Out my window: 27 and dark and dreary. Most of the snow melted during a warm up before Christmas so it isn't even white and pretty outside. My only hope is that this means a short winter and long spring. So that we can move in nice weather (please, God?).
Clothing myself in: Jeans, long sleeved T, short sleeved sweater on top of that and a long sleeved cardigan on top of that. Lol. Brrrrrr.
Life with kids: We had a "come to Jesus" talk with the big boys last week about school and how I needed their cooperation or else we couldn't do this. Granted, there were only a couple of school days left before our break, but they seemed to take it to heart. I am hoping that they will be refreshed after our break and ready to buckle down again. I don't need perfection. Just cooperation.
The girls have been delightful lately. Really, I think the kids tag team on who is going to be the squeaky wheel. I guess it's better than them all going wild at the same time?
George is doing fairly well lately. I am trying to get down on his level more when he is acting up and it is very effective, but it's difficult when I am trying to do other things. Oh well, no one said this parenting gig was going to be easy.
In the kitchen: We had a ham and au gratin potatoes for Christmas dinner, bierocks for Christmas Eve. I see some less rich foods in our future.
Crafting: Done with the body and collar on Joe's sweater. Starting to work on the arms. I was making a hat for a friend like my lavender cabled hat, but I used needles that were 3 sizes too small on accident. So Adelle got a new cabled hat. And I started knitting a scarf for my friend using the same yarn I knit Mama Marney a blanket with instead.
Bringing me joy: Peaceful days where my boys finish their work in a timely manner. Sunshiney walks with my babies. A quiet Christmas day. Quiet evenings with Joe, watching The Office for the 8th time.
Thinking about: Well, nothing much on the house front. We extended the contract on our house here, though the couple still has not sold their own home. Just sitting tight here. It is a little uncomfortable to be on the brink of big change but not knowing how or when it is going to play out.
It has been a while since I've blogged. I started a couple of times, but it's just been difficult to see through. I think I have the winter blues. As the aforementioned "come to Jesus" talk with the boys might have indicated, we hit a homeschooling snag and that has made me an unpleasant, grumpy person. I don't know if it's them, me or both. Probably both. They obviously are in control of their behavior, but I am in control of how I react to them and I haven't been doing a stellar job of keeping my cool. And then I devolve into a self-loathing, I am terrible mom and I can't handle this spiral. Joe led the talk and they really responded to him. Which really drives home to me how much parenting is a team effort.
I have no pictures to share cause I have been a bit of a picture failure lately. Buuuuut, Joe started a photo-a-day blog, so if you want pictures you can go on over there. AND! he committed to it for the next year!
