My life and standard of living has changed pretty dramatically over the course of the year. In years past, the term “vacation” would have meant an early AM drive to the airport, headed to a far-away place. Even when the kids entered the world, they did not hold me back. Now however, I am essentially living paycheck to paycheck, and I also do not have the luxury of having the kids’ time in big blocks. Except for last week. From Tuesday night, August 21 through tomorrow AM, Aug 27 it is my time with the kids. And my mom came out for a visit.
I’m feeling full now. And happy. The days were spent doing not that much of anything, but yet doing everything at the same time. There were no destinations, no special restaurants, no special activities. Just time together and gearing up for Big Bro’s first day of school, which is tomorrow. I will be driving him in, and I am soooooo thankful for this change in routine to be able to share this day with him.
Highlights of the past week with Nana:
- Waiting for Nana in the “park and call” and talking with the kids about their excitement about Nana’s visit.
- Introducing “Cocoa” to Nana and having the kids show her how they take care of her.
- Watching a movie and air-popping pop-corn and exploding with excitement and laughter.
- Early morning sounds of footsteps and Twin Husky coming into our bed at 7 AM, each morning, like clockwork. No words. Just him, his Tiger, and him scurrying up on the bed, getting under the covers. So sweet.
- Looking at the bus come for the neighborhood kids for their school (they started this week). The bus comes to my driveway. I am hoping the kids have the opportunity to take this bus next year. Twin Husky was upset that he was not able to go on the bus.
- Taking “Cocoa” to the vet because of her dry ear. Watching the examination. All kids watching and learning, intently. Looking at the big doggies in the waiting room.
- Me going to a “lunch meeting” at work and Nana taking care of all kids on her own.
- Opening a box that arrived that was actually sent by Nana – filled with supplies for each of the kids’ desks, clothes, playdough, and outdoor fun gear….
- Lots of playdough…. every day.
- Going to a haircut appointment and deciding to take “my girls” with me; it was so cute to divide and conquer. And for me to go out and have them watch me get a haircut (which I desperately needed)
- Filling up our bird-feeder, and then waiting for the birds to come back; hearing birds singing wildly each morning and then counting the bluejays in the back yard.
- Completing my project of putting deer netting around the final section of my garden. Maybe now I’ll be able to see/eat a strawberry.
- Slip-n-slide, blow up pool in our front yard. Twin Husky going crazy and diving through the water. Shivering. Looking like a football player, only 3 feet tall. Twin Crazy and Twin Husky fighting over a little tiny water shooter, and then Twin Crazy stomping off mad only to return with a HUGE, “Rambo” looking like water semi-automatic. It was outrageously funny. A neighborhood friend coming over for a bit after seeing the water slip-n-slide in our front yard from the street as he drove by with his father.
- Putting together the rest of my blinds in my kitchen. They look great.
- Picnics for lunch, outside.
- Going to Target with Big Bro and Red to do “back to school” shopping.
- Nana making “icebox cake” with the kids, their little routine together.
- Cleaning out my storage shed and moving in some file cabinets to make room in the house.
- We jointly decided that Sunday would be a special “Chocolate Sunday” since that was the last day of vacation and since Nana would be leaving on that day. Twin Husky remembered this fact this morning when he woke up. It was the first thing he was talking about.
So, it really was many days of just “existing” but enjoying the time spent together and also apart. It was a mixture of laughter, tantrums, and quiet time. It was wonderful waking up to the kids for so many days in a row. I will never tire of this. I will never tire of the mornings waking up to the kids and their smiles and their funny words. It was great to have my mom here. To share this time with us in such a relaxed way; no plans, no schedules, just doing what we want to do.
Highlights of the Rest of Today:
- After dropping off Nana, I decided to take the kids to a science museum at a local university. They loved it. It was a totally spontaneous trip but they were great. We played with air and beachballs, balls on ramps, the kids worked together to build foam building structures, … , …, … They had so much fun.
- We had lunch, the Twins took naps.
- Big Bro and Red went next door to play with their friends.
- I did some more cleaning up around the house. I did laundry.
- The Twins woke up and I put on loud music and the three of us danced in the kitchen.
- A friend came over for dinner and we had a HUGE pasta dinner with chocolate mousse cake afterwards. We sang “Happy First day of First Grade” to the birthday song tune; The kids were great.
- We had a photo shoot of the kids to celebrate Big Bro’s first day of first grade.
- Red wrote out her alphabet letters but kept having a problem with the letter “K”. I showed her a trick and she wound up doing the “K” perfectly and was very proud of her accomplishment for the entire alphabet, as was I. Her creation made it to the “art wall” in our kitchen.
- The kids all went to sleep without a problem.
- I got myself ready for tomorrow morning…. I will be driving Big Bro to his first day of 1st grade, and also the kids to their daycares. We will need to leave VERY early to get there on time. I got the shoes ready, lunch is already made for Big Bro, and the ride is ready for the kids breakfast in the van on the way there. Wish me luck.
I am sighing now because I feel like its the end but yet a new beginning. Big Bro in first grade; I can’t believe it. I wanted so much to be settled for our family for years before Big Bro made it to first grade… there was so much pressure leading up to this event…. and here we are. Still in the same general location, but our family torn. It really is amazing.
I feel happy though. I am settled, but still not really. So much to do to actually get settled (fence, yard, garden, etc. etc. etc.) but all the rest will just unfold. There is no rush for anything. No timeline for anything. Just living. Each day. And I feel good with where I am now. There is no resistance with anything anymore. I feel good with the time that I get to spend with the kids. I feel lucky that I have the time to focus on them when I do have time with them. I feel good that they listen to me as their mother – we laugh together, but they listen and they are fun for me to be around. I enjoy being with them. Talking with them. Watching them learn. Watching them care for each other and for other things, like their rooms, Cocoa, the house – our home.
This was a great “staycation” and a vacation that has topped the charts in my mind. I’m looking forward to many more to come.
Have a great week everybody –
– Mama K
Mama In Motion™ 
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