Only 2...

It's Christmas Eve Eve, and I still don't have all of my shopping done. Don't worry, this is typical. Mike and I thrive on the last-minuteness of it all. Christmas for five kids is a challenge, but the rewards are infinite. We're pitching in with my parents for a basketball hoop for the family...I mean, the kids...I mean, the boys...I mean, for me. :) Who knows, maybe I'll master the layup at 34! It could happen, right?
Its time to get up and do a sweep of the house...make beds, start laundry, vacuum, clean mirrors, sanitize door knobs. When I'm done with that, I'm going to do some baking. I haven't decided what all I'm going to make, but I'm looking forward to getting on a role and being completely domestic today.
Hopefully, I'll have photos and details to share tomorrow...if I remember to share...
Only 2 weeks 'til the boys go back to school!!
I mean, only 2 days 'til Christmas!!!

Best Month Ever?!

Am I bad mother because I don't look forward to this time? An entire month off for the boys. They're in year-round school. It sounds crazy doesn't it? Here's how it works: Their current school year started on July 7, 2009. They attended until July 28. Then they were off until early September...attended through the day before Thanksgiving...were off through New Year's...have been on since then...now they have no school until May 4...and finish their year on June 24 - I think.
We do have some road trips planned. I'm actually really excited to take my kids and husband back to Mountain View and Sunnyvale where I grew up. I haven't been back there since my senior year in high school.
We're also planning to do a little camping. Mike wants to camp on the beach in Half Moon Bay. My mom wants to go to Yosemite. Both will be amazing.
Okay, so maybe I am a LITTLE excited for this next month.
There are definite possibilities.
Oh my! AND my girls' joint birthday party is on 4/17!!
Do you ever have to talk yourself into things?!
What is wrong with me?!
This could be the best month EVER?
OH!! AND I have two potentially very successful Stella & Dot Trunk shows booked!!!
Please don't think I'm insane. I'm just a Five-Time Winner with A LOT on my mind...
OH! And I've worked out the last two days and feel GREAT!

BEST MONTH EVER!!!!

What am I doing?

My grandma died last Monday. She was sick for a very long time with high blood pressure and didn't really tell anyone until the damage to her heart was irreparable. She was the most godly, amazing, funny person I've ever known. She was so sensitive to the Holy Spirit that she would be brought to tears when she prayed over family meals. She (along with my other grandma) is the reason I want to be a good cook and baker. Her secret ingredient in everything she made was love.
So as I reflect on her life, I'm thinking about me and where my life is going with my family. We are a fun unit. But I'm in a holding pattern. I need to step up my business. I need to make some more money.
I need to read my Bible and pray every day. There's no better guide (for mind, body, and spirit) than that. So if I know that - to my core - why don't I do it?
I gave my blog the name "Five-Time Winner" to remind myself of how incredibly blessed I am. I'm healthy, strong, capable. Why haven't I gotten up a little early to read and pray. Why don't I sit down and make 10 phone calls to grow my business?

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. So far, I've eaten a South Beach Diet breakfast and WAY too many cookies...

I'll start my lifestyle change (not diet) at dinner with something deliciously balanced. I'll finish the house cleaning between now and 6:15 (when Mike gets home), I'll read my Bible (and pray while I clean and listen to worship music), and do full body pilates before I go to bed. That sounds productive, right?

What am I doing? See above list.

Day 1

My decision to write a blog surprises me more than anyone. I am a mother of five, wife, daughter, sister, friend with a LOT to process - like, I really want to get up at 6 to workout. I should call Carrie today. I should call Heather and Caroline today. I hope the boys have clean underwear and socks today. What am I going to make for dinner. I wonder what Grandma's oxygen saturation was this morning. So now I have a blogspot to keep things straight. We'll see how it goes.

Right now I'm sitting on the love seat while my husband, Michael, is sprawled out asleep on the couch. All the kids are in bed. Mom and Dad are asleep (Oh, the seven of us live with my parents), and I should be folding the laundry on my bed...well, you know what I'm doing.

Tomorrow I get to go to church with my family. There's nothing better...except maybe if our church were located on the beach...in the south of France...

Now I'm babbling.
Good Night.