Parental Failure

It seems I'm not only a failure at blogging, but also parenting...

On a side note, I did spend a while last night reading up on some of the blogs that I used to read daily and haven't in probably a year.  One lady I followed only had a few postings throughout the year.  I was happy to see that until I saw the reason why...she'd had a 4th baby!  Thank goodness my reason is just that I have been lazy!!

Chris and I have done more ordering online for Christmas than actual in-store shopping.  A box came yesterday and I wasn't sure if it was a present for me or a present for Chris because I couldn't think of any other gifts we had ordered the boys that hadn't come.

When Chris got home we both shook it and looked at the return address.  Neither of us was certain who it was for so we decided to enlist Colby's help.  We told him to open the box and then Chris whispered what he would find if it was in fact a present for me.  Colby opened it, looked inside and said "Nope".  So, I whispered in Colby's ear what he would find if it was in fact a present for Chris.  He looked at me and said, "Nope."  Then he grabbed the box and said, "It for me!"  And, yes, it was!!  We all got a huge laugh out of mom and dad's craziness!

Apparently, we need to be more organized when we shop!

Recreating Perfection

I have to brag about my sweet husband...

Last night, he ran to the store for dinner...he came back with a loaf of nice bread, olives from the olive bar and a bouquet of flowers. He then proceeded to make our favorite appetizer in Italy -- Caprese -- tomatoes and mozzarella drizzled in Extra Virgin Olive Oil and an Italian Balsamic Vinegar. With the bread and the olives, I could almost imagine sitting at a table in a piazza surrounded by perfection.

...I am blessed!

The Master Packer

Before I got married, there was a certain method to my packing a suitcase...pile everything I wanted to take into a pile and then cram it in! If it all didn't fit, I'd just bring another suitcase!

That method abruptly changed soon after our wedding when the whole Marshall clan went to Hawaii for two weeks. I was informed that I would have one suitcase -- for TWO WEEKS!! I don't remember how that turned out...evidently it did 'cuz I'm still married and I've traveled lots with the whole Marshall clan so I wasn't "kicked out" based on my packing skills!!

I guess I just don't have the packing gene. Chris does. He is The Master Packer. The boys and I love to sit and watch Chris pack a suitcase. He is very organized and there is not a space that goes unused. It probably also helps because he does not take a lot of stuff. Weird!

He left today for two weeks in China. Here is his pile...FOR TWO WEEKS!!

I sat there and watched him pack it neatly into his just-a-size-above-a-carry-on suitcase...

...and quickly reminded him that in six weeks when we leave for Italy, his packing skills will get a challenge!

My Most Favorite Day of the Year

May 11 is the day that my soulmate was born. I believe that as God was "knitting him together" He already knew that he would create me for him several months later.

I have been blessed by having him a part of my life for the past 26 years! There is no one else that I would rather do this thing called life with!!

Happy Birthday Baby!!

It's Just the Way I Am

I believe I have posted about my Type A personality when it comes to closet organization. When the boys and I clean out their closets, we organize them by season and by color. So, all the short-sleeved shirts are together grouped by color; all the long-sleeved shirts are together grouped by color -- see? Very easy to find things this way. This is how I organize my closet as well...

It is not uncommon for Chris to holler out for me to come and help him match shirts with certain pants. And, I have to admit, it can be a little overwhelming and easier to wear the same thing over and over.

Twice-a-year, we will go on a shopping spree for him and invariably we get to the store and don't know what he has nor what he needs. Because I am not allowed to group his shirts by color, I really don't have a feel for his attire!

About a month ago, we were fixing to go out on such a shopping venture and I decided to use my organizational skills in a new way. I was going to know what he had and what he needed! So, for about two hours I took out every piece of clothing and began "matching" outfits together. I started with his black pair of pants and wrote down each shirt that could be worn with those black pants. I even took pictures of each set -- afterward I decided that he was a big boy and could read the label and match to the lists without help from pictures!

When I finished, I had this:

He can now go probably a year without wearing the exact same outfit! Although it's not too pretty, this list makes me so happy! And, when we went to the store, we knew exactly which colored shirts he could use and if there was anything in his closet to match new pairs of pants. Yipee!!

I concocted this while Chris was out of town and stapled it to his closet before he got home. I was anxious to see his reaction. He walked in and started laughing! However, a couple of days ago he came out wearing a nice ensemble - :) - and I asked him if he got that idea from the list and he told me that he did and that he looks at it every morning to help him get dressed!

Does he know how to warm my heart or what?!?

Changes and Risks

A week ago today, Chris resigned from the company that he had worked for for over 14 years. A company that hired him fresh out of college and who molded him and shaped him into the businessman he is today.

This last week I have been made aware of how big an impact Chris made on many people's lives. When he came home Wednesday afternoon, he was truly spent. It was probably one of the most emotional days he has ever had. He said the people streamed into his office after hearing he was leaving to tearfully tell him goodbye. The e-mails and phone calls we continue to still get are amazing to me. I guess, being the wife and not seeing my man in action at work, I always wondered what kind of a boss/co-worker he was. I have my answer and can say that I am so proud of him. He has left a positive mark on many.

Some may say we are crazy, especially in today's business climate. We also are not ones who like change or risk-taking. This might be why it took us three months to decide that this was a risk we should take.

When we went to Mt. Rushmore this past summer, a park ranger gave a talk on the four presidents and the risks that shaped them into the great men they became. This park ranger had a funny way of saying "risks" and would really emphasize the "sks" at the end. She also used the word "risks" at least twice per sentence. By the end of her presentation all four of us were hysterical. "Risks" has become a word we will say to each other and then will all laugh and be transported back to a great summer vacation.

Come Monday, Chris will start fresh at a new company. I know he will do great; but, it is a little nerve-racking for me and I am sure for him as well. The "what-if's" were too great not to try this risk...I am confident this risk will shape him into an even greater man.

In the meantime, Chris is off until next Monday and has been working on projects around the house. Remember my post a few months back, "All That's Left is the Finishing Up"? Well...he is "finishing things up"!!! It is also Spring Break and we all are loving having Daddy home with us!

Way To Go, Honey!

I have to give a blogging pat-on-the-back to my husband. You see, it has been AT LEAST six years since he has cleaned out his closet. And, I say six years because we moved into this house six years ago...so I can't even be sure he had gotten rid of anything before we moved.

Chris goes "work clothes" shopping once a year MAYBE twice if his black Dockers need replacing! So, the other night he announced it was time to go shopping for him again. I said that was fine; but, first we HAD to clean out his closet. This caught Connor's attention like I have never seen. He got a glint in his eye, got up in Chris's face and started pointing his finger at Chris and said, "OK. This is how it's going to go. Mom is going to make you make two piles. A give-away pile and a keep pile. Then she will take the keep pile and organize it into short-sleeves and long-sleeves and hang them in your closet with all the whites together, all the blues together, and on and on!" I was so proud of my son for knowing my love of organization! Chris quickly nixed the organization by color idea -- he doesn't know what he is missing. It works great for me and both boys!!

Anyhow, we went to Macy's, stocked up on pants, shirts and belts to last another year and headed home. Chris disappeared so I wentlooking for him. I rounded the corner to our bathroom and saw a HUGE pile of clothes thrown out of the closet. I guess he wanted to get in there before I did! He ended up filling three gigantic garbage bags full of clothes to give away. Yeah!! I am very proud of him and hopes he feels less stressed in the mornings when he gets dresses! Ha!Ha!

I just wish he'd let me color-coordinate!