Finding Gratitude Despite the Chaos

• Spotify.  If you follow my blog, you know I spend a lot of time listening to podcasts and audiobooks.  However, I had a moment a few weeks back when I just decided I needed to listen to good music.  

Thank you Spotify for knowing just what I needed!  I’ve rediscovered my musical roots listening to early 90s alternative hits, 80s pop, Dixie Chicks, Sheryl Crow, and the list goes on.  What a mood booster!

• Giant Jenga.  This gift from Santa didn’t get much love until #quarantine2020.  

Now the Giant Jenga in regular rotation, serving as roads, skyscraper pieces, fort shelving, and so on.  That Black Friday deal finally paid off.  

• Beachbody and Peloton.  Since I no longer can get out and go for runs or play tennis as I used to do during the early part of the school day, I’m relying on Beachbody and Peloton.  I’ve done several programs on Beachbody before and knew I could easily fit in the 21 Day Fix program which has short 30-minute workouts with weights.  Yay for technology!      

• Preschool and Elementary Workbooks Galore!  I’m finally digging deep into those school workbooks I bought for the kids years ago.  You know the ones.  They sit in the back of your cabinets or bookshelves, knowing they’ll only have the first handful of pages filled out before getting pulled out three years past all children in the house’s age.  Not anymore.

They’re getting plenty of use now!  Woohoo!

• Slip N Slides, Water Guns, Bubble Machines, and Sidewalk Chalk.  I’m thankful Target is still open (and you can even have them deliver your order to your car) because we needed some outdoor play supplies and they delivered.  

We’ve spent plenty of time outside and we haven’t run out of supplies yet.  

• Roomba.  We are now eating every meal at home and that means the crumbs and just overall filth within our walls has multiplied.  Thank you Lil Roomba for keeping us in check.  You’re not perfect but you make us look a little better.  

• My Stock of Bath and Body Works Candles.  I’ve never been more happy to have a nice stash of Bath and Body Works three-wick candles.  I’m so proud of January Angelique for ordering six candles during their big sale.  I’m sending her a fist bump …

• A Husband Who Can Build Treehouses.  Jarrod has channeled his inner mountain man self and built an incredible treehouse for our kids.  

If we hadn’t been home so much these past few weeks, he would have never had the time to do so.  The kids are so excited to have their own space and last night he even made a pulley system so they can easily get all their “stuff” up and down.   He’s worked so hard on it and it’s helped us establish our own bit of space while we’re all cooped up.  

• Facebook Messenger.  What a great for the kids to keep some sort of socialization.  

First off, I send all of my friends apologies for my children’s inappropriate usage of Facebook Messenger.  By inappropriate, I mean that I’m sorry Parker keeps sending the emojis of cartoon characters kissing and/or farting.  She also keeps trying to video chat with the same kids over and over … the girl hasn’t mastered the art of playing hard to get yet.  However, I love that my kids have the opportunity to chat with their buddies occasionally.

• The Time to get Certified in the Travel Industry. In our previous life, we were on the go and I never would have had the opportunity to spend so much time investing in my career.  

I’ve held certifications from Disney for quite some time, but this past month I’ve completed advanced trainings with so many travel suppliers like Universal Studios and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.  Plus, I’m so lucky that most of my clients’ travel plans aren’t impacted (as of now) by the virus.  As many of you, I’m ready to look ahead and get back to life as normal!  Not-so-subtle plug for Four Points Mom Travels … contact me today to begin your dream vacation to Disney, Hawaii, or Mexico!

• Rainbow Cake.  Parker is all about rainbows and I just couldn’t resist.  

Every year I swear that I’m not going to bake my kids’ birthday cakes and every year the universe laughs at me.  I’m always happy when they’re finished just like I was happy when I crossed the marathon finish line.  However, about a fifth of the way into the project (and marathon training) I seriously regret the decision.  LOL.

• Jack Hartmann YouTube Videos.  Oh my goodness, this man is incredible.  If you have a child who is starting to read or is needing help learning things like “Boss R,” head to his YouTube page.  It’s cheesy but catchy and the kids love it. 

• Curbside Pick-up.  How spoiled are we now?  Seriously!  I don’t feel like running into Target, Office Depot, or Chuys so I’m just going to text them and have them bring my order to my car.  Not too shabby.

• Classroom Zoom Sessions. We love getting see our teachers and friends.

Although I wish my kids could spend more time with their classmates and teachers, they love touching base a couple times a week on Zoom.   

• Puzzles.  I love puzzles and I especially love having the time to do puzzles.  

Geeking out is right up my alley.

• Night Zookeeper.  My first grade son, Foster, just doesn’t love to write. He’s starting to enjoy reading as he gets more comfortable doing so, but writing is the ultimate chore for him.  I kept seeing the Facebook ad for Night Zookeeper which promised to have my child loving to write, and I bit the bullet.  He’s played on it a few times and I do think it’s tricking him into tolerating writing.  We just bought a three-month subscription and I am hopeful he’ll continue to enjoy it.  Try it out!  Here’s a referral link if you’re interested.

• My Stockpile of Crafts and Kids Activities.  My closet(s) of crafts have been waiting for this moment, and they are in the spotlight.  We’re pulling out all of the old paints, Perler kits, ribbons, balloons, play doh, kinetic sand, ceramic kits, smelly markers, coloring books, old scrapbooking supplies, stickers, and on and on.  I’m starting to see a trend and I think I might be a hoarder.  I digress …

•  Turkey.  I made a turkey in April.  It was lovely!  There wasn’t the typical pressure associated with making a turkey.  No time crunch.  No crowds of family members to impress.  No other important dishes that had to be homemade.  I highly recommend the random turkey.

• Our New Printer.  We’ve been dealing with a printer that wouldn’t print blue for months.  

I feel like I’m so fancy now with this beauty. 

• Podcasts and Audiobooks.  I’ve been so inspired by some of the amazing business podcasts I’ve been listening to lately.  Also, Dax Shepard and Monica Padman have been entertaining me endlessly with their Armchair Expert podcast.  To top it off – Rob Lowe was the guest this week.  If you don’t know, he’s one of my absolute favorite celebrity crushes.  Oxford Blues anyone?   My day was off to a great start by starting my day with the podcast on my early morning walk.  

• Legos.  So many legos and so many hours spent playing with them.  I may or may not have put together a giant Pikachu mostly by myself because I finally lost my mind looking at his mouth that a little boy who shall remain unnamed didn’t put together accurately over a year ago.    The kids are into legos right now too … lol.  

• Saving Money.  We are one of the millions whose income is directly  affected by the coronavirus, so we needed to tighten the reigns a bit so to speak.  And we did!  I’m so proud of myself for not going crazy with online spending even though I could have sat on my laptop and ordered SO much stuff.  Go Angelique!  😉

• Jarrod’s Margarita-Making Skills.  He’s so good you guys.  Last week I was a little grumpy because our plans to pick up Chuy’s curbside had to be thrown aside.  Jarrod rebounded by offering to make margaritas.  He knows the way to my heart.   

• My Kids Really Love Each Other.  I regularly remind myself that this is possibly my biggest blessing right now.  

Foster and Parker get along so well and I cannot imagine how this past month would have gone if they didn’t play so well together.