2015. All it's glory.

Winter 2014/2015

I feel different. I am different. I started 2015 one way, and ended as another. Amazing how the changes occur without notice. Without present awareness. It's in the aftermath that you (and others) take note of the change. Dare I say, my roots are digging deeper? Or shall I say, the window to my soul is opening for all to see? New chapters were closing, and new books began.

Spring 2015

-Jason left infant stage, and is now in toddler.

-Harlow left toddler, and is a preschooler.

-Lauren left crazy town, occasionally she visits. She has gained tremendous awareness and acceptance in everyday life. I had nothing to do with it. She's just "growing up".

-Taylor is now a teenager. She had a rough last year I guess I would say. Half is due to this being our "first" to go through this with. We are all learning.

-CJ has come into his own within his "new" career within the AF. Proud isn't a strong enough word.

-And myself. As the year went on, I brought myself "back out". Every time we have had a child, it is my world 24-7. Having the fourth put many things on the back burner. This blog for one. I know I'm not a hefty poster, but I share when I feel like it. Some people don't care to read every single one. It's just my way to have a conversation with y'all. That's it.

I went head on into the decorated cookies world! I don't know how to describe it. Can I say, it's me on a cookie?? My heart and soul into every single bite? My time, love, and creativity made into sugary goodness? Oh, and don't fret about "not wanting to eat this art", it's just a cookie for goodness sake. I'm still learning to accept complements. In every single order, I am picking it apart for "next time". I guess that's when you know you love what you do. 

I also started 911! Drop-in Daycare. Basically, M-Fr you can drop off (msg ahead) your children for minimal cost to go do whatever you need to. I felt there was a need for this where I live. Not everyone has a 9-5 job. Sometimes it's a "fly by the end of your seat" kind. I'm happy to bless others with my flexible availability and care.

Now it's 2016.

Big year ahead. It's been awhile since we've had to do the "6 months" deal. Last time was in 2010. Only that was a year for him in South Korea. And not hostile territory. I found my big girl panties! Pulled them out of storage. Had some dust on them, just cleaned them up a bit, good as new! All joking aside, prayers and good wishes are definitely welcome. A phone call. A trip to visit. A home cooked meal. A skype/facetime always welcome. Coffee. Coffee is nice. Coffee is needed. Coffee.

There MAY be an S.O.S. signal at some point. All first responders will be notified promptly.

I want to take the time now, to apologize. There will come a time when I don't answer a phone call or text. There may come a time when I seem to take something personal when it's not meant that way. Over the course of 2015, I have taken a new look on life. Some things, just have nothing to do with me. Why stress over something that is out of my control? Or make a mole hill into a mountain? Nurturing relationships is more important to me than breaking it into pieces to inspect. Mean well, live well. That's my new motto. Oh, and "Say it with Sugar". My other favorite new motto :o)

So if you don't know, now you know.

Cookies, check me out at:

www.facebook.com/CocosSugarShack 

Instagram: cocos_sugar_shack

pinterest: courtyd725

#WeAreNotTheHeadmaster

I finally feel like this circus is coming under control. Having a baby throws you through a loop, and it being the 4th- it's a #hurricanetornadoapocalypse. In the white rabbit's hole. He's almost 4 months, Harlow is almost 3, Lauren almost 7, and Taylor almost 12 (gasp!). Helpers in their own right, and destructive in their own ways. There are definitely pro's and con's to having them gaped as they are. They're all in different stages of life, with each stage it's blessings and curses. For me, if the house is a hot mess- guess who else is a hot mess?? To try to think of everything I want to do, need to do, and have to do.. it makes me want to scream in to a pillow. You seriously will wish Mary Poppins was real. I tell ya, that first 2ish months is hard work. To survive it, make lists. Cheap meals, easy meals, freezer/crockpot meals, daily must have done's, do 1 load of laundry a day and what each day it will be of (clean, dry, put away), a daily schedule of house chores (so hubby knows what you need done), and try to schedule the big stuff on the weekends (or his day off), eat dinner late (after the bigger kids are in bed) once a week if you can. I seriously could go on. What calms you? For me I LOVE liquid Ivory body wash. One sniff and I swear I relax.

 #1 Use that time (bath time) to be alone. Make sure he understands you want to be alone and not bothered every night for 30 minutes to unwind. The other rats don't follow him to the bathroom all day long like they do to you. You NEED 30 minutes alone. 

#2 Wind machine. Get one. Walmart $30 (also on amazon). Kids are loud. Can't get around it. There's one in Jason's room, and ours. We all sleep like husbands. When I'm feeding him in his room, I can't hear the TV and playing going on right outside his door in the loft. Only unless someone is crying hard, and even then it's not loud enough to make him jump/wake. It's amazing and lifesaving. One small pound of weight off your shouldersI've got some tips for the ladies that are having their 2nd, 3rd, 4th...of the litter.

In the AM, pour 4 glasses of water (no ice). Place them around the house. I put mine: in his bedroom, mine, kitchen, and bathroom. The most important requirement of BEING is drinking water. You will forget. It's inevitable. Something is always needing to be done, someone is always in need of help or to be dealt with. It's. A. Circus. #YouAreNotTheHeadmaster.  They are all fighting for that position. But lets face it. The smallest one is the leader ;o)

Get that fan! Everyone should have one. Buy one a month until you are all set. Nobody will be waking anyone else up. Start with the baby's room of course.

Buy double of whatever. Cans.. Can't have enough of those. Fruit, cream of whatever, soup... You will forget a lot of things. If you have doubled something then you won't run out so much.

Make muffins on Sunday, double batch of course. You will be hungry, and every time you THINK about eating..the baby will want to eat. Handheld food is LIFESAVING. Plan accordingly.

Let him hold the baby, and you clean the tub. Yeah he could just do everything for you..but you just spent 9 months off and on feeling ok. And then you had a baby. And now you feel 30% back to normal. Do something that isn't baby related. It'll take 10 minutes. 10 minutes of you focusing and physically moving and doing something "normal".

If you don't put the others in bed by a certain time every night, START. You need to have that time without the constant game -on repeat- of "follow the leader" (the leader being YOU!). Plus even if it's just 30-60 minutes of time with your hubby, it's adult conversation time. You're surrounded by midgets all day. Talk to someone your own size. 

You have a smart phone (most), download kindle and get books. While you're feeding the baby, read. It's a way for you to escape- without really leaving ha ha. I get an email everyday with a list of free books to download from amazon to my kindle app. OHFB ->subscribe.

If the baby needs to nap, and the hubby is home- strap the baby to you, put on some headphones and go about the house doing chores while listening to YOUR music. Let him mind the chillin's. Be sure to do the dance move, "That's nice! Now go find your father!". It will involve slight bouncing (for the baby), smiling while nodding with a thumbs up, and then pointing in the direction of said Husband. 

 

I think you're now prepped and ready. These are my few tips that can really make a day seem not as bad as it looks. And I've had some bad days. But it gets better my friend. Then it will get bad. But then it gets better again. Now, tips for when he's TDY.. that's a whole other post. Bottle of wine anyone?