It's Fall Break Ya'll

I’m finding it hard to write tonight as I feel my mind and my home are in chaos.  I explain this now so however the rest of this week’s update comes it, a disclaimer has been shared. 

Have you ever had a week when you feel you are spinning in circles?  The to do list is getting longer and longer while accomplishing the absolute musts for each day are about all you can muster?  Well, that’s been my week.  Try as I might, I haven’t been able to shake this, not yet anyway, though, I know I will and soon as I cannot stand the chaos that has enveloped my brain, home and life.  This past week has been fall and between preschool being cancelled, the addition of Uno, and other commitments for this week life has just rained disorder.  I don’t mean to complain and the week hasn’t been a bad one, just a barely able to tread enough water to keep my head above sort of week.  There have been some great pluses to the week though. 

Earlier in the week Brent and I were able to enjoy a much needed and long overdue trip to the temple.  Oh!  How we both needed that trip, the ability to escape all worldly cares, demonstrate the gratitude in our hearts for our Heavenly Father, and receive answers to questions – a perfect place to remember what truly matters and what our priorities need to be.  We are recommitted to a more regular temple attendance and cannot wait for the chances we’ll have to demonstrate our service and love to and for The Lord. Along with a trip to the temple this week the Nutthouse humored me as we had family pictures taken.  We’ve needed updated family pictures desperately since our last were taken before Kaden could really walk.  I cannot wait to see how they all turned out, thanks to a great photographer, beautiful location, and the power of PEZ candies there were no tears during our photo shoot, sadly, a first for us!  Prior to pictures we enjoyed lunch at a restaurant we’ve been wanting to try since enjoying their Mexican Street Corn at the 7 Chef Freak Out a little while back, Joyride.  And, Oh. My. Goodness!  They had the Mexican Street Corn on the menu that I loved and I was in heaven, it was so delish!  The other food was really good too – even the kiddos quesadillas, however, I would be happy to go back again and again just for the street corn!  Since we were celebrating my birthday yesterday and to reward ourselves for a successful photo shoot we went for Sweet Republic Ice Cream after family pictures were done.  Kara and I shared a s’more creation with lemon huckleberry and blackberry ice creams.  Kaden and Brent opted for an almond brittle creation with a peanut butter chocolate ice cream as one of their flavors.  As the completely empty bowls proved, the ice cream was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Serious ice cream eaters right there

Lovin' every bite

Our s'more creation

Can you tell she liked it?

A candid snap during our family pictures.
Love this little dancing princess!

Where today is my birthday I was spoiled by my family with a stunning diamond necklace Brent had designed and made for me a couple years ago.  Now, this gorgeous, one of a kind piece is now mine!  My loving Nutts also fixed waffles for my birthday dinner.  *The little Nutts wanted to make them for breakfast but where it was fast Sunday their choice turned into dinner.  Where it is my birthday they wanted to make it a little extra special by turning the pancakes my favorite color… purple.  Fortunately, the flavor didn’t change and the dinner was delightful.    As a sort of birthday present to myself Friday afternoon I relaxed while enjoying a long overdue and much needed pedicure.  Of course, I couldn’t go and get pampered by myself so a gleeful 5 year old was more than happy to accompany me for a pedicure of her own. 

Chillin' in the kid sized pedicure chair complete with DVD player

Where it has been fall break Kara and Kaden have enjoyed additional time at My Gym where in addition to Kaden attending his class for the week both little Nutts attended an afternoon fall break day camp.  This helped to give me a couple hours to run errands, take the dog to the vet and other menial tasks while the kiddos ran and played to their hearts content coming home just tuckered out and ready for early bed times each day.

Balance swinging

My Gym hasn’t been the only physical activity the kiddos have engaged in this past week.  Kara and Kaden have been busy attending swim lessons and while normal dance classes were cancelled for the week Kara still had a solo dance lesson where she was able to practice in her new costume and with her boat for the first time.  Me being the emotional mom that I am cried as I watched my talented little Nutt light up the room with her dance.

He's liking it more and more

Anxiously waiting their turn

Sweet little Tinkerbell

No week would be complete without playdates and this week we experienced our share of those.  Kaden was the lucky one to have extra friend time where one of his friends came to play with us a couple days during the week and he got to go visit another friend during the week as well.  Of course, there is no such thing as too many playdates and the bombardment of questions for when more playdates can take place continue for both little Nutts. 

Playdates and Super Heroes are awesome!

While scouring the internet for activities our Nutt-y family could enjoy during fall break I came across one stating that Star Wars would be at our local library.  For my Star Wars loving husband and Star War fan kiddos this was something we simply could not miss.  Kara and Kaden were both so excited and took with them mini light saber toys that they had.  Kaden, who loves Storm Troopers (I think in part because he enjoys saying Storm Trooper) saw one and immediately turned on his light saber and went over and attacked the poor guy.  Kaden found this hilarious and did this repeatedly throughout our time at the event.  Kara who was more on the shy side had fun and enjoyed the activities the library had to offer but found it best not to attack the characters whose guns were bigger than her little light saber.

Go get 'em young Jedi!

Happy little boy

She may have been shy, but she loved it!

and the big Nutt enjoyed it about as
much as the little Nutts did!

Our young Jedi's hamming it up

Toward the beginning of the week the little Nutts and I also went to the Halle Heart Museum with friends.  How much fun we had!  We haven’t been there since before summer and had such a great time.  I’ve said it repeatedly before and I’ll say it again – any activity that combines learning and fun is an activity I’m all for and will repeatedly seek out!  Watching the littles shop for healthy dinners, gain a greater understanding of how exercise is good for the heart and body, and utilize their imaginations to become scientists for a few short minutes was loads of fun for this Nutt-y group.

Learning about heart health

Checking out his own heartbeat

Future scientists at work

Mini-golf sans the golf club

And there’s Uno.  The latest addition to our family.  This puppy is adorable and we are all already smitten with him.  Which is good considering he’s a puppy who tries to chew most things up, he’s brought with him the scent of a dog that throughout this week has permeated most areas and pieces of furniture in our home and oh yes… he barks… a lot… ALL NIGHT LONG!  to be exact.  The first couple of nights he did great and slept just fine in his kennel, after that though, he’d bark almost nonstop thus making it hard for each of us to get the sleep we need.  On top of that, there is the power struggle between him and Pixie that I don’t feel has yet fully come to a head.  There are many perks about Uno though, he’s a playful little puppy, he is relatively mellow and he’s been great to get us out and moving more.  In fact, I’ve been trying to get up early in the mornings with him and take him for a walk.  One day I let this slip to Kara who the next morning, woke up early herself, got dressed, went and woke the finally sleeping dog, then came to wake me up so we could take the dog for a walk.  The time with the dog and kiddos was great.  I just wish that time didn’t come before 7 am!

Nothing like an early morning walk

I do know all will settle down with Uno and the rest of my Nutt-y life.  My vacuum is broken and getting that back will help a lot with the levels of chaos I feel.  My vacuum is like my security blanket, it means I can get my house cleaner and without it, well, I feel I’m somewhat at a loss.  So, yes, I do look forward to a new week, but I also reflect on the chaos that has been this week and I cannot help but think of it with a full heart.  I went to the temple with the love of my life, I celebrated my birthday with my wonderful family, we had family pictures taken, and we had fun together – creating memories through, in spite of, and at times because of the chaos that has been this week.  While I am not traditionally a person of chaos, if chaos brings all the blessings I feel I’ve had this past week, I can more easily accept and welcome that chaos into my life.  So… bring on the new week and whatever it may bring!  (please let there be a fixed vacuum in the new week though!)