Regrouping... (and I don't mean 'carry the one')

Today was one of those days...


One of those days when things keep going not-quite-right.


When attitudes need a lot of adjusting - both mine and the boys.


When distractions and delays can't seem to stop popping up.


Sometimes on those days it seems like once I've gotten off on the wrong foot I mis-step  my way through the rest of the day unless I find some way to reset myself.

And I hate to admit it, but I often forget to 'reset' until things have spiraled so far down that I am desperate for a fresh start.  And then God is gracious enough to remind me of one of the following ways to start over.  (He was probably reminding all along, and I didn't hear him until I was desperate!  But that's a discussion for another day, hm?)


The point is, sometimes one (or more) of the following does the trick to help us regroup and start over when we are having 'one of those days'.


 - Literally start over.  I have been known to reset the family at the beginning of our written schedule for the day, if we are using one that day.  No matter what time it is, we erase the written-in times and put in new ones.  Things may get missed later on, but the fresh start does wonders - just like rebooting your computer when it gets all wonky!


 - Hide and seek.  If it is my attitude that is a problem more than the boys', it is helpful to hide in my room (or my closet, but - shhh - don't tell my boys!) and seek God's help.  I am afraid I am a slow learner, because on the worst days I have to play multiple rounds of hide and seek.  But God is good, and he always answers.  I don't know why I am still surprised, but I often am surprised when joy naturally bubbles up where tension was just before.


 - Smile!  It feels so silly, but sometimes just putting a smile on your face can change everything.  This is the method I found myself using today.  In the middle of helping the boys clean their room and starting a load of laundry, I stopped barking orders and pasted a smile on my face instead.  Alone.  In the laundry room.  It felt so funny that I may have giggled, just a little bit.  And I kept smiling, even though (or maybe because) I felt like a smiley housewife-in-heels from a 1950s laundry soap commercial.  Not that I've seen many 1950s commercials.  But you get the picture.  If only I'd been wearing my pearls.  


How do you regroup when it all goes bad?

It's beginning to look a lot like....

Like so many of you, I love, love the Christmas season.  Even so, my enthusiasm and participation vary from year to year.


In some ways, this year is shaping up to be a big year.  


How so, you say?


For one thing, we've already put our tree up.  That's early for us... I usually wait until December.


I've also been searching for quite a while for a countdown calendar.  We'll use it to countdown the days to Christmas day, and at the same time, discover a surprise activity for the day.


I finally decided to go the simple route and downloaded large printable numbers on alternating green and red backgrounds.  I ... umm... seem to have lost the original location of those, seeing as how I just spent the last 10 minutes looking for it.  Oops.  If I find it I'll let you know.


Or I may use this Christmas tree printable instead (I've already enlarged it in photoshop).  Or hey! Maybe we'll do both! 


One of my purposes in a countdown calendar this year is to put a little bit of Christmas every day.  So we are enjoying the season, and celebrating all month long.  Hopefully we'll create a month of memories and lessen the build-up to One Big Day.


Several times a day, every day since Saturday, when we assembled and lit the tree, Alan has put his hands together and exclaimed, "today is Christmas!"


After correcting him for the umpteenth time that Christmas was 'days and days away', I realized maybe he's already got the idea I'm trying to go for.  So finally, instead of correcting him, I am agreeing with him.  

Alan's right:

It's Christmas!

Are you getting ready yet?

My Little Turkey

I stumbled upon a tutorial for a super-cute turkey shirt recently.  The example shirt was full of pinks (surprise, surprise) but the blog author assured the shirt would be cute in boy colors, too.  I agreed, and decided I wanted to make one for Tyler.

So I did!

I bought the onesie and matching pants at Wal-mart.  The turkey's body is corduroy and the feathers are all regular cotton from my scrap box.


The weather has been extremely mild this week, so it's worked out great to have a short-sleeved shirt.  And, we're getting all the wear out of it we can before it turns all brr and chilly on Thanksgiving day.


This shirt is also cute worn with corduroy pants, and is just right for emptying Mama's kitchen cabinets and stealing donuts.

Little turkey, indeed!

A Poll

Hey everybody!  I am curious about my readership here on the ol' blog.  


So, please, take a minute and answer the one question on the top left.  No sign-up required!  Just select your answer and click 'vote'!


Thanks!

Happy Birthday, Alan!

  Little boys are treasures

Who are worth their weight in gold

And charm everyone around them

From the time they're hours old.

They're Mommy's little darling,

They're a special pal to Dad,

And they bring the very happiest days

A family's ever had!

I decided for Alan's birthday post I wanted to write a little poem for him.  But wanting to and having the mental tenacity to actually do so are two different things.  So I grabbed one from the 'net.  That doesn't ruin it for you does it?  

At any rate, my middle treasure is 4 years old!

Happy Birthday, Precious Boy!  I love you!

To-do, to-day, to-did, ta-da!

Yo blog world.  What up?  I am currently in one of those 'there aren't enough hours in the day' phases. Come to think of it, aren't we always in that phase?  


My want-to-do and need-to-do lists are both running over with notes to be written and a thanksgiving sewing project to make.  And there are a few things on my Done! list I want to share.  Including the story behind that magnificent cupcake you see above.  Isn't it a beauty?


But, surprise, surprise, we are on our way out the door, again, so all the doing and blogging will have to wait.


What is at the top of your To-Do lists today?

Everybody say 'Cheese'!

We finally got around to a long-awaited, much anticipated, highly-delayed photo shoot of the boys today.

I am ever-so-blessed to have a mom with a kickin' camera and the willingness to spend the biggest part of a day aiming it at my boys!

We were a little rushed because of pending rain, but we got enough good shots to make it worth all the effort.

And I do mean All. The. Effort.

But, as a fun little bonus for All The Effort, we get shots like this! 

And this:

And this:

But, in the end, we did end up with some good pictures, and everybody still loved everybody else. 

Umm... almost.

(And, yes, hopefully I'll be sharing the good shots too, after I get some more editing done.) :)