The things that matter {to me}

Operation Activity

We have been struggling again with Alex. His behaviors have been challenging to say the least. I know that part of it is this whole teenage transformation that is going on but there is also something else going on that I have been struggling to put my finger on. I've been searching high & low for anyone who can help me shed some light on this because I feel like we are at a serious cross roads here & how we handle this could make marks that last forever. One of the strategies that we are currently taking is to have Alex be a LOT more active, like seriously active. We have one of the girls from his class taking him a couple times a week for activity based play time, he came home from his first one on Friday nice & mellow.

365:40 Friday night was stormy & PG&E visited the neighbors

So mellow in fact that Saturday he really just wanted to hang out at home which was fine with me because I had a new recipe in my head I needed to work out.  He lounged, in & out of the tub, in my bed with his iPad & generally had a lazy day (minus our quick run to the grocery store & Starbucks) while I cooked up what was in my head.  It was a really relaxing, lovely day honestly.

365:41 I made zucchini, butternut squash, eggplant, red bell pepper & ground chicken stuffed cannelloni. It was so amazing, I know I shouldn't pat myself on the back but it was really good. LOL I sent some to my friend Jill so that someone else could appreciate it as Geoff was not home.

365:42 Then this morning we slept late & by about 11:30 it was pretty clear that he was full of energy again & I had a choice... keep him inside because it was raining or get out because the destruction was about to take over.  After a quick phone call to my sister Anna we had a destination.  I had recently heard a discussion at my Weight Watchers meeting about these stairs up a hill in San Jose, somehow with just that info we managed to find our way. Anna, Robby, Alex & I thought it was really cool, like 8 flights of stairs up a hill we went up & down 2 1/2 times plus walked on the trail around the area. Alex was/is pooped. He was mellow again tonight. Tomorrow is school & then his activity date in the afternoon. I'm praying that this holds up & that we can keep going. It seems so simple & really something that we all need... more activity.

I bet you thought I blew it already

I didn't.. Project 365+1 (apparently it's Leap Year) i still going strong but I go so distracted making the highlight reel that I wasn't tending to the pics that were building up. So here they are:

 

365: 32 My boy is getting bigger by the day lately. Time for Size 8 jeans

365:33 Alex is a huge fan of the Highlight Reel

365:34 Meeting up with my Camp Sisters... felt so good to be around my people again.

365:35 Coffee tastes best when delivered to my bedside

365:36 Seriously cannot get enough of these little orange goodies

365:37 Trail walking with 2 buddies & a baby

365:38 The storm is coming in... finally!

365:39 My cozy Christmas slippers arrived today.

 

The highlight reel

Lately I have been seeing lots of slide shows of people's photography projects & I've been dying to do one.  I decided I'd do a litte 2011 photography recap & I have to say I'm hooked!! I still have tons to learn about the actual process of putting these together, this one is clearly a beginners skill level. lol But there is something so cool about seeing all of these pics together as a collection... a snapshot of our whole year. I hope you like it too (I promise to figure out the transistions & make it go with the beats of the music).

 

Untitled from moriah bettencourt on Vimeo.

xxoo

Peeking in... is anyone here?

And I'm back! The rent week craziness took over my life & I'm trying to get back on all 4 wheels again. Phew. I've been taking my pics all along though & trying to focus on my word. It's 5 minutes to midnight so I'm cutting my words short & just posting my pics to get caught up tonight.  I'll try to get back some witty banter soon...

365:26 I love these baby carrots, especially with a little cumin & lime

365:27 My boy was feeling a little under the weather

365:28 My nephew Chris. Today Anna, Chris, Robby, Alex & I all went to San Francisco for an adventure.

365:29 Another fabulous sunset. I'll never get tired of them

365:30 In love with my Casetagram Lisa got me one for Christmas & I'm seriously in love!

365:31 Cooking dinner

See you again soon :) 

 

What's the word?

365:25 A peaceful afternoon for my boy

As previously mentioned one of my 2012 ongoing personal projects is the "One Little Word" project with Ali Edwards. A few years ago when this all started I chose a word & I really used that word to guide my year. That word (I think in 2008 or 09???) was Reclaim. That year I reclaimed part of what I felt like was missing of the old me. I found the OLW concept to be very moving & I thought back to the word often when I was needing direction.

It's taken me 2 weeks but I've finally picked a word for 2012 (thanks to friends for helping me find the clarity & thanks to Kelly for passing this word onto me because last year it was hers). Drum roll please...

the 2012 word is>>>>>>> Release!

I need to release:

The fears I have for things I cannot control

The weight from my body

The power I give those who are trying to bother me

The shutter on my camera more often

The drama that people create that I do not need

My fears of Alex's future that keep me awake at night

and about 10,000 other things... that list is just the start. I shall focus on releasing things this year & becoming a person who is carrying less with me.

Inspired

365:24 Self Portrait

Project 365 was very popular in 2011, I heard of it but was just not in the place where I thought I could participate. I have been enjoying mine so far but I had sort of a pragmatic approach to it just making sure that I was taking *a* picture.  But in the past few days many people who did P365 in 2011 have been posting their slideshows of their years work... I am so inspired. I want mine to be beautiful, to not only reflect our daily life but also the beauty in it.  I can't wait to see where it takes me.

If you had your pick

365:23 Evening tea out of my favorite mug

I had a conversation with a friend today, a friend who knew me before Alex.  I called just to chat because lately we have been playing Words With Friends (oh how I love that game) & it made me miss her laugh. We chatted for a bit and things moved into the struggles that we both have in our daily lives, both of us have been sideswiped by things we cannot change or control that we deal with daily. We have a lot in common even though our lives are very different. It's good to be reminded sometimes that everywhere there are struggles, not just here at our house. It feels so good to renew old connections. <3 <3 <3

Hello 2012

I'm hoping for a good year.  I've taken on a few personal projects like my Project 365, the Ali Edwards One Little Word class and the Cathy Zielske Move More Eat Well 2012 class. I know... that seems like a lot for me doesn't it? I have a hard time with personal projects sometimes because the more responsible side of my life gets in the way. Sometimes it's Alex but most of the time it's work. I feel like putting anything for me above of things for others is not okay, I struggle with that and working from home just compounds those feelings... there is always something I *should* be doing right?

But this year is going to be better. I am going to hone my work life even more. For weeks I have been thinking about this change & I think that I have hit the idea I'm going with. I just need a little organization redo & shift in my thinking of time management. Check, that starts tomorrow.

So 2012, let's give each other a chance ok? Let's agree that I can do this because I know that I can. I want to be well balance, caught up & I want to have fun. Do you believe in me? I hope so because I do.

365:20 New Years Eve was pretty chill around here.  Alex did a lot of this, I did some work & then we had a quiet evening at home.

365:21 Cake Ninja strikes again. No matter where I hide a cooling cake Alex finds it & puts his hand through part of it. I refer to him as Cake Ninja for his stealthy cake destruction.

 

 

It's gone already?

I remember when I was younger I would hear adults talk about how fast time was going but as a kid it always felt so slow. Remember how it took forever to hit those big birthdays.. 13, 16, 21? Now as an adult I understand it, time is truly flying by. 

2011 is done is 24 hours and we will see what 2012 has in store for us. I hope that 2012 holds for me the secret to better balance in between work & home life. For Geoff I hope that 2012 shows him that there is room for more fun and balance as well. For my sweet boy I hope that 2012 brings him the ability to express himself without frustration, peace and of course good health. 

Catching up with my Project 365:

365:15 The favorite present of the year. Alex's loom :)

365:16 Dog is my copilot (sorry for the blurry iPhone pic)

365:17 Macro Tinsel

365:18 It has not been typical December weather, the roses are thinking about blooming.

365:19 There was the tiniest sliver of a sunset tonight so I pulled over to watch. Even the tiniest of sunsets deserve attention.

See you next year :)

Merry Christmas! We made it!

Phew. It's over.  I know, I know I shouldn't feel that way but in general the holidays are just a whole lot of work. Plus the holidays spin Alex into complete oblivion so we struggle between the general attitude that he's a kid & just excited and get the tranquilizer gun because he's about to knock down a wall. The week before was pretty tough but did really well from the 23rd on. Also the holidays are the official end to "milestone season", this is the time of year that I try not to lament that I am not buying trendy clothes & electronics for a typical teenager. I also find the actual 2 days of Christmas to be exhausting as Alex must be watched and followed at all times to make sure that he is minding his manners at Noni's house.

Then there are the moments that take my breath away like on Christmas Eve when  had Alex help me wrap a gift for his cousin Todd. Alex got very excited & immediately took off down the hall to his room, when he emerged his hands were full of his favorite toys. He put them on the coffee table & ran off to gather the wrapping paper, tape & scissors... he wanted me to wrap up his stuff because he had "present Todd". He wanted to give Todd things that meant something to him.  That was truely a remarkable moment that made me stop caring about milestone season & tranquilizer guns (we don't really have one LOL). Christmas was good for all of us, we are very blessed.

Onto my Project 365 pics:

365:10 Best sugar cookies ever

365:11 Dinner of Champions! I cannot get enough of cuties right now... they are sooo good!

365:12 We have yet to surpass the capacity of Lisa's Durango. Last minute Christmas & rug shopping with 2 boys.

365:13 Christmas Eve. I wrapped all of the presents & put them under the tree expecting to have to move them once Alex was up. Instead he choose to sit next to them, touch them (a lot) & there were a few *minor* incidents that required tape to fix but overall he was really good.

365:14 Christmas Day 2011. Alex has a really strong connection to Nana & Bum, his great grandparents. He took a moment to chill with Bum after the present opening.