Positively Mom Street

I've been sick.  It totally sucks.  Cough, sore throat - just run down and exhausted.  I'm ready to kick this shiz to the curb and head off for sunny HOT Florida on Tuesday!!! Otherwise - a nice Saturday.  I blew off my weights class for the first time in an eternity cause I just did not have the energy to do it right - and instead took Harlyn to watch Hayden at his swim meet.  Hayden did great - took 16 secs off his freestyle and 2 secs off the backstroke - he's becoming a little swimmer.  Harlyn loved watching him swim - "i see brother" - and we all had a nice morning.  Finished up the afternoon with a little shopping (LOVE my new sandals) with my bestie and then dinner at Salsa Brava with my love - - we had them add a bit of a kick to the queso and OH MY - my mouth burneth! Until tomorrow.... Positively, Kim

They drive me crazy.  Constant noise, constant demands...incessant wants...it's enough to make anyone insane. That said - I'm incredibly grateful that they CAN do all those annoying kiddo things - that my kids are normal, healthy and full of piss and vinegar.  The past couple of days I've come across blogs, or met real people, that aren't so lucky.  The blogger Mary Taylor Mom   writes about her struggles with a little guy - and what life is like after the death of her young daughter from brain cancer.   At Chic-fil-A a Dad started up a conversation about   his family, his children and his life as father of a disabled child.  It really opened my eyes. There are parents who will never get to hear their kid laugh again, or have the experience of watching their child grow and become a fully functioning member of society. I'm just so thankful for our health, general wealth and really wonderful, wild life. Until tomorrow... Positive...

Totally lost track of time - so late to start writing!  Kids were a little rough today - mostly Harlyn - but we still had a great night - gym, Chic-fil-a, and ice cream - good times. Until tomorrow... Positively, Kim

It was one of those days - but in a good way.  Pretty positive and overall light hearted...we did tea time, played Wii, did secret handshakes...pretty darn cool. :-) Until tomorrow... Positively, Kim

Crappy weather so Chris couldn't ride - we switched days and I have my Mom night.  It was nice - pedicures, quiet dinner, a little shopping - overall a productive afternoon! Until tomorrow, Positively, Kim

Some guy - who I thought at the time was falling INTO the street -  was actually carrying a DOG out of the middle of the road.  It had been hit by a car just a few moments before and its lifeless body just kinda hung there as he picked it up.  I was upset but drove by and went on with my morning.  I made my bi-weekly pilgrimage to Target, bought groceries and headed home.  I went inside and started to unpack the bags. BOOM! What was that???  Oh a bag of groceries falling to the floor - and not just any bag but the one with the soup.  It's bad enough that I spent freaking $6 on a container of soup - but to watch it EXPLODE it's creamy Broccoli-Cheesiness all over my kitchen floor - ah well I won't go there.  But - on the plus side - Bella  was right there to help with clean up!  Thanks Bella... Fast forward about 3 hours - get Haydie off the bus and inside for a snack.  He goes into the living room to eat and watch TV....

It was a good day. It seems like the days are moving faster - I can't believe it is almost May.  Another 2011 holiday come and gone - I'm  happy to report the entire day went well - from early morning egg hunting to lunch time at Jose Muldoon's - and my dinner turned out great - everyone loved the corn on the cob even though it was a little early in the season it was a great warm up to summer bbqs! The kiddos loved their gifts - Haydie got Lego Star Wars III and Harlyn got a cute little zoo set and some new pink shoes.  I loved watching them look for hidden eggs - and sister was adorable in her little crazy suit made up of all brother's new clothes. Until tomorrow, Positively, Kim

such a fun day with the family.  Ready for Easter even though I made the mistake of heading to Target at 7pm trying to score last minute candy - I was not alone!  LOL Anyway everything is set and I think the kiddos will be pleased...I can't wait to eat chocolate for breakfast!!! Until tomorrow... Positively, Kim

...literally. - easter eggs with the kiddos - queso and chips - quiet evenings at home Until tomorrow... Positively, Kim

A great day!  I had a wonderful time with an old friend - food, drinks and conversation - just love being able to step away from the everyday and re-connect. Until tomorrow... Positively, Kim

Positively Mom Street: Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery... : "...none but ourselves can free our minds. Ah, a little Bob Marley on 4/20 is always good. :-) I digress. What a day. A very grey, very..."

...none but ourselves can free our minds. Ah, a little Bob Marley on 4/20 is always good. :-) I digress.  What a day.  A very grey, very cloudy drama filled day. It certainly was NOT good and I definitely felt like I was caught in a downward spiral of negativity. I actually wondered as the day went on how I was ever going to come up with something positive.  It just wasn't happening. But then I saw "Emancipation" on a bumper sticker - and it hit me - Bob Marley was totally right.  My emotions, actions, feelings - they are MY responsibility.  I spent all day reacting - feeling bad, doubting myself  - wondering what I could do to make it ALL BETTER.  I essentially wasted my energy, and my day, by allowing negativity to permeate and cast shadows of doubt. I'm done with that.  I want to reclaim my spirit - my positive energy - and I will not let ANYONE dictate how I feel again. It was a VERY hard day and I'm happy it's almost over.  How...

Tuesday is my afternoon with the kids.  Chris does a bike ride and the kids and I do our thing - usually a play date or the gym - and we always get dinner on the way home.  Tonight was no different. Me: What do you want for dinner? Hayden: Kentucky Fried Chicken!!!! Me:  Umm....how about something else?  What else are you in the mood for? Hayden:  McDonalds? Me: Ughh....how about Chic-fil-A? Hayden: Burger King? Me: I think Chic-fil-A would be good.  If we go there I'll let you get an ice cream. Hayden: OK (very happy 'cause ice cream is his fav thing in the world) So - we head over to get Chic-fil-A.  I am happy, Hayden is happy, Harlyn is quiet (which makes us all happy) and soon everyone will be fed.   We're getting ready to turn into the Chic-fil-A parking lot when Harlyn suddenly yells "MCDONALDS!!!"  Hayden turns to her and says - completely serious - "Maybe you should have spoken up earlier." LOL - this is what makes my da...

It wasn't a great day but I've had worse.  Typical morning at work...then the usual post-school, post-nap madness of Monday.  Dinner made and on table by 4:45 so baby girl can get to swim lessons by 5pm and big boy by 6pm. Not a lot of energy for this post...sorry...some days it's all I can do to make it until 8pm when everyone is in bed...that time is now. Thankful for: - potty training poop accidents that happen at daycare and not a home - lounging on the couch and zoning out - bedtime (the kids and my own) Until tomorrow... Positively, Kim

Positively Mom Street: Other days...it's just so good... : "An amazing Sunday! Completely gorgeous day - lots of sun - and warm enough to make me realize summer is really right around the corner..."

An amazing Sunday!  Completely gorgeous day - lots of sun - and warm enough to make me realize summer is really right around the corner - I can't wait!! Good times with the family - Lego Rock Band, park time and lots of biking by both The Rookie and The Master (pics below) overall a really wonderful, relaxed day. Highlights... -Harlyn getting two suckers from Whole Foods - one for her, one for brother - promptly devouring one and staring longingly at the second.  She wants to "hold it for brother" until we get home.  I peek at her on the way home - she's licking the PLASTIC WRAPPER (LOL) but shows amazing willpower for a 2 year old and  DOES NOT eat the lolly!  She is sweetness personified when she proudly smiles and gives it to brother...love - The Rookie (Hayden) and The Master (Chris) "mountain" biking in our neighborhood.  All I can say - "kickin' it old school" and "Big man on a little bike" - proof below... - Picki...

Positively Mom Street: Sometimes it's hard... : "I had a rude awakening yesterday. I did something that was completely selfish, inconsiderate and straight up thoughtless. And it..."

It has been a nice, quiet day.  We went to the gym this morning and I felt great - lots of energy for my workout. Kids had a great time at the Spring Carnival - games of chance, a relay race and even pretty pink sparkling nails for Ms. Harlyn. Thankful for moving on, letting go and having fun. Until tomorrow... Positively, Kim

I had a rude awakening yesterday.  I did something that was completely selfish, inconsiderate and straight up thoughtless.  And it hurt someone I care about. I felt terrible.  Actually, terrible is an understatement.  I really can't put into words how I felt...mostly ashamed and embarrassed and truly disappointed in myself.  I had an awful time sleeping because I could not stop thinking about it.  It was not deliberate - and in fact I thought nothing of it after it happened - but my thoughtlessness didn't change the fact that my actions made someone cry. I was trying to be funny in my snarky way and it backfired.  This, unfortunately, was not the first time that my attempt at humor completely failed.  Looking over the last 20 years of my life illustrates this point again and again.  I THINK I'm being funny - and light hearted - and maybe a little snippy in my Kim-like way - and I find out that my words HURT.  It's a bitter pill to swal...

I did something really stupid - and inconsiderate - and I feel like a complete ass. I'm sorry...

I totally lost my shi* tonight.  I wish I could say it was just a little problem that I quickly resolved in a mature, sensible fashion.  Unfortunately, it was a full bowl of soup and a complete dinner pulled off the stove onto the floor with a massive CLUNK.  I did not react calmly, or favorably, and instead simply REACTED.  I screamed, I yelled, I stomped around and made a big scene as I picked it all up.  I wanted to cry.  Instead, after melting down, I looked around and tried to find the upside.  Soup all over the floor?  It's okay - at least there was enough left in the pan for another bowl for Hayden and I didn't have to completely restart dinner.  Mommy meltdown mode in overdrive?  It's alright - I settled down quickly, picked up where I left off and just moved on with the night. I really think doing this blog is helping me.  Normally, an evening like this would have set me into a downward spiral - the rest of the night would...

I was in such a funk today.  It didn't matter what I did - I just felt low and blue and straight up tired.  Even a brisk walk outside on a GORGEOUS Colorado day still didn't lift my spirits.  I don't know - just had this weird, unsettled feeling all day - almost like I was just WAITING for something to happen.  Oh well...despite a tough day I am still able to write down a few things that made me smile. - Shop and Drop at the local MyGym - kiddos LOVED it and I enjoyed a quiet hour of shopping with my bestie - Wonderful reviews from the instructors at MyGym about how much my son watched over and took care of his baby sister - he said they had a "great connection he rarely sees among siblings" - silly songs and "move it, move it" dancing with the kiddos before bed Until tomorrow... Positively, Kim

Not a bad day.  Typical Monday - work, play with kids, dinner then swim for both.  Overall,  I can't complain.  The highlights of my day included: - seeing 2 bold blue jays and 1 hovering hawk on my afternoon dog walk - telling Hayden he is my favorite boy and him saying "your my favorite mom" - Fruit Stripe gum - I ate a piece of each flavor at swim practice - made me feel like a  kid again and it tastes SO GOOD for 10 minutes...lol Until tomorrow...embrace the positive. Kim

...or something like that! Wow - what a day. Still tired from Friday night fun...and the kids were in rare form this afternoon. They somehow know that I'm at the end of my rope and just PUSH PUSH PUSH until I'm ready to fall...and blissfully night arrives and the day ends. On that note... - love 7pm and 7:30pm bedtimes - Harlyn wearing her new swimsuit and goggles ALL DAY 'cause she cried when we tried to take them off - the family dance-a-thon to Imagination Movers...particularly liked the kiddos doing dual hula dances Until tomorrow...embrace the positive! Kim

Lots of good energy today... - Hayden doing a hula-like dance while singing "I'm dancing, dancing, dancing.....happily" - the sweet silence of dinner with just hubby - veggie egg rolls - YUM - Hearing Harlyn say "I lub you Mommy...we best friends." Embrace the positive... Kim

This one will be easy! I'm so thankful for: - a night out with the girls - my besties (you know who you are) - 2 years of squats = fantastic bootie in my new designer jeans!!! - my husband for making this night possible - MUAH! Until tomorrow...embrace the positive!

Today was a rough day. However, in the spirit of being positive, I was able to see and appreciate: - little tiny yellow daffodils just sprouting up in the front flower bed - Harlyn "growling" like Chewbacca and humming the Star Wars theme song - the kids sitting together, side by side, snuggling on the couch before bed - a fantastic Groupon deal for Gloss where we are having my besties birthday party tomorrow Until tomorrow...embrace the positive!

This is an experiment in positivity. I am a wife, mother and work at home full time. My life, in a nutshell, is crazy. The days run into another and I often end the week wondering what happened to Monday - how can it already be Sunday? That said - I love my life. I feel fortunate but distracted. I know I'm blessed - but don't always realize or appreciate it. It seems like the bad always gets more attention than the good - and it just doesn't seem right. Life is too short to end each day thinking about all the wrongs - what didn't get done - what should have been done - what could have been better - thus the point of this blog. I'm going to make it a priority to record at least ONE GOOD THING that happened EVERYDAY for the next year. Mostly, because I want to change my focus from negative to positive. I also think it will be amazingly powerful to end my day remembering something sweet - instead of being mired in the murk. It's written. Kim