1 thing I do regularly that makes my life easier

there is this thing I do regularly (usually many times a day) that makes my life easier and also sprinkles gratitude and peace in my life.

I consider future me.

I have been thinking about this recently as Brandon and I keep finding ourselves butting heads over putting things back where they go.  He just don't.

Prime example, when I get out of the truck when we get back from being somewhere, I lug up to the house the kids, diaper bag, empty togo coffee mugs, bags, and any leftover garbage.  Even when its a royal pain in the butt, I still empty it out and put things away.  When Brandon gets out of the car from being away, he walks up to the house with the keys...and then sets them on the counter instead of the key hook.  Coffee mugs left, hunting supplies strewn all over the backseat, suit jackets in the passenger side...it honestly makes me insane.

So I tried to explain to him last night about the reason I care so much about putting things back where they go has NOTHING to do with being clean - because - BHAHAHAHBHAHAHHAHhahahahahahhahaha, that's the joke of the century - with 2 kids and 2 big dogs; nothing of ours is clean, ever.

But its because I care about the happiness of future us.  And not some distant future in like five years.  I'm talking about the happiness of future us later this evening, or tomorrow future us...or next Monday morning future us.

If our things are put back where they are supposed to go, maybe tomorrow or next week, or wherever future us are currently existing and most likely any (or all) of the following:  (a) running late, (b) annoyed,  (c) have our hands full; future us will not have to deal with a big mess or searching for these items.  The thing we need at some future moment will be right where it is supposed to be and future us can get on with juggling the inevitable other 62 things we will be trying to do at that minute.

Besides putting things back where they go, I also do things like reload toilet paper rolls, put a new soap in the shower, write down future notes in my planner ("remember:  stationary cards for Christmas with my fav nature shots from Shutterfly" post it on the November page), or I leave the last two k-cups for tomorrow's breakfast and drink tea this afternoon instead...

it's not because I'm incredibly organized or on top of things.  Let me assure, I am NOT.  I just truly imagine myself out there in the exhausting, possibly having a worst day than I am today, frustrating future and think, let me do something to make your day better, future tab - this one's for you.

Because honestly, the happiness of future me is a nice thing to be able to bank on.  My husband is amazing and supports these crazy dreams in my brain like no other human could possibly and my kids are equally adorable and rotten, but if I'm being honest - as the Mum it very rarely feels like anyone is taking care of me.  Ya know, last in the line sort of stuff.

I'm the one up before everyone else, in bed last, checking that the dishwasher is either loaded, emptied, or running, moving heaps of clothes, paying bills, administering first aid, oh, and making sure every living thing in our house is fed, bathed, warm enough, and contented.

This little gesture of considering future me is a way to bring a little boost to a future day; it makes me feel like someone is watching out for me, even if it is just a past version of me.  And I'm glad to know she has my back.

the world according to Greyson

Our Greyson is 3 and half now.  He is loud, fast-moving, and too clever for his own good.
  

He went to the kitchen during quiet time, climbed up on the counter, got a handful of cookies, and then walked up the steps with them behind his body so that we couldn't see them from the living room.  When Brandon asked, "Grey, what do you have?"  He called out, "Nothing!" followed by giggles and quicker steps.

Grey recently learned to wink one eye and I immediately sent out a tiny prayer to future high school girls, "I am so sorry."

After Booboo's suffered through a few minutes in time-out, he'll announce that he's been 'dreaming' about what he did wrong and he 'won't do it ever again.'  Recent things he's 'dreamed about' in time-out include hitting Gemmi, shooting his nerf gun at Trixie, and pushing Gem off of the couch. 

while watching tv together -
Dora: Say backpack! Say backpack!
-silence....so I tap Greyson's leg - 
Greyson: Backpack.
Mum: Good job, Buddy.
Greyson: Mum, you know if you don't say it, it still comes up.

Greyson:  "Mum, I'm not hungry right now.  Dad fed me last year." 

Grey says "Sure" or "Sure, I can" when we ask him to do favors for us.  

Yesterday = "Last Day"
(Brandon says he doesn't ever want to teach him the word 'yesterday' because he loves Grey's use of 'last day' so much)

When Gemmi is teasing him-
"Mum, she's worsting me!"

Grey is very polite in the morning and at mealtimes, he is always the first one to ask how everyone is enjoying their time - for example:
"So, Mum, how was your sleep last night?  What were you dreaming about?
or
"Dad, how is your dinner?"

He is usually very patient with his little sister who wants to do exactly everything that he does at exactly the same time.  He has been practicing calling for 'Help, Mum!' if Gem is trying to tease him (take his drink, turn off the tv, steal his snack, take his toy, etc) instead of dealing with her with his own hands/voice. 

Booboo makes attempts all day to include Gem in weird little games where they run around in a tight circle chasing each other and belly laughing, or hiding from me while I cry out in a confused voice, 'Greyson!  Gemma!  Where are youuuuu?'  He likes to get her up in the morning (after checking with me) and announce, "Look who I found!  A little Gremlin!"  

great hiding place

There is a very thin line between spooky and scary, and he loves all things spooky.  He likes playing in dark rooms with flashlights, looking at spiders, talking about ghosts, witches, and goblins.  Last weekend, we spent a large part of our country roads drive pointing out spooky houses and barns.  But the moment something crosses the line to scary, he's done.  Scary things include movies/shows where children get separated from each other or their parents, unfamiliar noises coming from shadows, and anything that might try to come to our house at night (monsters, bad guys).

My some of my very favorite moments of the day are when I say a few sentences to Grey about something we've seen together or something we've done together and he gets a big smile on his face and say, "Now tell me another story."  Or "Let's talk about it again." 

If being a boy mom has taught me anything - its that no matter how young or old they are, boys just have the innate ability to break and mend your heart in the same instant.

Currently - October 2013

I'm totally snatching this idea from Ashley over at The Big WhiteFarmhouse (I warned you:) to give you all a quick update on what our October looks like.  Every year at this time, we always find ourselves jam packed with crazy plans and fun and general mayhem - so things are moving a little loosey-goosey over here.  For the most part, lots of plans and 'plate juggling' makes me feel excited, enthusiastic, and productive.  Occasionally though, when things pile up like the currently are, I get moments of panic and scold myself for taking on so many things - but those are few and sporadic, so- we just keep on keepin' on.

Currently...

loving:  fall.  these leaves.  that rustling.  that breeze.  the colors.  all of it.

#nofilter  #noediting #noshit

planning:  lots of researching and working on our secret project that we hope to reveal very soon!  It is really exciting and we can't wait to be able to say more about it!

brainstorming:  guestlists, plans, and budgets for upcoming parties and events that I am hosting t or co-planning including a kid halloween party (Oct), an alumni flag football game fundraiser (Nov), a baby shower (Dec), and my sister's bachelorette party (early 2014).

reflecting:  on the past nearly three months of staying at home.  thinking about the baby steps I've taken to get to how we operate today, how I want to continue to grow and make more of this time with the kids, how I can be more helpful to our family in this role (saving money, learning helpful tasks like sewing, writing for pay, etc)

running: 3-4 days a week and now added 10-minute trainer to the other three days.  trying to prepare for more indoor activities as the cold is on its way.  Less worried about distance and time, focusing more on making sure I get a run in and that it feels good.  Remembering that I'm only doing it for myself and because it feels good.  I want to run because I like it, not because its a chore.

hoping:  for patience.  I'm always hoping and praying for more patience.

addicted to:  my revised daily schedule which has been updated to include writing times.  The biggest and most beneficial change has been to allot activities for my mornings.  In weeks past, I was just thankful to wake up before everyone else and have some time to myself.  This week though - mornings have been assigned something specific during that time (writing or running) and getting a tangible thing accomplished versus just checking out facebook/pinterest with a cup of coffee has been empowering.

thankful for:  Brandon.  we're fast approaching our 5year anniversary this month (how?) and even though we drive each other half mad regularly, we always have this layer of friendship that is underneath it all.  He's been busting his butt at work all week and basketball season will very soon be here - and even without a ton of time to be together we still find time to get in some laughs and playfulness.  #luckiest

drinking:  I'm doing my best to replace my afternoon coffee with tea instead.  Some days go well, others the coffee seems to be required.

making:  still working on finishing our 2011 yearbook (eek!  working backwards) and anxious to start our 2013 yearbook for this year.  It has been baffling to look back on 2011 through hindsight now (when we were moving and pregnant and had 6 weddings - goodness, that was a crazy time).  Seeing Greyson that young too makes my heart ache.

dreaming:  about our next big vacation.  We haven't officially traveled anywhere all year and in a perfect world, I'd ideally like to alternate between inside-USA vacations and abroad vacations each year.  We are due for an abroad next year but haven't made any plans or thoughts about it (especially now that I'm home), but we have started saving money for whatever we might do

reading:  The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak (read it now before it comes out in theaters this November!  Comes with high recommendations from my sis Kayla)

noticing:  how the kids have now learned to 'gang up on Mum.'  Seriously, it's ridiculous that one starts being naughty and the other joins right in.  I have been trying to use positive peer pressure to dissolve it ("wow, great job- Booboo, I love that you're making a good choice), but sometimes they just want to overthrow me.

cooking:  tonight we are having deer roast in the slow cooker - one of Brandon's favorites since he's had such a long work week.  He could use a little pick me up.

working on:  writing 750 words a day for my novel.  I'm on a 3 day writing streak (yay me!) and I've discovered I can write that many words in 25 minutes, which was much faster than I expected.  The hardest part has been to just get started - but once that happens, the words just have been spilling out.  Big confidence boost in my feelings towards calling myself 'a real writer.'

excited for:  our upcoming 'Erie vacation' back to northern PA.  We lived in Erie before moving 'back home,' and miss it regularly.  We made the mistake of showing Greyson the Splash Lagoon website and now he's asked every day since then if we're going to the water park today.  He and I made a paper-chain countdown to help him with the waiting.