Castles Made of Sand

looking forward to it ...

I love having something to look forward to and right now it is Thanksgiving and camping with my family.  Every year since I was in elementary school we have gone camping for Thanksgiving.  I guess it is somewhat non-typical since so many of my friends are eating off their grandmother's fine china in a dining room but for me, Thanksgiving dinner was meant to be had at a picnic table under a spectacular canopy of brilliantly colored fall leaves with the smell of a campfire in the background.

The most common thing people ask me when I tell them we camp for Thanksgiving is about what we eat.  Well, we eat the same thing everyone else does ... Turkey, dressing, cranberry salad, pumpkin pies, etc etc ... and yes, we prepare it all ahead or at the campgrounds. 

As I am typing this I feel like I am typing the most normal of traditions because that is what it is for our family. However in the weeks leading up to the holiday I am always reminded that our tradition is somewhat departed for the norm.

I am truly thankful that we have this tradition and time away with our family.  It is a quite time to recenter before the hectic holiday pace.  It is an entire block of time dedicated to good books, hikes, outdoor exploring and making memories.  I sure am looking forward to it!

i wonder what it means when ...

I am 31 years old and I have become aware of some things about myself and I wonder what they mean ...

I wonder what it means that I look forward to washing my face each night ... i look forward to it a lot.  Washing my face at the end of a day is like the dessert after a meal.  What on earth does that say about me?

I wonder what it means that I don't read as much as I used to?  Am I wasting the time I used to spend reading? or have I found something more valuable to invest that time in?

I wonder what it means that I would rather find myself at home with nothing to do than almost anything else in the world?  Have I lost my sense of adventure? or am I discovering that the hearth is more important in my life?

I wonder what it means that my daughter is emotionally just like me? Have I ruined her already? Or are we syncing up for a life time of understanding one another? Or will we battle because of our like mindedness?

I wonder what it means that I can not function without my cell phone or computer within reach? Is there time to recover from my dependancy on technology for organization and effectiveness? or do I really need it to manage the chaos as much as I believe I do?

I wonder what it means that I almost never put things back where they belong but everyone else in my house does?

I wonder what it means that I come up with a new "process" or "system" for something every week?

I wonder what it means that I need a process or system for everything?

I wonder what it means that I type wa-ay too fast and I hate to proof read with a passon?

I wonder what it means that I wonder what all this means?

I wonder why I have a headach and I am not asleep yet? Don't answer that one :)

a weekend derailed ...

This weekend has been planned for ages ... First I had scrapbook night at church.  It is a women's' ministry event each month and I normally do not actually get to scrapbook but this month I took my supplies and good intentions.  In 6 hours I got about 3/4 of a layout done.  It was fun though and I love to hang out with the girls.

I had sessions packed out on Saturday and of course after 3 days of sunshine the rain returned.  Thankfully I was able to get in all of the morning sessions before the storms came.

So with a little found time I thought I would get caught up with some office work but Clara Jane had gone to bed with Motrin and a fever Friday and Saturday it was still hanging around.  Pretty sure it is some kind of flu but after talking to the nurse we found out that even if she tests positive for the flu at this point it has been too long to get meds for it so we are just to let the virus run its course and go to the doctor if she develops new symptoms.

So I had to stay home from church with her today and I have been all over aching today so in addition to playing doctor to her I have been trying to catch up on a little bit of rest so that I do not get really sick.  I have too much to do to be confined to the house all the time :)

It really was a good weekend but I have a bit of cabin fever and I have a lot of work to get caught up on.  Looking forward to a new week and a fresh start.

I am not sure how I got here

I started this blog in 2005 ... I like(d) having a place to talk about what is on my mind and what is going on in our lives.  Mostly for my family and for me.  Then facebook and twitter came along and I started talking to my family on facebook more than my blog. 

I am debating on taking my blog private and using it for a journal?? not sure ... so i am going to give it a few weeks to think about it.

In the mean time I should tell you that Clara Jane is doing great in school.  She loves to read and is reading several levels over where she should be.  It is so cool to listen to her read.  Right now Dr. Seuss, Junie B. Jones, and Dick and Jane are some of her favorites.  She also loves to read the bible Mema gave to her the day she was baptized.  That is pretty special to see her want to pick it up and discover what is in it.

Slade is down to 3 more weeks left in his bachelor's degree programing.  I am so proud of him sticking to it and finishing this even with his job, family, and church responsibilities.  It will be so nice to have him home in the afternoons and free from having to study and program things!

Sloan is going to MDO a few days a week so I can work.  He seems to like it.  He LOVES packing a lunch and wearing a backpack.  He is not to keen, however, on the dropping off part. 

It is a bit mundane around here but it is never slow.  We get up everyday and follow the same routine each day.  It might sound dull but the rhythm of it is oddly comforting.  I like that I know each day what is expected and how to accomplish it. I like that our "surprises" and "twists" are pretty status quo and life stays reasonably level.  If you could hope to accomplish anything in life I would think that, more than things and money, this would be it.  To have an active family life that is predictable and rewarding. Filled with the sweetest surprises, like butterfly kisses and childish play tempered with the standardobstacles that are not too big for our God to see us through.  It is a safe place in Him.

pictures from this morning

 

apparently clara jane thinks every morning should be a photoshoot ... this mama is not complaining

 

 

 

First Day of First Grade

 

you can see lots more pictures here! http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=2019232&id=1175184523&ref=nf

bad day for social media

I keep getting errors on Facebook and Twitter has been down all day ... makes you wonder

Facebook Update ... LOL!

Molly Colletti Bridges they did not have a chef/cook as an option so i just chose lunch for starters LOL

THINGS I WANT RIGHT NOW! by Molly

1. Lunch
2. Cricut Expression Electronic Cutter
3. canon lenses
4. Nanny
5. New Furniture

Sunday Confessions v7.12

I confess ... I have a huge pile of laundry.  Well three actually.  Some to fold, some to put away and some to wash.

I confess ... I have scrapbooking on the brain.

I confess ... I have spent too much time working lately but that I am getting closer to being caught up.

I confess ... I have not been eating very healthy or getting enough exercise pair that with the fact that I think my thyroid replacement horomone is too low and I am feeling pretty gross.

I confess ... that I really want to spend $99 we really don't have exta on the Cricut Machine at Michael's this month.

I confess ... I have not gone to the pool enough this summer.

I confess ... I should go to the doctor and get things checked out with my meds but i hate lab work and driving to the hopsital.

I confess ... I am ready for school to start.

I confess ... I have not been blogging enough

What is your confession for the week?

Clara Jane has BIG newth (news)!

The tooth fairy is going to have to file for a bailout from the US government because Clara Jane lost TWO teeth tonight! 

 

They have be oh so loose for a while but tonight was the night ... both of came them out in one epic night.

Want to know the best part?  (for me anyway) She has the most adorable LISP.  I have been thinking of S words like Sunshine for her to entertain us with. 

She just said: "Mrs Dickenth will love that i losth bof my teef" (translation: Mrs. Dickens will love that I lost both my teeth).

And then "why can't i thay etheth?" (translation: Why can't I say S's?)

Ah ... well there is the update ... now i gotta get two very excited kids back in bed.

P.S. Sloan is walking around proclaiming that his teeth are falling out too! LOL

P.S.S. Sloan has started referring to Clara Jane as "My Sister" and addressing her as "Sweetie!" *Love*