So I sat down at my computer to write a post about my favorite books of the year. But I’m not really feeling it at the moment. I think I need to ramble a little bit about this Christmas vacation, something I didn’t plan on writing about at all this week. But here I am.
This has probably been the most uneventful Christmas break yet. We’ve all been tired and cranky and OH so irritable. The boys have been at each other’s throats and both of them are just a huge emotional meltdowns waiting to happen. Greg and I got in a massive fight about it on Tuesday, which certainly hasn’t helped make this week any better. Greg thinks Christmas is hard on them because I do too many things earlier in the month and that wears them out. Examples being a big St. Nick’s Day and Twinkle the Elf moving locations every day. (Which for the record, helps them wake up every morning of the month with a smile or laugh instead of whining and arguing about something.) I think they’re difficult at Christmas because we do way too many things in a very short time period and the expectations for them to be happy and excited is just too much pressure. This is the second year in a row of the huge extended family party happening on the 23rd. And both years it has really put a strain on all of us to be rested and happy on the 24th and 25th. The 24th is the most important and most exciting day in our holiday rush and I want to go into it being happy and relaxed. It’s just too much. I understand why the big party is that day with so many people traveling. But it a strain, especially on our child that doesn’t ever want to go anywhere for any reason whatsoever, especially day after day after day. Anyway, I’m sure it’s just a mix of everything. And all that stuff is fun! But it’s overwhelming. Especially for Caden. Which in turn makes it so much harder on the rest of us. Consider yourselves lucky that you don’t see just how hard it is to get him out the door – EVER.
At any rate, I had very low expectations for this week! I was highly looking forward to a week off of work to just read, rest, relax. And I did it! I think I’ve read four books in the last five days. I’ve also spent a huge amount of time setting up a new bullet journal for 2018, which I’m extremely excited about! I set up my regular calendars (two this year to hopefully increase my productivity!). And I did the bare minimum of household chores. I did go clearance shopping on Tuesday morning and we went to the dog park twice. But I’ve been a total recluse the rest of the time, which I’m kind of okay with! I feel bad because I did plan on taking the boys swimming, but the idea of going swimming when it’s negative temperatures outside was just more than I could handle. I actually wanted to go sledding, but it was just too cold. So home we stayed. Reading, playing video games, and snapping at each other over everything! Fun times. Fun, for real, but also….yeah. I’ll be very happy when Tuesday morning arrives!
At the dog park on Wednesday. It’s been soooo cold this week. I’m normally okay with winter. I prefer winter weather to summer weather. I HATE being hot. But now that I actually have to go outside multiple times a day with Annie, winter is becoming a little bit brutal! Temperatures in the teens and twenties? Fine. But negative degrees with even lower wind chills? Not so fun. The one bright spot is this ridiculous looking coat from LL Bean which was worth every penny I spent on it. When I’m wearing my very warm boots there’s only about two inches between the two where my legs are chilled. But it’s otherwise pretty warm!
Lots of time to play with new presents this week! The boys started their rock tumbler (the one thing I was excited about doing with them, but they did when I went shopping 🙁 ). They made rainbow slime. They’ve been doing multiple art projects, shooting nerf guns, playing with balls, reading, and of course playing video games.
Shepard showing off his sign again. He’s been begging me to hang it outside so everyone knows he lives here.
I wanted to keep my delivery person treat box out until the new year, but the squirrels caught on to me. This box was overflowing when I set it out that morning and half gone by the time I realized they were taking things. We’ve since found torn open bags of chips, granola bars, and cookies strewn all over the neighborhood. Our neighbors saw one running down the sidewalk with a peanut butter cup. Dang squirrels!
This week I was desperately craving some home cooked food. I made a giant batch of chicken tamale chili one night and one of our favorites – PF Chang’s Copycat Mongolian Beef another night. I’m hoping in the new year I can be a lot better about making wholesome and delicious meals on a much more regular basis. AND enjoy it.
Greg went back to work on Thursday and Friday. Thursday we had a super lazy day and the boys went over to their friend’s house for the afternoon. And Friday we went to the dog park and then out to lunch at Culver’s. It wasn’t much, but it was nice to get out of the house for a little bit and do something special. I planned on going out anyway, but they actually asked me before I could say anything. They don’t usually see going to a restaurant as a treat, so it was nice that in this circumstance they did.
And today’s big accomplishment was getting haircuts. You would not believe how much of a fight one kid puts up about getting his hair cut (not the cute one making cocoa in his new pizza shirt). Like cutting the hairs on his head is literally the same thing as slicing him with a million knives. But it’s done.
And that’s been our week! Emotional, lazy, a little bit productive in creatively fun ways. I didn’t want to stress out about cleaning up or taking down the decorations. But as the break comes to a close I’m getting pretty antsy to move ahead into the new year. I’m excited to start sewing again. I feel fresh and ready to tackle some new projects. I’m hopeful that 2018 will be a much better year and I’m ready to get it started!
