So I Remember
Today was a pretty normal day, but one that I want to remember. It was happy, productive, and one that makes me appreciate what I have.
Some days I wake up with a plan of how I want my day to go and what I am going to do when, and often those days depend heavily on a syncronized, predictable nap time for both girls. Today was one of those days. Anders built a little table and two chairs for Summer a while ago and I have been trying to get them painted. With the days getting shorter and cooler, I've been in a bit of a frenzy to get projects done that are weather and season sensitive. I sprained my little toe a while ago (don't let that fool you-it hurt like crazy and I've had a hard time walking) and I had to put off a few projects. Today it was feeling pretty good, so I decided that I would tackle the painting project.
It all started well, Ellen was taking a morning nap and Summer played while I finished sanding and prepping. I got one coat of primer on and ran out of paint. For some reason, every time I spray paint I grossly under estimate the amount of paint I need. You think I'd have figured it out by now. Anyway, Ellen woke up and I wanted to see how far my paint would go, so I sprayed one of the chairs (while I could hear her crying in the baby monitor) that was fairly well covered with the primer and decided I did not have enough paint. I then came inside, got Ellen up, realized we also needed to go to Costco so I changed my clothes, threw on a hat, and got the girls out the door. We had a lovely trip to Lowes and Costco, where both girls were happy and we quickly found what we needed.
Once home, everyone had lunch and I planned on another1.5-2 hours of freedom while both girls slept. I got about 45 minutes in before Ellen (who never went to sleep) started to complain too much. I then got her up and left her in the living room while I finished my last coat of paint. While I was out painting, I heard the rattling of the blinds and looked up to see Ellen peeking out the window at me. She carefully watched me the whole time as I painted and grinned happily when I waved to her.
Once that was done, I came in to hear Summer (who also never went to sleep) loudly complaining. I pulled her out of bed and we went back to work outside. Once again, leaving Ellen inside, I did the top coats on the chairs and table.
Once that was completed, I decided to plant some tulips around the stump in the front yard. It required lots of rock removal, digging, and pulling out tons of rotted roots. Summer eagerly came to help, as did Ellen. After trying to eat some rocks and then going for the still drying table and chairs, Ellen got banned to the Pack N'Play in the garage. We threw in some toys and she had a great time, rolling around while watching Summer and I work.
Summer was an eager helper. She realized I had gloves on, so she told me "I go get my gloves, Mom." She ran inside and came back out with a pair of bright pink, cotton mittens that she then used as her gloves. She was quite excited when we discovered a bunch of Rolley Polleys, and was even more excited when she got to hold them. She was quite captivated by the worms (including a giant one) and she was happy to pull weeds. Finally, when we put in the tulip bulbs, she was careful to put the right side facing up and spread them out.
A few time during this process, she went to play with Ellen, climbing in the playpen and making her laugh. Ellen did eventually go take a nap, so we finished the project with a sleeping baby.
After dinner, Anders went out to mow the lawn and I went out to finished cleaning up from the days projects. Summer began to follow Anders around and Ellen was put back in the playpen. Once I got things cleaned up, I took Ellen in for bed and let Summer stay out and play. While I was taking care of Ellen, she had come in the house, got her play shopping cart, hauled it outside, and was trying to follow Anders around. She was helping him mow the lawn.
That was our day. Nothing special, nothing spectacular, but very enjoyable. Even though the girls didn't take naps when they were supposed to, they were happy. They played together, Summer was excited to be helping, and we enjoyed the beautiful fall weather (70 degrees and sunny).
I am grateful for my beautiful girls. For the sweet, helpful girl that Summer is and for the happy girl that Ellen is. I'm grateful for Anders and for the many things he does for our family, including earning enough money so I can stay home with our girls and have days like today. I'm grateful for my simple life, for house projects
Some days I wake up with a plan of how I want my day to go and what I am going to do when, and often those days depend heavily on a syncronized, predictable nap time for both girls. Today was one of those days. Anders built a little table and two chairs for Summer a while ago and I have been trying to get them painted. With the days getting shorter and cooler, I've been in a bit of a frenzy to get projects done that are weather and season sensitive. I sprained my little toe a while ago (don't let that fool you-it hurt like crazy and I've had a hard time walking) and I had to put off a few projects. Today it was feeling pretty good, so I decided that I would tackle the painting project.
It all started well, Ellen was taking a morning nap and Summer played while I finished sanding and prepping. I got one coat of primer on and ran out of paint. For some reason, every time I spray paint I grossly under estimate the amount of paint I need. You think I'd have figured it out by now. Anyway, Ellen woke up and I wanted to see how far my paint would go, so I sprayed one of the chairs (while I could hear her crying in the baby monitor) that was fairly well covered with the primer and decided I did not have enough paint. I then came inside, got Ellen up, realized we also needed to go to Costco so I changed my clothes, threw on a hat, and got the girls out the door. We had a lovely trip to Lowes and Costco, where both girls were happy and we quickly found what we needed.
Once home, everyone had lunch and I planned on another1.5-2 hours of freedom while both girls slept. I got about 45 minutes in before Ellen (who never went to sleep) started to complain too much. I then got her up and left her in the living room while I finished my last coat of paint. While I was out painting, I heard the rattling of the blinds and looked up to see Ellen peeking out the window at me. She carefully watched me the whole time as I painted and grinned happily when I waved to her.
Once that was done, I came in to hear Summer (who also never went to sleep) loudly complaining. I pulled her out of bed and we went back to work outside. Once again, leaving Ellen inside, I did the top coats on the chairs and table.
Once that was completed, I decided to plant some tulips around the stump in the front yard. It required lots of rock removal, digging, and pulling out tons of rotted roots. Summer eagerly came to help, as did Ellen. After trying to eat some rocks and then going for the still drying table and chairs, Ellen got banned to the Pack N'Play in the garage. We threw in some toys and she had a great time, rolling around while watching Summer and I work.
Summer was an eager helper. She realized I had gloves on, so she told me "I go get my gloves, Mom." She ran inside and came back out with a pair of bright pink, cotton mittens that she then used as her gloves. She was quite excited when we discovered a bunch of Rolley Polleys, and was even more excited when she got to hold them. She was quite captivated by the worms (including a giant one) and she was happy to pull weeds. Finally, when we put in the tulip bulbs, she was careful to put the right side facing up and spread them out.
A few time during this process, she went to play with Ellen, climbing in the playpen and making her laugh. Ellen did eventually go take a nap, so we finished the project with a sleeping baby.
After dinner, Anders went out to mow the lawn and I went out to finished cleaning up from the days projects. Summer began to follow Anders around and Ellen was put back in the playpen. Once I got things cleaned up, I took Ellen in for bed and let Summer stay out and play. While I was taking care of Ellen, she had come in the house, got her play shopping cart, hauled it outside, and was trying to follow Anders around. She was helping him mow the lawn.
That was our day. Nothing special, nothing spectacular, but very enjoyable. Even though the girls didn't take naps when they were supposed to, they were happy. They played together, Summer was excited to be helping, and we enjoyed the beautiful fall weather (70 degrees and sunny).
I am grateful for my beautiful girls. For the sweet, helpful girl that Summer is and for the happy girl that Ellen is. I'm grateful for Anders and for the many things he does for our family, including earning enough money so I can stay home with our girls and have days like today. I'm grateful for my simple life, for house projects
Awesome! I love days like that!
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