It was a rainy, quiet sort of day. Rather than focus on a to do list, I instead made a mental list of accomplishments. I find this is better for me. Stains treated, laundry started. Bathroom cleaned. Math lesson finished. Two little girls with new knitting. Beatrix’s first solo stitches.
Later, when Silas started throwing up and Beatrix joined him, I was very grateful that I had gotten the bathroom cleaned. Sometimes the smallest thing, makes facing the days that turn yucky a little bit easier.
Lisa @ HappyinDoleValley says
It really is the simple things in life that matter for a busy mom, isn’t it? Hope your brood is well soon.
Jo says
Ah, it makes my heart glad to see your girls knitting!
Laura says
I absolutely positively love your outlook on life in this post. Sometimes it really is the tiniest victories that can save the day. I hope your kiddos get well soon. xoxo
Heidi says
My children are grown & have families of their own now. I cherish the small amount of time that I can read about your family and view your simple and beautiful photos of them and your life. Thanks for sharing with us. It brings back so many wonderful memories.
Amanda says
Um… when did Bea become a big girl? I’ve been following your blog for only about two months. When I started, she seemed like the older of your two babies and suddenly, she’s become the smaller of the two girls. Funny how those things happen.
Janel @ Creating Tasty Stories says
I love the photos of your knitting girls. You can see they are really concentrating. Adorable. Hope they feel better soon!
Dana says
Is it bad that I have bathtub envy? I wish I could fill a tub and stretch out and soak!
I hope your kiddos feel better soon – poor things!
Luckybeans says
Such fullness to the days. The concentration on Bea’s banged up brow and Silas in the tub absolutely melt me in all the best ways. These days are so fleeting. I know it’s said a thousand times, but only because it is true, and we value them so. Thank you for allowing us a glimpse.
Marnie says
Love the idea of an accomplishments list rather than a to do list!
Maria Fitz says
First of all – WOW – Congratulations (ok, not related to this post, but it’s been a while since I checked in and was just catching up on some posts.) So happy for you. I can’t believe how big Silas has gotten. He looks so much like Bea! And wow again – Bea knitting! So awesome. Looking forward, as always, to more life unfolding. Also related to another post but I can empathize with I-95, I take it every day to work! lol
tara says
Aww I hope the littles are feeling better! I love the look of concentration on Bea’s face.
Kristin says
Such a great idea to make a mental accomplishment list! I’m pregnant and having some issues so I can’t lift my toddler or do much of anything else, really, so any to-do lists I might think up can’t be done unless someone else does them for me — it makes me crazy! But I think I’ll start making a mental accomplishment list — changed Hannah’s diapers, fed her, clothed her and myself!, made her giggle 🙂 SO different from what an accomplishment list would’ve looked like just a week and a half ago, but it’s the little things, right?
Robina says
It’s the little things that make a difference. Love that tub pic.
Ashley F. says
Oh no! I hope the kids are feeling better and no one else gets sick. On another note, we just checked out that Extra Yarn book in the first picture from our library a couple of days ago. It has been the first book the girls ask for at bedtime since then, we love it!
Laura says
Hope the little ones get well soon!!
My younger son is a few months younger than Beatrix, so when I see her reaching big milestones (like knitting!!) I cannot avoid a sad feeling as I realize that she and my son are growing so fast…
Martha says
Sorry about the sick ones. I made an accomplishment list for yesterday too- and it was much better than a failed to do list. Cut everyone’s hair, washed all of the sheets, ran a few errands 🙂 Didn’t do school, but we aren’t too far from finishing up this year.
Cary says
Oh my- I hope everyone starts feeling better soon. Hang in there mama:)
Elizabeth says
So sorry for the illness; little things like this do mean a lot. Hang in there; Motherhood is not for the faint of heart and not always easy; but we are Never Alone, Thank our Good Lord. You have a beautiful family…
Nahuatl Vargas says
I hope they are better.
Andréann says
Those days of being *very* pregnant I find myself doing just that, too. There’s so many things that still needs to be done, but I DO gets other things done as well, and with the state of my body, a little pat in the back from myself is needed to get through the mess.
Hope you littles get better soon!
Briana (justamouse) says
I was sitting between three girls teaching them to knit Sunday and Monday, too. That picture of Beatrix with her super concentration face is adorable.
underthebigbluesky says
i have found myself doing this as well, counting off my accomplishments rather than thinking of all that did not get done.
hope your littles are well soon.
Gina says
Bless your heart! Those are hard days. Hope it passes quickly.
Spalva says
How funny, my youngest daughter has that same Holland t-shirt! Her father got it for her there. I think I donated it, but in Lithuania. It couldn’t have travelled that far, right?
A clean bathroom for being sick is a very good thing. A dirty one is just the kind of thing that would throw me over the edge!
Hope everyone feels better soon!
Ginny says
Who knows? We got it in a bag of hand me downs!
anneke says
maybe it’s fun to know for Beatrix, our queen (until this morning) is named Queen Beatrix.
This morning she abdicated the throne and her oldest son, Prince Willem Alexander became King in her place. We now have a new King. You can google Queen Beatrix or King Willem Alexander to read about it.
http://news.sky.com/story/1084746/willem-alexander-takes-netherlands-throne
Fräulein Rucksack says
Oh these reminds me of quiet hours stitching with my brother on the sofa. Around the same age I guess.
I totally agree about the accomplishment lists. I had bad days and going to bed I often thought I got nothing done (regarding to do lists). But when I started writing down (or just thinking) what I actually made I felt better and I do even believe that I got more done then. And even sitting with the littles is something!
Hope everyone is feeling better soon!
Lisa Eggers says
Wishing you a peaceful, healing day XOXO.
Olivia says
Hope it’s a quick bug! Oh, knitting…so lovely to be able to pass these things on. And so important.
Peace be with you.
Stephanie says
I can totally relate to you Ginny. I do a list of accomplishments check at the end of almost everyday and thank God that he helped me do it. It keeps me from being discouraged over what is still lying on the floor. I hope the littles are feeling better soon. Stephanie
Ginny says
Exactly. I find myself whispering “thank yous” over every little thing that I get done around here.
Alma says
love those busy little hands on the needles 😉 and that yarn book
sorry to hear about Silas and Beatrix… hope they feel better Ginny