as Carly rang our own doorbell yelling, "Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat. If you don't, I don't care, I'll pull down your underwear!" and thinking she was the funniest kid ever.
She also made me laugh when she asked from the other room, "Mom!? What's my throat straw called again?" I laughed and told her, "Esophogus. It's your esophogus."
Rearranging... the family room, and then the living room. Something about the imminent arrival of winter and the idea of all six of us being cooped up together for the season sparks a need in me to recreate our indoor spaces and make them as cozy as possible. I had fun rearranging furniture and deep cleaning as I went. I'm loving the big couch all back together again, just in time a Christmas-movie-season and cold winter nights. I also cleaned the junk drawer out and ordered a shoe rack to try and contain some of the crazy that currently exists in our hall closet. That prompted a moving of the old organizer that was on that door into the laundry room, which then prompted Josh to find a different place to store our hats (so we could have more hanger space) which he did by hanging 3M removable hooks in the laundry room for all the baseball hats our family owns. I am so impressed with us and so happy with how it all turned out.
Dealing... with a cat that eats our clothes. Literally.
Grateful... that Josh's love language is acts of service. He regularly fills my car with gas, makes the bed everyday, and this week even came home with new electric outlets after moving furniture revealed that many of ours were broken. So lucky to have this guy.
Signing... myself up to go on the Rome/Athens trip with Jack!!! My parents have agreed to help me go, and I am beyond myself dreaming of it.
Taking... a Highly Sensitive Person quiz online (found here) and getting 24/26. That's right. There were only two questions on the entire thing that I marked as false. One is struggling with public speaking (it doesn't bother me) and the other was being sensitive to pain. I think my migraines have increased my pain threshold by a lot. Other than those two, though, I am HSP through and through. God bless my poor family.
Reading... Once There Were Wolves and Coming Clean. Once There Were Wolves was magical- the writing and the storyline are so good. Coming Clean is like an episode of Hoarders that lasts for days. It really gives you the inside scoop of what it's like to be raised by hoarders, but was written with such humanity and grace- it was really good. I am also listening to September (it's a long one!) still.
Loving... that Wyatt is also a reader. Whenever there is a moment of quiet in the house, he tends to grab a book off the shelf and plop himself down in a comfy spot to read.
Watching... Carly grow in leaps and bounds as she continues learning about the alphabet and word sounds and spent one morning doing a challenging puzzle which was new to her. It's like watching a flower bloom. She's so amazing.
Videoing... Carly as my sister asked her all about parent drop off and why it makes her crazy. The girl is nuts and I love her.
Enjoying... all the sky displays lately. The sunrises, sunsets and rainbows. I can't get enough. What I really love though is when my kids point it out to me. They come running inside and holler, "Mom! Mom come look!" I know then I've raised them right. They see the beauty around them, too.
Relishing... a day with my mom and sister when they came to town to hang out! It was seriously the best day ever. We sat and chatted, then got lunch at my favorite bookstore/cafe (thanks mom!) and then came home and talked even more. Then they took my twins shopping (a chore I hate doing) and then we had dinner together. It was such a fun day and exactly what my spirits needed. We laughed more in that one day than I have in the last month, I bet. Oh gosh, my sides hurt. Love them so much.
Watching... Beautiful Boy for date night with Josh. He read the book on audio and I have it up next (when I finish September). It was a sad and moving account of one dad's son and his battle with meth. I was shocked to learn the recovery rate for someone addicted to meth is in the single digits. Such a horrible, brain changing, life ruining drug.
Caretaking... my littles as they struggled with a cold this week. I took a break from other responsibilities and just loved on my babies.
Supporting... Josh as he had a funny schedule this week to accomodate parent/teacher conferences. The night he worked late the kids and I had a charcuterie board for dinner, and it was so fun and different. Cheese rounds, crackers, pickles, lunch meat, sliced cheese... so many fun options.
Sending... the twins on a tour of Eastern Washington University with a group from their middle school. They said the campus is so amazing and I am so excited for them that this program at school shows them different colleges and universities around the state. I am so proud they are thinking of their futures and considering what they may want for themselves.
More of Ashmae's art. I am obsessed.
A good reminder that we can be so impactful.
#parentingteenagers
For the love of God can you put something back where you found it?
Or shut a drawer or cupboard you open?
Or turn off a light switch?!
Tell me I'm not alone.
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