a few thoughts on seasons

Since it has turned November,  we had to coax our children into letting us take the Halloween decorations down.  Sophie of course did NOT understand why the candy bowls and black feather boas (yep, you read right) could not stay up year round.  If Halloween is so much fun, why can't we do that go door-to-door thing all the time?

Thus begins the lesson on seasons changing and new focus.  I tried to explain to her how seasons pass each year and we look forward to the next season in life with excitement, and remember the past things as fun things we have done.  Even though Halloween was SO much fun and we love our costumes, we have to have just as much excitement for the next season and what it may bring.  I think we as adults need to remember that childlike lesson.  I especially need to remember this lesson. 

 There are a lot of changes happening it seems.  Our church seems to be having many changes, many which we don't understand.  Growing up as a preacher's kid, you learn church politics are TOUGH.   Also, even though I have been a sahm mom for almost two years( I STILL cannot believe it has been that long), it has been a major change in my life.  I finally cleaned out my closet the other night.  The days of fancy pants, cocktail dresses, and even suits from the first job I had were still hanging in the front, like I would put them on the next morning.  (First of all, I have birthed TWO babies since I fit in those beautiful suits, so there is NO way I will get that 23 year old body back, and second, I must have liked showing leg then as well....)  Even when kids are in school, I think my life may take me down a different path than I will ever have experienced, and suits won't be involved.  But, just as we are telling Sophie, look forward to the new seasons with excitement, and let the past fun you have had be great memories, and not dwell on your past.  I think this has been on my mind because I get somewhat frustrated at not completing goals during the week that I try to do.  As in previous jobs, I usually had a mental idea of what I should complete that particular week at work. Being the teacher's pet I am, I always finished my job.  This week, I have had a few shirts I wanted to do, a house I wanted to clean, and a few projects I want to do.  So what if one of those projects was to polish my toes, it was still a project I wanted to do.  Did ANY of this get complete?  HECK NO.  Between ear infections, teething, napless days, and phone calls, I have nothing to prove for this week.  When I explained my goal-less week to Lee, he quickly pointed out that I don't work for anyone anymore except our sweet girls, and to stop this "I must get things done" mentality.  I am out of that season of life for now.  And as Sophie completed her art yesterday, I realized I am definitely in a great season of life.

These are just two of the seasons that seem to be happening in our lives right now.  I think Lee was SO excited to see my closet cleaned out.  Honestly, the boy has more shirts than I ever dream to have, so he gets a little more closet space now.  

By the way, I TOTALLY digressed what I sat down to write.  It was more of a thankfulness entry about cute kid-like sayings.  I will save it for later.

A few new favorite things

1-  Ad papers and catalogs

Sophie has learned that checking the mail and paper is fun these days because of all the toy circulars and magazines we are getting.  She sites down with me and reads her pile as I read mine and circles things she likes.  I LOOVVEEE that she does that.  I remember doing that as a kid.  November is one of my favorite months because of all the anticipation of the holidays.... especially for kids.  All the possibilities of toys, candy ideas to make, projects to do, it just is overwhelmingly exciting.

2- Two walkers in the house

Harper is learning to walk.  She is taking this task on so different than her sister.  Sophie was a determined walker.  She studied and thought about walking for a few weeks, then one day stood up and never looked back, and rarely fell.  Harper will stand up on a whim, take a few steps, and nose dive into the nearest person or doll.  Without a care in the world or second thought, she is slowly become an agile walker. Sophie has encouraged her to no end for a month, and today, her best walking day by far, she informed me that Harper walking may not be such a bright idea.  "But mommy, she will be into EVERYTHING now, and always in my way!"  Can't argue that logic.

3-  Glee

What a fun show.  I have a sincere appreciation for musicals.  Point and yell nerd all you want, I have grown up wishing one day to be some lead singer in a cheesy movie about carousels, state fairs, and paying rent.  One small drawback of this dream is my inability to sing, but Glee is taking musicals to a little cooler status.  It almost makes me want to go back to high school and do the band days all over again.  Almost.....

What I am up to...

Seriously, I finally figured out how to sew this darn turkey, so everyone I know who has wanted a shirt is getting this turkey.  In different color variations, of course.  

Happy Thursday!

Pictures to accompany an earlier post and a few random thoughts.

This picture should accompany the ten things about fall post, and fulfill the "football Saturdays" and "coffee" comments.  Although I wasn't cheering too hard for Auburn, it is still fun to be in a cold stands with a warm blanket, no matter who the team is!

I know I have put up Fair pictures before, but you can never have too many.  By the way, if you look closely at the second swing, you can see Sophie and I holding our hands up!

Our family at Halloween.  I think Lee wins for costume creativity.

Sophie at her Preschool Halloween party.  Seriously, she was adorable with all of her friends.

Harper has a little leftover syrup on her upper lip, indicating the fun of the syrup soppin!

- Two runs down!  I feel like I have asthma after the run, but I am making progress for a not- too- embarassing race in December.

- Fall Back time has proven havoc on our family.  Ask me if I like our new time Thursday.

- If my camera would work, I would show some cute new shirts I am doing.  

- My camera is broken.  

Don't Stop 'Til you get Enough!

Okay, after two years in retirement, one of my favorite songs should now be heard by me AT LEAST four times a week.  I am taking back my (ahem) hobby of running.

I used to run.  A lot.  In college, on summer breaks, on vacation, on treadmills, at the beach.  I loved running.  I loved the high you felt after you broke that wall that running hard can do to your lungs.  I loved waving at people in cars passing by as I was sweating to pieces.  It made me run faster.  I loved stretching my legs after a long run and feeling the release of my calf muscles.  I also loved doing races and the bagels and bananas after the race, and the new t-shirt, and the feeling of stopping for gatorade at the closest gas station after the race and saying, "oh, yeah, I just finished the ____ 5k.  Yeah, my time was good..."

Why am I telling you all this?  Well, I am sort of just telling myself this and hoping to inspire myself once again.  I want to run again.  I have had this minor setback in life called pregnancy and babies and I want to be able to feel the freedom of running again.  I still work out about three times a week on weights and the elliptical and spin classes, but it isn't the same as running.  I don't know why it has taken me this long to decide I want to run again.  If you talked to my sister, she would laugh if she knew I used to love running.  We used to run races together while I was in college.  Halfway through EVERY race I would look over at her and express my extreme distaste for running.  Of course, the following Tuesday when she would mention the upcoming race on Saturday, we would ride to the nearest sign up location and pay our money.

I don't know.... maybe I am just a glutton for punishment.  Or, maybe I want to complete my life goal of completing a big race.  We will see what happens!

Top Ten things about Fall

In no particular order:

1.  Football Saturdays

2.  Pumpkin Patches

3.  Rekindling love affair with coffee and flavored creamers

4.  Syrup Sopping Festival

5.  The Fair (of course)

6.  Nutmeg and Cinnamon

7.  Halloween night

8.  Chili

9.  Fall Back night

10. Pajama Pants 

401 k's

Sophie's latest fun thing is being assigned jobs.  I am not sure why, but if you tell her that eating a certain food, or coloring, or bathing is her job, she is diligent until her task is complete.  So you know I have definitely taken advantage of that.  This morning we were all getting ready for the day and I had to run to the other side of the house to get a diaper.  Harper is at the stage in life where I am her hero( it isn't as cool as it sounds) and hates to see me leave the room unless hero #2 (Sophie) is close by.  I assigned Sophie the job of watching Harper and keeping her happy while I walked away.  And, as the typical first-born pleaser that she is, she kept the room happy and peaceful until I returned.  

After a few minutes of getting the girls dressed, Sophie asked me about Lee's job, and I explained in a 3-year old understanding that daddy makes streams and mommy keeps she and her sister healthy and smart.  Of course her job is to be 3 and watch her sister.  According to Sophie,  Harper's job is to poop and smile.  I think we all need a raise, because everyone is doing excellent at their tasks around here.