Bless this Mess, and Seven on Sunday

Our blog background was chosen by Clayton, in case you were wondering about the departure from my usual traditional designs.  We are getting into that dark and chilly season when children are inside more than out and, just to make it more interesting, the kids also had two days off school this week.  I have to admit I was dreading it a little knowing the disaster that my house generally ends up in when we are all home, all day.  I was surprised to find it stayed relatively untouched, other than the eating areas.  Why is that, you may ask.  Well, it wasn't until last night that as I observed the glazed-over expressions of my kiddos stuck in front of a variety of screens that it hit me.  For the first time we have children old enough to spend their entire life involved in media.  So today we informed them that new media rules will be imposed starting... well, today.  They actually had to play together once again.  My kids have great imaginations, as all kids do, and I have actuallly been missing the games they come up with.  I even miss having to clean up the trains a thousand times a day to avoid stepping on them.  But now as I sit here surrounded by my usual Sunday chaos I am grateful for it.  It means they're doing something and not being spoon-fed by this crazy media world surrounding us 24/7!

Seven Good Things This Week:

1. After it looked like we might all be getting Dan's cold we have managed to sidestep it.
2. Madi and Clay loved their Friday night Swim-Snack-Show night at the rec center.  Whoever thought this one up is a genius.  They swim for and hour then watch a cartoon and eat popcorn. 3 1/2 hours away from home. Every child's dream and every parent's too. 
3. Madi got 16/20 on her last spelling test.  A significant improvement.
4. We found the item we have been looking for on craigslist so now Christmas is done.  It's great when all the kids decide on one bigger gift!
5. Started a new chore system.  So far so good....we'll see how next week goes once the novelty wears off!
6. Found a moment to actually read again this week.   It seems like it's been a long time!  Lots of typing for Dan the past few weeks.  We are only 3 weeks away from finishing what is definitely the toughest semester so far.  So much group work and big projects!  We're not out of the weeds yet, and Dan still had moments of anxiety, but we're gonna get there.  We have to.  There is no other option.  We WILL be done in April.
7. Found out Dan will be able to do his internship in the spring as long as he can find a placement.  We thought he would have to work through the summer and do it in the fall, but they've found instructors to look after them because there are a number of students who would like to complete their degree sooner rather than later.  If all goes well the degree will be finished August 2011.  So close!  Then the real work begins....