{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Inspired by SouleMama

 

Snow!

We had great plans for the day. EVERYONE was excited. Me too!! Lots to keep wee ones busy and learning, and a visit with my momma - can it get any better?

Wait.

Are you ready?

This miserable system moved in bringing snow, and wind, and making roads treacherous. They were crushed. I was crushed.

This out first real snowfall of the wintry season.

Why today Mother Nature??

Some cried. I wanted to too. Instead I smiled and said, "We still can have a great day!"

We bundled up in snow pants, and hats and mitts, warm fuzzy boats, and scarves wrapped around faces.  The baby pointing at the door after the big kids were out trying to tell me to hurry. My beautiful growing little soul. You can see so much in her eyes. She is always pointing and grunting, and her eyes get bigger when she is trying to tell you something important. O Sweet Klara, start talking, and tell me all those things you want to say!

A walk, and some shoveling, and helping the neighbor as well, bonded us, lifted our spirits, and an hour and a  half later when we entered the house stomping, laughing, talking and smiling. O except that wee one, who so badly wanted to stay out and color with chalk.....because that is what everyone wants to do when its snowing...??

A warm hearty lunch, and they were busy crafting. Cutting, gluing, and drawing......Valentines!! Talking together, helping, giggling and laughing. Is there anything sweeter then the laughter of children?

I hope your Thursday turned out as great as ours!!

Monday with a Check In

Quick check in to start.

I had a good week, staying on my Weight Watchers Points, and exercising 5 days for 30-45 minutes in the a.m. I was discouraged as I weighed myself every morning only to watch the scale creep up a point of a pound each day. I know there is fluctuations in weight throughout the week, but weighing in every day keeps me accountable to what I am eating. I just need to keep in mind that the weekly weigh in each Monday shows the weight loss!  So today did show a weight loss of 1.8lb over the last week. That is a total of 4.6lb in the last 2 weeks. I am getting there!
I also downloaded a weight tracker app on my phone. I like punching in my weight losses and see the graph coming down.
I feel good and the adrenaline kick I get in the morning still lasts all day :)  Usually in the afternoon I get cold. I mean really cold. I hoped in the shower a few times to warm up, and that was useful as it gave me a boast of energy to get me through the crazy dinner hour!

The Rest

Over the weekend I was reminded of my blessings. I was reminded how my choices in life have guided my path in life and also how they affect those in my life.  I am grateful for the support in tough times that got me through, and the guidance that lead to good choices so I can be where I am now.  I am safe. Emotionally, physically, and mentally. Among all the other blessing in my life, those are so easily overlooked and taken for granted. Because I take the good things for granted, and after awhile it becomes the standard and I forget that it is not like that for everyone.

Although my heart is heavy for those who are not safe, my heart is filled with love and gratitude this morning. I kiss my husband goodbye as he heads off to a new job. I watch as he closes the front door behind him and heads off into the still dark morning to work hard so we can have this life we have. As each of my wee ones get up, arms outstretched for pick ups, I snuggle my face into shoulders, and  slip my arms around tiny waists to breath in their sleepy bed scent. O I am blessed. Beyond what I could have ever dreamed of when I was young.

Favorite Pics over the Last Week

Angelina leading the pudding making.

a friend came over the play. the music (Raffi) was playing they were all singing, helping out baby, and coloring together. it was lovely!

nursing her baby at breakfast, well because everyone does

his new favorite piece of clothing, overalls like Paka

Bob jumped up for a cuddle while she did school work!

 and 2 to show what a wee bit of work can do....(my dream is coming true!)

top empty doors off for refinishing

top done! (new handles) and now bottom is removed for refinishing. all things in good time. its coming!

Tell me about your weekend! What are you grateful for this Monday morning?

{this moment}

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Inspired my SouleMama

  

Accept

Today accepting was easy. As school work was completed quickly, as laughter rang clear, and things flowed well. The baby said "Help me!" this morning, asking me to help her get dressed. She chattered "Bob Bob Bob," as she brought me the cats food dish and squealed with glee to bring it back to him and have him come running. Grace seemed to need extra hugs and cuddles today, which was easy too. Little agenda and lots of time, made a cuddle on the couch cozy and sweet, and extra hugs nice for both of us. Angelina supervised and led the children in making pudding. Pouring, stirring, and mixing. Taking turns, and delegating to each in turn. She finished off with a lid and popped it in the fridge. And it was good!! Bryan, my son. O, his concentration grows, he plays with his little sister, and is getting the hang of cleaning up and putting away.

Accepting was easy. Gratitude came easy. I accepted they all went to bed late, with hugs and kisses and "Sweet dreams"

A blurp from our day.



Now that they are in bed, I miss them <3

For Me

I'm trying to take care of me this year. Yep, thats right! Dedicated time to me every day. Exercising and eating right! I've hit the new year off with a bang, 5 days of arobic workout the first week, and I was pretty happy with the way I ate all week. We had a birthday party, and despite a extra piece of cake (or 2) I was still down when I hit the scale today.

My goal is to do aerobic workouts 5 days a week. The only way this works is getting up before the kids. It worked last week. I'm tired some days and don't feel like it, but once I'm up and moving, and the blood is pounding, I feel good. The kick lasts all day! I have noticed I have more energy, I feel better about myself and have a more positive outlook.

This needs to go hand in hand with good eating of course! I've got all the Weight Watchers stuff, and have been very successful in the past with it. Lots of veggies, and less cake. That's what it comes down too!

I thought about making another blog for this, but decided not to. I'm a mom of 4. I want people to see if I can do this, with 4 kids, homeschooling, and on a limited budget, then you can too!

I will check in every Monday. I will usually incorporate my check in with a Monday post.  

So last week I worked out 5 days in the early am and walked most days with the kids about 20minutes. I stuck to the WW most days, accept Saturday. I was down 2.8lb this am. One step in the right direction!

trying to post a pic each week!

Six

For my dearest sweet Grace turned 6 yesterday. The excitement was there! Twinkling in her eyes, slipping across her shy smile, and overall glowing off her face! She greeted the day with a smile and lapped up the hugs and kissed and happy birthdays. From all around her family! Her breakfast of choice would not have been my choice and I think I sensed a hint of rebellion in her eyes as she ate. (Either was lunch my choice, - Kraft dinner - but has hubby said, if that's the treat of choice, they are being fed GOOD food other wise!)

A trip with daddy to the store, and guests arriving just for her!  O the shyness, the hand holding and the way she looked for security.

How my Grace has grown in the past year! She is swimming, and reading, and dancing. She can concentrate forever, and as she is reading up on babies in the Baby Encyclopedia I think she knows more about babies then I do!

First's. She had some first's this year. First ballet lesson, sleep over for Saint Nick at Nana and Paka's, and the first time dealing with death of some one she luved. (Nana's dog Amber and our loss of our unborn baby.) All of these things she learned leaps and bounds, asked all the right questions, and nodded her understanding during explanation. She smiled and rocked the baby of a dear friend to sleep, and continues to carry her real baby around that she got for her birthday last year. Introducing her to friends and family taking her to bed, and 'nursing' her.

she was so proud

 She has energy and a thirst for knowledge. I didn't 'teach' her to read in the traditional way. I exposed her to books, and some simple alphabet games. Her thirst for knowledge got her there. Reading ANY picture book from the library, and any words she finds in public, on my iphone, and in instructions. 

Oh my Grace. I take pictures, and lock away these years in my heart. It goes by so fast, and the more I try to hang on, the faster it goes. You change and grow. Compassion, slyness, kindness, and sweetness. All wrapped into one.

Happy Birthday my Girl!! Momma luves you!!

the luv of sisters

cousins!

cake time

trying to get a picture of the wee ones together....-not so much!