keeping calm in 2011

I had great intentions to get caught up on the blog this weekend. I wanted to recap Cindy's wedding and our Christmas away from home... not to mention Thanksgiving with the in-laws and my trip to Atlanta with my sisters, way back in October! But as soon as the chaos stopped, I came down with something terrible. I went to bed early last night and woke up feeling much better. I am always ready to take on the world in the morning!

I ran a couple of miles with the dog around 6 am. She peed in her kennel last night which was the first accident she's had since we got her. So when we got home, Ben and I had to give her a bath. It went okay, considering it was our first one. Luke came in the bathroom saying that Zack overflowed the toilet in their room, so while Ben dried the dog, I mopped up their bathroom and started a load of towels.

We ate breakfast as a family and I made Aaron a lunch for work. Simon was now awake and creating all kinds of havoc. He knows how to throw some serious tantrums... which are not so cute anymore. We started school, sang a few songs, recited the pledge and finished up a math project. I brushed the dog while the boys read the their reports on the highlights of Christmas 2010... all of which included our new furry pet.

Around 10 am, we headed out to pick up a few things for the puppy at PetSmart. Tonight we're starting our first training classes, because heaven knows I need it. The instructor wanted all four of my kids to join me, until he saw Simon freak out over a chew toy. Simon doesn't realize that some toys are for puppies to chew and others are for kids. After Simon stopped screaming, the instructor told me that it would probably be best to leave the baby at home for the first class. I laughed and told him I couldn't agree more. When I paid for our goods, the checker counted my four boys, and then asked the oldest (who was holding the puppy on a leash) when he started school. He happily said, "We're homeschooled!" She came around the desk and gave me a big hug and said, "Bless your heart." I wanted to cry into her shoulder, but kept my composure.

We arrived home just in time for lunch. When I pulled into the garage, I noticed the light fixture just above the car was pouring down water. Water coming from a light fixture is never a good thing. I ran upstairs to the boys bathroom (directly above the garage) and found a miniature flood. Zack didn't, in fact, overflow the toilet earlier. It had been gradually leaking and now there was a little swimming pool in their bathroom. Luckily, it was clean water. I grabbed every towel we have in the house and it still wasn't enough. The boys bedroom carpet was also pretty wet, so Ben and Luke took turns sucking it up with the carpet cleaner. (a good carpet cleaner is SO worth the investment!) By the time the bathroom floor was dry, we had emptied 15 buckets of toilet water into the bathtub. I washed 4 loads of towels and used at least 3 rolls of paper towels. What a mess.

Simon was finally ready for a nap and the older boys and I sat down for lunch. While eating our turkey sandwiches, Ben asked me, "Mom, why are you always so relaxed?" I told him that my throat is still very sore and I am trying to keep my cool. My New Years resolution for 2011 is to "Keep Calm". I am doing well so far, but who knows what will happen when I get my voice back.

I feel completely and totally overwhelmed with the amount of responsibility I have these days. Last night before I fell asleep, I talked with my husband about how afraid I am that I will loose balance and have a meltdown. One of these days, Aaron is going to come home from work and find me comatose on the recliner saying, "bah-bah-bah" while the kids crowd around and throw grapes at my face. I am just not sure I can do it all. But I can remain calm and try to sort through the chaos, little by little.

Until then, the blog (along with every other favorite past-time) is taking a back seat. My priorities this week are to make dinner every night, keep the kids alive (warm and fed), make sure the puppy goes potty outside and to KEEP CALM. This much I can do. Updates, pictures, and our Christmas letter will be posted before 2012. Happy New Year!