Winter Blahs

I can finally say that I think we are all recovering from all the crud that we've been passing back and forth this winter. The coughing is dwindling and so far, aside from Stella, the stomach bug has stayed away. But the rain and gloom have really been relentless. Gray skies are making for some very grouchy kiddos (and mom, too)! Yesterday, we had more rain in the forecast, as well as sleet and a little snow. Ugh, more time stuck inside! We decided to make cupcakes to brighten the mood a bit.

Who wouldn't be happy with a cupcake covered in M&M's? Another good mood boost came this morning when we actually had a little bit of snow and a two hour delay!

It wasn't the blizzard we've been hoping for, but it sure made everything look pretty. Finding ways to chase away the winter blahs has been quite a challenge. I think we need a mini vacation!

Down for the Count

Yesterday started with my waking to a pretty horrible headache and a bit of a queasy stomach as well. Not a good way to start the day. Of course, Mike was working late so I was on my own to get the girls up and off to school. We made it to the bus stop on time (a miracle) and soon they were on their way to school. I made my way back home and immediately hit the couch. It wasn't long before I was sound asleep. When I finally woke up, I was actually feeling much better. But, it was then that I received the dreaded call from the school nurse...Stella was vomiting. Boooo! I picked her up from school where the nurse declared, "She's the third one so far today!" We spent the rest of the day lounging around and napping. She was feeling much better by evening, but still home from school today. Hopefully, the rest of the family is spared, but that is unlikely. *fingers crossed*

Easy Two Ingredient Slime

Happy Monday! I cannot express enough how much we needed this extra day off. It turned out that Mike had the weekend off as well (which is very rare), so we just had a well earned "lazy" weekend. We spent the weekend mostly hanging out at home watching movies and football. It was perfect!

Today, the girls wanted to make one of their favorite things...slime! It's super easy! You only need 2-ingredients: liquid starch and glue. Of course, my girls like it to sparkle, so we use glitter glue.

Just mix equal parts glitter glue and liquid starch. At first it seems too runny and messy, but after a few minutes, something magical happens and it turns into slime. Honestly, I don't know how something so simple can keep these girls entertained for so long, but it works!

Stella's favorite thing to do is put a straw in the slime and blow bubbles.

So much fun!

*This post contains affiliate links.

Yesterday...

The last several weeks have been filled with sniffles, coughs, and general crappiness for Stella. While Madelyn and I had a milder version of it, Stella's sickness seemed to linger, much like it always does. After struggling to make it through the first week back to school, she seemed to improve over the weekend and we actually made it to church on Sunday for the first time since before Christmas. Yesterday was her well check up and I figured after her appointment she would end up sick again after being exposed to doctor's office germs. Turns out, she has walking pneumonia! I would have never guessed it, she was finally feeling better! She was given a breathing treatment in the office and started some antibiotics, so hopefully she will be fully recovered quickly.

Getting Organized

One of my goals for 2017 is to get organized. Not only do I hope to organize our home, I am also looking to manage my time a little better. Obviously, having a big family makes things a bit chaotic at times. In an attempt to keep things under control and keep track of what we need to do daily, I bought myself a new daily planner.

Even though I have a phone, tablet, and laptop, I guess you could say I'm "old school". For me, physically writing things down has always been the way I stay on task. I love making lists and checking things off as I complete a task.

In addition to weekly and monthly pages (with tons of space to write), there are also a few fun pages for goals for the year, and an area to reflect back on at the end of the year.

To add a little element of fun, I picked up some cute planner stickers. Who doesn't love stickers?! I really hope that using a planner to keep track of our schedules, events, and appointments makes things a little less crazy throughout the year.

*I found the planner and stickers on Amazon.

It's Fri-Yay!

Well, it isn't the blizzard/snow day I was dreaming of, but the little dusting of snow we got overnight was enough to give us a two hour delay! Some much needed time for the girls to sleep in and wake up refreshed and for me, a little time to read before I had to start the day. If only every day could start two hours later. 😊

Happy Friday!

Life Lately

With the holidays over, the kids have gone back to school and the hubby is back to working 12 hour shifts. That combined with a cold I've been fighting since Christmas Eve, I've been feeling quite BLAH! I know I'm not alone here, the girls have been exhausted this week too. Afterschool naps have been a regular occurrence.

This week has also brought us some chilly weather. If only it would bring us some snow! I know not everyone feels the same as I do, but a good snow day would be awesome right about now.

Speaking of getting back to school, Stella has finally discovered she LOVES to read! The first part of this school year has been a struggle getting her to do her nightly reading. For Christmas, she received a bunch of new books and has been reading to me every night without complaints! I can see improvement already and I am thrilled that she has started to love books like her momma!

Honestly, this first week of the new year has been sort of uneventful. Hopefully we find our groove and get back to normal after the weekend. Getting back on track after a lazy Christmas break has been exhausting. Ha!

Goodbye, 2016. Hello, 2017

Well, hello there 2017! We made it through twenty sixteen happy, healthy, and with a roof over our heads. In my book, that's a success! But, I do love turning the page to a new year. It's a chance to start fresh and think about what we can do to improve our lives. For me, in 2017 I would like to work on being more patient, organized, and helpful to others. I think I can do it!

This year I will celebrate being 5 years cancer free and Mike and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary in June! We have so much to be thankful for!

Happy New Year everyone! May your year be filled with happiness!