As you can see from the pictures up top, we are nearly done with the yard. We got the rocks delivered on Friday and had a gravel spreading party on Saturday with family, friends and the good ol' Elder's Quorum. Tam and Kwint's Ma helped me picked out plants and trees and we let our green thumbs loose after the gravel was laid out. We had so much fun!! We really appreciate all the help and love how it looks so far. We got river rock delivered this morning for the dry washes and will be ordering the sod later this week. Yay!!Recognizing that I am opening myself up for ridicule from certain nameless individuals who know who they are.... Last weekend (the 15-17th) Kwint played Mr. Mom while I went to a TurningLeaf Seminar. (Kwint's work puts them on.) It was a fabulous experience. They are emotional Growth Seminars. Yes, I know many of you are thinking, "If Gina grows any more emotional the world may collapse from the sheer intensity of it all." It's true. I went to learn to manage those crazy emotions and become more successful at my life, and I feel like I learned a lot.
One of the things I am trying to tackle as a result of what I learned about myself is "toxic perfectionism" as they call it. I learned that I am good enough even if my house is a mess and I don't get everything on my list done. I have tried to have more fun with the kids and am trying to relax a bit. The result of this is that my laundry has been piled sky high for a week and I haven't cleaned my house. I did scrub the toilets, cuz that's just gross, but nothing else. But now I am sitting in this filthy house trying to decide if I was more uncomfortable stressing myself out to get everything done or relaxing and feeling stressed later because there is no order around me. So, how do I find the happy medium and does anyone have any ideas on balance? Some of you are like me, some of you love to play and don't care if the house is a mess. Some of you are inbetween, relaxed yet productive and I want to know your secret.
Yesterday (Memorial Day) we went for a hike with the family in Snow Canyon. We had so much fun!! We also had a BBQ with our neighbors and enjoyed ourselves quite a lot. I know that those of you up North have had a long winter, but the weather here has been like the perfect long spring.... it has been so wonderful. Kwint and I feel like Heavenly Father gave us a present, just for us.
Brennan has two teeth now. He didn't teethe as horribly as I expected him to, I am quite pleased. He thinks that he is very big and is saying several words. I think he may be preparing a speech for his 1st birthday. He has been saying "Hunna, hunna" when he is hungry and if the food isn't in his hands within 10 seconds it becomes very loud "Hunna! Hunna! Hunna! Hun-na-na-na-na!!!!" He also says book, ball, light, and more. (They sound like boot, bah, la, and mowa) He even has a sentence or two- "Mama Baba!" "Mama, hunna!" and "Hi Dad." When he crawls into a room he says "Hila." (Hello) It is very cute. Who's got time to be 8 months old? He wants to be 3 like his bro.
Kaeleb calls Brennan "Bray". It is a nickname he made up and it stuck. He takes good care of him. Kaeleb is playing with his friend Josh today and I just heard him say, "Guess what Josh? When I grow up I am going to be a knight." Josh said, "Hey, you just made a mess." to which Kaeleb responded, "You are a food waster." and then "We're bigger than each other but you are still my friend." I love their conversations.
Now, since "Bray" is asleep I am going to make an attempt at a little house cleaning.
6 comments:
Hey there Gina - I think we all have had to balance the "toxic perfectionism" inherent in wanting a clean house with the attention that our young kids need. When I clean - I want to clean thoroughly, so I would spend ALL day cleaning the house, just to clean it again after the kids who didn't get my attention ect. What I finally did was clean in layers - I clean for about 2 hours in the morning (and I have the kids help ... start smiling now cause that is a HUGE concession on my part to realize that it doesn't have to be done absolutely perfectly and the kids get to learn to do it too) on Monday I do all of the glass (windows, mirrors, etc), Tues is all of the dusting, Wed is bathrooms (I have to clean the toilet everyday since my boys are potty-training, but I mean the rest of the bathrooms) and any appliances that need attention (my w&d are in the garage and tend to get dirty pretty fast), Thurs is all of the floors. That leaves Fri for any special projects that tend to pop up (weeding in the spring, etc.). I also do one load of laundry every day (I have had to get over myself and mix white & lights to - but now the laundry stays done most of the time) and do any ironing as it comes out of the dryer. The result is that I can now homeschool Robert AND have plenty of time to really play with the kids and even get to the park without having a totally disgusting house and forgetting to make dinner on time. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't always work this well, but this is my general plan. Sorry for the long comment - you asked!!! Hope to see you sometime soon - Angie
Gina! I found your blog through Megan D. Your yard is looking great!
Ahh Gina. It is truly hard to balance. I personally do not have any "big advice" or answers to this dilema. I actually think that your friend Angie's plan is brilliant-I will have to try this. Dan and I both find that when we get into "project mode" (as we like to call it) our poor boys suffer. So I have found that if I prioritize the "cleaning duties" or "projects" so that I do the most pressing ones first in the small time frames I find myself having, it all gets done eventually. But I do find that as soon as I reach the end of my list, it all too quickly starts over. Also, my boys have a chore chart that includes keeping their things in order (bed, bathroom, toys, clothes, doing their own dishes etc... ). This lifts a little of my load and helps teach them resposibility. Also, my sister-in-law and I are doing a "Spring Cleaning Trade" where we trade off having the boys for a sleepover and playing the whole next day. This way we get an evening and a whole day to do whatever we want. We plan to squeeze a dinner and movie into our spring cleaning list. I am so excited. Anyway, this is too long. What I really want to say is that I miss you. It was awsome to hang with you last time you came up our way and now we HAVE GOT TO get to your place. Your yard looks like it will be very nice. I love you guys. Hope to talk to you soon.
You guys have been busy! I have to have my house clean or I go crazy, well at least the Bathrooms and kitchen have to be pretty clean.
Gina,
I don't think I could ever help someone with two boys find balance. Yikes! I only have one and find it difficult. But you know me, I'm all about rewards (ice cream after a good day of tracting). I'll do as much work as I can while Franklin is sleeping or occupied in his room...usually I time myself for one hour of deep cleaning or super laundry folding etc...then we reward ourselves with play time. It's amazing how much one can get done in an hour if they are focused and of course without interruptions. But like I said, I only have one. One who still takes nap and one who is great at playing with his cars and dinosaurs by himself. Ask me in a year from now and I'm sure it will be an entirely different story.
Love and miss you and your toxic perfectionism.
Oh and don't forget that I live in a 950 sq ft apartment with no yard. That is really the secret to my keeping the house clean.
Oh and one other VERY important key = CLOROX PRODUCTS. Clorox ready mop, clorox wipes, clorox toilet wand, toilet bleach tabs and the list goes on. I should become a spokesperson for them because they make my life so much easier....
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