A Glance @ January 2014

So I have been reading blogs and visiting blogs and thinking about my own blog A LOT... and at the end of the day all these WONDERFUL, GREAT, INSPIRATIONAL things I have to say just don't happen if I don't make the time to sit down and WRITE.  I know, easy concept BUT not so easy for this Momma!    So the first thing you need to know about blogging is that you ACTUALLY HAVE TO WRITE!  sshhh wish someone would of told me that before I started!  Rather then giving ALL my inspirational thoughts away at once, I have decided to go ahead and drag them out and just start writing! SOMETHING, ANYTHING.... GO....

A Glance @ what is going on...
January 2014

 SNOW STORM!

STUCK IN THE HOUSE!

LEVEL 3! 


SNOW, SNOW, SNOW

   Root year #1 Goal of building togetherness as a family (check)!

 This is something I actually have some big opinions on... and they DO NOT match the majority of Facebook users.   FB is my form of media, news, and life (lets face it- I still get the newspaper- gotta have something to do art projects on BUT by the time I read it in there it is old- if it is newsworthy then FB already told me about it and on top of the time it takes to have the story investigated, wrote, edited, printed, delivered, and YES it sat in my mail box for a week- it's just old).  BUT, snow is something that FB and I do not agree on!  See, when we moved away and I had to experience my first time of seeing snowmen at place where there was ABSOLUTELY a small chance of snow- it depressed me.  I mean seriously bothered me!   Something about that is just wrong!   You can put up trees and a Santa and things like that- but a snowman in the middle of  green yard is just WRONG!  This year I love snow.  I love the way it looks, feels, and YES, I love the fact it made me stay in the house with my family and just be together!   So THIS year I love snow (who knows how I will feel next year).  This worked really well with my goal #1 of building family togetherness!  Nothing says togetherness like being stuck in the house for days!  Games were played, books were read, movies were watched, meals were cooked together- it was seriously a very surprising enjoyable break from the world.

(BG is throwing snowballs at him in this picture)

SNOW! SNOW BE GONE! WATCH OUT! 

Root year #2 Goal of making hubby a priority (check)!

Nothing says I love you more then doing something that your spouse LOVES to do.  So when I walked up to him while he was plowing and asked him to show me how to do it... he was happy!  Yep, he gave me a tutorial on using the John Deere and then stood around and watched me plow away.  Sounds a bit silly but honestly I saw him smiling.  I think he enjoyed the fact I put effort into doing something he REALLY enjoys doing.  I decided to widen our driveway into a 4 lane drive and off I went.  It was fun and hey, it's good stuff to know (never know when I might want to surprise him with a plowed driveway).  He doesn't expect me to do it (probably prefers I don't because he really does like to do it) but I know he enjoys showing me how... and lets face it.. if he came in and wanted a lesson on something I really enjoyed doing then I would probably smile too!

Root year #3 Goal of me (check)!

Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. -Anonymous

Now I am not going to give away anything here (I am not a spoiler so read it for yourself!) BUT I just read the book Sycamore Row by John Grisham and well I don't know. See normally, I have great opinions on books but this one I just don't.  I can't decide if I liked the way it ended.  I can't decide if I liked it all to be honest.  It has me doing a lot of thinking (maybe that was Mr. Grisham's whole point) but you should read it.  You should because A. he is great author and has proved this over and over B. if you have read his most famous book, A Time to Kill  then you HAVE to read this follow up on that book C. it makes you think (and there is NOTHING wrong with that!).  So what is next for me... I don't know yet.  I have some ideas brewing... I know I am going to always be reading SOMETHING because that is just me.  I haven't choose the next book but I have been doing a lot of christian fiction this last year and might continue with that.  I'll let you know.  I also want to craft some more.  I have an amazing Cricuit system I don't use enough and some great ideas for that.  I also want to get some wreaths made (NC took wreaths more serious then Ohioans do) and it's time to get involved in something outside of the house.  I love projects and I can guarantee some more are on the way!

 HAIR HERE, HAIR THERE, HAIR EVERYWHERE

These are her before pictures... and YES, I COMPLETELY FORGOT AFTER PICTURES!

I will shoot some of her in a bit to add as after pictures- 4 days later!

Root year #4 Goal of one on one (check)!

It just so happens MM has had another birthday (feels like we do this every year).  I am a big believer in doing something for birthdays!  I love parties but I love when we as a family go and do something.  We have had some big parties (Disney, water parks, ect...) and we have had just going to the pool or a visit to the zoos birthdays but this year we went to the hair salon!  MM was in need of a redo on her perm and spending some mom time in the process.   She has turned 10 folks and though I know everyone is happy I am not.  See 10 introduces the beginning... the beginning of the next 10 years... those are the years that kids don't always show love and want to cuddle and snuggle with their moms... and well I am not sure I am ready for all that.  I could write a whole blog post on that alone but I won't.  She's 10... we did the perm thing.. and if your reading this you get to know a secret others won't know... we have scheduled for her to get permanent (yep, permanent) purple pick a boo stripes in her hair... why?  WHY NOT? She's homeschooled (meaning no handbook to follow) and she asked I said sure (I did offer tattoos and piercing and she rolled her eyes- there is hope for this kid). I'll post pictures after the big day (can't do a perm and color the same day).  

Last but not least.... I have got some cool school projects going on and might write a post about those soon (remember, I am working on just getting the fingers moving on the keyboard).  BUT until I do...

Talk soon,

Tara J.

P.S. These pictures are a glimpse at the new laundry system and cleaning plan we have invented to help with the chores!  The laundry idea is everyone got a Dollar Tree small basket- when yours is full you bring it to the basement I do that load (it's small so it'll only be one load- unless you BEG me then I MIGHT let you do it ((he he)) and then I fold it and you take clean clothes up and put them away- i'll let you know how it works!  I like the idea of only doing 1 person at a time (making put away- our FAILED part of laundry much easier)!  

 HE BEGGED TO DO HIS LOAD - what mother denies that!?!

P.S.S. There is also the new family chore idea... and it's a simple one... we all work together in ONE room and let me tell you, cleaning ONE room goes super fast with lots of hands.  We all conquer one room at a time.  I take the BIG job (mop, vacuum, ect...) they all work on the rest (dusting, wipe downs, ect...).  The kids had great attitudes because we were all together and I was IMPRESSED at the quickness of it.  If we stick to it.. we will be able to clean the ENTIRE house in less then 20 minutes!  I'll let you know how that goes too!

Many Hands make light Work. Because it is but little to every one.
[1721 J. Kelly Scottish Proverbs 244]