In which I have a learning moment--

December is going by to quickly. I'm beginning to understand why people put up their Christmas gear the day after Thanksgiving. My holiday season got off to a rocky start this year after a violent stomach rocked its way through my family....the day before Thanksgiving. For those of you who don't know me-- well, this is the day I look forward to for 364 days from the last time I did all my Thanksgiving pre-cooking. Every year I get up, watch the parade with my kids, cook, eat food, and close the day with White Christmas. Instead there was moaning, pots next to beds, pepto, and we'll leave it at that. We missed the parade, had turkey the following Saturday...its wasn't the same. I did watch White Christmas to kick of the new holiday season {my own personal tradition} So to say that I was looking forward to moving onto Christmas was and understatement.

With this Christmas is closing in fast I'm trying to find that balance of getting all the stuff we wanted to do as a family for fun holiday prep and merriment, but not getting angry at myself if we don't get to it all. The phrase quality not quantity comes to mind. {Sometimes I think I even need to tattoo it on my forehead so I see it everyday when I look in the mirror. I'm a visual learner..} Anyways...We have been out past bedtimes a lot the past few weeks and it's such a treat to see all the holiday lights. My youngest son says while we drive, "Mommy, Christmas comes in darkness." The first time I heard it I giggled to myself and said, "that's right honey."

After he said this a few more times during the week it really got me to thinking about the deeper meaning that my two year old was oblivious to still; Christmas really does come in darkness. The true meaning of Christmas, celebrating the birth of our savior, that miracle really can bring light and hope to even the darkest corners of the earth. It's in the ways we pause during the craziest dinner hours and help a little boy who's struggling putting a puzzle together, pay for the person behind you in the drive thru, or bring a thinking of you present to a random friend. Taking the time to let Christmas be apart of your life and not just something that comes one morning every 25th of December.

Even thought my kids are only 4, 2, and 10 months I really feel like teaching them this truth early on will help them enjoy the simple things in life. To be grateful for what they have and share it with others. Weather it be toys now, or testimonies later.

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday and look forward to seeing you back here again.

xO- Cat

Independence Day

You may notice that there is something missing from my blog. And if you guessed posts you'd be right. Our summer has been intense and crazy thus far and while I'd love to blog about every second of it, its just not in the cards. I figure it's better to actually have the fun and quality time with my kids and husband instead of blogging about it. I'll try to post blimps here and there, but no promise. I'll be in full motion again in a couple of weeks.

Hence, my ongoing summer sabbatical.

Happy Fourth of July my friends and be safe.

xO- Cat

Self Medicating: {the right way}

This is a carton of Tropicana Orange Juice:

This is how many cartons of Tropicana Orange Juice I've drank in the last 4 days:

Now I'm {pretty much} all better.

Moral of the story::

Pump yourself full of vitamin C and go to sleep at 7:30pm right after your kids go to bed and soon you will be like new.

xO-Cat

Would you rather ?

There's a game out there called would you rather? We are playing it here today.

*Would you rather bang your head repeatively against a brick wall or be sick?

*Would rather go through labor again or be sick?

*Would you rather stand in the pen with hippo at the zoo or be sick?

*Would you rather perform 3 out of the 10 uber gross challenges on fear factor or be sick?


Are you seeing a pattern yet? Have you realized that are some pretty bizzare things I'd rather do than be sick. It probably crystal clear by now that I am in fact sick:( And not the got kind you can fake your way through. It's the hazy, itchy/scratchy ear nose and throat buisness!

I'll be back soon when I've stopped wishing for death {that was a joke} but in the mean time...what would you rather do than be sick?

xO-Cat

Exciting news

Today I was featured over at Diapers and Divinity. To say that I'm excited would be putting it mildly!! If you are visiting via her site, WELCOME. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you'll be a regular here at Her Eclectic Life too. Leave a comment so I can return the love.



I stumbled upon Stephenie's blog a few months ago and have quickly become a regular follower. She is so honest in her writing and offers such wonderful little nuggets of wisdom that you simply can't help but apply in your own life, or that get you off in a tangent about something gospel oriented. So head on over to Diapers and Divinity.

Sanctuary--

Today my husband changed my life. Today he bought my a new dishwasher. What was wrong with my old one you ask? Nothing-- we didn't have one. You see for over a year {since we bought our first home} I have been the sole washer of dishes. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind most of the time, it has always been my time for reflection about howthings are going in my life, what the agenda is for the coming weekend, and did I do enough today for/with my boys. Heavy stuff right?

Sometimes however, on those rare occasions {ie. Holiday meals or having the elders over} thing just ge out of control and a dishwasher is handy. And that's why I am ultra happy to be among the elite homemakers who own dishwashers. I now have a pretty stainless one in my kitchen too. Wanna be my friend?? ;)

xO- Cat

xO- Cat

An inconvenient truth-

Rant of the day.

Can I just ask this question to the cyber world...why is it that there aren't "drive thru" convenient stores readily available in most towns. For the specific purpose in catering to mothers, or fathers, with multiple children? As one such mother, can I just tell you what an ordeal it is to get all my little ones in and out of the car, to a shopping cart that doesn't really fit my needs {space wise}, for the sake of a gallon of milk, or the hamburger rolls I didn't by while grocery shopping 5 days ago because heaven forbid I wanted them fresh. And if this is our 5-6 stop in a multiple outing trip...well sometimes it's enough to make a mama cry.

I mean they have drive through liquor stores. Do we honestly need those? Do we really need to add such insult to injury? I'm just saying.

So there you have it. Who's with me??

xO- Cat