Sunday, as I was getting ready to do a quick clean in the garage, I thought about how I've come to accept mediocrity. Mind you I'm not referencing anyone here but me, myself, and I. With the onset of my hand injuries I have had to scale back drastically. It is difficult learning how to stand by and watch but the pain was such that I was forced to accept it.

Before my weekends were filled with crafting, sewing, and gardening, at the onset I was reduced to ice packs on the couch a magazine in my lap. No more pushing kids on swings, cartwheels or softball in the backyard. I've become an encouraging observer in my daughters' activities and a director in tree trimming or rose cutting. All those things I love, my hobbies robbed.

A few weeks ago we took out Samantha's half broken bed (shoddy structure) and reconfigured her room. In doing so we had to switch around the bookcases, desk, bed, and pictures. There are holes all over the walls.  The pre-injured me would have had that room patched that night and painted the next day. As it stands, there are still holes everywhere, the bookcases are still brown, and the paint still sits in the unopened gallon, and I'm okay with that somehow. 

For now my big plans, my hobbies, will have to sit in a "to do" file just a bit longer. I'm on the last leg of my hand treatment. Mediocrity is here to stay for a while longer.

I love reading home decor blogs. I'm attracted to spaces that are kid-friendly, practical, and pretty, which can be a difficult combination to achieve. Our dining room was repurposed a couple of years ago when we decided to make it work for us.

We opted for a couple of doors on our bookcases to hide kid clutter. One of those bookcases hides coloring books and all related accessories. However, the mess started to grow and the doors weren't
closing, not to mention I was tired of picking up half broken crayons.

Still working on my chalk finesse

I liked the idea of a see-through container for crayons and markers. I found two cookie jars at Target and filled them with new crayons and markers. Suddenly my girls were coloring for hours every day because they could see the colors and they weren't hidden from view.

Samantha suggested I do like we'd seen on Pinterest and paint a chalkboard label on the jars that said crayons and markers. (Smart kiddo.) My mom then suggested that we paint a mailing label with chalk paint and stick it on the jar so we could change our mind and color whenever. It worked really well.

Parenting

Never doubt the lengths a parent will go through to make his child feel accepted, loved, secure, and confident. 

Last weekend I finally made good on my mom's birthday present: a painting workshop using Annie Sloan chalk paints at Loot in Soquel. We could not have asked for a better day--it was 75 in Soquel! It ended up just the two of us with the instructor and we got to play with paint. It was the perfect day to spend, pre-Mother's Day, together doing something we both enjoy. 

While we were there my phone beeped with a picture of my daughter, with a numbered sticker on her chest. So Al had something up his sleeve, eh?! As it turns out, Al had been conversing with the producer about allowing Samantha to watch the audition process so she'd understand what to do next time. As they were leaving, Al thanked the producer and Samantha blurted, "My dad would make a great Shrek! He looks just like him." Next thing you know Al and Samantha have numbered stickers on their chests. 

They both sang and Al read some lines from Shrek the Musical. That night they got a call--they both got parts. Al is Lord Farquad's henchman, Thelonius, and Samantha is Little Bo Peep.

In my opinion, this is the best mother's day gift I've received yet: my husband, taking this step with Samantha, giving her the confidence to audition. She's wanted to do this for so long, but shies up when the time comes around. She's such a social butterfly! 

The next three months will be busy with rehearsals 4 days a week, but Alyssa and I are ready to take on the early dinners together to help them on their way. 

I'm so proud of my Thelonius and Little Bo Peep!