January 19th 2010

01-19-2010

I am thinking...That I am really doing poorly on this not yelling thing. I am exercising more and eating less which is never condusive to a patient me. I need to work on that. My sister gave me some advice about that today. She said to eat when I am hungry even if it is right before meal time. I am going to try it.

I am thankful for... Friends. I met some of my favorite people today at Chick-fil-a for a little break from the everyday, laundry, cleaning and the like. It was great. These women get me and I love it. I am blessed to have them in my life.

From the kitchen... leftovers tonight for dinner. I am normally not a leftover girl but my fridge is full of them and I just couldn’t make another full meal when there is so much food in there.

I am wearing... black yoga pants, blue hooded shirt from target, socks and running shoes. (I keep telling myself I am going running. We will see.)

I am creating.... nothing new at the moment.

I am going... running?

I am reading... I just finished “The Truth About Forever” and I loved it. This book was really good. It gave me a lot to think about. The main character was totally not relatable to me and I love that. I love to get a completely different perspective. I am starting “Olive Kitteridge” by Elizabeth Strout today. I have to have it read by Thursday so I better get a move on.

I am hearing... some music from a new blog that I love. I think it is some form of Christian rock or something. I like it.

Blog I am enjoying… http://resolved2worship.xanga.com/ I am loving this blog because of the beautiful pictures and how relatable this woman is to me. She has 7 kids under 11 which I can honestly say I will never have but I may have that many under 12. We will see. Anyway, her pictures are true art. They are beautiful. She is a very inspiring person. She is a bit long winded though and I do find myself wishing I could read all of her post but not having time. I will get there.

One of my favorite things... protein shakes with frozen bananas. (why does this always end up being food?)

A few plans for the rest of the week... hmmmm…. Book club on Thursday which I am excited about. I love the women in my book clubs. I go to two and I love them both. Such different women and yet I love being with them and laughing and talking and getting a new perspective on everything. I am so blessed to be surrounded by so many great women!

A picture to share...

01-12-2010

Is it bad that I have no idea what the date is? I will have to go look at my phone since I can’t figure out how to find it on my computer. Oh, I lied, I found it on my google homepage. It’s the 12th.

I am thinking...Well, just a minute ago I was thinking that if I keep eating the valentine m&m’s out of my canister in my kitchen, I will be fat and sad because they look so cute in the canister in the kitchen. Whatever.
I am thankful for... Faith. I am having major trouble with the “not yelling” I am supposed to be doing. I am grateful for prayer and hope that if I do it enough then this will get easier. It’s just, I can’t help it, the people in my house are so frustrating!
From the kitchen... m&m’s as previously mentioned and taco soup in the crockpot. I am trying to decide whether to make cornbread. It sounds so good but if I make it I will undoubtedly eat it, and that will not be good since I didn’t run today.
I am wearing... black shirt, pink sweats, no shoes. I am in love with my barefeet today. I hope I won’t have to put on shoes at all today.
I am creating.... I’ve been working on a few quilts. I think I have at least 5 in all different stages. I hope I will finish at least one before I start another but there are no guarantees. Also I really want to make this … http://www.landofnod.com/family.aspx?c=20&f=4534 and this… http://www.landofnod.com/family.aspx?c=41&f=4529
and I am not sure I am going to be able to talk myself into waiting until another project is done before I do at least one of these.
I am going... nowhere fast… no really, I don’t think I am going anywhere today! YEAH!
I am reading... I never finished “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon, it was horribly long and I just couldn’t make myself finish. Since then I read “The Actor and The Housewife” by Shannon Hale. I really liked it. Unlike my sister Diana, I didn’t find it predictable but I did find it totally unrealistic. I found it very thought provoking, sad, and really funny, though. I would recommend it to anyone. It is nice to have a Mormon character in a book and not have her be weird or whatever. She was just normal, like me, and I liked that.
I am hearing... Peace and quiet. All is still in my home right now and I like it. If this happened a little more often I might be able to keep myself from yelling. Maybe I just need to really embrace the quiet when it happens and that would help. I think I will try it. Maybe a nap, even.
Blog I am enjoying… http://greenweddingshoes.blogspot.com I love to find new blogs that make me want to improve or inspire me to take time away and create something. I guess that you could say I am somewhat of a closet artist. I think I am pretty good at recognizing beauty or at least what is pleasing to our eyes and recreating it either in a photograph or picture or even a logo or a book cover. It comes very natural to me so I just assume everyone can do that, but I am told that it doesn’t, and that I have a talent. I like that. This blog is pretty amazing. I have loved going back a looking at all the amazing photographs on this blog. I really want to take my kids out and start snapping photos and then bringing them back and playing with them in photoshop. I love to do that but I have a hard time finding the time.
One of my favorite things... Today one of my favorite things is… red and pink m&m’s.
A few plans for the rest of the week... 12th night http://12thnight.eventbrite.com/ My brother is really cool and he does a fundraiser every year called 12th Night. It is fun and a good way to contribute to something and also have fun doing it. Have I mentioned he is my hero. Well, he is, and his wife is also. She is by far the most amazing mother of eight I have ever met. If I could be half the parent that either of them are I would be very lucky and my kids would be even luckier. As it is, they are stuck with me and my need to yell. At least they have Brian. He is a really good Dad.
A picture to share... I am sharing this because it may be the coolest thing I have ever seen. I don’t think it is legit but it is cool just that same (no this is not an announcement). When I am ready, I will tell you all, but as I have said my house needs to be a house of PEACE before I bring another person in it.

Sorry so wordy this week. I guess I was just inspired by the quiet. As I mentioned, it doesn’t happen a lot!
Melanie

January 3rd 2010

01-03-2010

This post is going to be different than the last few. I have some new goals and hopes for the new year that I need to document so I won’t forget them or let them go by the way side.

My home is not a happy place. It hasn’t been for a while now. That is not to say that we don’t have a good time and that my kids are not happy well adjusted children, they are. But, the overall feel of my home is not happy. I have come to the conclusion that this starts with myself, first a for most. I set the tone of the home. Overall I am a happy person, most days are good, but I am overwhelmed and tired and sometimes I just don’t deal with all that all that great and I lose it. I lose it more often than I should. I have a temper, and I wish that my kids didn’t know it. They do. I am hoping to change that this year. My word for the year is... I really want my home to be peaceful. I want us to be able to disagree without screaming about it and I want my kids to stop fighting so much and for us to just get along better and be able to feel peaceful in our home. So I have set some goals for myself to accomplish this and I am hopeful that this feeling of peace will happen in our home throughout the year.

1. No yelling! Period! If I slip and yell I will spend 10 undivided minutes with whoever I yelled at. This is not a punishment for me but it is really hard to find that time but I think that it is important to mend what I just broke by yelling and this seems like a reasonable way to do it.

2. Lower the volume in our home. This one will be hard because I will have to find ways to get others in our home to lower their volume. As for the TV and Music that will be fairly easy I think but the other more difficult.

3. Use our basement more. I really think this will help with the volume in our home. We have three floors even though we tend to only use the two above ground. The basement will be a good place to send the louder people who refuse to lower their volume. This isn’t a punishment since everything fun in our home is down there it will just help with the volume control.

The rest of my goals are ones that don’t directly relate to my word of the year but will help with the overall feel of our home which will indirectly help our home feel more peaceful.

4. Clean all the bathrooms every week. We will start there. I hope to be able to clean the whole house every week and for the most part all of it does get clean every week with the kids doing their chores and things like that but the bathrooms tend to get neglected, especially the upstairs ones, so I am hoping to be able to stay on top of that.

5. Do an act of service every week outside of the home. Let’s face it I need the blessings and I need to think about others (beside my family) way more often.

6. Spend less. I know, I know, I say this every year and so does everyone else but I really mean it, OK!

7. Read my scriptures more and make sure I have read the Gospel Doctrine and Relief Society lessons every week. Since I won’t be going to those two classes because I am in the nursery at church hopefully I will be able to brush up on my knowledge of the Gospel by myself.

8. Buy one book shelf or menial piece of furniture every month. This one is fun! Some months I am sure I will not be able to afford something big but at least I can buy something that will help organize our home. We need so many things but buying them all at once is unrealistic.

That’s it. They seem lofty and quite overwhelming at the moment which I am sure is not good and will lead to failure but I am at least whole heartedly determined to make my home more peaceful. I know I can do this with the Lord’s help.
I will be continuing with my topic questions for the year but I think I will be adding and subtracting some. Stay tuned for next week to see what they will be. (I am sure you all waiting with baited breath)

December 31st 2009

12-31-09 (not really but we can pretend, right?)

Outside my window... darkness. It is night and I am trying to get this done before the day is through. It is late but I am going to focus this post on Christmas week and then do another one about my goals for the new year and new topic questions for the new year.

I am thinking...about how great Christmas was this year. We did three gifts for our kids and it was perfect. It was nice to not have a million.

I am thankful for... My Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ. I finished the Book of Mormon yesterday and it was great to really be able to focus more on the Savior this year than the past few and remember all He did for me and all He asks of me. I need to do better.

From the kitchen... There is way too much junk in my kitchen. Tomorrow it is all going in the garbage, I promise!

I am wearing... My new pink sweat suit. It is so comfy and I love it because my sweet friends gave it to me and it was the perfect gift. I have great friends!

I am creating.... Good Memories! This really was the perfect Christmas.

I am going... to friends to play cards. I love that we have a standing date with the Davies to hang out and enjoy each others company. They are true good friends and I love that I can be myself with them.

I am reading... The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, yep still reading it. Its long and not really my normal kind of book. I am ready to be done with it but it keeps going and going and going.

I am hoping... For a peaceful home. More of that to come.

I am hearing... quiet…

Around the house... Christmas is down. It was great and I loved a new thing I started this year of hanging my Christmas cards on the railing. IT really was cute and was a fun reminder everyday of all the great people we know.

One of my favorite things... My kids joy on Christmas morning. They really were so joyful this year. There were no tears and they were so excited to give each other the gifts they had picked out for each other. It was pretty awesome. I think next year we will have them draw names and just give to one sibling. I think it will be fun to have them really think about what that person wants and maybe even contribute to the cost of the gift. That might help my bank account as well. I also hope next year to do my gifts a little different. I want them to really mean something so I think we will do a want, a need, and a spiritual gift of some sort. I really want to focus more on the meaning of Christmas and I think this will help. I also think we might need to read the nativity story in the morning before we do presents. We always do it the night before with my whole family but it might be nice to do it just with us and really talk about what we are celebrating.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Get my house in order.

A picture to share... Christmas morning.

December 21st 2009

12-21-2009
Outside my window... It is so gloomy today. There is fog and just an overall sense of creepiness, or beauty, I guess. Sometimes I think that fog is so pretty the way it coats everything and just dulls the outside a little. I cannot see the mountain at all today, which for anyone that has seen my mountain out my window, knows this is a big deal and very thick fog. Maybe I will snap a photo.

I am thinking...I have been thinking I need to change this up a little and add some of my own questions and talk a little more about real things but I don’t know how quickly that will happen. This format seems easy enough that I don’t sweat doing it every week. (Although I did miss last week, and no I don’t have a great excuse.)

I am thankful for... 15 years of marriage. It was my anniversary yesterday. I can’t believe it has been 15 years. Life has been really good to me. My mother has always claimed that God really looks after me and has guided me to the people that I need to make me happy and a better person. Finding Brian and convincing him to marry me is my testimony of my Mothers words. She is right. I got so lucky! I had no idea at the time how lucky and still am blown away by it daily. He is a great man, father and friend and I love him very much!

From the kitchen... rolls in the oven, or at least I hope there are some in there fairly soon.

I am wearing... My robe, yes I need to get dressed!

I am creating.... I have been making hair clips with my girls for their friends for Christmas. It is going good but taking kind of longer than I had planned. They are really really cute though.

I am going... I have to go to Hobby Lobby today to get chains for some Christmas gifts for my sisters and oh about one hundred other places to try and get everything done. I doubt I will be successful.

I am reading... The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, I am starting to really like it but it took me a little bit.

I am hoping... For a great week. I am hoping my house will get clean and all the laundry will get done and I can relax at least on Christmas Eve and Christmas day and maybe even the day after.

I am hearing... My kids playing. So far we have had little fighting but it is only 8:40. There is still plenty of time.

Around the house... This is not the cleanest of homes at the moment but as I said up in the hope section, I am hoping that changes soon.

One of my favorite things... Birthday gifts to Jesus. Since I was young my family has done a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas Eve and we all give him a gift. It is our form of a new years resolution. I have really been thinking about this, this year. I really want it to mean something and I really want to do it all year long. This year it will be about my relationships with my children. I have considered no more yelling in the home and punishment for myself when I do so. I think that the attitude of the home is directly related to the mother and I want the yelling to stop. I have found that I have gotten over the top in this area and that my relationship with my kids has suffered and their relationships with others suffers as well because that has become a very normal mode of conversation. I don’t like it. This is a very lofty goal. One that will be extremely hard and take a ton of work. I really think I can do it.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Anji’s birthday day tomorrow and then a lot of Christmas Merryment. It should be a great week

A picture to share... The fog outside my window.

December 9th, 2009

12-09-09

Outside my window... beautiful white snow and freezing temperatures I think it is 8 degrees outside right now. That is cold!

I am thinking... that I have a pretty productive few days and yet I am still in kind of a funk. I am hoping today will be better. I have errands to run and things to do that will help me feel on top of things, I hope.

I am thankful for... the closeness of the gym. It is nice to be able to get up and be at the gym within minutes. It helps me get out of bed.

From the kitchen... I had nine grain for breakfast while the kids ate fruit loops, frosted flakes, and oatmeal.

I am wearing... still wearing my workout gear from this morning but I am really planning on taking a shower and getting dressed today.

I am creating.... goodie bags for the ward party on Saturday.

I am going... target and Costco, oh and I am planning on making it to sonic’s happy hour for a diet cherry limeaid. I am pretty sure I need one of those today.

I am reading... Just finished Catching Fire. It was so great! I love this series. I can’t wait for the next book. I am still reading the Book of Mormon but have slacked a little because of the other book but plan to be back on track by the end of today.

I am hoping... my three monsters, oh I mean my three youngest children will at some point learn how to behave. I have not instilled the same sort of fear in them as the older three and they tend to be a little out of control.

I am hearing... Dora the Explorer Christmas Special. It is the new favorite and I have to admit it is not too bad.

Around the house... Chirstmas is up and my house is really quite clean today. Thanks to Catching Fire which I listened to all day yesterday I can boast that my kids bedrooms are clean and closets are cleaned out.

One of my favorite things... My green hoodie with the fur on the hood. I love it. I want to wear it everyday.

A few plans for the rest of the week... We have a ward party on Saturday as well as Jillian’s dance recital in the afternoon that same day. It should be a fun day.

A picture to share... My Family Christmas card this year. I have to comment that this is literally what Marcus looks like in all the pictures from that photo shoot. He will not stay with the kids while I am trying to take pictures and as you can see they think it is hilarious. This picture just seemed to capture the spirit of the season and I love it. I know it is unconventional but I really don’t care.

December 1st 2009

12-01-09


Outside my window... a beautiful mountain. It is always there but sometimes I overlook it. Today it is mostly brown with a little white from the snow last week. It is gorgeous and I am really lucky to have this view everyday!

I am thinking... right now I am thinking about the rest of my day. I have homework to do with the kids, piano to help them practice, laundry to finish, dinner to make… luckily I am not feeling overwhelmed just ready to get it done so I can watch Battlestar Galactica with my husband.

I am thankful for... so many things. My kids, my life, my family, my spouse, my home, my friends, my gifts…

From the kitchen... I smell turkey carcass sitting in the crockpot but that isn’t what’s for dinner. Dinner is teriyaki chicken over rice.

I am wearing... jeans and a long sleeve white t-shirt no shoes. My staple outfit.

I am creating.... a happy life, or at least trying. Some days are better than others. This one is pretty good!

I am going... no where for the rest of the day, hopefully!

I am reading... Same as last week with the addition of The Book of Mormon. I am reading 30 minutes a day and am hoping to have it done by the end of the month.

I am hoping... for a Merry Christmas. My big kids peeked at their presents so I am hoping that it is still a fun Christmas and that they aren’t all crying because they thought they were getting things that their brothers and sisters got instead. It should be interesting.

I am hearing... Piano practicing otherwise quiet, which is not always a good thing.

Around the house... the Christmas tree is up but not decorated, I have a beautiful wreath that smells so good hanging on my closet door. It is starting to feel a lot like Christmas around here.

One of my favorite things... diet coke. I have had too much of it today but somehow I am o.k. with it. I love it and I needed it today.

A few plans for the rest of the week... I have book club here on Thursday night, and dinner group on Wednesday. I have plans in the works for a birthday dinner for a great friend on Friday night. Hopefully that will come together.

A picture to share... My Christmas present… Hopefully!