Good Advice

Not too long ago I saw this on a blog I read occasionally.
The question "What piece of advice do you want to share with your children?" was asked, and this was one of the answers:

Know yourself.
Be yourself.
Like yourself.

I agree wholeheartedly and hope to pass the message on to my children.

"Pumpkin Patch"

This year our trip to the "pumpkin patch" was as different as it's ever been. Our Saturdays were full and we didn't have time to go on our usual hay ride up in Benton County, so the kids and I went to the Congress Street Church after school one day instead. It was a quick trip, but I think they had as much fun as could be expected.

We wandered around the parking lot until we found just the right pumpkins, and then

 

we loaded them onto a wagon and took them to our car so we could take them home!

 

Logan and Bergen were really good sports and are looking forward to having Craig help them carve their pumpkins.

 

Did I mention that we got a little treat on the way home? I think an outing is always more fun when it includes a treat!

Fun with Food

The kids and I were in the cracker aisle at the grocery store when they both spotted the Scrabble Junior Spooky Spell Cheez-Its and HAD to have them! Cheese flavored crackers were on my list anyway, so I splurged and bought them. I'm always up for having "fun" food; ask Craig.

 

Anyway, we came home and I put them away thinking the kids would have some as a snack another day. Silly me. My dear hoosband (who likes to have something to eat after work) got into them. Then he and Bergen shared some while Logan was at school the next day. I had some tonight. And Logan? I don't know if he got more than a handful.

He was excited to see what I left on the counter for him this morning, but sad to learn they were all that were left. He was even thoughtful when eating them. He only ate the letters in his name that weren't part of the other names because he wanted Bergen to see them too.

 

That boy of mine ate a whopping three crackers - L, O, and A - although he wanted more. So I'm going back to the store and buying another box. They're not even that good (I much prefer the Whales from Stouffer's), but Logan is going to have fun with them...

Another New Adventure

I've been working out at the Y for a few weeks now. I've been meeting my sister-in-law Nicole, and I like working out with her, but our schedules don't always coincide so it isn't really ideal.

We're both committed to working out and we want to keep going together, I just don't know how we can. I need to work out in the morning and she needs to workout in the afternoon. So today I tried something new.

Really new.

After dropping Bergen off at preschool I went and I worked out with (wait for it...)

Craig.

After almost 10 1/2 years of marriage we've finally found something out-of-the-ordinary to do together - and I couldn't be more excited! Okay, I know that working out together isn't that big a deal, but for us it's HUGE!

Craig is a cyclist and I can't keep up with him so riding together isn't fun. He's a good sport though, and humors me when we go together by riding in circles around me. The thing about going to the gym though, is that we can workout together but do our own things!

I still want to meet Nicole and workout together when we can, but I'm happy to have Craig to go with me too. Here's to a whole new adventure...

My little "BIG" Girl

Poor Bergen. She left her tricycle behind the Durango late last fall and I backed into it. I knew what it was the moment I bumped it and I was heartsick. I'd picked it out as a birthday gift and had wanted her to have it since before she was born! (Logan got a bicycle instead of a tricycle for his third birthday and I felt gypped. Shouldn't every child start out with a tricycle? I thought so.)

Of course we weren't about to go out and buy a new Radio Flyer... Well, I was, but my plan was overruled. So that sweet little girl has been tooling around on Logan's "Rocket" and has been pretty content with it.

Look at her! What a proud little thing. She's getting to be such a big girl!

 

I'm glad Bergen had a bike to ride this summer. But I'm hoping she'll have something a bit more girly next year.

Venting about Routine

Things seem to have become more than a bit routine since school started. And its not the routine I imagined it would be. I feel like I

• Get up
• Get Logan to and from school Monday through Friday
• Get Bergen to and from school Tuesday and Thursday
• Work some
• Workout some
• Have lunch?
  
• Stress out about all I'm not getting done
• Make sure homework gets done after school
• Put together some kind of makeshift dinner
• Read with the kids
• And put them to bed

I'm glad I have Craig here to do all he does. He's the one who takes the kids to school and he gets Logan ready in the morning. Okay, I take Bergen to school and pick her up sometimes, but he takes Logan and picks him up all the time. (It's their time together.) He takes care of Bergen's lunch when he remembers because I'm not always home at lunchtime. And best of all, he takes care of making sure Bergen gets her bath and Logan gets his shower.

I know I really can't ask for more... but I am.

I want a little time to myself. And I don't want it to be night time after the kids are asleep. I want time during the day to do something I don't have to do, and time at night with my hoosband (even though I know he has to work). Maybe even an evening to myself now and then that I don't have to worry about finding a sitter for.
What a concept!

I know I shouldn't be complaining. Things are a lot more "normal" now than they were last year at this time. I just really want to see some things change. Again.

I'd better get on it!

Yum.

We make homemade pizza once a month or so. It's a Ream family tradition. And our kids love it!

While I was working around the house today I decided that tonight would be a pizza night. Easy dinner is what I was really thinking. So I got some pizza dough out of the freezer. (Okay, so maybe everything isn't perfectly homemade, but close enough. Thank you Sam's Club.)

The kids had their usuals: a pepperoni calzone for Logan and a cheese pizza for Bergen. After I made them their personal sized portions there was enough dough left for another small pizza and maybe a half. So to finish things off I made a pepperoni pizza because I knew Logan would still be hungry and even if he ate until he was full there would be some left for Craig, and a little specialty pizza for myself... which is where the yum comes in.

I wasn't in the mood for anything heavy so Iooked in the fridge, spied some of those sweet peppers I like so much, and decided to try them.

 

Oh my goodness! Yum. Yum. My pizza was delicious and I will definitely be making it again.

This is SO me!

I read an article recently that made me think to myself, "they're talking about me!" I've known for a long time that I have this paralyzing problem. I'm glad to know there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I just hope I can find that tunnel...

I've changed some things to make this information apply to myself, but here's most of the original article:

I've never thought of myself as a perfectionist. One would only have to peer into my office to understand why.

My "spaces" have the appearance of chaos, confusion and disorder. "Appearance" is the operative word. I find the chaos to be completely functional. I rely on my own, unique organizational theory: It's better occasionally to waste time searching for items than regularly to take time keeping the place tidy with everything meticulously filed.

I know what you're thinking. My mother didn't agree with my theory either.

I admit that I struggle with procrastination. But me, a perfectionist? Hardly. A perfectionist is someone who does everything perfectly. I only think about doing things perfectly.

Not long ago, the person who wrote the article had the opportunity to hear what Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California, had to say on this subject. A procrastinator, says Warren, is nothing more than a frustrated perfectionist.

A perfectionist is convinced she must prove her worth by being perfect. A perfectionist craves approval. Warren contends it's the fear of not being able to perform perfectly that leads to procrastination. And procrastination eventually leads to paralysis.

There are times I can go over something for hours on end without completing anything. Even though I have a great idea, a clear-cut objective, and a plan to get there. Until I know I can do it perfectly, I'm paralyzed.

Have you ever felt paralyzed by your procrastination? Perhaps perfectionism is at the root of the problem.

Could it be that you're so worried about making a mistake, you find yourself paralyzed? Are you holding yourself to an unattainable standard of perfection? That could be what's keeping you stuck right where you are.

Perfectionism can keep us from moving forward, but it doesn't have to be that way. There are antidotes for perfectionism.

1. Believe that no one is perfect. You will liberate yourself when you lower your expectations from perfect to realistic. Don't be afraid to make a mistake. You don't have to be perfect to be happy.

2. Let go and let God handle things. It takes a lot of faith to let go of those things over which we have no control.

3. Learn contentment. Life must be lived in less than perfect circumstances. Accept that. Love the moment, and enjoy the journey. Dump the pressure that says you must be perfect to be accepted.

It's time to break out of my prison of perfectionism. I must identify what I need to do and take the first step. Even if I fall flat on my face, I will have gained at least five feet. Then take the second step, and the third. Before I know it, I will be making terrific progress. Not perfection, but progress!

©Copyright 2010 Mary Hunt
Everyday Cheapskate is a Registered Trademark

I truly admire people who say they are going to do something or think about doing something and do it! What I want to know is how they do it. I want to figure out how to do things right now; without hesitation. Because one day I'm going to be like that.