Twelve Twelve Twelve

12-12-12.  I just like to look at it.   And not just because it won't happen again for a thousand years, but because it's pretty.

I am thrilled about this picture. Most of our Sunday mornings are chaotic and stressful. I wanted to get my family out after mass for a picture. It's been a year since we took a family photo [unless Las Vegas counts]. Nothing like last year when I made it my project to get at least one family photo  each month. That was so much fun by the way and not a lot of work for something that was pretty great.

Last Sunday it was impossible to organize it so that we could be ready right after mass so I just knew it wouldn't happen.  Fast forward to our post mass - Wyatt's first Sunday as an altar server - celebration at Panera. He served with Sarah and one other girl. He did so good. The week before he stood up with the cantor and sang his little heart out, though he is still a bit timid and doesn't project all that well, my heart busts up with pride to see him give it a shot.

So at Panera while we all sat in bagel bliss, I lamented the loss of my December - possible Christmas card worthy - family photo idea. To my surprise everybody was up for it, gosh they do love me.

Back at home we scrambled get out of our mismatched clothes and to find something black white or grey to wear which sounds easy but wasn't really.  Tony ran errands while I made a better attempt at fixing the girls' hair than we did for mass.  Mass gets the shaft when it comes to our hair because it's at 9am.  I don't even think Eva's was brushed that morning until we were picture prepping.

We ran over to meet Tony at my pre-planned spot, I was going for a particular idea and I found just the right color/texture I wanted for a background.  Because of all of this we made Wyatt late for a birthday party so we only had his attention for about three minutes, but we got it done in that little bit of time, thanks to my best photo friend the tripod.

And here's how Wyatt let us know that our time was up.

Just Like That.

Two days of December already done. I am going to try to do a lot less scheduling this year and try to have more down time. We are already locked in to regular things; sports, dance, scouts and such. This year I'm going to try to add as little as possible to our December schedule. It just gets too crazy and all I want this month is peace and harmony. Right right, too much to hope for, but a girl's got to hope for something.

We did the most wonderful thing last weekend. After years and years of talking about it we finally painted our bedroom. Tony and I knocked it out last weekend after Thanksgiving and I put some finishing touches on it today. It is glorious! I still need to take the after photo, so I will be sharing that soon. This is my color, it's name is gray timber wolf.

This makes me so happy! The only problem is that I want to spend all my time in there now. Eventually though, someone needs me or I get hungry. My family is going to keep that in check for me I suppose. The bathroom is still on the list but I am motivated now and I think I have a plan so hopefully that won't be long in coming.

We put our tree up this evening and will light it up and decorate her tonight too. Tony dropped Emily off at mass tonight because we left her blank at home this morning so we could get there on time. Sort of a tough love thing I guess. I don't know if it will have it's intended effect, but again, having hope here.

So when they get home, the rest of us will get out of my bed and we'll go do the cheerful holiday tree decorating tradition, and it will be so sweet.

November 2012

I found lots of reasons to be thankful in November 2012. Thankfully so because truthfully, things aren't super sparkling around here. I have issues dulling me. Ones that have a way of rubbing me like sandpaper or making me vomit a little when I briefly forget they exist, then remember. Things that make my heart take a dive off a high sucky cliff when that sandpaper starts hurting me again. I've gone for long periods of time, years even, without the sandpaper. I want to be there again.

So here's my short, possibly therapeutic list of gratitude for now:

my four sweet, smart, wonderful, bratty, beautiful kids

my love and my best friend Tony

mine and Tony's family, blessed to belong to them both

good friends

and

a comfortable home, which reminds me of a graphic someone posted on facebook this week. I'd be happy with two but I think everybody knows I only have one!