As discussed several times before, Brent {aka The Captain} and I have been married for 10 years. Happily married for 10 years. What’s our secret?

Honestly, I think we lucked out.

Now of course there is an element of effort to successful marriages, though neither of us has felt like it was *work* to stay together…neither has it been *work* to stay in love. But I say we lucked out because I truly believe we did. We have. At any moment over the past 10 years, either one of us could have changed our priorities….our goals….our methods…and our commitment, in ways that could jeopardize our relationship and ultimately our family unit.

But we haven’t.

Photo c/o the fabulously talented Eternal Reflections Photography, 2010

When we were dating Brent was working with plans of going to school. He wanted children {I wanted 8, we felt like 6 would be a great number for us}, and he wanted to be the main provider for the family. He was easy to be with and talk to, and could make me laugh. Still does. He’s a hard worker and is incredibly loyal, and is incredibly generous.

Taken at the Barcelo Maya Beach, 2011 *Not Brent’s best photo, but I like how I look in it lol*

We were no different than any other young couple getting married. We were crazy in love and on the same page. Committed to making each others lives easier, happier, and just plain ol’ more fun! We had goals and plans and too many dreams to count. And it was important to us that the other achieve and accomplish all that they set out to.

But all that could have changed. Right?

Noone ever REAAAAALLY knows what someone is like…honestly, even 10 years later I am still learning things about him. But we are lucky. 10 years and we are still crazy in love…still on the same page {most of the time….of course there are always some differences}. And we are both committed to making each others lives easier, happier, and just plain ol’ more fun. This guy can drive me CARAZY…but he sure makes me happy and man, can he make me laugh!

Well I think that pretty much sums it up. Think about it – does anything else make as much sense?

Bottom line is, I’m lucky enough to have married a guy who lives this. We aren’t without our *bumps in the road*, just like any other couple, but our commitment to each other and our family is strong. When I think of dating and the butterflies and fun, I want to date him. When I see all the fun wedding ideas on Pinterest I can’t help but think how fun it would be to get married again. But I want to marry HIM again. When I think of snuggling on the couch to watch a movie or hockey game {we love hockey}, it’s him I want beside me.

*Another photo of a photo by Paul McGrath Photography, 2002*

I want to hold his hand while we walk down the street, go on holidays, spend my days, and make more memories with HIM. With our family. 10 years later and I’d still choose him. I think that’s pretty special.

Actually, I think that’s pretty lucky.

Generally speaking, my working hasn’t impacted the kids lives too much. Brooklyn is in school full time, so, except for an hour afterwards twice a week, her life hasn’t changed at all. And Jonah, who is in two {now three} full days for Kindergarten, spends one of my working days at school and the other at a friend’s house playing. Seriously, nothing really out of the norm.

And I’m loving the part time balance – still getting to do the stay at home mom thing, but also getting to do the working mom thing. It’s pretty awesome.

Except when it’s not.

Like when I forgot to send supplies for a craft {it worked out, but still}, or when I forgot it was Beach day and didn’t send the kids in their beachwear {urg}. Or, when I forgot it was Jonah’s *special day* and didn’t have a treat to share or the family history questionnaire filled out {huge props to my friend who took a treat for him to share! awesome.}. Or, today, when I wasn’t able to go for the Volunteer Tea.

I wasn’t supposed to work today but traded shifts with a coworker so we can go to the condo in Whitefish this summer. I’ve never gone to the Volunteer Tea, despite always helping with something, and didn’t think too much of it. Until Jonah asked if I could go.

In fact, he begged me to go. Even suggesting I quit work to be there {not an option of course but cute}.

And I would have gone in a heartbeat if I could have. I explained why I was working this day and that I couldn’t quit….and also couldn’t just take the day off.

Jonah: *But pleeeeease Mom, can you please come to the Volunteer Tea?

I mean, melt, break, shatter….stomp on and throw out the window….my heart. He finally seemed to understand and was okay with it when he realized someone had to be there to do my job. Unbeknownst to him, I did look at the time of it to see if I could swing it somehow and use the time as my lunch break….but being at 230pm just wasn’t going to work.

So I didn’t go.

Jonah: Mom, they had lots of food there. Tell me, what’s your favorite thing to eat?

Me: Um, salad.

Jonah: Yep, they had salad. Okay, what next?

Me: Sandwiches

Jonah: Yep, Completely. They had those too. What else?

Me: Punch?

Jonah: Yep! FRUIT Punch….RED!

Me: Delicious. I’m sorry I couldn’t go

Jonah: {genuine} It’s okay, Mom. I was just there smiling for everyone else.

melt.my.heart.

Jonah: And I was just thinking that I’m proud of you for getting to work. I love you, Mom.

No doubt about it – I love this kid too..adore him. And am so impressed with the maturity he showed in this instance. Being able to be happy for others is a big deal, especially for him. And knowing that he’s okay with me working and can even be happy about it….proud of me for it….that’s pretty awesome.

I wanted to be there for no other reason than because it was important to him. But life is life, and unfortunately things just don’t always work out the way we’d like. I hate that sometimes {though thankfully LOVE my job so never hate that}, but believe all things build our character and give us experience. And I think, for Jonah, just knowing that I WANTED to be there for him was enough.

This parenting gig can be tricky sometimes hey?!

Brooklyn is 8 and often BEGS me to let her stay home alone when I have to run quick errands. When it’s her and her brother, there is just no way. Not only is she legally not able to be left in charge of another child, but the way they fight sometimes, I’m not entirely certain I’d come home to two living children. {surely those of you with children know what I’m talking about. I’m not willing. As far as just leaving her for 10-15 minutes, I just haven’t been able to get there.

It freaks me out.

But today, today I bit the bullet. I had to run Jonah to dance class – seriously 5 minutes away – and when she asked I felt like it was a reasonable request. She knows not to answer the door, or go outside and wander around, etc. She was on her iPod, so I instructed her to curl up in one location so I knew she wasn’t mucking around. I had to do A LOT of self talk. The mere idea of something happening sends my anxiety into a tailspin. But I also believe that giving opportunities for more responsibility is good and helpful. And she is certainly capable.

This sweet kid might be the end of me

The problem is, while self talking my way OUT of the anxiety {I’ve become a bit of a pro since my battling with anxiety} this was the conversation Jonah felt the need to initiate.

Jonah: I hope Brooklyn won’t be worried

Me: Yeah, me too. It’s kinda freaking me out.

Jonah: Me too. What if she answers the door?

Me: She won’t. She knows not to {I went over a few things before I left}.

Jonah: I know, but what if she accidentally opens the door and there’s a robber?

{cue Anxiety}

Me: She won’t {trying to dismiss the conversation}

Jonah: I know….but what if she accidentally does, I said. And there was a robber? She’d be in danger right?

Me: Yes….{pause} This is not helping.

Jonah: Then we’d have to call the police so they could come and take her out of the bag.

{Slam on brakes….turn around..drive home and get Brooklyn}

Okay, I totally didn’t do that, but I could have. This was a good exercise in self talk.

Me {chuckling to myself}

Jonah: Why are you laughing?

Me: This is the worst conversation ever.

I mean, SERIOUSLY! It’s one of those situations where if something were to happen, I would feel like I KNEW I should have made a different decision. When really, it was my {often unreasonable} anxiety talking, as opposed to honest to goodness mommy instinct.

Brooklyn is fine….great….and I was gone a total of 15 minutes. And she got to chalk another one up for responsibility. Even if it gives me an anxiety attack, it was worth it.

Hope she enjoyed it though, might be the first and last time!

I love when I have a great idea. I tend to dream big, so often have to scale back before my ideas can become reality. But this one – this one was immediate, simple, and perfect.

I’ve talked recently about how we are trying to shift our focus as a family onto making more MEMORIES instead of having more THINGS. As a result, we’ve been really trying simplify the amount of STUFF we have in our home. Room by room, drawer by drawer, we are removing what we don’t use/need and reorganizing what we do. It’s a slow process, but effective. And I am loving the results.

You already saw how I organized my makeup – and I couldn’t be happier with it. I also sorted through the 7 drawers in our built in kitchen cabinet {hutch and buffet} which involved our card games {we love cards!}, tablecloths and placemats, and some of the kids items. Namely puzzles.

Now, we LOVE puzzles. The kids have loved them from early on, so we have a wee collection. Nothing excessive {surprisingly} but enough that we were running out of room in the *puzzle drawer*. It’s those pesky boxes, really…but I like to keep them so all the pieces stay together AND the kids still have the picture to reference.

{Insert genius idea}

It’s simple really. Place puzzle pieces in a ziploc bag and cut out the picture from the box. Perfect fit!

Now they all sit inside the drawer nicely – no more pesky boxes to find room for – and everything is where it needs to be.

It’s okay, you can say it..I’m a genius

**What great organization tips do you have?**