Wednesday's Example of Domestic Bliss #4

King and KJ baked some cupcakes after dinner..That's delightful. The domestic bliss part comes when the dishes get done!

Gratitude today for rare occasions...like kids washing dishes!

Spend some moment everyday in reflection of gratitude and happiness. Even if the time found is standing in line for coffee...use is wisely.


Michelle


Did this post brighten your day? make you smile? If so I'd be ever so grateful if you shared it on Facebook or Twitter. Someone else might be in need of a smile - Thanks!

Wednesday's Example of Domestic Bliss #3

Every weekday morning at 5:34 am I drag my kiester out of bed. When I tell people what time I get up they say "Why the heck do you get up that early?" (secretly I wonder "doesn't everybody?") I explain... I get up that early to get everyone else's day started. I brew the coffee and check my mail, I ensure clean underwear and matching socks are at the ready for E-man. I watch the clock to avert teenage sleep-in, which in turn insures they achieve maximum bathroom time and minimized AM stress (for EVERYONE!)

And I make lunches. 4 lunches...5 days a week for as long as people have been eating lunches in this house. Noboby is ever really happy with everything I pack. Most days I come home and find a refused banana, an undesired muffin, an apple or disdained juice box in the place where I lay out the lunches for packing.

I guess today I really missed the mark...a whole lunch left behind!  After checking to make sure Lula actually left the house today, I salvaged what wouldn't be harboring the threat of food born illness.

Thank you Lula for making ME lunch today...I hope you're enjoying your french fries!


Spend some moment everyday in reflection of gratitude and happiness. Even if the time found is standing in line for coffee...use is wisely.


Michelle


Did this post brighten your day? make you smile? If so I'd be ever so grateful if you shared it on Facebook or Twitter. Someone else might be in need of a smile - Thanks!

The Journey Begins With a Single Toothbrush

Our home is filled with oddity. We've talked before about each room being the equivalent of a "what's wrong with this picture" page. If you've missed our talks check out The Doctor's Waiting Room Has Nothing on Me you'll understand what I'm talking about.

I've reached a point where I am no longer shocked by oddity. Things being out of place really is the norm. 2 weeks ago KJ's graduation picture hung upside down on the wall for 3 days because that's how she put it in the frame. Last week I finally had E-man move his hockey bag from under the dinning room table (hockey season is over.) Very little, stops me in my tracks.

This did however...

I reached for my toothbrush only to find this message elasticised to the handle. "This is the Beginning of an Incredible Journey" Clearly I have become the victim of my own love of littering our home with words. One of my children is either fed up with the practice or really understands my passion.

My powers of motherly deduction led me to determine the culprit. KJ...cleaver, crafty and in charge of cleaning my (I mean 'our') bathroom this week. I was only slightly surprised to learn that the origin of the 'toothbrush label' was the garment tag from KJ's newly acquired bra. How on earth this sentiment relates to a brazier is beyond my comprehension. (ok, perhaps I can conjure up a scenario or two but none that would be remotely acceptable for my 13 year old daughter!)

Regardless of where the sentiment came from or how it came to be attached to my toothbrush, it does get me thinking... This really is the beginning of an incredible journey. Everyday is the opportunity to begin a new adventure. You get up, "shit, shower, shave" (as my dad is fond of saying) and you brush your teeth. You've got all the necessities out of the way. It's a question of what you are going to do after you brush, what choices will you guide your day with? What path will you take? How do you feel about the journey that lays ahead?

If it had been the receipt for the bra or the price tag attached to my toothbrush I would have sighed in exasperation, removed it, chucked it and moved for the toothpaste. I like the message on my toothbrush though, so I left it there. It gives me a chuckle 3 times a day at the clever humor of my youngest daughter. It also gives my a cause for reflection. Automatically now I'm not thinking about up..down..20 times left..20 times right. No, I'm thinking about the step I'm taking after I put that toothbrush away.

Gratitude today for KJ's little prank that was actually an act of wisdom beyond her years.


Spend some moment everyday in reflection of gratitude and happiness. Even if the time found is standing in line for coffee...use is wisely.


Michelle


Did this post brighten your day? make you smile? If so I'd be ever so grateful if you shared it on Facebook or Twitter. Someone else might be in need of a smile - Thanks!

The More the Merrier? You Better Believe It!

It's March Break in our neck of the woods. Kids are spending time enjoying the leisure life..sleeping in, watching cartoons all day, texting at the speed of light and updating their facebook status on the hour. I fully expect when I arrive home to be greeted with a counter full of dirty dishes, empty toilet paper rolls and fully scavenged cupboards.

On Monday the Pyjama precedent was set. PJ's will be worn until 4:23pm. On Tuesday bedtime was established. Under 12 set, lights out by 10...the over 13 set better have lights out before my alarm goes off for work in the morning.

I would love if a fraction of time was spent on homework and reading. I would be thrilled if someone suddenly developed a propensity for cleanliness. I would be over the moon with joy if a plan was hatched to spend an afternoon in the fresh air. But I refuse to sweat it. It's one week, an easy fraction of time of which the nagging is easily recouped, might as well let them soak up a week of zero responsibility. I know I would totally enjoy that kind of vacation!

That was the plan. Plans change at a moments notice in our world and plans changed to include our 3 nephews. When plans change...responsibilities change.

Sometimes the best way to handle those changes in responsibility is to add MORE kids to the mix

6 take over the living room and Lego land... wait count again...there should be 8 total. Lock the door we lost 2!!!!!

Today I am grateful for big kids who enjoy the games that little kids play. I am especially grateful to my girls for adapting their plans for March Break to include responsibility and more grateful than they know that I didn't need to ask.

Eat Your Gratitude!

Today my gratitude revolves around food. Secretly it generally revolves around food all the time. I love food, cooking, eating, experimenting. I play the food network the way my grandfather used to play the radio; always on providing a comfortable background for life. I hug my coffee mug every morning and whisper a quiet thanks as the contents pass my lips on route to wake up my brain. I am routinely grateful for casual dinners with friends where we bring together the best our fridges have to offer on a moments notice.



When cake decorating is a hobby

 My kids will tell you that creating cakes drives me crazy and it probably does, almost always I curse at least twice. However, I'm always grateful for the opportunity to exercise my creativity.

So I'm grateful every single day for food or something culinarily related. Today is especially significant in the food gratitude department. For 2 reasons



Lula's first dinner!



Reason #1 ....Lula made dinner tonight! It was her first real attempt, start to finish with cookbook and no supervision. She offered up individual meatloaves, french fries and corn. It was fabulous! I'm so grateful for her help and I can't wait for her next dinner!



Could there be a better thing to celebrate?

 Reason #2 ....Today just happens to be International Chocolate Cake Day! Thank you to my friend Susan for making is public knowledge, what a tragic oversight missing this would be.

If gratitude is a secret wish for future favours I'm all over it. I don't think that Spaghetti dinner by Lula or International Cheesecake Day would be to difficult to accept.