You know that commercial about the kleenex where the mom is saying "Touch glass, touch shoe, touch, touch, touch"? Maybe you've seen it. She's touching things all day long then at the end, she grabs a tissue (I forget the brand, I guess their marketing ploy failed on me), then everything stops and she says in a soft sigh, "Feel". That's what my day feels like except instead of touch I clean...."Wipe highchair, wipe counter, wipe dish, wipe nose, wipe bottom, pick up toys, pick up clothes, pick up kids, pick up food, pick up toys, clean clothes, clean toilet, clean window, clean language, clean children, ....." But when I get to the end of my personal commercial I say with a soft sigh, "Rejuvinate" as I jump on my new elliptical machine. Yes, we got a new/used elliptical machine and I'm so happy! I've used it everyday except one since we got it and apparently I'm in a much better mood. Scott told me the other night that I was always crabby when he got home in the evening until we got the elliptical. A) I'm totally bummed that it took an entire year for him to bring up the fact that I'm perpetually crabby, and 2) I'm very thankful I'm aware of it now and have an outlet. Anyway, I'm super pumped that we got it and Scott has even hopped on it once!
Christmas was really good. We had the girls preschool Christmas program about a week before Christmas. They were adorable and sang so well. I managed to engage the kids in a fun Christmasy/wintery thing each day of December leading up to the 25th. I put 24 activities on a card and placed them in envelopes and numbered them all. Each day we would open one and do that activity. It really helped us to do those things that we always have good intentions of doing but never get around to. Like making a gingerbread house, taking a car tour of the lights in the neighborhood, having hot chocolate while listening to christmas music. I will definitely do it again next year. Christmas eve we had my mom and dad over for a delish prime rib dinner. Then Christmas morning we woke up at the crack of dawn to open the presents. We then spent the afternoon down at my parent's house in St. Peter. It was a really nice holiday. New years I went to a neighborhood party while Scott stayed home with the kids - his treat to me for working so much through the Christmas break. But I was home at 10:00 to watch the ball drop with him.
Scott and I were able to get away up north for our sort-of-annual trip. We've gone many years except when I had a newborn or was too preggers. We stay in a super-rustic cabin that has no electricity and no water, just one wood stove. We bring Attley with us and he has a great time. It was just the thing we needed to relax and reconnect.
Then this weekend, we celebrated Cooper's first birthday! I can't believe that my little boy is already one!! He's such a sweet boy, always smiling. I'm pretty sure he's going to be my social child. He seems to like everyone and has no problem in crowds, at all!
One year ago....
Cooper today!
Immediately after Cooper's birthday, we celebrated the Schwake-side Christmas. The girls were so excited that they got to open presents the same day that Cooper did. And they had a ball having their cousins over. Scott's brother, Dustin, brought his Wii and we adults played quite a few rounds of Guitar Hero.
We're in the planning stages of Cate's birthday party. She's going to have 5 friends over so I need to figure out what to do with all these little girls for a couple of hours. I think it will be really fun for her (and for me). Scott is off this weekend for his annual winter camping trip. It's promising to be below zero which is how they like it I guess.
That's about all. Hopefully next time I post the snow will be melting!! Enjoy the rest of winter! Here's how we Schwakes take the edge off of the long winter. :)
