Currently @ the Innes Family #2

I have begin to really love currently posts--I think it really gives a snapshot of what is going on our busy hectic lives, and that we are not alone in all the funny crazy stuff that many of us mommy bloggers do. So, without further ado....

Currently @ the Innes family I am....

Cooking--- well really not cooking, but prepping food for taco nite. A favorite here. I think I may just have to run out to the store for more avocado as you can never have too much guacamole.

Making lesson plans. Yes, I am in full lesson planning mode. It dawned on me yesterday that I have three weeks left until I return to work. I took a two week break or so, but now I really have to get cracking, revising, and thinking about what I want my students to learn. Having a new prep also makes it a bit crazy!

Working on cleaning/organization. I'm not talking about the everyday chores, although they really are beginning to drive me crazy and I would give my left arm for a house cleaner (sadly not in the budget) about right now. I'm talking about the organizing, pairing down, throwing away, making space kind. I try to do a bit every day. Right now I really want to get a big load out to our church thrift store. This may end up being a bigger project than I anticipated.

Reading four different books. 2 on boy /toddler behavior (can you tell what my life is like), one on the Supreme Court, and the last a Mary Higgins Clark mystery.

Listening to 106.1 the Corner. Very eclectic station here in C-ville. I really do like it a lot. I get to hear everything from Ingrid Michaelson, Michael Fronte and Spearhead, to the Civil Wars--and really everything in between.

So what are you currently doing? Why not create your own list and let everybody know?

Currently @ the Innes Family-- 6/21/12

Currently I am....

Making...

the Mt. Everest of laundry disappear. I seriously think I could use a cleaning service just to keep up with the laundry at this house. And there are only three of us... could you imagine what it would be like if there were more? I shudder to think!

Listening to...

the sound of silence--Duncan is at day care today, and I am home alone. Actually... I was listening to my relax mix on my cloud player, but it just ended and I've been too lazy to get some new music on. 

Craving...

Rice Krispie treats. I think I'm going to have to make some later. Although I will say the all day mac 'n' cheese I have cooking in the crock pot smells pretty good too (will be blogging about this later)

Writing...

my list of things to-do before we go on vacation. There is just so much I need to get done, and I keep thinking of other little things...so the to list has made a re-appearance in my house. If you know me and my passion for to-do lists, you will know that it's a record 2 weeks without one--I was really trying to go with the flow a bit more this summer and not have everything planned. 

Laughing...

at the pictures of Duncan at the pool. Watching him can't help but make me smile. He is so proud of his new floatie and that he can get "in the water, mama". Will be blogging about this too, since we have finally gotten to one of the events on our bucket list (I know, I know---yes, it's another list).

What are you currently doing? Join up with the currently party link below. The list stays active for the week, so have fun. I'd love to see what you are "currently" doing. 

Excuses, Excuses...

It's been over a week since I have last posted and yes I am really slacking off. But hey, in my defense it is spring, the flowers are blooming and I am worse than my students waiting for the end of the school year. Alas, I shall settle for spring break. It is here!! And what pray-tell have I been doing these past weeks? Well, here's a quick roundup.

• Enjoying the sunshine and 70-80 degree weather.
• Playing with Duncan as much as I can outside. He loves the outside and so do I.
• Grading papers, grading papers and grading papers. Did I mention it's the end of the quarter and I'm grading papers?
• Reading The Happiest Toddler on the Block by Harvey Karp, M.D. It's been enlightening to read so far,and I am hoping to use more and more of his tips with Duncan and perhaps even my students.
• I got a mommy day!! Manicure, pedicure and a relaxing lunch.
• House dreaming...
• Going to bed at a decent time--no more staying up late for me if I can help it. I love my sleep way too much.
• Along with the grading... I'm trying to get my lesson and unit plans together for the rest of the school year. It's coming up quicker than I want and I need to plan this out right so I don't shortchange my students when it comes to state testing, but at the same time keeping the things that they are interested in learning--gotta find that balance.
• Committing myself to working out. Both my husband and I are starting a prep program to help us get a jump start on our health.
• and finally--Enjoying spring break and the chance to slow down, take a nap, and relax.

Kairos moments...

My friend Em posted a link the other day on facebook to a column written by a mom named Glennon Melton for the Huffington Post. (Here's the original link if you want to check it out) In it, along with other things, she talks about time--more specifically--types of time. One is Chronos time. It's regular time--like my students staring down the clock waiting for that last bell on a Friday afternoon, listening to 4 agonising minutes of a Dunc temper tantrum, or even counting the seconds when my husband disappears for more than 15 minutes and I'm up to my ears in bubble bath, toys, and a screeching toddler who doesn't want to get out of the tub. Chronos, Melton explains, is the slow passing time that we most often live in. It can be mean. It makes us feel old-er, and it's what exhausts me by the end of the day.  But then... there's Kairos time.

Kairos is God's time. It's time outside of time. It's metaphysical time. It's those magical moments in which time stands still and you see/feel/touch/hear/share the most wonderful things. I am all for Kairos time. It's the time I most look forward to everyday, and like Melton, half the time I can't remember the actual moment hours or days later, but I know it happened.  But then again, there are times that I hope to remember always. For example--

 A couple of days ago after a rather long day at school grading and prepping for semester exams, I came home to a crazy place--a kitchen that looked like it hadn't been cleaned in weeks, dinner still unmade,  toys everywhere, and my husband and child chasing each other back and forth thru the living room. I seriously thought I might explode or start crying. I needed a break--a bit of time--just to switch gears and start all over. See.. I do love being a working mom, I really do (another time and another post), but there are times I wish that could snap my fingers and life would be simple and stress free, my house would be clean, and dinner would be waiting for me...ya right! Like that is ever going to happen.

Back to my Kairos moment...after cleaning the kitchen, fixing dinner, and getting Dunc a bath and in fresh pjs,  I settled in with him for our nightly ritual...watching that day's episode of Dinosaur Train on the DVR and reading our good night books. Snuggled together on the couch, "blankie" and "monkee" in hand, I began to feel the slow rhythmic breathing of my little guy falling asleep on my chest--something he hasn't done much since he was a tiny baby. I was in heaven...or should I say Kairos time! I snuggled in and just looked at him in wonder---his blonde hair curling just at the ends, beautiful long eyelashes that could make anyone jealous, soft hand in mine, his baby smell--yes I think he still has it-- and that little sleepy sigh... how did I ever get so lucky? It's moments like this that I cherish being a mom and wish would never end.

SNAP! Back to Chronos time--I need to pick up toys and grade papers! As I slowly lift Dunc up and carry him to bed he snuggles deeper into my chest and opens his sleepy eyes for a just a sec, smiles and whispers, "Mum, wuv u". Ahh.... Kairos.