It's the most wonderful time of the year

I'm juggling. I'm always juggling this time of year. Who am I kidding? I'm always juggling. Right now, I am just juggling more than usual. I always am ambitious. I always have a long list of "important stuff" I want to accomplish. This time of year it just doubles and triples. It's hard to manage- what is really important?

Baking the cookies?

Making the memories of baking the cookies with the kids is a yes. Staying up way too late to finish the task and clean up so I don't start the week behind is a no. For some reason, it is always hard for me to see the hidden hours of work in projects like this.

Someday I'll get it figured out just right.

Sent from my iPhone

William's timeline

William had a homework assignment this week to complete a timeline. He and I worked on it together several evenings this last week.

My absolute favorite part is event #9: he was in a wedding (or a weeding, if you will). This was important enough to put on the timeline, but the. William was worried people might be confused. So, then he needed to add onto it.

(Not me, my uncle)

You see, William didn't want anyone thinking HE got married.

Nature, a poem

By Amelia

Nacher
Nacher is loud
Nacher is you
Nacher can be you forever
Nacher has trees
Nacher isn't osum

Translation:
Nature is loud
Nature is you
Nature can be you forever
Nature has trees
Nature is awesome

My kid is deep.

Gemma

I was making Gemma's bed after washing her sheets so she could take a nap. Gemma saw what I was doing and became concerned.

Gemma: mama! You no do that! No! I not want to sleep! I not hungry!

Sent from my iPhone

Hair

William! What happened to your hair?

Oh. Yeah. Well. I slept with the Santa hat on last night.

It's cold

We were getting everyone ready to get out the door yesterday for school. As usual, it was later than I was hoping it would be. The big kids were ready, so I sent them out to the car to get buckled (we missed the bus, I usually don't drive them). When the door opened, Gemma stiffened and gasped as the blast of chilly garage air hit her.

"Brr!" She said.

A split second later, "I need hat."

She then turned to the box where we store the hats, gloves and other outdoor accessories. She dug around as I got my shoes on and organized her backpack.

"There! Just right!" She said as she plopped the striped cotton sun hat.

And then I took her to school.

Chat with Gemma

Here is Gemma chatting away about trick-o-treating. She cracks me up!