Get Up and Get Goin'

I apologize for the late posting.  

Here in Austin, we kick off the fall season with a bang - by getting ragweed and mold counts so high that its truly a miracle anyone can breathe at all.  

My face actually hurts. My face, y'all.

But I'm guessing no one really visited the blog today to hear me gripe and moan about my allergies, right?  

So let's talk morning routine.

My best mornings are those in which I've spent the night before getting as much done as I can.  But since allergies have attacked with a vengeance, pretty much all I've done the past two evenings after Lily's tucked in bed is sprawl on the couch and watch multiple episodes of Duck Dynasty.  

Do not judge me.

On school mornings, this is what you'll find going on in my house between 6-7:25 AM:

I get up, unplug iPad from charger, put device in case, and head to kitchen.
On the way, stop in Lily's room, turn off sound machine, and leave her door open.
Make Lily's medicine and juice "cocktail".
Shake out 2 multi-vitamins and 4 fish oil chewables for the Bird and place everything - meds, "cocktail" and iPad - on kitchen table.
Place uncooked bacon in oven.
Head back to my bedroom to start bubble bath for Lily.
Lily is usually awake at this point and I walk her to my bathroom, strip her down, and she climbs in the tub to begin to the process of a slow and relaxing awakening.
Ryan is up by this time so he keeps an eye on Lily, soaps and shampoos her, and brushes her teeth while I go back to kitchen.
Fry a couple of eggs and remove now cooked bacon from oven.
Put breakfast on the table.
Grab already prepared snacks and lunch items from fridge and pantry and place in lunchbox.
Finish any food items for school I couldn't do the night before.
Lily joins me, naked as a jaybird, in the kitchen.
Together we get her clothes on, along with socks and shoes, apply hair product and comb hair, all while simultaneously playing iPad, eating, and drinking.
I finish up any other school preparations and pack the backpack while Lily finishes up breakfast.
Buckle the Bird in the carseat and she's off - most days with Ryan taking her to school.

And there you have it.

More than you ever wanted to know about how we get out the door in the mornings.

But really, like I said before, that morning routine actually begins the night before:  cutting up fruit and veggies, making drinks, crushing meds, labeling cups and snack containers, laying out clothes, and the like.

Oh.

And watching Duck Dynasty.

So.  What's your morning routine?  Got any tips or tricks to share?  I'd love to hear it!

31 Days to Crazy Joy Continues:

October 1

1.  My laughing Lily Bird

2.  My new red loafers

3.  A great day at school for Lily

October 2

4.  Pumpkins

5.  A walk around Town Lake in the evening

6.  Overhearing my big girls laughing together while Face-Timing

October 3

7.  cozy naps

8.  Reagan's good idea turning into an exciting new project

9.  peas and cornbread

October 4

10.  homemade applesauce

11.  a new season of Sherlock on Netflix
12.  almost daily text photos of Ryley's "outfit of the day" for LU classes

October 5

13.  libraries full of free books

14.  booking Ryley's ticket home for Thanksgiving

15.  starting the Christmas planning lists

October 6

16.  hot chocolate with LOTS of marshmallows

17.  watching Ryan and Lily wrestling and hearing her girly squeals of delight

18.  a cute new purse - purchased by my mom

October 7

19.  boots

20.  after missing two weeks, getting to go to church

21.  rocking newborns in the church nursery

October 8

22.  a daughter who knits

23.  a helpful husband

24.  pajama days

October 9

25.  Parenthood - best show on TV

26. effective medication

27.  cooler temperatures

Short and Sweet (and a little salty, too!)

No internet at the house yesterday + allergies this morning = short and sweet post today.

Just hangin' with Dad:

My 31 Days to Crazy Joy Project Continues:

October 1

1.  My laughing Lily Bird

2.  My new red loafers

3.  A great day at school for Lily

October 2

4.  Pumpkins

5.  A walk around Town Lake in the evening

6.  Overhearing my big girls laughing together while Face-Timing

October 3

1.  cozy naps

2.  Reagan's good idea turning into an exciting new project

3.  peas and cornbread

October 4

1.  homemade applesauce

2.  a new season of Sherlock on Netflix
3.  almost daily text photos of Ryley's "outfit of the day" for LU classes

It was a year ago today that Mr. Steve Jobs passed away.  The words I wrote then, I still feel today.  Click the link to read:
Thank You, Mr. Steve Jobs  

Want a little treat that's quick and simple, sweet and salty, and will make you and the kids smile?  Try these Ritz Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies.

Lily ADORED them. (she's clutching one in her happy little hands but she couldn't smile because cookie eating is serious business, people.)

Click here for the recipe.

Now get out there and SEE a great weekend, friends!

A 31 Day Adventure

I read quite a few blogs, most pertaining to special needs.  

But sometimes, it's nice to take a little break from the everyday and read some blogs that are just for fun.

And one of those fun blogs I like to check in with every now and then is The Nester.

Every October, The Nester does a little something called 31 Days.  It's a simple idea - choose any topic you'd like and blog about it every day for the whole month of October.  Thus, 31 Days.

Last time I looked, there were just a few people participating.  As in, 975 people. 

Like I said.  Just a few.

Any-who, with that many 31 Dayers, I'm fairly confident that most every topic under the sun is on that list.  

Oh.  By the way, would you like to see the list of all 31 Dayers?  

Well, here it is.  

Now you can see if there are any bloggers you'd like to follow along with during 31 Days.

I  myself am not officially participating in this blogging adventure.  But naturally, with all this talk of 31 Days, I've been mulling over in my mind what I would do if I did actually decide to take part.

And, of course, the lovely Ann Voskamp and her One Thousand Gifts came to mind.

Which then led to the thought that I really need to be counting my way toward One Thousand Gifts, starting with acknowledging three simple gifts each day.

Gifts that remind me of just how good life is.

Gifts that remind me that no matter what is going on in my life, no matter what circumstances I am facing, I can be a rebel and deliberately choose joy.  

It's really up to me.  

You see, in 1 Peter 3:10, the very beginning of that particular verse of Scripture says this:

"For whoever would love life and see good days..."

It doesn't say have good days.  It says see good days.  

And I don't know about you, but I could really stand to see some good days.

So I'm going to start looking for them.

I'm taking a cue from The Nester but instead of creating my own 31 Days, I'm going to tag along with Ann.

I'm going to look for 3 gifts, every single day, for 31 days.

I'm going to use her October Joy Dare as a starting place.

And you know what?

By the end of October, I'm just going to bet that I will have seen a lot of good days.  

I'm still going to post only on Tuesdays and Fridays, but I'll have all my good gifts listed right here to share with you.  

So, without further ado, I give you... 31 Days to Crazy Joy:

October 1

1.  My laughing Lily Bird

2.  My new red loafers

3.  A great day at school for Lily

October 2

4.  Pumpkins

5.  A walk around Town Lake in the evening

6.  Overhearing my big girls laughing together while Face-Timing

Here's to an amazing, joy-filled month!  

And please, let me know if you're a 31 Dayer because I'd love to see what you're doing.

Some Happy Little Stuff

Maybe you noticed I wasn't here Tuesday.

Well.  

It has been a week, let me tell you.  

And it's not done yet.  

Which means I don't really have a full-blown post for you today.

So how 'bout I just share with you some "around-the-web" links I've found that made me smile, yes?

Enjoy.

Ryley the writer.

Shake up that closet!

I want to read this.

This was delicious.

And so was this.

Such sweet and delicate little rings.

What Texans really think.

And since we're on the subject of Texas, how about a little Texan-ese?

Love me some denim.

Made this and brought back good memories of my Mamaw.

Lily enjoyed these little babies in her lunch box.

Loved drawing with this artist - and now he has an app.

Have yourself a lovely little weekend, my friends.

  

Happy Birthday to the Bird!

Lily is 6 years old today.

Help her celebrate by putting your feet up and having a favorite snack - in the Bird's case, watermelon.

Have a great weekend - and don't forget to check out the "extra bonus post" that was up this week. Click here in case you missed it.

See you Tuesday!

Bonus Post!

Remember when I told you there just might be an extra post this week?

Well, here it is!

Actually, it's not here.

It's over at Abby's blog, Notes from A Pediatric Occupational Therapist.  Every now and then, Abby does a special Parent's Perspective feature on her blog and yours truly is in the spotlight right now!  

Click here to check it out - and be sure to browse around Abby's site as well.  You'll find lots of great information and resources to help you help your kiddos.

And real quick, before I leave you, this made me laugh.  Maybe you can relate?