The 12 days of productivity. ok, make that 10.

Ahh.. to unplug from the internet- you actually CAN get stuff done.

This week: (hum along with me)

On the first day of productivity I can say I went to one grocery store

On the second day productivity I can say I cleaned out 2 closets and went to the grocery store

On the third day productively I can say I took out 3 bags of trash, cleaned out 2 closets, and went to the grocery store.

On the fourth day of productivity I can say I gave 4 kids a bath, took 3 bags of trash, cleaned out 2 closets, and went to the grocery store

On the fifth day of productivity I can say I vacuumed all 5 rooms, gave 4 kids a bath, took 3 bags of trash, cleaned out 2 closets and went to the grocery store.

On the 6th day of productivity I can say I found 6 missing library books, vacuumed all 5 rooms, gave 4 kids a bath, took 3 bags of trash and went to the grocery store.

On the 7 day of productivity I can say I found 2 missing shoes, I missing glove but I still can't find the truck key.

On the 8th day of productivity I can say I scrubbed 8 blobs of playdough out of the rug, found missing stuff, vacuumed all 5 rooms gave 4 kids a bath, took 3 bags of trash and went to the grocery store. (but still can't find the missing truck key)

On the 9th day of productivity I can say I did 9 loads of laundry, scrubbed 8 playdough blobs, found missing stuff, vacuumed 5 floors, 4 kids a bath, 3 bags of trash, and went to the grocery store (without the truck key)

On the 10 day of productivity I can say I got back on the internet.
LOL.

I can't believe it's been almost 3 weeks since I posted last. I can't wait to report on the next 1/2 of my productivity. We're just about read to put the house on the market (thus the productivity push) so we put the business on vacation this week. And it feels GOOD. I am free (well, sorta)

So, anyone want to buy a house?

Who needs toys?

Again, they have proved that ordinary household objects are much more fun than anything that's plastic and sucks up battery power..





This is bowling, water bottle style.



And here is them in action:
If only I can figure out how to add video...

Well, I guess you'll just have to click on it.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v203/gcowles/?action=view&current=S6002413.flv

And "rollerskating" on water bottles:

(coming when I get it to upload)

And from the Archives:
We don't need a trampolele:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v203/gcowles/?action=view&current=S6001607.flv

Pictures now that I know how to upload them

After taking a break from the blog world and trying to put out the fires here in my home.. here are more pictures


First up:

Walking can be hazzardous to your appearance.

Just in time for his 1 year old birthday, he fell onto the box of Thomas train toys and sprouted this lovely black eye. We have postponed birthday cake until we can have his first birthday with cake pictures without a black eye. It's not looking too promising. He now CLIMBS the bunk bed ladder and onto the coffee table and ontop of every toy box/wagon/table he can......



Next up is the bathroom update

Yes, the picture is sideways. I'll have to re-upload it after I edit it.
OK done

That would be tile you see there.
The wall paper is now down, but this picture I took a few weeks ago before I managed to figure out how to upload a picture here.

Joey made this very cool track. I am so thrilled he can do it without help these days.

Sonia's just proving she's way too smart- she did this all on her own:

And for the first time in forever that *I* can remember we had enough snow to make snowmen here in VA. He's showing how tall the snowman is. He HAD to have one taller than him.

And my unconventional child decided she'd rather make a snow dog. those branches would be wiskers

Well, that would be ONE of my unconventional children. The other doesn't like the cold and was out maybe 5 minutes before she decided she'd had enough.

And WHY I haven't had time for sleep or a clean house or a life:

The same reason our postal carrier doesn't like me. This particular load didn't even fit in her little post office truck with the other stuff she had in there.

The Fed ex lady is much nicer. She has a handtruck waiting for me. I am going to miss her.

And the deep thought for the night-
You never know what may happen and when it may happen.
My MIL went to the hospital with a belly ache and diarrhea and it has progressed to a heart attack and possible stroke with her unaware of where she is, who she is and is completely someone else.

The thoughts of never having a meaningful conversation or relationship with her again makes me all the more grateful that we had the time we had with her this past few months- more than we had in, well, ever. I guess never knowing the time you see someone might be the last, perhaps I will linger and cling to that moment a bit longer and take the opportunity to say what things need to be said.

How many times have I passed up the opportunity to tell others how I cared for them and how many nights do I long for our children to fall asleep to get a break from them when I should cherish the fact that I have that time and they are there. If they weren't, how I would long to hear their clowning around when they were supposed to be asleep..

So, as they clown around and I long for a night of peace and quiet I'll try to have a bit more patience and be mindful of the sorrow that could take it's place.

So-
To all my family, friends and other acquaintances who have read this blog:

I am poor at expressing myself, and certainly just a work-in-progress, but:
I love you all and want for you all eternal security and peace. I am haunted of the moments I didn't take the time to make an effort at encourging, to improve the lives around us and to share the love our Saviour had for us that he would lay down his life for us. I pray that we will meet again in the afterlife and will be in eternal peace with our Lord and Saviour.

So until we meet again~
Peace~