*sniffle*

 

 

Here I am sniffling and despite my best efforts I was not able to ward off the cold that has slowly weaved it's way through my household. It started almost 2 weeks ago as my oldest came down with it while we visited my sister. He ran a fever for a day, sniffled for a couple more and got over it. My daughter wasn't so lucky, she started with the sniffles first, she ran a fever and missed a day of school, and has sniffled on and off for the last week or so since. My little one sniffled for a few days didn't run a fever and was through. My man wasn't so lucky, he tried to fight it and thought he was winning until last night, and he has discovered he has bronchitis now. I thought I wasn't going to get it. Yep, I pranced around thinking, "Hey I got it beat!" I mean it's been almost 2 weeks and I have been exposed to the germs continually. You would think I would have caught it BEFORE now, apparently not, poo. I sit here sniffling now and completely void of any ambition to accomplish anything, except maybe a nap. My nose is red and chapped from being blown, my head feels as though I should be releasing a pressure valve.
Yuck, but hey...even though I'm not feeling at my best, I am still grateful for my health. I rarely catch anything and the kids and my man are fairly healthy too. That's it for now for my body is insisting on a nap...;0)

Thanks.

Hard to believe Thanksgiving is just over a week away! I almost fell over when I came to that realization yesterday! That means cooking turkey, making stuffing, hosting guests, cleaning the house, putting up with the kids being out of school for 5 days straight...ugh, it's enough to make you want to pull your hair out! But hey now, let's take a deep breath and remember the reason for the holiday...yes, that would be thanks.

A. Lamb 2010

*The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts.  No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.  ~H.U. Westermayer*

D. Lamb 2010

Now, that's something to think about. No matter your situation in life, no matter the rush you are in, no matter the impossible perfection you are trying to achieve, someone has it worse than you, period. A quick thought to just that and whatever daunting task or situation that lies ahead of me instantly becomes minuscule. I'm going to take everyday up to Thanksgiving to be thankful and share it here with you and I would love to hear what you are thankful for too! 

S. Lamb 2010

 #1 I'm thankful for my kids, I would not be who I am today without them and couldn't imagine my life if they weren't mine. ;0) They all drew turkey pictures for me today and anyone who knows my kids can guess who drew the blown up one....uh, yeah. ;0)

TiP fOr TuEsDaY (post 143)

Enact a reward system.

Chances are as a parent you already use this for your kids, rewarding them for good behavior I mean! Have you ever thought of using it as a motivational tool for yourself? I don't mean stickers on a chore chart, but in getting things or doing activities just for you. Think of it this way, you don't just go out and buy the kids a toy if they didn't do their chores and have been bickering all day, right? I know I sure don't! I make the kids earn them, that way they understand the value of things and I get a cleaner/calmer home in the process. Why not do the same for yourself? I really want to read this book, but I have laundry to fold first...so, fold the laundry and then you can read that book!
This is what I do:
Actually right now I am behind on my laundry, but I have several sewing projects I want to tackle. I won't let myself start sewing until the laundry is caught up on. I get to do the fun stuff but, only after I get the chores done. It works well when you get paid as well. You worked really hard to pay your bills, why not get yourself a small something. I don't mean go out and break the bank or anything, but something small. I love socks and they're inexpensive, or I'll get myself some pretty nail polish or something similar. Just like the kids get a Frosty on Fridays for good behavior, do the same for yourself!;0)
We all know that being a parent is largely thankless job! You clean, you shuttle, you feed, you love and aside from the occasional sticky kiss do you get a reward? Uh, no. No matter though, if you can get through all the stuff you HAVE to do then why don't you reward yourself with something you WANT to do? Exactly! Way to go, Mom you got the laundry done...here is a chance to do something fun! You deserve it! ;0) And that's your TiP fOr  TuEsDay! ;0)

tHiS iS wHaT i LiKe (post 142)

Hello everyone! Yes, it's Monday and tHiS wHaT i LiKe is still a little hairy, ah, but not for long! If you remember last week I mentioned a little wax stripping action in the quest for hair-removal, here's the good stuff- Nad's hair removal wax strips! I was pleasantly surprised at how easy these were to use and the results! No microwaving, no sticky mess, just a quick rub between your palms and they are set! I position them where the offending hair lies, give a quick smoothing down, and a quick pull in the opposite direction of the hair growth. ZIP! Hair's gone! It's significantly less painful then tweezing a million little hairs. Not expensive either, I picked up a box of 24 at Le Target for about $3.50, not bad and effective too!
My apologies for the last 2 products in the tHiS iS wHaT i LiKe segments being a little on the T.M.I. side, but hey, thus is life! So, if life's a little hairy, then give Nad's hair removal wax strips a try! I know I like them! ;0)

ThOuGhT fOr ThE dAy (post 141)

J. Lamb 2010

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." ~Unknown
If you happen to follow my F.B. fan page, you'll see that I have recycled this from my quote for the day. It's not that I've run out of inspiration, it's just that this quote is profound and speaks to me deeply. How many of us measure what we've accomplished in the temporal sense, or by the surface only? I have this and that and people can see that I have accomplished this, but these are all surface accomplishments nothing to be said about character or integrity. The great things that make us up as individuals aren't those that can be seen on the surface, they have to be felt only. Things that have changed us for the better and have molded our beings. As a parent , I know that my greatest accomplishment ever would be my children. The fact that they are happy and healthy and well-adjusted speaks volumes of character and strength and integrity or at least that's what I tell myself! Just a thought...;0)

Honor those who serve...

A special post in honor of Veterans Day 2010.
"How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!"  ~Maya Angelou
When you think of Veterans Day what come to mind? Do you think of battles and wars won and lost, do you think of the sacrifice those soldiers made? Do you think of the loved one's left behind, do you think of loved one's who gave their lives? Do you think of unpopular wars, of men and women who served despite political party lines drawn? Do you think of the veterans forgotten over time? Those who are maybe homeless, infirm, disadvantaged, or lost, do you think about them too? I do. When I think of Veterans Day I think of all these things, I think of my grandfathers, uncles, cousins, and friends who served us all and protected our freedom. I think of the freedom we as Americans enjoy and of those who sacrificed so much for me and mine. I salute you all dear veterans and thank you for you unwavering service in the protection of our freedom. God Bless America.

Find the beauty in everyday

How many of us do this, really look around while we're going about our daily business? Keeping our eyes peeled for the beauty of our realm as we shuttle kids or read a book or go about living our lives. You don't? Well, why? I know that I am guilty of being in a rush to get things done frequently and I don't always have the time to appreciate the simple beauty of just being alive. I took some time today to capture some of the things I see everyday as I go about my life and raise my children, it's amazing how simple things can be beautiful.

The view of the sky and the tree with just the last of it's leaves through my window

The strange fence and brilliant blue and red contrast I drive past daily

My love of books, the words, the pages to leaf through....

The view of Red Mountain I see as I take my kids to school

The texture of my couch, all waffley, squishy, comfortable to sink into

The flowers that are barely hanging on after chilly late Fall temperatures

The trees as they frame Utah Hill in the distance when I drop kids off at school

The lamppost in the park where we watch people and their dogs

These are all things I see in my travels daily and I'm not a fantastic photographer with a great camera either. I just have learned to appreciate the beauty that surrounds me even in monotony. The beauty we live in everyday. ;0)