Goals Shmoals

Did you know that it's National Blog Posting Month? I'm not sure who invented it or exactly why, but it means that some die-hard blogger folks are trying to post to their blogs EVERY DAY this month. Does that sound crazy-overwhelming to anyone else? I absolutely love the idea of it, though it remains a statistical impossibility for me since it's already the 8th and I am only on my fourth post. It reminds me of my distant, well-intentioned January goal to "blog ten times every month" for a whole year. It didn't sound impossible--or even unlikely--at the time that I decided to aim for it, but then something happened. It's called having a baby. And there went that idea. Along with my compelling "read three books a month" goal, and my less exciting "get dressed before noon every day" goal. (Okay, I'm just kidding, that last one wasn't a real goal; I'm not crazy, you know.)

If I DID post every day this month, I just might up my post-count enough to at least average ten posts a month for the year. But alas, methinks I'll need to leave that endeavor for next year...at which time I will have an 18 month old little boy and I will likely reminisce about the days when he was an infant and stayed in the general area where I put him down. So, okay, we'll call it two years. Two years from now I'll crank out 30 posts in 30 days. I bet you're getting excited just thinking about it!

I'll be honest...I've never seen a cuter reason for not accomplishing my lofty goals!

Computer Snatcher

When the moment arrives that the kids are in bed,

And you have a quick sec to check emails unread,

Your desk might be usurped by this sneaky red-head

And then you'll be stuck on the futon instead.

Though it's finally the time to get your stuff done,

Like Pinterest or blogging, or anything fun,

Don't you dare leave the room, because in he will run

And smile like a villain when you yell at him, "Hon!"

While it's true that each day he gets cuter and cuter,

Don't let it fool you--he'll steal your computer.

Some Day You'll Thank Me

So this is the time of year when I start to complain about the weather. Even in the years when I tell myself that I won't, inevitably November rolls around and it is still warming up to the 80s in the afternoons, (a nice break from our Hades-like summers, yes, but remotely fallish, no) and we are usually still using our air conditioning, and the grumbling begins. Yes, I know that I signed up for six months of summer when we moved here, but if you count May as one of those six months (which I do), then November is month seven. And that I just can't abide. Hence my grumbling.

 In addition to still needing air conditioning (did I mention that it's November?) there is also the trouble with the winter wardrobe. I have winter clothes (read: long sleeve shirts and jeans) out for my kids, ready for when the weather finally turns, but since their dressers can only accommodate one season worth of clothes at a time, and it's still too warm to put their shorts away for good, said winter clothes are just sitting around in piles (on my dresser, on the futon in the office, etc.) until I can actually pull out the shorts & short sleeves and make room for them. Grr.

But, since it is fall in other places, and the door to the garage is covered in paper leaves, and every day I light a pumpkin-scented candle that has the power to put me in a fallish mood, (even as I continue to sweat over the stove) I am still going to do what other people do during the fall. (Or would do, if they had the recipe.) I'm making apple streusel muffins. You should, too. Not only are they super scrumptious, the recipe calls for unpeeled diced apples. Score two for the muffins. (Oh, and I also I like to convince myself that they are healthy. Because, well, there's apples in them.)

Apple Streusel Muffins

2 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 T baking powder
1 1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 large eggs, beaten
1 c. sour cream
1/4 c. butter, melted
1 c. finely diced apples  (I can usually get a cup out of one good-sized apple.)

Topping:
1/4 c. sugar
3 T flour
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 T butter

In large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda; set aside. In small bowl, beat eggs, sour cream, and butter. Add all at once to dry ingredients along with apples. Stir just until moistened. Fill well-greased muffin tins (or cupcake wrappers) two-thirds full. Combine topping ingredients and sprinkle on. Bake at 400 for 20 to 25 min. Yield: 18+ muffins.

Go on, make them. You know you want to. I promise you'll thank me.

The Sad Truth

I just read a quote that I admire:

Never Busy. Only Productive.

As much as I wish that that were my own mantra, sadly, it is not.

My own reads:

Never Productive. Only Busy. 

Thankfully, I am busy with these 3...

 ...and this guy...

...which is not so terrible after all, however tangibly unproductive it seems to me at the moment.

What's your mantra?

Volley Bombers in Action

Having been surrounded for years by other parents who have had their kids in various sports from a young age, I will admit that I have felt a tiny bit like a slacker-mom for putting off extracurricular activities for my kids as long as humanly possible. Whether or not this is linked to the fact that my first 3 children are all girls who have been content spending their weekend energy building forts and making music videos remains to be seen, but I strongly suspect that this is the case. Another factor is, of course, my sentiment that kiddos are small for such a short amount of time, which means that I have been in absolutely no hurry to accelerate the growing-up process; nor have I looked forward to the time in which our Saturdays were mainly spent away from home at various sporting events. (Okay, that's two more factors. You get the point.)

Needless to say, in the interest of ensuring the well-roundedness of our children, we decided (er, Craig convinced me) that it was time to get them into a sport, and volleyball was the top pick. Initially, we only signed Julia up, but once Savanna showed off her athletic ability while Craig during practice,  we agreed on signing her up, too. Thankfully, they are close enough in age to be on the same team (hooray!) with the added bonus that Craig volunteered to coach and has really enjoyed sharing this experience with both of them. It's been really cool to see how excited all of them are about this new challenge. 

gearing up for a serve

going in for a hit

getting distracted by Mommy while they are supposed to be paying attention

(good thing I know the coach)

check out that focused face

Coach Daddy in action

not sure what's going on here, but it sure looks funny

ready for the kill

here they are in their uniforms for the first time...

...and even Alexa is getting into the Volley Bomber spirit

Not only are they adorable, they are having a blast, and that makes me super happy.