Up Hill Both Ways

I was running up hill the other day and thought, "Oh good! This will be downhill on the way back." Coming back, at the same location, I thought; "Why does it feel like I am running up hill...this was suppose to be downhill!" And then I understood how it can feel like you are going up hill both ways.

The more that I ponder that statement the more it applies. As a mom I am always going up hill both ways. With laundry, cooking, cleaning, errands, it never really feels like I can coast down hill. There will always be something. It gets a little bit easier if you give your self the right tools and training...and then sometimes you will go downhill for a while. This week I wrote out a detailed schedule of things that I should accomplish. And things got done...this morning I thought that I could coast downhill for a bit. And it took a whole 5 minutes for someone to ask for underwear. The one thing that didnt get washed was my whites...and then I started climbing again.

So the next time someone, more experienced than myself, tells me that they walked up hill both ways...I will believe them. Because life is a up hill climb and if you are able to coast it wont be for long. Good luck everyone with the climb!

Will you marry me?

I was driving in my car the other morning and this is the conversation I had with Julia:

Me: Julia do you want a piece of gum?
Julia: Yes, and I am going to share it with Charley and Nicky.
Me: Oh no you cant give Nicky gum he is to little.
Julia: Mom! Nicky is the cutest boy in the whole world. I am going to marry him, kiss him, hug him, and share my gum with him!

That got me think...both of my girls have picked a boy that they want to marry at the young age of 3. And to this day Maddelyn still says that she is going to marry Zane. It will be interesting to see what happens but it made me laugh. My girls are very different but they seem to follow the same patterns. So just know that if you are interested in setting your sons up with my daughters, that they have some pretty serious competition. Even if the boys that they want to marry have no idea!

Work and Play

Today was a pretty good day. Half Marathon training went well today, I beat my fastest mile. Which isnt fast but it is getting there. And because we had Family Home Evening today I got to make these yummy cookies that I found on http://www.bakerella.com/. There are so many yummy recipes on there that I will have to try. But as for now I made these simple and yummy cookies. And they were yummy!

Of course I didnt just bake all day...that would have been nice. However, I do have my goal of cleaning and organizing my life. And I have not been on top of it lately. So I decided this week I would make a big push to get my downstairs done. Now my downstairs does not get a lot of traffic. I wish it got more, (because that is my photography studio) but it doesnt. So it is a dumping ground for my family. The blankets get dumped from the drive in. Kids laundry gets piled up down here because they dont have a desire to walk the four more steps to the laundry room. If you come in the downstairs door, just kick off your shoes anywhere downstairs. And then my craft stuff gets piled up down there too. So I decided to start working down here...and I got a good start on it...I think.

So this is what I started with. I have more pictures...but they are not uploading right now. So I cant show you how awesome it looks now. But I did get a lot of the floor done today. Hopefully I can post them soon.

Chore Charts

Maddelyn asked me today if she could start doing chores because she wants to fill up her piggy bank. I didnt grow up getting paid to do chores...I just had to do them...so it is hard for me to remember to pay them for the work that they do. I do think that money is a powerful influencing tool, and may be just what I need to get my girls to help out more. Of course then you have to find the balance of how much is too much (with chores and money). But I do think that it is an important thing to offer kids.

I think that maybe if I had been paid for my chores that I would know how to manage my money better. And that is one thing that I want my girls to know. I think every girl should know how to manage money, basic car maintenance, basic cooking skills, sewing skills, how to maintain a home, and be trained in a profession. Now I am not speaking from experience. I am still learning many of those things. But as a parent I want to better prepare my daughters. And as I learn now...it is helping me have the tools to teach them as they get to the appropriate ages.

So the chore list is made...I think. I believe that Maddelyn is old enough to take care of her dog. Feed, play, walk, clean up after, and so that is her number one job. Second she is responsible for maintaining her room; making her bed, cleaning, bringing down her laundry. Third, clearing the table. (Which will help me keep up with the dishes...I hope) And the I added some personal care items that I think she could be better at. So all in all it looks like a long list but I dont thing that it is unreasonable. She will be 8 years old this July...so she should be able to manage these tasks, and not all of them are every day.

Julia's list is more focused on the personal care aspects of things. Right now she needs to learn how to take care of her body and so that is what is mainly on her list. She also has cleaning her room, less push on the bed and laundry for her...those are things I will help with. And then she is also responsible for setting the table. She really enjoys doing that one and that makes me happy that she likes helping out. So maybe I have a head start with her...because she didnt ask for money!

So does this apply to my goal of organizing my life? I think so. I think that if I can get my kids on board that I will have less of a struggle with getting the everyday things done. And maybe I will be able to tackle my laundry room before my anniversary!

Can I sit down now?

So I have officially started training for a half marathon run. Yikes! I have picked the race, set my schedule and started following it. So far so good...but I was really excited about today being my rest day. I have learned that there will be no rest day for me!

Today was crazy! And that is probably my fault...if I had checked my calender yesterday I would have shown up at the correct time for Julia's Dr. apt. Instead it was rescheduled for today. And this was an appointment that I had to go too. A month ago...Julia got a spider bite. Well it never really went away and turned into a staff infection. So we had to go and get it popped today. (see picture...not fun) We waited and waited to see the Dr. He had a Med student today so we spent extra time explaining everything to everyone and then he finally punctured it and sent us on our way.

Straight from that I went grocery shopping. I have a great routine set up with a friend of mine that we drive to Butler Pa where the Giant Eagle there has an Eagles Nest. Dropped the kids off...shopped...rushed home (so that we were home for the kids) and then rushed to dance. Meanwhile, I have dishes in my sink, stuff on my living room floor, and a messy bed. Not to mention all of the other messes around the house and laundry piling up! Rush home from dance and start on the dishes...make cold cereal for dinner (not the plan but too tired to cook). Switch the laundry and then sit down. Awwww....now I cant get up. It would be really nice to have some house elves right about now...or a live in masseuse. I would take either!

Mother's Day

I just wanted to write a little bit about my sweet girls tonight. I am so blessed to be a mother of two wonderful little girls. They really know how to brighten my day and I am so blessed!

Julia, I am afraid, is going to be the mean girl in school. She is so charming and she sucks you in...and then just as quickly she breaks your heart. Hopefully I can do a good job and she wont be like that...but it is a fear. She is so funny too. The other night, Evan farted (big surprise!), and she looks up (super serious face) and asks "Did I do that?" Cracked me up laughing!

Maddelyn is a lot like me. She is really hard on herself even though she has the best intentions. I probably come down harder on her because she is so much like me. I need to find a way to bridge that and make her come out of her shell a little more and try different things. She is very creative and loves making things. Best thing I can do for her is make her something. And she is the best big sister anyone could ask for. She spent the day with her sister all day and worked on writing letters and numbers. Maddelyn is determined to teach Julia and does school with her everyday after she gets home from school. She loves to learn and read and well she is just wonderful!

I love my girls! I love being their mom!

One of those days!

I thought today was going to be a great day...and it wasnt really bad, it just had a lot of drama in it! I started the day off great! Worked out, read scriptures with Maddelyn, and I even made breakfast for the family. And then the drama jumped right in! As I was cooking breakfast Maddelyn comes in and literally starts yelling at me about the LAUNDRY stacking up in her room. I mean really? She gets sent to her room and I almost have to force her to listen to me. In the back of my mind I am wondering what did I do to deserve this...and trying to keep my cool so that I am not a bully mom like I saw on Dr. Phil! So we get through breakfast...she is still grouchy...I am still grouchy. Finally, I win! She apologizes to me and all is well.

Then Julia wakes up, starts crying over everything. "You threw out the pancakes that I was saving from yesterday!" Note: Yesterday was Monday! That sends her in to a total up roar and then the drama continues. To get her to stop I fed her eggs, bacon (that she decided she didnt want), 2 granola bars, and some vanilla waffers. She said that she needed a big breakfast.

Rush, rush, rush to get ready for a doctors apt. to check out the large bump under Julia's arm. Rush, rush, rush and realize that you husband didnt fill up you tires with air and infomed you that it was very dangerous to drive. Panic, panic, panic! Prayer for safety to get to the doctor safely.

Whew! Made it! So then we waited and found out that her large lump that stayed with her for a month after she got bit by a spider and turned into a staff infection. So now we have to heat it up, give meds, and hope that it pops on its own or else get it popped on monday at the Dr. office. Great! But at least we know what it is...moving on!

Then we drive very carefully to Laura's house so that we can change the oil in my car. This has been planned for months and rescheduled...but hopefully today was the day! Not so much! Her jack didnt work worth jack! So we weeded her garden until it was time to be home for Maddelyn and we would attempt to do it at my house with the jack that I have used before and has worked.

We get to my house...move the garage mess...and start to look for the jack. We look high...we look low...no sign of the jack! Finally we give up all together and weed in my yard. We made plans to work on our lilac bushes, and grocery shop (because we are now dependant on one another to go together), and future plans once again to change my oil (because that needs to be done!) Then it is time for swimming....

Rush, rush, rush....and we are off! We get to the YMCA and all is well. I finally sit down and feel motivated to relax. 40 mins into swim class Maddelyn's teacher calls my name and lets me know that Maddelyn's not feeling well (Oh No! Not again!). I pull her out, and we wait the 5 minutes for Julia's class to end...and then we rush home. Cook dinner quick...eat...watch the family show Survivor...get the kids to bed...ahhhhhh.

Now, hope and pray that Maddelyn is not sick again! Because I cant do that anymore. I have got to reclaim my messy house...and my laundry room again. I dont want to hear "Do I have this this to wear" any more! (upside to hearing that is that I always know the answer...it is NO)

So today wasnt really a bad day...just one that nothing seemed to work out perfect. I had a fun day with Laura. It was nice to be productive and spend time with a good friend. Another good thing that is happening is that I am looking into finishing my AA degree. I am one quarter short and then I think I will be able to transfer to a school out here that does semesters. I think I want to do dental hygenie...if I can find a school around here that offers that. So I have some future plans laid out. And I will make a schedule for me to follow tomorrow so that I can get myself back on track. So not all is bad...just one of those days where you want to crawl back into bed and sleep through it!

Wrong again!

In my last post I said "there is nothing worse than feeling like you are going to puke but not being able too." I was wrong. After being sick, once again, last night I have changed my tune. And an added bonus is that Evan decided to stay home today because he is feeling ill. So the only healthy on in the house is 3 years old! Yikes! This is going to be a fun day.

Catch up...

Why is it that when a Mom gets sick the cleaning stops? My poor family has been going up and down with this flu like bug. Julia was hit the hardest with it, then I got it, and now Maddelyn. Hopefully Evan doesnt get it!

So I was able to get everything done for Evan's birthday...YAY! And then Sat. came and half way through the day I felt really yucky! And the day and night didnt get much better. Worst feeling in the world is feeling like you are going to puke and then not being able too. Well I did all the prep work for the birthday party but we went to the drive in so I didnt clean up after the party. And then I got sick and the dishes sat in the kitchen until today. More dishes piled up on top of them to boot. So today...since I am feeling better I finally got to wash them. But tonight I feel like throwing up again. Everything was so stinky! I wish that I had called in a maid to wash the pee out the sheets, to wash the dishes and maintain my home fore me while I was out. Why is it that the healthy one can do that for me? He did keep the kids out of my hair, which was nice! But throwing some dishes in the dish washer would have been ideal! I need to help my girls find husband that will do that for them when they are sick...I guess I better start taking applications! Hee hee!

I did get a lot done today, so now I am going to put my tired feet up! And rest a little bit. I need to take some excedrin and then lay down and hopefully feel better. I think Maddelyn will feel better too. Poor girl hates missing school...I would hate to have to miss 2 days in a row. And if she is feeling better maybe that means that I will get a good night sleep! :)

Evan's Birthday!

Well yesterday was a great day in the Lunt household. Evan turned 33 and we had a fun night with him. The girls and I made him a Techno crazed cake. He loved it! After a wonderful dinner and cake we went and say How To Train A Dragon at the drive in. This was a great night and Evan had a great birthday.