Merry Monday!!

Whelp, it’s Monday!! And not just any Monday. The Monday after Thanksgiving and the Monday the kids start back to school after having the week off. Which means a few things. YAY for school! Well not really. I love when the girls are home now. Was a much different story, when they were in elementary and middle school. The boredom that set in the 2nd day of vacation, was absolutely ridiculous! Now they are a lot of help and self sufficient. And I kinda like those girls. It’s just the EATING!!! O. M. G!! Sometimes I think I kick myself in the a$$ for cooking and preparing meals the way I do and catering to those little princesses. I thought I was being such a good mom to make and prepare their food rather than giving them frozen food or Taco Bell and McDonald’s. OR food like that! I am still in debate about this! At least when they are home for long stretches of time, without something to do!! Gesh. And don’t for one second think girls don’t consume as much as boys. Well, I REALLY can’t confirm that… YET! Give me 12 years and I will get back to you! Buuuut, they eat a friggin lot! And the middle little, Kiki, she eats til she falls asleep. It’s lame. I can’t keep enough celery, tomato, cucumber, English Muffin, protein bars, dry oatmeal (<— seriously, she eats that!) in the house.  And the oldest, Lex, I just never have, in the house, what her pallet desires. Shoot me! I think I hear more of “I am hungry and we have NO food in the house!” than anything. We HAVE graduated from “I’m bored!!” So there is at least that!! Praise baby Jesus! That shoe will be on the other foot again when Logan gets older. Yay for round 2!

Anywho… Monday!! Back to routine, but not really because it is officially the HOLIDAY’S!!! Whoop whoop!! Favorite time of year! Like everyone else, well unless you’re my uncle. He hates the holidays, anything family related really. Actually, he hates people. Hahaha, okay more of a strong dislike. (really, he hates people) I grew up calling him Uncle Grinch, and he LIKES that nickname!?! Ya, so that, and the holidays…. I am in full Christmas mode. I have way to much to do! All of it I WANT to do, but it’s a lot, right?! I have been a scatter brain since I had Logan. Having to readjust my time management hasn’t been the easiest thing. I know the older you get the faster time goes… but come on!! It is nearly 2019! Whaaaaa??? And when did that happen?? This next month is going to be busy and wonderful! I go back and forth about it. Girls are in school, hubby is at work and Logi and I are surrounded my Christmas merriment! We keep the tree and mantle lit, all day. (Shhhhh don’t tell Bren. We already get the notices from Edison that our neighbors are WAY more energy efficient than we are) I turn on my essential oil diffusers and fill them with my christmas smells, I have Christmas music going! I am in full Christmas mode and its just Logan and I, haha. Which I am super Thankful for. Being a stay-at-home mom gives me the opportunity to slow some time down. I am forever grateful to my husband that he give me that! I have been trying to make it a point to do more of that. Work in progress but I am giving it my attention.

One of the ways I recently tried to slow down time was to stay home and have a small Thanksgiving. Which tends to go against what I love about the holidays. MADNESS!! It wouldn’t be the holidays without it! And I am okay with that! I just needed some time to stop and not be on a schedule. It was my family of 5, plus my mom, sister and nephew. It was hard not to be with the whole fam damily. But, it was nice not going anywhere and just cooking our hearts out. We still made 2 turkeys as if we hosted a huge family dinner plus all the sides. It was awesome! LOL! So plenty of leftover turkey which my hubby and I are perfectly fine with! I made some delicious turkey soup. (<— coming soon) And now that I got my small holiday out of the way… bring on everything and everyone! We decorated for Christmas over the weekend. So the house is lit up pretty and the house is full of Christmas cheer! Now it’s time to start my little “Gnomegivings”. I do little things from now til Christmas to spread the holiday cheer. Most of it goes to my kids, but I love giving little things here and there to my friends and family. And first order of business was putting some Christmas cheer in the girls room! It’s a good thing they love my shenanigans!

What do you do to fully enjoy your holidays?? Gift giving is definitely high on my list. And it doesn’t have to, be a lot, or cost a lot! It’s the little things. I get things from The Dollar Store… Targets dollar spot and who doesn’t love Amazon! I’ll post more as my Christmas Gnome give their little gifts. Would love to hear what your holiday traditions are or any ideas you have to spread Christmas cheer!!

Happy Holidays ~ Jeanne