sight unseen

1. Washer and Dryer
I finally started making a strong effort to get Jack out of his nighttime diapers.  I stopped giving him his beloved ice water at night and I make him pee before AND after his stories.  But instead of progress he just seems to pee MORE.  So for the past few nights he has been peeing through his diaper.  There were times that we would go months without a wet pullup but it seems we are back to square one.  So grateful for a washer and dryer.  It would make for a TON of work if I had to hand wash all of this bedding.

2.  Office Mate
Our office is currently under construction so right now Kristin and I are sharing an office.  It is a bit more difficult than I imagined but I am SUPER grateful that Kristin is my office mate and not anyone else.  She keeps me on my toes and makes me laugh.

3.  New Books
This past weekend I was slightly addicted to a new book series.  It was a young adult series called The Selection.  Do NOT run out and get this book.  It is nothing to rave about BUT it pulled me in and kept me until the end.  It was easy and quick and I loved getting lost in the story.

4. Mike's new phone
Mike's cell phone was an absolute mess.  When you hold on to these things at the end it becomes MISERABLE and that is what he did.  He finally called and had is phone replaced.  None of this effects me much but I am grateful that he doesn't have to deal with a shit phone anymore.

5.  "Really?!  That's cool."
I was driving Cameron home from acting on Monday evening and he talked the entire way home.  He kept telling me story after story that made absolutely no sense.  I know this sounds really strange.  It's strange to me.  But my kids tell me stories about things and I am clueless. Ugh I am old.  BUT I am grateful that he still tells me.  That he feels comfortable enough to jabber away.

CHEERS

1. I PASSED

I am over the freaking moon.  I am officially a six sigma black belt.  That really means absolutely NOTHING except that I accomplished my goal.  I passed my test and I am NEVER taking the test again.  I celebrated all day on Saturday.  ahhhhhhhh I still have the biggest smile and immense pride.  I put in hundreds of hours.  I am so grateful to be done.  I also want to give a big shout out to Mike it made it all possible  -- the studying, the celebrating and everything in between.

2. Pops and Nonnie
It was easy to celebrate all weekend because Pops and Nonnie were in town.  We always have so much fun when they are here but this round was the best yet.  We stayed up late and went to Main Event Friday night, an Escape Room on Saturday and then hours of games at our house.  It was perfect.  Sadly - these are the only two pictures I took.

3. The A-team.
I have a new supervisor in our front office.  She has been in the role for a little less than a month and she is KILLING it.  I am so happy to have 2 amazing leaders on my team.  It makes me job so much better.  These are flowers that her staff sent to the office for her birthday.  This NEVER happened with our previous supervisor.  Oh hello ENGAGEMENT!!!!  yahoo!!

4.  Laundry

The only real chore that I have today is laundry.  It is a LOT of laundry but our house is still clean from Tuesday.  I think that having nothing looming over my head like hospital visits and hours of studying is a really freeing feeling and so I am just excited about laundry.

5.  Finish the photobook

The 2018 Shutterfly book was put on hold for black belt studying.  My goal is to get it finished this week.  Ahhh...that just ruins the premise of #4 but holy moly I can't push it out much longer.  I will be grateful to get all caught up.

Shit together.

I had a dream last night that Mike told me I didn't have my shit together and example he gave was not doing the blog.  SOOOOO....even though that was just a dream....most of the time, I do NOT have my shit together.  I decided to do the blog this morning to at least have something completed.

1.  Valentine's Day

I had a great day yesterday.  My mom was discharged from the hospital...for the SECOND time.  I went to a toothpaste lunch which was great.  AND Mike and I had sushi for dinner.  Grateful for a fabulous day.

2. Great pictures
I tried a million shots to get these two looking on top of their game.  This was the best that was captured.  Oh.....these young boys crack me up.  Grateful for them.

3.  Another hospital trip completed
In the past two weeks my mom as stayed overnight in the hospital a total of 8 days and my dad once.  I am sure you can imagine the exhaustion between working full time, Jack's birthday and black belt study that has fallen over our home.  Grateful that they are both currently at home.

4. Done studying
I think.  I haven't officially passed yet but since I did so much positive self talk and imagery I can't imagine failing. The test was hard.  I actually felt sick to my stomach leaving and I know more than one that I got wrong.  Hopefully I will know my score by the end of the day and hopefully I passed.  BUT so grateful I am done studying right now!

5.  HOUSE CLEANER
This week we hired someone to clean our house.  It is amazing. I am not even sure what else I can say.  I am so grateful that we have the ability to have help.  So grateful.

Captions.

The best thing about not doing the blog for awhile is that I have a million pictures to share and I can just add captions.  Life has been so freaking busy that I need it's a tad bit insane.  My stress level over the past few days has been palpable.  oh wow...I couldn't imagine having high anxiety at all times.  It would be miserable.  

I am taking my black belt test on Tuesday.  That combined with my parentS being in the hospital and the normal day to day crazy has made me a different type of nuts.  Today, after my failed study session, I decided to give myself a DIFFERENT type of pep talk.  Tonight I am listening to LOUD music, TRYING to make dinner and enjoying life.  Today I am not going to sit and fret in front of books.  

Rouzer cooks all of my meals and washes almost all of my dishes.  Yes....it is pretty fabulous.

After a week in the hospital we celebrated with a Frosty that she would be discharged in the morning.  I am so grateful that I work in the same building...sort of.  It was 9000 steps from my office to her room.

Jack's 4th bday party.  Yup....this explains him perfectly.  He is pretty freaking awesome and then he fakes being miserable to get his way.  Usually it works.

You probably can't tell her but Cameron is tall AF.

The seriousness when Chuck E Cheese comes on and you have to dance with him.

Ahhhh…..I never get a good picture of him.  This is perfect.  He is in his favorite sweatshirt and looking studly.

"I got 4 tickets!!!!''

At firs he didn't want chocolate cake because Cameron doesn't like chocolate.  That's who he is.  OBSESSED with his brothers.

The Daisy Leadership Award.  

Basically I LOVE working with Kristin.

Pinewood Derby.  It wasn't a bad morning BUT I am grateful to be done with boy scouts this year. 

Wrestling meets with this crazy child.  He spilt some milk on his shirt so it HAD to be removed.

what happens when absolutely nothing is going on.

This is not our chair.

brotherly love

neighborhood bday party

Team Jack and mommy

trying to keep up

1. Painting

It has been a long time since we have done a paint night.  We haven't done one in AT LEAST 18 months.  Mike and I were feeling a little disconnected recently so it was nice to sit down and paint.  We turned up some tunes and had some adult beverages.  It was nice to return to something that we love.

2. Spider-Man
When he wears his costume all day - it makes me happy.  This costume has been around a LONG ASS TIME.  It will be sad when I we are in a different phase of life.

3. Pajama Day
Have I put this on the list yet?!  Jack is obsessed with pajama day on Friday.  Ever since the holiday celebration week he thinks that Friday is the OFFICIAL day.  He knows that no one else will be wearing their pajamas BUT he still thinks that he should.  It is HIS day.

4.  Black belt study

I am grateful that I am able to take this class for Six Sigma Black Belt with the PE team.  I have learned a lot and I am making a lot of connections

5. Dinner last night

Mike made zucchini noodles and and mahi mahi.  Oh my goodness it was so yummy.  AND he did all the dishes. 



WebEx

1. Snow ball fight in the morning

I was sitting inside my mom's nice, warm car this morning while the twins proceeded to have a snowball fight while waiting for the bus.  Grateful that they were getting along AND having fun.  

2. My mom's car
My car is officially in the shop and they can't even LOOK at it until tomorrow.  My fabulous mom is letting me borrow her car.  So grateful I don't have to pay for a rental car or coordinate rides all week.


3. Mike figuring out the details
Rouzer took control of getting my car all situated.  It has been so nice to not have to worry about my car at ALL.


4. Owen and Mike have completed the Rubik cube
Holy I am impressed with Mike and Owen.  They have both figured out the strategy to complete the small cube in 2 minutes.  Mike even clocked 28 seconds once.  Now they are moving onto the next size.  It has been so fun to watch.  Last night we called some of our relatives to show off.

5. Doing a play with Cameron and Jack

Last night the two boys were playing and putting on shows for us.  For the last performance I decided to join them.  It was nice to be home and PLAY with the kids.  We all ate dinner together, we were not in a rush and we had no activities.  It was heavenly. 

Half way through the month

I have stayed on top of a lot of goals recently but this blog is not one of them.  Hoping to do a quick 5 before my work day starts.


1. My new journal
I went down a rabbit hole of podcasts last week that lead me to my new journal.  It keeps me super intentional.  I am journaling twice a day and keeping myself accountable more than ever.  I am on day 4.  lol.  BUT I still love.


2. Date night
On Friday we hit up Bier for a quick drink and then made our way to Bruggee.  Yum.  It was great to get out of the house and be able to TALK.  My black belt studying the past week has made this evening seem like a LONG time ago.  Grateful we took the evening out to be with each other.

2. The snow
Jack was obsessed with the snow.  He played outside for almost two hours with the neighbors.  Also grateful my new Christmas snow stuff fit.  Excited to venture out in Banff.

3. Cameron's acting

Last night was Cameron's first acting class of the year.  He JUMPED out of bed in the morning because he was so excited.  Then while we were sitting there during the parent meeting I could feel his energy.  ALSO - the class had more boys than girls.  WHAT?!?!  I know that this made him so happy.

4.  5 miles

Last night I busted out another 5 miles.  It was a bit harder than I would like but I still DID IT.  I am happy that I have the ability and confidence to jump on the treadmill and beast out my goal.

5.  Watching the twins come home from Greg's

On Sunday night after the twins were away for the weekend all of us lit up when they entered the room.  On top of that the boys had smiles from ear to ear when interacting with Jack.  Cameron even brought some toys home.  Jack kept saying, "ohhh...good job Cameron."  The smiles, the joy.  Oh gosh it melts my heart.  I wish that I could bottle that feeling up and keep it on my desk.