Art Show and Pink Water

After all the stress (on my part) we held a fantastic art show.

Not gonna lie, I eased up after yesterday and just put the girls in charge.

They decorated, made booths, made cookies and chocolate covered marshmallows, made awards to hand out, and just had a good time.

Lelia's hair chalk booth.

Molly's sidewalk chalk area.

It worked out well.

Tyson is working a 24 hour shift.

So, as usual, we had a girl party with a movie and nachos.

I actually didn't want nachos but I think I have the girls trained that Tyson's overnight shift means "nachos" and a movie. Luckily they love nachos and so I choose to do it because it's super easy.

We watched Storks, which was a really poorly made movie in my opinion.

But it still almost made me cry....I think I'm just emotionally unstable.

....perhaps that plays a part in my uncontrollable emotional bursts yesterday.

And we also realized that our water is pink.

Turns out all of Kansas City has colored water.

But they say it is safe to drink.

I am still skeptical and haven't let the kids try it.

Although Leila was really excited to try pink water.

It is supposed to be pink for a few days, so she'll get her chance to drink it.

Party Prep

Today some old friends, the Thornes, came over to visit and play.

We ate lunch together.

Talked and laughed together.

The kids ate Harry Potter every flavor jelly beans together.

Then later on, Eden did what Eden does best, plan a party.

Eden is a party.

This is where we are different.

She is always ready to implement spontaneous, new ideas all the time.

She has as big idea but her follow through is often lacking.

I do not always do well with spontaneity.

I require a plan, organization, and follow through when an idea is started.

Today Eden decided she wanted to hold an art show tomorrow.

She wrote up and delivered invitations to friends to share their art and win a prize.

I started to fret.

"What if no one shows up?"

"Where is this going to be located?"

"What kind of prizes are they going to give?"

"What if the weather is bad?"

"What if Eden doesn't go through with her art show and people show up expecting an art show?"

(I now feel realize that Eden is bubbly enough that if any of all of these things happened she'd probably be fine coming up with a spontaneous plan B.)

So, I decided to try and be a good mom and let her spontaneous party become reality.

But I tried to do it my way, planned out, so questions had answers and I was prepared.

I texted the moms so I knew someone would show up.

And I committed to making cookies for the event.

Eden had the great idea to borrow a rake and clean up the backyard to set it up for the show.

She did a good job but started to lose focus when the other girls quite helping.

So, I went out to help.

Eden then wanted to set things up even more before all the leaves were raked.

I fretted again.

"Don't set things up now, what if it rains at night?"

"First we need to finish the leaves before moving to the next activity."

Then the anxiety (mixed with lots of little other issues throughout the day of whining, crying, teasing, and a finger painting project with friends that ended up a super messy body painting project) threw me over the edge.  I became "stressed out and angry mom".

There really was no good reason for this change. It was dumb. I know.

I've been studying my personality lately and I've come to find out reasons why I act this way.

I need a plan beginning to end before acting anything out.

I can't handle when my plan is disrupted or out of my control.

(And I also can't handle loud, upset and angry voices for an extended period of time.)

I've also been able to study Eden's personality.

She's a party that comes up with more ideas that there is time to finish them.

She is able to change things up and adjust to make things happy.

She stresses and is angered when her parents are unhappy or have too much structure because it takes away from "having fun".

So, I talked with Eden.

I told her that we have to make some compromises.

Her personality is to party.

My personality will party with some planning and structure.

So, I agreed that we could party if she will be ok with some planning and structure so I'll feel prepared.

She, of course, was fine with it.

She finished raking the leaves.

She asked me what set up would be ok to do today and what would not.

Then she set up what she could.

And I'm ok having a party.

Though, I'm still not over the stress quite yet....

I'm working on it.

You Know, Just the Normal Stuff

Today's been a pretty normal vacation like day.

Easy going morning.

Trip to the library.

A few chores.

Reading time.

A few movies.

And Paige taking off her diaper several times a day saying "potty" believing she is going to the bathroom simply by taking off her diaper, sitting on the toilet, and using toilet paper to wipe.

The only issue with this is that she often takes off her diaper and runs around diaper less for a while first. This has potential for random accidents to occur around the house.  Seems like I'd be able to stop her from ripping her diaper off by keeping clothes on her. Trick is....keeping clothes on her. She's learned how to somehow take off any clothes I can put on her.

Paige, oh Paige.

After Christmas

With all that Santa candy....it was bound to get into the wrong hands.

Paige learned to move the kitchen chair to the counter to get things she wants.

...Including everyone's Christmas candy.

We relaxed, played with new toys, read books, watched movies, played games...

....and do a little painting.

(Molly painted this and wanted Eden to writ this message on it for me.)

Leila's painting for nana and papa.

My big gift from Christmas was new pots and pans!

So of course, the next day we went to IKEA to get a rack to hold it.

Then we had to rearrange the kitchen.

The organization is wonderful.

Christmas

Christmas Eve Party and Christmas Movie Marathon

We hosted a Christmas Eve party for all those in the town homes that lived far from family.

Lunch tacos and gingerbread houses.

And don't forget rides on chairs across the floor. (For kids...and Tyson)

The girls had a good time chatting and making gingerbread houses with the kids.

The boys went outside to play with drones and be boys.

Although, I did find out that I lack skill in the gingerbread house making department.

Tyson made Lelia's structure....which was by far the best.

Today ended up being a Christmas movie marathon day (unintentionally).

But I loved watching the kids in their typical movie watching positions.

Leila has to be sitting on, cuddling with, or touching someone.

(And dad is on his iPad....also typical.)

Eden is in some weird position. She often watches upside down...

Molly is always up closer and often moving a little here and there.

And Paige often finds her way to mom...especially when she sees I'm taking pictures.

And look! I got my new glasses in the mail today! Hooray!

Friends, Sakamoto Family Party, and My Present to Me

Today the girls had a lot of friend time.

Eden's friend from school, Lexi, came over to play all afternoon.

Leila and Molly went to their friend, Ailey and Kaya's house to play all afternoon.

Then at 6:00 we got a FaceTime call from my family.

They were having an early family party since it was the only time everyone would be around.

The cousins picked names and gave presents to each other.

And my parents gave all the families a stocking full of gifts as well.

The couples did "stocking stuffer" presents for everyone...but we aren't opening them until Christmas.

It was wonderful.

I miss my family.

It made me feel like I was there for Christmas...at least for a few minutes.

Eden got a water bottle she could color herself.

Molly got a purse and as bead set.

Leila got hair chalk and hand tattoos.

Paige got a stuffed animal Totoro.

My parents gave us a variety of items in our stocking. The girls loved them all. (Me and Tyson quite enjoyed our gift as well!). It was so fun to just feel joy tonight with family.

And I also just wanted to show my little gift I got for myself yesterday.

Well, I guess the Barnharts contributed to the present.

Leah Barnhart took baby pictures of Paige when she was first born. Then she and her sister, Elif who is a talented artist, teamed up to sell unique Christmas cards. Leah took the pictures and Elif wrote messages by hand.  On their website, I saw they used a picture of Paige. I fell in love with it.

I asked if I could buy my picture, not as card, but so I could add it to my Christmas decor.

Leah sent me the digital version for free.

I printed it out, got an old frame, and put it on our piano.

I love it.

Reminds me of Jesus as a baby.

But I like that it's not just any baby posed as baby Jesus, it's my beautiful Paige.

Snowmen and New School Clothes

Today we accomplished a few things....not nearly as many things as I would have liked.

But Leila did convince me to come outside and help her (and the littles) to build a snowman. I'm glad she convinced me to come out...it was the most fun I had all day. I needed some fun in my life.

And the school district has a clothing "store" with donated clothes and other items that kids can get for free. There were some nice things, it was wonderful. And each kids gets new socks and underwear. She needed shoes really bad and gloves, shirts, socks, and pants. We got them all. Her entire outfit today was from there.  Cardigan, dress, leggings, coat, boots, socks, and underwear (which of course you cannot see). Her hair is a bit of a frazzle because I took the picture after school instead of before. Silly me.

Christmas Cards and a New Look

The girls have been working on writing Christmas cards (that may came a little late...sorry.).

They are finally finished and ready to send out.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Leila's "prints" of "pese"

Eden's PUNny Christmas card.

And Molly's Christmas Angel.

I love my kids artwork and creativity.

As for me....I tried out a new look today.

I had a bit of an identity crisis yesterday.

Lately, I've been into "Dressing Your Truth" by Carol Tuttle.

Basically she believes that your facial features, body movements, and personality will best show you the best way you should dress, do your hair, and do your make up.

(Side note: While I find interest in the "looks" portion of this program, I find the best part of this program for me has been discovering who I am and being happy with me and feeling happy in what I wear knowing that it is me....but my happiness has been shaken a bit by perhaps realizing I wasn't the "type" I thought I was and feeling like I may need to reevaluate who I am...this may not make sense to anyone but me....)

I thought I found "my truth" and felt comfortable.

Then I did some reading and discovered I may have been wrong.

And it kind of hurt my feelings because I realized some of the negative things about me that I've probably worked all my life to hide.  But the program is to not see these traits as negative but to find the good in it and even make them into strengths.

So today I did an experiment and dressed the new way to see if it changed things.

I did feel different.

It's hard to explain with one little blog post.

But I'm figuring it out and hopefully in the end, I'll become a better me.

(I will not rely 100% on Dressing Youth Truth to help me find answers.)

Another Day Indoors

The weather was actually much warmer than yesterday.

But school was still cancelled.

Molly has a stuffy nose.

And I never got out of my sweats.

The girls played out in the snow for a bit, making Fred the snowman.

I babysat for a neighbor for an hour or so.

There was one point today when I had a minor identity crisis and emotional instability set in so the kids watched a movie while Paige and I took a nap. (Leila came in just to snuggle.)

We did have a crafty moment.

We read a fun book from the library "An Early American Christmas" by Tomie de Paola.

It told how Christmas was first celebrated in America.

One of the decorations was dried apples.

So, we dried some apples and oranges and added them to our decor...just like the book.

And that was our day.

Snowy Sunday

During the few moments where we felt it was warm enough for the kids to safely go outside and play, the girls were in heaven. They played for a bit until they came in freezing and wanting hot chocolate. 

Leila, who has been dying for snow more than anyone, played hard but was also the first one in because it was "freezing".

Eden was happy to use her creative juices to build and dig. She was next inside ready for hot chocolate.

Well, I suppose Paige was actually the first one in...but only because Eden shoveled some snow at her on accident and her face got all cold and wet. Before the incident, she LOVED the snow. She kept saying "SNOW!" And throwing it in the air.

I don't have a picture of Molly, but she was last in saying "I still want to play outside by myself, I'm not cold." She made tracks in the snow in the shapes of hearts, piled up snow, and just explored.

Church was cancelled because of the weather.

So today we had an inside day.

Tyson built a fort to watch movies, read books, and take a nap in.

Looks like tomorrow is similar. School is cancelled.