Macy's Santaland!

This is such a fun adventure!  We didn't tell the kids what we were doing - just got them dressed and away we went!  Here is the result (with a video below as well.)

Thanksgiving Weekend

What an action-packed weekend...  It is a bit strange to be "on our own" for such a long weekend (we have no family in town this year - nor did we go anywhere.)  However, we created some good memories, despite it being a bit the same "5" as usual.  If you can believe it, Joe and I successfully cooked our first turkey (can you believe that, given we are in our 40's?!)  We watched Christmas movies, decorated both the inside and outside of the house - and even arranged for a babysitter from 5-9am this morning so we could "escape" and shop on Black Friday.  After lunch, Joe took the boys to the swimming pool and we are now heading into the second half of our day.

We also have plans to go to a Christmas tree event, go to church and maybe even see Santa tomorrow.  WHEW...  Joe & I are officially exhausted, with 2 more days to go.  But we have to keep these 3 little ones entertained - or we will go nuts!  :-)

PICTURES:  https://wilkinsfive.shutterfly.com/pictures/8

You Are My Sunshine

Very special life-moment. Luke came into our bedroom, early this morning, tapped me on the arm (Joe was in the shower) and asked if we could "snuggle." He then started singing to me (this is our "feeling safe & happy song.") He then allowed me to grab my Ipad and record it a second time (I am so thankful to have this!)

Blessed.

Sippy Cups & Saturday Morning Madness

5:50am:  Luke is wide awake…  Ask him to go back to sleep, which doesn’t happen.  Give him iPad to watch Mickey, so we can get a few more minutes…  (Keep in mind I am coming off of 2-days of a 102+ fever, throwing up, etc…  still not functioning normally.)

6:15am:  Get Luke dressed.  Take a shower.   Try to wake up.  Still moving slow from this flu-stuff.  And now I feel a sore-throat coming on...  really?  I don't need this.  So behind at work, behind with bills, etc...  "STOP JILL, focus on the now."

6:45am:  Joe and Luke head out for their Saturday doughnuts (established to get him out of the house, so Samuel and Rachel can sleep!)

7:00am:  Get breakfast ready for everyone (because no, the doughnuts aren’t really what people want to eat – more just the process.)   And sometimes I try to be a “fun” mom by responding to a request such as making a “happy face” on yogurt.  Samuel gets up and is “raring” to go and is THRILLED to find his yogurt smiling at him, which makes this mom’s heart smile.  He brings up 2 sippy cups from somewhere… 

7:30am:  Joe and Luke back.  I scramble to get the coupons, grocery list, bags and my head-on-straight.  Joe is working to pack-up a bag for the boys to take to the rec center:  extra clothes, snacks and sippy cups.

7:45am:  Rachel and I head to the grocery store.  It’s a nightmare trying to get my Starbucks, a baby, a sippy cup, grocery bags and coupons into the store.  Anyone watching would have been laughing at the scene.

8:00am:  Call Joe (3 times before he picks up.)  “I forgot the grocery list.”  How on earth did I do that when I had it right there?!  Joe goes back for the list and then takes Samuel and Luke to the rec center to play.

8:10am:  Joe meets me at grocery store.  Takes Rachel on “excursions” in a cart while I shop as fast as I can (but given we try to shop once per week, it’s a lot of work!)

9:30am:  Arrive back home, try to unpack groceries as fast as we can, but we have to pick-up the boys.  Joe heads out to get the boys, while I continue to put things away - and watch Rachel (almost impossible to do at the same time!) She is tugging on the sippy cup drawer, so I get her something to drink.

9:40am:  They boys run in the door and scramble to get their soccer gear on, which if not prepped in advance, is a nightmare.  Who came up with soccer uniforms anyway?  Getting socks over shin guards is impossible for a 3-year-old… meaning, more parent intervention needed to get out the door!

9:55am:  We all load in the car and head to the Soccerplex  (yes, we are now late, which isn’t how we like to operate.)   I coax Luke onto the field once again (Joe calls me the “Luke-whisperer.”)  Then  they both play for 45-minutes, while we work to keep Rachel happy (and, yes, she could have stayed home with one of us, but it was their last day of soccer, so we both wanted to watch.)  I am starting to second-guess the decision as I am not feeling very well.

11:00am:  Have to stop by Target because of course, we forgot some critical items at the grocery store.  1) Chicken and 2) a newspaper (to start our fires of course!)  I run into to grab them, while Joe attempts to keep the children quiet (yea right…)  but of course, I get in there to find that Target doesn’t carry newspapers?  Really?  Sigh…   Get home, get the kids out of the car and see another sippy cup in the mini-van (gross, looks like old milk.)  :-(

11:15am:  Everyone is tired and dying of hunger.  And, every kid wants something different.  Not that we cater to their every whim, but sometimes I just want them to eat.  So it was Mac & Cheese for Rachel, Ramen for Luke, PB&J for Samuel, and leftover pizza for Joe (wow, just realizing how unhealthy that sounds, doesn’t it?)

11:30am:  Boys want to play outside.  GREAT IDEA!  Joe takes them downstairs so I can clean up the kitchen that 30-minutes ago looked great.  L  Rachel is tired and cranky, but we messed her up by taking her to soccer.  Our fault!

12:30pm:  The boys are being wild, rowdy and rugged.  I am trying to clean out the kiddos sock drawers (I have to do these organization things one at a time in life as there is just no time – I have newborn socks in Rachel’s bin?!  Sheesh...)  Rachel is hanging on my leg – she is so tired.  Can’t wait any longer.  Put Rachel down.

12:45pm:  Luke is being a pill.  He is so tired.  But he won’t’ allow anyone to get near him except me.  Drop what I am doing (so much for socks.) Put Luke down.  But first we have to go upstairs to get water in a sippy cup.

1:00pm:  Exhausted.  I should be doing laundry, prepping dinner, washing sippy cups or cleaning something.  But I just need a break. I decide to go to the office, close the door and work on the soccer video and write this blog post. 

1:50pm:  Current time.  I am getting anxious and feeling guilty for taking 50-mintues of time to do this.  So, I have to stop now.  But sometimes it feels good to vent a bit, as this is what every weekend (and actually each & every day in some variation) is like for us.  I don’t mean to play martyr – more just wanting to share how crazy-busy life is…  and help to explain the reason I am such a horrible friend, daughter,  sister, aunt, etc.. that I am at this stage of life.  I forget birthdays, events, meetings, etc…  Heck, I can’t even remember my own grocery list!  :-(  And man, getting sick on top of everything really throws me for a loop.)  

I love my husband.  I love my kids.  I love my life.  And as I will ALWAYS say, I know I am blessed beyond measure.   But I sure do hope things will calm down at some point in the near future – before I can’t remember my own name.  (Oh… and another wish is that we could stop going through so many sippy cups!  I think we must go through 10 per day…)  

Sicker than sick...  Thanks for your help, Dora!

A sweet get-well card that I will always treasure!

Smiley face yogurt (rice mix.)

Last day of indoor soccer

More dirty sippy cups; so sick of sippy cups!

Pumpkin Seeds!

'14 Pumpkin Carvin' Weekend

Wow..  another blog post already?!  Quite honestly, I can't believe I found enough time to post again so soon.  But I told myself I was going to try to do this more often, so...  we shall see how long I can keep it up!  (Had Luke not requested to go to be 30-minutes sooner than his normal bedtime, this post might not have existed!)  :-)

 

So, below is a preview of our wonderful "2014 Pumpkin Carvin' Weekend." 

 

It seems to have become a yearly tradition: The "Albertsons Pumpkin Patch." (Our kids may never know what a real one is all about! But for us, right now, it's about all we can fit into life!) Enjoyed a great weekend hanging out with Grandpa John & Grandma Sharon.

 

But wait... there are more (if you dare view any more!")

 

ALBUM LINK:  https://www.facebook.com/jillswilkins/media_set?set=a.10202908313369096.1073741926.1240592898&type=1

 

 

The Albertsons Pumpkin Patch!  Pepsi machine and all!!  Who needs to bob for apples, to drink cider, go on hay rides or all that jazz...  I mean really, what more could you ask for?!

Not Quite According to Plan (20-year College Reunion)

It is days like today, that I am reminded of my age (and the age of my kids.)  It was my 20^th reunion at Linfield College today.  I had been dragging my feet for some time, on whether to commit and go – or just realize my limitations as a mom with 3 young kids – and I mean little kids (for my age anyway:  ages 6, 3 and 1.)  It was a group of close friends who finally convinced me to go – the group from my freshman year in the dorm (a group that will always remain very near and dear to my heart.)

Beautiful Linfield - love this college!

Friends... roomies...

The other part of the gang...

So there were 4 of us ready to attend the festivities together… we had reserved hotel rooms and got it all planned out.  Joe and I had planned to take the kiddos to the game today (we have season tickets) and then Joe was going to head home with the kids.  (Yes, he was being over-the-top gracious and really wanted me to go.)   We drove 2 cars so that I could come back tomorrow morning…

 

It was crazy-madness for the game.  Busier than we ever see it – and many of them were from my class year.  However, we had barely got through the gates and through kick-off before Rachel was DONE with the football scene.  And I don’t blame her – naps were off, it was loud, there were so many people, etc…   She had a messy diaper and I had to make my way to the bathroom.  And at that moment, I just had this feeling like I needed to put her first and get her home.  So, we left – before I even got to visit with my friends (and none of those I made plans to see) – before I could say good-bye to Samuel and Luke, before I had anything to eat, before I saw a minute of the actual football game, etc…

 

Anyway – the point I guess… is that I realized most of my friends are past this “baby/toddler” phase.  So, it’s hard to keep up and do the things one is “supposed” to be doing at a 20-year college reunion.  Most people my age have much older kids, allowing them to do some getaways here & there.  I always joke that our kids are going to have to be taking care of us (giving us meds, reminding us what day it is, etc...)  when they are in high school! 

I guess mostly, I am sad I didn’t get to hang out with my friends.  I miss those days so much…  I look forward to the time I don’t feel like planning an overnight trip is such a fiasco (the checklists, the backup plans, getting clothes ready, etc...)  Not to mention having a child’s mood dictate your every move.  When I travel for work it’s a bit different, as we have school, daycare, a nanny (and even far away family) to support/ cover the gaps.  But the luxury of a “girl’s getaway” wasn’t something I felt was worthy of that ask.  J

 

In summary:  I do know (and completely ACCEPT) where we are.  In fact, I still feel tremendously blessed to be here at all (having these 3 kiddos.)  So while today (especially on my way-to-emotional-trip-home with a “screaming” Rachel,) I gave myself a bit of freedom to feel frustrated, a bit angry and regretful – but in the end, I know it is God’s gift that He entrusted us with these little ones – and putting them first was the right choice today. 

 

So, here are the pictures…  I am glad Joe could stick around to enjoy the game and friends.  And, after a long nap, Rachel and I did get some much needed “girl” time together, so all ended well… 

 

But I sure missed hanging out with my friends…

 

My Trip Home (the entire,1 hour, 20-minute trip home...)

I should have been in this picture too (sigh...)

Missed the Samuel and Luke getting to see the Wildcat...

But... I did get to spend "post-nap time" with this fun munchkin (which did help my spirits!)

 

School Pics: Luke & Rachel

Indoor Soccer

Perfect scheduling! 6-year-old & 3-year-old soccer classes running at the same time... (followed by messy PB&J afterward!) SMILE...