Remember Today 9.30.08

{remember} the chaos of soccer picture night anf my gratefulness that Perry was home to keep L & M. Seeing and chatting with so many--a reminder of how much I love the small-town feel of where I live.

Remember Today 9.29.08

{remember} documenting day one of a week in my life--taking pictures at the grocery store. Totally kooky, but so glad I now have pics of this weekly chore (and I was fully prepared to say I was "on assignment" if anyone asked--no one did, thank goodness!).

Remember Today 9.28.08

{remember} dinner at my parents with the boys--a meal I don't have to cook just tastes so much better! Talking my Dad into making me one of these.

A Week in the Life

I have wanted to do this project for quite sometime. I've taken notes for several "day in the life" layouts that are scrawled on various pieces of paper and in various notebooks; a couple are even safely tucked away in this blog. But now I'm going to do it, thanks to my go-to-girl for constant inspiration, Ali Edwards. So join in with me and document a week in your life. Check out Ali's blog for all the specs.

And if you see me out and about toting my camera and taking pics at Target and the grocery store, please don't laugh!

Remember Today 9.27.08

{remember} a rainy day spent cleaning the house and doing a little scrapbooking--Life is Good.

Remember Today 9.26.08

{remember} finally being able to take the boys to see The Band at a 7:00 show--great music and so fun to watch L & C watching The Band and dance with M on my hip. If anyone could have told these guys 20-something years ago that they would be playing for their kids and their friends' kids, they would have never believed it--totally cool!

Remember Today 9.25.08

{remember} rushing off to the doctor's office at 7:00 pm with all three boys to find Camden with a viral respiratory illness. 75 minutes, a Nebulizer treatment, and 2 scripts later I return home, get the boys to bed, and crawl into bed to watch the season premiere of Grey's (dare I say, my favorite show may be back after two years of yuck--one of which I didn't even bother to watch).

Remember Today 9.24.08

{remember} a blessed hour of pure peace, solitude and quiet at my town's library alone in the grown-up section--just me, my beloved laptop, and some Photoshop Elements playtime--bliss!

Remember Today 9.22.08

{remember} the pride on Maddox's face (and mine) as he swam for most of swim class without me holding him.

Camden's New "Get Rich Quick Scheme"

After discussing that the boys could earn bonus allowance for big jobs like cleaning up the entire playroom, Camden suggested, "Why don't we just mess up the playroom so we can clean it up and get money?"

Remember Today 9.21.08

{remember} Camden addressing his friend's parents by Mr. and Mrs. and thanking them for the party without being told to--so proud of him!

Remember Today 9.20.08

{remember} Logan's rock wall climbing class

All in a Day's Work

Today was just one of those crazy, jam-packed weekend days. So I'll keep it all safe here for a future scrapbook page. Take a deep breath, here goes:

7:14 am: wake in Maddox's bed to him crawling on top of me and exclaiming "Look, mommy, it's a bunk bed." He's not only clever, he's hungry.

Kisses for the other boys and downstairs to make Cinnabon Muffins for breakfast, unload and reload the dishwasher.

Upstairs to take a shower and make sure the boys are ready. Rush to the bedroom window to Perry's calls to "come quick, look."

8:55 am: out the door with L & C for L's rock wall climbing class at the Y

9:15: sitting in a sweltering, sun-filled room unzipping and organizing digital files on my computer while watching Logan make complex knots, and helping Camden with his math workbook pages.

9:45: still unzipping in between jumping up to take shots of Logan climbing and summiting the wall

11:15: back home, wash dishes from muffin baking

11:40: retrieve L & C from the pile of dirt in the neighbors driveway where they've been playing with trucks, scrub their hands and feet (did I mention they took their shoes off while there)

12:00: make, serve, and clean up lunch for the three boys and myself. Fold laundry so boys can put it away. Get Logan and Camden in soccer uniforms

1:10: back in the car with Logan and off to the soccer field for his 1:30 game

1:35: have a slight panic attack before I settle into the R & R that being sans kiddos at soccer brings. Wonderful to see Logan play soccer, and actually be able to pay 100% attention to the game, and cheer him on.

2:55: home again, speed clean the kitchen, make two beds that didn't get made in the morning rush, pick up family room and playroom, put away clean and now dry dishes (I don't believe in towel drying dishes, the air works jsut fine!)

4:00 gather up jackets and pack camera and other supplies for an afternoon out.

4:13: Logan comes to me with a stuffy nose and cough and starts to cry when he says he can't go to the fair because he doesn't fell well.

4:14: Perry, Camden and Maddox come home to find me holding a crying Logan. Give Logan Motrin and cough medicine and hope for the best.

4:17: rest on the couch comforting Logan, cancel plans to meet friends at the fair, and turn on X Box for boys to play Cat in the Hat.

5:15 Meds have kicked in and Logan says he's well enough to go the fair, call friends to tell them we'll see them there, and head out.

5:35: Lots of games, jumpies, friends, food, and prizes for all

8:00: home with three tired boys and two exhausted parents, washing up, jammies, toothbrushing, books for Maddox, looking over "the loot" with L & C, prayers and favorites of the day, bed. Ahh. . .

Remember Today 9.19.08

{remember} catching a glimpse of Maddox through the Child Watch window as he gazed up at the head teacher with an expression I had never seen on him before: a cross between complete and total awe, a bit of fear and reservation, and a slight smile.

Yummy fall food

I love fall. Back to school, brilliant colors, crunchy leaves, apple picking, cider and homemade donuts, jeans and cozy sweaters--the list goes on and on. Here is a super yummy delicious recipe for my oldest's most favoritest dessert in the whole wide galaxy (he even requested them for his birthday instead of cake one year!)

Paul's Pumpkin Bars

4 eggs
1 2/3 c sugar
1 c oil
1 16oz can pumpkin
2 c flour
2 t baking powder
2 t cinnamon
1 t baking soda
1 t salt

Beat together eggs, granulated sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. Stir together flour, baking powder, cinamon, baking soda, & salt. Add to pumpkin mixture and mix thoroughly. Spread batter in an ungreased 15 x 10 x 1 pan. Bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes (test with toothpick)

Frosting:
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c butter or margarine, softened
1 t vanilla
2 c powdered sugar

Cream together cream cheese and butter. Stir in vanilla. Add powdered sugar, a little at a time, beating well until mixture is smooth. Spread on cooled bars. Cut into squares and try to stop yourself from eating the entire pan full.

Remember Today 9.18.08

{remember} remembering about picture day 15 minutes before the bus comes--quick change of shirt (the shorts won't be in the photo anyway) and using a little miracle in a bottle (Downy Wrinkle Releaser) to smooth out the wrinkles.

Remember Today 9.17.08

{remember} Maddox's first day at "school" and how totally and surprisingly awesome he did!! Zippo tears, playdough, train tracks, and an art project--couldn't have been more fun for him. And his teachers said he was so completely proud and excited of everything (every little thing) he did: "Look what I made! Look what I did!" So happy and proud of my little guy.

Remember Today 9.16.08

{remember} enjoying the last days of summer--the boys playing on the swingset while I cook dinner on the grill. Soaking it up!

Remember Today 9.15.08

{remember} finding Logan "chilling" in his bedroom listening to 92.9 with his traffic light flashing and looking at a Pokemon book (a glimpse into the teenage years).

Wake up call

I woke up this morning and realized I had missed the deadline for the Purple Onion Designs design team search. I was disappointed, not because I thought I would be selected, but because now I will just never know. But then I took a look at two of the people (here and here) who have already made the team and I feel much better. They are two terrifically talented artists, and my regret is totally assuaged by the fact that I didn't stand a chance against them. Guess I need to put my efforts and time into more creativity and actual producing and less time thinking about what I could be.

Remember Today 9.14.08

{remember} Maddox's first day of Sunday School (some tears, some smiles, and a big boy project!), a birthday party for Logan's friend, and a spur-of-the-moment playdate with Camden's classmate--a great day!

Remember Today 9.13.08

{remember} another weekend day on the soccer

Remember Today 9.11.08

{remember} Maddox telling me matter of factly after blowing his nose into a tissue, "Next time we have boogas in our nose we can just take them out with our fingers." Eeeew, and what's with the third person bit?!

Remember Today 9.10.08

{remember} how grown up Maddox is getting, how he loves art projects and playing with Camden when C gets home from school. He has really matured during the past several weeks.

Remember Today 9.9.08

{remember} Camden's complete excitement about a playdate at a friend's house (a girl on his soccer team). Got off the bus, put on his watch and lip gloss from Santa, combed his hair--too cute. I'm sure he would have splashed on aftershave if he had some!

Remember Today 9.8.08

{remember} something about each boy today:

Logan--the whole "no one loves their mom like boys do" thing has started (finally--only took 7 years!). Logan told me I didn't have to read to him if my throat hurt, he would read to himself. And he offered me his chair at Camden's soccer practice: "Mom, you can sit in the chair, I'll sit in the grass." Hold on while I dust of my princess tiara, I haven't worn it since 1991 (a year after Perry and I started dating).

Camden--giving me the full report on the Patriot's game including Tom Brady's injury. "He had to go to the hospital. I want to go visit him in the hospital. They still won 10 to 17. You know what I think? I think the rest of the players played their hardest and did their best because Tom Brady wasn't there." When he heard that Brady would have surgery and be out for the rest of the season, his jaw dropped with a look of total devastation then all he could do was pout his lips and shake his head in sorrow.

Maddox--getting through his entire swim class with just a tiny bit of shaking (not sure if it was from cold or nerves), a small amount of death grip on my fingers, a little teense of arm lynching of my neck, and absolutely no real tears. He did ask me several times "when this gonna be all done?" He even jumped in five times despite asking me hours before the class if he would have to jump in and repeating "I don't want to jump in. How will I get in the pool?" So he survived, I think he even really enjoyed it--took some doing to get him out of the water when the class ended--and he wants to do it again next week.

Remember Today 9.7.08

{remember} listening to the boys hootin' & hollerin' while watching the Patriots game together--this is what our home will sound like every Sunday for the next 5 months.

Remember Today 9.6.08

{remember} watching both boys tear it up on the soccer fields during their first games of the season (Logan's first game ever). I am officially a "soccer mom," just please no mini-van!

Remember Today 9.5.08

{remember} hearing Logan say he had a great day at school, that he ate his lunch, and that he didn't feel sick; finding out that someone has a "crush" on Camden (thankful that it's not just him going after all the girls!); and Maddox letting me go to Pilates while he held it together in Child Watch (thanks, Love, I needed it!).

Remember Today 9.4.08

{remember} eating lunch with Logan at school and feeling relieved that we got to the bottom of his "bellyache."

Remember Today 9.3.08

{remember} having to pick up Logan from school sick for the second day in a row. It's too early for this sickness stuff; it's going to be a loooong winter.

Remember Today 9.2.08

{remember} being grateful that I pushed myself tonight to update my blog, and to shift focus to this moment, the here and now.

Taking each day as it comes is the true art of living

"There's no such thing as time, only this very minute, and I'm in it. Thank the Lord." ~Joyce Grenfell

Random Ramblings

Sitting on my balance ball (the same one I labored through three births on)
eating a mug of Edie's loaded chocolate mint brownie ice cream~~yum!~~
Really thinking I should just go to bed and get a good night's sleep,
but knowing I'll be angry with myself in the morning
Because I'll have accomplished absolutely nothing.

So here I am listening to Just Stand Up on You Tube
(go check it out if you haven't heard it yet)
and feeling the flood of trapped inspiration,
the deluge of ideas of projects to work on:
craft fair items to make
class ideas and samples,
the art journal I want to start,
a design team application to complete
the drawerful of photos dating back years,
and the even more abundant number of digital photos that sits locked in my computer.

But I know it's all part of the cycle.
There's the "lull" where the mojo seems gone for good,
the "thinking" where the ideas start to pop up
the "flood" where the inspiration is found everywhere (where I am now)
then the "do it" stage where all that thinking and inspiration is put into actual projects.
And, then of course, it's back to the lull because a girl needs to recharge those creativity batteries (this is also when I watch lots of tv!)

The key is to keep the cycle moving, keep it fluid, spinning like a biCYCLE. Sometimes it's easy to get stuck in the thinking, and especially the flood because it feels good to have all those ideas flying through your head. But it's time to move to the "do it" because you can miss the boat and fall right back into the lull--I'm talking from experience here. Nike was onto something with their "Just do it" tagline. So now I will Just Stand Up and Do It.

Remember Today 9.1.08

{remember} a better mood, a gorgeous day, and absolutely no where to be. And knowing that Perry is safely home from a night away with the guys