A Busy Season

Fall has been a busy season for us.  Aiden started full-day kindergarten, which runs from 9-4.  That is a huge change in our life, although he has adjusted great, I find myself still scrambling to create a nice routine schedule for us everyday.  Andrew moved to a preschool closer to home which I have been happy with, although we do miss our old one as well.  He attends three mornings a week & is very happy as well at his new school, but I still find myself again scrambling to do all the fun and extra things I have planned for us each day.  Abby has changed so much in the past few months.  She is super active and into everything.  She's a girl with few words, but makes up for it with stubbornness & her ability to get whatever she wants from her parents and brothers.  But she definitely keeps me on my toes all day long.  I create a to-do list everyday on things that I would like to do & get done with the kids, but honestly the days go by without even a moment to stop and think.  Life with three kids all heading in different directions can be tough, challenging, and exhausting.

With Chris' longer & stressful commute, we don't get to see him as much as we would like, although he does try really hard to make it home for a little fun (and chaos) before bedtime. With several days that he has taken off for various reasons, he has continually been playing catch-up & his work weeks are jam-packed.  Usually, we count down towards the weekend for a moment to relax and breathe, but honestly this fall has been tough.  Chris had a few weekend family obligations which I'm very thankful that he could be at, plus a weekend with friends which took care of most of October.  I headed up to Hershey for a weekend with Aiden to visit my sister and Jack as well.  And our family headed up to New Jersey one last time to see our close friends before the long winter sets in & it's impossible to stay anywhere with three kids, four and under, while being cooped up inside the entire time!  

On top of it all, we have been battling some sickness in this house as well.  Three out of the five of us (including me) got the stomach flu about a month ago.  And for the past 1 1/2 weeks, four out of the five of us (including both Chris & I) have been battling the general flu.  Ugh, that's a lot of sickness for our family.  Let me tell you it's not easy to parent kids when you can hardly move off the couch & feel like you are already hibernating inside before the winter has set in.  I'm crossing my fingers that winter isn't going to bring even more...

And to throw on top the feeling of unsettlement in our life.  Chris finishes up his fellowship early next summer & we are yet to find out what our next assignment may be.  So I'm trying hard to stay committed & encouraged by our life here in DC, although sometimes it's hard knowing that this may or may not be our next step.  I have met some wonderful people & done awesome things while living here, but I have to admit that after several years of being in transition, I am ready to settle.  I am now on my fifth preschool in five years.  Fifth house in eight years.  And right about when I start to feel settled in a place, we are challenged to do it all over again.  So this season  of our life is challenging, but yet, such a great moment for us to really appreciate our own little family that we have created, the memories & challenges that we have faced, & the wonderful people and places we have been.  

The past two months have seriously been crazy & busy, and honestly not the ideal way to live.  So as we look upon winter, I am ready to just relax and settle in for a few more months.  Chris and I have talked about just taking these months to enjoy the kids without the hustle and bustle of moving or housework (thank you rental!).  Do a little less work and worrying.  Say no to a few more things, which is tough for me, but yet so important to my own and family well-being.  Prioritize & enjoy the little ones we have at home, because they are just growing up way too fast.  Before you know it, spring will arrive & I'm pretty sure to say that our life will turn into another whirlwind as we plan another move & embrace the changes that lay ahead.  

So usually I detest winter, but this year I am choosing to embrace.  I am going to soak in  these long winter days just playing with the kids in the basement.  Or family movie night on the couch.  Or a special morning of donuts & coffee.  Because that's what our family needs.  A moment to relax and just be.