Wordless Wednesday...Serious Concentration

Googlie Mooglie

The boys and I are incessantly rocking out to this fabulous group of children's musicians, called The Jimmies.  And when I say "rocking out", I do mean ROCKING...these guys R-O-C-K.  They make listening to usually mindless, brain numbing children's music fun, entertaining, and cool!!  I think I love listening to them as much as my kids do.

So far be it from me to squelch my 4-year-old's desire to take one of the songs, Googlie Mooglie, and try it out in real life.  The song sings about a soothes-your-soul type concoction that is part "health" drink, part old wives tale, and 100% good old fashioned family tradition.

The words go:

"My Papa is a healthy guy, 

never sick a day in his life, 

and if ya had a cold or an ache, 

he'd give you this advice...

drink a Googlie Mooglie, 

he'd have one every day...

a Googlie Mooglie, 

he'd mix it and he'd say...

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 

then he'd start all over again 

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 ,4 ,3 ,2 ,1

and now your Googlie Mooglie is done."

"He'd take butter and sugar, and boiling hot milk 

and mix it all up in a glass...

and if you were willing to drink it on down, 

what was ailing you surely would pass..."

Play song from iLike.com

So, when we got home today after listening to this song, Nathaniel says to me, "Mommy, I want to make a Googlie Mooglie".  To which I replied, "Ok, do you know how?"

Silly me.

"Yes, Mommy!", Nate exclaimed...and then proceeded to sing the line above.  So that's exactly what we did...we "took butter, and sugar, and boiling hot milk and mixed it all up in a glass".  

There you have a Googlie Mooglie.  

Voila!  

It didn't taste half bad, except for the whole really bad for you part.  I kept telling myself it was cake batter, without the eggs or flour.  I can see how drinking one of those every day might keep you healthy.  Ok so maybe not healthy, but at least happy!  (Although, definitely not skinny!)  Just wait till he decides he wants Green Eggs and Ham for breakfast!  What fun!

We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Programming...

...for a reality check.  These goals and challenges I set up for myself and take on (101 in 1001, NaBloPoMo, Thanksgiving Thankfuls, 10 on 10, etc.) are great and fun and an effective way to keep me on task and direct my focus, but truth be told, life sometimes gets in the way.  As it should.  There are times when I am less than inspired on the 10th of the month, my profound thoughts don't articulate themselves in a coherent (or interesting) way and yes, I have even struggled with something to be thankful for each and every day.  I'm busy living life and don't always have time to write about it. So why, then, do I feel guilty when I "fail" or lack follow up or somehow do something contradictory to what I've "promised"?  I've learned that I'm not alone in this.  Is it the responsibility of the writer in me?  At work I'm constantly under deadline so perhaps I feel this same pressure in my own "work"?  Who knows...but I don't want this blog to feel like work or to be just one more thing I feel obligated to do, complete, accomplish.  That's not why I'm here.  So, here's to lightening up on the requirements, celebrating each and every post as a success, and just remembering that I blog because I love it, not because I have to, or because people are expecting me to.  If there's one area of life I can ease up on myself for, I will start here.  This is my domain and does anyone really care (or notice!) if I didn't blog every day in November or if I missed a Wordless Wednesday or haven't actually followed through on my 101 in 1001 list I talked about in January?!?  To all my friends (and fellow bloggers) out there, let's focus on why we do this! I support you no matter how often you write, how "substantial" your topics are, or what you say one day that might be contradicted by something you say on a different day, with a different perspective and mindset.  I hope you will grant me the courtesy of the same.  As always, thank you for just being here!

Wordless Wednesday - Thankfulness

Thanksgiving Thankful...TT

Today I am thankful for none other than these Thanksgiving Thankful posts.  I have often had my brain go to a dark place, wanting to vent, complain, or otherwise negatively talk about something here on my blog and then I remember that I have to think about something to be thankful for instead.  It's been a good exercise in focusing on the positive which (with days like I've had recently) I've needed the reminder!  So, thank you to Heidi for starting this project in positivity.  It's been a blessing! 

Thanksgiving Thankfuls...Thin Mints

I started getting all profound with today's post when I realized two things:

1.) I do not have the mental fortitude to be creative and witty at this time of night

and

2.) Thin Mints make me very happy!

What's even better is that they were FREE!  I had decided not to buy any this year because I have no will power and having girl scout cookies laying around the house is just asking for trouble!!  It goes against everything I've been trying to do the last couple months with my weight (which hasn't been much of anything anyway!).  My mother, however, took pity on me (It went something like this:  "What!?!?  No GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!?!")  So she gave me a box (or two) and as I sat here, munching my thin mints, I realized how fantastic they are!

Thanksgiving Thankfuls...Random Acts of Kindness

Driving to pick up the boys the other day, I watched a man crossing the street when suddenly he stopped, pulled a plastic bag out of his pocket and bent down to pick up some garbage from the street.  He placed it in the grocery bag and went about his business.  It was a random sighting but it made me feel good inside to know there are still people out there who will stop what they're doing and do for others.  Most people are lazy, or self involved, or too busy to even bother with something like this, that many simply feel is "not our job".  I've been guilty of this.  I'm sure you have, too.

My beloved friend, Tiffany's, daughter is a promising view of our future.  Brie is what I would call a litterbug, but not the bad kind.  She sees litter, waste, and other trash strewn about and instinctively picks it up and places it in the closest garbage receptacle.  Every time.  She understands the great things recycling can accomplish, and sees beauty all around her.  It's amazing to watch.  Did I mention she's die hard about it?  She has a true earth loving spirit.  Oh, and she's 4.  I know, right!  If only we could teach more 4-year-olds to be selfless and think about their impact on each other and the world around them.  At least she gives me hope.  She's a bright spot in our future and I am glad to have her impact, not only on me, but on my boys!

In a world where it's easy to turn the other way than to help someone.  Where people ignore what they see and hope it will go away.  Or assume they can't make a difference anyway...Let's look out for each other and act in thoughtful ways.


Don't wait for people to be friendly, show them how. ~Author Unknown

Random acts of kindness are an easy way to spread joy and hope and cheer.  So today, I am thankful for a glimpse of these in our increasingly mean and evil world.  It's easy to think they don't exist but then you meet someone like Brie, or see a stranger on the street, stopping to pick up someone else's garbage, and you realize kindness is alive and well.  It's just not as widely practiced.  So let's do our best to practice it more.  Do one kind thing for someone else, every day.  You'd be surprised how quickly it spreads!

Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end. ~Scott Adams

Thanksgiving Thankfuls...True Inspiration

Thirty-nine years ago, today, my parent's were married.  Ever since then, they have been a model of what true love, compassion, teamwork, compromise, and sometimes even patience and tolerance are all about.  I wrote this post last year with details about that big day 39-years-ago and invite you to go back and read it if you missed it.  Today, I am thankful for my parents and the true inspiration they have been.  They have loved and supported me all along, no matter what, and have made me who I am today.  I don't know what I'd do without them!  I love you, Mom & Dad!  Happy Anniversary!

Thanksgiving Thankfuls...Apple Cider Attempt

Today's Thanksgiving Thankful is in honor of my Bug and his amazing imagination.  Anyone who knows him, knows first hand the wonder and amazement that is involved with living in his world.  He can tell a story of great detail and then remember the characters to refer back to later.  He's fascinating to have a conversation with!  It's awesome!  

Our photo story of Bug starts on a recent chilly Fall day.  On this particular day, Nathaniel had just arrived home from a field trip with his class to the Pumpkin Patch.  He was full of stories about the apples they had picked and paid particular attention to giving me a play by play of how they took those apples and made them into apple cider.  He was determined to recreate his new found learnings at home.

So, he took out my juicer and went to work, demonstrating to me how they took the apples and squished them into apple cider.

Of course, this method wasn't going well so he decided to cut the apple into smaller pieces and try again...

His determination was fascinating to watch.  He was set on practicing this new skill.  His next attempt involved digging through my utensil drawer to find anything and everything he thought might help him mash, squash, pulp, pound, cream, beat or otherwise smash his apple into cider.

Then, in a dramatic huff, he yelled "This isn't WORKING!" and stomped off to give his attention to the next task he felt like conquering.  Funny how the mess didn't stomp off though, hmmm.

Anyway, for my oldest boy's fascinating determination, wild imagination, and innocent view on the world, I am forever grateful!  I love you, Bug!

Thanksgiving Thankful...Alex

It goes without saying, but above all else, I am most thankful for my boys.  Without them I'd be lost.  They are the reason I wake up in the morning.  Because of these sweet boys, I am more conscious about the things I say, the imprint I make on the world, and the example I am setting every day for them.

So for today (in no particular order), I am writing about my extreme gratitude for my youngest son...Alex.  A.K.A. Digger Fuzz  Bucket, Sunshine, Spider Monkey, Pee Wee, Monkey Boy, Bones, Spud and A-yex (among others!).

Alex is a charmer, through and through.  He's infectiously "cute" and has a vocabulary of a kid much older than 2 but with the voice of a chipmunk so it's adorable.  He has a smile that lights up my world and penchant for climbing and jumping and all sorts of daredevil acts.     

We're struggling through a particularly needy stage with Alex lately, but I have to say, after raising a ridiculously independent child (Nate), feeling needed isn't half bad!  I am grateful for Alex's current Mommy-complex since I know it is short lived and before long, he, too, will be telling me to go, leave, or otherwise exit his personal space.  I do so love my snuggle bunny!

Stop over to StartsAtEight to link up your favorite Thanksgiving Thankful today!

Wordless Wednesday...Thanksgiving Thankful

A wordless version of my Thanksgiving Thankful for today...

Thanksgiving Thankful...Paper Clips

Today, I am thankful for paperclips.  Not for the reasons you might think, though.  Yesterday I was over thinking this Thanksgiving Thankful thing and mentioned to my dear friend, Heidi, that I felt like everything I was thinking of to be "thankful" for was superficial and I was afraid I'd do this "assignment" wrong.  Whatever that means.

She responded with, "I didn't know there was a "right" way. You could say you are thankful for paper clips if you wanted!".

As I was washing my face for bed last night I fumbled around for something to clip my bangs back.  As I looked around my bathroom counter, all I could find within quick grasp was a giant paperclip, so I grabbed it and pinned my hair back.  As I looked up in the mirror and saw this big pink paperclip doing a rather handy job, I remembered Heidi's comment from earlier in the day...and I smiled.  In that moment, sure, I was thankful for that paperclip.  But the bigger lesson here, is to be thankful for those people in your life who help you put it (and KEEP it!) in perspective.

Thanks, Heidi, for reminding me to just be thankful, no matter big or small.  Your real honesty is a breath of fresh air! 

Thanksgiving Thankful...Geema

Heidi over at StartsAtEight has started what she calls the “Thanksgiving Thankfuls” for the month of November. And I have decided to join her!  So, every day of November, leading up to Thanksgiving, we will be posting those things we are most thankful for. I hope that any and all that feel inspired will join in and spread the wealth. Post it as your Facebook status, add it to your own blog, or even leave me a comment with what you are thankful for today!  Stop over to StartsAtEight to link up!

Today I am thankful for a fabulous mother with amazing sewing skills!!  My mother made Nate the most fantastic Army Guy costume for Halloween this year - complete with his name embroidered on his chest and Geempa's real life Lieutenant bars on the collar.  As you can see, he was thrilled with his costume and loves his Geema something fierce!  

My Mission...

...should I choose to accept it:  Write a post a day for 30 days throughout the month of November.  (otherwise known as:  NaBloPoMo)  You've seen it here before and I am giving it another go.

Only this year, I'm also trying to keep up with Heidi's Thanksgiving Thankfuls challenge and the photo challenge over at Ten on Ten to help me focus on the moments in my day where I find beauty in the ordinary things.  So things should get hectic interesting around here!  I'll try to keep things short as I post my myriad of things to be thankful for and to help me keep perspective on why I'm here.  Thanks for joining me!