Dream Job

So I know we are all living our dream already, especially those of your who are SAH Moms. There is, of course, no better job on the planet than that of nose-wiping, bottom-wiping, tear-wiping, sandwich-making, band-aid applying, time-out giving, rule-enforcing, back-to-your -bed-marching , loving and tending to our dear children.

However, just for fun, I ponder what my ultimate dream job would be (in another life of course).  Maybe it's that we just moved and I'm getting all nest-y and decorator-y, but do cool design things just jump out and pull you in?  I can get lost in an issue of O at Home, an episode of Trading Spaces, or Design on a Dime.  I'd spend endless hours in a funky antique shop, or design studio, or home decor store just pondering the possibilities if I had the time.

I love...

Cool things like this

And this

And this

And this.

I love the feeling I get when I see people of great need get help, and somehow help with a house is the sweetest gift for a family in need.  So, I've decided that in my next life (when I'm not already living my dream as a mother and teacher) I'll be a designer for this show:

Add it all up and despite my regular-looking home with regular-looking stuff, somewhere in me there's a person who would kick a** at this.  

So Friend, I ask you, what is your dream job?

How Have I Not Seen This?

Maybe I'm the last person on Earth who hasn't seen this, but OH. MY. GOD. If you haven't seen this clip of the loveliest man with the loveliest message, please watch this. My Mother-In-Law sent it to me (thanks Mary).

It should be life's prerequisite. Get some Kleenex. Take a few minutes to absorb. You'll be a better person for it. I hope I am.

Okay, I CAN NOT get this dang thing to work.  Ugh.  Sorry.  It's so worth it for me to share this with you, that I urge you to go to Stumble Upon, or You Tube and search for Randy Pausch's Last Lecture, as reprised on Oprah.  Sorry my technical skills are ka-poot today.  :(

Wordless Wednesday (With Captions, I Cheated)

It's for you.

Looking like Daddy

Done yet?

Hang up, already!

Yippee!  We can play now.

All Moved In!

We did it!  Whew.  We're all moved in.  It's amazing that it can take a month to pack up a family, and in about 24 hours, I'm (nearly) completely unpacked.  Thanks to my Mom for watching the munchkins, photographing the event, and staying late to help unpack.

I promise not to bore you (well, I can't promise that) but I'll try not to bore you with any more moving details.

New material to come...

Fragile Things

Well, Moving Day is finally here.  We leave this home tomorrow and venture ahead.  As we pack up the last of our crap precious belongings, I am feeling fragile.  

I'll be off-line until we get set up on Tuesday.  I'll be missing my blog friends, and thankful we get to stay near some of our closest friends in SD.

Random Rainy Day Photo

Appetizer Anyone?

While my husband was slaving away working this evening, I decided to take the kids out for dinner.  With the upcoming move, we've packed nearly everything, and going grocery shopping only means more stuff to move.  Given the contents of the pantry/fridge I realized I wasn't really in the mood for pudding sandwiches, or teddy graham soup. 

 

The kids were doing pretty well.  They waited patiently for an entire 3 minutes, and only then proceeded to get antsy.  So they did what kids (my kids especially) often do:  They went under the table.  I have to admit, I was in one of those spaced-out moods.  

Chase:  "Mommy, how do you say dinner in Spanish?"

Me:  "Mmm-hmmm.  That's great."

Tatum:  "How many more minutes until my pasta is ready?"

Me:  "Mmm-hmmm.  That's great honey."

Chase:  "Mommy, watch me blow bubbles in my milk."

Me:  "Mmm-hmmm.  That's great honey."

Tatum:  "Mommy, I found Play-Dough under the table."

Me:  "Mmm-hmmm.  That's nice hon-  

   

   Wait.

   We didn't bring Play-Dough.  It wasn't Play-Dough.  It was ...

For crying out loud.  People really do this?  

In Tatum's defense we have a strict rule in our family that they can not chew gum until they are four (more on that philosophy another time), and it really did look like bright orange Play-Dough.  But Eeewww!

Dare I ask, what gross things have your kids found?

Wordless Wednesday

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

A good friend sent me this quote today.  

"Fear is excitement without breath." 

- Fritz Perls

The advice continued with:  Imagine if every time we felt fear we simply took a deep breath and smiled as we jumped in.

Last week another friend gave me a (fantastic) book entitled, "How Not to Be Afraid of Your Own Life" by Susan Piver.

Man... it seems there is a theme here.  Jamie must be looking awfully afraid these days.  Maybe so.  Days away from a move to yet another home this year, things are certainly daunting.  But it is the fear that fuels me.  

Today I *will* take the advice, and take a breath and smile as I jump, usually head first.  Is there any other way to jump?

All Better!

Isn't it funny how a Band-Aid can make just about anything all better?  I love the innocence of this age where a kiss and a Snoopy piece of plastic can heal the wounds.  I ache for the day when they will not be enough.

(The camera was literally inches from the Band-Aids and I couldn't resist snapping the shot.  Don't worry, he wasn't suffering.)

Happy Valentine's Day

Yes, it's a day to love.  And these are the perfect little cupids to love.

I *HEART* San Diego!

Despite agonizing over our own verson of "Decision '08" it seems the choice is clear.  We have been swimming, outside, for 4 days in a row.  It's February.

Now I'm really not trying to rub it in for those of your who are scraping snow from your cars and sidewalk, I'm only trying to reinforce my recent insanity, with solid evidence that 

THIS ROCKS!

On my recent trip to Colorado I saw this:

And this:

For my snowy friends, you can laugh at us during "May Gray" and "June Gloom."  But for now, I say a family that wears flip flops together, stays together.  :)

My New Life

If you're wondering why I'm a little low on posts ... welcome to my new world of PACKING!

(This is a great way to get boxes, if anyone ever needs them.  They even plant a tree if you so choose.)

Rock The Vote!

It's Working!

Thank you to our friends who signed my insanity petition either in type script, or in their hearts.  It's working!  I received an email today that the house has a potential family.  Keep us in mind until they sign on the dotted line.  

In the meantime thanks Mom.  You never are too old to need words of encouragement from a Mom.  Here is a great story she sent to me yesterday that you might want to share with your little ones.

A Discouraging Croak

A group of frogs were hopping through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. When

the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as

dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump out of the pit with all their might. The

other frogs kept yelling at them telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs

took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog

continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the

pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs

asked, “Did you not hear us?” The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were

cheering for and encouraging him the entire time.

 

Remember, never underestimate how powerful a few words of kindness and encouragement can be.

Dear Universe, Please Forgive My Change of Heart and Let my Family Stay in San Diego, and Tell my Husband I'm Sorry for Being Neurotic and HELP!

In honor of my melting, chaotic, confused, hopeful and desperate brain, I type today to ask for help.

As I shared my hectic drama with a friend I said, "Ugh.  I had the worst week ever."  

She bluntly and poignantly said, "No you didn't.  You'll have worse."  So there.  

So here's what we know:  

FACT:

Our house is in escrow.  I need to start packing.  We *will* move somewhere.

FACT:

I signed a lease in Colorado.  A legally binding document says we should live there.

FACT:

I don't want to live there.

FACT:

I should have thought of that *BEFORE* selling this house.

FACT:

A woman is entitled to changing her mind.

FACT:

We belong here.  Friends and family warmly approve of my recent insanity.

FACT:

My husband, ummm, not so much.  He probably would love to trade me in for a newer model. Perhaps one who follows through on big family commitments, one who doesn't pull out in the 9th inning, one who doesn't think so much with her gut (i.e. heart and intuition), and rather with logic and reasoning.

FACT:

Until Colorado lady rents the house to another family, we're stuck.

So here's my favor.  Please put it out there, call it wishful thinking, power of the mind, tools of The Secret, prayer, meditation, or a Petition to God.  Get that house in Boulder rented so that we can stay home!

5 Minutes

Here's a snippet of my life this morning.  Sound familiar?

"Can you wipe my bottom?"

"I had it first."

"I love you a hundred times.  Is that a lot?"

"Can I watch a show?"

"Mommy, look at my poop.  It looks like a rocket."

"Will you color with me?"

"Daddy's taking me to the toy store."

"Mommy.  I love you."

"I want you to get off your computer now."

"I'm hungry."

"How do you say 'jump' in Spanish?"

"I'm still hungry."

"I need another muffin."

"Why?"

"Why?"

"WHY?"

"Because why?"

"I have a boogy."

"Please."

"Please Mommy."

"That's potty talk."

"I don't want to."

"How can we make soup?"

"Where's my bear-bear?"

"My toothbrush is in my blankets."

"Can you get my blankie."

"Right now."

"Please."

"I'm a baby crocodile."

"You need to be a Mommy crocodile."

"I need to go potty."

"I was there first."

"MOMMY"

"I love you."

What was your morning like?

I'm Blushing and Distracted

Well, I received the perfect distraction from the "Moving Dilemma." I must be pretty darn proud of it too, seeing as the photo is the size of a doorknob, not a thumbnail. My first award!

Thanks so much to Laskigal at From the Cheap Seats for passing along this award. I'm honored and touched. Nice to have readership follow the drama with us, huh? Please check her out. She is Sincere, Silly, Sarcastic, Sweet, and a SAHM of a Special little Sweetheart boy (alliteration is something she digs).

The award says that I shall Spread the Love to 10 of my faves. No problem. (Some of these have been awarded the love already. But one can never have too much love.) Check out these brilliant minds:

* My Mom at This is Trish's Blog

* Cheri at Blog This Mom

* My little brother Henry at Henry's Thing-a-ma-jig

* Mrs. G at Derfwad Manor

* Misty at Starting From Scratch

* Aaryn Belfer

* Amy at Every Day with the Kellys

* GirlyMom at The Red Door

* Marlys at A New Life Begins

* Claudia and David at The Happy Hermans (Okay this one is in German, which I can't read, but they have great photos, and I know the guy. I make up my own words for it.)

Visit these site for all kinds of inspiration.