Mom, the Schedule Keeper

 It’s strange to think someday I’m not going to remember the details of my schedules each week. Coordinating where everyone needs to be, to do, to eat, etc every day feels all consuming at times. And yet: regardless of the lists, physical planner use, calendar and reminder apps in my phone: every week something falls through. I forget somewhere we need to be, or I arrive unacceptably late and beat myself up over it for hours- not my favorite habit, but it exists all the same and deserves to be noted as a reality of this season. This month has felt manageable. At first I thought we had less on our plate, but I realized it probably had less to do with what I was balancing and more to do with what I was prioritizing. With Christmas season in full swing, there has been an added measure of Christ focused study and service. I believe  It has lightened my load and given me a heavenly perspective of my daily grind. How beautiful it is to live. I am grateful for both busy and quiet moments this week. Mostly I’m grateful for that Christmas feeling infused throughout my day! 

This week:

• Every day Cate had school basketball practice from 6-8, except Wednesday which worked out great since Wednesday night is our church youth group. 
• Monday, Johnny had a leadership meeting with the school district. Two students are chosen from all the upper grade schools to meet with the district superintendent to discuss student issues. Johnny enjoys it, but mostly enjoys the pizza, if we’re being honest. Ha!
• Monday William had a friend over to play, and Matthew went to a friend’s house.
• Tuesday Johnny had a band concert, he is playing the horn and had a solo this concert!
• Tuesday afternoon William went to his friend, Boone’s house.
• Tuesday night was my book club. We read “Charles Dickens and His Carol.” I started and finished that nine hour audible in one day! We also had a cookie exchange at book club.
• John traveled to Portland on Wednesday for grand jury.
• Wednesday Johnny had a basketball game.
• Wednesday William had another friend over, while Matthew and I played a game together.
• Wednesday night the boys had priamry activities: making ornaments and family home evening kits, Cate’s youth activity was an escape room, Johnny’s was decorating Christmas cookies, and my group provided babysitting for families in the ward. With 23 children in our care it was about as chaotic as one would assume!
• Thursday Cate had two choir gigs during the day.
• Thursday morning William had an orthodontist appointment (that I messed up the time for and MISSED!)
• Thursday was Johnny’s last middle school basketball game. I’m going to miss watching him play. 
• Thursday night John had an Elder’s quorum activity and I had a “favorite things” party. 
• Friday, Cate had an basketball ball tournament 
• Friday Johnny had a stay late with his friends to watch a movie. 
• This entire week Cate did a fancy hair challenge with her friend Isabelle 
• This week I did eight loads of laundry.
• Emma and I went on 9 errands.
• This week, Emma took four daytime baths, and two walks.
• This week I cooked for dinner: chicken noodle soup, smothered burritos, beans and rice, leftovers, ham and scalloped potato bake. 
• This week, we sat down and did our Christmas scripture advent and hymn every night.
• This week I drove: two million hours, or close to that.

I know I will remember this season was busy, but what I hope I also remember that it was LIFE. It wasn’t just scurrying here to there. Every moment and activity I tracked and coordinated, I lived. I enjoyed. I connected. I prayed on the way to. I felt insecure, grateful, humored, anxious, nostalgic, Christmasy. In the process of all this doing, I am also becoming. And it is good. So good. 

Late Night with Matthew

 Last I came home around 10:00 PM from a Christmas “Favorite Things” party. It was delightful gathering with friends. As I was giving John a run down of the evening, Matthew sauntered in, exclaiming he couldn’t sleep. I felt instant alarm realizing two hours after bedtime meant this boy was going to have a hard Friday. I am so grateful I paused before I told him to scurry back to bed. I realized we never carved time for his homework, so I told him to meet me at the dining room table. I said prayers with John so he could go to sleep then joined Matthew. I plugged in all the lights, and lit a couple candles. There was something both charming and warm about doing his work by candlelight. As soon as I lit the candles, Matthew said “can we say a prayer after we’re done?” Matthew is a busy, busy boy. He doesn’t naturally have many moments a day of stillness. I find it so sweet that when we create it, he often feels a peace that He has come to associate with the presence of the Holy Ghost. He finished his week’s homework rather quickly, then I told him to meet me at the couch with a few Christmas books. We haven’t read from our Christmas pile hardly at all, so it was such a joy to cuddle under a blanket and read aloud with Matthew as we took turns reading each page. The lights of our beautiful tree, the sentimental stories, the sound of his heavy breathing as he started to get sleepy: it was a special night. A simple night, that I was able to connect with my sweet Matthew. 

Matthew is at a sweet stage. He loves playing with his nutcracker collection. Matthew will set up battle scenes, including his army guys amongst his loyal nutcrackers, and when I comment on how cool it is, he will look up at me and smile with his adorable dimple and I thank the heaven for little boys. Matthew gets giggle attacks multiple times a day and cannot get it together. I love how easily he laughs and how much he loves it. Matthew is bright and picks up on storylines during our read aloud, making impressive connections. He is also a skilled competitor at boardgames and card games! Matthew is always down for a game! 

What a sweet and comforting blessing last night was for me to be with Matthew alone enjoying the Christmas spirit. 

A Snowy Adventure and a Christmas Party

One of my favorite traditions is going to the Christmas tree farm, and choosing out a tree. John’s favorite is driving up to the mountains, then trekking through the snow to find a tree there. So: we made a compromise, and did both! Ha! 

Yesterday we packed fire wood, hot cocoa, a propane stove, and bundled up all our kids to head down Old Indian Drive into the snowy mountains. The kids got busy sledding and exploring as soon as we arrived. I don’t love being in the snow, but it was a delight to be there watching the kids love it so much. We went with our friends, the Rices, so each of our boys had a friend their age. Cate was at a basketball tournament in Portland for her high school. 

It took some hunting, but John and I were able hike out and find a tree for our bedroom. 

It really was such a delightful Christmas memory. What is a Christmas without snow?? The kids sledded, had snow ball fights, made snow forts, found a rabbit’s den, made snowmen and ventured into the snowy woods as fearless explorers. Emma, puffy and stuff like a starfish from all her gear, was mesmerized by the snow and excitement. Then, after a little too much snow to the face: she wasn’t excited and got miserable pretty fast, but became content once her and Lorraine found a bag of marshmallows to sneak and share.  Emma crashed as soon as we started our drive home. 

I felt so grateful for John for prioritizing this tradition. We’ve hunted the mountains for a tree throughout our marriage and it makes me happy that our kids could experience it again this year.

We came home and got busy with Saturday demands. I signed up to make rolls and a dessert for the ward party. John helped a friend move and had a few bags of cans him and Johnny turned into a bottle drop. Our laundry was getting out of control, as well as my and John’s closet so I got to work there. The younger boys helped me clean while Emma watched “Frosty the Snowman.” 

We all made it to the ward party in time to help prep food and finish the set up. The youth were in charge and John and o both serve in the youth so it was an all hands on deck in our house. It was a lovely evening and it’s always nice to spend time with friends we go to church with. I performed a song with the Young Women, and Johnny did a silly dance with the  younger Young Men’s class. Bishop Fryer told the story of silent night then played his guitar and sang it in German. It was so fun. Our kids ran around with their friends, and I hardly saw Emma. Older kids had her entertained the entire time. For the hour we stayed and cleaned, I could see Emma pushing her grocery cart like the most determined shopper you ever did see. She just speed walked that cart in circles around the church building, waving at me, but not stopping. Cate arrived later in the party after her bus got home from the basketball tournament. Her friend, Ellie, is also on the JV team this year and they both looked so happy to be home, and it made me smile. They definitely looked like basketball players, with the height! They have been friends since 4th and 3rd grade and have grown up so much!

We closed the night spending time at our friends house. Oh what a Saturday in December!!

Just Happenings

 The last couple days have been a little in the fastlane. Johnny had two basketball games, Cate her first basketball tournament, youth group, hosting play dates for both William and Matthew, so many errands, cooking breakfasts, dinners and treats, early morning temple, caroling for Cate, assembly practice for Johnny, early morning Harry Potter read alouds with the boys, driving with Cate, playing blocks with Emma, volunteering in William’s class room for art, giving tree shopping, and a busy work week for John! With Christmas wrapped up in everything the hustle and bustle feels a little more fun.