A New Year...

We have a little house. 930 sq ft to be exact, with 5 people that's 186 sq feet per person or the equivalent of almost a 14x14 foot space each but since the kids never leave my 14x 14 space that actually leaves 744 sq ft for my husband, he's very happy here, he says there's plenty of room.

December loom's for many reasons but topping the list is the inevitable acquiring of and then fitting in of the Christmas tree in our living room. Last year was easy. Our computer died the week or two before so we plopped it down right in front of it. No need to stare at the reminder of an overflowing inbox. This year we got our $5 tree permit and in Griswald like fashion trekked into the forest. We found our prize, strapped it to the top of the car and after some throwing of kids in the snow and hot cocoa, we headed back to town. We placed our conquest in relatively the same spot as last year, only to marvel at how the force of the wind from the drive home had apparently elongated our 6 foot tree into 10. Plan B. We have a little house. Everything is in its spot for a reason. There is no other way. Move table to other side of room, insert tree. Hmmmmmmm, that looks good?! Christmas comes and goes, as does the tree, but a new vision remains. Tables were moved but not back where they were before, new furniture was brought in and what seemed a lost cause was given new life. It works. Which has led me to wonder how many things I've been making assumptions about that with a little tweaking might be given a second chance? How many things do we say, this is how it is, it'll never change. Forced change often brings a new perspective, not all forces need to be from the outside. So Happy New Year to all may it be just that.

My Nemesis...

Suppose that's a pretty vague topic since I could lump a whole slew of issues in there, but one true nemesis remains...laundry. I will, to the chagrin of my family do anything to avoid it. Unfortunately it doesn't offer me the same consideration. The growing, undulating mound, mocks me from every corner. Now the argument to date remains the same. "You chose this" seems to be the line of reasoning behind sucking it up and just tackling the pile. By "chose" I'm assuming the reference is stemming all the way back to Adam and Eve and Eve's resulting realization of need for a fig leaf, which led to two coconut shells to accompany the leaf and eventually Victoria's Secret was born. "Chose" can't possibly relate to the stay at home mom title because I'm fairly sure the entire family wore clothes when I was working, we just had money to buy more when things got dirty. Adding to the mountain would be the near constant alien abductions that are still plaguing our residence, please refer to April 17th post for my reported sightings. I can understand summer as being their prime season but in winter when it's a balmy 12, you would think they would leave the kids alone!! Compounding my irritation would be the impending discovery of a large percentage of clean items thrown in the mass which appears anytime I sweetly beseech the brood to "pick up this room before I throw it all in the trash and call Santa to tell him his services are not needed this year!!!" Suddenly, not only is the floor spotless, but dresser drawers lay empty, hangers are now cast to the closet floor and linen shelves are bare. All are snuggled up to the one milk soaked towel, no need to actually come in contact with it, the stench will permeate all fibers momentarily. Enough procrastination, the heap beckons and with the onset of winter we're woefully short on leaves.