Things I'm looking forward to

1. Spring Break; all 12 days of it!
2. Volleyball on Monday and the next Monday
3. Design shows; there are two coming up
4. SLW; spa and style themed this year, and close to home
5. NC in April with the fam

I'm feeling a little bored and blue, just needed a reminder of some excitement.

blinkety blink

Isn't is funny; you never notice how many times you turn left in a day until that blinker is burnt out and making that annoying "blinkblinkblink" noise? And then you run through your current drive in your head and figure out how many times you have to turn left? And then of course you keep forgetting to fix it (or in my case, try to fix it) until the next time you have to turn left.

Relaxation and an Orchid plant

The parents are almost home. Finally. Today was hard- the kids were really missing their mom and dad (and so was I), and all three of us were exhausted.
The 2-year-old came with me to church, and he behaved pretty well. He must have heard some of the sermon, because he loudly asked me where Jesus was, then turned around, pointed toward the back (the cute way little kids do, with both hands up by their face), and said "back there?"

I received a new Cymbidium Orchid plant as a gift from their parents. People always ask me if they're hard to grow, and I have no idea. I guess I'll find out...
This one is a really pretty dark pink color.

!!!

They're fighting (or as best as a 2 and a 5 year old can) over whose cup is more blue!
Geez.

Looooonnnng weekend

I started nannying yesterday morning early, and won't be done until Sunday evening late.
whew.
It is currently quiet as the 2-yr-old eats a Clementine, but it won't stay that way. As soon as the kindergartener gets home, it is constant chaos, fights, and yelling until bedtime. Which, I'm happy to report, is usually around 6:30. Last night the house was quiet by 6:40! This means they wake up early too, but since I'm a morning person, it's not too hard to get up.
If I didn't have Kayla around to help, I would probably go crazy.
Is it Sunday yet?

Sooooo yummy!

One of Viv's latest tricks is "Soooo big!" She does it all the time, even when we don't request it... I think she likes to make us smile. Anyway, she also lifts her arms frequently while eating, and so I decided she's saying "Sooooo yummy!" Or maybe it's "This food is making me this big!"
Either way, it's adorable.
Next, we'll teach her- How big is Daddy? ... haha.

:)

It was flowers.

Not the heart (valentine from work), nor the painting (one of Auntie Lynda's).

But there was no name on the card.

Secret Admirer

It appears I have one. I received a sweet delivery yesterday. :)

Kurt's last meet of the year

Dad snuck down and sat in the coaches chair in the corner of Kurt's mat. He said it was probably only the second time he has ever coached him (the first time was in elementary).

Kurt won this match 10-0, and went 1-2 for the day.

Snow Baby

We stood and laughed as she tried to move around in her snowsuit- she looked like a seal :)

Finished

my taxes. They were really stressing me out, because I didn't know how to do my business taxes. However, they are now all done, so I can relax.

And think about fun stuff. Like Valentine's day. I sent out a whole bunch in the mail today: I wish I could be there to see the smile on the faces of the recipients (especially the little ones). Just a few more to make...

22nd!!!

Today I ran my second race, a 3 miler on the lake in WBL. Endurance-wise, it went better than my first race, but time-wise was not as good. I credit that to running in the snow- it was hard, with your feet slipping all over, and ankles twisting. My time was 27:59, good enough for 22nd out of 101. Kayla got 32:36, and Rita H got 2nd for the women with 24:33, and Virginia N was 4th for the women with 26:25. It was fun knowing other people there. Plus we got a sweet royal blue sweatshirt included in the price of registration. The weather was a little colder this time- 25 degrees and windy.

Hey Soul Sister

I love this music video. Especially the way the words are included.
(I just love words in general)

Quality Listening

1. Maintain eye contact
2. Don't engage in other activities
3. Listen for feelings
4. Observe body language
5. Refuse to interrupt (I really need to work on this)
6. Ask reflective questions
7. Express understanding
8. Ask if there is anything you can do that would be helpful

I read the 5 Love Languages Singles Edition by Gary Chapman, and the steps on how to be a quality listener really stood out to me. I have trouble with interrupting, and also with giving unwanted advice.
"Advice is seen as an effort to control unless it is desired by the other person". I thought that was a good quote. One I need to remember.

It was really interesting to find out what love language(s) I speak, and then try to figure out the languages of my family and friends. My primary one is Words of Affirmation (no surprise), and secondary ones are Acts of Service and Gifts.

I've been trying to not let it bother me when one of my friends touches me. Touch is obviously her love language, so I should try and touch her too.