
7. We started having more problems with our really old rental house and its time here on earth is limited. On the other hand, we’ve kicked it into gear on getting into a different house, so hopefully we won’t be here much longer.
8. I miss my “old” church something terrible.
9. We navigated (and survived) the terrible threes.

Some Highs from 2009:

1. My hubby found his niche in affiliate marketing and it has grown to the point that it pays for our basic bills.
2. My husband finally found a really good in-office guy for his office in town.
3. James and I celebrated our 11th anniversary.
4. I found a “new” church that I really like (though I haven’t gone as much I’d like/have needed to.)
5. I organized my first event with our homeschool group – a science and art fair that was small, but successful.
6. I turned 30.
7. Princess got her first “summer job,” apprenticing on a project with my seamstress mother in law – who in turn taught her how to sew and also bought her her 1st sewing machine as a Christmas/Thank You gift.
8. Princess learned how to swim, really swim, and jump off the diving board, too.
9. Drama Queen learned how to ride a bike, how to read and lost her first (and 2nd-6th) tooth.
10. D.Q. also finally found her passion to do school work –her competitive streak, against her sister.
11. Little Prince turned four, developed a strong love of superheroes and suddenly became very independent – though not necessarily in that order.
12. All three of my kids grew at least three inches!
13. My uncle re-married and I gained a new aunt and some new cousins – love them!
14. We got to cap off the year with a good vacation down at my mom’s house with most of the family gathered there, even Hubs’ came down on Christmas Eve to join in the revelry.

See? Even the optimist in me could think of more positive things to write than negative. Believe me, there were plenty more. It was a hard year. But I not near as hard as the year before it, so I can’t complain too much. As always, God was by my side, he got us through it, he always will!

Some of my favorite photos from 2009:

I take LOTS of pictures so naturally there would be a lot of favorites. =)

Okay, okay, I suppose 2009 was a good year all in all. I just am feeling really excited about 2010, but I don’t really have a reason why.

What’s the best thing that happened to you in 2009? Share?

{All images are mine except for top graphic, Reflections at the Lobos Lagoon, used via Common License.}

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Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to all my bloggy friends and readers. I pray this holiday finds you full of friends and family and able to enjoy God’s many blessings. Obviously I haven’t been blogging much this week, I’ve been enjoying the week at my mom’s house along with some family members from out of state. We’ve had a lot of fun spending time together, and I’m sad we’ve reached the end of their stay here. At some point tomorrow we’ll be returning home (maybe to snow?) and this weekend we’ll celebrate with my in-laws.

I’m not sure how much you’ll see me online next week, either, but I’ve got at least a couple things in the works for the beginning of the new year. More on those later. In the meantime, have a merry Christmas! God bless!

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:10-14

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A Mystery Box And Some Christmas Cheer

So, I didn’t tell y’all this yet, but a little over a month ago… I stayed up until 3 in the morning to win a mystery box of Christmas goodies from We Are That Family. Oh yes, I did. I was working on a friend’s site anyway so I stayed up working and frequently checking back to catch a snapshot of her visitor counter hitting the big ONE MIL.

And I caught it.

Hubs thought I was crazy, but he went along with it. “Why do you want to stay up if you don’t know what is in the box??” he asked.

“BECAUSE,” I said, “It’s KRISTEN! I trust her, I’ve seen her giveaways, her DIY’s, her taste — if she says it’s good, it’s good.”

Y’all. It’s good. Among other things, the box included a Nat King Cole Christmas cd, gingerbread cookie flavored lip gloss, a Christmas candle,… all of which I love, love, love. Also included was a big star-shaped bell, which I have up in my dining room and the book “Creating Family Traditions” by Gloria Gaither & Shirley Dobson. See? I knew it was going to be good!

Just a little box crammed with some simple goodies, but the little things can bring big smiles.

Thank you, Kristen! =)

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I Remember

A photo that became famous after the 9/11 attacks. Original author unkown.

I will NEVER forget…

It’s like the way my mom or Grandma talks about the day Kennedy was shot. Or like when the Challenger exploded – or the Columbia for that matter.. an explosion that I actually heard and felt which in a creepy and bizarre way, made it more like I was “there” for that one than for the others.

These moments are etched in our memories, tattooed on hearts in the ink of sorrow or terror or remembrance.

On this morning eight years ago, we were at my parents house. My husband and I had moved back in with my parents after Hubs was laid off in the big the tech industry crash of 2000. We’d been there about 4 months, and Big Daddy was still unable to find work so he stayed home with our one year old little girl and I worked two part time jobs – one of which was waitressing at a local Italian restaurant. If I remember right, I was supposed to be there around ten, but I was up earlier than normal and I was getting ready to go.

My mom, who has watched the news every morning while ironing her clothes and getting ready for work for as long as I can remember, had the news on like every other day. The first plane had already hit and our news was reporting the incident and repeating it for the new hour when the 2nd plane hit right in the middle of them talking about it. My mom cried out, something like “Oh my God!” And the way she said it made my stomach sink and my toes curl.

I came running in, I thought she’d been hurt or maybe someone had called with bad news about a family member. She just pointed at the tv screen and I didn’t comprehend what I was seeing at first. She told me what had just happened and I stood there and watched them replay it. How could TWO planes accidentally run into a building? We didn’t understand.

Of course it didn’t take long for the mood to shift. Minutes later the anchors were talking about rumors and theories that it may have been a terrorist attack. Everything changed.

Everything. Changed.

I turned on the big tv in the living room and tuned in so I could sit on the couch and watch. I watched them report the damage to the Pentagon. I watched the first tower fall, in real time, and I prayed for the people still evacuating and at ground zero. I was supposed to be leaving for work, but I couldn’t leave, I watched the 2nd tower fall and I prayed for everyone there, for everyone at the Pentagon, for our entire nation. I was terrified that we were going to see more reports, that it wasn’t the end.

Somewhere in there, my mom had left for work. I finally had to leave, too. I gave my husband and daughter hugs and kissed them and went in to work, about ten minutes late, but no one cared – tardiness was at the  bottom of the list that day. I’m pretty sure we had a tv there at the restaurant. I can’t recall exactly if we already had one, or if the manager brought a little one in, or maybe it was just a radio. Honestly, it’s all a little fuzzy. We all walked through our jobs in kind of a daze. Business was slow and the customers that came in were only talking about the terrorist attacks.

In the following hours and days, when President Bush spoke of declaring war on terrorism and fighting for the lives that had been lost, every one of us shouted a resounding “YES!” We were shaken, we were scared. We needed to make it right. 8 years later, a lot of people question the decision to go to war, or how it was done, or how long it lasted… but I remember… I remember how the carpet was pulled out from under our feet when the world trade center towers fell, and how we cried out for vengeance, and I know how we got there.

I can still remember that feeling in the pit of my stomach. The same feeling we all felt as we watched it all unfold. I will never be able to forget that feeling.

In memory of those whose lives were lost on September 11, 2001 and those whose lives have been lost fighting for a safer world. God, comfort their loved ones and friends as they remember this day. Thank you to all the servicemen and women serving our country, God Bless.

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Memories from the Deep

I often say that I don’t remember much from my childhood – perhaps what I really mean is that I don’t think I remember as much as I should, though I don’t know why I think I should. There are little fragments of memory floating in a sea of grey, drifting aimlessly in my head. Some of them pass by at the strangest of times, coming to mind for no apparent reason. Others can’t be found without dredging the deeps of those murky waters, fished out of the grey incomplete and misshapen.

Three memories. Random to be sure; tied together only by their subject. Three memories that wouldn’t be connected together in any other way were it not for the one piece that I could remember.

The first comes hazily, visions of an empty house – I know not where, I know not when. I want to say that I was about five years old, (but I have no evidence for that except that I we were in California and we moved from there when I was six.) My brother and I were sitting in the front room, a living area devoid of furniture, occupying our time there by coloring in new Christmas activity and coloring books. This clue is deceiving, though, for I have the feeling that it was not really Christmas time – their anachronistic presence obvious to my 5 year old self in that time and place. And there is nothing else. This one little image of myself, coloring and enjoying the look of a brand new white crayon against the off-white coloring page floats away as quietly as it came, and is tossed by the gentle waves of the murky, indeterminable waters in sea of half-memories.

Another fragmented image comes along, and I have a box of 64 crayons in hand, searching for the perfect shade of green as I color the Emerald City in a Wizard of Oz II coloring book that isn’t mine. My brother is there and we are not alone, but the person/child next to me has no face. We hadn’t seen the movie and the storyline, the robot man, the men with wheels on their feet made no sense at the time. There are others there, too, family. Undoubtedly we were together for the holidays – Charlie Brown only comes on tv during the holidays. But which one, which one? Charlie is mute, he will not say, Logic tells me it must have been Thanksgiving. Our largest family gatherings during my early years were always at Thanksgiving. But logic has no place here. Charlie, Tic-Toc and the Wheelers are lost to the sea like ships without a compass to guide them or a rudder to steer them.

A third memory, a third coloring book. A giant, 3 foot tall 2 foot wide coloring book we had begged for at Sams. That fact reveals I was somewhere between 7 and 10 but the exact timing escapes me. We took our beloved coloring books for a summer visit with my great-grandmother, and my aunt who was living with her and helping her insisted that we completely color a single page before moving on to a next. The pictures were so large that I’d get bored and want to work on another for a while before going back to the first one. But my aunt’s color book policing frustrated and angered me so much that I quit coloring in that book all together, deciding that I would fiinish it when I returned home. But then that coloring book disappears from the rest of my memory. Did that book, that I loved so much, go back with me? Did I finish it? And of the contents, I remember nothing. No happy scenes with big smiles beckoning me to fill them in with color and life. The pages are blank, and the book is forever stuck in that moment – the anger of a child over perceived unfair adult intervention.

And where do these half-truths go, what do we make of them? They sink like ghost ships to the bottoms of the grey waters. Mostly unthought of until they catch on some other memory and are brought to the surface again. What other  memories lie on the bottom unseen, unsurfaced without a hook to which they might cling and be remembered?

What fragments do you harbor, docked forever in a broken port or sleeping at the bottom of a murky sea? Or perhaps your memories float in clear waters, their paths easily marked and unweathered by time. Do you travel these waters with ease or like myself, do you sail these waters a pirate captain attempting to take captive every thought-ship as it passes, looting the random memory for everything that can be gleaned and, being disappointed in the take, return the thought-ship to it’s depths, lost in the “Davy Jones locker” of memories.

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