Saturday December 30

Back to the usual Saturday routine! Morning gym time. And now the new normal about taking a nap around noon. Then mom and dad had the idea of going to this outdoor show and it sounded like a great idea. The kids enjoyed the convention and got to go fishing in this big pool and did not want to leave. Pippa enjoyed splashing on the edges (gross) but as she couldn't have a fishing pole I allowed it. There was also a dog jumping contest that was exciting for the kids. It did smell like wet dog as they jumped into this pool of water after getting a running start from a platform. We went back and forth to that while there.

Chayse was mesmerized by the tiny house they had on display. I just have a hard time finding that interesting when living in 250 square feet is impossible with a family of 6. Maybe it's not, but for this mom it is. Right now our house is 2600 square feet and that is just fine. I have plenty of bathrooms to clean. No one has to wet their pants as there is a spare on available if the one they are wanting to use is busy. I am not one to think we need much more than this. My favorite part about this house is the upstairs living space to keep the toys in one place. I enjoy them having their rooms free of toys and keeping it a peaceful space to sleep in and not jam packed with toys, which is what was happening with our last house as it was a 2200 rambler and I was trying to figure out how to create a toy room when we decided to sell it.

I do love that the kids want to spend time together sleeping. We had Zoey in her own room before Pippa came along, but she kept sneaking out and being with Lux and Zane. So the decision to move her toddler bed in with them was solidified. Three in one room and princess Pippa gets her own space. Otherwise there was a lot more work to keep Zoey in her own place. Chayse has been doing a fabulous job taking pictures. I'm really not too thrilled to be taking so many, but I am thankful for it now. It is important for the kids to feel comfortable with everything and it is also helping me deal with it too. I am usually the one behind the camera and it is nice to have more shots with the kids. To the right is Pippa dancing with one of the ornaments from my front blue and silver tree I love to put up. She does like to rock side to side. It's the sweetest little dance. She will also bob her head and shake that too while dancing. And above is our typical evening routine. Books, jammies and bedtime. I enjoy this part because they are usually focused on what we are doing. We generally get a bath in to rinse off the day, jammies on. Then we will read a few scriptures together, get in our personal prayers and help them learn how to speak with Heavenly Father. Then the each pick 1-3 books and we get to reading. Then the lights go off and I will sing a few songs to my babies. And the dream is they go to sleep. Not always does that happen, but the dream does occur a few times a week with no kids coming downstairs. As a parent, there are few dreams. And those precious two to three hours before I go to bed is just a gem and important so I can also recover from the day and finish up laundry or whatever else may need to be done.

Saturday was a nice day. I think I am about ready for a new year and to celebrate a few new milestones in 2018 like completing chemo, recovering from surgery and to get appointments that are more than two weeks apart. The dream. And a family trip in to celebrate with the kids the accomplishments that go along with a huge lifestyle change with my dr appointments. And then to celebrate our 10 year anniversary in August!!! That will hopefully align with my dream of less appointments. We shall see...