Gonna jump right into the last 2 months.
Disney, round 2, with my parents and our close friends and their kiddos was a success! My mom flew for the first time - and liked it! Told dad he may not be able to keep her home now. Down to FL in 1.5 hr. Su-WEET! MK twice, AK once, HS once, and then date day at Epcot w/ the farmer dude. Pool time. Adjoining room w/ parents. I could be colonial - my love for all of us being under the same roof is desperate and peaceful when we are. Zip back to KY ... bam! Halloween. Trunk or Treat at country church next door for prek kiddo and the dadster. Party time for the nephew and big girl. Fall. Crunchy leaves. Lots of discussion from the kids about the color- fun time w/ a prek kid especially- soaking up all the colors and learning new words like "crimson" or "scarlet." Acknowledging 'vivid' colors (another new word) peeked it's precious head again as we crested a knoll and he gasped ... "momma, look at God's beautiful sunset...it's bright pink and purple." I pause, search for the beauty as he sees the beauty. I don't see it quite the same, with that prek wonder and awe, BUT I pause and I force my way into it. It was gorg. Once I realize he has it, I stop pushing it. Reminder: don't ever stop pushing the colors. Then it's all just a blur. For real.
Thanksgiving was spent with family. So much love. Cousins. Kids. Playing. Chasing. Laughter. A round table. Wives. Mommas. Food. Homemade food. Food made just for that day. How blessed are we. Dad and two of his brothers chatted on the couch. The little boys squeezed in between them. How blessed is that. A heritage. Tilted chins. Breathless, rosy cheeked boys gleaning already...as they look up and listen then run in circles but always watch, listen. This was the first year in nearly 10 that the children were all old enough to scatter and play while the adults circled in for conversation. No hushing or rushing. At 8 pm, our youngest fell asleep in the mv on the way home (nonna and poppa's).
Teaching full-time. One month to the day. And I'm wide-eyed but in a sleep disorder kinda way. Granted, I was whipped as a sahm too. And actually, this teaching full-time gig is definitely easier than being home full-time BUT I do miss being home more. I miss my life revolving around meals, cleaning, working out, volunteering, playing, and crafts. I'm conflicted and I'll figure it out in due time. One step of faith at a time. Tonight, I'm just focusing on getting tomorrow under my belt. I take this job one day at a time. Yes it is that challenging. Middle school. Because I can't share specifics, and I'm way too blunt to beat around the bush delicately, I'll stop right here.
December has been stacked with more teaching, prek party, beautiful snow days, sledding, LOTS of movies and cookies, egg nog, homemade fudge, snack foods, some caloric regret, lack of exercise, and 15 lbs of weight gain (ok, that started before December :/) Oh! And my mom was here for 5 days. Have I ever mentioned how much of a blessing she is in our lives? She is solid and stable and I pray I will one day be like her!!! She fixed hot cocoa for us when we were outside 4wheeling and sledding. She did laundry, helped organize Grace's room (that doesn't remotely explain the reno that took place in her room and closet), cooked for us a couple nights, and played school w/ the kids a lot. The kids pretended to be a teacher and classroom doggy. Guess who was which, haha. Mom was a student. (Entertaining to hear, esp while sipping hot tea and looking out on 4" of powdery snow)... After the snow days, the fam and I (including nephew) volunteered for a couple hours at a church Christmas event. It was fun and afterward, we all ate din together, hubby's sis and her fam, us and ours. It was nice and there was lots of joking - a few about working out. I think my days of couch potato butt...yep...they're coming to a screeching halt. I miss my biker days. (insert: yard sale bicycle with trailer behind it days). I also miss my size 6 days.
Looking forward to celebrating Jesus. I really think my babies get it this year. We didn't have to kill santa either. Still not wild about the big red guy. Less wild about the exorbitant gifting. Not a scrooge though. Just overwhelmed. Hub is a great gifter, so he kind of carries us through the whims of the season, if you will. I've shopped little to none. Have mixed feelings about that. Anyway, I better go. 6am comes early. Merry Christmas. Best of 14.
