(no subject)

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Today is Brad's "name" day, sort of. He chose St. Nicholas of Myra as his patron when we joined the Orthodox church, so Nicholas is the name he was given when he was Chrismated. It is also just an important feast day to us. We both love St. Nicholas, all the truth and the legend. We asked St. Nicholas's intercessions frequently when we were in the midst of the infertility/adoption stuff. Brad and I have both said if we were Serbian we'd love to make him our "slava" or family patron. Unofficially, we sort of have. I think the girls and I are going to make Serbian cookies today to take to our neighbors in honor of St. Nicholas. Unfortunately, we did not make it to liturgy this morning, as it was at 7am and I just couldn't get the girls up and moving soon enough. Last night we read a book about St. Nicholas. The girls put a shoe outside their bedroom door and found it filled with chocolate coins and other small gifts this morning.

I love St. Nicholas.

(no subject)

I just can't get motivated today. I've been so good all week, working so hard to get our stuff cleaned up and ready for packing and I've just lost all momentum today. My list just keeps getting longer even as I cross things off and I'm feeling overwhelmed and when I feel that way, I tend to just quit. Ugh. How do I get going again? All I've done today is make pancakes for breakfast, fold and put away two loads of laundry, and dress the girls to go outside in the snow again. They are out there now, but it won't last for long. It is brutally cold. At least for us southerners. I think it is 29 degrees, windchill of 19 degrees, which just feels way too cold for me. I belong in the desert. I'm a lizard. Winter is NOT my favorite time of year.

Okay, the girls are back inside now, divested of the layers of snow clothes, drinking hot chocolate and eating leftover pancakes from breakfast with cinnamon and sugar on top. I had to stop to do all of that. I think it is the interruptions that are killing my motivation. The girls have been so good for the last few days and patient with my divided attentions. I cannot complain about them, they have done a great job of entertaining themselves and letting me work. But there are inevitable interruptions over and over again.

Here is what I have left on my list for today and tomorrow:
Sort my jewelry drawer (it is a disaster because I often let the girls get into it for dress up)
Clean fridge
Finish laundry and lay out clothes for packing
Gather Christmas gifts/decor, school stuff, toys to keep out from packers
Register the girls for swimming, soccer, and other rec activities in Kansas (deadline is monday ACK!)
Order new contacts
Call about medical record transfers
Clean out master bath (old lotions, meds, etc.)
Sort and clean out spice cabinet

Doesn't really look all that overwhelming, but add the regular meals, cleaning, and shopping and it does feel that way.

I need to get over myself. I'm so lucky and so blessed. I have so much to be grateful for. The fact that I have a jewelry drawer, master bath, and spice cabinet to sort and organize is amazing. No more complaining. I'm going to work...

(no subject)

Had to share our annual visit to Santa Claus picture. I really like the Santa at this mall. He has a wondeful beard. Luci played with it and had her fingers all tangled up in it the whole time she was talking to him. Of course, they all three asked Santa for things I've never heard them ask for before today. Arg.