2017 Christmas Ornament Swap

Happy Wednesday!  I totally meant to get this written yesterday, but nap time was filled with laundry and cleaning attempting to clean burnt carrot water (I was steaming carrots for Jack) out of my favorite sauce pan.  Today's nap time hasn't gone much better.  Madi and I spent 20 minutes picking up everyone in the cul de sacs recycling.

This was my first time participating in an ornament swap.  I love Christmas and love getting new ornaments, so this was a no brainer.  It's also kind of nice to get a package in the mail just for me.  (There's lots of packages arriving for everyone else.)  I was paired with Danielle from A Sprinkle of Joy.  I have been following her for a little while on Instagram and her blog, but it was nice to get to learn a little more about her.

Danielle sent me the cutest piece of cake ornament, two ornaments for the girls to paint, and two pairs of softest socks.

The girls had so much fun painting their ornament. 

Thank You!

Life

Day in the life posts and baby updates are some of my favorite posts to read.  I've written plenty of baby {kid} updates, but never a day in life post.  I think it's time I should.  Our daily life isn't all that interesting.  However, I think it will be fun to read this in a couple years and see how much our life has changed.

Here's our day in 12 photos.

Date: November 17, 2017 

Kaitlyn: 5 years old

Madi: 4 years old

Jack: 5 months

6:11 a.m

My alarm went off at 6:00 a.m., but I couldn't get out of bed.  This was one of those mornings when Jack thought it would be fun to get up every hour during the night.  I would have loved to have slept longer, but the first daycare kid gets here at 6:40 a.m.

6:32 a.m.

Even though we were up all night, nursing and rocking, I still needed my morning pumping session.  To save time, I do this while I get ready for the day.

6:45 a.m

Coffee (because I was up all night), orange juice (because I'm fighting my first cold since Jack was born), and water (because breastfeeding requires copious amounts of water.)

8:37 a.m

Mornings are pretty hectic in the daycare until the big kids get picked up for school.  It's so loud when they're all here and most mornings I can't wait for them to leave.  This was one of those mornings.  This little girl put up quite the fight, but we managed to get everything done just in time.

10:15 a.m.

Just playing a game of Frozen Memory with Madi.

11:03 a.m.

This is how I prep lunch most days. Jack is a really good baby and will play on the floor most of time.  For some reason, around 11 every day he won't let me put him down.  Thank goodness he finally likes the Lillebaby.

1:15 p.m.

6 out of 7 kids are sleeping and I can finally get some things done.  Most days naptime is filled with cleaning up lunch, folding laundry, cleaning the house, pumping, and occasionally catching up on my shows.

1:48 p.m.

I only had 3 loads of laundry today.

2:16 p.m.

Jack has been out of newborn and 0-3 month clothes for a while now, but I'm just now getting around to sorting and packing them up.

4:48 p.m.

The big kids are home from school and The weather was fairly nice today, so we all headed outside one the big kids were home.

7:37 p.m.

I  {usually} cook during the week, but we often get something to eat on Fridays.  Tonight we went to Minsky's for dinner

10:19 p.m.

By the time we got home from dinner, we were ready for a break from the kids.  This is my least favorite time of the day.  At least one kids fights bedtime every night.  Tonight it was Madi.  Bedtime is supposed to be 8 p.m., but we usually relax a little on the weekend. This picture was taken almost two hours after I put the girls to bed and after numerous threats to have something taken away.  

Our life is far from perfect, but its perfect for us.  There isn't much I'd change expect maybe the bedtime battles and the nighttime waking.  I could definitely do with would those.   Here's hoping that tonight ends a little better than this Friday night.   

Christmas Q & A

Happy Tuesday!   It was weekend at the Klinginsmith house.  4 out of five of use are recovering from being sick for the last week.  Today I'm joining up with The Blended Blog and answering some fun holiday questions.

1.  Real or fake tree?  Fake.  I'm not opposed to a real one (I've actually never had one), but it seems like it would be a lot of work.  I love the smell, but don't want to clean up the needles.  Also, I love being able to have our tree up for over a month.

2.  Favorite Christmas cookie?  Chocolate crinkles and my Grandma's press out cookies

3.  Home on Christmas morning or travel?  Home. Santa visits our house.  I wish we could stay home and relax all day, but at least we get the morning.

4.  Clear or colored lights?  Both. I like the clear lights on my tree and colored lights outside.

5.  Send Christmas cards?  Yes!  I love sending and receiving.  

6.  Favorite Christmas present received?  Kaitlyn!!  Her birthday is five days before Christmas.  Becoming a mom just days before Christmas will always be my favorite present.

7.  Favorite Christmas present given?  Not sure I have a favorite.

8.  Stockings or no stockings?  Stockings are must. The question is who fills them, Mom or Santa. I always thought the they were filled by the parents, but Kaitlyn recently informed me that they are filled by Santa.  

9.  Christmas PJ's?  The kids always have matching or coordinating PJ each year. At least one pair comes from our elf, Sally.  

10.  Favorite Christmas carol?  Mary Did You Know.

11.  Favorite holiday tradition?  Every year (usually on Black Friday), we go to Crown Center and Union Station.  The kids love seeing the lights and playing outside on all of the toys. We always visit the toy store, Santa and the big Christmas tree.

12.  Early shopper or last minute?  I really try to be an early shopper, but it seems like there’s always something I need to get last minute.

13. Favorite Christmas movie or show?  Home Alone, Polar Express, and Christmas Vacation

14.  Favorite holiday beverage?  Eggnog, hot chocolate, and peppermint mochas (I drink the ones from Caribou all year.).

15.  Cookies and milk for Santa?  I didn't get to believe in Santa when I was little.   I've always felt like I missed out on some of the magic of Christmas.  I've made sure that my kids get to have this little bit of magic.  That being said, we always leave milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. The type of cookie varies from year to year.