Real Life

I started this blog as a way to keep my family and friends who live far away updated with the happenings in our life. Another reason was so I could record different times and events in our life so that I can look back at them years from now. My intention was never to showcase our life and make it look absolutely wonderful, because it's not always like that! I'll be honest, those blogs that have perfectly posed pictures kinda drive me crazy! They make you feel like you need to have everything put together and life needs to be pictured and placed just right. My life is not like that. Not now with littles, and probably not ten years from now when they're not so little. 

I've decided that from time to time, I'm going to do a "real life" post and it will be just that - real life. You'll get a glimpse into a typical day with us. Nothing glamorous, just normal life. I'm not trying to hide anything or make my life look spectacular here, it's life and we're just living it. 

We wake up to more snow. Pretty much a daily occurrence here. Looks like a cute & pretty dusting, but don't be fooled. The depth in the yard is at least four feet.

The kids' favorite new game to play is the banana peel game. The take the banana completely out of the peel, then try to make the peel look as if there is still a banana in it and "trick" me into thinking they're giving me a banana. They think it's hilarious. We played this game for a while at breakfast. While drinking our spinach, banana, mango, pineapple, yogurt, chia seed, almond milk smoothies. 

Darling Daddy is working from home for the day so that he can work through lunch and get done right at 4:00 and I can then head out to the periodontist for a 6 week post-surgical checkup. His office is our bedroom. There is a desk in there, but he chooses to stand at the dresser a lot of the time. And yes, there is a play kitchen right outside our door.

Breakfast in bed anyone? Glamorous life we're living.

While we're upstairs saying "Hi" to Daddy, we've got to grab some dress up clothes. Superhero Firefighter here. Backwards fire helmet and all. Prepared for every type of emergency.

Breakfast clean up. How do we produce so many dishes in such a small meal? 

Fortunately they are occupied and quiet with a book for a bit while I try to clean the kitchen and pack up our stuff for the morning.

Two things from my wonderful sister-in-law that I use daily: Elderberry syrup and the French press. Loving both. Also pictured in the back is the silicone cover we use in the microwave and for cooking. That was a pretty awesome gift from Darling Daddy.

Packing up our bag for the morning. My first ever 31 bag that I got about a month ago. It's great for my 'mom' bag. Pockets for both sippy cups on each end, as well as several other pockets and big enough to fit everything we need. On the left is the $2.97 zip up "bikini" waterproof pouch from Walmart. Bikini schmikini. Looks more like a snack bag that can keep things cold. Thanks, Walmart!

A little bit of math play/learning for Curly Girl before we head out to do an errand and go to gymnastics class.

Some blocks and car play for Ginger Boy.

A trip to the post office where we all help out in mailing some thank you cards for their birthday gifts.

Then head to the YMCA where Curly Girl is taking a session of gymnastics to help get some energy out during these winter months. She's really moving during her class and comes out at the end pretty flushed! 

While she does gymnastics I manage to get a 20 minute run in on the treadmill. I worked out one time during the entire month of February due to snow, sickness and overall lack of motivation. Getting back into it slowly.

Before nap time she gets a little bit of quiet iPad play time in her "fort." It helps me get Ginger Boy settled in for his nap. She is LOVING (and learning a lot!) from the free StarFall app. I'm tempted to buy a year subscription to it. Anyone have one? 

I get one kid in for nap, clean up the kitchen, glance up at my Bible verse and look in the mirror realizing that I have to leave in two hours and I'm not showered, and there are several other things I need to get done around the house. 

Quick game of Candy-land with Curly Girl before she heads in for her nap. I notice the board is a little slimy feeling...

Yup, the EOS lip balm that Darling Daddy got her for Valentine's day has been smeared all over the board. Excellent. Guess that's going into hiding for a while.

After we play, she goes in for nap, I shower and do a few other things around the house before heading out on vacation - aka - a trip to the periodontist, a surprise quick visit with my sister and a trip to Target to buy printer ink and garbage bags (yet I come home with 5 bags...?!?!) 

And there you have it. A normal, nothing posed, day in the life of the Red 3 + Me. 

And just in case you're wondering, this is my view as I write this post:

Real life people, real life.

And I can't wait to have a basement playroom soon :)

Just really thankful

Do you ever have those days that just seem really long? Like look at the clock and think, "How is it only 9:13?!" Well, we've had a few of those days this week. And it's only Wednesday. Nothing crazy, nothing too overly draining, just long days. Maybe because this is pretty much the longest, coldest and most snowy winter ever? I don't know. 

I found myself on Monday starting to complain in my mind and I knew that I immediately had to stop. Complaining gets me nowhere. And my attitude spills over into how I deal with my kids and then it affects their behavior. I just can't do it. When I feel it coming on I have to just stop. 

Instead of complaining, I decided to look at all the things that I have to be thankful for - both big and small. There are so many and I'm so glad that I changed my attitude. 

Thankful that on Monday we got heat in the basement! Hallelujah! Getting closer to getting it finished!

Thankful that Curly Girl is very excited and interested in little science experiments. Baking soda and vinegar will keep her entertained for a solid 20 minutes, which is like an eternity to her.

Thankful that Ginger Boy loves this new play dough logging/sawmill set and will play with it for a while. 

Thankful for simple things like pom poms, tubes and oatmeal containers will keep him busy and "working" while big sister and I do school work. 

Thankful that as time has gone on, I've learned how to let go and just let the house be a crazy mess. It'll get cleaned and they won't be little forever. 

Thankful for so many stores within a 10 minute radius that offer relief when we need to just get out for a bit. This particular trip was to HomeGoods.

Thankful for his adorableness :)

Thankful that Curly Girl will just look and look (for a long time!) at the movies at Walmart and not ask to buy them.

Thankful that the temperature got into the 40s today!!!

Thankful for his imagination. He will just play and play all by himself. And talks the whole time!

Thankful for the care and love she shows for her brother. He woke up from his nap in a pretty miserable mood. I was trying to make dinner and she was taking care of him and trying to console him. Such a tender and caring heart. 

Lastly, thankful for this new recipe that I tried. Chicken enchilada casserole. Yum! 

So, what are you thankful for?