Positively Mom Street

So - I did it. My Lego Mini-Figure Man! I wish I could feel more excitement but I'm just so thankful that the whole silly project is finally over. I am not crafty.  Not in the slightest.  However, I am fairly stubborn which worked in my favor when it came to completing this costume. My procrastination started me off on the wrong foot - hello - who hordes boxes in the corner of their kitchen for a month - but ultimately my stubborn desire to finish this thing won out in the end. There were late nights - early mornings - and wasted afternoons.  Craft paint in yellow, orange and watered down version of black.  Who knew that craft paint goes bad?  I certainly didn't - and when I opened the bottle of black (which sat in my closet for 6 years) it plopped out in weird, gross clumps. Shit. That was all I could think - both literally and figuratively.  It was the day before Halloween (okay - the night before Halloween) and there was no way I was hau...

Yep - I'm starting to panic.  Just a tad.  I'm not waking up in a cold sweat quite yet but my fear is pretty tangible. I have boxes.  Lots of boxes.  I have paint - brushes - some weird Styrofoam circle thing - but I am afraid to start putting it all together. What's it gonna be????  Maybe it will remain in its natural box state Hayden was ready to go on Saturday! "Hey Mom - let's start my costume!" I, unfortunately, have a bad case of crafty paralysis.  I can't bring myself to start because I am terrified I will do it wrong - it will look bad - and I will be a failure. The boxes and paint brushes are mocking me! Can't handle that pressure right now so I'm going to leave the boxes where they live - in the corner of my kitchen - and pretend that Halloween is not happening.  We'll see where that gets me. :-) In the meantime, enjoy this picture of Harlyn in her "hiking outfit." It is distraction in its purest, cutest f...

Ok - so this year, since I'm playing SAHM - I thought I'd get creative and MAKE a costume for Hayden. Now - all of you that know me are laughing and shaking your heads - mentally making a bet on how long it will be before I quit, cave and run to Target to purchase the nearest suitable costume for my little man. I am here - on the world wide web - to declare that I WILL NOT QUIT!!! Terrified but determined! I am dedicated and WILL make a costume for Hayden.  It WILL be awesome - he WILL love it - and everyone WILL bow their heads in awe at how great and amazing our home made crafty costume turned out. So it is written - and promoted - and now I have to follow through or face the embarrassment of failure in front of all my family, friends and the greater gods of the Internet. Stay tuned, my friends, as I whip my creative juices into a frenzy of costume making glory. Do not hate - do not be jealous - just wait, watch and be ready to gasp (I hope in amazement...

Baby girl just ran over - super duper excited - about this game. I'm not kidding - she was giddy with joy - alternately hugging the iPad and yelling "Dog Poop!  Dog Poop!" while running back and forth from the couch to my computer. Really now?  Are the toy makers that desperate?  How did that conversation go? "Anyone have ideas for a fresh new kids game?" Silence. "C'mon people - there must be at least one unique idea out there.  Use your heads.  Tom, what do you think?" "Shit, I don't know." "Shit?  Shit! Yes - that is unique!  I don't think there are ANY other toys on the market that deal with shit. This is brilliant." And a game about dog poop was born.  :-( Perhaps hubby was right when he characterized our  Harlyn as a "Tomboy Princess" - for a little girl that wants everything pink and sparkly she sure seemed over the top for some Play-Dough poop.  She made me promise I would "go to t...

I love September.  I think the weather is absolutely perfect - not too hot like the hazy days of July and August - but not too cold like October and November.  If Colorado could maintain September weather all year round it would be the absolute perfect place to live.  Now don't get me wrong - I love my Colorado no matter how you slice it - by far the most perfect place for my family and I - but I'm especially enamored during the mild, sunny days of September. Look at that view! We had a truly gorgeous little weekend escape at one of our favorite places -  Salida .  We just love it down that way - it's only an few hours from Colorado Springs but it's a world apart.  When we start the drive through the canyon all my troubles and cares just melt away as I watch the river wind.  The kids love it too.  This was the first time we've gone this late in the season - normally we travel down in either June or July - but due to our trip to NY we had to ...

Do you remember that old Staples commercial where the Dad is joyously running down the aisle throwing school supplies into a cart and the kids are moping behind?  I wasn't a parent when it came out so I didn't really appreciate it then - but man - do I get it now! The sheer joy in this dudes eyes says it all - NOTHING - I mean NOTHING - is better than back to school. After my summer as SAHM I wholeheartedly agree.  Hayden started 3rd grade on Monday - and while the number itself amazed me (3rd grade?  How is that even possible - he's only like 3 years old) I was more than ready to send him back into the loving arms of our public school system.  That big yellow bus just pulled right up at the corner and whisked him away - it was truly a beautiful sight - I might have shed a tear of joy.  Hayden, on the other hand, wasn't quite as thrilled. Just brimming with excitement! Harlyn started her first day of preschool today.  I've stalked this lit...

So I'm a month or so into my little "SAHM" adventure - and I've realized a few things. First and foremost - being at home with the kids is a job in and of itself - and often plays out with the same ups and downs I found in the corporate world.   There are mornings where everything is swingin' - we're moving, grooving and generally having a good ole time.  Kinda like those perfect days at work where the "atta boys" come freely and quickly and everything you do is on the money. Of course - those days - both at home and at work - are few and far between.  They are precious - the moments where you feel successful - competent - ready to face the world and the challenges it brings. Most days are kinda run of the mill  - just like 85% of my days in corp America.    Things aren't great - but nothing is burning down and no one is screaming in my face - so ehh - I'll take it.  Sit back, gamely muster through my 9 to 5 existence and do what ne...

Well, I did something kinda stupid.  I'm not exactly proud of my moment of stupidity - in fact - it's been a pretty mortifying little episode that I'm trying desperately to put behind me.  But it just won't go away.  Doesn't matter what I do - or how I think about it - it's still there.   Looking at me.  Laughing.  Triumphant in its complete and total control over my emotions. I hate it. It owns and dominates me and I can't - for the life of me - figure out why I'm giving it so much power.   It was a moment.  Technically - a moment in the past.  It can't hurt me anymore. I'm powerless to change it.   No matter how hard I try to pretend it didn't happen - and believe me I am trying - it still did. So I'm afraid, and powerless, and feeling like a big ole loser in the proverbial game.   Sigh. I guess I could wallow around it in a bit longer.  Keep rehashing all the "what if's" that are revolving through my head.  Fig...

Well, it's been a while.  A lot has happened since last December.  Among other things, I left a job, accepted a job, lost a job, and acquired a new job - albeit unpaid.  I am now officially a Stay at Home Mom (SAHM). This is what SAHM's do during the day. Yikes!  This was NOT in my game plan and is definitely NOT my long term goal - but I'm trying to make the best of it.  After all - it is summer - and we have a pool membership - so it could be worse.  Did I mention said pool also has a bar?  It's getting better and better. :-) So after the initial freak out (OMG WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?) I started counting dollars, contacting unemployment and developing a plan.  I am optimistic it will turn out fine.  Maybe even better than fine.  I'm actually kinda lucky, ya know? My hubby has a good job - and that in itself is a blessing. We will all still be insured and he will still be working hard (like he always has) to bring home the...