One thing that decorating (and undecorating) for Christmas always reminds me...I am NOT a minimalist. I always see these beautifully decorated homes in magazines and catalogs and think how much I love the look...but it will never be replicated in my home. I have had many people tell me my home is cozy, and I hope that is the case. And while I would not consider my house cluttered, there are certain things I will not do without...I want them on display where I can see them everyday. Most of these things are pictures. I don't remember my mother having any pictures throughout our house when we were growing up...none hanging on the walls or in tabletop frames. When I left for college I bought tons of frames and my dorm room was filled with pictures. This is true now...I love having pictures of various loved ones and various important events surrounding me every day.
There are also several knick-knacks I want to have out. I love the geese and ducks that my grandmother carved herself shortly after her brother passed. Carving had been a hobby for him and she took it up as a way to feel connected to him even though he was gone. I love having our collectable (or just important to us) sports items out, and I'm very grateful that we now have a room where they can be. I have furniture that was important to various members of my family, and I want them where I can see them.
I have accepted that this is the way I am, and I don't think it is overwhelmingly so. I recognize my house is never going to look like a magazine, and I've decided that I don't care. My house makes me happy...and that's all that really matters!
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Monday, January 6, 2014
Operation Christmas dismantle
I am finally getting around to taking down the Christmas decorations. Andrew always prefers I wait until the 6th anyway, so he was happy they were up all weekend. I don't mind that they've been up either, but I'm ready to get the house back to "normal".
Normal? I am not sure that I even have a clue what that might be anymore! As I knew would happen, I am having a difficult time putting the house "back together" because frankly, it had only been "together" for about two weeks (two difficult weeks!) before we decorated for Christmas. I am taking things out of the tubs to put them back and thinking to myself, "Hm, I wonder where I had this?" The good news is that I have no deadline and it will be finished when it is finished.
Not helping either is the temperature. Currently weather.com says that we are at -5 degrees with a windchill of -29. Pretty darn cold out there. This wouldn't be an issue, except the tubs where we store our Christmas decorations are in the DETACHED garage. I had to laugh at my husband this morning, who reminded me that if I did feel the need to go in and out to that garage that I should put a coat on. That man definitely knows who he married...not a big fan of wearing coats!
Normal? I am not sure that I even have a clue what that might be anymore! As I knew would happen, I am having a difficult time putting the house "back together" because frankly, it had only been "together" for about two weeks (two difficult weeks!) before we decorated for Christmas. I am taking things out of the tubs to put them back and thinking to myself, "Hm, I wonder where I had this?" The good news is that I have no deadline and it will be finished when it is finished.
Not helping either is the temperature. Currently weather.com says that we are at -5 degrees with a windchill of -29. Pretty darn cold out there. This wouldn't be an issue, except the tubs where we store our Christmas decorations are in the DETACHED garage. I had to laugh at my husband this morning, who reminded me that if I did feel the need to go in and out to that garage that I should put a coat on. That man definitely knows who he married...not a big fan of wearing coats!
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Emotionally drained
I'll be honest, today was much tougher than I thought it would be. I had to drive back to my hometown, to the exact same funeral home where we celebrated my father's life just over six weeks ago...and just six weeks before that it had been his best friend. I didn't expect to be so emotional about it, but it wasn't just the location...it was the people. I saw so many of the very same people I had just seen and it was a little overwhelming.
The toughest part though, was the people I hadn't seen six weeks ago. Three of Granny's grandchildren live out of state, and I certainly thought nothing of the fact that they hadn't come in for Dad's services. However, they all made sure to talk to me about my dad and how much they adored him, and that made the tears flow. I love this family so much, and we've all just experienced so much hurt lately.
It didn't help that it was also a very stressful drive. While the snow has not yet happened, it has been raining, and raining hard, most of the day. There was no way to use the cruise control and visibility was minimal. There was also so much rain that it was starting to create currents in the ruts on the road and it was just a tough drive.
Looking forward to a very good night's sleep tonight!
The toughest part though, was the people I hadn't seen six weeks ago. Three of Granny's grandchildren live out of state, and I certainly thought nothing of the fact that they hadn't come in for Dad's services. However, they all made sure to talk to me about my dad and how much they adored him, and that made the tears flow. I love this family so much, and we've all just experienced so much hurt lately.
It didn't help that it was also a very stressful drive. While the snow has not yet happened, it has been raining, and raining hard, most of the day. There was no way to use the cruise control and visibility was minimal. There was also so much rain that it was starting to create currents in the ruts on the road and it was just a tough drive.
Looking forward to a very good night's sleep tonight!
Sunday...and almost back to the routine
This weekend many of the kids' normally scheduled activities returned. We are finding it somewhat less convenient to take the kids back to our old town for scouts since we've sold our house...no built in place to hang out while waiting! It's only the rest of this school year for Catherine though, and then through February of 2015 for Thomas.
The weather was supposed to be down right nasty today. It still isn't going to be pleasant, but not until later tonight. I am grateful, as I had been wanting to return to my hometown for the funeral visitation of Granny. I know her family would've understood if I hadn't been able to get there because of the weather, but I'm grateful it should hold off long enough for me to get there and back.
In the meantime, we are hoping that Andrew can get Thomas a flu shot. I am usually all over this and don't wait this long, but life happened this fall. We are having trouble finding a doctor that will take the kids' insurance, and then when Dad died in the middle of November everything else kind of fell off the radar. However, I am beginning to hear of deaths resulting from the H1N1 strain, and since Thomas doesn't handle respiratory illnesses well the little mini-panic in me is beginning. We think we have a solution and can get him a shot today.
Tomorrow and Tuesday the temps in our area are supposed to be the coldest they have been in 20 years. Andrew has to work tomorrow but no students so we don't have to worry about school tomorrow, but I'm becoming less optimistic about everyone being out of the house on Tuesday. Don't get me wrong, sleeping in is always very nice, but we've just had 2-1/2 weeks off...let's get everyone back to school!
The weather was supposed to be down right nasty today. It still isn't going to be pleasant, but not until later tonight. I am grateful, as I had been wanting to return to my hometown for the funeral visitation of Granny. I know her family would've understood if I hadn't been able to get there because of the weather, but I'm grateful it should hold off long enough for me to get there and back.
In the meantime, we are hoping that Andrew can get Thomas a flu shot. I am usually all over this and don't wait this long, but life happened this fall. We are having trouble finding a doctor that will take the kids' insurance, and then when Dad died in the middle of November everything else kind of fell off the radar. However, I am beginning to hear of deaths resulting from the H1N1 strain, and since Thomas doesn't handle respiratory illnesses well the little mini-panic in me is beginning. We think we have a solution and can get him a shot today.
Tomorrow and Tuesday the temps in our area are supposed to be the coldest they have been in 20 years. Andrew has to work tomorrow but no students so we don't have to worry about school tomorrow, but I'm becoming less optimistic about everyone being out of the house on Tuesday. Don't get me wrong, sleeping in is always very nice, but we've just had 2-1/2 weeks off...let's get everyone back to school!
Friday, January 3, 2014
My husband's 40th
Today Andrew turns 40! It is so hard to believe we are both now living life in our 40's. That might sound like a strange statement, but again, I was in college when my parents turned 40 so this just doesn't seem possible.
And of course there is the fact that my dad first became ill when he was 42. In retrospect I realize how difficult it must have been for him to have to slow down and change his lifestyle at such a relatively young age. I am grateful that I had graduated from college and my sister was half-way through undergrad...at least they did not have the stress of raising children on top of dealing with Dad's illness.
Not entirely sure how we are going to celebrate today. We received about five inches of snow yesterday, and then the temps last night fell below zero with even colder wind chills. I checked weather.com about five minutes ago and the wind chill has stopped, but we are currently at five degrees. Not exactly looking forward to being out, but hopefully we will at least go out to dinner!
And of course there is the fact that my dad first became ill when he was 42. In retrospect I realize how difficult it must have been for him to have to slow down and change his lifestyle at such a relatively young age. I am grateful that I had graduated from college and my sister was half-way through undergrad...at least they did not have the stress of raising children on top of dealing with Dad's illness.
Not entirely sure how we are going to celebrate today. We received about five inches of snow yesterday, and then the temps last night fell below zero with even colder wind chills. I checked weather.com about five minutes ago and the wind chill has stopped, but we are currently at five degrees. Not exactly looking forward to being out, but hopefully we will at least go out to dinner!
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Beginning anew
Yesterday was exactly the day I wanted it to be. We did absolutely nothing. Andrew had made a pot of chili the day before so we didn't even need to cook. We got to watch some great football games and just sat...loved every minute!
Unfortunately, we have learned this morning that Granny, our dear family friend, passed away this morning. She lived a full life and has been ready to go see Poppy again, but it's not the way we wanted to begin the year.
I am absolutely ready to get this house, and our lives, going in the right direction. We closed on the sale of our house Friday before we left town. It was so very nice to have that all taken care of, especially before the end of the year. Andrew and I are beginning to prioritize the things that we want to do in this house to make it really feel like our home. I am really "chomping at the bit", but I kind of need to take a step back. For one thing, I need to get the Christmas decorations put away (and thanks to the 3" of snow already outside and more falling, that may not happen today) but I need to make sure I am doing things in the correct order. I really want to get rid of the awful curtains that are in our living room, but I need to make sure that I have decided on the paint color for the walls before I do that. I am also really anxious to purchase new bedding for our bedroom, but we need to decide whether or not we are upgrading to a larger bed. And of course I need to make sure I can pay for everything as well! One thing that I know we will be doing is updating the hall bathroom. It is AWFUL!
I am also hoping that our new year can bring some calm, and that has to begin with me. I am planning to be better about exercising and watching what I eat, and hopefully that will also give me the strength and energy to not only be calm, but a better mom and person overall.
We are looking forward to all of the opportunities that this new year can bring!
Unfortunately, we have learned this morning that Granny, our dear family friend, passed away this morning. She lived a full life and has been ready to go see Poppy again, but it's not the way we wanted to begin the year.
I am absolutely ready to get this house, and our lives, going in the right direction. We closed on the sale of our house Friday before we left town. It was so very nice to have that all taken care of, especially before the end of the year. Andrew and I are beginning to prioritize the things that we want to do in this house to make it really feel like our home. I am really "chomping at the bit", but I kind of need to take a step back. For one thing, I need to get the Christmas decorations put away (and thanks to the 3" of snow already outside and more falling, that may not happen today) but I need to make sure I am doing things in the correct order. I really want to get rid of the awful curtains that are in our living room, but I need to make sure that I have decided on the paint color for the walls before I do that. I am also really anxious to purchase new bedding for our bedroom, but we need to decide whether or not we are upgrading to a larger bed. And of course I need to make sure I can pay for everything as well! One thing that I know we will be doing is updating the hall bathroom. It is AWFUL!
I am also hoping that our new year can bring some calm, and that has to begin with me. I am planning to be better about exercising and watching what I eat, and hopefully that will also give me the strength and energy to not only be calm, but a better mom and person overall.
We are looking forward to all of the opportunities that this new year can bring!
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Maybe my favorite day of the year
Happy New Year! January 1 has always been one of my favorite days of the year! It is a day where we pretty much never have any commitments, and there is pretty much good college football on. ALL. DAY. And to top it off, reality almost never kicks back in on the second, so it is truly a day where we can just mindlessly exist. Sounds like an absolutely perfect day to me!
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