ALL DRESSED UP. . .

Hey, It's 5:15 and I am ready to go running, but my partners are not here. That is so okay. I will happily go back to bed. Today I am babysitting my niece (I hope she likes me) and cleaning house. I'll need to be on my toes, though, cause I'm not used to having a toddler around.

If you watch a toddler at your house, she'll probably want a cookie.

If you give a kid a cookie, she'll probably want some milk to go with it.

Drinking the milk will remind her of her Kitty Ludwig, so you'll have to put some milk out for the kitties.

Going outside to give the milk to the kitties will remind the kid how much she likes to swing so you'll have to spend an hour swinging on the swings.

Swinging so close to the slide will remind her how much she loves to feel the rush of the yellow under her and the wind in her face, so you'll have to go down the slide a couple hundred times.

Using the slide will remind her of the slip n slide you did last summer so you'll have to drag out the slip n slide. . . . . etc. etc.

UNTIL YOU COLLAPSE IN EXHAUSTION OR AMY COMES HOME TO BABYSIT-- WHICHEVER COMES FIRST :)

my apologies to Laura Numeroff for slaughtering her literary style.

R.S. Visiting-- the Great Perspectivizer

Last night as a presidency we went out visiting. We had 2 appointments, but we ended up talking to 4 extra sisters in the process of walking around. It was so great. I came home so peaceful and zen-like. I love getting out of my house and being social. But I usually just stay inside and do my own thing unless someone invites me out. I'm realizing that when we pay attention to others something really magical happens-- our own problems are put in real perspective and the spirit calms your troubled heart-or makes us see that the things troubling our heart are really not so troublesome at all.
I needed that last night. I'm kind of addicted to R.S. Visiting now.

A soft answer. . .

Our family has placed a moratorium on one of our worst habits--- YELLING. There are many options for expressing disagreement: singing, whispering, but not yelling. We'll have to see how this goes.


But if you hear "You Are the Children Who Don't Do Anything" coming from my house, just know it's a parenting experiment in action:)

Less is More

While facebook is great fun, it does not create great writers-- just great snippeters. So, to that end, I am attempting to ramp up my BLOG presence and ramp down my facebook presence. Of course, each has its advantages, but I'm searching for the greater depth and permanence the blogosphere affords me.
Lists aren't exactly depth objects, but they help me organize my thinkings. Bear with me.

THINGS I DESIRE LESS OF:
* Distraction-- in the form of FB&TV
* Temptation in the form of choc. chip cookies, facebook, crafting supplies (for projects that never come to fruition.
* Drivel-- I let myself get hooked into poor quality or questionable entertainment because I "just need to have something on"-- A recent example. One show that I really like, I realize is probably not the kind of show I want to be watching. The other day it had a SUUUPPPER catchy song that was full of 2 words I don't really want my kids hearing or singing. I can't get it out of my head. EEEEEEEEK!!
* Noise-- in the form of bickering, continual media, etc.
* Clutter-- Today's impulse purchase is tomorrow's regret. This may not be true for everyone, but it definitely is for me. I nickel and dime myself to death buying small, stupid things and in two weeks throw it away. Such is the way of Stocking stuffers, easter baskets, birthdays, etc. THIS needs to stop.

I SHOULD REMEMBER MY MOTTO OF THE PAST:

Live Simply

Spend Less

Give More