Leigh vs. Laundry: February 2014

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

The Stay at Home Chronicles :: Raising a Writer

My days around here seem to run together.

Ordinary moments unfold around me daily

and I need to stop and relish in them.

One day, my boys will be out living life

and I will miss these everyday experiences.

So, I am taking the time to document

the simple moments that pass between us.

I'm calling this little collection of memories...

Raising a writer.

Griffin approached me the other day with some news.

"I want to write a novel." he told me.

He had an inspired idea and knows exactly what it will be about.

"It's a Sci fi/ Fantasy book and will be about a digital apocalypse

where geeky computer kids save the world with data.

When I'm done I want to query agents."

Seems like someone has been

watching his mama very closely.

The boy has dedication.

Just this morning before school,

he very seriously told me

that he needed to write before he could eat breakfast.

An idea had come to him in his sleep.

I just love the sight of his bedhead hair

glowing in the light of the computer screen.

The best part is that he comes to me to brainstorm.

We've been talking quite a bit about story structure and plot.

I just love watching my little writer bloom

and will forever treasure these

moments when we connect over words and ideas.

I can't wait to read his novel when it's complete.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

The Happiness Project :: Daffodils

So, a few weeks ago when the ice storm blew through

I was really worried that the Daffodil buds in my yard

wouldn't make it this year.

They just looked so cold and confused.

I've been rooting for them

and sending good thoughts their way.

I'm so thrilled that they made it

through the freaky weather.

They are the first flowers to bloom

in my yard and are such

a happy reminder that

Spring is just around the corner.

Hey, guess what?
Last week was week 52
and I can't stop scouting out joy now.
As a matter of fact...
The Happiness Project
is officially going to be a permanent fixture now.

Why limit ourselves to only one year
of seeking out happiness?
I just completed my 4th year
and now it's simply a way
of life for me!

So, let's keep going!!

<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://leighvslaundry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDlTpcH4NLUtEmwNL0NN5VLXVeyjV46LKaE_IoC7X_RD8bZ-n_b5j289xzqMLNM1le6o35B_0XOuvMBXJem-9PEiJp-mFplO6No54TEbwKtFqQGo2AXj55bde2DYHTASGWyexlFZehWn_/s1600/happiness2.jpg" /></a></div> 
Want to join me in my quest

to scout out happiness in our lives?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.

Monday, February 24, 2014

On being in a bit of a blogging rut.

      Have you noticed that I've been posting on this here bliggidy blog less frequently? It's not that I don't love y'all, I swear. The thing is, sometimes I am just plugging along with life and it doesn't seem all that blogworthy. I mean, do you really want to read about how I ate half of a jar of Nutella with spoon as I stood over the sink and gazed off into space? Does anybody need to know that my adorable kids have been home for almost two weeks straight because of ice storms and illnesses and that we've all been driving each other bonkers. See, it's just not that interesting.

    Also, I'm writing this little ol' novel and my brain can only come up with so much creative stuff. How many words can fit in my brain at once? How many clever ideas can one woman have? Not to mention that I'm writing this thing in between doing my mom duties. You'd be amazed at how much writing I get done with my two boys clobbering each other a mere 3 feet away from me. It takes all my focus to come up with fancy words like saliferous to describe the taste of tears while my children hit me on the head with a Nerf sword. I'm not kidding.

   So, this space has slipped away from me a bit but I'm so glad to meet you here when I can. Please excuse the mess, I've been a bit busy. Also, try to ignore the fact that I have a moustache in that photo and also a little glob of ketchup from shoving french fries in my face before I took that selfie. I'm just classy that way.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

An Oldie but a Goodie :: When They Try to Need You Less

Originally posted 2/22/12

I've realised recently that I am clinging a bit to the bedtime that unfolds in Griffin's bed. We snuggle up beneath the covers and he twists a lock of my hair between his fingers. Sleepy words escape my lips as I make up stories to lull his mind into a peaceful slumber. Sometimes, I stroke his cheeks with one finger just as my Mammaw would do to me as a child when we cuddled in her Lazy-Boy Recliner.

Those sweet moments are coming to a close, I can feel it. I know that my big seven year old should be able to fall asleep on his own but we both enjoy the ritual so much. I am well aware that is my job to usher him into independence, no matter how wonderful the present is.

He has requested to try to do bedtime on his own. With piles of books stacked beside him, he reads silently in his bed beneath the light of the lamp that sits on his bedside table. Not quite brave enough to do it completely alone, I sit on my bed , where he can still see me while I read a book as well. The French doors that separate our rooms are closed tight but the curtains are drawn open, so we can check on each other from over our books. Security is barely a room away. He looks so big to me, sprawled out on his bed with his gangly legs spread out over the covers.

He pretends to read until he makes a mad dash to me, throwing open the French Doors to ask me to pronounce a long word that had caused him stumble in the story. He scoots off back to his bed, pulling the doors closed again but looking at me over his shoulder. A few minutes pass and he is back in my bed to tell me about a moment in his day that he forget to tell me earlier. This goes on for about 15 minutes until he eventually asks me to lay in bed with him and tell him a story. He can't quite do it alone just yet but he wants to be independent so desperately. Soon enough, he'll be there soon enough.

As we glide to his bed, hand in hand, I treasure that I am still invited to take part in his bedtime ritual. We snuggle up and I tell him grand stories about pirates or mystical dragons. The words float above our heads and I want to grab them and hold onto them forever. Pretty soon, he will stop asking me to tell them.

I am taking in every single detail. His grubby fingers twist and turn locks of my hair, his sleepy breath slows as his strong chest moves up and down, and he drifts off to sleep. The fleeting moments are so peaceful and beautiful...I wish that we could just linger in that place together forever. I know that I have to boldly let it go, though.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Two Sick Boys

Both of the boys have Strep throat.

I'm busy

administering medicine,

scooping up bowls of ice cream,

and taking care of my two sickies.

You can add "nurse"

to my long list of duties

in my home.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

The Happiness Project :: Week 52

Roger always buys me flowers

for special holidays, like Valentine's Day.

He has the uncanny ability

to pick the prefect bouquet that

blooms over the course of a week.

I just love watching the closed flowers

open up and say "hello" long after

I've put them in the vase.

He says it's an artform

and that you should look for

a good bud to flower ratio.

I love that I married such a smart man.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Happy Valentine's Day!

Yesterday, the boys took a break

from playing in the snow (more on that later)

to sign their gifts for their friends at school.

We went with a store bought pack

of Fun Dip. (We're just not Pinteresting).

Anyway, this was the first year

that Koen was old enough to sign

his own name on the Valentine's.

He worked so hard to scribble

the letters on 25 packets of candy.

I just love seeing his little chicken scratch.

It's the sweetest thing, ever.

He's getting to be such a big boy.

I cherish these milestones.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

The Happiness Project :: Week 51

Not to get all Church Lady on y'all but

I'm really enjoying a Bible study

that I'm attending about the Patriarchs.

I made a deal with myself

that the first thing I would do when

I woke up was my devotion for the day.

At first it was kind of annoying.

I mean, Facebook was calling to me

My e-mail needed answering.

I wanted to read blogs.

But I stuck with it

and now I really treasure the time I spend

studying the Word.

I love that my children see me

sitting at the table with my Bible cracked open.

It feels so good to start the day

out in prayer.

I'm finding myself feeling

more peaceful

in the chaotic moments

of the day

because of my morning meditation.

Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.