Date Night

It's a "Where's Waldo" moment

A few weeks ago I wrote about taking Jack out to lunch, just us.  Now, I am not obsessive about making sure everything is fair and equal among the boys. This may not seem like a big deal but I come from a family where fairness means everything. My mom used to count each piece of chocolate candy that would go into our stockings, just to make sure they were the same. I don't even give the kids the same amount of gifts at Christmas. GASP! I can see my sister cringing, she who uses a spreadsheet to keep track of the equality of the Christmas gifts among her kids.  While I may not make everything fair and equal, I do know that one-on-one time with any of my boys is something very special.

Checking out where the ingredients comes from

So the other night Micah and I went on our date.  Earlier in the Advent season, I had mentioned something about Molly Moon's ice-cream. I think I was just wondering if they had a peppermint Christmas ice-cream for the holiday season. Micah suggested we go to Molly Moon's and look at Christmas lights. Just us, he said.  And so we planned to do a date night, just Micah and Mommy and some yummy ice-cream. Life being what it is, the date was postponed many times, but the other night we finally made it happen.

And it was good. Cold ice-cream on a cold, wet night, means no line. We sat at the bar, watched them make sundaes for customers, and even watched one of the workers make a grilled cheese sandwich on the waffle iron.  I ate maple bacon ice-cream, and Micah had kiwi sorbet.  We both agreed the other person's choice in ice-cream was terrible.  When it was over, we grabbed a pint to-go, and hurried home to the rest of our family.

Blink and you will miss him

When is it Finn's turn? Well, about that.  Being the youngest means he has three days a week where it is just the two of us. Mostly we are at preschool, running errands or cleaning the house. But every now and then we sneak in a quick stop at Top Pot doughnuts.  See, I can be fair and equal with the boys. Sort-of.

And It's Over

 Currently I am laying on the couch in my post-Christmas stupor watching Top Chef. Reflecting on how this year went and already planning on how to make changes for next year.  Christmas is always such a blur for us, no matter how much we agree that this year we will slow it down. It doesn't help to have three very EXCITED boys who rip the paper off the gift before you can even blink. All in all it was a good Christmas, but I am so glad it is over!

So excited for the brother's gifts to each other.

Thanks Finn.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Day of Firsts

Today was a big day in our house. Full of many "firsts".

It started with the first (and hopefully only) time we had 5 kids to get ready for church. And not just any church, but the kids Christmas Program Sunday.

Showing off our gingerbread houses.

Then, for the first time in our family history, all 3 boys participated in the program! And by participated, I mean they made it on stage.  That was my only goal today, and we were successful! We even had some actual hand motions, and Jack sang a verse or two. In between winking at me, raising and lowering his eyebrows, and yawning, of course.

Watching his brothers 'perform'

Can you find Micah?

And there it is,  my three boys up on stage.  I was beaming! And sweating.

Continuing with our Advent activities, Brandon and I decided to do something crazy today. After a sleep-over, and a busy morning that started pretty early, we skipped naps and went to the movies.  For the first time as a whole family.

I think I laughed harder then the boys, but seriously when the chickens sang Cee Lo Green, I thought I was going to pee my pants.

Now it is 8:30, the boys are all passed out, and I am watching Once Upon a Time. Again. I seem to be addicted.

Happy Sunday to all of you!

What Do You Do With 5 Kids?

Good question.  

How about gingerbread houses? Frosting, candy, a serious sugar-high, what could be better?

At least it kept them entertained for 20 minutes.

Plus I got to dip into the candy stash whenever the chaos overwhelmed me.

Advent Update

I am going to say that Day 1 of Advent was a complete success.

Prep and Landing. Obviously, a huge hit in our house.

Let the Countdown Begin!

In case you are unaware today is December 1st. The Advent season has officially begun! At least in our house, maybe yours started November 1st, to each his own.

Today feels like the new year because I have several resolutions that I have made.  Which is ironic since it is the last days of 2011. I should be thinking ahead and making resolutions to start 2012 off with a bang. Instead, I am going to focus on these last days in December.

Resolution #1:
Write daily on this blog. I did it in October and most of the time I enjoyed what I was writing, with just a few days of nonsense writing thrown in. But November hit me hard and I lost my writing mojo.  My sister continued to write daily and was even featured as the blog of the day on BlogHer. Yay Michelle! Only slightly jealous, like 60% happy for her and 40% jealous of her (BTW can you guess that butchered quote?).  Back on topic, I am hoping by setting the goal of writing daily I will once again find the little moments of joy within my day.  Also, I am copying another friend of mine who is also trying to write daily.

Resolution #2:
Celebrate the Advent season with my kids.  This may be a big "duh!" to many of you, but in our house Christmas wavers between excitement and completely overwhelming stress.  There is so much to do, so little time to do it, and I begin to feel my energy quickly circling the drain. This does not transfer into fun family events, but instead, can mean: mom yelling, kids crying, dad not understanding and then waking up to realize Christmas is over.

Last year on some after Christmas sale, I found little red stockings and I decided to buy them and make an advent chain with these stockings.  Yesterday I went and bought twine to hang the stockings on. I had already picked out the perfect place; hanging from our mantle, never mind that it is already full of real size stockings.  Today I spent my hour of free time obsessively matching up each Advent activity with an appropriate day. All I have to do is print, cut up strips, stuff stockings, and voila! A new Christmas tradition is born!

Except that I only bought 18 stockings. Not sure if I thought there were 10 in a package, I bought 1 more package and lost it,  or actually bought them in the middle of December last year intending to use them RIGHT AWAY. Whatever happened, I am left with 24 days of activities and only 18 stockings.  Working on a solution for that right now. Well, not right now because I don't want to, but soon. Definitely soon.

Resolution #3:
Just say No! to drugs. Okay, not drugs exactly, but to over committing. I love the holiday parties and events we are invited to (except Brandon's work party, karaoke + free alcohol = shudder inducing memories) but I can not do them all. I don't even have a valid excuse for saying no. Except that I am working so hard to remain healthy and whole for my family.  Social gatherings, while fun, take a lot of energy and I am finding myself not as willing to expend that energy as much as I used to.  I love my friends, I love seeing everyone, but I love my family more, and I really love being alone most.  So this year, I vow, to say no. Even if it means missing out on fun events, or disappointing people. I don't want to wake up Dec. 26th and feel relieved that everything is over and done. I want to wake up and feel that my family created memories and traditions that will last. And that we did it with minimal fighting, crying, yelling, or arguing.

I may have more. But my time is up.  I need to go back to my boys, pick up my oldest at school, cut bookmarks for the book fair, hang posters around school, make dinner, and I almost forgot, hang up the Advent stockings so we can begin our countdown to Christmas.

One fun, memory making, family event coming up!  Fingers Crossed!