A Winner

Sometimes you try your best and things don't go as well as you intend.  I had planned a Make & Take party to share a product I believe in with some close to me. I had to wait for Speedy's social calander before setting my date.  This year is his first year in hockey, and the schedule has been a bit to get used to. The novelty might wear off, but so far all the littles love watching him, play or practice, so each ice time is a family event! 

 

After a very drawn out evaluation process, Speedy was placed on a team, and after further waiting and ice draws, was given a schedule for the first half of this inaugural season. I was excited, not only for him, but because I could now set a date for my Make & Take. That wasn't hard, with only 3 Saturday's free before Christmas. 

If you didn't hear about this event, there is a reason. I did not tell you. I kept it private, and only invited some close family. Those that came were my (willing) Ginny pigs.  I invited them into my small home. The children they brought added to my 5 children who were home for the day.  

I had planned out, formally and in my mind, how I wanted things to go. I had gathered all of the supplies: containers, ingredients, and different "makes" that I had on hand to display. I had gathered signs and info that I would display or have close by. The ducks were in a row ... then life happens!

The first cold of the season hit. We fared quite well, and although it never took over as it has in the past (we were not defeated and lifeless on the couch), we did slow down a bit.  We also had our first real injury that required medical attention.  Sport stuck his pinky into a door jam as one of the older children closed the door. We spent that Saturday (the one just before the Make & Take) at the Children's Hospital, getting x-rays and stitches. 

Definitely more important than preparing for this little get together I was planning! That was followed by two more ER visits that week (to check and rebandage to finger), and finally a two hour visit to a Care Clinic on Friday to have the stitches removed.  This was all on top of caring for the children, homeschooling, and all out of home commitments we had during the week!  

My thought was "too much". "I can't do this." It is possible to reschedule. I did have one more Saturday open. But then I asked myself, why? Although not a typical week, nothing really out of the ordinary had happened.  Life, life with a family of 7 individuals happened. We are in this together and we do the best with what we have. We make choices about what is important and what we feel need to be done or not.  So I kept the date, realizing that many of my intended details would not come to pass. And that that was going o be ok.

I spent what felt like the entire morning cleaning my kitchen floor. In reality, the 4 children and I (dad took Seedling to work with him) actually cleaned the entire house that morning, but I did spend a hug hunk of time on that floor. I scrub it all by hand. It seems to be the only way to really get it clean. I do sweep it daily (more than once is usually necessary), and sometimes take a quick mop to it, but I do take the time to really clean it when I can. 

Why? Because it is nice to know that I can! Yes, I am busy.  Yes, I have 6 other people in my home that I contribute to the messiness as quickly as I can clean. But these are not real excuses. I can still manage a clean and orderly house. But I don't. I actually pointed out that clean floor to my guests. I told them it wasn't mine! My floor has food on it. Toys. Usually a few utensils, or even cups that have fallen under and behind the table, that I cannot get to without rearranging the furniture. I can keep my floor clean, and it is great to when I can, but it also comes at a cost. We didn't read any stories that morning.  The playdough was not taken out.   Only Speedy and Sprout got to experience the great, cool, fall weather, and only as they took out the trash and tidied the yard.  The bathroom was not flooded by the younger two as they love to play in the tub.  I was happy that these were usually my choice over that clean floor.

So we pressed on. We had computer problems that morning - my paper and markers worked just fine! After waiting much longer than usual for my oil order, I discovered that I was almost out of another I thought I needed - I had just enough, but was also able to "share and compare" with another brand (one that I used to use and love) - it was no comparison!  I didn't get around to decorating the treats the children had baked - they still tasted great (from the bites I was able to steal from them!)  One guests who was bringing an older child to play with Speedy didn't make it- after stealing more mint and orange chocolate chip muffins than I care to admit, the children entertained themselves well and left us to our tasks.   We ran late and didn't get to print the custom labels I had ready - they all left with blank labels to take home and create their own!

Oh, and I didn't take my camera out. Not once. Batteries were charged and everything. I was even ready to delegate that task to Speedy, but he stepped up and took care of the children.  I have now stolen these photos from my guests! What a fail, on so many details.... 

But we smiled, we laughed, we got to visit, and we made a handful of new, exciting products to try. The children who came over were not overwhelmed, and even asked to come back! And ... we will probably do it again! The details were NOT as important ... except one.

Yep, I forgot something I feel is too important to just "let go". 

People registered. People attended. No one went home with a diffuser necklace. Not cool - time to change this ...

Congratulations Christine! You were selected by RandomPicker.com as our door prize winner! 

(Draw details at https://www.randompicker.com/Project/Public/Protocol.aspx?Key=254657x4572 )