Ups and Downs. Peaks and Valleys. Highs and Lows. This week has been a veritable roller coaster ride!

The boys were struck with something nasty that still hasn’t gone away completely. Yet, God worked a timely miracle (per my last post). I’m resigned to the fact that they probably suffer from asthma like their Mom, and yet I’m thankful that we’ll be able to utilize some alternatives (chiropractic care, etc) that I wish I had known about all my life. I haven’t felt too hot myself for the last 4 or 5 days, but it hasn’t gotten any worse, praise God. I’m gonna lick it, I tell you!

Tuesday marked a milestone-it was Ryan’s 3rd birthday! Unfortunately it went by without much fanfare since he could barely lift his head from the couch. If he’s able, this weekend we are going to treat him to Pizza Hut and a party afterwards. My little boy is three. Blows my mind.

Mom and dad made some sales in their Etsy Shop! Wahoo! It’s easy to get buried in Etsy and they haven’t had a lot of time to market, but a sale is a sale, baby! Also, they were accepted into the Maine Made Organization. Another means to get their product out and about. I’m thrilled for them; they have so much to offer. Oh, and my sis-in-law made a sale too. You Rock, family!

Finally, I’m realizing a dream of my own. I received my official business license this week. I’m going to get things rolling before I announce the ins and outs, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be up and running in a couple of weeks. This has been a dream of mine for quite a while, so stay tuned!

I’m off to bed-I’m certain we have another long night of cuddlin’ coughin’ boys ahead. Gotta take sleep when I can get it!

I don’t know about you, but if I promise myself that big changes must be undertaken…they won’t be. Therefore I’ve never been one for the infamous New Years Resolution. I’d much rather ease into something than to resolve that this is the way it is going to be. Would you care to be privy to my former lofty goals? Most (well, all) involve mothering. While not necessarily NYR’s, I was adamant about these decisions. And I’ve learned that it’s ok not to be.

I was never…going to use disposable diapers. They’re bad for the environment! They are bad for my babies skin! They are…so much easier. Kudos to you cloth diapering mommas. Seriously. I wish I had it in me.

I was never…going to let my children watch television. Let’s just say thank you, maker of Baby Einstein, for that 30 minutes of delightful entertainment that allows me to wash dishes. Or sweep. Or accomplish a multitude of daily chores. I am forever indebted.

I was never…going to buy my kids toys with batteries included. Heck, they delight me half the time! And while my dear brother drove me to distraction with all of his boy noise when we were younger, I’ve learned that noise very often equals happy children, which very often equals a happy mother.

I was never…going to confuse my children by being consistent one minute and inconsistent the next. Consistency is key, they say! While they are right, I don’t believe a slip up every now is out of the question. Sometimes I’m just too tired. Sometimes I lay in bed at night and pray that I haven’t screwed up my kids for life. But I don’t think I have.

I was never…going to feed my children sugar. Ha! I don’t overdo it, but you have to have a little fun.

I suppose my motto is moderation. I would love to be one of the cloth diapering, no tv allowed, completely consistent, healthy-to-a-fault mothers. And I really think moms like that are amazing. I just flat out don’t have it in me at this point in my life, but despite it all, I think my kids are turning out alright.

Things that could use a little more help this coming year? Again, not turning these into full blown, do or die decisions, but here we go:

• A little more organization and a little less wasted time to my day.
• Finding a few more ways to be a “servant” to my family. Doing simple things that make them happy.
• Partaking in some kind of muscle building, bone strengthening exercise. *Sigh*…osteoporosis runs in my family, and you know about the whole prevention thing being better than the fixing thing.

Well, I know I have more desires rattling around in my brain, but let’s not get overwhelmed, here!

Good luck on your goals, whatever they may be. But don’t be too hard on yourself.

I have to admit that today is the first time I’ve been irritated at the snow. It’s been falling steadily since, well…mid-November (albeit with a few breaks in between), but today it has knocked our New Years Eve plans upside down and backwards. We are left with a family eager to bust out of the house, and no help for it!

If it does decide to taper off, we’ll head to Freeport and partake in an LL Bean celebration. If not, I’m not sure. We’ll just have to get creative. In the meantime, I figured this morning would be as good a time as any to get some Christmas memories posted. There is a bit of a silver lining to this unexpected free time…

Nothing changes Christmas like having children that are old enough to be excited about it. I woke up at 5 am and was too eager to go back to sleep! Ironically enough, the boys slept in until a little after 6. Ry woke up and wanted to see Santa but had to settle for the loot. Erick and I bought the boys one co-present this year-a Little Tykes slide to help burn off the energy. Turns out it was a great buy. Since we will be in a house soon (Oh yes, we will!) Erick bought me a crock pot and coffee maker, and mom and dad gave us a Bed Bath and Beyond gift certificate. I decided to get creative for my hubby, and with dad’s help built a magnetic board for his classroom. I’ll post pictures of everything at the end of the blog, because I’m not quite computer-savvy enough to fit them in the midst of the paragraphs yet! All in all, it was a lovely day to celebrate Jesus arriving here on earth.

Hmmm…just checked the weather and there is a possibility that the snow will taper off soon. I best get myself to the shower just in case we can join in the revelry down south. I have so much more to post-I’ve been writing blogs in my head for a week or two; I think they’ll have to wait for another day, though.

Happy New Years Eve, and Be Safe!

(Papa helping Jack down the slide-he’s a pro now and can do it himself!)