Not Me Monday

I missed this week, but check out one of my favorite Mommy bloggers who just tried her hand at it.

I'm pretty much in love with her story.

I Spy With My Little Eye....

While we were away and The Husband cleaned, organized and Christmas decorated, he moved our small, ancient TV from the main living room to our bedroom. Yes, I know what they say about a TV in a couple's bedroom.

But do those people have toddlers that wake up at the crack of dawn, only to snuggle kick, poke, bounce in bed with them? Do they know the magic that early cartoons (in bed) have for SAHM's?

I didn't think so.

Having the TV in our bedroom is a new thing, one that The Child has quickly grown to love.

Maybe a bit too much.

The other night we put him to sleep in his bed. Listened at the door for a few minutes, and then made our way downstairs, positive that he was fast asleep, dreaming of sugar plums. Retreating to our "Cave" (the basement which holds the very very large TV... and maybe a futon on the floor), we were confident in settling in for a cozy night of quality television.

About an hour and a half later, The Husband decides that its his bedtime and begins to make his way upstairs.

Only to not come back down again and say:

"Did you put The Child in our bed? With the TV on?"

(Hellooooo? Who is he talking to???)

Me: "No. Of course not!"

TH: "Huh. Well, maybe you should come upstairs"

We did not make our way upstairs to find a very clever child, zoned out in front of cartoons, not relaxing in Mommy & Daddy's bed, at 9:30pm.

Somehow, the little smarty pants did not find the remote, or the cartoon station, or think that it was an ok thing to do. The Husband and I did not have a hard time keeping a straight face while disciplining him. Nope, not us!

I was not crazy, frazzled Mom on Thursday morning, rushing around, trying to get The Child out the door in time for pre-school. We were not almost 15mins late, only to find the doors locked. The Child did not proceed to have a melt down (he was seriously looking forward to some time away from crazy Mommy) and I did not begin to create a fabulous story in my head as to all the possibilities as why the school was closed.

Did they close down and not call me? Do they not like my child? Did they have a field trip planned and forget us? Do they not love me?

Oh yes, I had a fabulous time on my little concocted pity trip.

Once home, I called the administrator only to discover that the teachers had not called in sick the week before. And one of the kids Mommy's had not called to inform the school that her child was not being treated for H1N1.

My insecurities did not instantly turn into a pat on the back for my impeccable timing of missing the 2 weeks of school that everyone was sharing extra special germs. Nope, not me!

The Return

After almost two weeks, I have returned to the great white north. Also known as home. The journey that I was on has really just begun. A whole new part of my heart has been opened, enlightened, some pieces still yet to be understood. But I received exactly what I was longing for deep in my belly. A shift, a change, a new understanding. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to tell the whole story, some pieces are meant just for those moments, held deep within my heart. But I will post pictures of my journey soon, they are still in the editing process.

Upon my return home, I realized just how amazing The Husband is. Of course, I've known since the moment I met him that he is not one to sit idle. The times that I have left home before, I've always returned to a clean home and usually a project or two finished, sometimes even a story or two about how he 'almost' bought this, that or the other thing. (He likes to make large purchases when I'm gone, thankfully I have friends spies who talk him out of it).

As we drove up to our house the other night from the airport, it sparkled with an array of Christmas lights, looking oh so cozy with all the garlands wrapped around the deck. Needless to say, I was impressed.

Then I walked inside.

The house was spotless. Even the closets were cleaned and organized. Any sign of clutter before (that drove me crazy) was gone. The Husband had gone on a different kind of shopping spree this time, a Christmas decoration shopping spree. It was like walking into a show-home. It felt absolutely amazing to walk into a clean, cozy, Christmas-y house. So I just had to share a few pictures with you, because we all know how much our partners love when we talk to our girlfriends about how amazing they are. :)

The wreaths were hung

Two trees are definitely better than one

This bookcase was a disaster before I left...

The last thing to be painted was our stairwell, and its now finished!

Closets cleaned, the clutter is gone.

The snowmen and baby Jesus are welcoming the Holiday season.