SweetTalk

A while back I read the article about the importance of moms getting in photos. It’s a must read (find it here) with a message not just for moms – it’s for all women who avoid cameras.

Like many, this nailed it for me. But really, was I excited at the thought of including images like this in the kids’ baby books?

Birthday tradition of donuts in bed, complete with bedhead & bad breath.

As life goes, the universe responded the next week with an out-of-the-blue offer to have family photos taken. An unplanned expense, even a very reasonable one, found a “no thank you” reply initially, but with the article fresh in my mind, we wrapped a “yes please” in a big bow and called it our Christmas gift to each other.

Now I realize the real gift is the thought of our kids’ kids seeing these one day and imagining the adventures of their parents and grandparents way back in the year 2012.

And this one, where they will marvel at three generations, including their (Great) Grandma Angel.

Just as I do when I see this one of me with the three generations above me –

The only photo of me, my mom, grandma, & great grandmother.

Yes, those family pics were done by a professional (Kyle Murhpy Photography who shoots in Denver and Chicago – check him out –  he’s fun, fast & FABULOUS), but I definitely didn’t feel like Gisele at a Victoria Secret shoot. I was pitting out and dreaming about what botox might do for those crows feet. It doesn’t matter — the real point is to capture our true adventures, not just the shiny and clean ones. 

There will be more of these –

Sending Ned a “good morning” text.

“Mom being bad ass,” they will (NOT) say about this.

“Ok Grandma Angel, Aunt Jen, and Mom had some cajones…” they may say.

At Sweetlife, we strongly believe in providing photos of your adventures. These experiences capture the brave, real, and kick ass person you are. The person whose loved ones will glow with pride and inspiration and utter love when they see moments like these –

Snowshoe Day Trek

Indoor skydiving

Aerial dance

Mom & Daughter Horseback Ride

My sincerest hope is that when Hudson stumbles across this photo in 30 years, she feels enveloped by the warm sunshine that was shining on her face and the warm love wrapped around her back.

In whatever way works best for you, say CHEESE sweet friends! Your future loves will smile sweetly and thank you.

The other day, with Christmas carols filling the car, Raleigh asked me to replay Little Drummer Boy. Her request – I sing the words, she sing the Pa Rum Pum Pum Pums.

And so began our duet.

I’ve sung it a million times, but that day, for the first time, I actually listened to the words.

I knew the basics –

King is born. Bring gifts. Honor him. Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum

And kinda knew the next part –

I’m poor. No King-worthy gift to bring. Can I drum? Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum

But here’s where my heart took over –

The ox and lamb kept time pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him pa rum pum pum
I played my best for Him pa rum pum pum pum rum pum pum pum rum pum pum pum
Then He smiled at me pa rum pum pum pum
me and my drum.

By “I played my best for Him” tears were streaming down my face. While the song itself has no biblical basis and originated from a Czech carol with loose connections to a 12th century French legend (per wikipedia), I was overcome with the feeling that it perfectly sums up the spirit of the season.

Sharing ourselves through our own Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum – that’s our true gift to give. Smile eliciting, animal dancing gift . What better way to honor the royals in our lives?

As we were going through our ornaments the other night, I found a cherished African boy drumming (a souvenir from our December 2000 visit to Senegal). Raleigh and I decided to (respectfully) add him to our collection of  nativity scenes from around the world, gifts from my mother-in-law over the years.

Seeing him there warms me. And I get teary every time I hear the song now. Especially the Johnny Cash version, with his slow, deliberate words.

May you march to the sweet beat of your drum this holiday season. Tie your unique Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum in a big bow and let it shine. What could be sweeter?

We all have those special tricks. The ones we keep hidden for just the right moment.

High up my favorite pink down jacket sleeve, I have one that’s been a recent hit.

Requiring nothing more than a scrap of paper, a quick scan of your surroundings, and a camera, this game is ripe with exploration, creativity, and adventure.

Oh yeah, it’s not rocket science. Nothing to really Pinterest about or anything, but it’s been keeping our crew cruising quite a bit. And you can do it anywhere with a broad range of ages!

Photo Scavenger Hunt

1. Make a list of items (appropriate to the area).

2. List items that make the explorers get creative – for example “10 pennies in a row” or “two kids upside down”.

3. Provide a camera or phone.

4. Let the adventure begin.

Photo Scavenger Hunt – Pacific Northwest Style

Photo Scavenger Hunt – Desperate Mommy Style. *Note the “clean closet” listing.

Here are some recent highlights –

“A fern taller than Raleigh”

“Two girls high fiving”

“Kid with egg on head balancing on one foot”

“Upside down kids”

“20 pine cones in a circle”

“A street with one of your middle names”

What do you have going on up your sleeve? We’d love to hear about any special tricks you have to keep little (or big) people engaged in the world around us. Our sleeves stay a lot more full when we have a village of tricks hiding in them.

Oh and about that Pinterest comment earlier – apparently this is Pinterest worthy. Check out this whole board of way cool Photo Scavenger Hunt ideas.

This week we are all gobbling up the gratitude. Driven by a date on the calendar or not – it’s a sweet thing to give thanks for the big and small that make our minutes turn to days, days to years, years to lifetimes.

Here are a few things that have filled my bucket lately. And you know how much more we can GIVE with a full bucket…

Hundreds of Pounds of Love & Warmth

The 2012 Capitol Christmas Tree tour stop in Denver was an overwhelmingly sweet way to kick off the season of giving. Thank you to all who donated coats, toys, and food.

145 pounds of making a difference!

A truckload of coats to Coats for Colorado. Thanks helper Raleigh!

Apology Accepted 

I completely spaced taking Briggs to a birthday party. Not just any party – the party of his partner in crime next door neighbor with whom he spends every possible waking moment.

He realized it before I did. I expected the (insert flip out here) story, but instead he simply hugged me and said “It’s ok, I sill love you.”

Perhaps it was the plate of “we missed you” cupcakes that had been delivered (thank you Catherine!), but his response reminded me of the absolute beauty of simple, love-filled forgiveness.

Two peas in a pod.

A good little man.

Fired Up

My gratitude for the Facebook post by a distant friend that led me to Danielle LaPorte’s The Fire Starter Sessions runs DEEP.  There’s much more to be shared about this book, but suffice it to say if I could go Oprah on you, I’d be sending a copy to every person I know.

This is the perfect week to stoke your fire. You, your people, and the world around you will be forever grateful.

Your new BFF Danielle is waiting to fire you up!

In direct contrast to my previous whiny post, focusing on gratitude is clearly the more productive way. When we go around the table on Thursday, I will have the kindness of community donations, a 7 year old handling a bad situation beautifully, and Danielle LaPorte to thank.

Big & small – what are you thankful for sweet friends?

*Warning – the following is first world whining at its finest.

You know those rules you have for yourself. Rules that were made by you, for you. Rules that TOTALLY MATTER don’t matter at all but breaking them makes you crazy.

Those rules of mine are getting broken lately. I’m digging deep to find the sweetness in it. Realizing the world still turns should be liberating, right?

It kind of started with sick kiddos. 2 of 3 are down now. Raleigh had a four day run last week.

Our couch for the last 36 hours.

While the state of other’s digits doesn’t catch my attention, the slightest chip in my rarely polished nails requires immediate attention. (*Remember you were warned…)

Where are some gloves?

Although our closet is far from a Container Store ad, this is unacceptable. Next to the muddy boots from Sunday’s event is my suitcase from our last trip. In October. No idea what’s in the Whole Foods bag. Hopefully not food.

Closet, closet, wherefore art thou sweet closet?

Ned woke me up this morning with the sweet news that our coffee maker is on strike. Although technically an addiction not a rule, hot caffeine is the ONLY way to start a morning.

I thought you loved me?

Remember the Friends episode where Monica can’t sleep because her shoes aren’t put away. While Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey & Chandler made fun of her, I ached for her. The fact our kitchen table is serving as my home office so I can be near the kids provides comfort during the day but will surely keep me up tonight.

Note the emergency Starbucks. Thanks Ned!

As these words stare back at me, I (clearly and embarrassingly) see the (utter) insignificance. Indeed the world continues to turn.

But chances are you get it. Your rules, different they may be, reign daily. The important part is knowing you can taste the sweetness when they get broken.

Of course there are non-negotiables. While working out has halted, ice cream was our dinner, and emails are filling my inbox, my Make Bed Daily Rule rules.

I am the Queen of this (California) King.

I mean seriously, an unmade bed would be all kinds of earth-stopping crazy talk.

It’s Saturday night.

We tucked in overtired kids. Smooch, smooch, smooch. We shut doors and came down stairs.

I took my first sip of a large glass of wine and settled in to the work I must catch up on by Monday just as I heard the door open upstairs.

Briggs (sleepily): Mom – can you come scratch my back?

I sighed, loudly, took a swig and slowly started upstairs.

Ned (calmly): Babe, he will stop asking one day.

Louder sigh and another big swig.

I scratched. And listened to what just happened in Chapter 15 of Harry Potter. We snuggled. Another smooch. Closed the door….perhaps a little tighter this time.

As I walked out – this stared me down –

Briggs: Age 3

And as I started down the stairs –

Briggs: Age 2

And on the landing –

Briggs: 7 months

The wine and the work are still waiting for me.

But I paused for a moment and thought about the blink that has been the last 7 years. And how Ned is right – 7 years from now I’ll be scratching at Briggs’ door to be let into his thoughts, for even a few minutes.

This is just one of life’s many tricks. I guess at least realizing it is happening provides some comfort. There isn’t one right answer, but awareness is a strong first step.

And hopefully tonight, Briggs and I both have sweet dreams.

I took 4 kids shopping at Party City last Saturday.

Yes brilliant, I know.

Right when the chaos of our crew was amping up to the point we either had to leave or my head would do 360s and I would spit green slime, Michael Jackson’s Thriller started playing throughout the packed store.

And so, with the reckless abandon of a desperate mom, I went for it.

It started with the shoulder move, then the head bop, and then the full arms out, sideways hip jiggle (which I butchered – total bonus).

8 eyes (plus a few extras) stared up at me. Talking ceased. Faces flushed.

I THRILLER-ED them to obedience.

Temporarily perhaps, but it bought me some breathing time.

I cannot possibly accept this victory alone. I have so many people to thank beginning with of course the big man upstairs, MJ. Most importantly I want to thank Charles Morgan, mentor of all things Michael.

And I really feel I must share this Thriller love.

Last year Charles and I coordinated a Flash Mob for the Douglas County Divas (*power group of women business owners – check them out!). We made a little teaching video of the basic Thriller moves. It’s not the full dance, but it’s definitely enough to:

a) Make you look super cool Halloween night if you’re lucky enough to hear the song (or coincidentally pop your preloaded ipod onto the player).

or

b) Buy you 5 minutes of stunned silence (kids, partner, company meeting, & beyond) when you need it most.

Here’s the video.

Watch & learn sweet friends.

Yeah, yeah, I know. You’re welcome.

*Special note – use sparingly and be prepared for others to join in. 

Hurricane Sandy is ready to rumble. As we all sit and wait, we can simply hope her bark is worse than her bite. We’re sending all our positive vibes to our friends on the east coast.

Hang tuff sweet friends!