The greatest part of today was that I had absolutely nothing that had to get done. I still made a list and still completed most of the items on it but I felt relaxed all day because nothing was nagging me. Since it was Saturday, after I exercised, we took some family photos. Here’s David playing while I am setting the camera up.

Here’s a fun shot which was technically not so great and the boys are not looking at the camera. But it’s still wonderful.

And here’s Daddy sneaking in a kiss while Nathaniel tries to steal the remote.

Then the little boy napped while the rest of us began our day. I worked a bit on my newsletter and finished up my digital downloads. I then did some sketching and some drawing. I will write more up about both soon. When the little boy woke up, we took a long walk in the neighborhood and I stopped to snap a photo of my boys.

Then we came home, rested, ate a bit, and David went back to playing Wii.

The day ended with a trip to Target so we could restock on fruit and veggies. The kids went to bed and it’s almost time for me to go, as well. All in all, relaxing day full of art. I can’t ask for anything more really.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I sketched today, it was a great feeling.
2. I am grateful for a wonderful family walk. I am definitely in better shape thanks to the daily exercise and I am grateful for that, too.
3. I am grateful that we went shopping. Having fresh fruit at home makes snacking much easier and healthier.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that it was my wii day {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I got some extra wii time today
3. I am grateful that daddy’s teaching me about logic gates

Today was a planned hectic day. I was scheduled to go to work so I woke up, did some work, checked into my class and then exercised. I did some more work while the kids played. David was on the iPhone and Nathaniel was curiously watching him.

Here’s a little depth of field fun: Nathaniel.

Here’s a little depth of field fun: David.

He went to get his legos but he’s still super curious about David.

Finally gives up and just plays next to his brother.

Then Jake came home so I went to work. I was there for five hours, more than I’ve spent there for all of 2010 likely. But it was fantastic. I learned a lot, got a lot of work done, saw some friends and came back home. Nathaniel was reading a Thomas book so I snapped a photo.

Then it was time to put the kids down and get to my personal todo list. David and I read and then he wrote his gratitudes. Now he’s doing his workbook and I am about to leave to go get my adapter (which I left at work!) and then come back and comment in my class. And then there’s the art journal, portrait, sketching, etc. I expect it to be a long night but i am still thankful for a good day.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for a great trip to work. Learned a lot, did a lot, and I feel great.
2. I am grateful for my new class. I love everything about it!
3. I am grateful that this has been such a week of growth for me. I feel so tired and fulfilled.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I was home all day {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I played with my brother (still going)
3. I am grateful that I skipped my vegetables.

One of the things I learned from my journaling this weekend is that what makes me most productive is actually being productive. And like I do with my art, I just need to show up at the table and do my work. So this morning, even though I was tired and felt like lying there more than anything else, I got up and worked. I exercised and then showered and got ready to do some work.

I put my headphones on so that I wouldn’t be distracted while the kids played. They were both in a good mood.

After a while, they decided to put all the pillows on the floor and fall on them. They laughed and laughed so much that I had to grab my camera and snap some shots. I know it looks scary but he was laughing. A lot. So was the older boy.

Then it was lunchtime, nap time, mommy work time. I did a lot lot lot of focused work. Then Jake came home and took them out to get their hair cuts and I had a meeting. And then I gave them dinner and David and I did workbooks. And now they are in bed and I am wiped. I still have my portrait, sketch, and journaling to do but I feel happy and fulfilled. I am no more or less tired than if I had spent the day whining on the couch and I got a lot more done so as I suspected stuff gets done when i sit to do it. I can’t wait for the mood to strike. I just do it.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for the kids today. They were wonderful about letting me work and having fun on their own.
2. I am grateful for a lot of work getting done at work. It was one of those good days.
3. I am grateful that I started a new book and it’s great so far. I love finding good books.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that mom and I are reading a nice book {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I played with my legos
3. I am grateful that i played with my little brother (yet again!)

I went to bed last night deciding to get a better attitude. Most of this month has been me whining and I am done with that. Things are actually really good. I am doing art, I am exercising, I am reading to my kid, I am stretching at work, I am journaling and even sketching. I am reading. I am taking photos. I am kissing my kids. I am even going out occasionally. I need to just relax. I’ve been doing a lot of the work in Melody’s final lesson and it’s all about choices. So anyway. I woke up this morning, exercised and then got to work. I did a lot of the todo list items while the kids played. Well, Nathaniel just put stickers all over his legs. (His recent obsession.)

And David was on the computer.

Here’s Nathaniel smirking but not looking at me.

Then it was time for the family shot. The thing is, with four people almost always one boy is looking elsewhere.

And when he looks back, the other one gets obsessed with the remote.

We try a bunch more times and then it’s time to get crazy. Everyone laughs and enjoyes tickle time.

Then Jake left to work and David and I did workbooks and he read a book to me and we got organized. So now he knows which workbook to do on what day (he does 3-5 pages a day) and he also picked 6 books to read for the week (one a day). I’ve been meaning to do this for a while and I am glad we finally got organized.

Then tried to get a shot of David. He was smiling so much that his eyes got small.

So I told them to make them bigger. And this is what I got.

Followed by this.

I tried to get Nathaniel to nap several times today but alas it wasn’t to be. So we all played for a while, I journaled, etc. Then Daddy came back home and it was family game night. David just got Monopoly Jr. for his birthday so that was the game tonight.

We had a great time playing and then the kids went to bed and I did a bunch of art. Finished my Soul Restoration homework (all I have left to do is my truth cards which I have only done one of the whole time. This will have to be a project for March or April.) and I finished the art/journaling book page for this week (more on this soon) and made two more pages in my book. We also worked on all the tax work we’d still left to do. It’s now 9pm which means I only have 1-2 hours left in my night. We plan to spend some cuddle time and then maybe I will draw one portrait and likely that’s going to be it for tonight. Tomorrow’s big task is to return emails. I have been neglectful of emails and comments.

A really good Sunday all in all, though, and I wish every week was a 3-day-weekend!

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for so much productivity today.
2. I am grateful for family game night. I love game night.
3. I am grateful that I get to have one more day tomorrow before the stress and craziness of work begins once more.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I played with my little brother {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that Daddy won Monopoly Jr.
3. I am grateful that we had game night!

Well this week is over! It was relatively painful and yet I still got a bunch accomplished both at work and here. Layouts done, portraits, sketches, art journaling. All done done done. And the plans for the weekend and relatively light which means i can work on my last homework for Soul Restoration. I can do more sketching and drawing and a ton of journaling. I haven’t been journaling nearly enough.

The kids were both at home today. But they spent most of the day quietly playing.

And being nice to me.

Here’s when David realizes that Nathaniel was actually pulling out the stickers on David’s trucks.

He played on the computer. He also played with legos. We read our book together. We’re a bit behind on the book, trying to catch up.

Nathaniel played most of the day. He wouldn’t nap but he was quiet until around 4pm.

Very preoccupied and working hard. I think he liked having David around.

Late afternoon he started getting cranky. I am guessing from not having taken a nap. But then Daddy came home and saved the day as he always does. He’s the very very best. I am off to watch some TV and relax and maybe draw a bit. I will tend to my class and the comments here this weekend. When I feel less exhausted.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for a three-day weekend. I need this one.
2. I am grateful that I’ve completed my biggest todo list item for the weekend already.
3. I am grateful that I have no plans at all for this weekend. This means lots of family time.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I got to have a popsicle {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that Daddy spent some time with me
3. I am grateful that i got to play on the computer

I only have 10 minutes to write tonight because I have a chat coming up and I am still battling with some issues at work. So here goes nothing. David was shadowing at a local school today. One that we might send him to. I would have been super nervous but he was a total champ. And even let me take some photos when we got home.

He is such the joy of my life.

Little one has been eating nonstop lately. All he says is food food food all day.

Maybe it’s just a growth spurt.

Still tired and struggling here. I feel like most of this year so far has been one long whiny day. But I have accomplished so much and feel happy most of the time so I am not really that sad. Just tired for the most part. And grateful. so very very grateful more than anything else.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that David dealt so well with being in a completely different environment all morning.
2. I am grateful that I have a class chat tonight. I always enjoy those so much.
3. I am grateful that after tomorrow David has no school for a week. It means I get to sleep in a tiny bit later in the mornings. Which is always a blessing.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I got to go to a different school today {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that Daddy and I are going to watch star wars
3. I am grateful that i got a treasure in my game (on the computer)