Weekending!

Weekends around here consist of Date Night Friday,

where the husband and I watch a movie and eat the delicious pizza he makes 

once the children are in bed;

{This movie is hilarious!}

Saturday Social on Saturday morning, 

where the children run & play with their friends at the school,

and enjoy popcorn & slushees for snack in the cafeteria;

{New Seahawk inspired shoes for Wyatt from Nanny}

{Loves his kicks!}

Family Movie Night Saturday evening,

where the boys get more of daddy's amazing homemade pizza,

followed by dessert on the rug in the living room

while watching a movie all together;

and finally Sunday Football,

where we root and cheer our hearts out for the Seahawks,

while eating something yummy. 

Generally homemade chili & cornbread or homemade mac & cheese.

Weekends are my favorite.  

We have so many fun rituals that we all look forward to,

 and it's just nice to spend time together and recharge our batteries for the week ahead.

*

As an added bonus, some sweet moments of motherhood:

At bedtime the last few nights Logan has been really sweet & lovey.  One night he told me I am the prettiest mom.  The next night he told me he loves me to outer space.

When I am putting underwear back on Wyatt after he goes potty, our faces are cheek to cheek.  And he always says to me as I dress him, "You're our mom."

Jack drew a picture for me. I unrolled it (he delivers everything in scroll fashion) and then he pointed out everything in the picture.  He and Logan were in their beds, and I was in the corner rocking Wyatt in the rocking chair.

Quiz + My Weekend + Big Boy Bed

My penpal Annie over at Annery at Home posted these quiz questions. 
I thought I'd answer them for fun!

1.  How many siblings do you have? 
Three {Two brothers, One sister}

2.  What time of day works best for your prayer/alone time?
I prefer the morning, but my children are early risers... so it often falls at the end of the day.

3.  Have you endured the Winter Without End too?
Surprisingly, considering where I live, no.  
We have had nearly no snow and very mild temperatures for our climate.

4.  If you live somewhere warm, how do you feel about me visiting?
Sadly, I think you would not feel any warmer up here in the Yukon... but it would be nice to have a visitor!

5.  Do you sleep under blankets all year?  Even in the sweltering summer?
Yes. Always under blankets. Usually with socks on.

6.  Do your kids (or you) eat sugary cereal? (Or am I the only one that lets that happen?)
I live for Cap'n Crunch & Froot Loops. 
They prefer Cinnamon Toast Crunch & Cocoa Pebbles.
It's awful, but we love 'em!

7.  Do you have any food allergies in your family? What helped you best in learning to cope?
We are so, so lucky to not have any allergies.

8. What's your favorite blog post of someone else's?
The Can't Also Crisis by Kelle Hampton over at Enjoying The Small Things

9.  What's your favorite blog post of your own?

Probably The Journey.

It explains the road that lead us to life in the bush, and has pictures of our first trip out here.

10.  What would be your ideal birthday present?
A girls weekend away with all my besties.
Dark, cold Alaska November weekend spent talking, eating & shopping in Anchorage? Yes please!

11.  Would you rather be surrounded by others without a break or alone all day?
Surrounded. Completely.  Talking, noise, chaos. I miss it!

---
I had a busy, productive weekend.
Between Friday & Sunday I:

Finished two books (This one in a little over 24 hours... could NOT put it down!)

Cleaned the entire house (all rooms, bathrooms & the stairs)

-swept

-mopped

-dusted

-vacuumed

Made two batches of tortillas

Made four loaves of bread

Made Easter M&M cookie dough for next weekend

Made chocolate chips cookies

Had family movie night

Attended Saturday Social

and took the twins for a bike ride/walk in the sunshine!!!

Then, as a result of my busy weekend (& insane reading schedule) I got an ocular migraine.  

It's a migraine centered in the eye and is pure evil.  Thankfully Josh was able to stay home,

and as the day passed, the migraine has mostly departed.

Tonight we took the side off Wyatt's crib (gulp-- insert mama tears here) 

and tonight he is going to bed like a big boy.

He gave up binkies & breastfeeding no problem, 

and has completely mastered potty training in less than three months.

So I'm hoping the price I paid for raising twins the first go-round 

will afford me this one last toddlerhood rite of passage--

and that this will be an easy transition as well.

*fingers crossed*

Weekend Update + What Makes Me Happy

Weekend Update

 Friday

After a lovely Thanksgiving, Josh let me sleep in Friday morning.  When I woke up he was making bread & tortillas. During nap time I got to watch some episodes of Parenthood (my favorite!) and in the afternoon Josh took the twins sledding.  They were so happy to get outside.  When they came in, all rosy cheeked, I made them hot cocoa (with whip cream, of course) and once they were warmed up we decorated for Christmas. All three boys were so excited to help decorate our little Charlie Brown Christmas tree, and we had a great time.

Once the boys were down for the night we had Leah over for pizza and a movie. We watched Pitch Perfect, which was cute & funny.  It was great to hang out with Leah and laugh.

Saturday

I woke up with the boys Saturday and started laundry.  I cleaned the house and changed our sheets.  I also started a list of 1,000 gratitudes or gifts.  But more on that later.

Saturday evening we had family movie night with Turbo + cheese pizza + fudge for the boys.  Then I had Girls Night with Leah.  We hung out until after midnight talking.  It made me so happy.  Love that girl.

{The Advent Josh's sister made for Logan, Jack & Wyatt}

Sunday

Yesterday I slept in again.  I got to read in bed, which was luxurious, and watch the sun rise over the mountain.  It was breath taking.

I spent the day wrapping Advent Calendar gifts for the boys and preparing for the week ahead.  We will be making countdown chains for Christmas and writing letters to santa this week.  I can't wait!

What Makes Me Happy

God working in my life

I got a care package last week, and literally every single thing in it was something I needed or wanted.  There were popsicle sticks, which I had been wishing I had for crafts with the boys; two kinds of holiday m&m's; bath time alphabet sponges that Wyatt loves; beef jerky for Josh (his favorite); shelf creamer for me for my coffee that can sit in the pantry until I open it (!!!); and the cereal that comes in little boxes which my kids adore.

But the best part of the care package was the book she included.  One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  I literally looked at buying it on Amazon last week, but didn't. I know that with the holidays coming, I am going to have a tight budget this month, so I decided not to get it.  I started reading it the day I got it, and I can't put it down.  I will probably do an entire post on it this week, but suffice to say, it is speaking to me, and I know God had a hand in getting it from Kasey in New York to me in Alaska.

Talking to my nephew Ferris on the phone

Twinkle Lights

Our sense of community

Both at Thanksgiving and upon hearing of the crash in St. Mary's, I found myself grateful we are all in this together.

Samantha's leftover potato salad

It is oh-so-good.

Being anxiety free

Christmas Card preparation

I love the holiday season, especially sending out my yearly cards!

~

"Thanks makes now a sanctuary.  
And I take my vows: 
I will not desecrate this moment with 
ignorant hurry or sordid ingratitude."
-Ann Voskamp

This week I want to slow down & be grateful.

***

Weekend Update + What Makes Me Happy

Weekend Update:

Friday my anxiety reared its ugly head again. But I took the advice of my book (Hope and Help for Your Nerves by Dr. Claire Weekes) and let the feelings float over me. I continued on about my day as if it weren't there, and by the afternoon, I was feeling alright.

For date night Josh put sausage on the pizza, which was awesome, & we watched Ocean's Twelve, a classic favorite.

Saturday I was still having anxiety, so I accompanied Josh and the boys to Saturday Social.  I find that when I am having anxiety, the worst thing I can do is be alone. While at Saturday Social I figured out where my anxiety came from. On Thursday night Josh and I were talking about the future, and with his new degree, everything is kind of up in the air. We don't know where the future will take us, and with my emotions right now, that's seeming pretty scary.

We had family movie night (Josh made the boys favorite- cheese & olive pizza) and we let them watch Home Alone. They laughed so hard during the part where Kevin was tricking the bad guys, Josh and I were rolling just watching them giggle.

Once the boys were tucked in for the night, I headed to Leah & Johanna's for Girls Night, where we sat around talking, as girls will do, for hours on end. It was just what I needed to get outside my own head. It's so nice to have those girls for my friends, knowing they have my back.

Sunday I slept in (thank you, Josh!) but woke up with a headache.  I took my migraine medicine, which makes me drowsy, so I took a short nap on the couch before taking the twins to Aaliyah's birthday party.  They were so excited. All morning they kept saying, "I can't believe we're invited to her party!"

Josh made some bread and we discovered why my past few loaves haven't been good. Our yeast was bad. So the dough wasn't rising enough to make a good loaf.  I am grateful we discovered the problem because I was starting to feel really bad about my baking abilities!

In addition to making bread, he cleaned the house while we were gone and he made dinner (homemade macaroni & cheese) for the boys.  I feel so grateful that he did so much while I wasn't feeling great.

This week:

• Clean the house (!!!)
• Wednesday- Thanksgiving meal at school with Josh's class
• Thursday- Hosting our second annual Marshall Thanksgiving
• Figure out how to cook a turkey
• when do I start defrosting the dang thing?
• Figure out how to make pumpkin pies
• then make them
• Friday- decorate for Christmas

Next week:

• Start Elf on the Shelf
• Begin addressing Christmas cards

***

What Makes Me Happy:

Double rainbows

{Thanks Cyndy for calling to tell me about this one!}

 The boys' new room

{Here's hoping having the bunkbeds dismantled makes for more sleep filled nights!}

New books to read

{I finished my newest Anita Shreve & am ready for more reading!}

Music from a friend

{Thank you, Karen. I love it!}

The school supplies my Aunt Linda sent my boys

{They love playing "school" with it, and I love the enthusiasm they have for kindergarten now!}

I am also happy that I've been blogging nearly all month!  A few more posts, and I might actually empty out my draft posts!  At one point there was more than forty. Now it's down to 17!  Wahoo!

***

Today's daily gratitude:

My sister

her friendship 

& how she inspires my parenting

Weekend Update + What Makes Me Happy

Weekend Update:

I am slowly finding my way back from the dark tunnel that is anxiety.  In this picture I can still see it in my eyes, and below my eyes, where shadows lurk.  Friday I could still feel it rising in my throat, beating in my heart and gripping my stomach.  But each day it has lessened.  And yesterday I had no anxiety. None. The blessed relief that was a normal weekend, panic-free, I cannot accurately describe to you.

I am grateful for both the medication and the support of those around me to do what I needed to take care of myself. It wasn't an easy decision, but one I am proud of myself for making.

***

 Cozy time with these guys this weekend was the best.  We watched cartoons Saturday morning, and had family movie night.  Per Jack's request, we watched The Polar Express.  Josh said he can hardly believe it's mid-November and the holidays are around the corner. I agree. The fall has gone so quickly.

***

Friday & Saturday there was still no snow on the ground.  We had an entire day of serious rain on Friday that made me miss the beach, and by Sunday there was a thin dusting of snow.  I am curious when we will get more snow, but not at all anxious for it to make its arrival. Once it comes, it doesn't go away, so I am enjoying the respite.

Friday I made four loaves of bread and this weekend I made banana bread and cookie dough to stock up the freezer.  I also gave the boys haircuts.  They look so fresh & handsome!

***

The highlight of my weekend was on Friday afternoon when I scooped Wyatt up from a tantrum, hugging him tight and he said to me, "You're my best friend, mom."

{swoon}

---

What Makes Me Happy:

1. New Hanna Andersson pajamas!
They are the softest cotton jammies, and my boys adore them.
Plus, I think they look pretty darn cute in them.

2. My birthday is in one week!!!
{And I am loving the accumulation of birthday gifts collected at the post office, waiting for the 18th!}

3. The recent appearance of little notes from my guys.

*

4. The boys practicing what they learn, using the term "diagram" and engineering new "inventions" in the bath tub. They make me so proud everyday.

5. Inspiration found on bookmarks & in other places.
I especially love this one.

***

Today's Daily Gratitude:

Josh

I love our love story

Weekend Update + What Makes Me Happy

Weekend Update:

 Well, for starters, on Friday, they fixed our boiler, which means we now have heat & hot water. 

So I'm not doing this (washing my hair in the sink) anymore!

And I'm also not doing this (heating water on the stove for dishes) anymore.  I was actually excited to do dishes Saturday because it was so simple, what with the hot water coming directly out of the faucet and all!

Josh and I were both overjoyed to shower in our own house and at our leisure this weekend and this morning. 

And it was beyond satisfying to bathe the boys after six days without!

*

 Saturday morning the twins and I met Krista and her kiddos at the gym for some playtime, leaving Wyatt behind for some much needed one on one time with Daddy.  They met us there later, when Saturday Social started.

 Saturday night we had family movie night. Josh made pizza and we watched Monsters University. It was really cute, and the boys had a great time.  I love that time with them, snuggling on the couch & laughing together.

I also paid bills on Saturday, which, given how I've been feeling, felt like a monumental task. I was so proud of myself for doing it.

 Speaking of how I've been feeling, I am relieved to tell you that I am already feeling much better.  I am nervous that the anxiety will come back, but am trying to just enjoy the moments when I feel good.

I got a lot done this weekend around the house, in order to make Josh's absence during the week (this week is a doozy with meetings in three of the evenings) more bearable.

 I was able to get so much done because Josh took Logan with him Sunday afternoon.  They spent time in Josh's class, where Josh did homework and Logan played with his classroom Legos and on his SmartBoard.  Logan really enjoyed his one on one time with Josh, and let me tell you, two kids versus three... There's no comparison! Jack & Wyatt played so well, I was able to get the entire downstairs clean, as well as take down Halloween, and decorate for Thanksgiving!

*

 The weather has been windy or rainy all weekend.  And as much as I hate not getting outside with the kids, I'm grateful (and a bit shocked) that the snow hasn't settled upon us yet!

And lastly, I hate daylight savings.  I guess the light coming earlier in the morning is fine, but I hate how early it gets dark in the evenings. Last night I couldn't believe how pitch black it was at 7pm.  And aside from the adjustment to light outside, I have to adjust my children to a new wake up time, which is always a nightmare.

Hopefully by the end of the week, we will be adjusted. 

In the meantime, it's early bedtime for this mama!

*

What Makes Me Happy:

 Christmas Music
Josh downloaded my favorite Christmas albums for my ipod--
I have a favorite song from each album.

Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas
*All I Want For Christmas Is You
Amy Grant: Home For Christmas
*Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)
The Home Alone Soundtrack
*Somewhere In My Memory 

And of course, it just isn't Christmas without the Transiberian Orchestra's Carol of the Bells.

The other thing that's making me happy?
Enjoying these boys.

They are the ones (along with their awesome daddy, and my mom) who got me through last week. Kids are a great distraction when you are having anxiety. Their needs are immediate.  You can't mope for too long when you have three little boys who are hungry, bored or fighting.  I am so blessed to be their mama. They are such tender boys, and I love them so much.

***

And a little Monday morning inspiration:
I saw this & thought it was a good reminder to myself.
Happiness is this moment.

source

Today's Daily Gratitude:

SAHM-hood

Challenging? Sure,

but totally worth it.