Day Twenty....Game Day...

Our family loves traditions. The little things we do daily, some once a week or once a month, even yearly.

We try and sit down together for family meals, asking each other how our day was, what was our favorite part, what was the worst.

I love our special dinners for the birthday person, or that we bake cookies for Santa every year. Watching movies such as "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" for Thanksgiving and  "It's a Wonderful Life" for Christmas. Church on Saturday nights and pizza with half cheese half pepperoni.

But one I really love is our Sunday morning family game day.

Sunday mornings are for getting up late, for cinnamon rolls and hanging out in PJ's. And for playing board games together.

Now its not always pretty, quite a few tears have been shed, tantrums have been thrown and board pieces and pretend money have flown. And its not always me :)

But for the most part we have fun, laughing and learning - life lessons in a game.

Day Nineteen...It's Chili in here..

I love Saturdays. For so many reasons. You are free to do whatever with your day - all or nothing.

Today is a cold rainy day - the best kind of Saturday.

Today is a busy Saturday - I have to work later today, while Troy and the kids go to church.

We've had a productive Saturday with lots of chores getting done by all of us. That means if tomorrow is a rainy cold day we are free to do nothing. Best kind of Sunday in my mind!

I love today, being home together, warm and snuggly - busy bees, cleaning house. Music station on the TV, yummy Scentsy smells throughout the house. Making everything clean and shiny again. Feels complete.

Since I'm working tonight its a crock pot day. How I love my crock pot!! Everyone gets a hot meal, doesn't matter when they get home. Especially when I get home from work, I can have a hot yummy dinner.

Today its chili - perfect for this weather. So, I'm in the kitchen getting everything put together and Grace wanders in and wants to help.

I love how much of a help she can be - so I put her in charge of making honey corn bread to go with the chili.

I smile while I watch her get all the ingredients, measure, pour and mix. Reminds me of many hours spent in the kitchen with my own mum. Where did those years pass?? When did I end up being the mum in this story?! 

I'm grateful for those times in the kitchen with my mum, its made me a pretty good cook. I look forward to sharing those times with my own kids. Our family history passed down in those recipe books.

And I know I will be grateful tonight, when I get home from work and I can snuggly down with a big bowl of goodness.

Day Eighteen...Not just another MLM...

Not many of us like change. Most of us like the consistency of our day to day. Our routine. We know more or less what to expect and its comforting. Me being the control freak that I am, likes to know whats ahead of me, I don't like change.

So when Scentsy announced some big changes were coming I freaked out. I like the way things are! Why change I say?!

Why do I have such a hard time embracing change??  I need to learn to go with the flow.....

I mumbled and grumbled last night as the news broke....picking apart everything, like a two year old refusing to eat veges...

But as I sit here today, in the peace and quiet of my home office, I take time to really explore my new changes and come to realize what a selfish brat I am - and how much these changes are going to affect my life - and in an amazingly positive way. My future can only get brighter!

How luck am I to work from home, to be my own boss, run my own company. To believe in my product and truly love it. To have the time to be with my family - or time to just spend on me. And Scentsy gives that to me. They want me to be successful,  and I need to trust in that.

I truly am grateful for this job, this awesome opportunity -  that I have built this for me, for my family.

So today I embrace this change, wholehearted - not knowing where its going to go, but happy to run with it.

Day Seventeen..How do you eat your Oreo??..

Wow, I just figured out I'm an emotional eater...! I got a feeling there might be quite a few posts about food.

Today was not a good day for me - nothing in particular - just woke up feeling blah.

A panic attack in the middle of the night had me down and despondent this morning. I'm a worry wort, stressing about everything. Some nights I can't even sleep properly!

I promised myself to be more conscious of my stresses and learn to deal better with them. I want more inner peace.

So I realize today, (who am I kidding, I've known about this forever), that I love to eat when I am stressed out.

Which if you know me and how I stress, I should be as big as a barn! The funny thing is when I get asked how I stay slim I say stress!! How can stress keep me slim when I eat!! I guess lucky genetics....

So, tonight I salute the mighty Oreo - creamy goodness sandwiched between two crunchy chocolatey cookies. Nothing super fancy - but so comforting!! 

I feel grateful for you tonight! I can feel the stress slowly melt away with each bite I take. Think its gonna take a few..... :)

Day Sixteen...Just Breathe...

I've been a little slack with the whole walking thing and haven't felt too good about it.

I really enjoy walking, and even though I don't need to lose any weight, some toning up would be good. But what I get most out of it is the emotional aspect of it.

I love feeling energized - I feel happier, bouncier, I feel like it sets the tone for my day. I'm just in a better mood.

So today I was able to walk again with a friend, her company I truly enjoy, and I think we both get some girl therapy from it!

Today was particularly gorgeous.  A super crisp 38F degrees ( 3C for my Aussies ) and only warming up to 47F (8C) by the end of the walk. I don't normally like the cold, but it was such a pretty day and once you start a brisk walk its really enjoyable.

The sun was warm on our backs and it made the bushes steam all around us as it warmed up the frost that was coating the leaves. The grass was white and  frosty with ice. Everything seemed really sharp with color, clear and fresh.

I love breathing in deeply through my nose - the cold air filling up and numbing my nostrils and throat. So clean and cold, so refreshing. I feel so alive!

I feel so grateful for being alive, for being able to take the time to fit in a morning walk, for my girl time with my friend, and for the cold crisp air that makes me feel so good.

Day Fifteen...Brothers & Sisters..

I love it when my kids get along. Of course they are normal siblings, get into arguments, and knock out fights. But for the most part they really dig being around each other.

When I got pregnant with Lucas, making him only 23 months younger than Grace, I wondered how I would handle that. But Grace was an awesome toddler and big sister, and adored her little brother.

Now looking at the them, with Lucas as tall as Grace, you'd swear they were twins.

I love listening to them play together, the chatter of the games they are playing - the role playing and their endless imagination. The laughing and giggling when they are being silly or up to something. Sometimes I really feel left out!

They love knowing what the other is up to - and they love helping each other out.

Tonight I asked Grace if she would help Lucas with a school project that he has - he needs to draw himself on construction paper, life size, and color/decorate himself in. Grace being my little artist was all over it.

As I stood in the kitchen ironing I watched them work on this - heads bent together, discussing how it was to be done, a little arguing here and there but mostly lots of giggles.

My heart just swells when I watch them like this - united front, working together. Brother and sister.

I'm so grateful for their love for each other, for their bond and for the fact that they are mine.

Day Fourteen...It's a Boy!

I'm sooooo excited!! I'm going to be an auntie to another nephew!!

Today my sissy had her ultrasound, and we are all so grateful that the baby looks healthy, strong heart beat and right on track. I'm so proud of my little sis! But what we are all excited most about is that it's a BOY!

Here is another example of why I have a hard time being here sometimes. I wanted to be there with her at that ultrasound - instead she went on her own and I had to make do with being there via phone. Thank god for long distance on our cell phones!

Tina and I have become so close since becoming adults and even more so as we've become parents. I can't imagine my life with out her and I know she feels the same way as I do. I know she wanted me there too.

I still got to be the first one she told, and we both cried as she told me how happy she was to be having a son - the perfect addition to her family. Now she'll have one of each, one more thing we'll have in common and will be able to share.

I am grateful for the healthy baby growing inside her. And that there is a very good chance I'll get to meet him at the end of the year, if all goes according to plan!

I am grateful for the relationship I have with my sister. Strong, deep and unconditional. Love you Tina!

Day Thirteen...Mad Scientist...

Today I am grateful for Science.

Grace is in 4th Grade this year and along with that comes the new concept of having different classes for 2 subjects this year. She has History with Mrs. Dunn and Science with her own teacher Mrs Erdmann.

She's always been an excellent student, but this year she's shining. And its not just academically, its more about who she is as a person. She's growing into herself - and I'm enjoying every minute - the good, bad and the ugly! And believe me, at 10 and on the cusp of all the hormones surging through her, it ain't pretty sometimes!

But to see her thrive at school and have such a passion for her new subjects is just amazing to me.

She just loves Science. Rattles off all kinds of facts to me all the time.

So when we got the note home saying that 4th Grade would have the chance to be involved in a science fair project this year it was both exciting and overwhelming at the same time. But I know that Grace would get into it and with some guidance could really do something great.

I got all the supplies (including the bling!) and we have started to work on it tonight. 

Yes, we got into some heated debates/arguments at the beginning, but now we are on a roll and its really fun!

Watching her measure and label, write her hypothesis and observations. Concentrating and serious. - I'm having a hard time describing how I feel, except for incredibly proud.

We are staying up late to record whats happening - and I just love this moment in time - my child on the verge of a teenager - sometimes acting more adult than me! I love her passion and dedication, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for her.

Day Twelve..."What would it take for you to buy this car today?"

Today I am extra grateful for "Big Red". 

"Big Red" is my 2001 GMC Yukon - my truck. We've had her about 7 years now and she's served us pretty well.

We've had a lot of miles and memories in Big Red. Family road trips, trips to the ER, happy hellos and sad good bye runs to LAX and the day to day back and forth to RCS.

We've done a lot of fun things in Big Red! You can see the love in the wear and tear on her.

Big Red is also the Scentsy mobile now....hauling wickless candles all over the Inland Empire and beyond. Couldn't imagine not having Big Red.

But today we went car shopping - Troy needs to replace his car and one of the options is for him to take Big Red and for me to get a new car. I was totally super excited to go car shopping - finally its my turn to get a new car!

We only spent 2 hours in one car dealership and I'm already almost over it. Big Red is looking pretty ok right about now!! 

As much as I want a new car I don't want a car payment. But those new cars are sooooo nice, with their seat warmers and fancy bells and whistles...And the the smooth (well, maybe not that smooth!) car salesmen, that would do anything to have you buy this car today.

So, we will continue looking, and I will have a new appreciation for Big Red. 

And if I do get a new car at least she stays in the family a little longer.

Day Eleven...TGIF...

Today I'm grateful for a gorgeous day. I can't believe the weather we are having for the middle of winter - another picture perfect day.

What made today special is that I "took the day off". I actually consciously didn't work. Didn't really think much about work at all - didn't worry about housework or chores.

I took the day off and spent it with a good friend  and she took the day off and spent it with me.

We walked aimlessly around some shops, not really wanting for anything. Had a lovely lunch and some much needed girl talk.

It felt good to just sit and relax! We enjoyed the day.

I made a pact with myself at the beginning of this year - to be less stressed - to not feel guilty for "me" time.

We are only 13 days into the new year I know, but I do feel more at peace, more relaxed and I hope that I can keep this up.

We'll see!