As promised here I am trying to make sure I catch up on all the days I was gone. I left California at 11pm Friday evening and flew all night. I brought a full-size pillow with me, hoping to doze off on the plane. I did sleep for some of the flight, but of course, not nearly enough. When I landed in JFK, I took a cab to where my sister was staying and thus began our wonderful weekend.
I had made Jake promise to take photos but all he had was my little point and shoot so here are some photos he took.
These are outside in good light.
And you can see it’s not him, the camera is just not so good.
Though I still think my kids are cute. Then again, that’s my job 🙂 I am really thankful he took them perfect or not.
And here’s me with my sister and her boys.
We spent the whole day chatting and walking. We possibly walked over twenty miles. But it was wonderful and relaxed and no timelines, no obligations, absolutely no stress. Just the two of us for a long long time and then the five of us. It was beyond perfect. Absolutely, stunningly perfect.
We ate dinner at the restaurant next to their building. During dinner, I called David to get his three things. Since we were all together we decided Yona’s kids and Yona would do them, too. So here they all are.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that my flight was relatively uneventful and passed quicker than I expected (and that I got a bit of sleep!)
2. I am deeply grateful that I got to see my sister and brother in law and my nephews. I love them so much and we don’t see each other nearly enough. I am so so grateful I did go there. And every minute was spent so wonderfully. So deeply. So relaxed. It was truly amazing.
3. I am thankful that Jake indulged me and did not get grouchy one time that I called too much or checked in too much. They had a wonderful day and I could tell they were all happy which made me feel more relaxed and present with my sister.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. getting the lego indiana Jones wii game
2. playing wii
3. going shopping with daddy
Three Things Yona’s Grateful For:
1. having a relaxing lunch and chat with my sister
2. having my sister come to visit
3. the frame my sister made for me (the one i posted last saturday, she did love it.)
Three Things Aksel’s Grateful For:
1. having my aunt come to visit
2. getting an ipod touch
3. going to the empire state building
Three Things Jeff’s Grateful For:
1. Going to the nintendo store (and getting a game)
2. getting an ipod touch
3. having my aunt come to visit
And here we are. Friday. I leave in three hours. I spent the whole day working, crafting, hugging my kids, and packing. Exercising and being tired too.
The kids were a joy as they often are.
Especially this one.
Oh, ok, this one, too.
Lest you think it’s always strawberries and peaches here, here’s Nathaniel yelling at David cause he’s sitting at the chair and Nathaniel doesn’t want him too.
And here’s David’s response.
Yeah, not always so smily and perfect, my kids. But I love love love them.
I am off to spend just a bit more time with them before it’s time to leave for the airport. No Daily Diary tomorrow cause I am not bringing my laptop, I’ll catch back up on Sunday. See you then.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I get to leave my boys with their wonderful dad. My husband is amazing and they will have so much fun together.
2. I am grateful that hopefully tomorrow morning I get to see my sister!
3. I am thankful that I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot in the last two weeks and I can leave without stressing too much about what awaits me when I come back. I still have a long week next week but I feel less like I might crush under the buden of it all.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1.daddy being home
2. getting to go out to dinner
3. getting to spend the weekend with daddy
I feel better for the first time in two weeks. One would think having both kids at home is worse for the stress level and not better but I loved having both my kids home today. We snuggled up. We laughed and hugged and even did a little workbook work. I also snapped a ton of photos of Nathaniel.
In the middle of the day, the DHL man delivered this amazing piece of art. By my friend Lia, who is amazing. Amazing. This definitely was a big highlight of my day. David thought this was amazing too and looked at it for a long time. Thank you Lia!!
Here’s David relaxing with all of his silly bands.
When I tooted and hollered for Nathaniel to look at me, all he did was give me this face. “I’ll smile but I won’t look” face.
Then I made some more noise and I got this.
He was playing by himself when I worked and when David and I did workbooks.
And he’s quite creative. He’s got the hat, the wii remotes, and the shoe.
These are just for me cause I love them.
And I love him.
Soooooo much.
And when I asked David for a smile, here’s what I got from him.
My last night before I leave for NYC. In 28 hours I will be on a plane to NYC. Alone. Flying for the first time in three years. Seeing my sister and her family. I am worried, excited, thrilled and stressed. But I know it’s going to be amazing. As it turns out one of my best friends from high school will be in New York for the two days as well so I will get to see her, too. Which is extra wonderful.
Nathaniel seems to be getting better, too. thankfully. And I know this weekend will be special for the boys, too.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I get to go out tonight, too. I will see some good friends from work. People who are wonderful.
2. I am grateful that my flight tomorrow is late at night so I have all day to prepare and pack cause I have done nothing so far.
3. I am thankful that I spent lots of quality time with both my boys today! And I walked 3.2 miles today! I decided to alternate between distance and speed during the week. And today was all about distance. And i did it!! I am proud of myself. This is a big deal for me.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. playing on the computer
2. doing the workbook with mommy (we did word completions where letters or letter combos are missing from a word and you have to put them in.)
3. playing with nathaniel
I have two more days in this week and my todo list is still large, albeit getting smaller. Today was a quiet and productive day for the most part. I have been coaching myself not to stress. So far it’s only working so so.
This afternoon David had a classmate come over for a play date. Nathaniel took the opportunity to play, too.
David was mostly well-behaved. The little girl didn’t want to play Wii (though her dad did) so he nicely turned it off to play with her instead.
Nathaniel spent a lot of time making messes over and over. When we cleaned, he’d cry and then dump the whole thing back on the floor. He dislikes neatness maybe?
It was fun to see them all play together, though. Maggie’s sister joined us a while later, too and it was sort of like the feeling one must have with four kids. Overwhelming but also a lot of fun.
Tonight is mom’s night out for David’s class. This has been a very social week for me. I am a homebody so it’s taking a toll on me as well but I feel like I should go out more so I am making myself go to the events. Let’s see how tonight turns out.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I took Nathaniel to the doctor today just to be 100% he’s ok. He still has a runny nose and some more small symptoms now but he is perfectly ok. No infections, nothing in the ear or chest. Good to know before I go since I will be worried no matter what. But at least less so this way.
2. I am grateful that I get to go out tonight. Maybe I’ll make friends with one of the moms.
3. I am thankful that I get to watch Glee tonight. We were out late last night so I’ve been saving it!
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. maggie coming over for play date
2. mommy
3. daddy
I am not going to tell you about how tired I am today. How I haven’t slept past 4am for days now. I am just not going to whine. Instead I will tell you I made a layout. I exercised. I got some good news. I got happy mail. Those are some of the good things to tell.
Nathaniel’s been a handful. While I work, he wrecks the house. A lot. Poor David cleans up. But he wrecks again.
And David’s such a champ. Kind and generous and helpful. He can be difficult sometimes too but he’s such a good kid.
So is this one. I am so blessed and lucky.
Just feeling a bit worn out right now.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that things at work went smoothish this week. I might even be able to take a day off maybe. And rest maybe.
2. I am grateful for muscle pain. Enough to tell me I’ve been working out. But not so much that I can’t function.
3. I am thankful for the beautiful goodies that came in the mail today, can’t wait to dig in.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. getting my art items from school (kids art)
2. coloring my turkey
3. fixing my helicopter lego
This was the fifth day in a row that Nathaniel woke up at 3am, feeling wide awake and unable to go back to sleep. I am tired, worn out and about to keel over. I tried so hard to get him to go back to sleep. I took him in my own bed even and rubbed his back but nothing. So we got up. And thus started our day.
Which meant I was operating on low batteries all day long. I did take a short nap but it didn’t make up for the lack of proper sleep. I made a list of all the things I do every single day now and it’s getting pretty big:
1. full time job
2. meals for both kids, taking care of kids, driving david back and forth to school bus, changing a million diapers, playing with both kids
3. a layout
4. exercise for 1-2 miles, mostly running now
5. take photos of kids
6. process photos, pick good ones, edit etc.
7. write this blog post
8. most days i also write at least one more blog post. either for here or for weekly gratitude or creative therapy etc.
9. add to that bedtime, hubby time, email, reading my book, etc etc.
These are things I do every single day. It gets tiring. Especially when I wake up at 3am. So today I wasn’t so great at taking photos. I got this from David who did not want to be interrupted.
But Nathaniel smiled at me.
I am off to do more work so I can take off for my book club. More tomorrow.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I took the time to exercise. I really really didn’t feel like it but I did it anyway.
2. I am grateful that for book club tonight. Look forward to seeing good friends.
3. I am thankful that Jake came home early tonight. I really appreciate it so much when he helps with everything so much. He’s amazing.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. that daddy came home early
2. watching calliou
3. checking out a star wars book from the library
Today was all about crafting. I had a few projects that I want to complete before the goodie boxes come this week. I am leaving for NYC in 5 days and I have so very much on my list until then. I know I will be filled to the brim with anticipation all week, too, which won’t help productivity. I get to see my sister in five days!! My sister. Her husband and my nephews. I haven’t seen my sister in over a year and a half and my nephews and brother in law in almost four years! And in less then a week, I get to see them. In NYC of all places. My favorite city in the world.
After some morning crafting, we all decided to go to Whole Foods for some lunch. As I shot photos of my layouts, Jake got the kids ready and I couldn’t help but snap a photo. It’s low quality but I love it.
Nathaniel’s firmly in terrible twos land right now. We see a lot of this.
While David is kinder than ever. He has to put up with me going insane with Nathaniel’s shrieks.
But he helps, trying to make the little one laugh.
And we get this laughing while crying face.
He also shares his crackers and works hard to clean up all the mess Nathaniel creates fifteen times a day.
The little boy is super lucky to have a brother who does so much work and putting up and still loves him so so much.
And now I am off to do the worst part of all this creating which is processing photos and then maybe, just maybe I can actually read a few pages in my book. I need to start making my book list for 2011 too. 52 more books to read. Any suggestions?
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that finished some projects that had been nagging at me and i love the way they turned out.
2. I am grateful that we got so much family time together. There’s nothing I love more than watching my kids and husband play and laugh together.
3. I am thankful that David and I spent a lot of time doing workbooks. He’s so great at thinking creatively and critically. I love being a part of this with him.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. building my lego airplane with daddy
2. mommy
3. playing with nathaniel
I forgot what a huge mess December Daily creates. I finally set up my book today and after pondering it for so long, I love how it turned out, of course. I always love it.
It was David’s Wii day but the little one decided to have a go first.
And then imitated his brother.
Who is much more skilled at the whole Wii thing.
Most of what Nathaniel does is look up to him with envy and respect and love.
A lot of love.
And I tried to tear David away to snap some photos.
I got the funny faces, of course.
And while I worked on my book and David played, the little one created a huge mess. I should have taken a photo cause it was phenomenal. But he is so cute and so sweet that we just cleaned it up lovingly.
Besides exchanging a jacket and cashing a check, I got literally nothing done other than my December Daily. It took my entire day. Wait, I did exercise. More than ever before even. I did 30 minutes and 2.5 miles. I ran for 17 of those 30 minutes. Now I am aching all over and I have all the other items on my list that didn’t get done.
I am off to do some of that and process December Daily photos. More coming soon. Hope you had a lovely Saturday.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I ran. I actually ran more than I walked today. Go me!
2. I am grateful that I finished the December Daily. I’d been thinking about it for weeks now but I wouldn’t let myself work on it during October. I have a few other higher priority items on my list but I wanted to do it so I just did. Go me.
3. I am thankful that I get to have one more weekend day.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. playing wii
2. coloring
3. getting one more piece of halloween candy
Happy Friday!! Love Fridays. Especially Friday evenings. Especially on a weekend where we have no commitments.
While I was making lunch for Nathaniel, my mom called us on Skype and my nephew was there too so he made lots of gestures to try to get Nathaniel to imitate. Nathaniel watched with great interest.
And tried to imitate a bit.
He clapped and opened his arms and waved and we all laughed. Mostly at the joy of our kids interacting over such a long distance thanks to great technology.
When David came home, Daddy came soon after so he took him for a short bike ride.
And when Nathaniel realized he was being excluded from the adventure, he wasn’t happy. Not at all.
But when they were done, he made sure to put the helmet on a few hundred times and he even got Daddy to put him on the bike for a minute. Oh the little boys who get their way.
We have a friend of Jake’s coming over for dinner tonight. We normally get Turkish take out when we have rare guests. And tonight is no exception. But since I am trying to be so much healthier, I ordered salad for me and made sure the appetizers are things I dislike but Jake loves. Trying, really trying.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that despite feeling tired and not up to it, I still walked today. Only 1.3 miles but better than nothing.
2. I am grateful that I finished a bunch of crafts projects I wanted to finish this week. Consistent and steady always works.
3. I am thankful that my plans for this weekend are quiet so i will scrap some, read some and try to get ahead of my todo list for a change. Oh and cuddle up with my family a ton since I am leaving town next weekend.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. taking my batman book to school for share day
2. riding my bike with daddy
3. getting a wolverine silly band
4. watching a little sprout (yes, hanging head in shame.)
I am at the bottom of my photos so I need to go take some more. It’s been a little too hectic for some photo trips so I need to take the time. Today started with a trip to the TMJ doctor and some more shots to the temple. He did adjust my splint though so I am in a lot less pain than I was. Then we came home, Nathaniel napped, I worked, I walked, I worked. After lunch, I decided to put some clothes on him cause his pajamas were soaking. So I also snapped some photos.
I love this one so much.
My sweet boy is so handsome.
And then he went and dug up David’s shoes to complete the outfit.
When we got David, I tried to get some shots of him, too but he wasn’t as accommodating.
But I got one!
And that’s the end of another day. I did a small crafty project today so I am happy about that and I walked/ran so I am happy about that, too. Time with my kids, work, eating veggies. That’s about all I hope for from a day these days.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I am going shopping tonight. I decided to gift myself something for walking every single day for the last 34 days. Maybe a sweater.
2. I am grateful that though stressful, work is extra productive this week.
3. I am thankful that the weekend is almost here. And I have a bunch of things on my list but nothing too stressful and there are two happy mails headed my way for next week, too. I am a lucky lucky girl.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. mommy giving me a batman book (my friend Kathy gave me tons of reading books yesterday and I am so thankful, too.)
2. having our new art teacher at school (she’s the real teacher, she was away on maternity)
3. watching a little sprout (yes two days in a row, it’s been a rough week for me.)
Tulips are forevermore my first love.
After we dropped David off on the bus today, we went to visit my friend Nicholas. The plan was to walk his dog but I was tired and Nathaniel is still sick-ish so I asked if we could just hang out instead. It was a great way to start my day. Then we rushed home to let the cleaning lady in and Nathaniel loved having them here and showed off my wearing his hat.
And taking it off and wearing it again and taking it off again. About twenty times or so.
After they left, he took his nap and I worked and walked and worked more. We are a delicious lunch of sole fish, heirloom tomatoes and he even had some eggs. I went back to work and he just walked around, trying to decide what to get into next. Then he put on the headphones and walked around some.
And then grabbed my pedometer (which is not working at all and randomly making a LOT of sounds) and played with it some.
After we picked up his brother, we gave him the toy Nicholas gifted me this morning. David was a fan and played quietly with it for an hour.
When I asked for a smile, this is what I got.
Oh well.
All in all, much better day than usual. Mostly cause I kept my cool for most of it. I didn’t get to do a layout today and I have to rush to book club in a bit but I might finish a small project before then if I am lucky. If not, there’s tomorrow. Working on being less in a hurry and more peaceful. Peace peace peace. It always comes down to that for me. And being content. so much better than happy as Tara Whitney recently pointed out. I love being content.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful to have spent some time with my friend Nicholas and I get to see him tonight, too.
2. I am grateful that the house is all clean and tidy. Nothing like this great smell of clean.
3. I am thankful that the last of my December Daily items have arrived and I cannot wait to sit down and put my album together.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. playing with Nicholas’ toy
2. getting a silly band from a friend at school
3. watching a little sprout
I worked very very hard to become an American citizen so I never take the privilege of voting for granted. Never.
Today started around 3am when Nathaniel decided it was morning time. Then there was early morning naps which lead into the whole day feeling out of whack. As I worked, he played with everything and piled on whatever he could find. But he was really good for the most part.
And then my work went into a speedy downfall which started swallowing me up inside it. And from that point on it was chaos chaos and more chaos. It wasn’t until 5:30 that I remembered I hadn’t snapped a photo. So I quickly grabbed one of David.
And one of Nathaniel with all the food on this mouth. He was really whiny by this point. Exhausted and wiped from the super-early nap.
He’s still sick, too. And so am I. I am hoping we’ll recover sooner than later. Because the day was such a mess, I have a ton of emails, comments, and other todo list items piled up on my todo list. I also have my layout from this morning still sitting on my desk, unfinished. Which means I have to tackle those next.
I am also avidly watching CNN. Election nights are always my favorite to watch and really the only news I watch these days. No Glee tonight so more reason to stick to CNN.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that after all the chaos and stress, the build did go live and so I can now relax a bit.
2. I am grateful that I exercised. I will be grateful for that every day for a while. Lost one more pound, too.
3. I am thankful that I get to vote. I don’t take nearly as much time to appreciate the fact that I am American. This was a lifelong goal for me. It’s something I am deeply thankful for. Deeply. Democrat. Republican. Recession. or not. I am so grateful to be in this country. This is where I belong.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. drawing
2. sitting next to maggie on the bus
3. mommy
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projects for twenty twenty-four
projects for twenty twenty-three
projects for twenty twenty-two
projects for twenty twenty-one
projects for twenty nineteen
projects for twenty eighteen
projects from twenty seventeen
monthly projects from previous years
some of my previous projects
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