Mexican Surprise

So we’ve been planning and scheming this trip to Mexico for a few months now.  Made reservations.  Got passports for the Chico’s.  Secretly packed everyone up.  Packed kids backpacks with every possible thing each could want or need.  Packed the car.  Gave everyone probiotics for a week in advance.  Cleaned the house.  Bought new water shoes.  Snorkels for Christmas.  Charged iPads, verified headphones, downloaded movies.  So yeah, it’s been fun.  And then we told the kids that we had to get up early and run some errands down in Denver all day.  Got going on time (mostly ;), and then broke it to the kids on the car by dropping all kinds of hints.  They were slow to put it all together.  Real slow.  Like you’d expect for young kids I guess.  Anyhow, it’s been great!  Well, actually the first day was an epically long travel day, and we were hearing things toward the end such as: “I hate Mexico, I want to go back home in USA.” -AJ.  But then, that was offset by good feelings today, after spending the whole day at the beach: “This is the best swimming spot I’ve ever been to!” -AJ.  

Blowing their little minds, which was the plan all along.  Muahahaha.  

Ryker

This guy. “Well, Mom I have to get back to drawing. Love you. See you later.”

❤️Momma

Boys.

These boys are so sweet. Their art teacher offered there classes a chance to create a Christmas card, their choice. Both boys wrote their card to me. Guh. Love them.

Warm fuzzies!

Love,

Momma

Christmas Tradition Time

It's 60 degrees and almost Christmas time, oh Colorado how I love you.

It's funny how I say the same things year-to-year but truly forget this.  I just looked at the blog post I did last Christmas time and I could say that almost everything is happening again:  Christmas eve boxes, Staff v Student Basketball game, Christmas Tree, and Zoo Lights to name a few!

This year I'm killing it with presents!  I have them all done, some are creative, some are from Amazon, but they are all wrapped and taken care of. Some even are already in Nebraska wrapped and ready for the kids to open!  We continue the Christmas eve boxes with pjs, bells, and hot chocolate.  This year our kids' school is showing Polar Express, so we've decided to do a new movie this year.  Russell is rooting for Die Hard, and I get it...but I'm not quite sure the kids are going to buy it.

We did something different this year and went to go get our Christmas Tree in Fraser with some awesome new(ish) friends!  We rented an AirBnB, spent the night, played some games, had a massive sleepover, and found the best sledding hill yet!  This sledding hill was so steep and rad.  A.J. was able to go by himself, and the younger two went with Russell and I.  It's so fun to watch A.J. go off and do his own thing! 

The christmas tree hunting was a bit sketchy-the kids got cold really fast, we didn't have food or hot chocolate, and we didn't have the best sleep the night before so the struggle was a bit real.  However, Russell found an awesome tree that stands now (it did fall over the first night!) and it is perfect.  I feel lucky that Russell even went ahead with the tree as I heard, "Why are we doing this?  We aren't even going to be home for Christmas."  #traditionsdamint

Zoo Lights was a success.  Initially when I told the kids we were doing it they made grunting noises and expressed displeasure.  But again #tranditionsdaminit, we went ahead and booked our tickets.  Mandy and I prepared food, hot cocoa, mom hot cocoa, and smore kits to take along.  We were supposed to arrive @ the 530pm timeslot, and we arrived right @ 530pm.  We enjoyed our cocoas and smores along with all the other suckers that dropped $$$, and even got complimented by a fellow Zoo lighter..."Wow-you guys are pros!"  4 times in and you learn some things such as leave my husband at home=don't have to hear "Are we done yet?"  None of our kids complained of being cold-A first!  None of our kids pooped or peed their pants, although it might have gotten close considering all the layers they had to shed to relieve themselves.  Mandy and I stayed calm and nice.  #winning.  AND the next day both the boys told me how glad they were that we went because that was "so fun!"  After listening to this ridiculously sappy commercial on the radio talking about the traditions of the Denver Zoo lights, I actually got a bit weepy.  I realized that even though it can feel like a huge chore to do these things, and alcohol sometimes is necessary (or at least it feels necessary)...traditions are huge and important.  It makes me proud that we do these things, and I love that I have a girlfriend here who rallys with me.  During the Zoo Lights I had Ella and Dempsey in the bathroom and I said, "Cmon sister!" to Ella.  She whipped around and said, "I'm not your sister.  Mandy is."  lol.  So true Ella!

#traditionsdamint
Love
Momma

When a social worker and mom collide

I've shared this story with a few of you, and I thought I'd share it on here to remember the struggle.  With the new money system we have, the kids put some of their allowance into a donation fund.  As the holidays were approaching I asked the kids if they'd like to use their money to get presents for kids that do not get presents for Christmas.  They were agreeable, and AJ stated that, "Actually, Mom, every kid gets at least one present from Santa."  I'm already conflicted with lying about Santa but I especially did not want my kid thinking that every single kid out there gets a gift from Santa for Christmas.  That is wrong in so ways at so many levels.  So all I said to him was that his statement was not true, that not every kid gets a gift from Santa.  He didn't want to discuss it more.

I've talked to some people who support the idea that kids need to understand reality, and appreciate what they have.  Other people shake their head and tell me to let my kids be kids and not have them grow up too soon. 

I don't know.  I guess I feel like we are very privileged on so many levels, and I feel that it is my duty to at the bare minimum help my kids understand this privilege.  We have an upcoming surprise trip for the kids, and Russell and I are stoked to show our kids that there is a WHOLE other world out there then our comfy place on Harlequin Ave.  There are people that aren't able to drink their water, who live in buildings that resemble the forts that AJ and Ryker create in our backyard, and that NOT every kid has the toys that they do.  I'm looking forward to discussions we will have about all of our observations and experiences as we explore this new place.

So I'm not trying to rob my kids of the magic of Santa, or expose them to the harsh realities of life too soon--but I am playing a balance game to try and raise my kids with an understanding of the realities of all people.  It's tricky!

Love,
Momma

Hey Ryk

As I walked upstairs after my workout I heard AJ ask Ryk, “Hey Ryk, when do you think we are going to die?” Ryk responded, “2030, maybe?” Then they realized that they’d only be 20ish years and thought that was too soon.

Fascinating convos.

❤️momma

New Hobby

Mandy and I have talked about how we wanted to make soap for presents for awhile now. We decided to throw a date on it and just do it! We had a blast! It’s so important to remember certain things like: new hobbies are fun, friendship is key, and you don’t have to measure everything! I was able to use my dry lavender plants that have been waiting patiently downstairs to be used. We also used coffee grounds and fruit rinds. With a little under $50 we made A TON of gifts!

❤️

Me

Intentional Parenting

Meg and I have been trying to intentionally spend time with each kid on the weekends a bit.  It feels necessary since our weeks are so busy.

Today I spent an hour or so with each of them.  AJ and Ryker each wanted to play TrackMania on the Xbox and so we did.  Dempsey wanted to play a little of LEGO Movie game and so we did.. but the boys were both being a little too helpful at offering their advice to us.  So then we went up and played some My Little Ponies for awhile.

Cheers 

R