some days are like that....

last night for story time we read, " alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day." 

if i was writing that book today, i wouldn't have anything to write about that is as tragic as tragic as having to wear railroad striped pajamas or loosing my marble down the drain.

isn't that the worst?

when you are having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day....for  NO REASON???

so far today, i have exercised (only because i have a friend that is counting on me to be there,) taken a nap w/ in an hour and a half of waking up, ate some leftover salad for breakfast, read a few blogs and i have caught up on all the face booking i have not been doing because i was trying to avoid it because the virtual world isn't nearly as important ....and it's 1:30!!!!

in actuality, the day hasn't been terrible, horrible, no good or very bad....i'm just not myself for some unknown reason!

meanwhile, my kids have had free reign on the house for the past 2.5 hours while my computer has sucked some of the life out of me. 

2 hours ago, i had them begin writing in their journals.

i was just going to "check my e-mail"

 so good for self discipline.

then just about when i was beginning to feel guilty (and rightfully so) for my lack of drive today and neglect of my children, i started to realize that leaving them be has actually not been all that bad!

i have heard LOTS and LOTS of creative play going on. 

the have jumped on the bed,

had conversations about snakes attacking, 

played house together,
sang many, many songs,

played jump off the couch into the pillow pit,

and are currently wearing their dress up capes and are playing dragons.

christmas 2009

who needs a mother anyways???
laughing and childhood bliss have been prevalent.

i only have heard quarreling 2 times. 

they haven't had their mother breathing down their neck.

and i did NOT turn on the television like i thought of doing for the first time in a long time.
THEY had a good morning.

now i think i've talked myself out of having a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day" after all.

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i am starting to hear cries for mom.

"mom, isn't it about time for lunch yet????"
"mom, dallin just pooped on the floor."


and into the room he walks.....sans clothing or diaper.

i think it's time to go survey the damage and pay the consequence for my negligence!

post addition: the details.

1/4 jar of peanut butter w/ buggers on the side....really1?!?! 

no wonder why she wasn't asking for lunch!

let the good times roll!

An everyday miracle as a guest in our home.

Dear Mister Green Caterpillar, 

This is just a little note to tell you how much we appreciated having you in our home, which was WAY better than having you in our garden. You were so cute and green and little caterpillar, but boy was your appetite voracious! You did just was the famous "Very Hungry Caterpillar" did, for which you should be proud. You were the perfect one to become our science experiment, and we're glad you were obliged! We're especially grateful you found a nice home on that broccoli leaf to make your cocoon. All of the other little green caterpillars who have entered our home never even mad it that far. What talent!  It was fun to anticipate what you would become and when it would happen.  Then to top it all off, you went another stage further and went through metamorphosis. WOW that was awesome!!! (Even if you turned out to be a moth and not a beautiful butterfly like we had hoped.) You were an amazing creature. A miracle really. Thanks for being a part of our families' education! You made all of us very, very happy.

With Love, 

Us

p.s. we're so sorry you didn't get to go out into the real world and create more little caterpillars to come and eat our green stuff. we feel a little bit bad about that, but we wanted you to know that your life's mission was truly wonderful for us to behold, even if it ended tragically in canning jar on top of our toaster oven. sorry about that. :( that must have been hot)

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Dear Mr. and Mrs. Ladybug(s),

This letter comes to you in despiration.  You are our only hope. Aphids are taking over our little teensy garden. Please, we beg of you, stick around our place and take as many "piggy back rides" as are necessary for you to further your aphid eating cause. If there's anything we can do for you in your quest, please, let us know. 

Sincerely,

The Management

p.s. Thanks for being so adorable. You are a joy to see amidst the throngs of hideous gray/green creatures whom are trying to ruin our garden, one cabbage plant at a time!

p.s.s. When you get a handle on the aphids, could you start eating the white flies? Thanks.

p.s.s.s. Do you think I need "help?" This is second letter to an insect I've written today. Maybe I have spring fever??? Maybe!

Bounty!

Some days I am not exactly patient.

And it's not pretty. 

Last week I had one of those days. 

They happen more often than I'd like them to on this journey called motherhood.

You know the days. 

Right?

On the edge days, where at any moment you could be knocked off the edge by the slightest puff of air.

The day before,Bounty napkins that were usually 3.40 which were rolled down to 1.97 as a special treat.

And I usually buy the ghetto ones.

I opened it up, then minutes later I look over and there they were.

199 Quilted Bounty napkins, scattered across the floor.

It was just enough to push me over the edge.

There I was teetering as I asked commanded them to clean it up. 

Then, in the way only a young child would, they proceeded to crumple each napkin in their little hands and cram it in the bag.I tried to show them a better way to put them back in the bag by picking up a flat stack at a time but it was no use.

I gave them a bigger bag so in their crumpled state, the napkins could all fit. 

Then just as they finished gathering them, Dallin dumped them out. 

AGAIN!

Utter despair began to set in.

But then, for some reason, I came to, stepped back and thought to myself:

"What kind of crazy woman am I?"

"I'm about to implode, all because $1.97 worth of napkins are being destroyed." 

Seconds later, I stepped all the way away from the edge and told the kids not to worry about picking them up.

You know that is VERY hard to say when soo close to loosing it.

I told them that they could do that later.

It was time to play.....and they did. 

AND BOY WERE THEY HAPPY!

I was too.

It makes me happy when with one conscious decision,I can turn something ugly into a beautiful moment.

Here's to me and remembering to create moments of BOUNTY and fun more often!

Believe me, my kids are worth $1.97. 

{FOR SURE!}

Final note to self and to all of you who may get to the edge:

Ask: 

What "catastrophe" can you turn into a BOUNTY moment today????