time well spent...

sometimes bed can wait

Tonight was one of those night where all I really wanted to do was get in bed. From the moment dinner was over and the dishes were underway I could think of nothing else. As Adam was walking out the door I asked the girls what their plans were for the next hour and they said, "playing a game with you." I took a deep breath, seeing my evening plans crumble, but knowing my bed could wait a little longer, I asked, "what game?"



Jenga it was.



It took a game or two for everyone to find their "jenga" rhythm, but we did get there and we had the best time doing it together. I'm grateful tonight I listened to them and not my achy body because I'm going to bed with a bigger smile, a fuller heart, than when I started.

xoxo

on the other end...

Remember how I talked about getting a prepaid line for our home phone, well I finally bought it and am in the process of switching phone numbers etc... and that's where my story begins.

I was looking everywhere for this phone. It's small, but no one has used it so I couldn't for the life of me figure out where I put it. I kept calling it and walking around the house listening for a ring, but nothing. Mid search a little voice in my head said, Megan may know where it is. She was eyeing it a few days before and even asked if it was for her. So I called Robyn's (she was at her house) to get some answers, but no one picked up so I went on searching. About the tenth time I called, right when I was ready to give up figuring it was turned off and lost, I suddenly heard the ring on the other end stop and the phone clicked. Someone had picked up the phone.

There was a long pause and then a giggle. It was then that I knew...there is a reason we mothers have instincts.

I said, "Megan is that you?"
I heard, "Megan it's your mom."

Pause

Megan: "Hi, Mom."
Me: "What are you doing?"
Megan: "I'm playing."
Me: "No, what are you doing with the phone?"
Megan: "Oh that, i don't know."

She had packed her bag to spend the night with her cousins and for reasons, still unknown to me, she packed the phone as well. Only Megan would decide that was a good idea. Oh dear. I think we may be in some trouble.

here are just a few photos from the other night...

fhe | game night

We played Scrambled States for FHE. It's a lot of fun for the kids, educational and easy enough that even a 5 year old can play. Basically someone asks a question and then you have to find the state card that corresponds with the question (the cards were scattered on the table). The first one to find the right card gets the point.


It started out good. Calm.


Adam and I had a good time watching them grab for the cards. They were all pretty agressive picking up the cards and each one they touched were somehow mangled (fyi there was usually always more than one card that was right so luckily no fighting).


Of course we had some bumps in the road when Megan lost several times in a row. We didn't wait for her to cry instead told her she could join us when she was ready. Luckily, it didn't take long to get her back in the game. I've found when you don't indulge it works better for everyone.


It was funny to see the answers they came up with. Some of the questions were like, What State's Capital City has a three letter word in it? Took a long time for them to find Topeka. Tess got that point.


By the end of the game it was quite loud, lots of laughing and cheering, and they all had made their way onto the counter. Exactly the way a game night should be...right? Bella was the one who ended up winning, while Tess and Megan tied for second. Not bad.

30 days

enjoyed slurpies


experienced the best weather ever at an amusement park


put our house on the market, but you knew that


read, especially during the first couple weeks of rain


multiple trips to the pool


sleepovers


days at the park


sought solace at the bookstore and/or library


listened to her talk about her birthday everyday


went through my paper trail


a getaway to St. George with my parents


had playdates....


and tears


enjoyed a weekend away with Jill, Robyn, Lori, and Kathy


played games


lazy evenings watching the day fade

you win some, you lose some...

she won a lot today.

miscellany

We went to lunch, learned to play checkers, went to see Coraline 3D, had game night, enjoyed the spring like weather, and played outside. Phew! It was a full weekend and we definitely made the most of it together because we are down one at the moment. Adam has gone away on business and won't be back until Friday night. I told him it was probably the perfect time to leave because it's a really busy week, there is something going every night. I remember when my girls were little (pre-school), Adam going out of town felt like a little break for me. I shifted into low gear and took everything a little slower...I didn't make dinner and eased up on the household duties. Adam laughs at me and tells me it can be like that all the time if I want, but I don't. I want to have dinner ready & a clean house for him to come home to. I wouldn't appreciate living in low gear, it's just nice to have every once in a while. Of course, these days it seems like every once in a while doesn't exist. Life seems to be moving at such a fast pace sometimes I feel I can't keep up with it unless I'm running.

Speaking of running, my first full week is behind me and I feel like I'm improving. I still wake up some mornings and think, ugh...today is a running day, but afterward I feel amazing. Thanks for all the nice thoughtful comments & emails from last Saturday's post. You've inspired me and given me hope. I feel like it can be done.



I'm hoping Bella will be inspired by Helen Keller. We went to the library this afternoon so she could pick out a biography to do a report on and Helen Keller is who she chose. On the way home she asked, "Mom, has Helen Keller said anything remarkable because we have to share at least one quote?" I got a good chuckle as I assured her there would be plenty of good quotes to choose from. It was cute to see her excitement, she got started reading the minute we came home.

Lastly, I'm making a few preparations for a green day tomorrow. I usually don't do much for this holiday, but admittedly I'm feeling it this year. Apparently, I'm not the only one. Tess told me her class set a trap for a leprechaun just in case he came to school and Megan's going to go on a leprechaun hunt tomorrow. Do you have anything fun planned?