Finding Time

Lately, I seem to lose track of the days and wonder exactly what I have accomplished. The last two days have been filled with the desire to do nothing because I came down with a cold. Looking back over the week I think a lot of time has been spent of Facebook, watching television and just zoning out. I need to get things done...laundry, cleaning, craft projects. When I look back on the week and see the progress made in these parts of my life, I managed to get the kids laundry folded and put away (a big step for me), I cleaned out the pantry, the kitchen table has been cleared at lest twice, the living room is presentable after the books are put back on the shelves, I am in the process of making my birthday cards for card group,I made 2 doilies on Friday to donate to a friend for a silent auction. I rode my bike 3 times for 30 minutes.
Well, when I look back I guess I did get some things accomplished. This cold is just kicking me while I'm down. I need to get back to my scrapbooking. I managed to get 62 12x12 page layouts done when I went to St. George for the annual Ashby sister's and relations scrapbook weekend. But I haven't even looked at the rest of my pictures since then. I need to print pictures out from June of 09 up to the present. I hate taking the time to upload everything, as evidenced by my lack of pictures on this blog.
David and I made a sketchy itinerary for our big vacation in June this year. That in itself was a great big check made on "the list" Now with the weather turning nicer we have to get the back yard in so the kids can play without bringing in half the yard back in the house as mud on their shoes. I love that Spring is here, but it means a lot of work is coming with it. Now I just have to find the time to do all I want to. Garden here I come.

Cards

Okay, so no pictures yet. But I decided to make some cards and see if people are willing to buy them. I have three made up already with another two in the works. I had the idea to do this a few years ago but I had some friends who thought it wasn't a good idea. Why I ever listened to them, I don't know. I gave a friend 16 different cards for her birthday. She is not into paper crafting of any kind, even though she is a very creative person. Paper just isn't her thing. She loved having so many different cards. I have been making cards for a group exchange for years and I happen to make extra every time I make them. So I was able to go into the "archives" and find a plethora of my creations to give her. It gave me the momentum to begin a new project. I don't know exactly what I am getting into, but I am enjoying making cards.

I procrastinate.

I have been wanting to put up pictures of Grant's birthday since the 10th of January. Here it is nearly a month later and no pictures yet. I hate how long it takes me to post pictures on my computer. I could do it on David's computer, but that means venturing into the Man Cave. I need to just do it. I need to print pictures, also. I have over 1000 photos to scrapbook, but that only takes me through June of 2009. I told myself that I would get pictures printed every month. So much for that idea. Well, for all of you waiting for pictures you will have to wait a bit longer. WE;ll see what tomorrow brings. Maybe pictures.

Grant is 6

Grant had a birthday and it was not stressful like last year. He had a party on Saturday. He wanted to go bowling so he was allowed to invite 3 friends. We managed to get all the car seats in the van and the boys had a blast. Lila was allowed to come because she was the sister. They had a blast and then we came home and opened presents. Grant got a Nerf gun with a laser sight and lots of Ben 10 action figures (Kevin, Gorvan, and Brainstorm). He already had Chromostone from after Christmas. We gave him Kevin Levin's car ( a Ben 10 toy). The 4 boys sat in the corner of our living room and quietly played with the Ben 10 stuff for a good 10 minutes. We ordered a cake that we had to design ourselves to look more like a Ben 10 cake. Grant loved it. Plus we had to put Ben on it so he got another action figure. I have pictures to post but I am on the wrong computer to do so. Grant is nearly 44 inches and 36 pounds. He is skinny! He still doesn't like pop, or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. He loves candy corn and tootsie rolls. He is a smart kid and is learning to read quickly. He is a very sociable child. It gets him into trouble at school sometimes. He is an amazing kid.
On Sunday, his actual birthday, he opened gifts throughout the day. Bakugans for breakfast, Voltron DVD's for lunch, and rockets, Ben 10 figures (Humongasaur, Swampfire, High Breed, Anodite Gwen, and Nanomech), another Bakugan from Lila, Glow in the dark stars, a foam rocket launcher, & 2 real rockets. I think that was everything. I might have missed something. He has been happy with his toys and plays with them constantly. Television holds no appeal compared to his imagination.

Do Better

I am supposed to start the new year with a resolve to do better. Better at what? you may ask. I will do better at keeping up on the housework...did I just write that? I will do better at cooking dinner...what? I will do better with my children...but they are so unpredictable. Well, I will just try to do something better every day. I might try to work on my piano skills, or pick up my guitar and really work at getting better. Maybe I'll organize my scrapbooking and other craft supplies and try to keep them that way. I guess my motto for the year is just "Do Better". I don't have to get anything perfect, just better than it was the day before. I'll do better at keeping up my blog. Do better at getting pictures posted. Do better with my health. Do better at the garden this year. Do better with the backyard landscaping. No matter where I look in my life I can always see something that I can do better, since I know I'll never be perfect in this life. May we all "do better" this year. Find something that will make you a better person and work on it. Think more of others this year. Do more service for others. Be better at being grateful for what we have. Everything we do can make an impact on someone else. Try to make that impact be for the better. I'm going to try and make this one last all year, and maybe beyond that.

Lists

Christmas is a season of lists. Lists to send to Santa, lists of gifts for family, lists of gifts for friends and neighbors, lists of things to do to get ready for the great day. They seem to go on and on. My lists have many things on them. My to do list gets added to while the getting gifts goes down. I am nearly ready for the special day. Just a bit more shopping and some cleaning left. I don't like making lists and now I remember why. They make me feel overwhelmed.

Two weeks

Here come the most hectic two weeks out of the year. Lila has just decided she wants Santa to bring her a Barbie. That is doable. That way Santa brings the kids the same size of gift. Grant has been asking for a Bumblebee transformer for the last three months. David and I need to take an inventory on what gifts we have for the kids. We still have money from the Ashby Grandparents that needs to be used and we are running out of ideas. Gifts for most of the family are finished. Neighbor gifts still need to be put together. I keep forgetting to buy holiday ziploc bags.
I caught the kids wearing the Christmas stockings yesterday so I brought in the Santa pole to hang them up. I can't blame the kids for playing with the stockings. I did the same thing. I think everyone has done it at least once. We have a Church Christmas party tonight, the Teamster party on Saturday, Grant's school holiday program on the 16th, and his class party on the 17th. Things are going to be busy this coming week. Then Grant is out of school for two weeks. How will I keep him busy? The second week he will have all his new stuff from Christmas which should help him pass the time. Then two weeks after Christmas is Grant's 6th birthday. My child is turning 6? He is such a smart kid. He is learning to read at an amazing rate. He can sound out words without trouble. I am trying to teach him some of the crazy vowel rules for English. However those rules are always broken. How we ever learn this crazy language is anyone's guess.
Must get to work on the house and Christmas preparations. We are having lots of family to our house this year. David has been wanting to have his family up for Christmas ever since we bought this house. Now that the basement is finished we have the space to put everyone.
Time to put on the Christmas tunes. Music is a good motivator.