Life is Crazy

Top 10 for the Week:
February 24th, 2014
10.  Jay Gone.  Jay and a few of his buddies went to a Michigan basketball game this past Saturday.  Great for him to get away and have some fun.  But it makes my five day week a six day week.  I honestly don't know how single parents and families that have traveling spouses do it!  The kids did well with me...we kept ourselves busy.  But it makes for a really LONG week.  And thankfully they were both in bed, SLEEPING by 8:05.  I wore them out!:o)
9.  Sunday Crazy.  Do you ever feel like your Sundays are your catch up days?  Like you try and scrunch every last ounce of getting things done in the day?  Sometimes I wish I used Sunday as a more relaxing day...and maybe once the weather gets warmer I will.  But now I feel like I'm constantly busy trying to get things done and ready for the week.
8.  Barbies.  One day during rest time this week, Mal and I played Barbies together.  She is SO me.  Knows exactly how she wants to play.  Telling me what to do the whole time.  I became a little frustrated...but tried my best to be understanding.  She was naming all of her dolls and named one of the men Joe.  "That's funny.  Like the sloppy."  Referring to sloppy JOES.  It was cute.  We had weddings, a camp out, traveling.  Those Barbies were living it up!  Even though I LOVE using Clay's nap time for getting a few things done--I know it's important to connect with her too.  It's so hard for me sometimes to balance everything.
7.Easter Décor.  I had in my mind March 1st as being THE day to get out Easter decorations up.  But due to the kids' excitement, we decided a few days early was just fine too.  I LOVE seeing their faces as we open the tub and explore what's in them.  I seriously feel like it's kinda like Christmas.  The "new" Easter books, decorations, and Easter toys that they can play with now that it's that time of year.  If only I had monthly tubs with appropriate decorations.  I MIGHT just need to do something like that.  Maybe a SUMMER one.  Oh--that sounds COOL.
6.  Leo Loves Mal.  I'm actually surprised by this.  She LOVES the cat.  Searches for him, carries him, holds him, pets him.  Lots of things that I can tell he doesn't particularly like.  BUT I think he secretly does.  Lately, he's been sleeping on her bed A LOT during the day.  NOW, if you were the cat, and you KNEW it was the child's room that adored and smothered you--wouldn't you think you'd pick someplace else to sleep?  Just a thought.  She's elated by it.  I don't blame her.  It's truly a miracle in my eyes!  And I'm thinking Leo is not dumb...but this behavior does make me wonder.
5.  Dinner Out.  Friday night when Jay came home from work, I was in "the mood."  Not THE mood, but the mood.  Tired, exhausted, drained from our kids all week.  I was just starting to cook dinner when he had the brilliant idea of going OUT.  We rarely go out anymore for several reasons.  With my food allergies it can be hard for me AND of course the kids aren't always the best behaved in restaurant settings--especially when they are hungry.  But I LOVED his idea.  And it was bliss.
4.  Visit.  Nana and Papa are finally home from Florida--11 days later (like any of us were counting:o)).  On their way through they stopped and saw us.  It was so great seeing them.  Even little visits are great--even IF it gets the kids wound up!;o) 


3.  Clayisms.  Sometimes I am amazed at how well this kid follows directions.  Seriously.  Between telling him to go get a different pair of socks because the ones he picked out were too tight OR telling him to please put the bathroom towel away (in a cabinet that he had to actually open and "stuff" it in there)--I'm shocked and grinning from ear to ear.  He has definitely picked up on more "big" kid stuff and I contribute that to Mallory.  He SO wants to be like her and be a big boy.  We are working on potty training.  And somedays I feel like we are doing well, and others not so much.  Hard to believe he will be three in just over a month!
2.  Malloryisms.  Getting ready for dance by herself is hard.  With tights, leotard, etc, I get it.  Well, this week she did it herself!  I was busy getting dinner ready and asked her to use the restroom before we left.  She went in, got dressed, and came out beaming!  Huge accomplishment here.  And she knows it too!  We've been talking about frostbite with these below freezing temperatures.  She's intrigued by this and asked "How does the snow bite?"  Cutest, most innocent question.  And SO literal.  I love it!  Our 5 year old also signed up for her OWN library card this week--HUGE.  Checked out books on her own and was even excited to take them back by herself.  Another interesting fact about Miss Mallory Jayne--she is a lover of egg salad AND Brussels sprouts.  I'm serious.  This girl has such a healthy appetite.  Love her to pieces.
1.  Playing Well Together.  Both kids played SO well together this week.  I caught them several times playing school, Easter bunny, cars, doing art, whatever.  They were two peas in a pod getting along beautifully.  Makes a mommy proud!


Another week done!
Late.
But it's all good.


Until next week,
Mrs. Newell