my new normal

... still needs tweaking

I've decided working at home is the perfect situation for me and my little family. Except - it seriously eats up all of my extra time to blog, play on Facebook and do all of the fun things I used to do when I had *gobs* of free time. Ok, maybe I didn't have "gobs", but my new schedule is super (dare I say, overly) packed and it seems I am gob-less in the free time department. For instance, I haven't dared to step foot in Pinterest in forever...

Anyway, quick run-down of what's been up with us lately:

Dave - our resident rockstar attorney has been juggling lots of interesting cases, doing the business taxes and trying to survive the wackadoodle neighbor ladies who leased the office space next door. These new age "healers" have covered their windows with tie-dyed, unicorn sheets; a do-not-disturb sign typically hangs on their front door; and they are always either playing raucously loud music or making loud banging sounds. Needless to say, the firm is seriously considering a relocation. He has also been exercising like a mad man, climbing frozen waterfalls (for fun), playing ward basketball, planning a very ambitious High Adventure trip to summit Mt. Baker with a bunch of scouts AND working as Young Men's president in the ward. He's a busy guy, but still manages to help fold laundry, balance our budget, take out the trash and help with dishes, so I'm totally keeping him.

Benjamin - this little chatterbox is quite the character. He's a champ at saying prayers - even if they are always the same. Our favorite thing: after praying over the meal, we all say amen and then he shouts (with the greatest enthusiasm one could muster) OK!! (like, finally I get to eat!). I know it sounds silly, but if you were here you'd think it was hilarious too. He has a monkey pillow pet named George, a stuffed monkey named Khaki (or Cacky - not sure), and a monkey-print blanket named Monkey. These all seem fitting for a kid that loves bananas and swings from anything he can climb up on - which is everything. He's a huge fan of "Super Why" (PBS), "Polar Express: The Movie" & "Jake & the Neverland Pirates" (Disney). He loves kisses, pointing out letters on signs, after-dinner dance parties with mom, the word absolutely, and is obsessed with heavy machinery and any kind of vehicle. Show him a backhoe, crane or a garbage truck and he'll be fixated for hours.

Yours Truly - I think I've got the work-at-home thing down (thanks to an awesome Time Planner Pad), which makes me happy. But I am STRUGGLING big time to keep balance with everything else. Fortunately, I'm on the RSM committee (formerly known as: Homemaking/Enrichment) and we're tackling this very topic of "Finding Balance"- so I may be in luck with that one. In the last 2 weeks, I made a bunch of goals for this and that... that & this promptly went out the window when I caught Benjamin's chest cold. Now that I'm nearly recovered, I've been cooking much healthier (variety of soups, salads and 3 packages of celery gone in 1 week), doing my Tony Horton DVDs (they kick your booty in precisely 34 minutes) and we've read our 5 verses of family scriptures every night! They are little goals but little achievement are big stuff in my book. Last week, I also received a new calling - Ward Music Director (or chorister); I've done it before so although I'll be nervous that my eye is twitching, my voice is shaky or my skirt is tucked into my tights, I know I can do it.

Quick Aside - FRIDAY the 13th

Low point: I was trying to help Benjamin get back to sleep during his nap. He snapped his head back and it struck the bottom part of my eye socket. It hurt so badly my eyes started welling with tears and it's still a bit sore now.

High point: The best thing that happened today is Linda came over - hello, adult time! - and I got to chat with her while Benjamin ran around in circles and I stared lovingly at the Hazelnut Cupcakes she made for me. Like I said, even if it's a little thing, it's BIG in my book and I'm soaking in all of the good things in my life.

* If you're wondering how I found time to squeeze blogging into my schedule, I've decided sleep is highly underrated.... as I start to drool onto my keyboard at precisely 12:38AM. I realized I sound just this side of crazy, but I wanted to give everyone - or anyone - a semi quick update on our little corner of the world and so you know we are, in fact, still alive!*