Thank you, Veterans.
Your courage, strength, and sacrifice mean more than you will ever know.
Leftover Candy Cookies
1 day ago
Friday, November 11, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
Day 31 - A Thought to Ponder
"You have to make peace with yourself.
The key is to find the harmony in what you have."
Naomi Watts
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Day 30 - The 5 Languages
I have a niece who is somewhat challenging. She is extremely smart (maybe too smart) and can be very stubborn. And, she can throw a fit like none I've ever seen before. Don't get me wrong, I love her dearly. She's sweet, fun, spunky, and awesomely hilarious. But, when she gets in one of her moods, it's sometimes best to just duck and take cover.
In an effort to try to create a more peaceful environment, my brother did one of the things he does best. Research. He came across some books to help better understand your family. They're called "The 5 Love Languages". There are several books including ones for couples, apologies, children, and parents of teenagers.
The 5 languages are: Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, and Acts of Service. Everybody needs to receive a little of each, but after taking a quiz, you'll find out which two are the most important to you. Those two are the languages that you need to "hear" the most from those around you.
The books go into more depth about everything, but you can take the quizzes here for free! We haven't read the books, but the boys, hubby, and I have all taken the online quizzes, and we're so glad we did. People tend to do for others what they want done for them. Different people have different needs, though, and these quizzes will help you find what your loved ones need from you.
I can tell you that since we took these quizzes, we have been able to create a much more harmonious family dynamic.
In an effort to try to create a more peaceful environment, my brother did one of the things he does best. Research. He came across some books to help better understand your family. They're called "The 5 Love Languages". There are several books including ones for couples, apologies, children, and parents of teenagers.
The 5 languages are: Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, and Acts of Service. Everybody needs to receive a little of each, but after taking a quiz, you'll find out which two are the most important to you. Those two are the languages that you need to "hear" the most from those around you.
The books go into more depth about everything, but you can take the quizzes here for free! We haven't read the books, but the boys, hubby, and I have all taken the online quizzes, and we're so glad we did. People tend to do for others what they want done for them. Different people have different needs, though, and these quizzes will help you find what your loved ones need from you.
I can tell you that since we took these quizzes, we have been able to create a much more harmonious family dynamic.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Day 29 - Make Memories
Not so long ago, the boys and I had a wonderful conversation that nearly brought me to tears. They had gotten together, and decided to sit me down for a talk. The way that day had been going, I was expecting them to tell me something that would give me more stress.
They looked so serious when we sat down at the table to talk. Then, they told me how much they appreciate the memories I help make for them. They love that I went to their scout camps with them this summer, and they love it when I take them to the local museum and the living history museum about 45 minutes away (buying a membership for one also gives you a membership for the other - probably the best $45 we spend every year). They enjoy the picnics we take and the games we play.
Making memories with and for your kids isn't difficult at all, and it doesn't have to be expensive. Kids just want to spend time with their parents. If you're at a loss for ideas, just think back to when you were a kid, and try to do the things you remember. Don't get stressed out, and don't try to make everything just perfect. Learn to laugh when things don't go as planned (like when you get the plates and food all set out for a picnic, and the sky that had been perfectly clear all day decides to open the flood gates), and let the kids help make the plans.
They looked so serious when we sat down at the table to talk. Then, they told me how much they appreciate the memories I help make for them. They love that I went to their scout camps with them this summer, and they love it when I take them to the local museum and the living history museum about 45 minutes away (buying a membership for one also gives you a membership for the other - probably the best $45 we spend every year). They enjoy the picnics we take and the games we play.
Making memories with and for your kids isn't difficult at all, and it doesn't have to be expensive. Kids just want to spend time with their parents. If you're at a loss for ideas, just think back to when you were a kid, and try to do the things you remember. Don't get stressed out, and don't try to make everything just perfect. Learn to laugh when things don't go as planned (like when you get the plates and food all set out for a picnic, and the sky that had been perfectly clear all day decides to open the flood gates), and let the kids help make the plans.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Day 28 - Soak It All In
One of the best pieces of advice I received when I got marries was to take just a couple of minutes for yourself, and just look around and soak it all in.
Every once in a while, I still do that. I'd love to remind myself every day how lucky I am, but I get busy, so I it's not often that I have a chance and remember to take a few moments to really soak it all in. "It" is my life.
We're not rich, and we have our fair share of struggles, but my husband and I are able to provide our boys with a warm bed at night and we can keep food on the table. While Bug and Awesome don't get everything on their Birthday and Christmas lists, they do get enough to make them feel as though it was a good Birthday or Christmas, by 7- and 10-year-old standards.
We're luckier than a lot of people, and it's important that we all know and appreciate this little fact. The important thin is that we're happy. And, it makes me especially happy when I catch my husband or one of the boys just sitting back and soaking it all in.
Every once in a while, I still do that. I'd love to remind myself every day how lucky I am, but I get busy, so I it's not often that I have a chance and remember to take a few moments to really soak it all in. "It" is my life.
We're not rich, and we have our fair share of struggles, but my husband and I are able to provide our boys with a warm bed at night and we can keep food on the table. While Bug and Awesome don't get everything on their Birthday and Christmas lists, they do get enough to make them feel as though it was a good Birthday or Christmas, by 7- and 10-year-old standards.
We're luckier than a lot of people, and it's important that we all know and appreciate this little fact. The important thin is that we're happy. And, it makes me especially happy when I catch my husband or one of the boys just sitting back and soaking it all in.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Day 27 - Know Your Limitations
I had all but 1 day of my 31 Days planned, and at least most of those posts written (or at least started). Except today.
Last Friday and Saturday were the dates for a local Haunted House. My sis-in-law is part of the town's improvement committee, and since we did such an AWESOME job for Bug's Halloween themed 7th birthday party (including a haunted house we set up in 1 day in a small conference room), she was asked, about 4 years ago, to plan one as a fundraiser.
We get to use an old 100+ year old school whose last classes were held in 2006-2007. The first year, we used the basement, but we now use the upstairs area that includes a couple of classrooms, a gym, and a stage (and a few long hallways).
I usually have a role in our haunted house (I missed one year due to migraines), and we have a blast. Each year gets better and better, even though attendance was down a little this year. Usually the farmers are finishing up the harvesting season by now. This year, they're right in the middle of it. People have also finally realized that we don't tolerate rude and disorderly drunks, which has also cut down a little on the attendance. I think this is the first year we haven't had to kick anybody out! Yay!
Jigglypuff Snugglypoops (left) has been our fearless leader the last 2 years. He's played by my rock star nephew, Holden. He's incredibly witty and hilarious, which makes it hard for us to keep a straight face when we're trying to scare people! Jigglypuff Snugglypoops (or "Killer" for short) leads our guests through their worst nightmares (and an UBER AWESOME vortex - I'll have to see if I have video of it somewhere, it's soooo cool!) so they don't get lost. This year, we also had Bongina (right) bringing up the rear. No matter how hard Killer tries to keep the groups together, there are always stragglers, so we have found that it's best to have someone follow behind. Bongina was created and played by J's fearless uncle Mike.
The HH ran Friday and Saturday night from 8 to midnight both nights. When we say 8-midnight, it means that as long as people get their names on the list before midnight, they get to come through. This means that we end up running till 1 or 2am. And, after visiting with the other haunters and munching away on soups, crackers, candy, and cookies, you don't get home till at least an hour after the last group of hauntees comes through.
If you're like me, and are usually in bed and asleep by 10pm most nights, this will kick your butt. For a week. I'm still recovering, which means the housework has been suffering a little. So, yeah. I'm definitely learning what my limitations are. But, I do think that a one week hangover is definitely a worthy price to pay for being able to scare the bejeezus out of people!
Last Friday and Saturday were the dates for a local Haunted House. My sis-in-law is part of the town's improvement committee, and since we did such an AWESOME job for Bug's Halloween themed 7th birthday party (including a haunted house we set up in 1 day in a small conference room), she was asked, about 4 years ago, to plan one as a fundraiser.
We get to use an old 100+ year old school whose last classes were held in 2006-2007. The first year, we used the basement, but we now use the upstairs area that includes a couple of classrooms, a gym, and a stage (and a few long hallways).
I usually have a role in our haunted house (I missed one year due to migraines), and we have a blast. Each year gets better and better, even though attendance was down a little this year. Usually the farmers are finishing up the harvesting season by now. This year, they're right in the middle of it. People have also finally realized that we don't tolerate rude and disorderly drunks, which has also cut down a little on the attendance. I think this is the first year we haven't had to kick anybody out! Yay!
Jigglypuff Snugglypoops (left) has been our fearless leader the last 2 years. He's played by my rock star nephew, Holden. He's incredibly witty and hilarious, which makes it hard for us to keep a straight face when we're trying to scare people! Jigglypuff Snugglypoops (or "Killer" for short) leads our guests through their worst nightmares (and an UBER AWESOME vortex - I'll have to see if I have video of it somewhere, it's soooo cool!) so they don't get lost. This year, we also had Bongina (right) bringing up the rear. No matter how hard Killer tries to keep the groups together, there are always stragglers, so we have found that it's best to have someone follow behind. Bongina was created and played by J's fearless uncle Mike.
The HH ran Friday and Saturday night from 8 to midnight both nights. When we say 8-midnight, it means that as long as people get their names on the list before midnight, they get to come through. This means that we end up running till 1 or 2am. And, after visiting with the other haunters and munching away on soups, crackers, candy, and cookies, you don't get home till at least an hour after the last group of hauntees comes through.
If you're like me, and are usually in bed and asleep by 10pm most nights, this will kick your butt. For a week. I'm still recovering, which means the housework has been suffering a little. So, yeah. I'm definitely learning what my limitations are. But, I do think that a one week hangover is definitely a worthy price to pay for being able to scare the bejeezus out of people!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Day 26 - Go Off The Grid
Several years ago, I believe it was 2005-2006, we had an ice storm. It was baaaad. While the town 15 miles away got some ice, they didn't get what we did. We lost power for several days. I would have loved to take my family into town to stay at my uncle's house, but it was impossible to get there. We barely made it to the in-laws' house 5 miles away.
Why did we leave the safety and coldness of our own home? Because they had an attached garage, and a wood stove in that garage. There were 11 of us living in a 2-bedroom house for about 3 days (my sis-in-law & her family were there, too). That 5 mile drive was one of the longest and scariest drives of my life. The road was covered in ice, so we didn't dare go any faster than about 20 miles/hour. And, as if the ice wasn't bad enough, the phone/electric poles had snapped in half, so we were also trying to avoid the poles and lines on the road.
Even though almost all of us have gas heating, our thermostats are electric. Jeremy, the boys, and I slept, huddled together, under a pile of blankets, in two twin beds pushed together, and we were still cold. I don't think it ever got above 0 degrees the entire time we were at the in-laws'.
My father-in-law & oldest nephew slept out in the garage to keep the wood stove loaded. It helped a bit, especially when they got the garage up to 105 degrees!
We spent our 2005-2006 New Year's Eve in the garage, and we all went to bed by 9:00, because we got bored! That made me realize how much we depend on electronics to entertain us. Don't get me wrong. I love the internet, Netflix, and my ipod, but we learned some valuable lessons.
Despite the cold, the boys had a blast. Well, Bug did. Awesome was only 20 months old at the time. He seemed to have a fun time, though! We all dug out our cast iron pots & pans so we could cook on the wood stove in the garage. I think we ate better during that ice storm than we had in a long time. When you cook with cast iron, you have no choice but to cook with real food! We played several board games, and spent a lot of time just chatting and hanging out.
Since then, J, the boys, and I try going off the grid one or two evenings a month. All electricity (except what is needed for heating and cooling) is shut off. When it gets dark, we light candles, and we just hang out. We do what we did during that storm. Just play games and hang out. Sometimes, I teach Bug & Awesome a simple song on the piano, too. It's just a good time, and it really helps us reconnect and grow as a family.
Going off the grid is not only beneficial to the environment, but it is a great way to recharge our family.
*I took several pictures during that ice storm, but I'm not sure if I have any on a CD. I'll look, and will upload any if I can find them.
Why did we leave the safety and coldness of our own home? Because they had an attached garage, and a wood stove in that garage. There were 11 of us living in a 2-bedroom house for about 3 days (my sis-in-law & her family were there, too). That 5 mile drive was one of the longest and scariest drives of my life. The road was covered in ice, so we didn't dare go any faster than about 20 miles/hour. And, as if the ice wasn't bad enough, the phone/electric poles had snapped in half, so we were also trying to avoid the poles and lines on the road.
Even though almost all of us have gas heating, our thermostats are electric. Jeremy, the boys, and I slept, huddled together, under a pile of blankets, in two twin beds pushed together, and we were still cold. I don't think it ever got above 0 degrees the entire time we were at the in-laws'.
My father-in-law & oldest nephew slept out in the garage to keep the wood stove loaded. It helped a bit, especially when they got the garage up to 105 degrees!
We spent our 2005-2006 New Year's Eve in the garage, and we all went to bed by 9:00, because we got bored! That made me realize how much we depend on electronics to entertain us. Don't get me wrong. I love the internet, Netflix, and my ipod, but we learned some valuable lessons.
Despite the cold, the boys had a blast. Well, Bug did. Awesome was only 20 months old at the time. He seemed to have a fun time, though! We all dug out our cast iron pots & pans so we could cook on the wood stove in the garage. I think we ate better during that ice storm than we had in a long time. When you cook with cast iron, you have no choice but to cook with real food! We played several board games, and spent a lot of time just chatting and hanging out.
Since then, J, the boys, and I try going off the grid one or two evenings a month. All electricity (except what is needed for heating and cooling) is shut off. When it gets dark, we light candles, and we just hang out. We do what we did during that storm. Just play games and hang out. Sometimes, I teach Bug & Awesome a simple song on the piano, too. It's just a good time, and it really helps us reconnect and grow as a family.
Going off the grid is not only beneficial to the environment, but it is a great way to recharge our family.
*I took several pictures during that ice storm, but I'm not sure if I have any on a CD. I'll look, and will upload any if I can find them.
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