The Christmas music has stopped playing in the stores and trees are out on the curb, so posting this may look like I have missed the deadline. It may seem like we are late to the party, but we are still celebrating Christmas in this crazy house until the Epiphany.

The wise men have been journeying through our house and the children love to wake up to find which room they made their way to. Always a little conversation before bed over whose room they will show up in next.

At the beginning of the Christmas season we had a wonderful time staying with my family and seeing extended family, some which I haven’t seen in years. Lots of laughter, memories and time together. Of course late nights and a sick kiddo were part of it too. All which required a couple days of some down time when we returned home, so we could re-energize to keep the celebration alive.

In addition to the birth of Christ, we also find ourselves celebrating Kolbe and Ethan’s adoption day, my birthday and Grace’s birthday all within a weeks time.

An image is worth a thousand words, so I thought I would share our Christmas week through pictures.

Future priest and future police officer and of course our incredibly silly, sweet and dramatic princess.

The first day of school yesterday was filled with mixed emotions. They were more than ready to see all of their friends and I know they will do great despite not being excited about the academic part. Summer flew by, but I am looking forward to being settled (as much as we can be) into some kind of routine. One thing is certain there are two little people who will be missing their big brothers.

Grace walking into the kitchen carrying Kolbe’s support cup for baseball and holding it up to the water dispenser on the fridge.
G: Please mama, drink of water.
Me: No, we can’t use that.
G: Yes, mama! Drink out of this cup. Drink of water from this cup!!

K: Grandma that shirt you are wearing looks like it is from the olden days, like 1989.
The next day…
E: That shirt is better, looks like it is from the new-en days.

Running out of the pew during Mass and slowly returning with a smirk on her face.
G: Hey meany mom! Hey meany mom!!

Discussing whether we would be able to make it to one of Aaron’s work functions.
E: I think you should just go Mom.
Me: Not sure we could find a babysitter that short of notice.
E: Well, you can just order one.

Telling Aaron I was thinking of chopping my hair.
K: No, don’t cut your hair! I like it long. It’s pretty long and it makes you more beautiful.

Complaining to myself that I feel like I am getting sick.
G: I will pray you feel better Mama.

Driving by the hospital.
E: Mom, stop! We need to stop!
Me: Why, what’s wrong?
E: I think you need to go to the hospital and get checked to see if you are having a baby, I have been praying for sisters every night.

Getting Grace ready for bed.
Me: I don’t think we should put your pull up on yet, because you seem to forget to tell me when you have to go to the bathroom once it is on.
G: Usually, yep.

K: Mom, can we please have a pool.
Me: We don’t want anything deep right now with Grace and Caden.
K: Well, we can just buy a Master Lock like the one I want for my bike they will never be able to get in.
Me: Good thought, but we are talking about an inflatable pool.

G: Mom, Caden is poopy.
Me: Oh really, how do you know?
G: I ‘mell him! I ‘mell him mommy, he is stinky!!

I am a doer by nature, making lists, making a list for my lists. My mind always racing to the next thing that needs to get done or next place to go. I am a Martha always busying myself with something to do. When it comes to entertaining I am in the kitchen rather than enjoying my guests. When it comes to motherhood I always seem to be busy with a task while watching my children play.

Being a stay at home mom one would think I have so much time to just be, more often than not I manage to fill it with something leaving very little time for being. I go through the day and base my success on how many items I cross off my to-do list or what was accomplished rather than if time was spent just loving on those placed in my life.

This weekend some of our plans fell through leaving almost the entirety of Saturday and all of Sunday completely open. I had cleaned the house earlier in the week and was comfortably caught up on the laundry. The fridge was filled with leftovers, so I wasn’t stressing about dinner.

The older boys were gone Saturday morning and Caden’s teething had me up all night, so I decided to lay down with the little ones for their nap and ended falling asleep for a good two hours! I woke up to Aaron and the boys playing outside. The weather was gorgeous so I decided to take Caden and Grace out as well and my to-do list became history (until Monday).

It ended up being a weekend of carefree timelessness. Spending time together as a family without anywhere to go or any agenda to follow. Halfway through the weekend I admitted to Aaron that I was struggling a little to let myself continue to just be. He laughed and said he was a bit surprised himself and was wondering how I was handling it.

To be present to my family without needless interruptions. Interruptions and tasks that I create on my own behalf. Stress that I place on my shoulders as I strive to live up to a false ideal of perfection. Feeling the pressure of our fast paced society to constantly be doing while neglecting the just being.

As I reflect back on the last few days I need to remind myself that my children aren’t going to remember whether the floors were vacuumed or all of the laundry put away. Rather it will be the time spent and the memories made that will stay with them.

With summer approaching I hope to fill our days with carefree timelessness, simply being together. I am going to strive to fight the false notion that I battle which says that our summer will only be successful if we are constantly doing. Here is to focusing on being.

They always manage to keep it light-hearted around here and me laughing out loud from their cuteness. Grace is now verbal enough to join the ranks and also things she is older than her brothers, two going on ten. She is a little mother hen, picking up after everyone and keeping all of her brothers in line.

Clapping her hands
Grace: Come here Caden!
And attempts to pick up all 21 pounds of him with her 26 pound frame.

Hearing Caden fussing in his crib.
G: I will get him Mom.

Seeing some of Aaron’s clothes lying on the floor in a pile, Grace picks it up and looks at it.
G: Did daddy pee?

Lying on the floor next to Caden and touching his hand.
G: Tag, your it!

Digging through my makeup drawer and putting on some lipstick and then proceeding to hand me a red one.
G: Here mom, try this one.

G: Oh Kolbe, he is a boss baby.

Playing Church and Ethan was really getting into his homily.
E: Jesus wants you to say yes. He doesn’t want you to say no. He wants you to say yes. If you say no, don’t worry Jesus will come with his Shepherd’s staff and wring your neck and bring you right back with the other sheep.

E: Mom, I have a surprise for you!!
Me: Oh, what is it?
E: I am praying for twin sisters!

Kolbe: Mom, we need to have more babies. Everyone at school is having babies and we need to catch up to them so we can drive one of those really big vans.

Aaron: Uh-oh mom just gave you the look.
K: Yeah, that’s her stern look.

K: We have a new virtue this week.
Me: Oh really, what is it?
K: Magnanimity.
Me: What does it mean?
K: I have no idea, but it is a reeeally big word!

Gazing at himself in the mirror.
K: I look pretty fancy in this suit. It looks like I should be getting married or something!