Slacking or balance

I can't decide if my lack of posting is because I am a slacker or I am finding my balance.

I do want to document my daily goings on, but not enough to add it to my daily to do list. I already have so many things on there, like laundry--folding it and getting it put away mainly--that I don't get to that I just leave blogging off the list so it doesn't stare me in the face mockingly when it's not crossed off.

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with my house at the moment. So. many. piles. that I have just not taken the time to find a home for. I know exactly what I want my house to feel like and even look like, but putting forth the effort to get it in that state makes me feel even more tired than I already feel.

I sit here, with my first world problems, trying to figure out why they are indeed problems. I'm not sure. All I know is I am coming to terms with not being able to do it all and really not caring much how the outside world feels about that. That may or may not be a good thing.

In other news, the slide off the deck is functional! Man oh man did we run into all sorts of obstacles with that thing! One of which resulted in a chunk of the bottom of the slide being cut out only to realize later that that was unnecessary. Ah well. The kids don't notice or care.

AND we got a new niece, Aurora, today. I haven't met her yet, but I am sure that when I do my unfolded laundry will be the furthest thing from my mind.

Sunshine and Snow

Today started really well. I even showered before the kids left for school!

I honestly can't remember the last time that happened.

I ALSO got my work email inbox down to zero! Hooray!

There was blue sky and sunshine this morning as well.

Now there is snow everywhere. And I still haven't done laundry. Don't judge.

The launch date for the fabric company is coming up. Lots of tweaks that kind of take up a good chunk of the day. It's a good problem to have.

If you haven't noticed I'm not super good at getting my plate cleared. I get super focused on one section and the rest goes unnoticed for too long...until it can no longer be ignored.

Still, it's been a good day. Despite having to remind Karaia and Beckham they cannot leave each other when they walk home from school. I spent quite a bit of time, on super snowy, slippery roads looking for Beckham in the storm because he left the place he said he would wait and Karaia took longer than she said she would take, which was his excuse for leaving. Either way, they both made choices that could have made for a very sad ending.

Luckily, we did not crash and we found Beckham. But I was pretty disappointed in their selfishness. I made them shovel. Even though, as they pointed out, there was no real point in shoveling since the snow covered everything just as quickly as you could clear it away. I did it for two reasons.

1: To give them time with no distractions to think about how the contributed to the situation and to realize how it could have ended really horribly on such a bad weather day.

2: Give them time to talk with each other and figure out WHY it happened the way it did. And understand the reasoning behind each other's  actions.

I believe it worked.  My mom was over when I was giving Beckham the what for. It wasn't pretty because he was feeling entitled. Oh well. I'm pretty sure she understands :)

Sanders is with my mom for a Nana Night. He couldn't be more thrilled! He loves spending time one on one with anyone, but especially Nana.

We are still waiting for Kevin to get home. It's taking longer because of the storm. I hope he walks in soon.

Routine

Nothing much to speak of today.

The two little boys woke up sometime when there was still a 5 at the beginning of the clock.

Ran kids to school in the morning.

Design and Pick Your Plum work.

Volunteered in Beckham's class.

Tried to have rational conversations with hungry boys who had woken up sometime when a 5 was still in the front.

We had conversations but they where neither rational not productive.

Tried to insist on naps.

More design and pyp.

They never slept.

But the alone time in their rooms helped.

Other two came home.

Homework and snacks and hugs and kisses managed.

More snacks.

A little more design and pyp.

And again, more snacks.

Must be growing, especially the two littles.

Dinner made for the 8th day in a row! Fish tacos...and everyone likes them!

Went to mutual.

Had a stake wide tug o war.

Came home.

Talked with Kevin.

Fell asleep on the couch.

Woke up and blogged.

Going to bed to be able to probably do the same thing tomorrow..minus anyone waking up with a 5 or anything less in the front and hopefully more laundry. Not because I enjoy laundry, but because I enjoy having something to wear.

Bitter sweet

The end of the year is approaching. As well as the completion of my goal to blog everyday. There are no cut and dry feelings about this subject. On nights, like tonight, where I feel I am rushing to beat the clock to get my post in I think it will be a relief to just not blog.

But on the other side, I feel like I have really had to evaluate how I am effected by what goes on around me. More importantly, how I want to deal with it.

I'm far from perfect....all right, all right. stop laughing.....I realize that is a rather obvious statement...but even being imperfect I feel that because I took a look at myself, my surrounds, and how I reacted because/toward them on a daily basis I am closer to who I long to be and who my Heavenly Father needs me to be than I was at the beginning of the year.

To realize that may be ending is not so sweet.

So we shall see. Maybe I will continue the goal, but allow for a number of "free" days throughout the year.

Beautiful

Sometimes I get caught up in life. Going about my everyday living. And thensomething catches my eye, or my heart, I stop and look around.
A beautiful scenery.

My wonderful family.

And I remember that life is more than just getting by, it's about living in joy. It doesn't take much to find it. But it does require a slower pace to fully soak it in.

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Wordless

As in I have no clever, whitty, or entertaining words for you. Sometimes it's rough to be a reader of someone's blog who made a goal to blog everyday for a year.

Thanks for coming back anyway.

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Chocolate

 It's a family obsession.

Talk

I have been asked to give a talk in sacrament meeting in church tomorrow on the Sabbath.

As I was rehearsing my talk for Kev, he said it sounded like I was reading my blog.

So.....I guess that means I've already blogged for the night.

Who knows how the talk is going to go though.

Should have known better

I should have known better than promise a particular post the day I returned home from a trip.

While Bear Lake is wonderful place to spend time it is hours and hours of work to get cleaned up and ready to leave. All the while trying to entertain the kids so they don't reverse all the hard work while they are playing.

I don't want to rush through Tennyson's birthday post just so I can get to bed. So it will have to wait.

Goodnight.

The letter of the day is...

....L.

We went to the library.

I did laundry.

And LAST minute shopping for up coming birthdays.

I know. It's a stretch, but your lucky I blogged that much.

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Balance

Mom came over yesterday and, Brianna came over today to help me reclaim my house.

It's a lively thing to have such talented ladies in my life. Thank you! !

But, I am finding that I can either organize a closet or my thoughts. Trying to do both sounds like extra work to me.

So......goodnight.

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The garden

 The boys planted the garden this year. I didn't want to....that's not true...I like planting the garden, but I was in crunch mode with the portfolios. Karaia was at a party.

It's a modest garden, but at least it's planted. The boys loved every minute of it.

On a side note, the portfolios have now been mailed! It's just a matter of waiting now. It could still all crumble, but I know just where I could start if it does. Still, if you happen to have any spare prayers or well wishes I'm not going to turn them down.

Emotional eating and disorganization

Hello, my name is Emilie and I am an emotional eater.

I'm sure this is not a revelation for many.

Tonight, I poured hot fudge, you know the kind you heat up in the microwave and then put on top of ice cream, into a bowl.....all by itself....and then topped it with spray whipped cream. And then ate every last drop. Weeeeeelllllll....that's not entirely true. I started feeling sick with about three spoonfuls to go and had the decency to stop myself.

Not my finest hour.

Why would I do such a thing?

I am still working on that.

All I know is that I needed chocolate. I needed something horribly awful for me, and I needed something available right. that. second. It's sad, really, that one of the qualifications was that it had to be horribly awful for me. Talk about sabotage.

I think it has something to do with the portfolios STILL not being out.  And something to do with the fact that my house is comprised with rooms full of piles and dust and I don't feel skilled enough to tackle it. And that I am TOTALLY in the mood to remodel in a BIG way, but NOT in the mood to spend that kind of cash...or any cash...I have portfolios to send out and they are not cheap after all. In my mind, the piles go away if I remodel.....because you know, then I'll suddenly be organized. *eye roll*

In the mean time I turn to crazy amounts of deliciously unhealthy chocolate liquid.

That's right, people. I'm classy over here like that.

Girls night

I went to craft night tonight.

A year ago, my kids gave me fat quarters for mother's day. I had started to cut out the pieces for a quilt a little less than a year ago.

Tonight I FINALLY got all the pieces cut.

Hooray!!!

Maybe in another year I'll actually have a quilt to show you.

Momentum

This is going to be a good week. I've made a few decisions and it's helped me focus and find a bit more joy among the stress that I've been feeling! Hooray!






For now, I'll just be finishing my portfolios (I know, I'm frustrated their not done) and playing with the family. It's just nice to feel like I'm moving forward again.

Productive

I got some flowers planted between rain storms today.

Replanted a volunteer  miniature rose bush. It's not doing so hot. I hope it makes it.

Made a roast for dinner.

Painted the garage door...still black, just needed some touch ups.

Started painting Sanders' book shelf...and then it started to rain again.

AND my new computer came!!!!

Kevin is getting it all fancied up for me as we speak.

I can't wait!

A bit of a foreword and service

I've been thinking a lot about this little blog of mine. A lot about it being not so little in the possible future. That being said, I've been thinking about how to document and approach my everyday life.

I've concluded that anyone who spends any amount of time with me is going to find out that my religion, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is an integral part of my life. There are not many conversations I have where I don't mention being able to see the Lord's handiwork in my life. And that's with anyone, member or not.So why should my blog be any different, simply because there will possibly be a broader range of people who run across it?

I will continue to point out the miracles in my life as I see them and give thanks and credit to my Father in Heaven. This is His plan. I've decided to follow it long ago and yes, there may be prospective employers who read this. Or future fans of my fabric designs (Um.....that was the best sentence EVER to write!!!!!!) That's OK with me. They'd find out sooner rather than later anyway.

Now that that has been taken care of, on to today.

Kevin has worked hard all weekend. He got to help one set of friends get ready for concrete and another set of friends move.

The best part of all of this is how he felt before he actually made it over there. He just really felt like he would be of help and, in both cases, that proved to be right.

There is something about being able to help someone else that automatically make this world pretty amazing to live in.

He also received a new calling. He is now the 1st counselor of the Elders Quorum presidency. He was very happy to be continuing on in the EQ presidency as he felt like he still had some work to do.

There you have it. A real life glimpse into my life. But don't think for one second that I've ever given you anything else!

Catch up

I haven't been sleeping the past few days. Too much to think about. So I will be catching up tonight.

Goodnight.

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Lessons

Today Beckham passed his end of level testing. Apparently he was extremely nervous that he wouldn't and was there for equally relieved when he did. Resulting in the glad tidings being announced to every new person we  happened across on our way out of the school building.

I happen to think it a very good thing for him to be nervous about tests every now and again.

I also found out today that I was very mistaken about the size of Paintbrush Studio. They are actually quite large, employ nearly 200 people in the U.S.A. in a 250,000 sq ft building and have a plant in Mexico as well.

And they want me.

Wow.

Quiet

Today was rather quiet.

We had Evan (who will turn 3 in July) over for most of the day because his little brother was having surgery to place a shunt in his head. I know. We were anxious for this day to be over.

Good news is the surgery went fantastically!

AND Evan did just great at our house. He's a bit scared of one of the paintings I have of some flowers in a Japanese style. We don't know why, but he will NOT enter my home, or at the very least stay up stairs for any amount of time, if that picture is on the wall. Megs took it down when they dropped him off this morning, but all day long he would creep along the hallway, with his back to the wall, like a spy, poke his head away from the wall just far enough to see into the living room and check to see if the picture had somehow made it's way back. It was pretty funny.

Other than that he was calm and happy. No whining. No tears. From anyone really. Which actually made the day go sooooooo slowly.

Still, I needed a really slow day after last week. I'm grateful to get one.