I try to use creativity when it comes to meals and snacks. It is fun for my daughter and adds some fun to my day as well. I could give my daughter a plate of cheese, crackers, fruits and veggies and be done...or I could make a face! 

Our fun with food has translated into her telling me what animal she wants to take for snack when it's her turn to provide for her class. We then figure out how to make that animal. We have done everything from butterflies to bears and even things like boats. It is a lot of fun and keeps things playful. 

Today we were attempting bear snacks so yesterday we made bear shaped pancakes with blueberry eyes. Banana chunks completed the noses. They weren't perfect but we sure had fun working together to make them.

Most of the time when we do pancakes we make "cloud" pancakes. That means I pour them in lumpy cloud shapes and then we try to guess what they look like, as you would with passing clouds. Imagination is a great tool.

My day is much the same way. It looks how I make it to look. I could look outside at the grey clouds and feel the drag of my lack of sleep this week. I could make my day "blah". Or I could look at the fun creative things my daughter and I did today. I could focus on my husband's help or the baby's cuddles. I could even focus on getting some time to get a few things done today. I could "create" my day in a beautiful way. It doesn't happen every day, but when I remember to use my creative side I can make my day look pretty great just the way it was.

I'm grateful for a good imagination. I'm grateful my daughter has a great imagination to keep me on my game. I'm grateful to strive to make things fun and playful. I'm grateful for the energy boost it gives me to find fun activities and playful snacks. I'm grateful for a playful day. I'm grateful for how the schedule worked out smoothly today. I'm grateful for my amazing husband that came to my aid. I'm grateful to (maybe) get a good night's sleep!

What are you creating? How do you choose to make your day, your drive, your dinner?

May today add a little fun to the schedule. May we spark our creativity in whatever way brings us joy. Have a beautiful day!

As Valentine's Day approaches I find it interesting to ask people if they have any "special" plans. Many people respond that they are going out for dinner with someone significant to them. One mom told me she cooks a ice dinner for her and her children. One dad told me with several young children they don't make plans but simply hopes to have a beer at some point of the weekend. 

Special is in the eye of the beholder. Leftovers for dinner can be made into a "special" meal by placing a candle on the table. A fast food restaurant may be a special treat to someone who doesn't eat out much or to a child in particular. Special plans most often are more about who we spend them with that what is really done, at least in my experience.

I have done several "special" activities with my older daughter as the holiday approaches. I hid little white (her favorite color) hearts around the house for her to "hunt". Then once she found them all I surprised her that there was a hidden message on each one that we had to decode. We made valentines for people we care about and a countdown paper chain to lead us up to the special day. 

Yet when I asked her what special things we have done lately she tells me about me reading an extra book at her nap time or when I taught her the basics of how to play dominoes. She told me I gave her a special lunch which was in my eyes "just" broccoli cheddar soup leftovers. It doesn't take a whole lot to be special to her as long as someone she loves is taking that time with her. 

I feel this to my core. My love language is quality time and so I often seek activities over material things for special moments too. But listening to different people's perspectives reminds me to keep my "child" eyes, or maybe child heart is a more accurate description.

I'm grateful to have such wonderful people in my life. I'm grateful to cherish every moment I get to spend with them. I'm grateful for all the special moments in my life every day. And I'm grateful for a holiday of love to co-create more special moments. I'm grateful for fun little crafts and equally grateful to see that my daughter is just as happy to read a book with me. I'm grateful to get to talk to so many people and see all the different ideas out there on what a special day means.

What makes something special to you? How will you spend a special day? Who will you choose to share it?

May today be special in a dozen ways. May we recognize all the moments and all the people that make our lives special. Have a beautiful day!

I am no stranger to monkey-mind, that chaotic mental chatter that goes on inside. For a few years I had a pretty good handle on it because I meditated several times a day. Then I had kids... 

It's interesting that probably the time meditation is needed most is when you have little ones around, keeping patience as you explain for the fourteenth time today why they cannot use sharpies instead of their washable markers. 

For me, personally, the mental chatter is worse as a mom anyway. I'm sure a good portion of it is lack of adequate sleep. Yet there is a plenty of mom guilt (self-inflicted) with an added layer of mom-shaming from supposedly supportive facebook groups and outsiders. The combination of the two has been known to draw some tears from my tender heart and today was one of those days.

Interestingly thirty minutes after I got mom-shamed I got an email from someone saying what an amazing mom I was, completely out of nowhere. We all make mistakes but we also have our strengths and our successes. It is harder for me to mentally balance and recognize both sides when I am tired so I did my best to reflect on concrete moments. 

This weekend was full of moments of my older daughter asking for special mommy time. She was in need of some extra love and attention. Happily I was able to give it to her most of the times when she asked. This special time included going for a nature walk. As we explored the trail we found some acorns and set a buffet on a log "table" for the nearby squirrels. We watched the creek flowing and we ran along the top of the dam. We also had some yoga time and chose a new focus word for the week, "patience". 

I got several moments of time with my little one too, enjoying her laughter and smiles. 

There were moments I could see where I could have done "better". There were things I could see I needed to shift tactics to get out of a rut with my headstrong preschooler. But overall, I am a good mom. 

I'm grateful to recognize the mental chatter and its link to exhaustion. I'm grateful for a loving husband to bring me back when I take others' words to heart. I'm grateful to know that my girls think I am a good mom. I'm grateful to know I am doing my best even if that looks different day to day. I'm grateful to see when I can make shifts and changes and where I feel I am on the right track. I'm grateful for the beautiful email tonight that was so kind and up-lifting. I'm grateful for the special time with my girls and especially to get outdoors in nature. I'm grateful to see the need to make more time this week for mediation and me time as the mental chatter grows.

How do you recognize when the mental chatter is getting too loud? What does your monkey mind try to tell you? How do you redirect when the chatter goes negative?

May today be filled with supportive and loving dialogue. May we move towards where we want to be while giving ourselves grace in the moments we feel we fell short. Have a beautiful day!

Every day of the year is some weird "holiday" or "National Day" of some sort. Today was National Bubble Wrap Day and to my disappointment I was not prepared. But at my house any day that bubble wrap arrives is worthy of a mini party so I can handle the delay. 

Tomorrow is National Plan a Vacation Day. This seems particularly fitting to me since it is supposed to snow tomorrow. What better time to dream of a getaway? 

Whether here at home celebrating with something minor or planning a big getaway there are plenty of ways to enjoy my time. Even just coming home tonight to my daughter asking me to dance with her and hearing her giggle as I twirled her around the kitchen was a beautiful celebration in itself.

I enjoy reading each day what someone decided to make a "holiday". It could be that I resonate with it because I like trying to find things in each day to celebrate too.

I'm grateful to have a dance partner with equal skills to my left feet. I'm grateful to hear the sweet sound of giggles. I'm grateful to watch in adoration as my husband dances gently with the baby too. I'm grateful for these beautiful little moments to cherish. I'm grateful for a special day each day and to try to find something to celebrate whether it corresponds to the "National Calendar" or not. I'm grateful for this crazy beautiful life.

What little things do you celebrate each day? Who shares your quirks and hobbies?

May today be a day of celebration. May we cherish the little things that make the best memories. Have a beautiful day!

My husband and I have been trying to let our preschool age daughter problem solve. Instead of just giving her a solution we have been asking, "and what can you do about that?". Or "how can you fix that?"

It has really opened up my eyes to a new dimension of creative problem solving as well as child logic. 

One example was my daughter was whining about needing the light on in the bathroom. She has never shied away from climbing anything and everything she can and with a step stool not three feet away so she can reach the sink; I thought this would be a pretty easy problem solving practice. Knowing that a lot of the whining is more about attention that not knowing the "answer" I sat down next to her and said "how can we problem solve this?" 

Four minutes later she had exhausted types of aircraft she could use to fly up there as well as proposing us borrowing a crane or cherry-picker truck. I said, "those are all fun ideas but what could we use right now, with our own bodies to turn this light on?" 

"Well, I guess I could just grow wings..." This went on for another minute and a half of ideas on how she could grow faster or stretch like a giraffe and so on. By this point I was equally impressed with the level of creativity she was exhibiting in this process and getting annoyed because I still needed to make breakfast and six other things before we could get out the door. 

I asked her one more time, gesturing at the step stool as I asked. "Oh! I know, Mommy!" Finally, I thought! "I can just ask you to do it! Will you turn the light on please?" Beggars can't be choosers. I took the opportunity to turn on the light and move on while thanking her for saying please. I had to chuckle as I walked away though, my attempt to get her to creative problem solve worked, just not the way I intended. She creatively found ways to get my attention for much longer than if she had simply answered the question with what was right in front of her. 

I'm grateful to open my eyes to the ways creativity abounds in the mind of my child. I'm grateful to love her ability to play her cards well. I'm grateful to always be learning from her as her quick mind and amazing intelligence teach me new things each day. I'm grateful to breathe through the feelings of annoyance and laugh off the delay knowing this time is precious. I'm grateful to see ways my own creativity could grow when I release my time crunch mindset. I'm grateful for this beautiful life lesson.

What ways do we sacrifice creativity as adults? What helps reconnect you with your own creativity? 

May today allow us to use our creativity in all the best ways. May we find lessons in everyday events, laughing off the delays and finding gratitude in the message. Have a beautiful day!

Haha! Well for all my "success" yesterday in parenting and managing my time, the pendulum swung the other way today. I managed to get a couple things crossed off my list but overwhelmingly the list was left undone. Also, the baby got a bruise on her head and my older daughter had a meltdown that I squished a bug, her friend. 

I won't say today was unsuccessful. There were several things I did get done and many great interactions with my girls. But it was definitely not the smooth sailing of yesterday.

It isn't just part of parenting, it is part of life to have the pendulum sway. We get to have a say in how far it swings in either direction by how we choose to view it all. 

I'm grateful for the humbling reminder to choose my focus. I'm grateful to change a lightbulb, literally and figuratively. I'm grateful for cherished moments one on one with each of my girls. I'm grateful for practicing mindfulness. I'm grateful for sweet smiles on my girls' faces. I'm grateful to know even on the days I don't feel as successful, I still succeed in being me and taking steps forward in one way or another. I'm grateful to use laughter and humor to fill in the gaps. I'm grateful to end the day with a nice salad.

How is your pendulum swinging today? What perspective will you find on your journey?

May we find the positive in each day. May we choose to ride the swing and choose how far the pendulum goes consciously. Have a beautiful day!

As I reflect back over the day I can honestly say I mom-ed like a boss. I really felt like I had it together today.

I kept my cool through many, many crabby remarks and three-nager attitude from my preschooler. I shoveled the front steps and a path of the driveway for visitors to make their way up even as the snow was still falling. I hosted a playdate with four other kiddos, made everyone breakfast, and had activities prepared.

After that I fed my girls and got them both down for nap, got the house picked up, ran the dishwasher, then prepared the "snowman" eggs (hardboiled egg with black olive eyes and carrot nose) my daughter requested for her snack day at school tomorrow. I followed that up by a quick workout and then collected the trash and recycling and took it to the curb before heading out to work.

Am I bragging? Yeah, I guess I am a little bit. I have had several "parenting fail" moments in the last couple weeks and I have been honest about the missteps so I'm definitely taking credit for this "success". But what is success really?

When it comes to being a parent there isn't really a clear line of success and failure. The "scoring" line is in our own mind. What I have found is that success is more in how it feels. It wasn't the volume of stuff I got done today that made it a success, it was doing it and not feeling overwhelmed or overly stressed. Success was going through the day feeling good about the flow I was in and catching some adult conversation time with mom friends in the process. 

I'm grateful for a successful day. I'm grateful to say "I'll do that if..." and the Universe offered it to me as asked. I'm grateful to get some perspective from my friends. I'm grateful to keep my calm with my daughter while mentally observing and trying to find long term solutions. I'm grateful to get to host friends. I'm grateful my daughter did a pretty good job with sharing and playing with her friends. I'm grateful for a little mess in the name of art. I'm grateful to be in the flow and just try to stay in the moment and do whatever I could do. 

How do you gauge your success? How does success feel?

May we celebrate the "wins" in each situation. May we gauge our successes only on ourselves and how it makes us feel and let comparisons go. Have a beautiful day!

It is January 20th, 2020 and if you have followed my blog very long it has probably come up that I love numbers. I like to give meaning to numbers that come up, especially if I am praying about something when a number catches my attention. 

For me, zero is a number of continuity, cycles, and consistency. The number two, for me, is representative of being connected. It could be the connection with a person, the connection with nature, or with the Universe and God; but it is that deep and meaningful connection. Now imagine my excitement as I saw today's numbers, a consistent and cyclical deep connection, were perfectly in line with what I have set my intentions for this year. 

I'm grateful for numbers. I'm grateful to "nerd out" to finding meaning in the numbers. I'm grateful to feel the connection to nature and Love. I'm grateful to feel supported in my intentions for the year. I'm grateful to take some time for me today. I'm grateful for transitions and, even with some bumps, I'm grateful to be changing up our schedule a bit. I'm grateful to stay warm most the day and to have a warm home to come back to in these frigid temperatures. 

What do you get excited over? In what ways do you find confirmation, comfort, or guidance in your day?

May we all feel supported as we move into this new year. May we celebrate the little things that bring us joy and peace. Have a beautiful day!

Tonight I worked later than usual. This meant that I did not get to see my girls before they went to bed. As luck would have it though, my three year old was still awake when I got home.

I crawled into her bed and snuggled her for a bit. She mentioned how much she had missed me as she does most nights when I return from work. Which is comforting since even after three years of working evenings I still feel a pang in my heart when I leave each afternoon while she naps. 

I think there is something healthy about that kind of "missing you" feeling. It is a great reminder of how precious that person is to you. And it is a great feeling to get to see them again!

I'm grateful to miss my children during my short evenings away. I'm grateful I don't have to work a full eight hour job. I'm grateful to hold them and hug them when I return. I'm grateful to get to see their faces light up when I walk through the door most nights. I'm grateful for how precious they are to me and to be eager to return to them. I'm grateful for their resilience and flexibility dealing with me leaving while they sleep. I'm grateful for all my husband does to make this work so I can work too. I'm grateful for all his early mornings and his amazing abilities as a dad. 

Who do you miss? Do they know how you feel? How often do you get to return to them or are you waiting on the next "life" to meet up with them again?

May we see the beauty in missing the ones we love. May we get to return to them someday, somewhere. And may we get to hold the ones we love a little tighter. Have a beautiful day!

On my way home from work tonight I decided I needed to do a gratitude challenge tonight. It is a good way for me to overload myself with the beauty of my life. In overloading myself with the positive it leaves little room to focus on what may not be going as perfectly.

I have seen how the shadows help me to appreciate the sunshine. And I have a respect and appreciation for the shadows in and of themselves. Tonight I needed to bathe in some self-made light.

When I arrived home my eldest daughter asked me to read her a book. I said yes. She asked me to read her another and I said yes. She asked me to lay with her in her bed for a few minutes and so I did. 

I watched my youngest daughter as she nursed before bed. I watched as her eyes explored every thread of my shirt and her fingers traced it gently. I smiled at the intensity of her eyes and the cute way her tongue sticks out of her mouth as she explores everything. 

I listened to my husband chat with our oldest daughter, patiently. He is such a great dad. I thought about how he had texted me throughout the day because he knew I had a rough morning. He is such a great husband and person. And I'm excited to nerd it up as we plan his birthday party. 

I'm grateful for all these beautiful moments and so much more. I'm grateful how just being present can make the abundance of gratitude flow. I'm grateful to satisfy with challenge without it being a challenge at all. I'm grateful for my girls' blue eyes. I'm grateful for my oldest's precocious nature and love of reading. I'm grateful for all the questions she thinks to ask and the insight into the inner workings of her mind. I'm grateful to get to see the world new and fresh again through my baby's eyes. I'm grateful for the beautiful bonding time we get during feedings. I'm grateful to just hold her and be in this fleeting moment of her being so small. I'm grateful for my husband for a million reasons but mostly for his huge heart. I'm grateful for his protective and supportive nature. And I'm grateful for his inner nerd. I'm grateful for this life. I'm grateful for the shadows and I'm grateful to know I have only to look as far as the current moment to find the light.

What are you grateful for? Can you find ten gratitudes in five minutes or less? What brings you light?

​May today be lived in the moment. May we seek to find the beauty that is always right in front of us. May we tell the ones we love how much they mean to us. Have a beautiful day!