Bucket list

Everyone has a bucket list. Or so I've heard. In all honesty, mine currently includes having a maid come clean my house, a fairy to do my dishes, an au pair to watch the kids for a bit. 

Then, while all those good folks are working hard, I'll crawl into bed and sleep. My ambitions aren't all that big these days.

My kids have a bucket list too.  Every day as they go to bed, their dad is at work. And they ask, "Does Papa work tomorrow?"  Because their bucket list is shorter than mine. For both, there are two items. 

1. Spend time with Papa

Every Papa is a Superhero...

2. Spend time with Mama

"Mama" as taken by the kids

We've been working on their bucket list. And that's calmed down my restless drive to go somewhere on Jason's days off.  Instead, we've been planning family days at home, and peppering them with fun projects.  

Like this one from Homemade Modern.  If you love DIY, modern design and concrete, this blog is for you!  (http://homemade-modern.com/ep8-2-revisit-bucket-stool/)

So, we started our day with a trip to Lowes for Quickcrete and posts, and a trip to Nana's house for a bucket.  An hour later we were home and ready to go.

We love stirring cement. And pouring water. 

In all honesty, the kids helped measure the concrete, pour the water, stirred for a minute and then decided to dig mud holes in the front yard.  

And in all honesty we were ready to get annoyed at their lack of interest in the project, and make them keep participating. Because that's what family bonding is all about, forced interactions, right?

But we talked and decided to let it go and finished out ourselves...

Ahem...himself, that is...

Everyone cleaned up and had popsicles. And even though the kids were done about 5 minutes in, all they talked about through dinner and bed was "their stool" that "they built."

And they rushed outside to see how it was doing the next morning.  It's hard to wait 24 hours for it to cure.  

And when it came time to remove it from the bucket, all hands but Papa's (he was at work), were on deck...

Jumping Jacks

It took a bit of work to get it out of the bucket...but those tenacious kids didn't give up...

"You ride it like a horse while I pull..."

And eventually...

Ta da!

We had our stool.

And they were so proud.

Once I read that when we major on minors, it's like moths are in our lives, eating holes in the fabric that weaves our days together.  

I'm so glad we swallowed our words of frustration at the kids who weren't spending the time as we intended.  I'm glad we left the fabric of that day whole.

Because now all that's left is a beautiful memory of a fantastic day.  Together.  Two bucket lists, complete.

Til next time!

Time...

The soft start continues.  And with it, I begin to ponder my use of time.  A resource I always need more of.  I read this amazing quote today: "Time is at once the most valuable and most perishable of all our possessions."  

My time is perishing. 2012 is nearly gone.  Much remains undone that I had planned to do.  And much is left to do...like Christmas Cards.  I am terrible at cards.  I will get as far as writing and addressing them, and then leave them, stampless, on my desk.

I read this today too: In January 2012, humanity spent 10.5 billion (BILLION!) minutes per DAY on Facebook.  In one month, that adds up to over 887 thousand years!!!  

I was definitely part of that quota.

I have a large pile of laundry at my feet.  I really should fold it.  I have papers that have need filing.  Hamster cages to clean.  Muffins to bake.  And that's just the prose of my life.

There is more I need to do.  There is more I want to do.  Ideas.  Dreams. Visions.  Lying dormant in the busy idleness I call my daily life. In the new year, I want to take hold of time. I want to manage it.  Make it my tool...not my nemesis.  

I'm 36 this year.  37 the next.  These years don't makes sense to me, and most people still think I'm in my 20s...maybe that softens the blow of my literal age a bit...but panic sneaks in the cracks and crevices.

Time is running out, and I have more to do.  So today, even for a moment, I'm grabbing the time.  I'm learning to keep on, no matter the state of floors, laundry and bathrooms.  I'm learning to let go, and move forward, even if some dishes stay unwashed today.  

Because dreams and vision need hands and feet to make them reality.  So, today, here and there, I'm lending them mine.