The tale of another curve ball: bed bug edition

Fri Sep 14 2018

The tale of another curve ball: bed bug edition

        
   

   

     
     
 Day shown through Insta stories 

I don't think I'd ever been more excited to welcome a Monday in my adult life. I'm uncertain that I could even accurately recall the unfolding of events over the last few weeks. I know there were bed bugs, I know there were emails with an exterminator, I know there was crying.

It all (I think) started when we scheduled for an exterminator to come out for an inspection of our condo. Necessary, apparently to get rid of the damn things. Unnecessary to prove that we have them. Tim took the day off work, we planned to schedule it on a day when Ella was in pre-school to minimize the toddler chaos. The day arrived, a Tuesday, I believe, and the exterminator...did not, especially fun since it was an "we'll be there between 8 and 5 situation." The cynic in me called it. Based on my diligent customer-review-based research, I went on record asking Tim if he thought the guy would even show. We called and...the worker went to the wrong city. After the routine go-arounds of customer service, we scheduled a new day. Since our condo association works exclusively with this company, we had to bend our patience and work with them.

The re-scheduled day arrived, so did my cynicism. But admittedly, to my surprise, the man was totally competent and friendly. It's looking up! We thought. We scheduled a heat treatment for the following weekend. And I spent most of the preceding week slowly working through the prep list we had been given and Tim and I finished up Friday evening and Saturday morning. Saturday morning came, the kids were anxious to get their star pancakes we had promised them, so we packed up the rest of what we'd need for 8 hours and waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

Tim once again called the company only to find out they did not have an appointment on the books for us that day even though we had received a confirmation for said appointment 2 days earlier. All of our furniture had been moved to the center of each room, the beds had been stripped, the kitchen essentially wiped of groceries. So, as we scrambled to form a Plan B, we went out to get those star pancakes that our kids were now begging us for.

We made a choice that we were going to go out and take the day as it came, but we were relieved when we got a call on our way out of the diner saying the new scheduled time was for "tomorrow", Sunday.

As inconvenient (and expensive) as it was to find a way to eat out all 6 meals between Saturday and Sunday, the 4 of us ended up having a great weekend despite the chaos. We went to the cider mill and the kids got balloon animals. We went to the library where we all checked out books and movies. We got coffee, played in the park, went out for pizza with friends, went to church, looked at houses in neighborhoods we like, picked up a few things for Baby Girl. The goodness of family time offset whatever stress that tried to force its way into our days.

I wouldn't say I'm an expert at dealing with curve balls, but I've become pretty damn good at it since Tim and I got married. Yeah, I was pissed when all of this initially happened. I'm pregnant and was tired and achy and was very much over having to deal with this problem that wouldn't go away. But instead of dwelling on all that, we shifted our attitude to focus on the good which helped us to stay rooted in gratitude.

Come Sunday night at 8 o'clock, we arrived back at our now bed bug free home (which was disguising itself as a sauna) to all of our belongings scattered about every room. We were so happy to have this months long drama behind us that we overlooked our fatigue and diligently worked till nearly midnight to reorganize the place.

A royal pain in the rear, right? However, there were/are some bright sides to the whole ordeal. 1) Though we've had to spend a decent chunk of money on dealing with this issue, we did not have to foot the bill for the the heat treatment. 2) Our landlord has been incredible and accommodating. Having been through some unpleasant renting situations, we're especially grateful when renting goes well. 3) Our condo got the deepest clean its gotten since we moved in. It actually wasn't even this clean when we moved in. This helped us to get organized and ready for the arrival of Baby Girl. And, Tim and I jointly decided to do a few projects around our place to make it feel even better for our duration of our time here. (Stay tuned for some before's and after's.)

Thu Aug 23 2018

Pre-school: Our new routine

Can I just say that I think the topic of "schooling" is the most stressful part of parenting I've faced to date? (And I was so torn up over breastfeeding—oy!) I knew I was going to feel this way about schooling, too. The idea always seemed like a daunting process and involved decision. For quite a while, Tim and I went back and forth on whether we were even going to send Ella to pre-school at all. We just couldn't conclude if it was necessary or not. I had inquired into the pre-school program in our neighborhood but wasn't sure the schedule would fit into our growing families' routine. But lately Ella had been bringing up the topic of "school", wanting to go, play with friends, and have a backpack. I wasn't surprised. Even when she was an infant, Ella was independent. Never do I want to stifle her independence or her wishes, for that matter. And school had become a wish.

So we began wishing ourselves—to find a setup that worked for the entire family and one that wasn't financially crippling.

During our search, we landed in what seemed like a bit of a "God moment", we found the perfect set-up. Ella's in a small setting with 2 other girls who are close in age to her. I liked the idea of it being a small setup, and I liked the idea of her going out of the home to learn and play but that she wasn't diving head-first into the structured school setting at such a young age. For 2 days a week, Ella is at school for a full day, and she loves it. Like, actually loves it. On her off days, she wants to go to school. She runs around home yelling, "I have the best teacher in the world!" and makes "Ms. Mary" cards on her off days so Ella can give them to her when she's at school next.

The decision to send Ella to pre-school has proven to be good for the whole family as well. With a new baby coming in December, I've appreciated the opportunity to have one-on-one time with Archie. At first, Archie had a (very) difficult time without Ella around, but he's begun to look forward to his "mama and Archie days". Our routine as a family has improved also. I'm now better able to run errands since errand-running is far easier with one toddler instead of two. And since Ella has some (simple) homework to focus on her off days, we now have a better structure to the days when I have them both home. Though I spend much more time in the car (not a downside, but an accomplishment for me), I am thrilled with how the first few weeks have unfolded.

I'm happy we waited until Ella was 4 to consider sending her off to school. By having her home, she and Archie were able to form a strong bond, we were able to work with her on our own, and, frankly, one year seems plenty for pre-school.

I'm not yet ready to commit to any one path for schooling—public, private or homeschooling. Choosing public makes the housing hunt more stressful, private seems far too expensive (we're still paying off our own education!) and with a new baby entering our family, I won't be naive in saying I can handle homeschooling. I simply don't know yet. Each option has pros and cons, so we're appreciating what we have and facing each new step of the process as it comes. 

For now, we're in awe over the fact that Ella is 4! And growing in ways we're proud to see. This process and decision is unique to and different for every family, but I'm grateful to have found a path that both Tim and I are happy with. As we stand here and now Ella is as happy as can be, too. And that's all we can really ask for.

Wed Aug 08 2018

A gender-revealing weekend

Remember what you wanted what you currently have.

This is my mantra of sorts lately. Even though we are not where we would ultimately like to be as a family—(student) debt free, in a house, maybe a newer car, etc—we have made strides in reaching those milestones over the last 5 years. I never want to forget about where we once were. There were so many difficult west-coast-living evenings when I'd tear up on the couch because no matter what we did to our budget or where we'd cut corners, we were still living paycheck-to-paycheck, no promise of that ever changing in the near future. And, of course, that meant we had no idea when we'd get to see our families and friends, let alone move out of state. It. was. hard. Isolated with a newborn only exacerbated the situation and stretched us what felt like beyond our physical and mental limits.

But here we are.

This past weekend, a few of us gathered to find out if Lochner Resident Number 5 was going to be a boy or a girl. As I've mentioned to anyone I've talked to in the past 8 weeks, I felt weird about it. It felt so unbelievably strange to buy a gender reveal party cake for our third kid when we could barely afford our $60 dollar Graco stroller for Ella. It felt so weird that I almost bailed and said "let's not do it, it's not a big deal". But our loved ones proved to be the best on the planet when they insist we celebrate. It wasn't a big gathering. I contemplated for a hot minute renting out a pavilion at a park and inviting everyone we know, but I soon realized we didn't have the time or resources to make that happen. So alas, on a hot and humid Saturday evening, the people Tim, the kids and I see most crowded around my best friend's patio table and cut open the gender reveal party cake. Simple. Relaxed. Perfect. They even surprised me with the stroller I had been eyeing—the dreamiest present this 4.5-year-and-counting-budgeting mama could have asked for. 

I can't wait for the day to come when my closest friends start having babies so I can spoil them. They've done nothing but make sure I've felt seen and loved ever since I started having kids, even when we were out west without help. Every night (well, most nights, we're not perfect) Tim and I sit down and say our rosary and one of my intentions is in thanksgiving for our support system. I truly don't take it for granted and I aim to, on a daily basis, remember that I currently have so much of what I wanted.

It's a girl, by the way.

Thu Jul 19 2018

Mini beach getaway 2018

When Tim and I said "yes" to taking the kids on a 2-day getaway to the east side of the state we were hardly prepared for what our vacation had in store for us. Tim and I barely slept either night we were away. One night due to Tim coming down with a cold that resulted in a 3am pharmacy run and the second night due to Archie catching that cold and throwing up that evening's ice cream all over the room. We also encountered a 30 degree drop in temperatures—literally. It went from 96 degrees to 67 degrees, and this resulted in a (second) trip to Target to pick up sweatshirts for us and the kids. ('Cause who brings anything other than tank tops on a beach getaway?) Of course this was all following our first night out to dinner when Ella accidentally dropped a cup full of marinara sauce all over my front. You're welcome, restaurant for the show. (And really, I'm up for anything if it means getting to buy more clothes from Target. ;) See above outfit.)

All the craziness aside, our time away was wonderful because everyone was so happy. I was just so thrilled to be on a quiet beach front. Ella couldn't stop exclaiming that she loved "our new house" and since we were in a foreign place everything we did was an exciting adventure to the kids. You could tell they felt something special about being away, which made me realize the significance of family vacations. Come Saturday, Ella was sad to leave, but she was comforted when we assured her there would be more stays in hotels and days spent at the beach.

I also had a very real epiphany about parenthood while away. Despite having already knowing this, it hadn't quite come to life as this weekend when traveling with 2 toddlers. You can't let curve balls ruin an experience. And, in parenthood, it truly is about embracing the good, the bad, the gross, and the cold. If we fight against these inevitable happenings, we'll never enjoy...anything. 

Tim and I laughed as we got in the car to go home on Saturday. Picturing our beach tent nearly blow away was too much to handle. But as we pulled out onto the freeway, we saw a rainbow, solidifying the idea to get away as a family for a few days was a fine idea. 

Fri Jun 29 2018

Cheers to 5 years!

They say you have to know yourself before you're fully able to commit in a relationship, to know someone else. And I would agree. So much so that if one of my kids entered into what seemed like a serious relationship before they had a sense of who they were or what they wanted to become, I would pass along that same age-old wisdom. I then have no idea how I won the Husband Jackpot since I had absolutely no idea who I was when I started dating Tim at age 20.

I mean, like I, really, really didn't know.

I moved out of my house when I was 17 (or 18—I can never remember), a little less than two years before I went away to college. I hadn't yet finished high school, but I was working full-time so I could fill my gas tank and therefore could fuel all my teenage dreams. (Uh-oh, indeed.) I very much lacked any sort of depth; I'd go out, laugh, have fun and lived life on this sort of wash, rinse, repeat routine. So it took a lot from a few people to get me to finish high school, accepted into a college, and off to pursue a life that had a little more...depth. But when I landed at college on the other side of the country, it kind of felt like I had been catapulted from one state to another. Here's your apartment key and your first quarter schedule! I quickly learned that just because I had gotten accepted and went to a college didn't mean I suddenly knew who I was.

Well, great.

But grace and luck seemed to perfectly intersect during my sophomore year when I began to become better friends with a guy named Tim. An unlikely pairing, really—he took himself so seriously, and me? I've always believed the key to success is to do precisely the opposite. I even remember turning to my roommate and saying, "who is this guy?" when Tim was up for some freshman presentation thing. But he was fun to joke around with and was so smart and had a nice smiled when he laughed.

So we started dating and we'd get coffee and he'd help me with any math that came my way. He challenged me, which at times was annoying but it was only so annoying because I never wanted to be challenged, to be better. I was a no-depth kind of gal, remember? After floating through high school on Cs, I made a promise to myself that I was going to take college seriously, and I didn't like how much effort and work it took. I really floated in high school, so my foundation was lacking when it came to my classes, and I wasn't used to the work, but Tim knew what success took. After seeing more As than I had in a very long time, I began to realize being challenged and thinking and studying and working hard are the stepping stones to achievement. Tim and I worked our way through college together. Tim landed a job—I'd drop him off and pick him up. I needed an internship, we brainstormed together. It was tough—working through college and a relationship. We were two very different people, and unbeknownst to me I still had some deeply personal wounds that needed to heal after a lifetime of avoiding them.

But somehow we made it work. He helped me to take myself more seriously. I taught him how to "laugh it off". Despite the chaos of college schedules and the uncertainty of graduate life, we had one consistency in common. We cheered each other on, a quality of our relationship that was different from previous ones.

There is a part of me that can't believe we started dating at 20 and made it to 28. That's not to say I ever doubted we would see our 5 year anniversary. It's that when looking back, I realize all that's happened that's made us into the couple we are today, barely resembling those college sweethearts. Collectively, we've had 6 different jobs, lived in 3 different states and 5 different homes. We've seen 3 different countries, traveled two and from Alaska and Michigan and California, and had a stint of a long-distance relationship. We've had mental and physical health scares, a fluctuating income, and 4 different cars. And, of course, our biggest achievements—our 2 kids (and one on the way).

I know these days it's not really the “in” thing to say, "I do" in your early 20s, have kids, and vow to make it work no matter what. But it's been the opportunity of a lifetime to be able to grow next to and with Tim. With each passing year, it simultaneously feels as though a lifetime has passed and our life is just getting started. We sit and dream about the day our student loans will be paid off and we can freely plan family trips and we reminisce and laugh about the time we spent nearly an entire year without buying cheese so we could save as much money as possible.

These years have at times not always felt the best, but they have without a shadow of a doubt been my best lived years. I've never been prouder of myself, more secure in my skin, or more sure of who I am. And I have Tim and our journey in growing a family to thank.

I’m wholly proud of the life we’ve built over the last half-decade and I’m excited for what’s to come.

Here’s to another 100 years, Timmy!

Wed May 30 2018

Lochner, party of 5!

Ultrasound taken at 8 weeks, 5 days

This beloved space of mine has been vacant for quite some time. This is mostly due to the fact that I’m a stay-at-home mom of toddlers and right now my time is very much not my own. Add a couple bugs and an ear infection that made their rounds through the house and another baby on the way and you’ve got yourself an MIA writer. 

The news is true!  And we're talking baby human here, not baby dog (but stay tuned for that ;) ).

I'm nearing 10 weeks, and this is the longest time I’ve waited to announce we’re expecting. (I know, so long right?) For a reason that I couldn’t quite pin down, this pregnancy seemed a little more fragile, and I wanted to make sure all was looking okay before the world and our kids knew—mostly to protect our kids. It’s been a challenge to keep it secret.  I found out right away, and was already without an appetite, dry heaving, and nauseous at 4 weeks and a few days. Once that First Response stick gave me a big fat "positive" I knew I had my work cut out for me.

This is my first pregnancy where I've been on an antidepressant and blood thinners (yes, that torn meniscus drama is still with me), for that matter. Some antidepressants are okay to take during pregnancy, others are not, and I am taking one that falls in the "not advised" category. So barely into week 5 of my pregnancy, I cut my dosage in half and began working through withdrawal symptoms and learning how to cope with any physical symptoms of anxiety that were thrown at me. This process made the pregnancy feel very real early on—this momma has been working for the tiny thing's good health since it was the size of a grain of sand!

We're excited. Mostly because Ella has been asking for a sister. Hopefully she'll be just as excited for a boy, but between you and me, I doubt it. So personally, I'm pulling for a girl just so Ella can stop pointing at total strangers in the mall saying, "she's my sister." But of course we'll love him/her no matter what, blah, blah, blah. I'm also excited because by the third pregnancy the Mom Confidence shoots through the roof, and you get the I-couldn't-care-less-if-you-think-I-should-breastfeed-or-not mindset, which is freeing since I dealt with some mom guilt during my first pregnancy and battled some demons during my first postpartum months. I'm also excited because this is the first time I'll be pregnant in Michigan and that's a big deal for me. One of the main reasons why I suffered from antenatal depression in my previous pregnancies was because I was isolated. It's because we're in Michigan that I'm okay to wean off my antidepressant and not replace it for the time being, so thanks, support system! I'm also nervous—nervous because I'm over 30 pounds heavier than I was when I first pregnant with Ella and that freaks.me.out and makes me a little self-conscious to be pregnant.

There is a little twinge of "aw man" feeling related to the timing because we were planning on getting a dog this month, which we haven't ruled out completely. And I probably get more emotional going past the pet aisle in Target than I do the baby aisle. Listen, DON'T JUDGE ME. (If you try to  talk me out of it, I will personally block you on all social accounts.) And that's the perfect segue into...

There is something else I'm nervous for about being pregnant around so many more people than I'm used to, and that's I'm a b***h of a pregnant woman. I just am. I try to offer it up, I try to suffer in silence, I really do. And I'm near flawless at that when it comes to the labor and delivery part, but pregnancy? I don't glow—I rage. I complain, I get mad at Tim if he even suggests I shouldn't satisfy a craving and I want to respond to even a compliment with, "I'll cut you". So I'm publicly apologizing to everyone I know and in advance. Don't hold anything I say in the next 9 months against me. I'm growing a cute little human that you will soon be able to gawk over. So, you're welcome.

Tue Feb 20 2018

They're getting bigger

Since my kids' recent growth spurts have yielded more independence (and, yet more dependability), less napping, more activities, etc., I've had less time to set aside for my own personal creative outlets. I've reached a point where it seems if I want to set some time aside for personal projects, I need to send the kids to daycare. So, my blog, YT channel, have been quiet—I've been all mom all the time as of late, which has been perfectly fine as I have realized the little ones truly do grow up in a blink. Honestly, Ella's practically a mini-teenager.

Here's a peek of what's been going on lately in our Lochner Life:

These 2 are 2 peas in a pod, attached at the hip, and any other sort of expression that describes 2 tiny people who simultaneously can't get enough of each other and can't stand each other. 

Say, "we're little hams and shouldn't be on the toy cubby!"

Snow and snow and snow for days. So far, all Lochners are completely in love with the snow which I consider to be a parenting accomplishment.

When you live that apartment life, you gotta get creative.

If you don't like the snow, I don't think we can be friends.

Making Valentine's decorations!

Awww. Daddy got Ella roses for Valentine's Day. 

Don't worry. We didn't forget about Paczki Day around here! Lemon and powdered sugar. Mmmmm.

It's always a party when we're hanging out with Bridgy—grocery shopping with the fun cart and chocolate milks!

A couple months ago, Tim and I picked up the habit of saying a rosary together before we go to bed. Sometimes we have company.

Mon Feb 12 2018

Things to look forward to in 2018

Family bike rides. Since getting my bike, Tim and I have made it a goal to get the rest of the family set up so we can take family bike rides this summer. We discovered a few parks and trails last year that we thought would be perfect for a bike ride. Can't wait!

New traditions. Our kids are still young, so we haven't pinned down many traditions yet. Tim and I have a couple traditions around Christmas that we've carried out since getting married, but we're still learning what we'd like our family traditions to look like. There were a few things we discussed last year that we'd like to implement this year.

• Holy Souls Day—One of my good friends from college is Mexican, and I was always in such awe of her family dynamic. Her culture is so rich and full of tradition, I remember thinking I want to raise a family that is sewn together by tradition. That's a bit difficult today. We're one big, giant melting pot, which is wonderful in its own rite, but I think something is so lost when we forget about our roots. Since I've gotten married, I've looked much deeper into Polish traditions. My grandpa was born in Poland, so I experienced some Polish traditions as a kid since my Dad grew up in that culture. I've adopted a couple traditions, but one that I learned about this year was how the Polish celebrate the Feast of the Holy Souls. It's a Catholic feast day, but the day is treated like a national holiday in Poland. Next to attending Mass, families reunite and visit their deceased loved ones at the cemetery. It's a day dedicated to being with your living family honoring and remembering those who have passed. How beautiful is that? 
• Baptismal days—I don't know my baptismal date. And I actually didn't know my kids' off the top of my head either, I had to go back and look. But I did, and I marked the days in my calendar, so we can celebrate them next year. Ella will be 4 in April, so she's at the perfect age to begin this tradition. 
• St. Nicholas Day—Listen, we do Santa Claus around here. I know if you're religious, there is this debate if you should acknowledge Santa Clause or just St. Nicholas. I'd like to do both. Actually, I wish we were kind of like Europe in that St. Nicholas is the prominent figure and Santa is refereed to as "the Christmas Man." Regardless, I didn't grow up celebrating St. Nicholas Day, so it hasn't come naturally to me. However, it's something I want to raise my kids with, so next year it will be on my calendar.    

Vacation. Now we all know how plans go when we Lochners plan a trip. Everything we had planned for last year, we had to cancel. But we have a trip for this year on the horizon. And I will not say anything more on this topic in fear of it jinxing it.

Five year wedding anniversary. This year Tim and I are celebrating our 5 year wedding anniversary, and I'm excited about it. I feel particularly proud of this milestone as the past 5 years have included some hard-hitting lows that we overcame together as a team. It's an anniversary to celebrate, no doubt.

Ella goes to pre-school! We plan to send Ella to pre-school in the fall. Some parents decide against pre-school, some send their kids when they hit age 3. To be honest, it's not a decision that is easy to explain. It's a parent-instinct thing. I'm happy we waited a bit, but she's ready.

We're already 2 months into 2018, so I was hesitant to post this. The post has been sitting in my drafts folder since December. But it's never too late to make a to-do and goals list! 2018 will be a great year.

Fri Jan 26 2018

Life lately

PUDDLES.

For over two weeks, I've been meaning to sit down and share some pictures from a trip we took downtown, but that night ended up being the night a loved one passed away, so life immediately shifted for a good week and a few days. Since then, life has had its waves of grief and gratitude, and in the midst of it all, I've worked to get back to the place I need to be for my family. Loss has a way of robbing you of inner peace, but the Faith has anchored me to hope. And, gratefully, I have reached a place of peace.

Here are some pictures of life lately. Leave it to my kids to always bring the smile back to my face.

We made it to downtown Detroit just in time before the Christmas tree and all the pop-up shops were taken down. I haven't been downtown during the Christmas season in years. It's far better than I remember.

My kids are cooler than I am.

A boy and his over-sized Mickey doll.

Mon Jan 08 2018

She's the queen!

If I had to sum up this weekend in 3 letters, they would be: L O L.

Germs have been circling our place for the better part of a month, and this weekend Tim and I (the remaining healthy Lochners) fell victim to the brewing virus. It was a constant flow of Dayquill, Nyquill, Mucinex, Ella's antibiotics and kids' cough syrup. The only time we left the apartment was to get our groceries. And, oh was that a trip.  (I didn't even want to look at the dollar section in Target.)

We had a no-tissue crisis 5 minutes into our trip, and we became that family as I frantically rifled through the kids' backpack to find a tissue and Archie laid down in the middle of the condiments aisle.

Needless to say, our weekend consisted most of movies. And movies. And more movies. Ever since watching The Sound of Music on Christmas Eve, Ella has been asking to watch it. She can't get enough of the music. So when the wedding scene came on and Ella exclaimed Maria is"the queen(!)", Tim got our wedding pictures and showed her moments from when "momma had a dress like Maria's." It was an incredibly sweet moment.

We managed to get a little baking in, which always heightens the kids' spirits, so our next couple days will be spent eating banana bread and recovering from Flu Season 2018.

Stay vaccinated, people! 

Fri Jan 05 2018

Christmas break!

Christmas break already feels like a lifetime ago, but the Christmas season doesn't officially end until the Feast of the Epiphany (yay Catholicism!), so it's completely socially acceptable to be sharing Christmas photos this late. Yes?

It snowed on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, which made for the perfect Christmas. Give me snow and my kids chocolate mini doughnuts, and you've got the happiest Lochners on the block.

After breakfast and presents, we played with the kids and their gifts until the sugar crash got the best of us all.

Over break, I managed to sneak Tim away for a morning and take him out for his birthday. Brunch, Star Wars, and out for coffee. 

Though Tim had Christmas Eve through New Year's Day off, we didn't go out too much since the kids were fighting off colds. But any family time is a good time!

Tue Jan 02 2018

Happy new year!

One of the best things about being on the road to 30 is coming to understand what you *really* like and what you *really* don't like. And, further, not being ashamed about your realization. In recent years, I've learned New Year's Eve is my least favorite holiday. I've always liked the idea of New Year's Eve, but in reality, I'm not a big partyer, I'm not a big drinker, and I frequently fall asleep on the couch before 10 o'clock. My ideal New Year's consists of takeout, comfy clothes, games and puzzles. And this year was just that! Tim and I played Uno, did a Bob Ross puzzle, and ate chinese. We went to the Lions game earlier in the day, so it felt like the perfect balance of outings and quiet time in. 2018, you're lookin' good already.

We spent the bulk of New Year's Day cleaning, organizing and de-cluttering. But not before we spent the morning talking over our personal and family goals and resolutions for 2018. Closets are clean, floors are vacuumed, we're ready for ya, 2018.

Now if only our sick, little kiddos would feel better! We've got an un-opened bottle of champagne still sitting in the car since we were taking care of our little ones when the clock struck midnight. But who says you can't pop open champagne on an ordinary Tuesday?

Happy new year!

Fri Dec 29 2017

2017

2017...the year of bed bugs, crutches, and visits to the hospital. I feel as though I may have tempted fate when I gave 2017 a bold challenge in my farewell to 2016 post. Despite its annoyances, I loved this year. I did. I saw John Legend in concert. (WHAT.) Really, WHAT. Concert goals achieved. I saw THE LION KING, meaning I crossed the first item off my bucket list. I went back to being a stay-at-home mom. Tim got a new job. We sold the first car we bought together. We got 2 new rides. We moved. Again. We paddle-boated. I got a bike. I chopped off my hair. I swung a golf club for the first time in years. Archie started talking. Ella went from 'just talking' to being a hilarious conversationalist. We flew kites. We brunched (a lot). We discovered our favorite local coffee shop. Tim's parents came for a visit. We had the dreamiest snow day. We reunited with family. We loved hard on our city.

I learned a few lessons, all of which will prove to be valuable in 2018, I'm sure. Like, we'll always make more money. After what felt like endless medical bills and needing to remedy cars that wouldn't start, I learned this year more than ever to stay calm if/when our emergency fund runs dry.

During the summer, I quit my job and took on the role of stay-at-home mom again. It was a difficult adjustment, but considering my history, I'm surprised by how much I've been content and happy in this role. Tim and I have reconciled with the fact that we might be renting for the next little while, and we're both okay with that. Who says we have to own a house by age 29 or 30? Not us. (But here's to it being a buyer's market soon!) I reunited with some family this year, which has been fulfilling in a way that I never expected.

The upside to roller coaster years like this one is they help teach us to enjoy the ride all the more. 2018 won't be as smooth-sailing as I'm already picturing it to be. It could even shape up to be more difficult than this year. Who knows? What I do know is I'm closing 2017 with more gratitude than ever before. And it's my grateful heart and reliance on God that will see me into and throughout next year.

Farewell, 2017. I won't miss you. But I'm grateful you stopped by.

Mon Dec 18 2017

Maybe next weekend, Santa

Our December has been a whirlwind. With a full itinerary almost every weekend, our little clan has been busy! This has been the best thing, but it's also landed this momma in bed for a solid day, twice. Nearly every weekend in December, we've thought we were going to take the kids to see Santa, and every weekend we've said maybe next weekend. Will we make it in time so Ella can tell him she would like a new necklace? Hopefully! But before, we have a week of cleaning, wrapping, and last-minute shopping. Maybe we just get another snow storm and we spend the week playing in the snow, yes?

Thu Dec 14 2017

A dreamy snow day

Yesterday was one of my favorite days I've had with my family. Ever. There had been a winter weather advisory in place, so we were expecting inches upon inches of snow (YAY), and I wanted to give the kids (and myself) a perfect snow day. I think I succeeded. We baked cinnamon rolls from scratch, my first go at making gluten-free cinnamon rolls. We ate cinnamon rolls. We watched movies. We played in the snow. We drank hot chocolate. The day was nothing short of total perfection. 

Snow, to me, is magic. It's peaceful. Snow forces the world to slow down, and while that is beyond aggravating to most, I find it entirely soothing. It's during or just after a great snowfall that my chronically anxious mind is at peace. A snow fall is one of the rare times when nature works in my favor, and I cling to every moment. 

Ella is currently by the door trying to get in her snow pants, so it's looking like we're preparing for Snow Day Round 2.

Here's a little recap of Round 1.

Working to make the best little bakers.

Yissss.

Smile! We can't! The snow is too strong.

Fri Dec 08 2017

Chaos and Clorox wipes

Earlier this week, the kids were watching a movie. It was the late afternoon, and the 3 pm caffeine crash was hitting hard. Archie was a couple blinks away from falling asleep, so I went into my room for a couple minutes of quiet. Shortly after, Ella followed. Before she had a chance to say anything I said, "Momma's just a little tired, I'm coming right back out." She responds, "you can come rest next to Archie on the couch. Come on. Follow me." She lead me to the couch and said, "here you can have my spot" and went to the coffee table.

My girl.

It's been a long week around here—managing the meal plans, diffusing fights, cleaning up spilled hot chocolate, discussing plans for 2018. Every time the kids ate, the kitchen looked like the whole thing needed to be cloroxed. Again. That's okay. Ella, though she has her own growing pains, never fails to look out for her momma.

The chaos, the endless supply of Clorox wipes, it's all worth it. Even though my oldest is almost 4, I'm only now feeling like I'm beginning to find myself as a stay-at-home mom. And I'm thankful to be spending this time with my kids. They're pretty great. (Even if my 2-year-old insists on throwing the Christmas ornaments at me.)

Batgirl is protective of her muffin. 

We had a hot chocolate and muffin 'tea party'. 

Mon Dec 04 2017

From the weekend—Progress & Perfection

I'm a big believer in things happening for a reason—we face trials or undergo certain circumstances
to teach us a lesson (or 5). While these past couple months have been entirely inconvenient and expensive and painful, I'm grateful for the opportunity to appreciate outings with my family through a new lens. It's amazing how much effort it took just to go to the doctors while I was still in a brace and on crutches, so to be able to walk through a downtown area holding my kids' hands felt freeing.

This weekend was the best my knee has felt since before my injury, so having a full weekend of plans was especially exciting. A family date night on Friday followed by a full Saturday of visiting with a couple loved ones and having friends over for a game night. Church, football, and an evening at the zoo on Sunday.

This Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent, so while I've begun to be tempted to go, go, go, I ended my weekend in silence over a spiritual read and in thankful prayer. The arrival of Advent is the perfect reminder to not rush through this season just because I can, but to force myself to be still in prayer and gratitude. 

She's quite the decorator!

A boy and his cookie. There is no greater love.

He was so content on my lap for minutes and minutes...until the camera came out. We snapped a picture anyway!

This is what trying to get a family picture really looks like.

Zoo lights delivered!

:)

Mon Oct 23 2017

From the weekend—Crutchin' in the park

It feels good to sit down and do something normal. I haven't revived any part of my routine since the last week of September when I injured my knee. So it feels good.

This weekend felt the same. I hadn't been out on a weekend in a few weeks, and considering it was sunny and 73, it was the perfect time to get out with the kids before we welcome that early winter weather. We drove out to a park, not without first picking up donuts, played, fed the ducks, and enjoyed the fall scenery.

The tell tale sign you're a tax-paying adult is you enjoy driving around different neighborhoods looking at houses. We had previously zeroed in on a neighborhood we were going to buy in, but our plans changed at the end of last year. Now, the possibilities are wide open, and we don't yet know where we're going to settle. And I'm okay with that right now. This neighborhood had a killer park, charming houses, and streets lined with brilliant trees. So the camera came out.

I love fall in Michigan. I'm a little sad I'm missing its peak this year, but I'm grateful I was able to crutch down to the picnic table and watch my kids enjoy the slides. T-minus 24 days until I can ditch the crutches and (hopefully) have my kids home from daycare. Until then, I can be found online shopping. Send your Christmas lists in now, people.

Mon Sep 25 2017

From the Weekend—Summer pumpkins

Picture of completed pumpkins coming soon!

This weekend Tim told me, "I'll get the kids ready for bed so you can go take a shower." So this weekend was basically a vacation (aside from the 90 degree weather). We did not let the hot weather keep us from enjoying our early fall festivities though. So, with the air conditioning blasting, we painted our pumpkins, ate caramel apples, and watched the Lions lose a game (hold your "Lions losing" jokes. They might as well have won). I am extremely excited for October and November, so despite the fact that it's supposed to be 90 degrees again today, I'm welcoming this last full week of September.

Best caramel apple I've ever had.

She' so crafty! 

This face perfectly sums up his mood lately: mischievous 

Mon Sep 18 2017

From the weekend—FOOTBALL

Our relationship summed up in a picture. Spit bubbles, kisses, and funny faces.

We're currently going through a phase (dear God, please let it be a phase) in our house where it's somehow acceptable to wake up between 4-4:50 a.m and request breakfast. If you have kids, you know this inevitably and ultimately results in crankiness, (toddler) indecisiveness and a continual supply of coffee. So this weekend can be summed up with coffee runs, pancakes, and football.

THIS JUST IN: We found our new regular coffee shop.

Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin. - St. Teresa of Calcutta 

Mon Sep 11 2017

From the weekend—Through a lens of gratitude

So (so) many people had a weekend that I'm sure they wish they could forget. On Friday, Tim, the kids, and I were on our way to the park for an evening out with each other. On the way, I told him it almost didn't feel right to go out, to make the most of our weekend, while so many people throughout the country were facing or had recently faced or were waiting to face such devastation. My heart hurt, so I tried, as best I could, to look at every moment of our weekend through a lens of gratitude. As we go into this week, we're praying for all those who are hurting and for those who are remembering the hurt from 16 years ago.

Let's make this week a good one.

Tue Sep 05 2017

From the weekend—Laborin' and Parkin'

This was not staged. The park was actually that much fun.

When you have kids, weekends are always a toss-up. The days, when the stars align, go by smoothly, plans go accordingly, and everyone is well-rested and agrees to eat "the green". There is, however, always the looming possibility that a molar will decided to come in, or restless nights will occur and everyone is all around...cranky. The stars aligned this weekend. While there were a couple sleepless nights (when aren't there, right?), this long weekend lived up to long-weekend expectations. We saw loved ones, we went swimming, we went to the park, frequented our favorite coffee shop. I've reluctantly decided to welcome, you, Tuesday. But this cup of coffee should see me through. To Chore Day, I go!

Rollin' down the hill!

Kite flying. We've really taken a liking to it.

Archie ran right inside to the coffee shop, bumped into a poll, and fell down. Everyone around him loved it (and him) and it earned Archie some points to sit in the middle of the coffee shop floor and drink his milk.

Happy Tuesday. Happy New Week.

Mon Aug 28 2017

From the weekend—Rest

This weekend was nothing more than a weekend of rest. After a week of colds, coughs, and crankiness, we hunkered down in our apartment and embraced some recovery time. We ventured out and took the kids to the bookstore and got a Sunday cup of coffee. And that was that. Good morning, Monday.

Wed Aug 23 2017

Fading August

What's that saying? About March. Comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb? Unlike March, August was a lion. It came in roaring, unapologetically. And it was painful. I was caught up in the winds of my mom in the hospital, and tying up loose ends at my job and making the transition into stay-at-home motherhood. A change in antidepressants didn't help. The drowsiness, nausea and lack of appetite got in the way. And based on my mom's health, I thought it best to cancel our plans to fly out to Southern California to be in my best college friend's wedding. It was the right call, I knew it in my gut, but that didn't soothe the sting.

I had had high expectations for this summer—unreasonably high, actually. It was our first full summer in Michigan. And I hadn't spent a summer here since I was in college. There were reasons to build this summer up, no doubt. And it was good and nice and all that, don't get me wrong. But these past few months not only didn't live up to my high expectations, but they were more difficult than the typical month. But one of my favorite things about Michigan is the inevitable change in season. It forces a change in your home and your routine and yields a new mindset of starting new.

I do a version of 'spring cleaning' every season. After moving regularly over the past 6 years, I've gotten into the habit of routinely de-cluttering. Going through the closets, drawers, and storage feels particularly good this month. It's like I'm throwing all the "negative vibes" that accompanied July and August out with the junk. How cathartic.

From what it seems, we have an exciting fall ahead of us, so there's no reason to excessively "boo-hoo" over what didn't happen or what could have been during the summer. The cider mills are opening, people, so we should all collectively shout out with joy.

Farewell, summer.

So many trips to get ice cream. (No regrets.)

Some park play time after a Sunday brunch at one of our favorite spots.

I'm discovering all the hidden gems that have decadent GF treats. Gluten-free cheesecake, anyone?

She's such a little momma. Her stuffies are lucky.

Aunties.

:)

Parents at the park.

Family reunion 2017.

Mon Aug 21 2017

From the weekend—Cruisin'

Dream cruise weekend. One of the signature weekends that makes Detroit, Detroit. It's the Saturday when all of Woodward essentially shuts down and makes room for the dusted-off and polished-up classic cars. Since I've only been to a handful of Dream Cruises in my life, I was excited for the family to experience it in all its fume-filled glory as a part of it was going to be new for me, too. We walked 5 miles, Archie had a tantrum and our time was cut short from cranky babies. Alas. The classic car parade the night before was, I think, the highlight. With every rev of an engine, Archie let out an animated Ohhhh!

No set plans as we head into this week. Is every stay-at-home mom like that? Takes each day one at a time? Sometimes I feel like I should have activities highlighted and color-coded by day or whatever. But I don't, and I probably never will. What is on my invisible to-do list is cleaning the kitchen three times and having an afternoon dance party to the Sing soundtrack.

I mean, really? These 2 have been giving me all the feels lately—mostly equal parts baby fever and "pass the wine".

Giant sandbox in one of our favorite neighborhoods.

Ella's into taking pictures after church lately. We "go see Mary" (the statue) then "take a picture."

(Thanks to one of my best friends) we discovered a new local coffee shop. They have GF banana bread and it looks like...this. So all the wins, really.