Year of the Ox

Thursday, February 11

Our neighbor invited us over for a Chinese New Year dinner today. The yummy dinner won't be til Sunday, but it got Dallas and I talking about Chinese New Year...and we learned that THIS IS MY YEAR!

In case you were wondering, I AM THE YEAR OF THE OX. I know. Probably not as big a deal as I am making it, but still pretty big. I think one reason I feel this way is because I have already not done so hot with goals, but now that I know this is my year, well, that totally changes things. :)

So, I think I will write a little ode or something in which I say "good-bye" to a bunch of things I should have said "good-bye" to a long time ago (i.e. unlimited treats and pointless screen time) and things I should say "hello" too (i.e. more quality time with kids and Dallas and possibly a planner so I live a more fruitful, productive life). So that's something to look forward to. The ode, I mean. And that I am going to be a way better person since, as already said, this is my year. 

Now that we've got that out of the way, let me tell you a bit more about today. It was really nice. Due to some slightly wintery weather, we got another half day of Dallas home. And everybody was happy and chill and I didn't get cranky and feel like I did a good job enjoying the moment and my kids and being present. Here are some pics: 

First, the babies finding this cupboard. It is one of their new favorite places. Puzzles, games, toys, little pieces. So much stuff to dump and strew all all over the place. 

I like Olive's face here. "What was that?"

Olive: "Okay well, if you don't have anything important to say, I'm just gonna investigate this cupboard." 

Mabel: "Oh hey, mom! Nothing to see here. "

"Haha. Just kidding. We love you and we promise we won't make any messes."

And look at these cutie-pa-tooties. Emma hard at work with virtual school, Alice hard at work making sweet valentine's for all the kids at her preschool, and Lucy hard at work drawing on the whiteboard.

Yep. Still working. I know this pic is only 1.2 seconds later but it is SYMBOLIC of an hour later. They happily did these things for a long while.  

And there you have it. I don't remember much else of the day because I didn't take many other pictures and I am writing about it a couple days later. But! I do remember asking Dallas to get a picture of me playing with the babies before they went to bed. 

I love how they climb all over me (and each other) and giggle and laugh and are just so much fun. In these moments, I feel like a mama lion or some other animal with a bunch of babies that are always climbing all over her. These are moments I love. I want to remember them forever...so tonight I asked Dallas to get a picture so I wouldn't forget.

p.s. I just remembered something else we did. Made TWO different batches of chocolate-chip cookies because I needed a bunch of cookies to take to people. Figured I might as well conduct a little experiment and use two different recipes so I could figure out which recipe is the best. Conclusion: I have no idea. But I think I have decided that the best cookies are which ever ones I don't make. Meaning I am not a great cookie-maker but every time somebody else makes cookies, I think they taste incredible. So I might be bowing out of the cookie-baking business and leave that to the pros. :)