Nine Random Things On A Sunday

1. Coloring as meditation, 2. THIS sunset...You have no idea how HAPPY this made me! , 3. Stacks of magazines to look through at the book store- one of me + Charlotte's favorite things to do.
4. I have spent way too much time hibernating in my bed lately, 5. Coffee in bed(See #4), 6. Sunlight, praise Jesus!
7. Twinkle lights forever, 8. Still no snow and it's January. Crazy., 9. Little Reminders everywhere.


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{Virtual Coffee}

Hey there.
Good morning to you + Happy Thursday.
This morning is my early morning, one of the days that my "early to rise"  mission worked.
Hooray for me!
I am batting about every other day so far, not including weekends, and my goal is to eventually wake up early every morning Monday-Friday.
And my ultimate goal is for it to become completely natural.... and for me to LOVE it, every day.
I'm not there yet... but it's a good goal to have.
I love getting the day started slowly, quietly, alone... And in order for those things to happen I need
to be up a minimum of one hour before the kids are up.
Preferably an hour and a half before the kids are awake, really.

I will get there one day, I am not giving up on my dream of becoming an early riser! 

But anyway.
I am up early and having my morning on the couch under a quilt, which is probably the best place
to have it, besides somewhere with friends.
When I am up before everyone else the couch is where I almost always have my coffee, sometimes my
office in warmer weather but in the Winter it's pretty cold in the mornings in there.
How about you? Couch? Kitchen table? Office?
One of the things I really miss since I started working is meeting friends for coffee or having them
come over in the nice weather and sit on the patio and have coffee.
s  i  g  h. 

So... if you were really over chatting with me over coffee this morning we would have to talk about my bright white fancy new living room.
Okay, so it's not fancy at all... but it is bright white.
We painted it white about two weeks ago and man, it is WHITE.
The change is really growing on me though and it just make the space look bigger, more open
and cleaner.
I know that's actually because it is cleaner though, too... there has been a lot of purging and organizing going on here as well.
I am really loving not only the white, but just the act of slowly putting things back up/out and knowing that it's okay to not put everything back out and to get rid of things or put them in storage for now.
It's a process and the hardest part about painting a room to me is that I then want everything new
in the room.
Couches, rugs, curtains, lamps! All the furniture needs a fresh coat of paint!
Everything needs to be new!

{These are just quick pictures I snapped with my iphone, I will take better pictures and share the whole room soon! }

After about two weeks back in school now, after the longest Christmas break in the history of man,
I think we are finally getting back into a routine around here... Finally.
Things are more normal now-- even though Wyatt has had not one, but two rounds of pink eye,
and with all of the sickness going around I am just holding my breath until Spring.
I need to completely stop reading/watching the news because all the sickness and flu and crazy
things happening gives me way too much anxiety.
Yikes.
Around here we have been daydreaming about a Summer vacation and Spring plans and wishing
it was Soccer season already, while still trying to enjoy the season we are in.

It's almost the end of January and I actually feel a lot better about it than I normally do....
Usually by the end of January I feel like I have accomplished absolutely nothing. Nothing.
This month I have made some goals and lists and have actually accomplished a few things I really wanted
to. Wow.
It feels really good for a change.

What is going on in your life? How has the first month of this year been for you so far?
Tell me what you're drinking this morning and where and anything else you'd like to share so I 
can pretend I am not having my morning coffee alone! 

Happy Thursday... Just one day until Friday, y'all!

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Why Hello There, January 10.

So when I looked at my phone this morning and saw that it was already the 10th of January, my heart kinda skipped a beat.
Just a tiny beat.
If it's already the 10th,  then I've lost over a week+ of the new year to decide how I am going to change my life this year.
Ha. Kidding there... kinda.

Kinda not.

You know how it goes....
You start the New Year off with so many goals and ideas and momentum and then quickly, way too quickly, it's gone.... and it's
only like the middle of February.
If you're lucky.
Or if  I am lucky... maybe you're not as bad as me when it comes to making changes STICK.

So it is Friday(yipppeee!) and I am home alone in a very quiet house today.
VERY QUIET... almost too quiet.  Almost. 
After 5,000 days off, my kids went back to school yesterday.
It was a good break, it really was, but it was also a pretty LONG break, with lots of snow and freezing weather.
But it was really good-  for me, for them for our whole family.

So I am going to take today and some time this weekend and think about what I really need to be doing in this next year.... there's a lot, of course,
always a lot. Which can be super overwhelming.
But I've got to start somewhere.
I do love reading all of the inspirational New Year's posts and articles, lists, videos, etc.
I really do love it although the pessimistic side of me wants to roll my eyes, and sometimes I do(especially at myself), the hopeful part of me likes
to cheer everyone else on and get inspired while I'm doing it.


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Here is a little bit of our week in pictures via Instagram....
{ I am Lucky13Amy on Instagram...}

It has finally stopped snowing here in the Midwest, life has resumed to pretty much normal around here.
We are leaving the house...and driving.... and it's a good thing.

But during our seclusion Super Mario Brothers, Rainbow Loom Bracelet making, lots of movies, forts, coffee, wine, drawing, painting and
playing out in the snow got us through.
Thank goodness for all of it.


HAPPY FRIDAY! Yay! 

Thoughts On Goals, Words + Hopes For The New Year

So,  I mentioned the other day that I was still thinking about my word for the year... 

my One Little Word... and I still kinda am but I think I have it.

I know this is really pretty dumb but I was hoping for a good word, one that looked good... 

a word that would look awesome on one of the Lisa Leonard necklaces I am coveting--

you know like inspire... dream... believe... hope...wish... 

A good word, one that would look cute.

But, that's not what I'm gonna get this year.

And uh-- that's not really how you go about finding a word,  anyway.

{ Don't worry you guys, I know this }

........................

I LOVE the start of the New Year, I really do.

It's a fresh start, a new beginning, an empty calendar, a clean slate and the hope that 

anything in the year ahead really is possible.

My biggest wish for the year ahead, for myself, is that I could carry this feeling with 

me all year long.

Not that it will just last for the first two weeks and then fizzle out because

uhhhh, that tends to happen sometimes.
Or pretty much all the time, if you are me.

This is what I do and I'm sure other people do it, too but I'm really bad about it;
I have an idea/wish/dream and it often dies before I even get it off the ground.
You know; I wish I could...  I want to... Some day I am going to....
And that's it, that's where it stops.

Ughhhhh. Why?
Why do I do this?
Is it self-doubt? Lack of motivation? Willpower?
Not enough planning?
Fear of failure?
Probably a little bit of all of the above.
Here's what I have recently realized ::
I do not necessarily tell myself out loud(or say to anyone else) that I can't do something
or wouldn't be good at it but it is more of a ingrained thought, like I don't even
completely finish the thought/dream/idea before I dismiss it.
Wow.
I don't really think I ever realized that about myself.

I want that to stop, or at least start figuring out how I can not do it as much, for starters.
I tell my kids all the time that they can do + be anything they want and not to let anyone
tell them otherwise.
The thing is, someday they might be the ones doubting themselves without even
realizing it. I figured this out in the car on the way home from the skating rink today(ha!).
I need to prove to myself that I can accomplish all of the big + little things I want to do...
no more wishing I could, dreaming of doing it, feeling bad when I see others do things I wish
I could do although I have never even attempted it myself(dumb).


Accomplish.
I want to start accomplishing things--
I don't just want to start them, I don't want to dream of doing them, I don't want this
year to end wishing I had started a year ago...
I want to actually do them.
I don't want to give up before I start, chicken out or sabotage myself.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

So there it is, there's my word.
I know I won't accomplish everything I want this year but that's not really even the
point, I think the point is to have goals, to not be content where you are, to learn more,
try harder, challenge yourself...
and to dream bigger.
That's what I'm hoping for.

                                            Source: danielleburkleo.com via Amy on Pinterest

Tell me what your word is... goals?  plans? hopes for the New Year?
THEN hurry up and get over to Danielle's blog; she made this lovely little
free printable for her readers. Isn't she awesome? I love it!
Mine is going in my office.

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Happy Friday everyone!
This is our last weekend off before the kids go back to school next
Tuesday... we gotta make it a good one.
Hope you have a great weekend.

ps- if you haven't already, make sure you leave a comment to be
entered to win an adorable little fox mug just like this one... today is the last day.
good luck!

Letting Go.

 

I'm not sure why, but sometimes it is difficult to let go of a bad mood and negative feelings...even when you want to. That is how I've been feeling all week-down, negative but not wanting to be. The weather here has been dreary, foggy, raining or drizzling all week long and I know we have not seen the sun in an entire week, minimum.Yesterday after a bit of a rough day here I decided that we had to get out of the house, get some fresh air and try to get out of this funk, no matter what.  We bundled up in old clothes and headed to the park. As soon as we got there the kids started jumping in puddles, hitting little spots of ice with sticks and just running. I decided right then that I did not care how messy they got, how dirty the car got and knew that they would be getting right into the bathtub as soon as we walked in the door. And I was fine with it. At one point I looked over at Charlotte and asked her what she was doing, she answered; "Smelling the fresh air."

By the time we left the park I had to strip the outer layer of clothes off of them right in the parking lot-  off with the boots, coats, socks, mittens, hats...everything.They got to ride the few blocks home in long underwear and had to be carried in the house. Charlotte's pigtails were dripping mud. I almost forgot how good it feels to let go and just go with it, I'm so glad I was reminded yesterday.

Still.

Last night I drove through the park on my way to the grocery store. It was perfect timing, the sun was setting and it was so pretty. I guess I don't catch too many sunrise/sunsets and wow, I am so glad I did. The snow, the trees, the light...and the deer. I saw a whole bunch of deer walking through the snow, stopping and eating and looking at me. Sometimes just a few minutes of quiet still-ness is all I need to make it through the rest of the night.

Ten On Ten::

I totally forgot that today was the 10th until I saw Rebekah's reminder this morning. Not feeling the greatest and I was gone for a good part of the day but I managed.....

Ten On Ten:: January

 

 

  

 

Hope everyone had a great weekend and Happy Birthday to my nephew Ben who actually turned 7 on Christmas day but we celebrated his Birthday today!

Snow Daze

 

 

We wished for snow, hoped for snow, kept our fingers crossed that we would get enough to stick. We get it, lots of it. It's freezing, temps are below zero with the wind chill, roads are bad but that's okay, because we were hoping for a Snow Day. We get two Snow Days in a row, not leaving the house, feeling the itch to get out for just a little while. Still freezing, we bundle up but we can only play outside for a short while because it is so cold. Dreaming of all the things we would do if it wasn't quite this cold but trying to remember that we have been waiting for this snow, the kids are excited and love it. Glad I just bought me & Charlotte new snow boots, wishing I had got her a new snow suit....Promised the kids that we will go out and build a snowman as soon as it gets just a tiny bit warmer, maybe by Monday. Mommy's trying to not go completely crazy in the house and this morning grandma & grandpa offer to have the kids over to spend the night tonight. Offer. Wow. I think we all just might  make it through the Winter after all.

Sledding Party::

Just wanted to share a few pictures from the Sledding Party at my Uncle's house on Sunday. I went outside and quickly snapped a few pictures before I hurried back inside-it was probably in the single digits yesterday, which is just way too cold for me! Remember how when you were younger you could go up and down the hill over and over and you didn't care how cold it was or that you really couldn't feel your face anymore? Those were the days. After  the outdoor fun everyone went inside for cookies, brownies, apple pie and hot cocoa.......the best part of the day.

During a short break from "Cops & Robbers" I had some of the cousins jump up on the bench in the hallway for an impromptu Bench Monday shot where Wyatt replied; "Ummm...hello mommy, it's Sunday!" I told him it's okay to cheat sometimes. Happy Monday!

2010

For the last few days I have been working on my list of resolutions goals for the new year but I'm still not quite finished. Like I mentioned before, I am not really one to make grand resolutions, swearing off this, vowing to never again do that.....mainly because I know myself and I know I would not stick with things I resolved never to do again. Why set myself up for failure when I know in my heart these are things I will not follow through with?  But on the other hand I think that in the past I have used this as an excuse not to set goals for myself, to let myself off the hook, to take the lazy way out...I don't have to vow to always do this or to never again do that, what I am doing is setting goals for myself, steps to take, things to begin.
A few important areas I know that need work are: setting aside time/scheduling exercise for myself, organizing the house better and purging/donating things we do not need, meal planning and healthier eating for myself and my family.  Believe me, there are many other areas of my little life that need improvement but this is where I am starting.

I am excited about the new year and what it will bring. So bring on the new calendars, blank journals and fine-point sharpies because I'm ready for a fresh start.