Friday Evening Thoughts

Tonight the boys and Ben are sleeping by the Christmas Tree...a fun tradition that Ben's Dad did with them growing up.  The boys look forward to it...and we get a movie.  In my opinion the movie should be holiday-ish but I have seemed to be outvoted the past few years.  So...once again it's about aliens/war/battleships/airplanes...  Not really up my alley.  I endured the 1st half then put the girls to bed and thought maybe I'd post a few thoughts tonight.  The movie is too action-packed for anyone to really notice I'm gone!  ;)

Life.  Hmmm...what's happening lately.  The usual.  Busy.  Fun.  Hectic.  Here's my summary of thoughts for the evening:

1.  Girls.  Oh those cute girls.  Love them.  And they love their rice cereal.  Both are super close to sitting by themselves and Grace is mobile.  Not a full crawl yet but she maneuvers where she wants to go with scooting backwards or rolling over and over. 
2.  Ben's work-team was meeting at a Target store close by today so I took the girls so he could show them off.  And he did...  :)
3.  It snowed.  Thank heavens.  The boys have needed this.  They have had a blast in it.  And I have had a blast with them outside.  Alex has been tired enough to go right to sleep at night.  (He's my night owl and I will hear him jumping off his bed at 10:00 some nights.  Not this week!)
4.  I cannot believe Christmas is in 11 days!?!  I'll head to Target in the morning to hopefully wrap-up the shopping.  The Christmas decorating has been pathetic (to say the least!) this year.  I haven't even put the stockings out yet...
5.  I love our home.  I love the laundry room.  The mud room.  The kitchen.  We are so enjoying having more space and are grateful.
6.  The boys.  Oh those crazy boys...what else do I say.  Not easy raising three completely different boys.  If they were all of the same mold I might be able to feel some success.  Darn. 
7.  Spencer is enjoying the Ski-Club.  Sam is excited about the upcoming basketball season...poor Ben got roped into being the coach.  Which he really is happy to do...just truly doesn't feel he has the time.  And he doesn't.  We'll figure it out. 

Movie is over...  ;)  Got to make some bottles for the night...

Picture Recap:  We spent Alex's 6th birthday at the MOA amusement park.  Super fun day for everyone...Alex loved every minute of it and this year was tall enough to go on some of the bigger rides with the boys.  The girls...just being cute.  And the best picture of the post:  Sam and Alex singing Christmas songs to the girls.  I don't know that the girls appreciated it as much as they should have...it really was hilarious. 

Life Update

It's been a while and I had a 'moment' today that reminded me I need to make time again to record some of life's moments.

1.  I was looking over the boys' Christmas list.  Sam's list was pretty exciting and lengthy.  The one item that cracked me up and reminded me he's Cowan thru-and-thru was the "hot fudge" request. 
2.  Spencer announced he wants to join the ski club.  Ben questioned the money factor.  I reminded him confidence building experiences are worth every penny.  He agrees.
3.  I asked Alex what book he got at the library today.  "It's a non-fiction book.  That means it's not real."  I love public schools...I've slacked as a parent the past year and am glad someone else is teaching him how to read!  ;)  He's loving it.
4.  Girls are darling.  Darling.  Darling.  Such good little babies and I love the time when the boys are at school and the three of us chat without any background noise.  Claire is just sweet and edible.  Grace is just ooey-gooey edible.   
5.  Ben is feeling that Target stress that comes every-so-often.  I also believe he still deals with some after-affects from the Lyme Disease.  He doesn't seem to be feeling well lately.
6.  I still don't accomplish much with the girly girls but at least I'm feeling a little more organized in what life requires of me.  Spent some time doing a dinner and cleaning calendar for November...always makes me feel a little more 'on-top'  of things if I have some kind of organization to my life.  (Even if I don't get a chance to make dinner or clean!  At least I had a plan!  ;)
7.  Tomorrow is my birthday.  My gift to myself:  a nap.  I hope the girls have the same plan!  I remember last year's birthday well...I had been sick and for 3 weeks had just wanted California Pizza Kitchen.  We went there for dinner that night.  It smelled good when we walked in but I couldn't eat a single bite of it.  What a year it's been. 
8.  I am reminded often how much Mom did for us while she was here.  I unpacked a box last week and once again appreciated her neat and organized moving skills.  This particular box was one of many she tackled one day while I was at the dr. for a few hours...I remember returning home and being so grateful.  I'm still so grateful.
9.  Parent-teacher conference for Sam tonight.  It's the conference I'm always glad to go to.  I'm never quite sure how Mr. Sam is doing with his work.  He's doing great. 
10.  Started my on-line Christmas shopping tonight.  If I can't get it at Target it will be purchased on-line.  I avoid shopping now more then ever!

 I guess that's it for tonight. I'm off to bed...