The other day we were talking about how we could make our morning routine more routine for our kids.  Generally, things have been pretty good getting ready for school…but lately it seems like we’ve been reminding them A LOT to do those tasks needed before walking out the door for school.

Previously, we made a little list for each child, containing several things to accomplish in the morning.  This list included things like eating breakfast, putting on clothes, getting backpacks, and so on…it worked for about a year, but we slowly gravitated away from that list…and now we’re walking in the valley-of-the-shadow-of-1,000-reminders.

We need a new list.

In discussing this, we decided that the list would be best split up into two lists…things to do in your room, and things to do in the house before leaving.  It seems silly to say it like that, but both our kids stinkin’ THRIVE in structure.  I was hesitant about the two lists at first, thinking that it would be redundant, but then…then my wife had a stroke of genius.

She said we’ll make the lists “World 1, and World 2″.  And if you know my kids (think SuperMarioBrosWiiAddictsAnonymous), then you know they are going to TOTALLY NAIL IT.  We explained it to them tonight and they were on board.  They can’t go to World 2 before passing World 1…AND they must progress IN the World as if going from level to level like the game…it will seriously be amazing for them.  AND it was all Christy’s idea…she is so smart.

And to prove her brilliance, I have included the picture that she drew of World 1…

I’M TELLING YOU, IT’S GENIUS!!!

(side note-if you’re kids aren’t as addicted to video games as mine are OR as driven by accomplishing things, this won’t work as well for you.)

Here’s a cool little card that we sent out to a handful of people.  We wish we could afford to send it to all 1 BILLION of our friends/contacts, but alas! We cannot!  We DO love you all, though. 

Tangerine Wishes Christmas Card

Shutterfly Christmas cards

View the entire collection of cards.

I am overcome with emotion as I watch my two sons rehearsing tonight for their Kids Choir musical, A Star is Born (performance is Sunday).  Specifically, I’m watching Noah, my younger son, perform a role with lines and a solo…he is doing SO GOOD and I can barely hold it together.  We honestly never knew if he was going to speak AT ALL, much less be where he’s at today.  Holy cow…I am floored…blessed…thankful…and SO DANG PROUD. 

Good thing I’m in the sound booth…way up here…in the dark…where no one can see me balling like a big fat baby.

And this is the reason for this silly blog.  I’ve got to remember these days–the good ones and the bad–so someday I can look back and see all that God has done.  It seems like this is a milestone year.  SO MANY amazing things have happened in 2010…and this is another one of those amazing things.  GO NOAH!!!

This thing is BEAUTIFUL!

I can’t wait to read the manual and get a few hours to really figure it out.  It’s by far the most awesome keyboard I’ve ever played…

(for Wii, of course!)

My friend code is 277533168226 if you want to play…

So…my kids are pretty hilarious…especially Noah.  He will say the FUNNIEST things, and this one was worth sharing:

At school today they did an activity where each student said what he or she is thankful for–without repeating what someone else said. 

Noah went last and said he was thankful for his mind. 

HAHAHA

I wrote this a while back to be pitched for Harry Potter 7 (parts one and two)…

To my knowledge, it hasn’t been used so far…

Notice the repetition…that’s on purpose for easy editing.  ALSO, there are three distinct feels, each growing to a musical peak of sorts…

One last thing…the actual quality xanga gives its audio uploads is pretty low, so…just letting you know.

But today, I’m extremely grateful for it…

(this was found in my “upcoming events” section)

My family could use your prayers right now, if you’re the prayin’ type.

A week ago my mom had a biopsy, and on Friday night she called to let me know that she has Stage Zero Breast Cancer. 

UGH.  Stupid Cancer! Grrr…

The good news, however, is that they doctor caught it early.  Stage zero is pretty good…I guess (as if anything about having cancer could be remotely “good”).  She’ll go in for an operation in a week, and then endure 6 weeks of radiation after that.  They doctor is hopeful that after the treatments they cancer will be 100% eradicated, but they will be watching her for the rest of her life to see if this beast rears its ugly head again. 

And another prayer request:

Right now my brother and his wife are at Stanford having their baby, whom was diagnosed several months ago with Hydranencephaly.  This is a crazy disorder where there are sacs of fluid instead of a brain.  This child may only live moments or days…we have no idea…so we all are waiting on pins and needles as they are in the hospital.

I REALLY TRY TO KEEP IT DRAMA-FREE around here, but this is quite the exception.

Like I said–if you’re the praying type–The Semsen family would appreciate your prayers.

Thank you, friends!

I believe in marriage.  I believe in commitment and faithfulness, and I KNOW that you have to WORK on it for it to work.   Christy and I are coming up on 11 years of marriage, so I have me a little experience in these things…a little.

One of the guys over at Addison Road recently posted a great blog about what he and his wife do in order to get some alone time on a regular basis.  You can click over to the original post, or just read it below.

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(Originally posted by Mike Lee on Addison Road)

I got an email from a friend today, and it started me thinking about the things we do that build relationships, particularly marriage relationships. We’re in that stage where kids and careers are stealing away time from just the two of us, and we have to be more “on purpose” with almost everything in our lives.

So, here’s the big questions: what’s one thing you do, one habit or ritual, that builds up your relationship with your significant other.

Gretchen and I have struggled for years to figure out how to get regular time together. Date nights are great, but they end up being more expensive than we can really afford right now. Instead, we do a once-a-week “Late Dinner”. We feed the kids crap food at 5, let them have a movie night until 8, then one of use gets them to bed and the other starts cooking. We cook good food, we relax with no time pressure, and we talk in the kitchen while we do it. We sit down at maybe 8:30 or later, and we have a slow dinner. No kids, no distractions, just time to sit and talk.

It’s a new ritual, but so far, I think it’s our best habit. And it’s on my mind because I’m missing it tonight for a crap gig. Sorry, love.

What’s your best habit?