wow

• It really felt like fall today.  Rainy and cool.  I like it.  It's great to not be so sweaty all the time.
• Lila, you were fooling around this morning.  I asked you to get dressed a few times, then threatened that I would pick your clothes if you didn't do it right away.  You didn't go, so I chose your outfit.  You weren't impressed.  You said it "wasn't very much beautiful."  Maybe it'll inspire you to get dressed quicker in the mornings.
• George, we had an amazing quiet day today.  It was really dark and it felt really warm and cozy in our little house.  You asked for your lunch around 10:30, then went down for a nap around 11:00.  You slept until 2:00.  It was awesome.  I got a bunch of stuff done that I've needed to do for a while now.
• Katie, daddy and I had to get criminal record checks done for your exchange program.  I was nervous.  Why?  Why on earth would I be nervous?  Like auntie Kim said, you never know what felony you might have committed and totally forgotten about.  Lol.  
• Lila, we went to the police station after I picked you up from school.  I should have planned it better because you seem to have a meltdown every day after school.  I think you're busy, and you have to try so hard to be good at school, that by the end of the day you're just exhausted.  I need to keep that in mind when planning my days.  You love it when we play at the school for a few minutes, then come home and have a nice long snuggle on the chair in your room with the door closed.  
• I had my camera club tonight.  We talked about File Management and Backups.  Not the most interesting presentation I've ever done, but so important.  I like the file and backup system that I have.  Everything works well and I feel comfortable that it would be pretty difficult to ever lose all of my photos.  
• I really love the ladies in my camera club.  They're kind and interesting and funny and thoughtful.  Tonight we talked about life and some personal issues for quite a while.  I loved the feeling of love and empathy and caring in the room.  It was pretty great.
• We were talking about my blog and one of the ladies said I was an excellent reflective practitioner.  It made me giggle, but then I looked it up.  This was the definition: 

Reflective practice is, in its simplest form, thinking about or reflecting on what you do. It is closely linked to the concept of learning from experience, in that you think about what you did, and what happened, and decide from that what you would do differently next time.

• I think I just may be a reflective practitioner.  This blog helps me process my days and my thoughts and feelings.  Our days are busy and loud and chaotic.  I'm grateful for this space.
• Jane, the other day you asked me to get you a drink.  Jokingly, I told you I'd do it if you told me three things you love about me.  I thought you would just roll your eyes and get the drink yourself.  But you totally listed three things.  Your third item was the best.  You said you love it that I'm recording your childhood memories for you.  WHAT?????  You could not have said anything better.  Now I'm never going to stop this whole blogging thing.  You've been reading my blog quite a lot lately.  I'm thinking that you also enjoy having a glimpse into my brain and seeing things from my perspective.  Mothers are odd creatures, aren't they?