12.21.2009

In the moment....

I made a promise this week to my kids.



I will live the moment all week with them....



in the moment....



and focus all of my energy into them.








Ahem!



I didn't say i would do everything that their little hearts demand..



but i would sure try....



that...i could do.



I am very good at trying.



So..my good friend sharon organized a train trip ...



we decided to take a train ride to a restaurant....



a kids restaurant.



It was really a lot of fun....






We found a darling independent book store across the street



from the restaurant.....



i was able to stealthily buy my kids some books and puzzles that



they had so quietly begged for...



we have a tradition of giving the kids books to open on



christmas eve....






The restaurant is called Toot Toots....



i know....



i was hoping that there would at least be some decent food..



but i had to remember that i was there with friends...



and we were there for our kids..



not us.



But...it was darling...there is a mini railroad track that runs



around the restaurant and on the trains...



the food is delivered.



Fin was in love....



he now no longer wants to be a garbage truck man...



he wants to be a restaurant worker...










I normally don't dress for the weather...



it's silly i know...



my friends had on their thick winter jackets...



something i still do not have....



hey...it gets me out of sledding...



grrr.



i guess i said that i was going to live



in the moment this week...



so i might have to take the kids sledding..



which means..i might need to go out and



grab a new jacket....



it might do me good when we



head into Chicago *tomorrow*



to go skating.



You heard me right....



we are heading ice skating.


Another train ride...lunch with bryan...


and a bit of skating...






















I am going to savor each moment this week....



giving my focus on my babies....



and saying to myself...



it's ok that the laundry is piling up...



or the house is a disaster..



because...



i won't get this time back...



I want to be and live....



in the moment.





xo

* I am totally adding this * extra here. If it shall snow..then i totally have the right to refuse to do anything other than sit my butt in front of the tele and watch movies all day in my jammies.













52 comments:

Leah C said...

What a wonderful Mom you are! I bet you & your kiddoes will have a great week "living in the moment:) I hope to do that, too, with my two girls...because you're so right, we won't get these moments back. {And it's probably ok if you wish for a little bit of snow;} Enjoy!

BlueMoonScrapbooking said...

lol! love the extra little bit there!
have a wonderful week!
B

white flower farmhouse said...

I have been outside making an igloo with the kids for the past two hours. Brrrr, I just love your post today! All the best, Lori

Suzann said...

enjoy. every. minute.

Brenna LaPray said...

Good for you Kasey...are you trying to be good right before Santa comes to your house!?!
Lola looks adorable. I love how her feet are positioned while she reads her book.
I can't wait to hear about all your new adventures this week. Now go and buy yourself a winter coat!

Julie Harward said...

You are so smart to do just that...because they grow up so fast. As teens they may not want to hang out with Mom as much and then they are off to college and beyond, you'll want lots to remember for yourself and with them. I think you are a real good Mom! Have wonderful week..come say hi :D

1 Funky Woman said...

Oh, I bet the kids just loved that. I think Its always better to do those things with a girlfriend. Good luck sledding, its one of those things I dread but bite my tongue because they love it so much! By the way I love, love, love your coat. And I give you permission to sit in your jammies and watch movies. My daughter and I laid in bed watching Enchanted last night and loved it!

Megan

Michelle, All Home and Love said...

Teehee, love your little exception at the end. Living in the moment sounds wonderful. Between Christmas and New Years I plan to do just that, relax with the kids. No blogging, no major cooking, no cleaning. Well, actually I have to clean for our big New Years party but besides that, it's all about fun.

Enjoy your holiday Kasey! I hope your family has a wonderful day.
~Michelle

Lori said...

The little moments are the best moments Kasey ~ enjoy your week and be sure to come back and tell us all about it!

Anonymous said...

Forever is composed of nows. ~Emily Dickinson

Your children are beautiful. I enjoy reading your blog.

Happy Holidays!

Beki - TheRustedChain said...

Awww, how fun!

I mailed my very last order today and now I'm comitted to my kids for the next several days also.

Chablis said...

SUCH an inspiration! Of course, if you have 2 tele's then you can watch movies and the kids can watch cartoons all day...I'm sure they'd love it.

Martha said...

Okay...

Kasey...now did I ever say you could take a "mean" {not really "mean" but killer} photo?...because your kiddos and yourself are beautiful in those pics...looks like a very fun filled day!!! I am so glad you are living in the moment...did a bit of that today...and it.felt.great! Have a lovely week Kasey...you and your kiddos are cutie pie's to the "T".

Ashley said...

Your kiddos are doll-babies!!! Sounds like they are savoring each moment too... Precious!

Martha said...

By the way...your kiddos are beautiful in any kind of photo...I hope that came across the way I meant it...:)

LuLu said...

Sweet! What a wonderful day and i love your intentions.... this week live if up... it goes by so fast! I did absolutely nada for Christmas over the weekend... we played in the snow the entire time but it felt soooo good to just play!
wishing you a wonderful week full of great memories,
xo,
LuLu

T said...

That sounds perfectly perfect Kasey! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

truly blessed said...

Yeah for you! :) We're wishing for a bit of snow here. Have fun skating! :)

Sheila said...

Nice... treasures are our children and you must treasure this time... you can not get it back. I too need to treasure my treasures more :) ENJOY this time my friend, you will be glad and oh the memories ahhhh...


smiles,
Sheila

Annie said...

My son would love Toot Toots! It's definitely hard as a mama to give devote ourselves full-time to our kids, but it's definitely nice to enjoy the time together while the laundry piles up! They grow up way too fast!

Kelly Berkey said...

Enjoy your beautiful children Kasey!
You are adorable and fun to read as always. I'm a Cali girl living in Minnesota...I'm with you on the decent winter coat/clothes, they aren't very stylish! I'm still trying to wear skirts and get my darling hubby to drive me to work so I can just run in before freezing my tushie off!
Hugs,
Kelly
http://kellyberkeydesigns.blogspot.com

The Little Red Shop said...

Happy Christmas Week, Kasey!

Don't freeze.

: )

Julie M.

jamie said...

looks like a fun day, actually.
enjoy!
loving your blog!

Amber said...

You make my smile!!

You can adopt me.

Not that your old enough to be my mom.

After all, I have an almost 2 year old.

You wouldn't want to by my mom.

I'm just saying.

Oh look, I even type like you!!

It could be fate.....

I'm just saying :)

Lemonade Makin' Mama said...

Oh living in the moment is so hard for me to do for some reason.. I thinks it's because that's usually not written on my list. I prefer to do things that have been previously written on my "to do" list so I can cross them out. "Live in the moment" isn't quite specific enough for me to know exactly when I've done that, and can now cross it off the list as something accomplished.

I suppose the fact that I even wrote that out means that I have completely missed the point of living in the moment. LOL

I received my gorgeous Beth Quinn Necklace today and I LOVE it... thank you again for picking me to win it. It blessed my heart so much, you just can not even know!!

Sasha

a.love said...

Your kids are so stinkin' stylish. Especially that Lola :)
I sure miss you friend.
You are a great Mom. Your heart is THERE in that desire to BE in the moment :)

Sa-Sea said...

sooo great! I am DEF going to do this tomorrow.....after heading to the gym, going to sams club, and the bank. THEN I am living in the moment for what my kids want. :)

Bonnie said...

You make my heart smile. Thanks!

FEDERICA said...

You are a wonderful Mom Kasey!
Wish you a peacefull christmas with your dearest,
hugs & kisses
Federica

Serena Thompson said...

So sweet, Kasey! They'll remember it forever!

Zita - Mlle Magpie said...

You guys are all too cute, Kasey! Love your caveat.

Southern Living: Preppy Style said...

What a wonderful post, love that you are Living in the Moment for your kids. I'm quickly learnign that it goes by way.too.fast!!
your pictures again, are adorable, you or whoever is taking the pictures is fabulously talented!!

paige said...

you're an awesome mama
& that's just one of the reasons
i love you friend!
merry christmas
xo

PS~Erin said...

Love this. Thanks for the inspiration. And that honesty that it is a decision to be made. I tried to make it yesterday. I partly succeeded: I sat down with my daughter and played a board game and only sort of sped through it when I remembered we had friends coming over for dinner and I was a mess. Baby steps. LIke I said, thanks for the inspiration!

Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on Top said...

*I* just had this "a-ha moment" yesterday. It's the TIME that we spend with our children that is the most important (not the money and all of the Christmas presents they'd ever want). Kudos to you, Kasey!

Mikal said...

Memories for YOU and your children! Love it all!!

Mikal

traci said...

you are such a good mommy!! cute picture of you and lola!!! well, it snowed, who won your kids and skating or you and the couch??

Jacki said...

Kasey, this is so sweet. Sounds like a great place you went. Glad your enjoying the kids. THe bars you gave us are so goooood! OH my goodness.

Rue said...

I would have loved to go on the train to a restaurant! How fun :)

Have a great time no matter what you do and Merry Christmas!

xoxo,
rue

Beth said...

I love the knit hats! We have had snow here and I have been watching all kinds of good movies on TV. We have also been out on the saucers. ;0 I have been down several hills and fallen on my head.

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!


beth

Gail said...

Sounds like a busy week...but a fun week! Your kids are blessed to have a Mommy like you....and I'm guessing the Daddy ain't too far from the scene, either. ;) Your family is sweet...Merry Christmas!

-Gail

Tracy ~Seeking Refinement~ said...

what a gift you're giving to your kiddos this christmas break.

have so much fun with your moment-living.

AND - I may pray for a little snow storm just so you can squeeze in some snuggle time in jammies in front of the tele..

xoxoxo

Kristin said...

Oh that is sweetness in a post. The fact that you are willing to be a trier means everything and we are proud of you! Been out of blog touch but know (please forgive) that I have been by here in the wee hours of the night and was not sane enough during that time with my lack of sleep to make a comment that made sense. Hope you have a wonderful, blessed Christmas Kasey!

Rachel~Wildflower Photography Studio and Wildflower Creative said...

Sweet post Kasey! ;) Sounds like you guys had loads of fun! AND...I love your jacket...and your hat, but I think I may have already mentioned that in a previous comment. :) Merry Christmas!

Smiles,
Rachel

Gaia said...

What a beautiful post!
Love your coat and your kids are so cute....
I hope you have a very warm Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Gaia

Laura said...

I am trying, trying, trying to do the same...right after I clean the house, I swear...I will live in the moment...

Vana said...

i made the same promise and i am living it up each day. Will be sad when this week is over:) yes, lets get together after the holidays.

Bubbealice said...

What wonderful children!

susan said...

gorgeous!!!!!

Pony Girl said...

Oh, what fun! I bet your kids were just tickled. My cousins took their niece and nephew on a Polar Express train/Christmas ride (in Oregon.) I guess they loved it!
Speaking of love~ I adore the hat you are wearing in those pictures! Cool!! Happy holidays!

roslw said...

Oh Thankgod you added that 'extra'!! Too funny.Always best to have a 'get out and sloth' clause when involving kiddie commitments.I have just found you and I'm laughing my way through your lovely posts.You have an utterly fabulous blog.Happy Holidays.x

Kelly said...

Hi there, I met you a while back in your store and I noticed this fall that you aren't in that location in St. Charles anymore and I couldn't remember the name of your store and didn't know where to find you...anyhoo, I just randomly came across your card and decided to find out where you moved to and thought I would check out your blog. It is such a small world because when I looked at your pics from your trip downtown with your kiddos, I noticed that we were on the same train with you. My sister and my neice are in the background like "Where's Waldo" in your pic of your kids waiting for the train in Geneva on the platform. She has curly hair and her little girl is wearing a pink hat. It was so RANDOM that I saw that and I remembered seeing you and your kids. I thought you were right out of an Anthro catalogue ;) Just wanted to say hi...have you reopened your store somewhere else? I need to check out your blog to find out, huh? Happy New Year!
Kelly
www.kellyvanderploegphotography.com