Currently: Oh, Snap

Linking up with Lindsey and Randalin again this week, sharing what is currently going on around here. This week's theme words are: starting, looking, listening, snapping, making.

I'm finally starting to get into the groove of things again. I took a bit of time off from blogging, photography, and TV during the holiday week and into January so I could get more rest and just take care of myself for a while. I'm doing some personal journaling and trying to get some clarity on where I am and where I want to be. Good, good stuff. I did not take a break from social media, however, so I probably spent a few too many hours surfing Facebook (and definitely Instagram). At least I still made some progress, so it's all good.

While I was looking around Jo-Ann's last night (getting crafty), the Spring decor was actually making me feel depressed. I think there's something wrong with me. I am sad about the lack of snow this winter, and was actually really happy when the temps were below 20F. I think it's time I moved to the South Pole. I love penguins, so that could work.

I'm currently listening to a few new albums I purchased recently by Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean, and Little Big Town. They are all great, but I especially like the one by LBT. They are just amazing, and if you ever have a chance to see them live -- do it! Speaking of seeing people live, my friends and I have plans to see NKOTB, Nelly and TLC this Spring. Hollerrr! (Yeah, I'll never grow up.)

If you hear the sound of snapping, that would be me, putting together the millions of pieces to the Playmobil sets Joshua got for Christmas and his birthday. Don't get me wrong, the toys are amazing and have already gotten several hours of play, but holy smokes, it took me an hour just to put together the camper. I guess that means I get to play with it, too!

Big project this morning: Playmobil camper. Took an hour to assemble it and a small car. Those little stickers are the worst! :)

A photo posted by Jessica Sweeney (@goaliej54) on Jan 17, 2015 at 12:51pm PST

All this bickering between Republicans and Democrats is making me crazy. I keep getting emails from one party asking for money to fight back against the other. Seriously? I pay enough taxes for you people to get things done. I'd rather donate my money to people who are actually going to help other people. As the Patriots football team would say (their post-season motto): "DO YOUR JOB!"

And that's all the soap box I have in me for today. Have a great week, everyone!

Currently: My Math Wiz and Lots of Rambling

I'm once again joining Lindsey from Ot and Et, Randalin from Harvesting Kale, and others to share what is "currently" going on with us, based on the week's themes.

This week's themes are:

finding, writing, dressing, thinking, beginning

*****

I had to move my desk at work this week, and I have been finding all kinds of fun artifacts. I can't believe I had been in my old desk for about six and a half years (I was pregnant last time we moved). Oh, and I found lots and lots of dust. I tried to corral it all with a Swiffer today. Hopefully that will help because my nose is mad at me.

*****

I took last week off from writing because it was a busy one. Also, I haven't had much to write about lately. That's not a bad thing at all, just doing a lot of internal processing. I do love to write, though. I wish I had more hours. Right now, I tend to be way too much about photos and genealogy when I have free time, but that's OK. I have a lot of interests. And other times, I just need to veg.

*****

Mmm... dressing. I am ready for Thanksgiving. Seriously though, I usually call that "stuffing," and if I eat too much of it, I won't be dressing very stylishly anytime soon. This week, I have been dressing rather warmly, actually, as it's pretty cold these days. I don't mind, though. I love this hoodie and sweater (and toque!) weather. I just need to find some gloves. And my snow scraper, if Buffalo ever decides to stop hogging all the snow and share some with us! (Yeah, I'm pretty certain they would if they could.)

*****

Josh has always liked numbers and gotten basic math concepts, but this week, I am beginning to see just how well he gets it, and enjoys thinking about and manipulating numbers (just like his mama). He has a chart of numbers that he has written out, with the numbers lined up in groups of ten, and he was studying it one morning.

"Mom, did you know that ten tens makes one hundred?"

Pretty good. I explained that this is a concept that he'll be learning later called multiplication, "So ten sets of ten makes one hundred, and you say 'Ten times ten equals one hundred.'"

Without a pause: "Oh OK, so ten times eleven is one hundred and ten."

Cool, he gets it!

Earlier in the week, we were traveling in the car with my father and step-mother. Josh had brought twelve toys over to their house, which he remembered because we also had to bring the piece of paper on which he wrote the number twelve, so everyone would be counted, and no one would be left behind. He only brought four toys to the restaurant with us, and my step-mother wanted to teach him how to figure out how many toys were still at her house. By the time she finished asking me what I thought would be the easiest way to help him figure it out, he said, "Eight. I counted it backwards in my head." Crazy kid. He continued to correctly answer every addition question we asked after that, too (forty plus sixty is one hundred... duh!).

Come to think of it, he's always writing random numbers all over the place. He writes them on his school papers sometimes, like 3895-294874-3948, and tells me that's his password. Maybe I'm raising a math genius, or at least a math nerd like me. And all I keep thinking is, "Please God, don't let there be Common Core AP Calculus when he's in high school."

Loves vehicles and math and wants to be an engineer. I think his path is clear.
Well, if he doesn't decide to be President or a doctor or an actor instead.

Currently: I Want Candy

I'm once again joining Lindsey from Ot and Et, Randalin from Harvesting Kale, and others to share what is "currently" going on with us, based on the week's themes. This week's themes are: reading, running, sending, liking, valuing

I haven't been reading too much of anything, besides Ree Drummond's children's books to my son. He's quite taken with the Pioneer Woman and her dog, Charlie. Josh just loves any book that personifies animals (Duck on a Bike is a favorite). I think he's going to love Animal Farm one day (I did), but maybe we'll try Charlotte's Web first.

I haven't been running much of anything, either. Just myself on the elliptical machine. I definitely prefer Zumba, though. And hockey. Which reminds me: I need to find out when pick-up starts again. I miss playing, big time.

I just finished sending in my Movember donation to a co-worker. I also need to get going on food and toy donations. I really want to involve Joshua this year, because I feel it's something he needs to start learning. He had a meltdown in CVS the other night because I wouldn't buy him a stuffed animal. I think he needs to help me shop for kids who can't even afford socks.

I'm really liking those Kit Kats in Joshua's bowl of candy that he'll never eat. Maybe too much. (Seriously, my child eats zero candy, but hey, it's easy on the dental bill.)

"When I snap my fingers, you will eat all of my candy!"

I have been learning a lot about valuing myself this week. Really digging deep to find my strengths and passions, trying to build my self-esteem and figure out where I can be successful. I realized that, while I may not be an idea person, I am pretty good at executing ideas and supporting those who have them. I make a pretty good cheerleader to those I admire, for whatever reason, or at least I hope so. And I am realizing more and more that photography is my biggest passion. I have always been into things like sports, concerts, and political events, but I realized what I really like to do there is take photos, capture exciting moments. My dream is to be a photo journalist. I know I am nowhere good enough to do so right now, but I want to learn. I signed up for a photo class this week and cannot wait to begin!

How was your week?

Currently: Halloween Preparations

I'm once again linking up with Lindsey from Ot and Et and Randalin of Harvesting Kale for another edition of "Currently."

This week's themes:
committing, loving, organizing, watching, shopping

I'm committing to go to the gym at least 3 times a week: twice during the week and at least once on the weekend. Lucky for me, Josh loves the child care area. (Who wouldn't? It has a bounce house!) I have been going for the past couple of weeks, and I already feel so much better. So far it's just running on the elliptical machine and Zumba class, but I am hoping to get into weights and hopefully some Yoga classes. The Zumba teacher is super fun, which is good motivation. We even got in touch with our inner zombies tonight while dancing to "Thriller."

I'm loving:
- Joshua's sorcerer costume, hand-made by my talented mother.
- Music by Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. Especially this.
- My dinner from Chipotle. Nom nom nom.
- All of the fun plans I'm making with my friends. Good times ahead!

I spent a good portion of my August and September organizing my apartment, so I haven't been doing much of that lately. I still need to get my office organized (so many papers), but I keep telling myself it will happen when it's too cold to go out in the Winter. I'll just have to fight off the hibernation instinct that tells me to lay on the couch and watch some movies instead.

I've been watching a lot of television lately, but I am trying to limit myself to one show a night. Currently on my DVR: Once Upon a Time, The Big Bang Theory, The Voice, The Biggest Loser, and Finding Your Roots. I am a history nerd, so I'm totally fascinated by that last one. I received a discount offer for Ancestry.com a couple of months ago, and have started doing my own genealogy. Turns out, my family has American Revolution patriots, and Scottish Lords, and who knows what else (rumor has it: King Macbeth). So interesting. Oh, and I'll be watching Hocus Pocus tomorrow night, because I love to watch that every Halloween. I also need to find Practical Magic because I love that one, too.

I went shopping tonight for last-minute candy and a little gift for Joshua. Oh my word. It's Christmas everywhere! Apparently, Halloween is the new Thanksgiving. And then, I have to admit, I bought the first gift of the season (some planes Joshua has been eyeing). Oh well, it will be here before we know it, and personally, I wouldn't mind shopping in November so I can enjoy December.

Have a Happy Halloween, and a great week! :)

Currently: Go with the Flow

This week's themes are: anticipating, contributing, discussing, listening, deciding

I'm not really anticipating anything this week... just trying to go with the flow.

I have felt crappy all week, so I haven't been contributing much to anything. My stomach is a mess. I'm not sure if it's a bug, or stress, or something I ate, but I am ready for it to go! I can't complain, though, it could be worse. My brother was sent home from the hospital last Friday, only to be taken to the ER and admitted yesterday. I feel so bad for him. That's something I should be contributing to -- the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. Crohn's is a really horrible disease!

We have been discussing the great things moms do on Instagram this week. See Elaine and Alison's posts for more. Such a wonderful initiative. We mamas do so much for our kiddos.

A photo posted by Jessica Sweeney (@goaliej54) on Oct 10, 2014 at 8:26pm PDT

Joshua and I have been listening to the soundtrack from The Muppet Movie. The only song I recognized when we first bought it was "The Rainbow Connection," but we've come to love them all. Josh and I sing "Movin' Right Along" in the car; he does Kermit's part, and I do Fozzie's. So fun. Josh does a pretty good Kermit impression. And also, Yosemite Sam. I heard him in the bathroom this evening, "Shh... be vewy vewy quiet!" I love it.

I am still deciding what to do with that furniture I want to sell. I am abnormally paranoid about Craigslist. And forever a procrastinator.

How is your week going?

Linking up with Lindsey and Randalin for this week's edition of "Currently"

Currently: Being Kind to Myself and Promoting Creativity

I discovered today that one of my favorite Instagrammers is also a blogger, which was super exciting because I am looking forward to reading more about her two adorable children and all the good times they have. Her son is just three days younger than Joshua -- the coolest little dude -- and his younger sister is just the cutest (and apparently, toughest) little cookie.

Lindsey is co-hosting a link-up called "Currently." In her words: "The deal: Use our themes or use your own - just let us know what is 'currently' going on with you! Be sure to stop by and say hello to the other bloggers linking up - especially to my amazing co-host at Harvesting Kale." Sounds good to me; I'll play along.

This week's themes: appreciating, feeling, looking, regretting, playing

Tonight, I am appreciating those make me feel like I contribute something to society, especially when others tend to brush me off. We all want to feel like we are part of something, that we are worthy and important and needed. I appreciate when others appreciate me. I also appreciate the wonderful nurses and doctors and medical students at Beth Israel hospital in Boston, who have helped my brother recover from illness. He has been in and out of the hospital since August, and in for about a month this last round. He has been doing so much better since they have started caring for him up there, and I am so thankful for that. Hopefully, it's nothing but recovery and health from here.

I am feeling tired. There aren't enough hours in the day to do everything I'd like to do. I suppose I could skip television, but then I wouldn't be feeling as inspired as I was after watching The Biggest Loser tonight. I'm signing up for the gym this weekend! I'm feeling ready to make a lot of positive changes in my life.

I'm looking for someone to buy some old furniture. Anyone in the tri-state area interested? I need to get it out of storage because it's expensive, but I have to admit I am paranoid about having to meet people if I were to place an ad on Craig's List. I may just donate the couch and chair, but the dining room set was expensive, and I'd like to get some money for it.

Cow and Sheep navigate the corn maze

I'm not really regretting anything, except maybe not being as productive as I wanted to be this weekend. OK, who am I kidding? That Once Upon a Time marathon was totally worth it. Sometimes you need to veg. I'm currently working on improving my self-worth, and being kind to myself and allowing myself to rest and taking care of myself is vital to that.

I'm looking forward to playing with Joshua this weekend. Our current "game" is "Chicken Tornado 6: Kitty's Adventure," in which Kitty the cat meets all of her animal friends (inspired by The Muppet Movie).  There is also a spin-off, played at Nana's house, called "Cow and Sheep Meet the World," which led to the very awesome creation of a Super Trash Jet Plane (a box converted to an airplane, in which the animals can travel). Playing with Josh is always interesting. There are plot lines and scripts, and even musical numbers (some written by the playwright himself). Each animal has a very distinctive personality (and voice). If this kid doesn't grow up to make movies, he'll be making Broadway musicals. Although, in his words, "I want to be everything when I grow up, but especially an engineer and a poop doctor."

There you go.

So... how YOU doing?