Around Here: Week 4

Finishing... the KonMari method in all the bedrooms of the house. I am now left with paperwork and memorabilia, which is both exciting and daunting.  I think the biggest difference by far is in our master bedroom (pictured above). 

Enjoying... how Ramona (our girl kitty) pays attention when Carly is down for her nap. As soon as I sit down with my lap top on the couch, she seeks me out and curls up with me.

Loving... the "embrace" sign that Josh's sister Julie made for me.  Embrace is my word of the year for 2017, and having it hang in my dining room will be just the reminder I need when life gets chaotic, crazy & loud.

Feeling good... about not swearing. I have been successful most days the last week.  I am on my way to being a better example for my kids and that feels really good.

Helping... Logan adjust to life after a second seizure. Just like after the first seizure, he has been complaining pretty consistently of headaches, and his teacher and I are working together to be sure that Logan feels safe and heard (especially at school) but also that he not come home every time he doesn't feel 100%.  I feel like I am making everything up as I go, but so far Logan seems comfortable, so I'll call that a win.  We're still waiting to hear back on follow up appointments for him with the neurologist. I promise to keep you posted.

Celebrating... Carly's first birthday this week.  The little sweetheart is just beautiful and brings us all so much joy.

Buying... a baby pen (not sure what else to call it???) for Carly after I caught her with two small legos in her mouth the other morning.  Life with three older brothers is rife with danger, and I think that little play area will be a great safe place for her to exist when I am otherwise occupied cooking, cleaning, or caring for her siblings.

Working hard... to meet Wyatt's needs right now.  The transition from three weeks of snow days (off and on) to school again everyday has been hard for him, but not in the morning.  Oddly, he's been struggling in the afternoon.  He gets home from school, where he has had good behavior and lots of fun, and just starts melting down over the tiniest little thing. Last night when he complained that he couldn't have cake when he wanted I just held him, sympathized and didn't let go as he sobbed into my chest. He cried for so long, but I could tell he felt better, lighter, afterward. Poor guy. It's been a crazy weird month for me, and I'm a grown up. I can't imagine how strange it's felt for him.

Snapping pictures... of the kids' first snow men. The twins wanted to be in the picture with theirs so they tromped back out in the snow in their basketball shorts to pose. Ha! The snowmen were very cute and the boys were proud. They built them on Monday, when we had no school (again! waaah!) because of black ice. At this point the number of missed days in January is getting ridiculous!

Taking... Carly to her one year check up and asking them to split up her shots. She was due for five (!) so we opted to get them a bit staggered.  Luckily she hasn't been extra cranky or anything after the ones she got yesterday. She is teething two teeth, however, and those are causing her to be very drooly and to wake up in the night. Mama is ready for more than two hours' sleep at a time!

And taking... Wyatt to the eye doctor where I found out that his prescription is getting less (smaller?) and there is a real possibility he could even outgrow his need for glasses altogether. That makes this mama (of three boys in glasses) nearly jump for joy!

Contemplating... a truth my friend Tabitha pointed out on her Instagram account earlier this week, which is that we are RIGHT NOW the youngest we will EVER BE.  Which makes RIGHT NOW the time to do ALL THE THINGS you ever wanted to do. It's a thought that never crossed my mind and now I can't stop thinking about it!

Prepping... for a big and meaningful February.  I have big goals for the shortest month of the year and I can't wait to share them with you.

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Around The House

Last week we decorated for Christmas (even the boys' bedroom window got some holiday twinkle!).  

In addition to decorating for Christmas, Josh also got a bunch of things knocked off his "Honey-Do" list from his adoring wife. 

Like hanging this new trio of shelves I got for less than $15 from Target.

I've had these letters for the twins' names since I was six months pregnant with them.  Last year I painted them to match the photo boards Aunt Julie made for their bedroom here in Alaska.

And now they finally have a place to be displayed.

I don't have letters for Wyatt (and they wouldn't fit on this tiny shelf anyway) so this adorable picture of him from our trip to Anchorage in October 2011, when he was four months old, will have to do.

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In addition to sprucing up the twins' room, Josh and I have been working recently on making the arctic entry more user-friendly.  A little help (also from Target) in the form of a shoe shelf and an adorable wall shelf, and voila! Our arctic entry is suddenly awesome!

The shoe shelf has made use of the vertical space under our hanging jackets, freeing up floorspace for all the bodies we have to squeeze in this tiny space when we're gearing up.

This wall shelf makes me smile every time I see it.  I used to have to pull down a giant Rubbermaid tote each time we got ready so the boys could choose the correct gloves, scarves & hats for the weather.  The tote was heavy, which was annoying, but it was also a space-eater, cutting the arctic entry's square footage in half when it was on the floor being rifled through.

Now the boys' baseball hats sit atop the shelf, their assortment of gloves sit in their own individual baskets, and their hats hang on tiny hooks under their baskets. 

This is the view now when you step into the arctic entry.  

Organized and clutter-free.  

(And can I just say how much I love my seasonal "Welcome" sign Julie made me?!?  

The Christmas wreath for this month is beautiful!)

I added one (perhaps strange) addition to our wall shelf.  Clothes pins.  

(How? Me & hot glue... we're best buddies!)  We only have seven hooks on the wall below the shelf, and when we all have full gear on (snow pants, sweatshirts & winter coats) those hooks fill up quick!

So the wall shelf having a space for the boys' hats was great, but I still didn't have a space to hang gloves that needed to dry.  Enter the clothes pins I bought over the summer.  I put two on each side, and two in between the hat hooks.  Now there's a spot for every glove, and the hooks below remain free for larger items.

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I am so happy with our little room re-do's!