“It’ll all get done. It’ll all get done. It’ll all get done!”

Hey, what do you know? If you keep chanting that mantra in your head, it sort of, kind of, works!

I’m surprisingly kind of calm, with very little (ok, maybe a leeetle) crankiness, even after this past week of mayhem. Oh, I still have plenty to do and we leave for Michigan in one week (Yahoo! New nephew here we come, be prepared to be all cuddled out by the time we leave!), but it all seems very manageable and doable. And, dare I say it? Enjoyable.

Yes, we might even get to enjoy the holidays this year.

A few things that are contributing to the enjoyability (I may have just made up that word) of the season:

• My Christmas cards are o-u-t! Why, oh why do I insist on making my own cards? This year the cards incorporated five “pieces” that needed to be cut and assembled. I’m pretty sure J. was cursing my name the other night as we were assembling them. But, I got them out.  And they turned out close to what I had envisioned. I’ll post them for Crafty Tuesday since they should all be delivered by then.


(Em and Audrey after their Christmas program – the white gloves on Em
were for the dance number – jazz hands!)

• And all of the “school stuff” is done.  All of the teacher presents have been delivered. All of the Christmas programs have been performed. The Christmas parties were organized and carried out. The Nutcracker field trip was chaperoned. And now, the girls are officially on vacation. What a difference that makes just knowing come Monday we don’t have to get everyone all out the door and going their separate ways.  (I’ll try to post the program videos that J. shot soon – the programs were very fun. Addie sang this year – as opposed to last year. And Emma was one of the “dancers” in the front row of all of the first graders. My little stars!)


(Addie trying to muster up an angelic look during her program.
And afterwards testing out the “twirlability” of the Christmas dresses.)



• The first and second Daisy outings were successfully completed. The girls have now earned two of their petals (patches).  I was so very proud of the entire troop when they charged into the senior center on Friday and sang their little hearts out for the seniors. I think the residents really enjoyed the Christmas carols and the handmade cards, cookies and cider the girls shared with them as well.


(Gracie trying to congratulate the two monkeys on their performance – Ad and her BFF E.J.)

• I have pretty much purchased all of our Christmas presents or have sent them along to their destinations.
• We have experimented with a half a dozen recipes and types of toffee and holiday bark and I think finally found some good concoctions for J’s office gifts. We have most of them all boxed up and also ready to go.

(I told them they could do a silly pose if I could get one “nice” photo. Needless to say I have a string of these shots…and not one “nice” one.)

So we have rehearsals for the Christmas pageant, costuming (hopefully not too many alterations!) and the pageant on Christmas Eve this week. Plus, many gifts to finish sewing. And, of course, lots o’ wrapping to do.

But I have a good feeling it’ll all get done.

I actually didn’t take too many photos this weekend. We spent a little time in front of the camera when Rose agreed to take some family photos, and I snapped this on our way home from the beach. Trying to soak in that last bit of tranquility before December descends upon us. And all (cuss)* breaks loose!

*We also got to see Fantastic Mr. Fox this weekend. Might be one of the best movies, no wait…it was by far one of the best movies I’ve seen in months! We had intended to go see it for the kids. While the girls liked it, I think you could say J. and I LOVED it.

The “What the cuss?” line is my favorite line from it. And yes, I have put it into rotation.

40 years. My parents are celebrating 40 years of marriage today. 4-0!

I’m at a loss for words here. Every time I try to write something eloquent celebrating this great achievement, I just think FORTY years! I mean that is a long time to pick up someone’s dirty socks (Uh, not that my dad – or any husband I know – leaves dirty socks lying around), and a long time to be nagged with “honey-do” lists. (Again, not that my mom – or any wife out there – has ever had to do a little nagging!)

So, instead – I’ll let the professionals take this one. I found this quote that really reveals what I think a time-tested, true love looks like. This is from the movie Captain Corelli’s Mandolin:

“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being “in love” which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.”
-St. Augustine

Here is to you and your love, Mom and Dad. That your roots may continue to grow together into an even stronger tree for many more years.

We love you! Happy Anniversary!

CT has been postponed today due to a very late night on Monday. I am in a I-drank-too-much-wine-and-did-not-get-enough-sleep fog today.

I’m a little bit bummed since I have been trying to fit some fun crafts in, but I haven’t taken any photos of any of them yet anyhow. So I guess even if I wasn’t still hurting from last night’s friend’s birthday dinner, I would have to come up with some other excuse.

Next week, I’ll be back with goodies and our Two Birdies Workshop new logo. I *heart* it and am trying to make fabric labels with it for our stuff. In the meantime, I hope to have a bit of time to catch up on my fave blogs this afternoon, so show us your craftiness this lovely Tuesday.

…this evening? They are telecasting the U2 concert – live.

Of course some of us will be at the RoseBowl watching them in person.

Eeeee! Totally geeked.

See you there.

An entire day at the “Happiest Place on Earth” and some Daddy time. The perfect cure for a long, crazy week.

I think Addie’s face pretty much says it all and it is my favorite shot of the week.

Sometimes being busy is such a mixed blessing.

I have found that I really am far more organized and productive when I have a million things to do each day. And then, as I fall into bed each night, barely able to turn the light out before I pass out, I feel that rush of satisfaction as I mentally check off all my completions for the day, and it is just very fulfilling.

But the craziness also rarely leaves a free moment for those things I really love to do like running, crafting, chasing the girls around a park, or taking photos. I did not pick up my camera once this past week. Not once. I have vowed to make that not the case this coming week.

I did find this little beauty from a few weeks ago. I was thinking I would use it and finally change my blog header, but after our beautiful fall weekend, I realized this photo just isn’t going to work. A little too summery even by California standards.

So I am off to enjoy the fall weather and maybe shoot some new photos of the girls. Another thing that being busy brings is a renewed appreciation for having some down time. It is always a precarious balance.

I think we are all just feeling a little like this…

…overwhelmed.

We’ll be back soon.