Work In Progress

Much Ado About March

Okay so the quickest excuse for not updating my blog is that my life got busy. The full version is that Mom came into town on Tuesday the 17th and we were so busy with projects and kids and errands and vacationing that I didn't ever want to sit down by myself and write. Of course Mom loved on the kids every minute she was here but it was really me that was glued to her side this trip. We started a redwork/quilt project for Christmas (more on this later) and we designed a summer dress for Lorali (I'll post picts. soon). We went down to Ft. Walton Beach to see Sean and Spring and the boys. It was wonderful. The kids were perfect and the weather was beautiful while we were there. I took TONS of pictures over the last two weeks but, my computer is having hard drive issues so until Doug rebuilds it, we're sans photos. This week school starts back up again and the stress-o-meter will be back up but the last two weeks have been relaxing and really good for me to be able to find a little piece of myself again. Hopefully, it's the start of a new trend for me instead of a short lived dream. Pictures coming soon, promise!

Silent Saturday

Tulip Tuesday

Last fall I ordered over 100 tulips bulbs from Holland. I gave away about 50 and had around 75 for my house. Ethan and I spent one Saturday in November planting all of them throughout everyone's yards. It was so much fun but I have to say that's it's been even more fun watching them come up! We have tulips all over our yard and I can honestly say that this week I've Bren taking the time to enjoy the tulips in my life.

Silent Saturday

12 month Plan of Happiness REVISITED.

Okay back on Jan 5th, I posted NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS hoping that by having it out there on Internet interstate, it'd hold me to it, push me into action. HA! I certainly still have those goals, and I really am working on them on an *almost* daily basis. But, since my January Goals were so big and took until March to finish, I'm breaking it up into seasons instead of months.

First, my report back from my January, er... WINTER goals....
JANUARY'S  WINTER '09 GOALS & PLAN OF HEALTH AND HAPPINESS

HEALTH
 Continue Weekly Ballet Classes - I'VE ACTUALLY DONE THIS ONE! Only missing once when I was sick and one when I was out of town for CHA.
 Stretch every morning and night - For the most part I do this at least once a day, I'm still working on twice a day. but I certainly do feel better.
HOME
 Immediately fold and put Laundry away every week - This one hasn't been accomplished much but it WILL BE, from now on! ;)
 Clean out the Laundry Room - YES! We did this last week and I was so proud of Doug I had to post the evidence on last week's  SILENT SATURDAY!
SPIRITUAL
 Plan and carry out FAMILY HOME EVENING every week with the kids and Doug. - Okay, this one hasn't been OFFICIALLY done but we do try to make more family learning moments together. I'll be keeping it on the SPRING goals.
 Have Personal Prayer every morning - Yep, for the most part. Morning's seem to be so much harder for me to take a minute to myself and pray. The rush of making the bus, getting everyone ready and fed seem to pull away from the 'quiet time' I'd like to have while praying. Maybe I'll start scheduling a mid-morning prayer time instead. ;)
FAMILY RELATIONSHIP-
 Play with the kids together in the Therapy Room at least 5 times a week. (Teaching them appropriate ways to play and interact together.) - This we've done pretty well at. While it was FREEZING out, we were not in there as much but, now we're back on schedule with it and I love seeing the benefits of it for Ethan.
 Play at least two games with Doug every week. (and win ;) ?) - Well, the winning part went down the drain almost immediately. But we do try to play games together at least once a week. (not sure what we're going to do when Janye leaves though!)
 Plan one big family event together for this month - We've done this every month. In January it was Bowling together, Feb it was hiking and then in March we went to Chattanooga. THIS HAS TURNED INTO MY FAVORITE ONE ON THE LIST!
MENTAL HEALTH
 Practice 30-60 minutes EVERYDAY on the Piano - I did this wonderfully in January and February. In March my mood was just too low. I think it totally helps me personally though so I'll be starting it up again soon.
 Go to school and study regularly - I LOVE SCHOOL!
 Read one book, for FUN - I did this one. I read THE AMERICAN WIFE by Curtis Sittenfeld. I got completely engrossed in it though and let my house go down the drain while I read it cover to cover in less than 48 hours. I loved it but, need to plan to start my books when my To-Do list is done!
FINANCIAL
 Save 10% - yep, we've saved over 10% this year and have paid off more than $4000 worth of bills/debt. I think We'll be amping this up for future goals.
 Organize 'the big bill box' - Okay, this one I haven't touched with a then foot pole! Maybe it will be on my Spring Goals!

Over all I think that I'm slowly headed towards my larger, year long goals even if I haven't perfected each of these. I think it's more about baby steps and being heading in the right direction than it is about being perfect. Later this week I'll post my spring goals. Speaking of which, how are you coming along on your New Year's Resolutions?

Silent {working} Saturday

Intern

Today I start my intern position and I'm actually really excited. I'm not sure the kids are all that supporting of me being gone hopefully they'll warm up to the idea. Doug is even being really supportive. His one piece of advice for me this morning? Don't wear a blue dress or a baret. ;)

Finals!

Okay, I'm done! Final Project and presentation done, final test done, my notebook is done and registering for next semester is done. Part of my final project was a little blog I started. Check it out at See Salt Lake. WHEW!! I'll be back to paying attention to the rest of my life tomorrow! Wish me luck tonight!

Blogger Babe

The fact that I've been blogging here for almost 5 years has proved to be a HUGE benefit. All this week I've been working on my final project for my Convention and Meeting Planning class, it's a blog with everything you could ever need to know about planning a Convention, Meeting or Reunion in Salt Lake City. Venues, Transportation, Restaurants, Hotels, Weather Conditions, Even local Vendor recommendations. I'll post a link tomorrow, but for now realize that that's why I've been a little quieter here! Here's hoping for an A!

Chattanooga Choo-Choo

   I mentioned last week that we took a spontaneous weekend trip with the family. Doug and I were barely holding things together between us and we both felt like our lives were spiraling out of control. So we surfed the net for a few hours and found the perfect place for us to focus on our family. Chattanooga. We knew we only had time for an over night trip so the fact that it was only a few hours from Atlanta certainly helped. Then once we looked into everything to do with kids up there the hardest part was fitting everything in! We stayed at The Chattanooga Choo-Choo, which is on old train station renovated into a hotel. They have Victorian Sleeper Carson the platforms and our room was on one of them. It was so fun to see the kids faces light up when we walked in, it wasn't just the kids who were impressed wither. Doug checked out every nook and cranny of the place and couldn't get enough of it. He bought the kids Engineer Caps and a model train to play with on the floor, we went swimming and Doug even got in the water and played with us the entire time.
   Saturday morning we ordered room service (the only thing we weren't impressed with the entire trip) and got ready. We immediately went to the on-site Train Museum. Then we were off to Lookout Mountain. First stop, Ruby Falls. It was beautiful and such an adventure. As the mother of Autism, my brain was telling me the entire time how many things could go wrong. It's a half mile hike in a dark underground cave going single file with a tour group and only one way out. The ENTIRE TIME I was praying Ethan would focus on how much fun he was having instead of the water on his pants, or the closeness of the walls. Because if he would have had a meltdown there it would have been TERRIBLE! But all my worrying was for nothing. He did great. He was talkative, he was giggling at how some of the formations looked like a turtle, a bug or dinosaur feet. He was trying to calm Lorali down and tell her that "no bears live in this cave" and he loved the cavern and falls. A week later and he is still constantly talking about it. After Ruby Falls we went to Rock City. We had never heard of it and didn't know what to expect but, it was BEAUTIFUL, ENCHATING, and FACINATING! It was even raining and foggy but the hiking through the trails and passageways was almost magical. Seriously, if any of you have a chance to go to Rock City, GO. I was just as impressed and overwhelmed by it's creation and beauty as I  was when I went to Niagra Falls. After Rock City it was to another spot on the Mountain to the Incline Railroad. Of course Ethan loved riding a train but, this one was just a feat of engineering like no other. After that the kids were worn out, wet and cold. Ready to bundle up in the van with the heater and a couple movies for a quick drive home. We got home Saturday night around 8:30 and everyone crashed but, the trip was sooo worth the time, energy and expense. Then Sunday I went to church, came home and got snowed in, which only added to the family bonding. We can't wait to take more quick weekend trips as a family. It was wonderful!