Wasting Time??

Getting an IPad for Christmas may not have been the best idea. I can't seem to stop playing Settlers of Catan! I can't seem to win either so I'm not sure why I continue to try. At least I feel better when it's Zach that beats me instead of a computer player. And, thankfully, Gloria s feeling better so things should finally get back to normal tomorrow. Whatever that is...

Makin' It Count. . .

So it's no secret that we are busy.  Mostly because I complain about it here all the time.  In all of the busy-ness I DO manage to see my kids and get them where they need to go and hug them as we pass in the hallway but I DON'T always live in the moment.  Gloria told me not too long ago that I always give her a few pats on the back when I'm ready to move on from a hug.  Quick squeeze, pat, pat, pat, move on.  She wants me to hug her like I mean it.  I think about that now when I hug her and try to just enjoy the moment instead of rushing to get on to the next thing.  The next thing can wait.  It won't be long before the hugs and moments spent in her company will be few and far between. 

This week I had a few chances to "practice what I preach". 

A few weeks ago Gloria signed me up for a field trip and looked at me with those eyes when she asked me to sign the form that said I would be willing to accompany her entire class on a full-day field trip.  I'm sure I rolled my eyes a few times before signing and then I began to silently dread it.  As the date grew closer I did a lot of self talk, "It's my turn. . . It's important to Gloria. . . It won't be so bad. . . It's just one day out of my life. . . It will be an adventure. . . yada, yada, yada. . . "  Part of my problem, honestly, is that I'm not a big fan of small talk.  If I'm around people that I know and am comfortable with, I can talk about all kinds of stuff.  But if you put me in a room full of strangers, there is only so much I can come up with about the weather. 
But the biggest thing was, I didn't think I could miss work.  And actually I think I got to the heart of it when I told Rob the night before that I just didn't want to spend the day thinking about work instead of being fully present on the field trip.  I'm a multi-tasker and I'm not good at being in the moment.  There is always something else to do, something else to think about, somewhere else to be.  And believe me, I know that things will not fall apart if I don't show up at work.  But I made Rob a big list just to make sure. . .  (I have a problem, I know. . . ).
Friday morning, bright and early, Gloria's class, her teacher and 3 other parents besides myself, walked to the bus stop and waited for the City Bus.  We had a 45 minute bus ride that would take us down town. . .
Once we arrived downtown, we walked from 8th and Main to The Discovery Center on 2nd and Myrtle:
(You can see it on the map right here)

After the Discovery Center, we walked through Julia Davis Park to BSU for a tour of the chemistry lab.  We looked at cancer cells through a microscope and heard about the research that is being done to cure it. . .

And then we took the long walk back down Capital and along 9th Street to the bus stop at 8th and Main. . .

And another 45 minute bus ride. . .

By the time we arrived back at the school it was time to head back out to Meridian and The Boys and Girls Club so Zach could put in his service project hours (he is really enjoying it, by the way).

This brings me to the next chance I had to enjoy the moment.  A couple of weeks ago, the Hutchings had invited us out to their house to roast dogs and marshmallows but the weather had not been very cooperative.  We made plans to make it happen Friday night and, in spite of my tired, dragging feet, we headed out to Columbia Village and had a great time with Hutchings and Hickersons!!

Gloria had a chance to love all over Eva while the rest of us sat around the fire and talked about everything.  No agenda, no plan and pretty much nothing was off limits.  Seriously.  It was lovely!

And THEN, if that wasn't enough living-in-the-moment, I had also made plans with Steph to go to Corri's play at Capital High School on Saturday night.  My mind has a tendency to find excuses to not make plans because it seems like I always disappoint people when I can't make it but this time I was determined to make a plan and stick with it.  So glad that I did.  We went to the play, Corri did a great job AND it was fun hanging out with Steph!

And THEN, when I got home, Zach texted and asked if I wanted to play a game.  That's something that I rarely turn down.  He has so little time to play Catan anymore with his busy school schedule that, even though we didn't start the game until 11 p.m., I agreed.  We played until after 1 a.m. . .

And now, I'm sitting in my office on a Sunday afternoon attempting to do my taxes but mostly just enjoying the silence.  Making it count is exhausting.  But worth it. . .

Christmas Eve . . .

We traditionally spend Christmas eve with my side of the family at my parent's house. . .

It's very low key and comfortable. . .

I had a hard time finding my Christmas spirit this year so it really wasn't until we walked in the door of my parent's house that I began to feel that old familiar anticipation that only Christmas can stir. . .

It isn't about the gifts or the tree or flashy holiday lights. . .

It shouldn't be about how much stuff we get or how far in debt we can go. . .

But sometimes it feels like that's what it's all about. . . 

Right up until I walked into my parent's house, I found myself humming along with Cindy Loo Who, "Where are you Christmas, why can't I find you. . . "

But as we sat around and laughed and played games, my Christmas spirit kicked in and I sat back and enjoyed myself!!

I've been blessed with a family that's easy to be with.  My sister is my best friend and Dave has always fit perfectly into our lives. . .

My nephews are both good kids that are fun to be around. . .

Ethan was a good sport during the White Elephant gift exchange. . .

He kept his eye on the biggest package and was thrilled when he finally got to open it. . .

Except he wasn't so thrilled when the prize turned out to be an oversized, yellow, stuffed bunny!!!

Spencer seemed to be fine with it though. . .

It gave us all a good laugh, anyway!!

The gift exchange is simple and meaningful. . .

It's so nice to have my parent's living nearby.  I realize that I'm very fortunate to have such a good relationship with them both. . .

My mom made me an album of family pictures from 2011.  I rarely print out pictures for myself since I put them all up here on the blog so it was very special to have photos in front of me without having to click or scroll!!

We topped off the evening with a card game.  I honestly never get tired of playing cards.  We played a lot of games growing up and I'm pretty sure that helped keep me out of trouble as well as giving me a closer relationship with my mom and dad that I wouldn't trade for anything. . .

By the time we got home, I felt much better about the meaning of Christmas. . .

My gifts were wrapped, my house was clean and festive and I was very much looking forward to spending more time with family on Christmas Day. . .

Samuel School and Misc. . .

I'm still a bit behind and can't post the quiz trip pics until I clear my cache so here's a quick misc post of bits and pieces that I just might want to remember someday when I turn my blog into a book. . .

First and most importantly, Gloria went to her very first Samuel School (meaning, I don't think it will be her last) on October 7th with Ian, Gwen and Karla.  I took another road trip up to McCall to deliver the kids on a Friday.  The trip was short and sweet and would have been uneventful if only I hadn't decided to speed up too quickly on the way out of Horseshoe Bend.  Yep, I got pulled over for going 49 in a 35.  Thankfully, I got off with a warning!!  I believe that's called undeserved mercy! 

Gloria had a great weekend, made some new friends and learned some important things in the process. . .

I love McCall. . .

I went to The Knitting Factory on Saturday afternoon (the 8th) for this event:

 Andrew is doing some very cool things with his art and it was fun to see him displaying and selling it at the art show. . .

This next thing probably won't mean anything to anyone who doesn't play both Settlers of Catan (FUN board game) AND Resistance (Video game on the PS3) but it deserves a mention here anyway.  Zach plays a lot of Resistance.  A LOT.  I do NOT play Resistance and the one time I let him talk me into it, I failed miserably.  The only way I can describe it is to say it's kind of like Capture The Flag only with guns.  And blood.  In a deserted town with vehicles that you have to blow up.  With your guns. 

Anyway, while Gloria was away at Samuel School, I told Zach I would play a game of Settlers of Catan (NOT Resistance) with him if he had time.  He said he had been thinking of a new way to set up the game that would be really fun so, in spite of my reservations when he alters my favorite game, I told him I would play it however he set it up.  It took him a very long time to get the board designed just how he wanted it and I noticed we were playing with the wagons so I was looking forward to a fun evening.  HOWEVER, he likes to alter the rules to fit his game board configurations and SOMETIMES it works out great. 

This time wasn't one of those times.  I could tell right away that it wasn't going to be nearly as much fun as I had hoped.  In fact, it was really not fun at all.  It took me a little while to understand what his idea was but about 15 minutes into the game I realized what he had done:  He set up Catan (my favorite game) to mimic Resistance (NOT my favorite game!).  I'm a little competitive when it comes to games.  Maybe even a little more than a little competitive.  I'm bad at Resistance and even worse at Settlers of Resistance!  To say the least, I was not happy.  I was losing badly with very little hope of making a comeback.  The game lasted several hours (I'm no quitter!) and even improved a little bit but he won, hands down, in the end.  He may have ruined Catan for me forever. . .

I will say, in his defense, that if you like Capture the Flag and Resistance, this would be really fun.  His rules made sense and, once you figured it out, there was a lot of strategy involved but it just wasn't my cup of tea. . .

And, last but not least, this is Zach's latest drawing.  Look closely. . .

Sometimes I wonder about that boy. . .


In conclusion. . .


I love my kids. . .

The End.

Lull. . .

So. . . We are having this weird 2 week lull right in the middle of our busy season.  Last year at this time, we were doing this:


So I'm certainly not complaining about not having to do that. 

The weird thing is, for the first time in I-don't-know-how-many years, I'm almost bored.  Almost.

My house is (mostly) clean.
My laundry is done.
My paperwork is (almost) caught up.
My bills are (mostly) paid.
Zach's BSU stuff seems to be falling into place.
Phone calls have been returned, quotes have been e-mailed, invoices have been paid.
Even the shop is (somewhat) clean.  Well, the part my desk is in anyway.

We've been playing Catan.  In the middle of July. 

We've even been doing yard work.  I know. It's weird.  But good. 

August is just around the corner and then everything will get back to normal and I'll wonder why my house isn't clean and my laundry isn't done. . .