Hosting... the Seahawk's game for Josh's sisters family. It was so cute to watch our boys cheer and hold their breath during certain plays. Carly and their daughter Liesel call each other BFF's (and sometimes BCF- Best Cousins Forever) and their friendship is just the sweetest. While they were here, Tay and Andrea helped Josh build the trampoline he bought for the kids, and they all enjoyed spending time on it. I have discovered I am definitely the aunt who says yes to everything. I love those kids and want them to be happy, so if they ask, it's pretty much going to be, "Sure!" Haha!
Starting... week two of school and praying it's better than week one. ...but facing the reality that it is hard and not yet getting easier.
Loving... Josh for choosing to leave for work later so that he can see Carly and say goodbye before he takes off. For the first few weeks of school, he was leaving before she woke up, and it made her sad to miss him in the mornings, so, without discussing it with me or her, he just started staying longer in the mornings so she could snuggle him and kiss him goodbye. He's the best dad, and I am so grateful he's ours.
Doing... dishes (for daysss) after getting behind on all my household chores. Doing school full time with the kids is taking a toll on everything I normally accomplish in a day. (It took me 32 minutes to do the dishes Wednesday. Yes, I timed it!) I am sure it will all settle and get better, but for now, it feels a bit like I'm drowning and someone handed me a Chromebook.
Sending... three of my four kiddos off to the land to play with cousins on Wednesday. (Josh's sister and her husband are in town with their kids, so I let the boys take one day to play with cousins this week!) Jack stayed home- he was having a stomach ache. We thoroughly enjoyed a quiet day together, though, and were glad as he felt better throughout the day.
Working... hard on Thursday & Friday to catch up on the school the kids missed Wednesday visiting their cousins. The twins and I got our butts handed to us as we attempted the first test of the year. I don't think the way they were working this week is going to be successful, so we'll be doing things differently starting next week. Instead of the boys working independently on their online science & english units, we will be working together, with me acting as teacher, making sure they understand the concepts before we move on to the next. Fingers crossed that will produce better results.
Prepping... for family photos Saturday, trying on outfits and shoes and making sure the boys' new clothes all fit. I hate the work that goes into photos, but I love having them... so it must be done!
Grateful... for date night with Josh Friday, where he made us pizza and we watched Ocean's 13 and I tried to forget the feelings of failure I had from my long second week of at-home distance learning. "You can do hard things" is on constant repeat in the back of my mind.
Capturing... our growing family with the help of my sister (thank you, Roxanne!) and getting excited about ordering this year's Christmas card. We got so many great shots (I shared some above, but kept some for a surprise on the cards come December) and everyone was in really good moods. Jack asked why we had to do family pictures, and I said that we do it for me. He laughed, but I was serious. It's one day a year where I choose their clothes, fuss over their hair styles and expect them to do as I say so I can get some good pictures. I was so grateful it all went as I hoped.
Packing... up and hitting the road after family pictures to join my bestie for a little weekend getaway. I listened to The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead on the drive and was instantly captivated. (It's a heartbreaking story about a juvenile detention center in the 1960's. I was riveted.) Once I arrived, we visited with my friends' sister-in-law and enjoyed dinner together. We also talked about the enneagram and Shana inspired me to listen to The Road Back To You. I've since started it, and am loving it so much. I can't wait to hear what he has to say about sixes.
Practicing... mindfulness as a way of bringing my stress level down throughout the day in hopes I can decrease the number of panic attacks I am having. I try to breathe in and out whenever I think of it, and am working on just "being". Typically, I am always trying to accomplish something. At. All. Times. So I am trying to just sit. Or just stand. Or just drink my coffee. Without multi-tasking, and without having any demands placed on my time. It's hard, but I can see a difference in my patience.
(Advice for self love and mindfulness techniques welcome!)
And Josh is reading the second Harry Potter book to the boys. They are LOVING it, and I am wishing I could both put Carly to bed and be listening with them, since I've never read Harry Potter. I am thinking maybe next year I will attempt to read the books myself. We'll see!
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