slammed ...

i'm not gonna lie ... last week was tough.  our re-entry back to the reality of schedules and alarm clocks and jobs and chores and homework and carpools - after such a blissfully quiet and relaxed holiday - was b.r.u.t.a.l.  no one in this house was happy.  appetites were slim as sleepy faces dragged in for a sunrise breakfast each morning ... and attitudes were even worse ...

(image via sodahead.com)

as the weekend finally arrived, we all felt like we'd been completely trampled by the work week.  big ladybug started a tough new trimester filled with stepped up academic demands on top of her daily after-school play practice.  little ladybug has just one week left for her GS cookie sales and now realizes she's fallen way behind.  i've got two huge due dates this month for a major volunteer job that will require hours and hours of work to complete.  and toughest of all, manbug will be facing some unprecedented challenges at his office that will likely result in his departure from the company.  let's just say restructuring's a bitch ...

it's no wonder i lost all control as household ceo last week... 1st-of-the-month bills were still lying unpaid, the week's worth of mail was stacked and unopened, to-do lists were scribbled onto the corners of loose scrap papers stuffed into my wallet, calls and emails were going unanswered.  meals and laundry were just about it on the productivity meter!  i'm here to tell you ... it was bad.  and i was sinking fast ...

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... so this week it's time for a change ... i've been so inspired by cindy's gratitude list at the end of each post that we've vowed to at least start each day with a similar plan: to share at least one positive thought at the breakfast table - with the hopes that it will set the course for a positive day ... because after all ... 

image via pinterest

i admit yesterday was a challenge - monday mornings aren't exactly a welcome guest in this house - but we managed a couple of mediocre positive thoughts ... better than nothing (my positive item was that they had at least participated - which was a nice change from the cookie monster attitude above!) ... and guess what?  monday went ok!  and this morning was even better on the enthusiasm scale:  it's an art day for little ladybug at school, big ladybug was excited to be wearing a new outfit from christmas, and tonight's dinner is 'make your own pizza', when we'll catch up on last night's "Next Great Baker" ... and there was more!  the biggest gratitude item of all was that we woke up to a huge surprise ...

just the lightest dusting of snow ... but totally unexpected, which resulted in big smiles ... plus it was the first of the season and thus even more welcome ... and what's cuter than isabel's little pawprints in the snow?!

so now ...

as cindy does ...

{thankful for}

1.  the power of positive thoughts

2.  good health when so much is going around right now

3.  no grocery run today

4.  the colors of sunrise reflected on snow-dusted lawns

5.  a housebroken puppy