notes of jubilee

I'm Gonna Take Two and Call You In the Morning. Assuming I Survive.

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:06:00 +0000

they may or may not look like these guys -- only a younger version

I am sitting in a room with five males playing Xbox. They are so loud and . . . and testosterone-y. They are taking turns singing "Staying Alive" yelling "Hoo-Ah!" and laughing at/slamming/scorning their opponents. Their feet smell, their pits are sweaty and they have annihilated the junk food stash.

They have been here a total of 11 minutes. It feels like 11 hours.

Is this normal? Do I need to be worried? Is there a 12 step program for mothers of boys? I may need to attend a meeting, if for no other reason than to get out of the house.

My eyelid is twitching. My hands won't stop shaking and I am praying for my medication to kick in.

Now that my oldest is nearly a tween and so are his school and church friends, I can see that there will be a lot more of Xbox and Nerf Wars than I originally thought in my immediate future. Oops. There goes the other eyelid . . . Good thing I love these guys.

But, I may need to buy earplugs and up the medication.

I'm just sayin'.

Counting it all youthful joy,

Free Family Fun -- Part Deux

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Last time we started our list for free family fun. Today, I have come up with a few more ideas to add.

* Tell a Silly Story Ever since my kids realized that "Mommy is writing a book," they have been interested in writing a book of their own. I let them get on the laptop and click away on the keys. But they get stuck and often. Also like mommy. A-hem.

I have found that if we "write" a story together, then it becomes much easier for them to be creative. We pick out a couple of characters and a minimal storyline.

Two worms look for something to eat.

A old, old tree with a tire swing drops it's leaves one by one.

A child thinks a kangaroo is in his closet.

You get the idea. We try to stay away from scary scenarios, but if a scary scenario can turn into a silly one, then it turns into fun.

It sparks the imagination and yet gives a guide for where the story might go. Each family member can only contribute one sentence at a time. It keeps everyone involved and no one has the chance to get bored since their turn is coming up.

* Terrific Taffy Pulling Party It may sound terribly old fashioned, but one of the best Christmases I remember as a kid is when my dad let all six of us kids (including cousins) pull taffy. We still talk about it. It was a bit of a mess for my parents, but it was great fun for us. I haven't been adventurous enough to try this with my own kids yet, but I plan to. And I have all the ingredients in my pantry already. You probably do too. You can find the recipe for the sticky, stretchy stuff here. Don't forget to take pictures!

* Bubble Station Even my tween is into bubbles if they can come out of a plastic gun or a big hoop. Usually my two youngest like to run around and pop the bubbles even more than making their own, so it works out well for everyone. In the past, we have even put on music to see how many bubbles they can pop before the music ends.

The only downer is when the bubble run out.
Well, THIS is the solution to that little dilemma! And here is the recipe to go with it:

2 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup Dawn dishwashing liquid

Put water and corn syrup in a bowl and microwave for 3-4 minutes. Stir to combine. Gently mix in dishwashing liquid. Put in a nifty dispenser like this -- and viola!

Hope these ideas add to your free family fun list. What ideas have worked for you in the past? Please share in the comments!

Counting it all joy,

Free Family Fun -- Part One

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0000

We are broke. There, I said it. No mincing words. Nothing left to the imagination.

Done.

So what's a mama to do when her chickadees need to be entertained? Here are a few ideas that I have gleaned from the WWW and from my own imagination.

Hold onto your pony tails. It's gonna be a ~~bumpy~~ fun ride . . .

* Seeking Silly Stuff. Now, I could have gone all conventional and said a "Scavenger Hunt," but usually this brings to mind a lot of preparation, so it often geets nixed right away. Or is that just me? At any rate, I take the easy way out. We go to a park we haven't visited for awhile and I make up clues as we go along.

"Find me something bumpy." They scamper off and look for a bumpy object.

"Bring me something that crawls." My son once asked a mom if he could "borrow" her baby for the game. Her reaction and mine for that matter are for another post . . .

"Look for an object that has at least three colors on it."

It's funny some of the things they come up with and how they justify some of their finds (i.e. stranger's baby). My ten year old is too old for this game *sigh* But he joins in anyway and he is the funniest when he tries to justify the silliest of objects to satisfy the quest.

* Doodle Painting I originally saw this idea on Pinterest. It then lead me to Delaware County Moms. And I love it. Even my ten year old gets into this kind of thing. And all of the ingredients, you probably have at home already. Bonus -- and also the point of this post!

* German Spotlight. I have mentioned this a time or two, I know. Probably because it brings back such memories from my childhood. Wait 'til dusk. Break out the flashlights with fresh batteries (trust me, stopping in the middle of the game to fiddle with batteries = no fun). Establish your boundaries and "home base" for safety and play hide-n-seek. Yes, in the dark. You get hit by a light, you are out.

This is a great game to play in fall or spring when it gets dark sooner, but it's still not too cold to deter the fun.

* Family Photo ~~Phun~~ Fun Throw up (that may be a poor choice of words) an old sheet to use as a background or find a great tree for a twist on locale and let the kids take silly pictures. Yes, let THEM use the camera. Dress up in silly clothes or make mustaches out of construction paper and snap away. Don't forget, parents have to participate too! Have fun looking through the photos on the LCD screen or on the tv after the shoot is over.

Which naturally leads us to the next activity that can be done the same day or saved for another day . . .

* Attack of the Archivers Preserve those memories and silly pictures -- don't let them just sit on your SD card! Slide those printed out photo shoot pictures into a small photo brag book. But only after you dress them up a little. Mount them on colored paper, add a sticker or two and write a silly caption that makes you laugh. Slide in the little album or post on the fridge. For those of you who loathe scrap booking, STOP HYPERVENTILATING: THIS IS NOT SCRAP BOOKING. Just keep telling yourself that and it will go much easier. No need to get fancy. Just do it. For the kids.

* Dinner Danger Okay, okay this really isn't a dangerous activity, but your kids will enjoy the sense of danger or intrigue the name implies. Unwrap the labels from a few (preselected) cans before you get the kids involved. Gather around the table with said cans and a can opener. Each child gets to pick a can to open and "serve" for dinner. The family members who are not serving must wear blindfolds and let the server feed them a bite or two of whatever is in the can. Once they have sampled the mystery food, let them take off the blindfold to enjoy the reactions of the others.

You can choose to heat and eat or just dig right into the can. Depending on how adventurous you are. If you don't eat what's in the can, you don't get to serve. Simple as that. Or you can make up your own rules to fit your family.

Whatev's have fun with it!

Hope these few ideas sparks your imagination and fun in your family. I'll be back later with more fun free family activities. Enjoy!

Counting it all joy,

Freedom Friday

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:34:00 +0000

When someone mentions the word freedom, many things may come to the listener's mind.

Freedom with regard to our patriotism.

Freedom from debt.

Freedom from slavery.

Freedom from fear.

Today, I am taking the opportunity to address the freedom from fear. Mainly because I have issues with fear. My brother posted this quote on FaceBook this morning and I had to share it. Mostly because I need to remember it.

I hope it helps you too.

Counting it all joyful freedom,

Editing and Then More Editing and Then . . .

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:19:00 +0000

I have finished the editing that my novel needed so desperately. I wasn't aware, at first that it needed so much attention. I felt good about my writing. And then, I let it sit and marinate, so to speak.

Maybe I marinated.

At any rate, I did some blog hopping and found out a couple of ways that I could make my writing even stronger. Back to the ~~drawing board~~ computer screen. It felt like drudgery at first. I was disappointed that my ~~first~~, ~~second~~ third draft was so, so, sucky.

I hate that word. It's abominable. I do not let my children use any form of that word. But there really isn't another word that describes it better. Truly. It stank. See? Just not the same effect.

And then, as I trudged through, I began to get excited about my story again.

Because of the changes, the pace of the story picked up and the action felt more immediate, dynamic, more alive. I was more alive. And it felt gooooood!

I know there is a lot of work yet to be done. I need an editor who will work for ~~free~~ cheap. And I need an agent who will guide me through the next steps. Even if those next steps are more editing. I already know there will be more editing and writing involved. And I am up for it. Because I've fallen in love with my story all over again.

But it's there. Ready for eyes other than my own (and the eyes of the sweetest, most self-sacrificing aunt anyone could ever have -- Thank you, Aunt Mary!).

And now I have posted the "it's ready" post. And that fact makes it all so much more concrete than anything else I've done in the last seven months.

Eek! Maybe I should go through it one more time. Just in case . . .

Counting it all nervous and jittery joy,

Would Someone Make Up My Mind For Me Already?

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:33:00 +0000

I am so joyful (and relieved) to know that God has enough grace and mercy to cover my mistakes. Even when I don't know I've made them.

Being a mom is tough. This is not news, I do recognize that fact.

The Internet is a wonderful thing. I say that because it has been making me wonder quite a bit lately if I stack up. Comparison is not such a wonderful thing. And yet, it happens.

Often.

I visit Pinterest and find so many healthy recipes that I'd like to try some day. I have tried several, but there are so many out there, that it makes me shudder when Mac & Cheese sits on our dinner table yet again.

I glance over Face Book and see all the things my friends and their families are doing. Maybe we should take up letter boxing. I should be gearing up for another 5K. And oh, I forgot to send out that condolence card.

I read a blog or two and find out that soy is bad for you. Not that I was ever tempted to try tofu, but do you know soy is in just about everything? And under the guise of many, many different names? More labels to read and more multi syllabic chemicals to avoid.

Am I a bad mother, I wonder, since I refuse to pay 3Xs as much for Nutella than for regular old peanut butter? Especially since my chickadees eat an entire jar in half the time a jar of peanut butter would sit in the pantry? Should I be giving my children probiotics instead of vitamins? And now, juice is said to have arsenic in it. Did I unwittingly flirt with Autism when I had my children vaccinated?

I guess this is why we pray over our food and plead with The Almighty during bedtime prayers to protect our children. And here I thought it was a matter of showing reverence and gratitude. Even our prayers seem so much more complicated these days.

I am so glad that not only does His blood cover all our sins, but his grace and mercy covers my mistakes, my ignorance and my lack of energy. It's a big job covering all of that.

And I thought being a mom was hard.

Counting it all joy,

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - The Coney Dog Edition

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0000

We stopped in at a coney dog shop after church last Sunday. I just realized that not one of us ordered coney dogs . . .

Huh . . .

Here's my girl, The Affectionate One. She just finished up mini corn dogs and was giving her "Please?!" face because she wanted ice cream. She got it. With a face like that, how could we refuse?

This is Whirling Dervish. He's the baby of the family. But don't call him that, or he'll karate chop you! He was pulling away from Mommy because he didn't want his picture taken. *sigh*

And this is The Cruise Director. He wasn't too thrilled about having his picture taken either, but didn't complain because he wanted to snag a refill and take it in the car. We have stuck to our "no eating and drinking in the new-to-us-car" rule for the most part. Funny how we have to clean out the car so much less now.

{Happy Wordless Wednesday to you! I am linking up to 5 Minutes for Mom.}

Counting it all coney dog joy,

Wallerin' But Tryin Not To -- But Failing Miserably

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:29:00 +0000

Oh, Geesh.

Here I am sitting, having a really good pity party with a nice helping of bitterness for hors d' oeuvres when I get hit with pearls of wisdom (from Twitter of all places) that basically tells me to knock it off.

Do all you can to maintain loving, peaceful, and healthy relationships. We cannot be right with God and wrong with man.

Let every detail in your lives - words, actions-be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God every step of the way. Col3.17.MSG

I am feeling stressed and overwhelmed. And alone. I want to lash out, stomp my feet and possibly even kick someone or something. I want to dig in my heels and refuse to do what I know must be done. And then, when I finally do it, I know what will happen: I will want to gloat and feel all self-righteous about it.

I hate this about myself.

I hate that I am not stronger.

I hate that I just cannot see what needs to be done and do it without a wound licking and tears first.

I hate that I cannot change people to do things my way or to be, what I think, are better people.

Log? What log? I can't seem to see very well at the moment. I must have something in my eye. Maybe I need contacts.

You may wonder what has set off this tirade. It was a simple thing really: I wanted help. I was refused that help and then I felt like that gave me permission to go ~~mental~~ on a rampage.

I still want to indulge in a nice, long, deep anger strike. My farmer friends would make some kind of reference here to wallerin' like a pig. The image would fit all too well, I am afraid.

I can feel that my blood pressure is still way too high. I keep telling myself to uncurl my toes and fingers. And though I know I need to pray, I am resisting. Because that means I will have to change, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the person and circumstances that has brought me to this point will change.

And it's not fair. This is where, if I were four, I'd be sticking out my tongue. Oh who am I kidding?! The bottom lip has fallen far, far from the place God put it. And it feels good.

And so not good.

Trying desperately to find the joy,

Top Ten {Tuesday} Styles I'd Never Be Caught Dead With

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:21:00 +0000

I was browsing the 'net and came across some unusual styles for 2012. These are the Top Ten {Tues} styles you will NOT catch me wearing or carrying. Ever.

This may be Dior, but you won't catch me with this on my arm. I'd be too afraid some kind of flying creature would want to nest in it. And then have babies.

This grey cowl looks more like a straight jacket for one's neck than an accessory to keep warm. Just looking at it makes me short of breath.
Breathe . . . breathe . . . breathe . . .

I love a good piano boot like the next gal -- no, no, I don't. I can't even get through that whole sentence without snickering. And what is up with the toes sticking out but no leg? Yikes.

Sleepover anyone?
This Louis Vuitton is probably too pricey for me anyway, but looks like those sleeping bags for kids that have the pillow attached.

Um, how can that even be one person's hair? Knowing that it must be from six or fourteen different people who had to give up their hair for this style to work is enough to gross me out. Not to mention that IT LOOKS ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS. You don't even notice the girl herself because she has too much hair going on.

This jacket couldn't look more like a shower curtain if it were hanging in my bathroom. And I'd never do that, BTW. And paired with blue socks really makes me shake my head.

What is the first thing you think of when you see this picture? My first thought was "Ack! Spider Woman!" And then, "What the heck is that thing on her chest?"

When I started having babies, I looked high and low for a diaper bag that didn't look like a diaper bag. Why would someone carry a purse that looks just like a diaper?

I am sure these are super fashionable in, you know, FASHIONABLE circles. It makes me ask, if I'm gonna pay big bucks for those shoes, I want the rest of the shoe to go with it. And fewer colors, please.

Oh, heck no. I don't know if this is supposed to be a deer, a cow or something in between. All I know is that I don't need something that makes anyone think "heifer" on the top of my head. Or anywhere near me, for that matter!

If you had to choose, which of these "fashions" would you adopt for 2012?

(I am linking this up to Oh Amanda's Top Ten Tuesday linky party.)

Counting it all strange and wacky joy,

Words That Have Become Words, But Shouldn't Have

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:21:00 +0000

The Pioneer Woman asked today,

Here's what I think: "Orientate" is not a word. Correct? Or is it one of those words that isn't a word but became a word?

She is sooooo-ohhhh-ooohhhh correct. Orientate is not a word, but a group of letters that someone put together because they thought it sounded like a word. And then, more people picked up on it. And then more and more, and MORE! Acccckkkkkkk!

If you are curious, here is my emphatic response to her Twitter outcry.

Commentate is another popular "word" that is often used. And out in public! Gulp! The correct word to use is comment. I realize that there is a large ~~incorrect~~ group of people who believe that commentators commentate, but sadly, they do not. They comment. And while we are on the subject: it is my belief that sports commentators comment way too much. Waaaaay too much. But, that's could just be ~~bitter~~ me.

Instantaneous and Instantaneously. You can find these in the dictionary. And they are not strictly incorrect. However, I seem to have fallen into a pet peeve mode, so I am going with it.

(I am actually in a very good mood. I have no idea why this has come up today of all days. But I am committed now.)

Instant and Instantly are correct. Instantaneous and Instantaneously are, I believe, made up words to try to convey a greater sense of urgency than the words Instant and Instantly. Ridiculous. Nothing can be faster than instant, right?! Right?!

And then we have those who like to use "more instantaneous." ugh. It's enough to put this English major in an early grave.

Next on the list is my biggest pet peeve. It is also not strictly an incorrect word, but two words that when used together, is incorrect. "But yet." Saying that phrase is like saying "but, but" Redundant. And completely annoying. It is correct to say "and yet." Let's all make Jubilee a promise, okay? Try really, really hard to not say this phrase EVER again, m'kay? Thankyouverymuch!

Well, there are more letters that people use together because they think they are words, but I'll stop. Besides, I am afraid I lost most of you at my "But yet" rampage. *sigh*

What words do people use that give you the heebie jeebies?

Counting it all wordy joy,

The Tale of Christmas Trees Past

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 18:58:00 +0000

Okay, okay . . . I know that Christmas was a long time ago . . . but I also know that my dear readers will not mind if I post a Christmas related post. It's still timely because some of us you are just now taking down ~~our~~ your Christmas trees.

{I once helped a friend take down her roommate's tree in March. Her roommate wrapped lights (six or seven times) around every other branch on each tree limb. I wish I were kidding. It took three hours to take the tree down.

I soon loathed the very mention of that roommate's name. Then I got to know her and The Calm One and I ended up being in her wedding. Funny how life works . . .}

At any rate. I am ~~swiping~~ taking a cue from Holly from June Cleaver Nirvana and posting the evolution of our usually artificial Christmas trees over the years. Enjoy!

The Tale of the Tree

Oh, how newlywed wife loved decorating the tree when she and The Calm One were first married. Coordinating bulbs and decorations, white lights. It was a joy. They even put up the tree TOGETHER.

After nearly four years of marriage, mommy began birthing chickadees. And they soon embarked on the toddler phase of decorating the tree. Notice how very few decorations are at the bottom of the tree?

Then came the "Mommy, I help?" phase. How can a mommy say "no" to such emphatic pleadings from her very own offspring? The tree suffered a bit of humiliation, however. Mommy smiled and smiled. Daddy smiled and smiled. Even though both of them dearly wanted to do some rearranging for aesthetic purposes.

Enter the kittens. The kittens wanted to help too. Their kind of help drove mommy and daddy nutty. It made the chickadees laugh and laugh. More humiliation for the poor, poor Christmas tree . . .

Soon the chickadees grew and argued over the colored bulbs and where they should go. From his place on the recliner, Daddy suggested throwing everything at the tree and see where they landed and be done with it. Mommy considered his option with interest and then agreed. The youngest insisted on hanging the star at "the top" of the tree. Even the tree breathed happily.

If mommy would have allowed, this is how the tree would have looked this past Christmas. Though there was great eagerness in the Jubilant land at first, no one was interested in finishing the tree.

Only mommy wonders how the tree will look next year. Everyone else is too busy playing Lego Star Wars III to care.

The End

Counting it all joy,

Better Late Than Christmassy Never

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

I am just gettin around to catching up with some of my favorite craft blogs. Seems I've missed some great Christmas stuff. I will be finling these ideas away for next year. Which, at this moment means I will be pinning them to Pinterest so as to not lose the ideas in the rather clumsily categorized bookmark/favorites on my laptop's toolbar!

I adore this red burlap wreath. Little Birdie Secrets has so many neat ideas. I love many kinds of wreaths to be perfectly honest. And if it is red, it's a bonus. Don't know where I can find red burlap, but something tells me that if I wait until closer to Christmas 2012, then I will have more success.

And then there is this gem. This is also by Little Birdie Secrets. It's a simple thrift store frame, painted white. Add some sheet music and a berry wreath. You can pin your Christmas cards to it or leave it as it is. Lovely.

I am also planning on trying my hand at making these peppermint marshmallow straws from Mad in Crafts. My chickadees enjoy marshmallows more than just about anything else (Unless it's M&Ms). These would be quick and easy and you can do a bunch in a short amount of time.

All these great ideas make me wish for Christmas all over again. Not sure how that is even possible since this Christmas practically wore me out. And if you remember, I was all about skipping the stress of Christmas . Or at least as close as I could get to a stress-free Christmas!

Counting it all late Christmassy joy,

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - The Park Edition

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

We visited a nearby park this past weekend. Whirling Dervish decided to do his George Washington impression. The kid cracks me up. At least I know he's been listening in class!

The Affectionate One wanted to pose too. She has the "I'm so sweet, aren't I?" pose down all too well!

Next week, I hope to share pictures of our new dog at the park with us! Stay tuned . . . Thanks for stopping by and sharing in our little corner of the world here at the Jubilant household.

(I am linking this post up to 5 Minutes for Mom Wordless Wednesday link up!)

Top Ten {Tuesday} Why I Love My Mini Keurig

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Why I love my Keurig Mini

1. I can make one cup at at time. Obviously, Kuerig has cornered the market on the one cup at at time market. I am all for it. I don't need a pot of coffee. Though, I pass no judgement for those of you who do. Please, for the sake of the rest of us, indulge. ;)

I think I love coffee more for the aromatic benefits, the cream and ~~sugar~~ sweetener and the routine of it than anything else. Is that so wrong, I ask?

2. When I do have more than one cup a day, I can change flavors easily. Raspberry chocolate truffle for one cup and hot chocolate for the second.

3. And speaking of hot chocolate . . . My kids don't know it yet, but I can make hot chocolate with my new Keurig. I'll whip out that little gem of a treat on a special day sometime soon. It's even easier than the packets and the microwave technique.

4. There's hardly any commitment. I recently discovered that some flavors come in three packs. I can try a new flavor and not feel like I am obligated to make an entire bag (even though hate it) just because I spent $8 on it.

5. Dunkin Donuts coffee. Yes, they have DD coffee in K-cups. Hey, America runs on it.

6. I can always find great deals online. Try Coffee Outlaw.

7. The machine stores away easily. This can probably be said by anyone who owns a coffee maker. But that doesn't make it any less convenient for Keurig owners. And this is a deal breaker in my 800sq ft apt.

8. I don't generally like bold roast coffee, but I found that by brewing 2 cups of coffee from the same K cup, mixing them and then making iced coffee from it turns out pretty good.

9. The prices on K-cups may be more expensive per cup, but they have come down in price over the last couple of years. That is something to be joyful about.

10. I no longer have such a great urge to splurge on coffee house coffee. I get a great java brew right at home without the price tag.

(This is not a sponsored post. I just love my Keurig!)

Counting it all coffee lover's joy,

Just Write {poetry}

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:45:00 +0000

The days are long
The years go fast
I hold on tight
knowing it won't last

Yet there is a voice
That clamors on
For stillness, quiet
For days long gone

When fear surrounds
And I cannot see
The joy, the plans
You have for me

I turn again
To Your Word
For hope, for strength
To feel assured

Resolving The New Year

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know, I know.

EVERYONE is doing new year resolution posts. I have decided that if I post mine, then I will have another reason to be motivated to keep them.

I've decided to be a bit more realistic in my goal setting. No lofty goals for me this year. And my goals are a bit selfish -- focused on me. Perhaps another time I will post about my more selfLESS goals for the new year.

1. Take more naps. I don't ever get enough sleep at night. This happens for a variety of reasons and I am working on getting to bed earlier in the evening. But when I don't -- I am going to rely on the ol' nap to get me through the rough patches of my day.

2. Read more. I am an avid reader. Love it. But I don't read as much as I should when it comes to my Bible or helpful, non-fiction kinds of books. This year that is going to change.

3. ~~Keep up with laundry.~~

4. ~~Dust and vacuum more.~~

5. Move more. That does not mean relocate our household -- heaven forbid! I mean, I am adamant about moving my body more. As a writer, I tend to sit at the computer a lot. A LOT. I am going to set my timer and make sure that after a specified time (ah hour? two hours?) I am going to get away from the computer screen and take a walk, do some bicep curls, something.

Well, three out of five isn't bad, right? Let's face it, #3 and #4 just aren't going to happen. Very few things could motivate me to do those chores more often than they get done now. Not even chocolate. Or fries and a Coke.

Well, maybe fries and a Coke . . .

What would motivate YOU to do more laundry?

Counting it all joy,

I Am Sure It Was A Wanderful Song . . .

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:00:00 +0000

There we were, sitting in the living room. I was on my laptop and The Calm One and The Cruise Director were torturing me by watching football. Our two youngest chickadees were playing in the boys' room. And having a great time by the sound of it. There was laughing and singing. There was also lots of sounds that may have been the result of eating chili for dinner. But, we won't go into that here.

Suddenly Whirling Dervish races into the room, sliding in his socks the last five feet or so and introduces his sister.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! You are about to get a real treat. Here's The Affectionate One and her special song! A wand, and a two and a wand, two, tree, four!"

She waltzed in ready to sing, but we never got around to hearing the actual song. We were laughing too hard over his emcee skills. Though, by the sounds of it, the song may have been about a magical conifer . . . or maybe not.

Counting it all laughter and joy,

The Charm and Cute -- My boys do have it in them, somewhere.

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:00:00 +0000

We have family members who have really, REALLY nice things. I don't mention this to brag, I mention it to give you a hint of the mild terror that filled this mamma's heart when we were invited to a fancy-schmancy dinner party at their beautiful home on Christmas Day.

Terror? You may ask. And my reply is that yes, terror is, without a doubt, the correct word. I have ten and seven year old sons after all. I wasn't worried about my daughter. She tends to be quiet around adults she doesn't know well. She picks up on social cues and is observant. She is picture-perfect when it counts -- and then goes all crazy along with her brothers later in the evening when we get home. I'm just sayin'.

This dinner was fancy-schmancy as in crystal goblets and REAL china. A fork at the top of your place setting and a dish for bread, all by itself kind of dinner. My husband and I didn't even register for china when we were planning our wedding. We are not china and crystal people. We are look-at-it-and-it-will-break kind of people.

We are paper plate and paper napkin kind of people. We sop up the last vestiges of gravy off of our plates with a bit of dinner roll. We pick out the veggies we don't like in the salad before we put it on our plates kind of people. We don't bother with table cloths because they'd just get incredibly stained and who needs the extra work? kind of people. At least one family member (not The Calm One, BTW -- another family member) is guilty of licking his ice cream bowl in front of company on a regular basis.

We are THAT kind of people.

So, to say that I was a teeny bit nervous when we arrived is putting it mildly. I may have said a prayer or two than no one dropped a goblet or picked their noses at the table. I'm just sayin'.

When the other guests were at the buffet, I tried to quietly point out which fork to use when and instruct them on the proper cloth napkin placement to my wide-eyed children. They may have been more wide-eyed at the exciting prospect of drinking Dr. Pepper so late in the evening, than worried about table settings, however.

One can never be completely sure when it comes to children.

The chickadees picked up each hint and eyebrow raise beautifully. I was incredibly impressed. And relieved. Sooooooo relieved! I didn't have to use my napkin to mop my forehead once the whole meal.

During dinner something else happened. I fell in love with my sons all over again. They were funny and sweet and entertaining in their conversation. They had cute anecdotes and delightful banter.

No potty talk. No making fun of their sister. No complaining about the grown-up food.

And the best part? No anatomy parts pointed out or referred to. Hallelujah! That is quite a show of self-control for boys their age. At least for the Jubilant sons.

When I relayed the evening to my mom over the phone that night, she asked the very question I had on my mind: "Who were those boys and what did they do with YOURS?"

My reply? "I have no idea, but it must have something to do with traveling. As soon as we got in the car to go home, BOOM! My sons were back."

Ah, well. I guess it's too much to expect young boys to behave so swimmingly 24/7. After all, during a one hour trip, funny sounding words need to be said over and over again. A sister's hair needs to be yanked at least once. And those bodily functions? Well, evidently, they must be referred to in non-verbal ways when they work so well in such a confined space.

It's okay. The charming and delightful is there. Somewhere deep down. Even if we only see it on rare occasions.

Counting it all boyish joy,

Top Ten {Tuesday} Favorite Photos of the Christmas Season

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:00:00 +0000

I wanted to share my Top Ten Christmas pics of 2011. Partly because I like being a part of OhAmanda's Top Ten linky party. And partly because friends and family that we have moved away from are always interested in pics of the chickadees.

The Cruise Director wasn't quiet as interested in having his picture taken, so there are very few pictures of him. And he didn't approve of any of them that I do have. Yes, he's at THAT age . . .

The Affectionate One and Whirling Dervish were much more cooperative. Daddy seems to be MIA also . . . hmmmm . . .

I just love this picture. Rarely are Whirling Dervish and The Affectionate One amiable enough to put their arms around each other! But this pic was snapped just after they mailed their letters to Santa. The joy and expectancy of presents may have had a little bit to do with the fact that they were willing to touch each other!

The Affectionate One jumped right into this box of packing peanuts as soon as we unloaded the wrapped presents that came in it. It reminded me of all the times we bought the kids presents and they were more interested in the box than the actual gift!

While I was busy Skipping the Stress of Christmas, my two youngest chickadees were doing the baking. I did take the time to do the oven stuff as they are still a bit young. This happens to be Whirling Dervish's contribution to the cookie jar. I love that he loved the fact that they all mushed together. He happens to be on a perfectionist streak and I was afraid that he would be upset. He wasn't! Shoo-weeee!

The Affectionate One found Daddy's old football equipment and had to try it on for size. I think she decided that being a cheerleader was even better than being a football player. That didn't stop her from letting me take a picture though. And I am so joyful about that.

This is during our Christmas Eve candlelight service. It was a beautiful service. I wish it was possible to have the entire service lit by candles and not just the last song of the evening, but little hands and lit candles -- it's a big gamble even for one song! We hadn't lit the candles yet in this picture, but I wanted to take a pic when they weren't lit so as to not startle the chickadees into dropping them.

What a collection! She was thrilled to get this great gift from her Grampa Mel and Granny Lu. She is right at that age where she could either love the Princess craze or loathe it. Luckily, she is still into it. I wasn't sure when her grandparents asked because she had gotten away from it for awhile. And I didn't want to ask her outright when they were on the phone, so as to not tip her off. Whew! It all worked out.

All he needs is a six-shooter! We didn't want to get his hopes up about a cowboy hat and boots that he'd been asking for, so when he kept on saying, "I wanna be a cowboy!" we told him that being a cowboy was just as much about the attitude as it was about the clothing. I guess he believed us! This is his "cool cowboy" look!

Sorry Sliders is the biggest hit of the gaming portion of our Christmas. The Calm One is the reigning champion, but we all enjoy it. We have probably played 25 games in the last three days!

Our girl doesn't play Xbox much, but when she does, she really gets into it. With all the rain (for the last three days -- not that I am complaining after the summer drought) it was good for them to have a bit of exercise. Even if it was electronically induced!

Seems like it's just not a holiday unless football is on the tv. Grrrrr . . . but that's just me. Here is Whirling Dervish showing his support for the Texans. This jersey is just one of the presents he purchased with his gift card from Nanny and Papaw. He is also sporting his fierce football face.

What a joy being able to capture these moments have been. Thank you, Lord for technology that helps us preserve our mem'ries.

Thank you OhAmanda for hosting Top Ten Tuesday link up!

Counting it all Christmassy joy,

Sean Quigley's Little Drummer Boy

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Had to share a video of Sean Quigley that I saw recently on Sober Julie Doing Life. Thanks for sharing Julie!

What an amazing talent. On his YouTube page Sean says: "People have been asking... so, yes, I played all the parts, sang, arranged and recorded the whole thing. I had my sister run the camera for specific shots, then I edited the video and posted it here! - Glad everyone is enjoying it so much!"

Incredible.

Have a Merry Christmas Dear Reader!

Counting it all God given joy,

A Baby Changes Everything

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 17:00:00 +0000

This young girl has a powerful voice and sings a great message.

Enjoy!

A Baby Changes Everything (Faith Hill)

Merry Christmas!

Skipping the Stress of Christmas - Part Two

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:00:00 +0000

When we were together last, I mentioned a few strategies that I was trying in order to have a stress-free Christmas. Or at least a Christmas with less stress than in the past. I made a list of all the things I wasn't doing. Today I thought I would share the things I am doing.

* Having the kids do more handmade gifts for family members. It gets them involved. They have a stake in the whole process. Which is always a good thing in my book. They take pride in the giving aspect and they also end up learning to appreciate handmade gifts they receive. Bonus.

* Making more handmade gifts myself. I recently took up crocheting. It's not just for granny types, dear reader. Plus, it gives me an excuse to catch up on all my reality tv shows. I DVR the shows, watch at my leisure (ha!) while crocheting. On the commercials, I switch out loads of laundry, put dishes into the dishwasher and wipe down counter tops. It breaks up the chores into small, less agonizing segments of time.

Less stress, see?

If that isn't convincing enough, consider the fact that the more gifts I make, the less time I spend in the stores. The less time I spend in the stores (and on the road fighting ~~idiots~~ traffic), the less I get annoyed with mankind in general. Joy to the World!

* Fewer, but more meaningful gifts. As a rule, I would rather give a plethora of smaller things than one or two big gifts. Don't know where that came from, but there you have it. This year, I put a little more thought into the chickadees gifts and bought fewer.

Then, when I was wrapping their gifts last week, I was convicted and returned a gift that I bought each one of them. Even in my more thoughtful mode, I did too much. How can I teach my kids that Christmas isn't about presents, when I give them a deluge of gifts? It's not that I don't want them to have things, I just want them to appreciate what they do have.

How are you enjoying the season?

Counting it all less stress joy,

Skipping the Stress of Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:00:00 +0000

I may have mentioned before that I think I have a handle on how to have a stress-free Christmas. At least this year.

Perhaps a slightly longer explanation -- one that is a little more involved than what can fit on a yellow sticky note -- is in order.

Not only did we move 1600 miles away, but we simplified quite a bit this year. Not having much of a budget dictated many of our choices, but there were other conscious decisions that we made without the pressure of monetary demands.

* I decided not to bake this year. Gulp! I know!

I am still slightly freaking out about this decision. Every year I make a ton of cookies. There are two problems with that: 1. On Dec 26th we still have a ton of cookies laying around. And I eat nearly all of them. B. For days on end, I am making elaborate cookie platters instead of spending time with the chickadees.

I may still hop on over to the refrigerated section of our Wal-Marts to pick up a pre-made roll or two of the Pillsbury dough and let the kids go wild. Then again, I may not. Not doing cookies this year could earn me the meanest mom on the planet award. I am 95% sure that I am willing to take the chance.

We are going for stress-free, after all. Next year, we can re-evaluate.

* No teacher gifts for Christmas. I just heard a collective gasp from the world wide web. Take a deep breath . . . still with me? I decided to wait and give the teachers gifts when the kids go back to school. That way, I have a legitimate reason to hit up all the after Christmas sales. And it extends the gifting season just a bit longer for the teachers. Who says you can only show teacher appreciation on Christmas?

Stress free holiday, remember?

* I'm not hosting any parties. Some of you don't have this choice. I sympathize with you. Some of you love hosting. I ~~am confused by~~ admire you. I am not much of a hostess -- don't really enjoy the process and I am stressed throughout the party too. Ugh.

So, I am elated that extended family has reached out to us and invited us to their parties. I am glad to bring deviled eggs, goodies, scalloped potatoes or whathaveyou. As our friendships and work relationships grow in our new home state, that may change. I will roll with the strawberry-limeade sherbert punches.

Until then . . . I am totally taking advantage of the less stress options.

So, you may ask, what DID I do this Christmas if I didn't bake, didn't do Teacher Gifts and bought and wrapped fewer gifts? Stay tuned and I'll be happy to tell you.

What techniques have you employed for a more stress-free holiday?

Counting it all Christmassy joy,

Note To Self: How to Have a Stress-Free Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:00:00 +0000

I have found the secret to the perfect Christmas holiday. Well, it's not going to be a secret much longer because I am going to share it with you and anyone else that happens by from the dubya, dubya, dubya.

I suppose one could argue that there are cons of course . . .

Counting it all joy,

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - The Santa Makeover Edition

noreply@blogger.com (jubilee) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:00:00 +0000

The Affectionate One decided that Santa needed a makeover now that we live in Texas. I kinda like it!

How would YOU give Santa a makeover, if given the chance?

{I am linking this post up to 5 Minutes for Mom Wordless Wednesday, And Then, She Snapped, The Paper Mama and Project Alicia.}

Counting it all Santa-rific joy,