Bits of Life

Okay, can we talk about the weather?

I know that everyone in the lower 48 is complaining about the cold, wintry weather, but I want you to know, we would gladly take our nasty weather back!

Instead we have been in the thirties, which has been lovely (!), but also dangerous. There is ice everywhere around town from all the snow melting, so much in fact, that when Martin was so kind as to bring us our boxes from the post office, we saw these two girls in Josh's class ice skating on the airport road.

Yes. In real ice skates!

 It is an adventure every time we go out, since I'm the only one with ice cleats, the boys tend to slip & slide all over the place!

 It's also a problem because there isn't much snow left on the ground, which makes travel by snow machine on land impossible, and the ice on the river has melted in some places, and there are holes, which make travel along the river by snow machine dangerous.

 The mix of rain and warm weather on top of snow meant that last week when I was out, I wore my rain boots, but had to put my ice cleats on them, because in some places the ice is frozen in sheets over the mud.

So confused the weather is!

 The boys had a fabulous time playing out last Thursday, slipping on the ice, pretending to ice skate,

 and climbing on all the play structures at the park.

 We even got their bikes out of the arctic entry and rode them to the school.

 Despite the fact that they haven't rode bikes since October, they were completely confident riding, even on the ice.

 Jack was so sweet helping Wyatt walk carefully on the ice.  

I love how the twins look out for him.

Walking with Wyatt on the ice is amazing.  He can tell where it's going to be slick, and where it's going to be safe for him to walk independently.

The twins had so much fun riding their bikes, and I was very happy to have a beautiful afternoon out in the sunshine with them. I guess if we're going to have this strange warm weather, I may as well enjoy it while it lasts!

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We have been very focused the last week on team work.  I am having the boys do more chores around the house, and we're working together to get jobs done.  

Not only am I happier, because I'm not doing everything, but I find the boys are happier because they are participating in helping the house run smooth.  They're making their beds, setting the table, clearing the dishes, switching laundry loads and vacuuming the rug for me.  It's so lovely!

This sense of teamwork was extended to dinner preparation one evening when I came downstairs to find this: Logan standing on Jack's back so he could reach the pizza pockets in the freezer.

I died when I saw it. They are so hilarious!

I also cracked up when I came into the kitchen to this sight. 

Jack said to me, "It was hard, mom, but I got the pineapple open!" 

Love that he needed a hammer!

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I have been working really hard (through a few days of rough anxiety) to slow down and enjoy moments of my day. Some of my favorite moments are at bedtime.  

The boys are all in their jammies, we read stories, go potty, put on chapstick and take turns snuggling each other in the big boys' beds.

It's a lovely time of night, and when I allow enough time for it, I find myself really hearing the boys, enjoying them and connecting.

They love to talk to me, make me laugh, pray with me, and "erase" my memory. Lately that's their favorite.  They pretend to erase my memory and then when I "wake up" and don't know who they are, they can pretend they are Josh-the-daddy or a boy named "Poopy" or a monster. They laugh hysterically as I play along. Every night they ask to please play.

They also really enjoy letting Wyatt snuggle them and telling him stories. 

Most nights it's hard to get upstairs on time, but it's worth the struggle because on the nights we aren't fighting the clock with overtired children and an exhausted mama, we really enjoy each other, and that's a great way to end the day. 

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Jack lost his glasses lens this weekend.  

He was playing on the mountain of snow near our house, and his glasses kept fogging up.  So he took them off and put them in his pocket.  An hour later when I pulled his glasses out of his pocket, I discovered the right lens was missing.  

He started crying. He's so upset to be without his glasses.

Thankfully he has been able to function fully, reading and participating in school, despite his lack of eyesight.  But I am working on getting a replacement ASAP.

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Wyatt's current favorite activity outside is rock throwing.

He bends over to pick one up (no easy task when he's all geared up and has mittens on) and when he finally gets his hands on one,

BAM! he throws it as hard as he can onto the ice.

Then he yells, "Score!"

It brings him unbridled joy!

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I have recently embarked on a new journey.  It's a gratitude journey.

After watching a TED clip my friend Lenny put on his blog, I decided to take the advice of the presenter and each day for all of February I plan to:

• Write down 3 things I'm grateful for upon waking everyday
• Exercise each day
• Journal one good memory from the day each evening
• Do one kindness for someone else each day

It was found that people who did these things improved their happiness by 31% after just 21 days.  I am hoping it helps me focus more on being positive.

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We started week 4 of school this week since Christmas break, and it's going swimmingly!  Jack is focused, enjoying school time and embracing the challenges presented.

Logan is excelling at reading, and shining in his other schoolwork.

Both boys are working very hard at following our three rules:

• Stay in your seat
• Do your work
• No whining

I am so relieved! We all look forward to school each day, and the boys' reading in just a month has vastly improved.

I even found Logan reading to Wyatt after lunch yesterday.  My mama heart melted.

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During nap time I have been spending focused time with Logan & Jack as an effort to work on my Peaceful Parenting.  Having that connection time, especially with Logan, reduces the amount of misbehavior I see during the day.

We often play games, do extended learning activities for school or make crafts.  I thought it would be hard to sacrifice my alone time, and sometimes it is tough (like when I have a to do list weighing on my mind) but I have actually found that spending time with them makes my whole day better. I feel like a good mom, I enjoy my time with them, and it helps me stay present, which in turn, helps my anxiety.

Yesterday we made valentines for our loved ones.

We had so much fun.

I love showing them tricks, like cutting hearts out of a folded piece of paper. They think I am so amazing, and light up when they see how it works.  I also love that they have adopted their mothers' love for glitter!

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Aside from exercising, taking my medicine, talking with my counselor and doing my gratitude journal, I have been working very hard to stay in the moment in an effort to combat my panic.  

Playing with the boys is helpful, as is a daily routine. Another activity I find helps is baking. So each day I have thrown myself into some kind of activity in the kitchen. Yesterday it was tortillas.  Today it will be m&m cookies for Wyatt and the boys.

I am so happy to be finding ways to live with the anxiety and slowly find my way back to myself.

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Getting out of the house, to play outside or visit our friends at Saturday Social, is also really good for me.  And the boys.  Oh, we have fun those weekend mornings! Running in the gym, chasing each other, laughing and catching up with everyone.  It's a great time.

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Last night while I was rocking Wyatt to sleep, he whispered something. I didn't quite hear him and asked him to repeat himself.  He said, "I said, "I love you, sweet little mama."

{swoon!}

And while playing with this baby doll, he goes, "This is when I was little!"

"And I was in your belly!"

Which is hilarious because that's pretty much exactly what he looked like!

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I am currently reading A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy, and when I finish it, I will start this months' book club book, Me Before You by JoJo Moyes.  My friends read it in one day, so I can't wait to start it!  

My Monday started a bit rough, but my Tuesday is looking good, so I am hopeful it will be a great week!  Here's a little inspiration for your Tuesday:

I am clinging to this.

I have the power.

I love that.