Priority

From our trip in Seattle, up on the Spaceneedle! 

OK, I have pushed this post away from me long enough. Even though I haven't added anything here for quite some time, this space has been on my mind a bit! I am on vacation and I am noticing I am constantly living with the feeling that I am not getting everything done, that I have a constantly something that I haven't gotten too.... I am sure many people find themselves in this situation. What bothers me however, is when I feel like I am not doing any of my responsibilities to my own satisfaction because I am running from one task to the next. I want to learn to focus and concentrate on one task, do the project and then move on to the next one. This system never seems efficient to me and then I end up doing ten tasks at ones. However, I am noticing that if I concentrated on one thing at a time, I would get everything done more carefully and the way I really want it. ;)

Therefore, I am here to prioritize. As much as I would like to document our life here, especially that of the children, I have to admit that it takes me more away from the children, as my time with them is precious, as I am working full time and getting my Masters and have flute students.

I chose three areas in my life to focus on for now.

1. My meditation
2. My family
3. My job (building our school)

With all this said, I do hope that this little blog of mine will move up the priority list!

Writing all this down makes me feel better and I don't need to feel like I failed, although I didn't finish the project I set myself out to do. However, in the long run I hope this will help me to get more projects done!

59-65/ 365

Sunday

Happy spring Solstice. Every solstice and equinox we celebrate with friends. We sing and eat and the children craft. This time it was a small group, but no less special and meaningful. I am glad we can share this with not only our children, but our friends children as well. 

Monday

A little tired today, these two are happy to have a quiet afternoon.

Tuesday

I just got a new phone and I wanted to take a special picture of the two with me to Germany. I think this one was exactly what I needed! 

Wednesday

Flowers are one of my favorite things in life. These are helping us in welcoming spring. 

Thursday

Happy Birthday, Sophia. I am so glad Barbara suprised you with your favorite cake, chocolate cake. You are beautiful. 

Friday 1 and 2

The anticipation of looking for the train and the joy of finally seeing the train. :)

Saturday

Time to fly. Off to Germany I go. 

52-58/365

This boy learned how to ride his two-wheeled bike this weekend. Naturally, after school today we had to get out on the green and ride some more laps. 

Monday

I can't help but treasure the little drawings of his. This is our family. :) 

Tuesday 

Mateo always wants someone to play with him. A board game is a nice and quiet way to play in the evening! 

Wednesday

Thursdays the boy and I come home early and start the laundry. Yes, he really does love to help and often it is turned into a game. The best part for me is that doing the laundry with him this way, makes it so much more interesting! 

 Thursday

To celebrate the first day of March (her birthday month) she made herself her favorite smoothie. Banana, Coconut, and Milk. Yum!

Friday

After a big week at school and studying all day, we needed a treat. We went to have an Indian dinner. I want to go there again, it was so tasty. One of the first times I had Indian food was on our court wedding day. A friend took us out. It was the only time in my whole pregnancy that I threw up. Naturally, I thought I didn't like Indian food. I am so glad that I overcame the dislike. It is Theodore's favorite food and it really is so good, with the sweet and the spicy and all the veggies mixed in creamy sauces. The nice thing too, is that at the end you don't feel like you have a big rock in your stomach. Delicious!

Saturday

Although we are teachers and parents, we do work a lot on our computers as well. We are both in graduate programs and so many e-mails to attend to.... It is nice when it works out and we just join each other on the couch, working side by side. 

 Sunday

45-51/365

Let's begin the week with some flower, shall we? The weather has been a little unpredictable and to ensure a feeling of spring, I added some flowers and green around the house. 

Monday

I had some pictures to take and naturally had a little helper. He does typically want to be helpful. Love that about him. 

Tuesday

Another flower for our dinner table on a Wednesday. 

Wednesday

Yeah for painting. Mateo prefers glitter paint. He does have an eye for sparkle and fancy. :)

Thursday

No, we don't live on farm in any sense, but we do love to pretend sometimes. Sometimes caring for one little rabbit can be done with the excitement and effort of a whole stable full. 

Friday

Yup, this is pretty much how you will find Theodore, racing from one school to the next, trying to lead and save and expand and build two schools. Go Theodore!

Saturday

Ahhhh, yes, green, new leaves and grows. What a delightful sight at the end of our weekend. This picture gives me energy to start a new big week.

Sunday

39-44/365

Another week gone by. A good week, however! Lot's of playing, reading and studying.

Monday

After watching his Papa wear his top hat for the love celebration concert, Mateo had to try it on as well. He loves to make people love, and play. The more we can make life like a game the happier this boy is. Singing and story telling and creativity is a must for him. 

Tuesday

We are knitting at school. Sophia is knitting a bag for her recorder. I love that she still learns to do things with her hands. Such valuable lessons!

Wednesday

Playtime at school. I increased my hours at school, which means I am there when the students have play time, one of my favorite times. There is so much learning happening at play time and I am always amazed of how much more I get to know my students by watching them play. 

Thursday

Happy Valentine's Day! Thursdays are Mateo and my days. I pick him up from school and usually we have some time to do something he wants to do. Today it was climbing our fig tree. He asked me to take video's of him, so that he can explain to me how he gets up so high. 

Friday

First swim of the year! Yes, it was warm during the day. Warm enough to wear a t-shirt. Somehow my children thought it was warm enough to go in the pool. Ha! This is not the first time Sophia tried this, but I guess we have to repeat the experience once more. Sophia did jump in, and had a little bit of a chock of how cold it was! ;) Mateo only went on the first step and came quickly back out. A warm shower later and a wool socks and jacket everyone was warm again. 

Saturday

Now that Sophia is in fourth grade she gets a little bit of homework every week. As we seem to busy to do it during the week, I invited her to join me on my Saturday study time at the library. She was so happy. After getting her work done, she goes and gets books for her reading pleasure. After 4 hours, I said, I will call Theodore now to pick us up. She made a dissappointed face and said "I wish we could stay here all day." That is how much she loves reading. Since reading was not easy or enjoyable really as a child, I always hoped for my children to love reading. I couldn't love it more to see her read and enjoying her books. 

Sunday

Sophia has been reading all day. She is moving on from the Hardy boy series to the Warrior series. Reading, reading, reading. That is how she spends her favorite days. So at night, I just had to love her up and took a picture of the two of us. Her brother draws so much attention, whereas she won't, so I have to constantly remind myself to give her attention while she is quiet and reading and not just when I need something from her! 

32-39/365~ Our week

To simply this process a little, I am combining a photo per day in one post. Even though I am not posting every day, I am glad that I am keeping up taking a picture every day, they do help me to pause and enjoy the moment a little more fully, before moving on to the next thing.

Sunday

Mateo has been living intensely, going through one storm after another. My mom says, Julia he is so alive and healthy and full of energy. So true, and we just have to try and keep up with him! ;) Here he is resting after a storm!

Monday

Sophia is still sick. I had to take her home, as she was now running a fever. She is the easiest patient still. Her little brother is not too far away, missing having her as his playmate. 

Tuesday

Treated myself to a new necklace. I needed some color. Off to Mills today, my one day meeting up with other adult students!

Wednesday

OK, that healthy good energy, I was talking about from this little boy, needs to be channeled. As he was going wild and beginning to scream, I noticed our neighbor raking leaves outside. I said to Mateo, you need to go rake some leaves. He immediately stopped screaming and said, yes, I have my tools downstairs, and my boots. See you later, Mama! Here he is, so happy and proud to help our neighbor. 

Thursday

Now, I am sick in bed. The flu hits you, aches all over, a headache and most of the time you can't keep your eyes open. Mateo went to school in the morning, and then sat next to me, so patient. Glad he racked leaves yesterday and was ready for a calmer afternoon. 

Friday

Here he still is keeping me company while I am sleeping and resting.

Saturday

Feeling a little better, well enough to finally hang Mateo's painting for Theodore for Christmas. 

Sunday

 

Well, the flu just suddenly went away, feeling good again! Three days out and now I am fine! Fine enough to present our school at our open house and direct the recorders at our school love celebration. 

31/365~ off to the library

I am back at Mills working on my graduate degree which also means that on the weekends, on Saturday mornings, I am headed to the library. I get so much more done there, then trying to do my work at home where life of three other people is happening. So much better to get myself together and leave the house for a few hours and then return satisfied about my work and happy to see them to have some family time. :)