Back in the Routine

The kids and I have been outta town for a few days . . . Marlie had a 4 day weekend from school and we had some stuff to take care of, so we headed to Knoxville.

It seems like it took a little bit longer to get back to a normal schedule this time. I don't know if it's because it was just me with the 3 kids on the trip, so maybe I was a little less organized? Or if it was coming back and not being totally back to normal since Marlie didn't have school on Monday? Or if my grocery and food situation is out of control right now because we are in the stage I dislike the most on the baby food spectrum - stubborn and not wanting to be fed but not quite ready to feed himself - it's difficult to find foods for a 6mo old with no teeth that aren't fed on a spoon - avacado and banana anyone?!

Or maybe it's because my mental stability was a bit compromised on the trip I took! ha!! For anyone that's an adult, imagine packing up your parent's house (I am sure my children will read this one day and think there is no way they are going to pack my stuff!!). Now if that didn't give you a mild panic attack, imagine packing your parent's and your grandparent's house AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!!! Essentially what it's like if your parent moves into your grandparents' home. Top that with the fact that my mother and I, while a lot alike, are completely opposite when it comes to "stuff" and "paper" . . . and I say again, my mental stability is still working it's way back to normal! ha! I do love her . . . but boy are we different . . . but how boring would it be if we were the same!??! But to give you an example of my mental state . . . this little high chair . . .

After feeding Evan his pureed food - which as mentioned above is not what he wants right now - I was wiping down his high chair and thinking about how this was one of my least favorite things. At least with dishes, after I cook and eat, I can take a break before I load the dishes - they just sit in the sink for a few hours. But there is something about that high chair tray that drives me nuts if it sits on the table. Now we've had our fabulous little chair for over 3 years . . . the other day I took a look down and noticed the words "Dishwasher Safe Tray" plainly labeled on the front. I don't know if I've never noticed it before, or just never cared about it - but in that moment, after the last few days, it was like the heavens opened up and shone down on me. Finally something that can be easier . . . one less thing to worry about at that moment . . .

That should give you an idea of where my head has been at . . . although, now back to more of a normal state, I realize the impracticality of it since I probably wouldn't run the dishwasher between each meal - which makes me think that I had probably read that before and thought the same thing. But for one meal, on one day, it made me not have a mental breakdown :)

But alas, life will return to normal - whatever that is at the start of the holiday season. I am soooo looking forward to a quiet Thanksgiving at home, some black Friday shopping (even though I have finished my Christmas shopping already), decorating for Christmas (my favorite part is the little 4ft tree we put in the girls room!! oh their smiles, and going to bed by the light of their Christmas tree!), and of course, family coming for the holidays . . . ahhhh . . .