Have You Decorated Yet? I Have!

So, I am just feeling the need to brag a little.  I think I am the first person to already have Christmas decorations up.....anyone else? Didn't think so. Well, to be honest, I don't have a tree yet.  I think we will wait until at least November to purchase the tree, but I thought if I keep up the decorations decorate for Christmas now, I will be ahead of the gang and not get heart palpitations the day after Thanksgiving when everyone declares on Facebook that they already have the house decorated, Christmas cards sent out, and presents bought and wrapped! So there.  I am ready and proud.  One more thing to check off my list (actually two if you count putting away the decorations-shhh).

What else is on my list you ask? Well, I am trying to go from room to room de-cluttering and re-organizing.  Now that I have said that on here, I am now accountable to you! So far, I have gone through a HUGE basket of papers in the kitchen, as well as the back-up basket because the first one was so full.  I now have only 5 papers in the basket and they are supposed to be there! For most people this might not take that much time, but I am one of those people that has a hard time getting rid of things...I think it might come in handy later. I am sure most of the stuff I will never use again, but lucky for me I did keep some of my favorite clothing items from Ella and Greta that Fia can now use even though I thought we were only going to adopt a boy.  I also saved some of my professional suits and now the jackets are in style again...OH OH, and probably my best save are my high school cowboy boots that made a certain cute lady pretty popular last year at the auction(and it wasn't me)! My suspenders haven't come back in style yet, but when they do, I am ready. 

Are you a saver or a pitcher? What do you still have that you are glad you didn't throw out? Or, what did you get rid of that you wish you wouldn't have?  And don't worry, I won't be on Hoarders anytime soon!\

Okay, I got distracted in this post.  I just wanted to let you know that if you come to my house and see Christmas decorations up, don't pity me.  Don't think, wow, she can't keep up with her house, she has alot of kids, or she needs help.  Don't judge me.  Just be impressed with me.  Be impressed that I am so ingenious and that I have already decorated for Christmas!

First Words to Chapter Books

My kindergartner has had a hard time memorizing her letters and beginning to read, but it is fun to see her finally get it and feel proud of herself. At the beginning of the year Fia only knew a few letters and would get SO frustrated if she couldn't remember them. Now, she remembers all the letters and is starting to sound them out. After sitting for over 30 minutes yesterday(tears and all), we finished her homework and I think she really understood what she was doing! It is a huge breakthrough! The smile at the end was priceless. After we finished with the homework, I had her go and show her dad how she was sounding out 8 of the basic first words in kindergarten. She came back and said, "I read them ALL to dad. Should I start reading chapter books now?" :) Gotta love her determination! Soon Fia. Very soon!

Post-Bedtime Snowextravaganza

Let me start out this post reminding you all that we live in the Pacific Northwest, so when snow comes, it is usually gone the next day, so you have got to take advantage of it if you want to play in it.

The other thing about living in the Pacific Northwest, is that you realize that many people freak out about snow here. Like *go stock up on groceries if 1 inch of snow is in the forecast* kind of freak out. Not everyone does that, my friends are tough! :) Well, to add to the everyday freak-outers, the news has been having a heyday with this storm prediction for the last couple of days. They said snow would come today around 4pm and then rain in the morning with 40degree temps. Well, 4pm came and went and no snow(even though many school districts had already cancelled all after school events)!

We ended up putting the kids to bed and then POW!, it was crazy snowing within the hour. So, after I was done cleaning up the kitchen and it looked like at least 2 inches outside, I said to Daron that we should wake the kids up and go for a walk and play in the snow. He agreed and we surprised the kids. All but Justus thought it was a great idea. Justus was confused and said he was tired. Ha! He just kept saying, "I don't get it... why?" I told him I thought it would be a fun memory and the snow might be gone by morning. He finally agreed! :)

The kids loved it! We spent about 30 minutes sledding on the hill(road-haha!) near us, then went back and made a gigantic snowman! The kids loved it and kept saying thank you. It was so cute! Hopefully we will still have snow in the morning, but if not, they got to enjoy this time together....and, they may have part of a snowman to show for it in the morning!

My Smorgasbord of Life at the Moment

Okay, I need to write a new post. I am just completely overwhelmed though, so I don't know where to begin. I don't want to complain either, because in the grand scheme of things, my family is healthy, we have a house, we have food, I have a loving husband, good friends, etc, etc...but I am just tired! I don't know if it's my age(I am almost 37 you know...), or having a large family(7 is large for me), post Christmas depression(I want a snow day!!!), or just all the stuff that is overflowing on my plate. And honestly, I don't really have anything big on my plate, just a smorgasbord of life. And sometimes, some of those meatballs on that smorgasbord plate are piled on more than I can handle. I guess that's how I feel right now. I like looking at my plate for the most part...I like the lingonberries and the meatballs, I like the korv and the lefse, but on my Swedish/Norwegian smorgasbord plate, there is a bit of pickled herring on it that I don't like, as well as some lutefisk. And they are really stinking it up! I need to get rid of the stuff I don't like, or at least figure out how to make it so I enjoy it better. I know life isn't all about being happy. Life is hard. We have to make choices. I just am tired of the lutefisk right now.

Ahhhhh...now, I feel better! I think just getting it out there, even if it is in a bit of a riddle format with my smorgasbord analogy helps. Sorry for the downer, but it is real life.