Station Day...

Why is it that most days I feel so run down? So beaten up? So worthless? For a couple of  reasons, I think. 1. All I've know or done the last five years is carry a baby, nurse a baby, raise a baby, raise a family, and try to maintain my marriage, my friendships, and my relationships with my immediate family. And 2. I haven't really done anything for myself. On a consistent basis anyway. I've done a few things for myself here and there: A pedicure (maybe 2 in the last 5 years), haircuts (once a year), dinners with girlfriends (once in a blue moon), dates with my husband (here and there). But never anything consistent. So, this morning I woke up and said, "I'm treating myself today." So, I got Tim out the door to the station, got the kids their breakfast, got them and myself ready and loaded into the car and dropped Cora at school. I put the other two back in the car and off we went to Dunkin', my most favorite place to get coffee...ever. It is, hands down, the BEST coffee I've ever had. So, I treated myself. And not only did I treat myself to coffee, I went to one with a drive thru. No getting kids into and out of carseats more than I had to today! It was wonderful and it put me in a great mood.
 So, I'm thinking I'm going to do this more often. Treat myself. It doesn't have to be anything big. Something, as simple as coffee, could turn your day completely around. So, treat yourself, if you haven't. You deserve it!

Well, because I had forgotten a few things on my grocery list yesterday, we had to run to the store. Well, Earth Fare was right down the road, so we ran there for a minute. While we were there, Lyla had asked if she could get a chocolate chip cookie. Now, if you've never had an Earth Fare Chocolate Chip Cookie, you need you get one. Now. Make that the treat you give to yourself! They are heavenly! And my kids think so, too!

 Yes, they're messy. But, that smile is so worth the mess! 

After Earth Fare, and treating ourselves, we went home. Lyla did her workbook and Ben and I put some laundry away. Well, Ben watched Mickey Mouse, and I put laundry away. Before I knew it, it was time to get Cora. So, I loaded the younger two in the van and off we went. Unloaded them, waited for Cora, got all three back into the van and headed home. I got lunch on the table, got Ben down for a nap and the girls down for quiet time. I got some catching up done around the house, made myself some breakfast/lunch/snack/probably dinner too and just like that, Ben was up and quiet time was over. Why do naps and quiet times always go so much faster than anything else during the day? Well, when Ben woke up from his nap, he wasn't happy about it. And when I walked into his room he was so sad with huge crocodile tears. I'm not really sure what happened. Bad dream maybe? But, either way, I got his blankets and his pillow (because he won't leave his room without his pillow) and went downstairs. I sat him down on the couch and he screamed when he realized I wasn't going to be sitting next to him. He grabbed my shirt and started screaming. So, I sat down. And, wouldn't you know, the minute I sit down, he's fine ;) 

 He is definitely a momma's boy. And I'm 100% okay with it. :) He stayed snuggly for another minute or so and then he was over it.;) So, we got off the couch, got a snack and went outside for a walk. What another beautiful fall day! When we got home, we played a little, the girls helped me sort laundry and load the washing machine. We came upstairs, played some more, and I roasted some pumpkin seeds and then started dinner. The pumpkin seeds turned out awesome! I tossed them in EVOO with sea salt and roasted them at 400F for 10 minutes. Perfect! And the kids LOVED them! 

 

After dinner, I do the dinner dishes and while I'm doing that the kids clean up the downstairs. When we're all done cleaning we head up for bath time. So, we head upstairs and I start the water (when I start the water, it's always on the warm setting, so just in case someone ends up in the tub before I say it's ok, it's not hot). I head into Ben's room to get his room and his bed ready for bed as well as his jammies set out. Well, while I was doing this, as I do every night, I usually hear him in the bathroom clanking cups and toys against the tub (outside of the tub), opening and slamming cabinet doors, opening and slamming the toilet lid. But, tonight, it was quiet. All I heard was running water. Hmmm. So, I dropped what I was doing, went into the bathroom and found this:

Yep, he learned how to climb in the tub tonight. I couldn't even be mad. He was so happy and proud of himself that I just had to laugh and smile right back at him. Thank goodness bedtime was just around the corner! ;) I got his clothes off and the girls jumped in with him. I got everyone bathed, came downstairs for our bedtime yogurt, brushed their teeth, pottied the girls, and read our bed time stories. I tucked everyone in, gave big hugs and kisses, sang our night time songs and said our I love you's. And they went to bed. Ahhhhh. 

What a day. What another awesome day. Although we were daddy-less today, it was still a great day. And I owe it all to my mood-changing-treat-yourself coffee. :)