Christmastime

7:16 AM Posted In , , Edit This 0 Comments »
Last weekend we decorated the house. It feels and smells wonderful in here. We have cinnamon ornaments, dried fruit garlands, a real Christmas tree, and I'm baking something almost daily. Today we will be baking gingerbread cookies! I won't be eating any because I'm not making them vegan, but I don't need to eat them anyway. Other advent activities so far have been making bird feeders, making a Christmas tree topper, Christmas madlibs, watching a Christmas movie, and drinking hot chocolate. 

The week went by quickly and fairly easily. We stayed under budget on things, especially food. I started on our homemade Christmas gifts. I spent a lot of time at home, walking to get steps for my Fitbit. Irontribe on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and yesterday. Still feeling great. 

I'm going to spend some time in the next few weeks thinking about my goals for 2016. My 33rd year. Lots of good stuff to think about! 

Productivity

5:46 AM Posted In , , , , , Edit This 0 Comments »
Awake this morning at 5:09. Maybe I need to take a nap during the day so I can sleep later. I do enjoy being up so I can get things done, but on the days I want to be a little lazy, waking up this early is no fun. 

On Wednesday, I went to irontribe (hereafter "ITF"), Eric went to work. The kids and I made Christmas ornaments and went to Target for a few things. We made cinnamon applesauce ornaments and put fruit in the oven to dry. After lunch at home, we put Christmas lights up in Violet's room and redid the ones in Duncan's. Dinner was early at Chipotle. 

Thanksgiving morning, Duncan and I went for a long walk as the sun was coming up. 2.5 miles! Back at home, Eric and I prepared stuff while the kids watched the parade. We had a last minute change for thanksgiving location and we all went to Heather's house for our meal. The food itself was good - my first vegan thanksgiving! Eric's first as a vegetarian! 
After the meal, a few of us went for a walk. I had 10,000 steps by 2:00, which was great! We arrived home around 4 and snacked on veggies, fruit and leftovers for dinner while watching "The Muppet Show." Eric and I fell asleep on the couch before 9pm. 

I was awake at 5 again yesterday morning. Rather than lay in bed, I went to the mall. For one, to walk and get some steps, and second, to look at the stuff on sale at lulu. I ended up getting a few things hs and was home with some panera before 8am. After breakfast, we all went on a walk (because Violet felt left out on Thursday) - over 2 miles again. Back at home, we cleaned up and worked on a budget for paying down our  credit card. After lunch, we all went to Costco (which will hopefully be my "once a month trip"). We also bought a Christmas tree! It's iur first real tree and it's beautiful. Once home we put it up and decorated the house, inside and out. We will decorate the tree today since we had to let the branches "relax" first. 

And that's it. Plans for today hopefully include lunch with my parents and getting Eric's childhood bunk bed from his parent's house for Duncan. Probably some more decorating, too! I'll take more pictures today!


 

Friends

7:00 AM Posted In , , Edit This 0 Comments »
We met some old friend at Wild Eggs yesterday morning. We talked and laughed and had a lovely time. Afterward, we did the same at my house for almost three hours. Then I went to lunch with them (without the family) and there was more of the same. These women are amazing. Smart, beautiful, hilarious, and just fun to be around. I have to be sure they are both in our lives until we are old and wrinkly. 

We talked about jobs, families, eating and exercise, boyfriends and marriage, old friends, growing up, and about where they live. 

For several years I've thought about these friends and how awesome they are, and about their upbringing. I've thought that if my kids can turn out even a little bit like these women then that would be awesome. A few times yesterday the kids argued or misbehaved ... It was a little embarrassing. I know they're only 6 and 4, but embarrassing, nonetheless (though I have to say that they were perfect at breakfast). After one of our little arguments with the kids, I asked my friends, "Did your parents ever yell when you were kids?" Without hesitation, they both shook their heads and said, "No, never." 

Sigh. I must work on this. I must conquer my frustration and anger. If there's one part of my life with which I do not feel content, it's that. Being a gentle, compassionate, thoughtful parent. When I get irritated with the kids, I almost act like a kid myself. It's not good and I feel guilty and terrible about it. 

If we were perfect at everything, though, life would be boring, so working on myself keeps things exciting. At least I have more time to work on myself now ...that's a relief on its own. 

Staying home today. Working on the house. Maybe making some Christmas ornaments. We are going to have a Christmas tree decorated with homemade ornaments this year (and the regular lights, of course). Dried fruit, cinnamon ornaments, pinecones, all that fun stuff. 

The kids have been awake since 6. Now they are downstairs getting themselves breakfast. They argue less in the mornings when they're rested, I guess. 
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