For the last 9ish years we have made a point to try and have Family Dinner with Mary and Alice every week.  There have been times we haven’t (vacations, busy schedules, etc) but it is one of my favorite nights of the week.
The kids are family, we are family and there is always love, support, good conversations and delish food!
Last night as I was setting the table and waiting for Mary and Alice to show up, it really hit me how fortunate we are to have these two people in our family.
The kids argue like siblings, play like siblings, put up with each other as well as push each other’s buttons like siblings, but they also stand up for each other and can curl up on a beanbag and snuggle up to watch a movie.  Love.  We are truly fortunate for this connection in our lives.

I grew up with a great big brother.  We fought like typical siblings.  We had wrestling matches.  We called them B.B.R.F.s – Big Bad Restling Fights and when my parents banned them my brother would say “well they didn’t say anything about an “After Dinner Big Bad Restling Fight!” and it would start again.   I hate to admit, though, that my brother was bigger and stronger while I was scrappier and determined I just couldn’t overcome the 4 year age and size difference.  I often opted for the fake crying and would stick my tongue out at him while I was being comforted by my mother and he was being sent up the stairs for hurting his little sis.  Sorry about that, bro.
While we had our fights, we truly were friends (and still are!) and loved each other.
I see so much love between Erin and her brothers.  Yes, they fight like my brother and I did but there is also deep love.  When I dropped the boys off at school on Tuesday, Erin was a wreck.  She was tantruming and throwing toys and I finally pulled her close to me and asked when the issue was.  She said she wanted her boys back.  I told her they would be home soon, but I also missed them a ton when they were at school.
When we picked them up and we were driving home, she reached over and grabbed Levi’s hand.  Sweetest thing ever.  Erin is one lucky girl, she has three big brothers who love her so much.  I know they will always have her back.

I took Levi and Carlos with me to Wal-Mart the other day (yeah, don’t judge) and they were begging me for the Pick 3 Bucket of deep fried nastiness.  I’ve bought it before and passed it off as lunch/distraction as we strolled up and down the aisles.
We really try to make good choices when it comes to food and to teach the kids about healthy eating.  They are great eaters for the most part (minus one who is picky but getting better about trying new things) and I’m glad they jump for joy when we have lettuce and shrimp wraps w edamame.
When they asked for the Pick 3 Bucket, I put my foot down.  We had a healthy dinner planned so I told them if they wanted to have it, they had to spend their own money on it.  They each bought one, of course they couldn’t possibly share.  This was the case of their eyes were bigger than their stomachs.  They ate and ate and ate, then felt a little bad then ate a little more.  By the next day they each threw 2/3 bucket of sticky chicken, jo jos and popcorn chicken into the trash.  My job here is done.

If you asked me a month ago if I would be able to give an injection to someone, I would have probably doubted myself or said if it were an emergency.  I’m not a fan of needles.  But it turns out that I’m pretty good at giving a shot to someone else.   Maybe I should have been a nurse?
Every day is a learning experience as living with someone with Type 1 Diabetes is a full time job for the caretaker.  Our kids are all ok, no worries, but we have a T1 living with us and his care is a huge job.  Who knew!?
For daily care there are 8+ plus times/day to check blood sugars (and we are hyper vigilant and check if there is ANY question of him being low or acting out of the norm and 4-5 times/day to give injection.  Besides the stress of that and trying to keep this person’s blood sugars “within range”, we have to measure and calculate the carbs in what he eats and then try to guesstimate how much of each food he ate and the total carbs, then compensate for those carbs with insulin injections.  With all the things we have to do, the most stressful time is at night.  We check him before he goes to bed, before we go to bed and at 3am.  If he’s low in any way, he gets to have juice and we wait for 15 minutes and check him again.  Repeat if necessary.
This is a serious, life long condition that many don’t understand.  I’ve joined a Facebook page of Parents of T1 kids and the emotions run high, the parents are completely stressed out (wouldn’t you be if you had to constantly monitor, adjust and document your child’s health?) but it’s wonderful the way they embrace all my “newbie” questions and offer up support.
Anyhow, that’s what’s keeping us busy these days, we are exhausted but feel like we are starting to understand this a little and gaining confidence all the time!

 Ever since Erin got her ear tubes in, the monthly ear infections stopped.  The heavens opened up, the angels sang and the ear infections and non-stop antibiotics stopped.
Fast forward to a couple of months ago.  We had the docs look to see how the tubes were doing, one was out of the ear canal the other in place.  A week later…ear infection.  A couple weeks after run of  antibiotics, another…repeat four times.  In for a consult at Children’s and they confirmed that she needs a new set of tubes and additionally her adnoids and possibly her tonsils removed.

If she has to have her tonsils out, she will have to spend the night in the hospital.
A mom never wants to see her baby in pain, never wants to have them go into surgery (even minor) but we know this is best for her in the long run.
Send up your healing thoughts and prayers on Jan 29th for our girl.  Fingers crossed it will help stop the ear infections and our sweet girl will be on the mend.

 Christmas morning at Nana and Papa’s is always a highlight.  The boys spend lots of time pre-Christmas talking with the grandparents so they are sure they know what’s top on their lists.  (I love that Nana and Papa always deliver, too!)
There are always treats and gifts and the spirit of Christmas.  These kids LOVE their grandparents and every minute they get to spend with them.

 It was a crazy Christmas this year, just with the sheer number of kids in our home.  Count them…SIX!  The bigger boys struggled with the “do we believe or not believe” and the Littles were so wrapped up in the magic it was infectious.
There was less “stuff” and more intentional time and activities.  That felt right for us.
Here are a few pics of our morning.

One of my favorite pictures to take year after year is when the kids are all tucked into bed on Christmas Eve, dreaming of the big morning to come.
This year was no exception, well, except for one….

Every year, our elf on the shelf, “Cornelius”, comes down from the North Pole to watch over our kids and report his findings back to Santa.  For the last couple of years I have jumped on the creative side of the Elf on a Shelf and have tried to come up with creative, fun ways for our little guy to get into mischief.
I know many people who feel like this is a burden or “showy” way to express Christmas spirit.  I don’t see it as a contest as to who’s the best mom or anything like that, but more of a way to entertain myself.  I love seeing what ideas other people come up with!
I have to say, the boys laugh at Cornelius’ antics, but Erin wakes up in the morning and goes looking for him…and squeals with joy the minute she finds him.  Then  looks wide eyed at me and says something like, “oh he is so naughty!”
I hope you enjoy Cornelius as much as I do!

(the kids didn’t get this one…the SNL skit D&%k in a Box)

We are a lucky, lucky family.  We may not have a lot in the financial dept, that being said, we make ends mostly meet and our kids are in no way lacking.  We are RICH, though, in love and amazing people in our lives.  For that, I will always be grateful.  We work to teach our kids that you can show your love and appreciation by being thoughtful and being thoughtful can be something small.
I love giving, but it’s hard for me to be on the receiving end.
Yesterday I went out to get in the car to go to the store and on the windshield was a card from our “secret santa” with Christmas tree money in it.  Seriously stopped me in my tracks.  I want to do something nice for that person, to thank them!
We went out and bought a beautiful tree last night and the kids can’t wait to decorate it.  I am looking forward to pulling out all of our special ornaments and watching the kids stroll down memory lane.  So, thank you, Secret Santa for making this happen for our family!  It is truly appreciated.