everyone is gone

I love having a full house, I love hosting everyone but I love when everyone leaves.

My sister was the last to leave after the holiday, it was great having her, I appreciate getting to spend time with her and watch her with my kids, she is helpful and generous, but I am ready to have my house back.

Tonight Rob is at work, and the kids are sleeping.  I am alone in my home.

I joke that I married a man that is gone on purpose.  I love my husband but I love when he gets out of my house. 

Don't get me wrong, there are mornings when I snuggle in closer hoping to buy five more minutes before he has to leave. Some evenings I ache because I wish he was here. 

But tonight, I put the kids to bed, and I cleaned my kitchen alone and, it was so good. 

I am sitting snuggled up in a big down comforter with the TV on...alone and, it is so good.

I have friends who say they would hate to have there husbands gone at night, that by the end of the day they are counting the minutes until their husbands are home. 

Rob's 24 hour work day works for me, I relish in the space and love when he gets to come home to me.

As for tonight, everyone is gone and, it is so good.

what a week

Thanksgiving is over and we are getting back into the normal swing of things.

We had a great holiday, it was the perfect mixture of family, friends, food and booze.
 

After the kids went to bed we ended Thanksgiving with board games and maybe a few more cocktails, it was so much fun.  We need to have adult game night more often.

We spent Friday being lazy in our PJs, not really doing much of anything but laying around playing with the kids and our computers.  (Terrible picture but it was too funny so I had to include it.)

Two more computers were being used on the couch that are not seen in the picture. Ridiculous I know.

Almost everyone has gone home, the dishes are done, pies are gone, turkey soup is made and we are ready for the next holiday.

*A quick update on the exciting things that are happening in my life this week this week.

• Marathon count down...the California International Marathon is on Sunday, 26.2 here I come.
• I sent is the 2nd draft of my thesis, cross your fingers that there will not need to be a 3rd draft.

Rise and shine people it's thanksgiving...

...or the day after but this is the first time I have had to sit down with my computer.

Finished the night before: sweet potatoes (vegan and regular), turkey brining, pies baked, cranberry sauce done (by the way, I did little to none of this, thanks Autumn and Mom).

Thanksgiving morning at my house:

5:07: Jaxson is awake.

5:18: Jaxson is back in bed, I am making a much needed cup of coffee.

5:20: My sister, Autumn, is awake.

5:30: Jaxson is awake.

5:40: I leave to go running (Jaxson is still awake but no longer my responsibility, thank you Autumn).

7:30: Back home, everyone is awake (6 adults, 3 babies, 1 kid)

7:40: More coffee (much needed), make Margaritas to freeze for later (much needed), make breakfast for 6 adults, 3 babies and 1 kid.

8:00: Shower

8:30: Taylor's friend arrives for a play day (much needed).

By 9:00 the day was in full swing, we made stuffing (vegan and regular), my mom bundled the girls and took them to the park.

We cooked more, including lunch for the 15 people that were at the house by early afternoon, got the turkey in the oven, made and partook in several mimosas, put the little ones down for a nap, cooked, cleaned, drank frozen margaritas and spent time with friends that are like family and our actual family. 

I love having everyone in our house, I am so thankful that they come year after year.  I am thankful that my new house is bigger and feels slightly less overwhelming when everyone is here. I am thankful that I don't have to do all the cooking or, just as importantly,  all the cleaning.  I am thankful Rob enjoys having our house filled with our eclectic family.

Happy Thanks Giving,
Elena

More to come about Thanksgiving at our house. 

Errands with small people...

Lets call this my ode to Ikea.

I remember going to Ikea and wondering who drops off there kids in a daycare at a store, now I totally get it. 

I love the daycare at Ikea.

Taylor asks to go, and I am willing to indulge. 

We go, I drop her off for an hour, and I wander around.

When I pick her up we get her an ice cream, she eats it while playing.  She loves it and I get an hour to shop (or not), on this trip we need a small couch for the toy room.

Notice the dress, she wants to wear it everyday.

The hand dryer was a big hit.

I had to ask them to stop playing with the hand dryer so we could get out of the restroom,

Need a quick date, need a moment to think, need a couch, I highly recommend Ikea.

Jax cannot go into Ikea daycare but he likes shopping at the baby store 

I am pretty sure I can make any errand fun.  Errands have to get done and more then likely I am toting a cluster if children so lets make it work for everyone.