Failed experiment

I set Aubrey's crib up in Malcolm's room hoping that Mac would sleep in it and that he wouldn't cry at naptime, at least not for long. Day one-success. Day two-UTTER FAILURE. He climbed out in no time flat. *sigh* He'll do it for my sitter when he's told. I am just not a regular enough part of the routine. One day... one day.

Rain or Shine

or Snow.

This snow day was wonderful. I live for the days I only have to be a mom and homemaker. It was so fun to run around and play in the snow before the rain came. We got so much done and so much playing in, and just loved living. These are for you daddy. No sled this year. It was packed too far back for me to reach.

Cheeks!

Here's my crawling Pooh Bear and her sweet cheeks!

Christmas Town

I hope that I got some super mom points by taking my two children to Bush Gardens' Christmas Town by myself, in the cold, in the rain. It was so nice. The lights were beautiful. It's amazing that some days I can force myself to do so much, and then others, I can barely get out of bed. Well worth the trip to Williamsburg. We got to visit everywhere but Italy. We enjoyed dinner in Germany, a treat in England, and a few different rides, though not much was open for the wee ones. The lights and shows were wonderful. I wish I had been able to get all the amazing shots I wanted, but my hands were full, and my tripod was at home. Boo.

My day off

I have needed to take a day off from life for quite some time. Fortunately Merry called me at 6 a.m. too sick to watch the kids, and darn, I had to take the day off of work. I was so productive, it was unreal. I had a stress free workout. We had time at the playground. We ate healthy. We had a clean house at the end of the day. I got to spend time with each of the kids individually. I had some of the moments that I yearn to have during the school year. By the time the weekends roll around, they are so jam packed with things that I need to get done, that I don't finish half of them, and I end up even more exhausted than when the weekend began. Winter break cannot come soon enough. The next 6 months as a single mother is going to be killer.

The simple routine

It's amazing how missing the little things will throw everything off.

Routines make everyone happier, including me.

I realized that the days we skip bath time, bedtime is harder, so it's a bath a day. Soap or no soap. It's all in the routine.

I wish I wasn't always so exhausted so that I could actually get things done that I need to around the house.

I am going to ask for help in the new year.

The zoo

We love it, and we'll miss it.

We rode the train, we saw the elephants and giraffes, and all sorts of other creatures.


It was yet another perfect hour.

We ended up not spending the whole morning because we got an invite to breakfast at 10:00. So, we made it lunch after a quick run through the zoo at icy temperatures.

The Depot

I love Home Depot for multiple reasons, not the least of which is the children's class they have on the first Saturday of every month between nine and noon.

Malcolm loves using tools, and we had a Handy Manny good time. Well, except poor Aubrey who couldn't see anything.

Next time we won't arrive exactly when they open, and maybe they will have all of the materials we need ready so that our craft doesn't fall apart.