If I Had One Wish Then IT Would Be.

Today was a good day. That is to say once the clouds parted and the sun came out. There is just something about an overcast sky that tends to make me overcast. It's almost like the clouds sit and press down on my ambition, my motivation, my peace, my attitude. Try as I might, I can't seem to help it some days, and succumb to my lazy blahness.

It's the strangest thing, really, to have the weather affect me so much. All I know, is when the sun shines, when its rays are poring in my windows or beating on my skin unaffected by the clouds, anything feels possible. And with those possibilities action is taken, goals are achieved, and I can end a day satisfied and happy. Winter, Spring, Fall and of course Summer, I don't care when the sun shines, I just wish for it to... EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I Could Really Use a Utah Truffle...

This evening I set off writing an anticlimactic post about snow in April and how much I loathe seeing it float down consecutively for three days after a heavenly day of sunshine. How this SPRING break seemed more like a trip to the tundra while having our staycation, instead of a mingling of toes to the grass and faces toward the sun. Then suddenly, my laptop overheated and proceeded to shut down. After a cool down and some defragmenting I found my post erased, sans the title. What I deserve after complaining. After subsequent digging I found this:

Winter is getting to me. Seems the weather is playing a game of sunshine or clouds and I'm not having it. I want sunshine. With sunshine, anything is possible. Take for instance this last Wednesday. All day the sun shone. All day the kids and I spent time outdoors. Working in the yard I put up the trampoline, trimmed shrubs, weeded, gardened and stuffed my handy green waste container until it could no longer exhaust any air. You name it, I stayed busy doing it. Indoors later that evening, sunburns occupied mine and the ladies pale winter faces. It felt good. So very, very good.

As is the custom during the first of April, snow hit consecutively for the next three day. Going to the indoor pool and dreaming of (insert your favorite tropical destination here) was the only solace spring break had to offer. While surrounded in warm water, my thoughts could not help but take me back to last year. Back to Mission Beach, sunshine, sand and surf. Better, those thoughts lifted me. That was until we exited the pool, running through water logged snowflakes, each the size of my nose.

On a brighter note, tulip and daffodil bulbs planted last fall look beautiful with their greens laced between a blanket of white, and soccer season is around the bend with coach Mick at the helm of Liberty's team. Feeling more hopeful spring might arrive.

Maybe It's the Snow...

Wellsville mountain range at sunset via Lundstrom Park

...the hushed covering it places on life, people and landscapes. The perfect glow it creates.

Maybe it was the snow filled adventure the girls and I took to green canyon to get some real sunshine. Peace, laughter, and pure bliss in 20 degrees of crunchy whiteness when people thought we were crazy.

Mountain goodness

 I should blame it on an all day baking session the other day with a friend. Talking, laughing, sharing while creating masterpiece pies with our hands. Consuming homemade rolls rolls and more rolls with honey butter made of vanilla paste slathered along their golden tanned backs. Could be the season...

Snow Queen- 2010

It could have been the song sung so beautifully in sacrament today that sounded like an angel. The quiet assurance of my faith.

It might have been a thought provoking movie with insight beyond what I understood at that instant but am now catching glimpses of.

Any number of things lately. All I know, is that my heart is happy, and it feels good. 

Pulling an old lady.

Lamb Time.

A full moon is on the rise. Or at least it looks that way through my eyes... and the giant Box Elder which fractures its view. Tonight's air has a flirty breeze that causes my hair to tickle my neck and feel like bugs demanding to find my ears.

While enjoying this lamb type evening on the porch, I easily heard wind rustling barren tree branches, and a confident man bellowing words about nakedness and birthday suits the closer he inched towards me. I was wishing I had a spotlight to enhance his concert type performance. Instead I sat secretively in the dark, listening.

People inspire me. I like to imagine the comforts of being confident enough to walk down a dark street singing my guts out. Might have to add that to my bucket list.

Weather men say the lion is making his return in the form of snow tomorrow. I'll hold off turning the ski pulk back into the bike trailer, but I'm starting to itch for a good long ride. A GOOD LONG ride, did I mention that? Mr. Recumbent Bike at work takes me miles and makes me sweat- if I push myself, but does nothing for my thrill of getting from point A to point B with wind in my hair. NOTHING!

I'll take what I can get. Sort of like this beautiful night before the storm, a private serenade I was hardly expecting, and a frozen tush from this concrete.

Night.

Good Day Today:

• Got a shower...at 10 PM

• Was reminded that I used to be "normal"- I'll take it since normal is boring and I'd rather be anything but boring.

• Got busted for not reading someones mind and acting on said reading- oops! 100% guaranteed to happen again.

• Cleaned up a wet bum that used to be a cute bum.

• Ran to the bathroom in a hurry to find toilet paper plugging the sink and water pouring EVERYWHERE!
  

• Sorted sight words for an hour.

• Tackled and bullied a lamination machine who fired me up!

• Was asked to no longer discuss something, that is of direct importance to the learning of my child. Ouch, that hurts.
  

Good day today, good day.

My Best Friend Has Come Round Again.

Mr Sun came out to play today.

There was a race against the clouds to get homework done so the three ladies and I could get out to meet him before he disappeared.

We made it in the nick of time.

Aspen and Liberty mashed the remaining slush balls of Hasheewa with their feet. Abbie, even more resourceful, used her bum. No matter the means- the catalyst of sunshine mixed with destruction and dirty slush brought about water, and that turned a smile on my face almost instantly.

How I've missed the warmth of sunshine.

Waking once again to a gray sky-less blanket hovering over my neck of the woods made me wish for human hibernation to be an actual event during winter. So it was with mighty faith that I made it down the stairs to face the day this morning. Then, ever so slightly, God granted me one of His tender mercies by clearing the clouds and shewing the suns rays.

I took this gift gratefully.

Soon enough, some spring cleaning ensued and the Silver Bullet was cleaned out and vacuumed. Windows in the house were raised and stale winter was sifted out in currents.

Good riddance.

Confessions:

-Hi, my name is Jen, and I am addicted to Oreo's. Twelve step program please?

-Patience is not my virtue though I pray for it daily. Especially this week.

-I've had an Oreo shake everyday this week. Blondies are so much tastier then the good ol' black and white variety!

-Age two is my least favorite age of child rearing.

-It's a good thing Abbie is cute, or she would be locked in a padded room until she's four.

-Four is my favorite age of child rearing (so far).

-Secretly, I wish I had a padded room... for myself.

-Gluttony may be my greatest sin unless quick to frustration of a two year old is more severe.

-I'm not feeling cut out for my job.

-I refuse to brand a child with 'behavioral issues' when they are perfectly normal.

-Some days, I wish I could get laid off with a nice severance package that included a trip to a deserted island with a never ending supply of oreos, vanilla ice cream, milk and a blender.

Decisions

Decisions- we make them daily, hourly at times.
So what makes a particular decision hard?

Is it the unknown?
The fear?
Consequences?

Today I wished my most heavy decision was simple, easy.
Like the choice between M&M's and Lindt Lindor Chocolate balls.

I'd pick Lindt and never bat an eye of regret over M&M's

How to Solve a Problem

Aspen has not felt well the past two days. Sore throat, and a headache. She hibernated in my bedroom since the couch now resides in the driveway. Oh how I wish construction were over!

Anyhow, so as not to dwell on this (BIG) remodel project which was supposed to be finished TODAY, and frankly is starting to irritate me, I'll get back to the story at hand.

Aspen told me she needed to go poop. Of course like any good mommy I replied "well go ahead and go, you don't need to ask me".

Next I know, she is out of the bathroom with one hand on her head and the other on her tummy, expressing to me how much better her head feels "since getting [her] poop out".

If only a good poop solved all our problems. Maybe I should venture to the bathroom and hang out a while.

Choice

Two days ago the sun was out. I dare say it was above 50 degrees here in Logan.
Yes, you read that right.
Logan, a place where temperatures are occasionally lower than Alaska on many winter days hit 50 at the start of March!
Beat that Alaska!
It was incredibly invigorating.
My friend Lael and I even celebrated the birth of new buds in her flowerbeds.
Oh the longing!

That day the choice was simple:
Waste time taking a shower
or...
go play in the sun.

Need I tell you my decision or how I smelled?

Lambs are less scary!

We are one month closer to summer folks.
I can hardly stand it!
For all the sickness that has been rampant in our home this winter,
I'm all for skipping spring and getting straight to the good stuff:

Sun,
warmth,
gardening,
bike rides,
cool canyons,
outdoor play- all without threat of frostbite!

Here's praying for a short, nice spring.
In like a lamb, out like a lamb.
Lions scare me!

Good Sport

Bad hair day and your still happy?...

or do you feel like this?

Brown Snow

Can you tell who's ready for spring?
Since Phil saw his shadow, I've been itching a little bit more.
Had to post a picture of my flowers to remind me that it will come.
Winter seems to be closing in on me.
At least snow a little so we can go play in it- but cloudy overcast blah- argh!
The weather men say five more snow storms are coming this month.
I will enjoy them, and then...
count them in reverse order so I know just how many are over with!
Looking forward to seeing my shadow, feeling heat on my face and enjoying real flowers again.
For now, these will have to suffice.

All is calm

It's amazing how quiet the house can sound when Aspen and Liberty are away with Dad, and Abbie is asleep. I'm relishing in it. My dear sweet Abbie has become a teething mean monster machine. She has been so unhappy and oh so loud. I have become desperate for a little quiet time. Thank goodness for holidays!
The rains keep coming and the garden stays wet, so planting hasn't happened of yet. I did manage to beautify the yard with a few flower pots and hanging baskets. They make me feel like the rains have stopped and summer is officially here!
I hear crying coming from downstairs. The quietness has come to a close.

What got me started

November 23, 2007

I'm three children's Mother. I once thought one was heavy responsibility. After having my first, Aspen, I recall feeling like I never had time to accomplish everything that a day required. At some point I eventually fulfilled my daily goals, despite those occasional sick days. I did it with one child, then I did it with two, partly from the ease of Liberty's disposition. Will I be able to do it with three? So far with Abbie, only a week and 2 days old, recovery seems to be slower, but my past 20 body is picking up the pace as I trace back and forth to find where I left my nearest diaper, wipes, and burp cloth. Three is overwhelming responsibility, but with such a daunting task, I'll keep my head above water by positive thinking and writing. Which is why I chose today to start. Two of the girls are at grandma's- I can do anything with just one kid resting on my lap. Write now... wake up Abbie, change her bum, Nurse in half an hour...then maybe run a marathon...okay maybe run to the nearest bathroom. I told Mick as he stopped in from work today, "One kid is easy"! Oh how I wish I could go back to the ease of one child days, and still keep my three. Responsibilities of one child hanging over my head, but always have three precious girls just the same. Unfortunately but also fortunately, those days are gone and I'm left to figure out life with three. Only time will tell how it all pans out.