42

Forty two.

That's how many blog posts are sitting in draft mode here in my little speck of cyber-space.

It's pathetic, I know.

I got behind during a hard time for me last December and never recovered.

The perfectionist in me insisted on adding pictures and getting everything right before I posted all the backlog at once.

I realize that's never gonna happen, but I need to keep it up for me and my family's sake.

I'm trying my best to get caught up.

It will happen slowly but surely instead.

For now, I'm pleased to be posting again.

So is my Mister who hasn't let up!

This one's for you, Daddy.

What's up with the heat wave the week school starts? It's a huge tease. We can't stay out late and hang out at the Grandparents pool because everyone is up early for school in the morning. Lame.

Happy Birthday Bones!

I think he will be the first to admit he has an awkward birthday. It's four days after Christmas! Enough said. One of the great things though, is that my Man usually has most of the week off between Christmas and New Year's, so we have a lot of down time as a family. We are all home today with nothing pressing except celebrating our hubby's/daddy's birthday. Thanks for being born Bones! :)

Our chillies really get into giving Daddy surprises. Even Logan, whose younger age made it hard to keep secrets in the past, is getting better at not spoiling surprise presents. We found a Bocci ball set cheap at Target which the kids wrapped up and decorated for Daddy, our resident game-lover. This year I surprised my Man with a watch that he really wanted. I love the Man, but his watch collection is getting almost crazy. I don't know what possessed me to add to it other than that part about me loving him and wanting to make him happy. He was kinda surprised....

Sometimes I look at my Man and see the high school guy with bright eyes and that killer smile that I started to fall in love with. I can't believe we are now 30-somethings with four kids and grown-up responsibilities. He really is a catch and I'm glad we have another happy year under our belts.

Christmas Choir

I love listening to chamber choirs sing Christmas music. My idea of a perfect day in the month of December is spending it at home crafting, baking, playing, reading, etc. with my family while Christmas music plays softly in the background. I don't have near enough of my own Christmas music so I turned to the internet and Youtube to find some favorites. I came across video of the Children's Choir I used to sing with singing some of my favorite, lesser-known songs. Every year the choir performs in the huge Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City. If I lived in Utah this would be a yearly tradition and I would probably coerce my kids into auditioning for the choir because it was one of the best experiences of my young life. Enjoy!





P.S. My Utah family- if you can get your hands on one of their Christmas CD's for me I will reimburse you plus postage and finder's fees! ;)

Anyone for a mini-album?

PSA: If you are too lazy to pick up your dog's crap while out on a walk then you shouldn't be a dog owner!! Just a little pet peeve after my jog this morning.

One more PSA: Podrunner is the coolest thing to listen to while running if you are not a fan of running, like me. Go there, download and have fun. It's going to help me shed alllll the Christmas season pounds plus some.

I had high expectations of completing an album this December documenting our Christmas activities and traditions throughout the month. For me, December goes by so fast that just as I'm getting into the magic and wonderfulness of the season it is promptly over. Having a project just about December gave me an excuse to slow down, concentrate on our traditions and plan some fun activities to celebrate the Christmas season. There are different versions out there that give instructions to complete one such album. December Daily and Journal Your Christmas are a couple. I received all the instructions and journaling prompts to complete a different one, but I decided to do it too late. The point of the project is to do most of the work before December 1st hits so that writing info and taking photos are the only daily part left. The first week in December passed by with no progress. Since I am still taking a picture (at least) a day for my Project 365 album, I decided that was good enough. I will focus on Christmasy stuff as much as possible and call it good.

As soon as I let go of that expectation to create a separate book I am much less stressed and down on myself. Who needs that negative self talk everyday anyway? and especially over a small thing? Not this lady. It's on for next year though. If anyone wants to join me, it's a great excuse for a couple crafty girls nights in October and November. I have all the directions and journaling prompts. I feel like the magic of Christmas that comes with having little kids in the house is going by too fast, so I want to remember as much of these years as I can.

*Our family on December 1st*