Morning Jackpot

One dark, early morning last week, I woke up William for school as usual. I opened the door, flipped on the light, and pleasantly said good morning. He looked HUGE - sprawled out across his "new" double bed, making it look more like a toddler's bed.

I try my best to make mornings run smoothly. They can be hectic and frustrating at times. But with the help of coffee and a little prep work, we can usually enjoy a hassle free start to the day.

So after rubbing his back for a second our mostly one-sided conversation went something like this.....

Me: Ok buddy, time to get up and hop in the shower.

WP: groan

Me: I already started the water....so it should be good and hot for you.

(yes, I realize that this is over the top.....but it seems to get them moving a little faster if they think they are wasting water)

WP: another groan

Me: Oh...after your shower....you might want to shave. I can see a little bit of hair.

In an sorta cheesy unfamiliar voice and without cracking a smile.

WP: Is the man with the brostache invited to this party?

Me: LOL

I found out later that the quote was from a Geico commercial. I googled it....and indeed...it was just as funny as William's version. I'm loving his teenage sense of humor. A smile is worth a lot in the morning....but a laugh is practically equivalent to a million dollars.

Morning jackpot!

Very Pinteresting

I'm seriously in love with Pinterest. It's my new "hobby". Forget Facebook and blogging....this is my new obsession. It truly is all things lovely. One subscriber said it was like getting a new magazine in the mail everyday. Uh-huh....and how! Mere words can't describe the beautifully, creative, deliciousness of the website. Each and every picture is enticing me to move towards my sadly, neglected right side of my brain. My creative genes are inching towards "almost" action. I know, I'm not quite there yet. But I have lots and lots of ideas to improve/organize/beautify/simplify my home, diet, life and world.

I would love to share the site and several pictures here. Unfortunately, blogger calls that little detail "stealing". Can't a girl just borrow? I'm not sure, but after several failed attempts to download images....I got nervous the www.com police might come knocking at my door.

I'm excited to share my "future" pinterest inspired projects though. I've got plenty of Halloween and fall ideas already brewing. Lots of painting projects.....that look doable....but will probably have me in tears after a few hours....full of mistakes and a major clean-up. But I'm gonna give it a go.

So, I would like to thank Pinterest for bringing out the creative side of me....even though I've really been sitting at my computer for the last 3 hours.

RUN....FORREST....RUN

The boys ran their hearts out this weekend at the

cross country meet.

John set a 2 mile PR of 17:14.

Way to go 7th grader!

William also set a personal record of 19:07.

Not bad for 3 miles!

We are so proud of you boys!

One carpool at a time please

It's been one of those weeks where no matter how far ahead I think I am....I still miss the mark. Carpooling is great and I'm fortunate to have other moms that are in the same boat. Helping each other chauffeur our kiddos from one activity to the next has been a huge timesaver. There have been days when my carpooling schedule has been so crazy that it overlaps one another. And then, when I don't look at my calendar and just assume it's my day to be the taxi driver.....well you know what happens when you "assume" anything. At least there we two of us picking up....it could have easily gone the other way. Seriously, I can't keep it straight! I'm starting to think something is wrong with the 3 good brain cells I have left.

The other day after I had dropped off the Firecracker carpool, David and I headed to John's x-country meet. We were cutting it close....I wasn't sure how close....because I didn't have my GPS and I was forced to follow the written directions from the cross country information email. I have zero confidence in my navigation skills and with good reason....it's no secret that I'm not good with directions.....and we were way beyond my little 10 mile radius that I travel so frequently. Even David expressed his concerns that we were lost and was even more worried that I wouldn't be able to get us home.

So, after driving for what I was sure was way too far, I asked David if he would help me look for the sign to 27 N. He kindly obliged, but then added "I don't know why you need my help. You're the one that has the big ol' window to look out AND you don't have to look around any carseats." True dat....I had to agree with his backseat logic.

We finally made it to the meet....just in time to cheer on John and his teammates as they power housed the two mile trail. On the way home the two were talking in the back and I overheard David ask John how he ran so far. John's answer was simple. He said, "I keep going because I don't want to be last." He wasn't thinking about being way ahead, but about each step getting him closer to his goal....the finish line. Of course, the added pressure of not being last didn't hurt....in this case.

I thought about what he said and then realized something. Isn't that what God means when he tells us not to worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will take care of itself (the JP translation of course)? It's not a new thought, but one I'm going to work on. I don't have to be way out in front of the pack....killing myself to "win", or be first, or whatever it is that makes me feel that way. I just have to keep moving forward....one step at a time....and I won't get behind. No one is asking me to be supermom....just mom.

One carpool at a time......