Bitter sweet attitudes

 My kids are tired. 

We are at some weird impasse where no one is sleeping anymore. Seriously. Someone is always having a dream, a leg cramp, peeing the bed, wanting a deep middle of the night talk (yes, even Addie), just waking up and playing (no toys in their rooms), having to use the restroom, etc. Its been a bit exhausting. 

I have mentioned several times how grateful I am for the weather and ample family time this year; her is going r be what I choose to look back on 2020 and remember. 

Last weekend we took the kids out to Clear Lake and we walked around in the windy sunlight, ordered some gourmet cookies, our favorite lunch, and then drove to Mason to pick up Hot Chocolates and head home for a Christmas movie. After naps we even went to a friends house to build graham cracker houses and enjoy their company. 

We’ve been enjoying #Lighttheworld prompts, our ComeFollowMe topics and how they really correlate with everything that’s going on today; to me, it’s a reminder to me each day that Gods hands are in the smallest details of our life. Today I loved that we read about the North Star that came at Christ’s birth, and then tonight will be the first time in 800 years that the North Star has returned; such a touching gift from Heaven. 

I’ve been prepping for Christmas by wrapping everything early (a first for me!), and we’ve been enjoying our Christmas movies. We’ve saved most of our traditions until this week because my mom arrives tonight! Woohoo! So full on Christmas traditions begin today; which will be a nice change from the constant cleaning I’ve been doing each day. 

These girls are in the MoNsTeR sTaGeS right now! They must destroy/explore/touch/discover everything within their view. And their hands are always sticky, no matter what. And Addie is a Houdini of sorts and there is no lock, door, or height that can keep her out of what she wants. 

The other night I came home from picking Aaron up from baseball practice to find the girls running around with armfuls of these homemade chocolates ... that were not for us! They had been high in a shelf in my room because I was just supposed to deliver them to a friend, BUT while I was gone and travis had already tucked them into bed, the snuck in my room, pulled out my drawers, scaled the wall/shelves, and got the bucket. They then hid under my bed and ate said chocolates. And that was nothing compared to their next event. 

A few days later, they were uncontrollable and I needed to be able to take my eyes off of them for 5mins, so I put them in their room with toys so I could make their lunch. Within that short amount of time, they had barricaded their closet door and created a winter wonderland with a full bottle of baby powder! Ugh. And Avery was wearing most of the powder, I’m sure, thanks to her older sister. It was a mess that just wouldn’t stop. While getting the girls into the shower A wry snagged a hair brush and dunked it into the toilet. Ugh. And then Addie grabbed it while my back was turned and began brushing her hair. Ugh. So then I was cleaning their room, I just couldn’t get all the powder out of the air.... until I eventually took my glasses off and realized I’d over cleaned  everything except my lenses! Ugh. And as I got Avery out of the shower, she peed right on the rug and puked on my foot. Then the freezer puddled the kitchen floor. And as I was rushing out to prepare for after school pickup, Addie waddles out of her room and peed all in her footie pj’s and all over the floor! So the puddle and wet pj’s stayed, and we were late for pickup. 

Sigh.... it was quite a day. And I feel like many of our days keep going this way as the cold weather rolls in and the house, big and beautiful as it is, seems to be caging them and they are rebelling. And then as I mentioned, everyone is tired. So tired. So everyone is short tempered and cranky. I hope my kids don’t look back and just think, “man, mom was always stressed and snippy.” Because I swear.... I feel like we have a lot of family fun!!! 😂

And thank the high heavens, Gma Donna will spend the week with us! I might leave for my orthodontist apt tomorrow and come home next week! lol. Of it weren’t for my AMAZING husband, I’d be out. But thankfully this man is really there for me when I need it most. And it’s not the feeling of him coming home and helping me, but that he sees things around the house and with the kids as his to help manage and share in. That makes all the difference to me. 

And I love you for it Travis. 

Travis’s 35th Birthday and our other doings

 Travis

Well this man turned 35 this year and I hope he felt spoiled! The girls and I delivered a bag of balloons to his office, a brownie with a candle, and picked up his favorite lunch for him. His nursing staff bought him a GIANT cookie with a mountain bike and writing on it. We made his favorite dinner and gave him down time from his busy day, but best of all was Aaron’s gift. It was a hhomemade, heartfelt card with $1.00 inside, from his own spendings. The card read, “I luv you dad. I hope this dollar fills your head with happiness and joy.” It made me cry to see how excited he was to give it to his dad. And during the bday song Aaron keep staring up at his dad and hugging him like he was the most precious person to him I’m the world! 

Lacey 

I’ve been consistently waking up to exercise, but I eat so dang much all day that I’m just maintains; and that’s frustrating. I had to buy new glasses because the girls lost and Broke my others. I’ve been adjusting to an acne medicine that makes me dizzy, but has helped my face tremendously! I got a TERRIBLE haircut/color wheee the girl filling in my normal girl botched it, majorly. And I’ve had to begin going to the orthodontist for physical therapy and splint placement for my crooked jaw. Then I’ll get braces to fix them more. Then surgery. Then braces again. He said it will be be a 2-4yr process. Now I’m not trying to complain, but have you seen You Again? It’s about a girl who was an ugly duckling who really bloomed long after high school, but when she goes back to her hometown a series of events leads her to look like she did all those years ago. That’s how I’ve been feeling lately.  Ha ha. Like I’m in my 30’s now and majorly regressing what with acne, bad haircuts, and braces! 😂 Oh the phases we will look back on! 

Maddix

He’s a trooper. Through all the changes that keep getting thrown at him, he keeps his cool  and anyone who knows Maddix knows that doesn’t come easily for him. He’s been enjoying the neighborhood kids and even had a play date with one new friend. And he loves reading! I don’t know what I’d do without that helpful and funny kid of mine. 

Aaron

If he gets behind on sleep, watch out! He’s going to be my most tired teenager, I can already tell! But other than that he is a ball of endless energy that LOVES to create games with his siblings all day and wants to snuggle his puppy all night  and any day of the week he’ll choose to stay home with his family over going out with friends because he is my homebody! 

Addie

My hands are full with this one; she’s such a spitfire! She is wickedly smart and fiercely loyal to Avery. The other day Avery was crying over me scolding her and she just sobbed for Adeline. Addie dropped what she was going to embrace her sister and comfort her. She always songs the ABC’s to calm her down and then used her dress to wipe away Avery’s tears and said, “oh there’s my happy girl.” She can be such a doll. Her favorite song is “I’ll make a Man out of you” from Mulan. And right now she has a pack of princess underwear that she chooses from each day and depending on which pair she picks determines the movie she wants to watch. She has screamed at me in a fit of tears, “but I can’t watch little mermaid today, I’m wearing Jasmine underwear!” 

Avery 

Each day she is less and less of my baby and more of a little toddling hoodlum. I appreciate every snuggle, every “lub you mommy.” Kiss. Tight hug. “Tant you mommy.” And every little thing she does because in all her other moments she’s growing too fast! She has now officially mastered getting in/out of her crib with ease! My life isn’t the same. She can also climb all cupboards, counters, and chairs! She tells me every time she’s peed, pooped, tooted, etc. and she loves to jump out of the tub a million times and run around the house as a sopping wet naked baby!! Heaven help me, she keeps me on my toes and I don’t know when to shower now that she and Addie can get out of those room whenever they want!