{Friends & Kids: Two of Life's Greatest Gifts}

Do you remember or are you currently in the situation where some of your friends are married, some single, and some married with kids? It's weird when your friends are starting families and you are still free to do whatever you want when you want (if you are currently in this category-Enjoy it!) 

Then you have kids and everything kind of changes. You enter in to a different 'group' where dates are no longer at the latest trendy spot instead you have play dates to Chick-Fila, the park, or the zoo.

Aaron and I feel like we've made it over that hump where things are awkward. We've been parent long enough that we feel comfortable in that role and we've long forgotten what life was like before kids ( lots of laughs-but its true!) We have friends that are settled down, beginning families, or are just wonderful kid people who know how to be silly, fun, and loving. I feel like I have finally found true friends that will be around forever. 

Tonight, Aaron cooked a wonderful dinner for my kindergarten teacher friends and one brought her husband (he's a total gem too!) As parents-to-be, we enjoyed talking to them about the soon arrival of their baby and what it will be like. It was so fun reminiscing while being so excited for this new adventure for the couple. I can't wait to see them become parents! It's going to be an amazing journey that I hope to be a small part of! 

So where am I going with all of this? Always hang on to your friends through these somewhat awkward life transitions. So you may not be on the same page at this point in time, you may be again in the near future. Also, take the time as busy parents to have adult time even when the kids are around. Our kids are a huge part of who we are and we should share them with everyone..and share our friends with our kids! 

I'm so thankful this Christmas season for the abundance of joy that is surrounding our family.  To my amazing friends, thank you for being apart of my life and my family's life. You bring a warmth to our life that we would be lonely without! 

{Cheerios & Noses}

Cheerios and Noses. We experienced this 'common' thing kids do tonight.

 Aaron and I came home with the kids  after driving through a beautiful park with Christmas lights. The kids were hungry, made their requests, and we gathered in the living room to relax and watch a little TV.  While Aaron is in the kitchen and I'm on the couch, Caroline turns around in front of me and is complaining about her nose hurting.

Landen got her a tissue (sweet kid!) and I started looking up her nose and sure enough I could see it...a cheerio! After slightly panicking and calling on Dr.Dad, she managed to blow her nose (after screaming for what felt like forever) really well and she said, " I got it!" I never saw it come out but she acting totally fine now with no complaints...Yes, we put a call into the Dr. They gave us some tips to try. 

I'm telling you, there is NEVER a dull moment around here!! You better believe I'll be keeping a keen eye on those two now when they have small snacks!

Here is to a wild kick off to winter break! 

Xoxox

Danielle 

{peace,love, joy..seven days until Christmas?! Ahh!!}

Today I was home with Landen and Caroline. My mom is sick with the flu-poor thing! Landen and Caroljne are doing better.  So for the second,maybe third, week in a row Aaron and I are dividing and conquering.  So today was my turn to be with my two favorite little people- I got to sleep in today!!!

I managed to tackle some Christmas gift wrapping. I made the mistake of getting out all the supplies while the kids were around (where was the WARNING on that friends?!)  The ribbon is now in a tangled mess and I spent most of the time playing interference- they loved the scissors and tape. I still have the kid's gifts to wrap but that should be doable in the next seven days-OMG where has December  went???

On these cold winter days, how do you stay at home moms do it? It's already dark..if I hadn't spent my 'shower' time wrapping I could have gone out I suppose...I do have to say my BFF (is that lame to say now? 😄) in Georgia sent me a package and in it was something amazing! Plastic monogrammed wine glasses with an indentation for your finger! Talk about perfect! I couldn't help but try one out...its 5 o'clock here!!  Thank you Lindsey! 

I hope you all are enjoying Hanukkah and for my friends preparing for Christmas, I hope you are finding time to get it all done with joy in your heart! Much love to you all!

Xoxoxo

Danielle 

{Too Young?!}

I don't know about you, but I am still trying to finish my Christmas shopping. I typically have it finished by the first week of December, but this season I have just been doing it as I can. Today before work I decided to stop in to the grocery store to grab some wine and some cards I needed. I get to the U-scan and begin checking out, saving the wine for last. I get into my purse after having rung up the first bottle and I can't find my drivers license. 

I started digging in my wallet. I looked in my checkbook( yeah I still use this outdated form of payment) and felt every card to see if they were stuck together. No luck. I swear I kept thinking it was going to pop out.  No license. The lady at the check-out was nice and explained she couldn't sell them to me if I didn't find my license. Like I didn't know that! 

Honestly, I was hoping standing there searching through my purse, calling Aaron,  talking about my kids, and checking every crevice of my wallet the 'lovely' attendant would help me out.  No. She approached me for the second time and she said, "I would love to sell it to you, but you're just too young looking." Seriously?! I never hear this any other time.  I'm twenty-nine years-old.  I wanted to say, "can I show you my stretch marks to prove I'm plenty old to buy this wine!"  Okay, so maybe that's a little much but thats how I was feeling....She then goes on to say, " Did you go out this weekend, maybe a bar and you put your ID in your jeans?" I couldn't help but laugh. I told her that never happens and that I have twins followed by, " the only place I went this weeknd was the zoo." 

I must have been looking 'refreshed' today after finally getting a full nights sleep-it's been a good week or so since that has happened.  Yes, the comment was nice, but I much rather have had the wine. Now to make another trip out to finish some of my shopping. 

As Moms, do you ever find yourself just completely exhausted and just feeling older than your age? I think we sometimes get caught up in our 'grown up' lives that we forget that we are still young. While I didn't get two things marked off my to-do-list, I have to say I was given the pleasant reminder that I'm not as old as I feel sometimes.

Keep Calm and Mommy On!

Xoxoxo

Danielle 

{Screaming All the Way}

Yup, it happened-total twin public meltdown. Last night we finished riding the train and meeting Santa. Landen and Caroline had been in awesome moods and were really good sports waiting in line for a good half hour to meet yours truly. We headed to dinner across the way and that is where everything began to go South.

I waited with the kids at the table while Aaron waited in a really long line for food. By the time he got to the table, I went to the bathroom and stood in the infamous long line for women. By the time I got back, I believe h-ll broke loose and dinner was over for our family and I had not had one bite. Aaron tossed his food, the kids started fussing and we rudely got up from the table with our family still eating and began packing up to go outside.


Once we all met together outside and I stood and ate my food, we started down to Africa to go see the lights. I had told Landen and Caroline they were going to ride in the stroller to see the lights because it was so packed- I didn't want to loose them!  They protested and while traffic is quickly clearing in front of us because of the screaming, someone stopped us.  A past parent for me and a guest blogger to you, Chrissie stopped to give us a hard time. I'm glad she did because it made me stop and laugh whether I wanted to or not. There is now public proof that as a teacher, I have moments as a Mom that my children are unhappy and screaming in public too.

In screaming moments like these, as a mom and teacher, I was ignoring Landen and Caroline's behavior. I knew they were just being two-year-old. But I also try and ignore everyone around me.  I'm sure we were getting some good looks as Landen and Caroline's screams were much louder than the carolers'. They were a sight too. Wiggling and fussing with big coats on trying to escape what they felt like was injustice.

 How did it end? We pulled off, decided it had been a busy afternoon and that we needed to head towards the exit. We let Caroline and Landen scream some more until Caroline acted like she was going to pass out. We let them out set some ground rules of holding a hand of an adult and off we went. Caroline paused to listen to the beautiful Carolers sing their song until the started a song that "hurt my ears." Landen kept saying "bye-bye" as we walked through 'lolipop lane' and we admired some more displays on the way out. Leave it to Paw Paw and Mimi to quickly erase the screaming episode that had just occurred by creating ten minutes of happiness by the big Christmas tree. They bought Landen and Caroline glow sticks with those fibers that change colors. They laughed and chased and the world was right again.

Last night was fun-I can honestly say that.  Temper tantrums happen-yes to Mrs. Foulk too.

Keep Calm and Mommy On!


xoxoxo.

Danielle

{Delirium}

I think I've entered a state of delirium. I've been blaming my sleepiness on Mother Nature when after having a half  nights sleep (yay!!!) I realize Aaron and I haven't really had good sleep for the past three weeks.

We decided last night to take shifts which  worked out great other than Aaron was sleeping on the couch while Landen fell back to sleep to some PawPatrol. I  have a feeling, now that I'm awake, these kiddos are going to sleep until seven or eight.  I think it's time for coffee...or not. Landen just curled up between my legs. 

With being a first time mom, I am kinda assuming my kids are getting back to back colds or virus. Would you experienced moms agree? Caroline went to the dr on Monday and they said her lungs sounded great and gave her the amoxicillin because of her two week nose issues...so what is this that's going around with a fever attached to it?  Those of you Moms who have twins, how do I stop the vicious cycle of sharing..I can clean and clean all I want but the coughing and sneezing is somewhat uncontrollable even though they are pretty good at using their elbow.

Whatever it going around can stop...and make a quick exit from our house! I am really hoping all you Mommas and your children are fending off the sickness going around! As the Walgreens employees say, "Be Well!"

Keep Calm and Mommy On (maybe with a can of Lysol in your hand!)

Xoxoxo

Danielle

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