Happy Monday

We had a lovely day of cookie baking, popcorn making and movie watching yesterday. A very cuddly way of spending our family day together. However, River and I finished it off with a rather fitful night of constant nursing and tossing and turning. I suppose those molars are back to working their way in. Molars just take forever to come in, don't they?

Needless to say, Mama's feeling beat and I'm thinking that cup of tea just isn't going to cut it. I'm trying to make the switch from coffee.
I'm feeling prepared to jump back into home schooling this week, though, after taking an extended Christmas break. I have some fun projects lined up for us. I know the girls have really missed it. We all appreciate the more structured days and focused creativity.

And I just wanted to say, even though I have not had the chance to respond to everyone who commented on my last post individually, thank you so much for your understanding and supportive words. I just had to smile reading them all. What a blessing to be able to reach out, say what is heavy on your heart or perhaps joyful or just thoughtful, and be heard and hear in return, 'I'm right there with you!'. What an amazing bunch of ladies you are. Have a beautiful week!

Right Now

I uploaded these photos yesterday, got no further and have no idea where I was going with them. I am having some difficulty getting back into my blogging groove and my homeschooling groove and getting up before the kids and... my groove, in general. The holiday break has really thrown me off. But if I'm to be totally honest I think I'm really just in a slump. I'm feeling kind of negative and dissatisfied.
Just right upfront, it's not my marriage, it's not my children or homeschooling and not my work. It's just me, things and people I've allowed into my life, my own attitude and things I hold onto. I really don't feel up to just spelling it all out here but I guess I could sum it up just saying that I need a new outlook, a new attitude and I think I just need to clean house a bit, emotionally and relationship speaking. I actually have put off making any New Year's resolutions simply because I feel overwhelmed , a little, by all the areas of my life I'd like to see change in. It's a little scary to think of all the dissatisfaction piled up on paper like that. But I should. I can't change things if I won't face them.
That's just where I am right now. I wish I had something cheerier to share with you. But maybe you're not feeling 100% OK with everything in your life right now either. And maybe it's nice to know you're not alone there. I know I feel that way often. Either way, peace, friends, and goodnight.

Making Plans

Stepping out my door this afternoon and feeling the icy air whip across my face it's really hard to imagine making plans for spring. But the first of the seed catalogs has made it's way to my mailbox and dreaming of spring I am.
Last year I thought about a garden, I started a garden but, in the end, it was just not in the cards. Not with a wild toddler running to and fro, anyway. But this year I have plans. This year I'm not in it alone and will rely on my husband to tame that wild toddler while I dig and plant away. Gardening is not his thing, not even a little bit, but I love it and am happy to play in the dirt while he plays with the girls. Now, what to plant...?

I also have plans for a new set of toys that I'm terribly eager to work up. Just need to decide on yarns. Oh yes, there are visions of bunnies dancing through my head!

What kinds of plans are you making?

Back On Track

First things first, the winners of the Tomten and the Fox Giveaway are

Amy

and

Lynnette

Congratulations! I've contacted you both already.

Now how about a slice of Blackberry and Lemon Curd Loaf? The first went too fast (after we shared with my parents) so another was in order. Tomorrow my husband goes back to work after having the whole week off for Christmas and I must say, as much as I love having him here I'm very ready for him to go back and the girls and I to get on with our regular rhythm. Rhythm... ha! Christmas orders started with full force just after Halloween and all semblance of a normal rhythm was thrown out the window. Daddy being home certainly hasn't helped that any. Not that there is anything wrong with that. We all enjoyed the extended holiday very much but I need rhythm and normalcy just as much as the girls. I'm looking forward to getting the house keeping back on track and I think I'll even do a bit of new year cleaning this week.
I think rhythm is something we're going to have to have a total redo on anyway. Don't forget, in all that Christmas order frenzy my husband moved back in and that threw us way off right there. Yes, it will take time and patience for us to find what works for our new family unit. But we'll get there.