Happiness is (Week 5)

I have been so tired - blogging, Reading blogs and commenting, homeschooling, trying to play with the kids, trying to get time in for sewing, breastfeeding, making doctors appointments and homeschool coop meetings, make it to the gym to work out...and on and on and on.  I just haven't been getting any sleep.  I would so love to sit back and reflect upon what makes me happy without being interrupted or being guilt tripped into playing Super Mario Brothers Wii.

I regret that we have a Wii and I regret we have a TV.  It's become yet another daily obligation and drain on my time.  What I thought would be good - something they could do together, has blown up in my face.

Why does that happen so much?

Despite my sour mood, I find this the most opportune time to ponder on what makes me happy.  After all, it's our mood that dictates our happiness and success in life.

I choose happiness.  So here are the things that fill my life with Joy!

Having a hot chocolate and muffin at Starbucks - sans kids!  YAY!

Dyeing fabric in the middle of the night.  Literally in the middle of the night.

My four year old taking Suzuki Violin lessons.  I love to teach her and watch her blossom.  She is such a little lady!  This picture was taken on recital day.

Seeing the beginning of a wonderful and successful photography career.  This is my 4 year old snapping pictures one day while we were playing on the bed!

Playing the Wii with my kids.  Like the swimsuit in the February?  She loves wearing swim suits.  That's just how she is.

It's funny how life works.  It's the things that drain my time and seem the most annoying that are the things that make me the most happy.

Tell us what makes you happy.  What is happiness for you?  Visit Crazy Adventures in Parenting and leave a link at the bottom to a blog post, Instagram photo, Twitter or Facebook Update.  Make sure to follow along using #happiness on Twitter and Instagram.  Don't forget to visit often, click on a couple and like, retweet and share the love and happiness with others.

L

Virtual Super Bowl Party Shopping!

I am envious of everybody's awesome Super Bowl recipe suggestions.  They look so delicious and some of them are super healthy.  Since I never watch the Super Bowl, and don't plan on starting to watch this year- I thought I would share a very special recipe as if I were going to cook.  This will be classic - trust me.  This is such a great recipe.  What's so great about it is it minimizes cooking  time and maximizes family time (which is what we are all about in these parts).

So, first, I am going on a virtual shopping trip to obtain all of my ingredients, and then I will give very detailed cooking directions.

The wonderful thing about virtual shopping is I don't have to go out in the cold.

Score!

Okay, ready to go?

So, first I get into my van which right now is covered in snow (reference the cold remark above)

and I will drive to the...

I have a few choices here, but this one is the closest one with the best produce.  I will get my...

and start shopping.

First, I must buy the....

 Since we will be having a few people over, I will get a few bags of these.

Then I will buy...

for the dipping sauce!

Whew, that was hard.

Now, to the chip aisle!

Next,  I will buy....

and

for dip.

And then buy...

for the kids to snack on.

WOW, this is a lot of work.

Whew!

To the drink aisle we go.

Since I want to set a good example, and show the kids that we can watch the Super Bowl and have a lot of fun with friends and not drink...

I am going to bypass the alcohol and go directly to the...

Oh yeah!  I just love sprite.

And since I don't want the kids jumping off the walls, I'm going to opt for this more kid friendly but good...

So now, we got all of our ingredients.  So, we will go to the....

Really?  Ugh, I shouldn't have waited till the last minute.

When I finally get through that awful line, I will get back into my...

which apparently still has snow on it - and drive home.







When I get home (this is very very important so listen carefully), I will turn on the...

to 350 degrees so that it can heat up.

When the oven reaches temperature, I will put my...

on a...

and bake them for 20 minutes.  Remember, they are already done, so you don't want to overcook them.  They get hard.

While my wings are in the oven, I am going to make...

the old fashioned way.

After that is done, I am going to get a variety of...

to put all my ingredients into.  I then put them in various places.

After 20 minutes, I take the...

out of the...

and put them on a plate.

As a finishing touch, I wash off all the cans of...

so nobody gets infantigo.

So, there you have it!  My superb Super Bowl day recipe.

Now, that's cookin' Lisa Nelson style!

If you make it, please comment and let me know how much you liked it!

L

Showing Appreciation

The Site of Armageddon after clean up!

 I was awakened by my 8 year old at 2 AM this morning.  He said he had thrown up and was running around (like a chicken with his head cut off) complaining that his mouth was burning.

     <Still not sure what that was, but if you have any insight, please let me know>

Anyway, I calmed him down and laid him on the couch.  I couldn't do any "hazard waste" clean up cause he kept throwing up - and I had to attend bucket duty.  After the stomach pains started, I decided to wake my husband, so he could tend to the bucket while I cleaned up the bedroom floor, mopped, put all the sheets in the washer, call the doctor, etc.

Plus, I was a nervous wreck and needed some support (which I didn't really get).  My husband just kind of sat there in a daze.  I get so nervous when my kids are sick. 

UGH.

So things have calmed down - for the moment anyway - so I decided to sit down and do the blog "enjoying" - which I didn't get a chance to do yesterday.  I wanted to get some sewing done- so I had to choose.

I realized that being up (in the middle of the night) is one of Heavenly Father's blessings.  I read Gilly Cannon's Blog Post and it had a major impact on me.  I am sure that because of the situation (the sick kiddo) that I was really able to digest this post.

You know, with the baby, I don't think I hug the two bigger kids enough.  I just need to hold them closer more, you know?  Not necessarily when they are sick, but all the time.  With the daily grind, running from one place to another or doing school, or whatever - things get lost.  I always have to feed the baby, or hold the baby, or otherwise tend to the baby.  I need to make a conscience effort to make more time for the other two. 

It's important.

I need to be a better mother.  Can you tell me how to do that when I need 30 hours in a day?  And how do you do that on very little sleep?  I'm not asking - I'm begging.  Please do tell me, because I desperately want to know. 

L

I'm Just a Mom

So, I am looking for a new design for my blog.  I want to be a successful blogger  - so I must conform, right?  I want comments and such - just like any blogger would- so I suppose my blog "must" fit in.

So, steps one and two in the process are - one - look for the blog designer - and two - create a look and feel for the blog.

Okay, so I have found a designer that I "dig".  She has a website that has the right balance of elegance, simplicity, creativity and pop.  Certainly she can help me create the look and feel I'm looking for.

So now, figuring out what I want.  That's the harder part.  I have seen a lot of blogs - many...many...many blogs.  I have noted the aspects that I like - and many of the aspects I don't like.  What it comes down to, I think, is the question - who am I?  After all, I can look at as many blogs as I want - but those were made for other people.  I'm me, so of course my blog has yet to be created.

So, who am I?  Well, my life is made up of 37 years of "growing" experiences.  Is that who I am?

Okay, so I have basically done science and math for 3/4 of my life.  So, I suppose I am a geek. Thanks to The Big Bang Theory - geek is now the "in" thing to be.

I have a BA from

and loved it!

And an MS from

 Brown University

in Cellular and Molecular Biology.

And hated it!

It wasn't me.

You know what?  I think I just figured out who I am not.  I am not a scientist - at least a laboratory scientist.

So, who am I?

Right now, I think, I'm just a Mom.  I really enjoy being a Mom.  It's a cool thing to be!  I make mistakes and learn from them - but all in all - I think I am a pretty good at it!

Simply put, I am a woman who loves her kids more than anything else in the world,

So tell me - Who are you?

L 

What Makes You Happy?

Advertisers spend millions and millions of dollars trying to convince the American public that their products will make them happy.

So, lets review.

Dandruff shampoo.  The people always look so happy while they are shampooing their hair - don't they?

Beer.  And, the way it's advertised - doesn't it look so cool and refreshing - especially on a hot summer day? 

Wonder if it is as cool and refreshing coming up as it was when it went down?

Ok...

This is a gorgeous purse.  I would love to have a purse like this.  This would certainly make me happy.  But to make me even happier, I would need a pair of cute shoes to go along with it.

Hum?  Think the passion will wear off after a few days?  I don't know, those shoes are really super cute! 

Thoughts?  It's a very nice watch.  Gold and platinum - nice!

Ahhh, how about this...

With this, you can buy all this and a lot more?  Does this make you happy?

One more. 

How bout this?

Definitely, not enough advertising dollars spent to support this.  And out of all the stuff listed here, this is the one thing that is failing at alarming rates all over this country.

So, please, do tell me - what are the things that make you truly 100% happy. 

The Bubble Family

Well, the Flu has gone to nuclear levels in our house.  My daughter is the last one to fall - and my baby boy is getting better.  I'm still miserable.

The little one seemed to feel so much better that he decided to get up and watch a bit of tennis - at 1 o'clock in the morning.

 
He was wide awake. He and I were at severe odds.  He wanted to play and I wanted to sleep.

Drat!  I guess another one in the kids column.

Needless to say - it was a very long night of playing.

The sad part of this is that I was thinking about today's blog - and decided to snap a picture.

I have also come to the conclusion that I'm putting myself and the kids in a bubble.  What do you think?  Should we put ourselves in a bubble?

 At least during flu season.

L

Up With Baby

Being up in the middle of the night with a sick and teething baby is not so bad when there is something to watch on TV.  I just

The

Oh yeah!  Love seeing Hewitt give Tipsy a run for his money!  I am so glad Hewitt, the counter puncher, beat all those power hitters last week in Kooyong.  Hehe!

Ahhhhh, just looked at the score - guess Hewitt lost his two break lead to loose the second set.

Well, despite not minding being up (because of tennis), it is very painful to see your baby so uncomfortable.  We thought the fever broke yesterday, but alas....  Poor little guy.  I hate giving medicine in any form, but hate it more seeing him so uncomfortable.

The fever is low grade, he seems to be breathing well - not hearing any wheezing, and his stomach is not tugging - so I will continue what I'm doing.  Lots of breastfeeding, skin to skin contact and cuddling with the other kids.  We will be taking the day off school today - one of the many benefits of homeschooling.

Seems like a good day to snuggle with the kids and to watch

   
and just recover from all the crustiness (literally and figuratively).

L