Upside Down Night.

Here was my all time favorite. We did this over a year ago and the kids still talk about the "one time mom and dad turned the table upside down". Makes my heart happy. The look on their faces when they came in the room were absolutely priceless. Shawn and I may be old, but we can still stand our heads with the best of 'em (although did you notice I am on a pillow, Shawn's a bit more hardcore)....

Princess Night.

The boys were gone at a baseball game. The girls stayed home doing all things princess...

There was munchin' on princess cookies, curling princess hair, applying princess make up, walking princess runways, princess boas, princess crowns, princess sparkles (all over the house), princess music, princess movies, princess cakes, princess stories, princess smiles,....you get the idea....and yes I walked the runway too.

Back To School Night.

This night was our first family night. It was done on the eve of back to school in 2008. Some of the highlights...

~Dinner was served in brown bags, complete with Taco Bell and notes on napkins.

~Scavenger hunt around house to search for school supplies that would be in each of the kids "homework baskets" for home.

~A novice attempt at a school bus cake (kids really don't care if it's below cake store status)

It was a great night. Ideas were taken from Whittaker Woman ...

The Beginning of Family Nights.

Family Nights is not a new concept, but I had never seen them done like this. One day my hubby emailed me a link to a fabulous blog that you can check out here . I saw the way Heather did family nights and immediately jumped on board. It just fit with our family. I love planning parties and events and this just clicked with me immediately! I will post some of our favorites that we have done in the past to give you an idea. Our family time around these nights have been some of the best memories we have had. Thanks Heather!

I had the opportunity to teach a workshop at our women's retreat at church about the idea. It was so inspiring to be able to pass on the idea. I have heard from several families that have begun this tradition. My fabulous friend Ashley and fam have even incorporated a Bible Lesson into their nights! Check out her blog... . Whatever your family style or personality....THIS can be adapted. Point is PLAN in our crazy life some time for your family...however that may look...

One thing I do that really helps, is plan out 3 months in advance. I also have a cupboard in our house devoted to all things randomly purchased on huge sales that family nights can be created around. I keep a binder at my desk that I can throw ideas into, that help me with the planning. I plan 3 months of family nights on our calendar, gather up the things I need to wait in designated cupboard, and then pulling family nights off once a week is really not a big deal...

With all the changes the close of 2009 brought, family nights sat on the back burner for a time. We are beginning again this Thursday. I have 3 months worth planned and we are all looking forward to them. I will be posting weekly about them.

Spend some time with those you love, be a little crazy...that's the stuff memories are made of!

The Bell Will Ring....

Tomorrow it's back to school....our LLOONNNGGG break is over....We eased into it today and did a little bit.

Our next part of math is reviewing money...so, I took advantage of the Christmas clearance at Target and we went on a little field trip. Each child got a dollar to spend. There isn't much left at this time of year, but they managed to find lots of little treasures. That is real life practical math in play. When they figured out the mark down price and how much more they could buy because of the sale, they were incredibly pleased. They each paid on their own and got their own bag and receipt. While I was paying, I sent them over to the snack bar to sit and wait. They were all comparing their "savings" on the bottom of their receipts! It ranged from $7-$8. They were pretty pleased. I was dying laughing...it was adorable.

We stopped at Bj's on the way home for an impromptu lunch. Yum. Cameron tried to negotiate that the children's menu activity sheet should count for school work. Whatever. After chill time, we did some major cleaning around the house. ALL the millions of Christmas decor items are down and in the garage, about 50% packed up. The rest is going to have to wait, but at least it's all out of the house.

We worked on some penmanship and spelling this afternoon and did a special project. I had the kids write down their 3 top field trip choices. I also had them write down what they liked and didn't like about school. WOW interesting. Cameron thinks my school is harder then BCS. LOL. That could be good or bad depending on how you look at it. Both of the kids asked for more structure....EXCUSE ME? Are you kidding? They both want to have school be from a certain time to a certain time. Alright, I'll play along....or try to anyway...

SO, tomorrow as requested the bell will ring at 8:47. Why? because I'm the teacher and I said so. School will dismiss at 12:01.

Off to lesson plan......

One Step At A Time.

I have been thinking over the last couple days of how to accomplish change. I have come to the painful conclusion that there is no easy way. Unfortunately magic wands do not exist.

I need to get myself on the right path, and do the right things...over and over... and over. The most important right things to do, in my own little opinion, are the little ones.

This time of year people get very reflective and make incredibly large goals, wish for change, and brighter tomorrows. I think that success is found in the littlest of decisions, that done repeatedly add up to a large amount of achievement. We all know how to do it, down deep. For example, if you want to lose weight ~ eat less, move more. You want to build a meaningful relationship with someone? spend time with them. If you want the laundry done...do it, one load at a time.

I am a results girl at heart. I am not good at doing the little repetitive things, generally. I want to see accomplishments and I want them immediately. That's generally not how it works. We have to continue to put one foot in front of the other....it's all we can do really. You'll get there, eventually.

On that note...I am going cold turkey off of caffeine tomorrow. Diet coke is my drug of choice. Cutting back does not work out for me, so I am going for the all or nothing method...I am hoping for better sleep, less late afternoon crashes, and more money in my wallet.

I am saddened to be saying goodbye to such a dear friend. It has been by my side through thick and thin (literally) for the last 20~ish years. My initial goal is 90 days of soda free for me. On day 91 you may find me bathing in those luscious little bubbles, but for the next 90 days, you won't see me touch the stuff. I have read that it takes 72 hours for it to leave your system. I hope that's right. If that's the case my body will be back to normal by wed. There's no information about your mind. Go Figure.

Pray for my family for the next few days...I would like to say pray for me...but they may need it far more than I.

Raise your Aquafina water bottle in cheers to me! I can do this....

The New Years Post.

These are some New Year's thoughts a~la me, in list form...

Top things I've been reminded of in '09 (in no particular order)

1. God made me, I'm worth it.

2. Caffeine is bad... very, very bad.

3. Meet others where they are.

4. God does give us everything we need for life

and Godliness...when we need it, not when we want it.

5. Stop barking up the wrong tree. Not only is it useless, it's life sucking.

6. The holes in the top of the ladder are there for a very good reason...

7. I have some of the best friends, a girl could ever ask for.

8. When God speaks to you, don't fight it, just do it....really.

9. Your family deserves more than your left overs.

10. Disneyland still is the happiest place on earth.

11. Life is all about choices.

12. No regrets. Just lessons learned.

13. My Jesus is beyond amazing...so are my husband and kids.

14. I have to create things. It's a must.

15. I love all things that sparkle.

Top things that I want to do in 2010 (in no particular order either)

1. live in the middle. I've mastered the extremes.

2. love my husband and children the way they need it, not the way I want to do it.

3. let my BFF and faithful companion, the 44 ounce plastic cup of life giving diet coke, become a thing of the past.

4. learn how to take better pictures.

5. always choose joy, or at least most of the time.

6. be ok with not being the woman I want to be....yet.

7. parasail on Lake Tahoe.

8. weigh what my drivers license says I do.

9. learn how to be still.

10. become passionate about drinking water.

11. find a deeper understanding of the heart of Jesus.

12. be able to embrace those that I do not understand.

13. get to bed at a decent hour.

14. distress an armoire.

15. learn how to set realistic goals...

Happy New Year.

xo.

D.