Day 31: The End and The Beginning

We'll keep calling her your horse until she is.

I fell in love with horses sometime before I can remember.

Of course, horses were out of the question. Too expensive. Too much work. And so much of the responsibility would have necessarily fallen on the parents' shoulders. Parents who were already working hard just to provide and care for their five children; parents who had crazy medical bills piling on from all the hospital adventures their kids were going through.

I understood this. I didn't like it, but I understood.

I raised rabbits instead. But as much as I love those precious creatures, my heart wasn't really in it. Deep inside I knew it was just an affordable replacement.

I lived out my horsey dreams with my American Girl look-like-me doll and her horse. And when that wasn't enough, my bike became a horse named Toppa. (pronounced toe-pah; I found the name in a book about horses)

Some of my friends had horses, or at least had access to horses. They were happy to share with me. I loved them for it.

But I got used to the idea that horses would never be a real part of my life.

Someday, I would have horses. I would help teenage girls with them, the way I was helped by horses.

Someday, someday, someday . . .

The funny thing about someday is that it never comes. Even as I dreamed and planned, I knew inside that I would be shocked if it actually happened.

But then I was asked to help with Irish and Sally.

And then I met Sugar.

And I started learning that owning a horse is now more manageable than I ever imagined.

It is no longer an elusive dream.

Yesterday, Dad said something to me.

We'll keep calling her your horse until she is.

I do not own a horse. But I will. Soon.

Day 30: Looking Forward

A friend introduced me to the concept of picking a word for the next year.

Today I figured out the word I want to focus on.

Once I had that in mind, I put together a little something to hang on the bedroom wall - where I'll see it first thing every day.

I combined my word with ideas I have about what I want this year to look like. I also left some room so I can add more thoughts later.

Day 29: the game

This is what you will usually see when Kim is home.

And often, I'll be playing with him. But I'm not nearly as good as he is.

My strategy skills are in need of much assistance.

Thankfully, Kim is pretty good at helping me out.

Day 28: Nighty Night

After a series of late nights this week, the kids were exhausted.

We let them sleep where they'd crashed on the couch last night.

And, yes, Yonah is underneath the red blanket.

Goofy boy.

Day 27: Sisters

When Arabelle and Lila aren't at each other's throats, they really are the sweetest little sisters you've ever seen.

Day 26: Recovery

It snowed a bit through the night.

I was thinking we were going to play in the snow today . . . 

But it didn't happen. The kids were too busy trying to kill each other over their new things.

Nap cured the bad attitudes.

But thanks to their initial refusal to go to sleep, the sun was setting when they finally woke up.

No snow for us today.

Instead, we fought over and played with Christmas toys.

And Lila started rearranging the candy on her gingerbread house.

Day 25: Christmas

It seems that everything gets more fun as the kids get older.

Christmas especially.

Day 24: Christmas Eve

We started the day yesterday by opening our family's presents.

It just doesn't seem right to go without opening some presents at home, and we figured we'd be too tired to do it Christmas evening.

(We were right.)

As sweet and special as that time was, my favorite picture-worthy moment came last night.

Gammy was coerced by toddler charm into painting Lila's toenails.

She sat as still as a toddler can possibly sit.

It was so adorable.

Day 23: An Early Christmas Eve

Usually Christmas is a chaotic sort of mess, as we mix in both of our extended family's celebrations with ours.

It's a lot easier than it sounds, since our families of origin are quite the opposite as far as timing goes.

This year is even easier.

One family bumped Christmas Eve back a day.

After eating, the kids played Bingo for prizes.

Mostly the prizes were sugary goodness. But there were also some little three-drawer containers that will be brilliant for storing school supplies. Both Yonah and Arabelle wound up with one.

I doubt I've ever seen them love something so much.

Arabelle is still snuggling with hers.

Day 22: An Aunt

My kids love my sisters.

The girls especially love Rhi.

I'm still getting used to the fact that she can just drive over to our house now.

Day 21: The End

Today was, of course, the day we were supposed to all die.

Zombies.

Flood.

Fire.

Something.

Well, there was fire tonight.

FIRE!

But it was only a bonfire at an "end of the world" party.

Pretty lame for an apocalypse.

It would have been a great day for the world to end, though.

I got to see my retired babies.

The kids helped me groom them.

Yonah made a new friend.

I spontaneously got my very first official riding lesson.

And Kim and the kids got to finally meet and play with Sugar. 

Day 20: Sleepy Baby

Today was one of those days where you have a really tired and grumpy baby who refuses to go to sleep.

I hoped that Netflix would convince her to stay in one place long enough to go to sleep.

It didn't get her to sleep.

But it did keep her in one place for a while, and I got a break from the crying and screaming that was today's soundtrack.

We officially hate teething.

If you didn't know that before.

Day 19: Kindness

Today we decided to pick up Papa Murphy's for dinner.

Things like that happen when Mama is tired.

There was a guy who got to the door before I'd gotten all the kids out of the car.

He waited until we were all ready to go in so he could hold the door open for us.

In the cold. Without a jacket.

Proof that good people do still exist.

And then the kids shared the chalkboard so nicely while I placed our order.

Day 18: Being Girls

Yesterday Arabelle found one of the relics of my teenage years.

My crimping iron.

I told her we'd play with it "tomorrow".

Today she reminded me that it is tomorrow.

Another procrastination ploy bites the dust.

Day 17: Impromptu Family Pictures

Today Kim randomly decided that we are sending out Christmas cards.

Better late than never, right?

So we quickly took some as-is family pictures.

My favorite picture of the day came when I was testing the camera settings and the lighting before setting the timer.

It just tickles me.

Day 16: Four Cousins in a Row

Today Gammy and Papa requested that their children and grandchildren join them for a photo session with a photographer friend.

We brought our camera, too.

I managed to catch this moment in time while the kids were waiting for their next picture.

Day 15: Gettin' Comfy

It isn't uncommon to find Lila using the rug for a blanket as she sits reading, or curled up on a throw pillow "bed".

Today we discovered that she had decided to pull most of the couch cover off, and then roll herself up into the cutest baby burrito I've ever seen.

But I guess I've been taking too many pictures lately. She gave me the funniest scowl when she realized what I was up to.

Day 14: Lights in the dark

Day 13: Odd Traditions

Yesterday's post is coming to you today.

It didn't come yesterday because Kim and I went to the midnight showing of The Hobbit.

It was a good movie. But also a bit disappointing.

Such is life.

I snapped this picture at Mom's house when I dropped the kids off for babysitting.

Every year I forget about this recent tradition brought to us by my crazy sisters.

But I can't figure out the tree-topper Santa's motive.

Maybe he's giving out glittery vampires instead of coal these days.

Day 12: Snuggle Up With Me

This morning while doing school with Yonah, I snuck a peek at Kim.

There are many important reasons why I married him. This is one of them.

(Those who know him well will understand just how much of an act of love reading that particular book is.)