2017 Goals

I am not one for New Years resolutions.  I mean, who sticks with them anyway?

I do have plans for this year so we'll call them goals.  I have goals I want to achieve this year.  I like lists and I LOVE when I get the chance to cross things off the list.  So I'll create a list of some of the things I'd like to achieve in the year 2017.  It will be nice to see how much I've been able to cross off the list at the end of the year. 

• Declutter home.  Get rid of toys the kids no longer play with, get rid of all items none of us use or need.  
• Exercise more.  Lost weight.  Build muscle.  Reach goal weight
• Run a 5K
• Redecorate rec room
• Plan 2018 Disney trip 
• Less time and updates on Facebook compared to previous years
• Start becoming more serious about my dream writing career

Family Time, No Screen Time

I have created a new rule in our household about not allowing any television watching or video game playing during the week in the evenings.  A bit drastic?  Well, I was very lenient with my kids and allowed them a lot of time in front of the screens daily.  Sitting in front of those screens too much keeps you from enjoying life, at least that's my new motto.  I'm trying to be different.  They would spend so much time watching tv and playing video games that by the time it was close to bedtime we had to cram so many things together, trying to get it all done.  There just isn't enough time. 

It's close to 4pm when my kids get off the school bus.  My son has a paper or two to complete for homework so he gets that done right away.  Then I start on dinner.  While I make dinner I would love for them to help me, play something productive or take care of whatever their cleaning needs done.  After dinner is bath time.  That leaves us with only one or two more hours left before bed time.  Sometimes we'll put on music and dance or we'll come up with some type of family activity.  Last night we did crafts, played indoor bowling and then sat and watched our daughter dance.  My husband put on Irish music and she immediately started Irish Step Dancing.  I don't know how she knew what to do but it was funny and I looked at my husband and said, "Well, looks like we'll need to look into Irish Step Dancing classes."  She loves to dance and is already involved in ballet and tap.

After not seeing my husband and kids all day while they are at work and in school it was nice to have time to focus on each other.  Last night I also tried to refrain from looking at my phone.  My focus needs to be solely on them.  It was great.  I can focus on housework and "me" time while they are in school and when they are home my attention can be completely theirs. 

Just Some Thoughts ...

Good morning.

I went through the typical morning routine, said goodbye to my husband as he went off to work and then put the kids on the school bus.  It's a very sunny and warm morning.  Very unusual for the end of January here in Pennsylvania but I will take it.  The cold and rain is expected to come again this evening so it's nice to have this moment of vitamin D out there.  Sunny days are also great for keeping me in a good mood.

Before I start on the daily routine of housework I am sitting here typing this up, sipping on a hot cup of coffee and catching up on last night's episode of This Is Us.  I'm not usually one to get into the trendy new shows but this one I like a lot.  It's a sweet story.  I love it!

Yesterday I made a decision to stay off of Facebook.  Maybe not permanently because I do enjoy the social media site.  My family, that I don't see very much, is on there and I can see their updates and pictures of my nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews ... it's so nice to be able to easily stay in touch this way.  I also enjoy seeing all the updates from my friends and catching up on their lives.  However, lately, it's all politics.  Nothing but politics.  Nothing but Trump and Republican bashing.  I mean, come on, I thought Democrats were known for being "peace loving, tolerant people who accept everyone's differences."  It's annoying.  Very annoying.  It's okay to have your opinions and it's okay to post links that actually matter but it's just ... so ... much.  Then when I see all of it I get angry and then feel the need to do my own rant.  Then after my rant I feel a little better inside but know it doesn't solve anything.  It's ridiculous.  I cannot allow anger to get the better of me.  I also noticed whenever something happens I always think oooh I should put this on Facebook.   It's like some sort of obsession.  It's not good.  Just not good.  So I'm done, at least for now.  I decided to spend my online time on here and also on Pinterest.

I also realize that I spend so much time looking down at my phone when my kids are around.  My husband just got an iPhone and he is always on it.  Even after lecturing me so many times on how many times I look at mine.  Last night I was watching as he sat on the couch pounding away on the phone while the kids were doing their things near him and he was completely ignoring them.  When they say, "Daddy, look at this" and then get ignored it's a problem.  Now, I will say, I have done that too.  Many times.  I promised myself a long time ago that my kids will never be ignored and they will always have my attention.  The smart phone and computer ruined that.  It's totally my fault.  So now I am making an effort to stay off the phone when they are around.  It's not good.  Also, it will teach them how to focus more on screens and not so much on the world around them.  This seems to be how everyone lives now and it's sad.  Everywhere I go people are always looking down at their screens.  Even when driving.  Really?  I'm sure whatever conversation you need to have can wait until you are home ... or at least pull over.  I don't understand it.  But I'm guilty too ... not in the car though ... never in the car.

Oh, I did come up with some great ideas on what to do with this blog.  I came across a 30 day writing prompt challenge on Pinterest, so many of them.  So I combined 28 of them for the month of February.  Be on the look out for that.  It should be fun.  I am ready to turn this blog into something I do full-time.  It helps.  Really helps.  And helps keep me off of Facebook.  Ha!

Happy Hump Day y'all!

The Sickness Continues

It's really frustrating here in my house ...

It all started at the end of December when my daughter got sick.  I thought it was just a cold that would be short lived but she was down for the entire week off of school.  She was still sick the following week so I brought her into the doctor.  She said it seemed like pneumonia but she wasn't certain so she put her on an antibiotic just to be safe.  The antibiotic worked after a few days.  She was better.  Then my son got a fever and a really bad cough.  I didn't hesitate to get him to the doctor.  The doctor said it was an upper respiratory infection and gave me some tips on what to do.  Nothing worked and he remained the same, some moments worse.  The following week he was back at the doctor.  Pneumonia.  He was put on an antibiotic and had an allergic reaction to it.  Back to the doctor.  He was put on another antibiotic and has been on that for exactly a week.  The fever is gone but he still has a horrible cough that is nonstop.  Last Friday I took him for a chest x-ray.  It showed up clear so that's a good sign but the cough will not go away no matter what I do for him.  The antibiotic hardly worked, cough meds don't work, honey, lots of water, etc.  ... nothing!  I feel so bad because he has been feeling so miserable.  Since he isn't contagious anymore he is back to school but I feel really bad about it because I know the  constant cough must be an annoyance to everyone but more importantly it's uncomfortable for him.  I wanted him to at least try in hopes that the cough will eventually stop.  Yesterday he had a check up and the doctor said, "Oh, this cough could last another week or two."  What?  No!

On top of everything else last Friday I received a call from the nurse that my daughter was throwing up so I had to pick her up.  She threw up two more times at home but woke up Saturday feeling much better.  I was feeling so worn down all weekend and tried to remain low key.  On Sunday I started to feel nauseous and threw up twice.  Sunday night I was back to feeling fine.

Last night I went to bed with a headache and woke up with one.  I also started coughing and it leaves my throat feeling awful.  I have been sneezing and feeling dizzy.  Really?  Really?  I have remained strong for four weeks.  Now I'm knocked down.  I'm the Mom.  I can't be out of commission.  This isn't fair.

When is this going to end?

As for sickness, this is the worst we have ever been through. 

I Choose Love

Madonna is under fire after making a statement that, "I have thought about blowing up the White House" in her speech at the Womens March last Saturday in Washington, DC then stating that she "chooses love."  The same woman who used to wear pointy bras while gyrating on stage and who had previously told Trump to "suck a d**k" is now preaching on choosing love.  I think her and I have the wrong idea of what "love" is.

I can go on about the opinions I have on the Womens March but I won't.  That's really not what this post is about. 

Recently, my Facebook friends have gone crazy sharing their views, frustrations, excitement and everything about their feelings over this election and over the march.  Liberals have their views.  Conservatives have their view.  It's just become a lot of hate and a lot of divide.  I, too, have involved myself into this political Facebook war.  I feel that if they can share their views than I can share mine.  It's only fair, right?  It's the American way to have the freedom to speak our mind.  I like it that way.  I never want to change that.  As I saw pictures from the march of women wearing vulgar hats and holding up signs with profanity it definitely disturbed me and I didn't see it as "peaceful" at all.  However, as I looked at the pictures and read the articles it made me realize something that made me happy.  As ridiculous as these protests are we live in a country where we are allowed to hold them.  Women in other countries would be executed for behaving this way.  Women in other countries are executed for no reason at all.  The fact that we can march the streets standing up for something we believe in is a right we are blessed with.  I look at this and think I am proud to be an American.  I am proud to be a woman in this country. 

Even though I will stick by my feelings of being able to speak my mind and sharing my views I decided it's time to do so in a more loving matter.  I realize I don't always have to be on the defense.  I don't have to fill up my Facebook news feed with status comments, pictures and links pertaining to how I feel.  I can just be ... quiet.  I can turn the other cheek and move on. 

A few months ago my husband was called into human resources after he and another Conservative coworker were talking about politics.  Apparently, a liberal coworker could hear them and felt offended by what they were saying.  My husband is surrounded by liberal women who are constantly talking about their political feelings.  Once he had to listen to a lot of Bush bashing and now it's going to be nothing but Trump bashing.  My husband should probably march into human resources and complain but he won't.  Instead, he will turn the other cheek and get busy doing his job.  He realizes there is no sense in speaking his mind because they won't listen.  They are already set on their ideas.  He realizes it's not worth being offended.  He realizes it is what it is.  He may roll his eyes and give a sigh but he doesn't do anything other than that.  This is how we should be. 

I decided it was time I choose love but not the Madonna kind of love.  I mean the Christian type of love.  Jesus had a lot of enemies but he loved them anyway.  After being nailed to the cross Jesus looked up at the sky and said, "forgive them Father for they know not what they do."  It's time to have that same pure, Christ-like love. 

I choose love. 

Congratulations President Trump

I try to steer away from politics and political issues on my blog but today is a very historic day and one I am very, very pleased with.  As a Conservative I believe the direction President Trump wants to take this country is a good one.  I will continue to pray for this country and for our new leaders.  It's the only thing we can do.  I hear so much negativity and so much attacking of this man but none of that is going to solve anything.  I also noticed a change in him since the election.  He carries a much calmer tone.  I have faith that whatever happens in these next 4 years will be what is in the Will of God. 

Congratulations and good luck, President Trump!

Sickness

I'm sad to say that 2017 isn't starting out very well for our household.  First of all, the entire week of Christmas vacation my daughter was stuck on the couch very sick.  We had to cancel all plans.  I felt so bad for her.  That's no way to spend vacation.  She was also sick the following week and ended up missing a few days of school.  I took her to the doctor and the doctor said she had an ear infection and pneumonia.  Well, she wasn't positive about the pneumonia but treated her for it anyway with antibiotics.  My daughter is a lot better and back and school ... but now my son is home sick.  I brought him to the doctor yesterday to find out he just has an upper respiratory infection.  He is coughing like crazy and it's started to hurt his throat.  The doctor suggested an antihistamine and some natural home remedies.  Hopefully it helps and hopefully he's back to school tomorrow.  It's a hard thing to see my babies so sick.  I also can't wait for everything to get back to normal.  I miss the routine.

 

 I am so behind on house cleaning and grocery shopping.  The kids come first.  If you're interested in knowing what the last picture is about our rabbit Daisy LOVES bananas.  Whenever you have a banana she is right in your face.  She's a silly rabbit.  We love her though. 

My husband and I have also not been feeling too well.  I am doing all I can to fight myself from getting too sick.  It's a miserable time of year.  I can't wait for these nasty germs to leave our home.  I'm ready to say goodbye to the sickness, the cold weather and Obama (yup added that in there too). 

Christmas and New Years

Christmas has come and gone and so has the year 2016.  It's unbelievable how each year goes by faster and faster. 

The month of December was all about preparing for Christmas.  We waited longer than usual to decorate the house but when we did it looked great. 

"Look I'm the Princess of Christmas Spirit"

We added a train to the Christmas decor.  Unfortunately it didn't always stay on the track.  We allow our rabbit to hang out with us in the living room and she liked pushing the cars off the track and sometimes picking them up with her mouth and tossing them into the air.

The kids loved decorating ginger bread houses. 

Our son has been learning to play the recorder at school and they put on a Christmas concert.  He and the other third graders did well.  I never learned how to read music so it makes me so happy to see my son learning and doing very amazing with it. 

During the concert they asked all the younger students in the audience to come up and sing the Christmas songs they had learned in music class.  That was a nice surprise. 

We took the kids to Bass Pro Shop in Harrisburg.  I was always told that they had a great Santa there and they gave you a free picture.  So many Santa's don't allow you to take your own photo and they charge so much for theirs.  They also had lots of activities for the kids.  It was great.  We are definitely doing it again next year ... wait, I should say this year.  Ha. 

This picture was taken before heading to church for the Christmas Eve candlelight service.  Aren't they adorable? 

The kids did well for Christmas.  My daughter asked Santa for lip balm.  Yes, that's my girl.  She saw that lip balm in the shape of an egg and that's all she was asking for since.  So Santa delivered ... three of them.  She was so happy.  My son wanted Pokemon and yes he got that too.  Plus, they both received lots of other things from us.  They seemed very happy.  I took a lot of pictures but don't want to post them all. 

We went to dinner at my father-in-law's house.  While we were there my son started feeling sick and he threw up once.  Thankfully it was only that once but he spent the next day laying around with a stomach ache.  Then the day after my daughter started developing a head cold and she was sick the entire vacation.  It was so unfortunate.  So for the entire vacation she spent most of the time on the couch relaxing and coughing.  I felt so bad for her.  What a vacation. 

Today the routine is back to normal.  Even though my daughter woke up coughing she wanted to go to school.  I'm so proud of her for wanting to go.  She's been having a rough time lately.  Sometimes I get calls from the nurse that she wasn't feeling well but I know she wasn't being serious, just looking for a way to go home.  So for her to decide to go to school instead of staying home is impressive.  My husband is back to work after taking his usual vacation between Christmas and New Years. 

Well, I guess that sums up Christmas.  It wasn't much.  Just laid back.  Wishing you all a Happy New Year.  I really do hope and pray that 2017 is a great one for you!!!!

2016 IN REVIEW

Here are pictures from all the months in 2016.  Unfortunately, my camera didn't capture everything and maybe my goal for 2017 can be to take more pictures.  This sums up the year.  It was a good year.  No complaints.  Ready to see what 2017 has to offer. 

January

February

March

April 

May

June

July 

August

September

October

November

December