The Plane

We have had a crazy/busy week in Southern California! Lots of fun, and lots of activities. We are still in California, but up North now with my parents and I have had just a few moments to breathe.

Let's talk about how we got to California though, because that seemed to be the topic of all conversations this week.  Yes, me flying alone with 3 small children. 

It was NOT easy, and it really wasn't fun, but it was not as bad as people make it out to be either.  The thing is, the airlines allow for someone to come with you past security if you need help, so Brett was able to help us through (seriously the HARDEST part since I have to practically undress myself and all of my children).

There were a few things that were essential to surviving the plane/airport

1. A non-stop flight

2. Treats, lots of treats and snacks

3. Technology

4. Strangers help (yes I totally rely on this)

5. Starbucks cards (which you can read about here)

Brett had a special gift for the girls before we left

waiting for it......

so excited

ipad & ipod (this is how I survived, seriously!)

just before Brett left

The Hard Part

Brett stayed with us until just before we were suppose to board our flight, but the thing is we didn't board....... and we didn't board.......and we didn't board.  We weren't told anything except that they were trying to fix something on the plane.

The girls trying to see what is wrong with the plane

Brett is gone, time is ticking and the girls are getting more and more restless.  I had to do a round of potty breaks and diaper changes by myself since we waited over an hour. 

Finally they just moved us to a different gate for a different plane, so I had to tote the whole crew, and try to handle one child's melt down in the middle of it.  And of course as we were handing the flight attendant our boarding pass the same child decided to have another meltdown (now everyone around is judging me).  Then as I was dropping off the stroller and baby car seat by the gate, with baby in arms and trying to get 2 toddlers to stay close by me, no one thought to be considerate and help me, they just decided to cut in front of me in line, so I had to go even further back on the plane. .........sigh.  I got many of the "you are totally crazy" looks.  I'm also pretty sure people picked several rows behind us to sit, because there was NO one around us on the plane!  So much for help..... not to mention buckling a 2 year old in with an airplane seat belt is not easy while holding a baby, especially when she keeps unbuckling it on purpose.  At this point I am not feeling so great about being by myself..... and yes I am sweating.

It wasn't so bad though, things could have been much worse!

The Easy Party

Flying on the plane.  Thanks to technology and a semi short flight (2.5 hours) it was pretty easy.  I kept my hooter hider on to nurse Sarah in case she got fussy (which she really didn't). 

It was just really hard to reach anything or help the girls with a baby in my arms in a small space.  Sarah pooped once, and I had to change her on my lap and pray that she didn't pee on me.  The girls did fine,  in fact, it was pretty non eventful, I just made sure they were happy with snacks and whatever they needed.   I gave lollipops to the girls as we descended because they weren't allowed to have their ipod/ipad on and to help their ears.  My mom was able to meet us right at the gate when we landed and wahla, we survived!!!

Hi Grammy, I have chipmunk Cheeks

Now on to 5 non-stop days of the beach, a small town, a boat, a wedding, and more driving.

to be continued......

Out for a bit

The girls an I are going on a little  trip to California (2 weeks actually).  Our first stop, the smallest town ever, and I probably won't have any access to the interwebs, so this blog will probably be quite for a little while.

Thank you for all of your kind feedback it is so encouraging! 

I will leave you with this photo

Gonna miss this guy sooo much!

One of my Secrets

So, I have had many of you ask me, when do you have time to "do it all?"  You know like manage a household with 3 little munchkins, cook, clean, nurse, wipe booties, make crafts, be a wife, and blog?  It is not always easy, and everyday is not perfect, but I have a few hard set rules that allow us to survive.

The biggest key to my success is the 7pm bedtime routine.  Yes, that may seem early to many, but it is a lifesaver!!  I put all the girls down at this time (sarah even earlier sometimes).  We brush teeth, go potty, read and pray.  The girls know that even if they aren't totally sleepy they can stay in their beds and read. This is just one thing I won't budge on, having a quite house by 7:30 pm.  Mind you, it is not always perfect, sometimes there is a crying child, or we are out late, or we just decided on a movie night, but we make it happen as much as possible.

This time is key for me, it allows me to clean, read, watch tv, shower, blog and just simply be with my husband.  I need this time to decompress, to have separate from my children.   I need to to be with my husband, to help keep our marriage strong. I LOVE my children with all of my heart, but everyone needs a little time to themselves, just to regenerate.  This time helps me to be a better mother, I get more rest, I get a bit of time to relax and it helps me to start the next day off on a better foot.

If you get one piece of parenting advice ever from me, just let it be this:  Make sure to make TIME FOR YOURSELF!

We are blessed with having great sleepers!

I have no idea how Maya is sleeping like this

Just so you know, I do still feed Sarah one more time at night (around 9ish) but then put her right back to sleep, she is only 5 months old

The second key to my success is, starting the day with the girls at 7:30am.  I get up at 7 (hopefully, on most days and have 30 minutes to myself) and the girls are up at 7:30 (yes, all 3) and here is how I do it:

Sarah is just a really good baby and gets up at 7:30am or later.  This is what she is used to, we have her on a routine/schedule (I know not everyone agrees with routines, but it is wonderful for our family), I know what she needs, I know when she is hungry and when she is tired (I have used a great book to help guide me), this makes my life so much easier!

For Maya & Norah, they are pretty used to waking up anywhere between 7 and 7:45am, if they wake up at 7am, they aren't allowed to come out of their room  until 7:30.  You might ask, how do you keep them in their room until 7:30?  Well we have this wonderful app on an iphone called Mr. Moonlight.  It has a picture of a moon during the "sleeping hours" and when the sun comes up on the phone (7:30am) they are allowed out of their rooms, one of the best $3 we have ever spent! If you don't have an iphone, other smart phones might have a similar app or you can also buy a kids alarm clock that "wakes up."

I don't make this unreasonable.  For example, my girls are not waking up at 6am and forced to stay in their room for 1.5 hours.  The time is set for an time close to when they normally wake up, it just helps for more consistency on the days they are up a bit early.

Is this 100% full proof and perfect everyday, no, but most days it is, and most is what I need. I certainly know that this is not for everyone, each person has their own ways of "making it" but these are 2 things that help us during this time with 3, 3 and under.

What are your survival methods?

I'd rather be outside

This is the time of year when I can hardly handle being inside anymore.  The cooped up winter days have had their time and we are ALL ready to go outside.  This is the time of year when I start to get that glimmer of hope, the warmth starts to show itself, the days start to become just a little longer, but unfortunately in Colorado this is the time of the year where we get the MOST SNOW!  ahhhhhhh I will take any warm day we can get and go Outside!  Everything is better outside, somehow even just playing with a puzzle outside is more fun!

We were stuck inside for a while with yucky sicknesses, so a puzzle marathon was in order.  Not trying to brag or anything but Maya & Norah are really good at puzzles!

At age 2.5 Norah masters the 28 piece barbie puzzle

At age 3.5 Maya masters, not 1 but 3 100 piece puzzles

Maya getting a little nose pick action in (I try....)

And Sarah, she's working on eating puzzles or playing in her jumper

don't you love her tiny hands

She likes this gadget too

love her little cubby legs

I do let Maya play on the computer 1 day a week and I am pretty sure my friend Celine has the same photo of her son, Lane with the same computer and Maya & Lane are the same age. love it!

We can only handle so much time inside though, so off to the park or anywhere outside!

Me outside = Happiness

The girls begged to walk to the park on Monday, not a task I am hugely fond of with 3 small children, but I gave in because it was WAY to nice

I wish you could hear this photo and all the giggles that went with it! 

This moment made my whole day!

If you'd ask me, I'd rather be outside

You belong here

One of the things that has been a barrier to me bonding fully to Norah is allowing myself to let go of Carrisa as her earthly mother.  I have always felt that I am not honoring Carrisa, or taking something away from her by allowing myself to fully be Norah's mommy. Then I had one of Carrisa friends tell me, "God chose Carrisa to be Norah's mother for the first18 months of her life, now he has chosen you."  That was a big deal for me to hear.

 I hope people to not misunderstand.  Carrisa is and will always be Norah's mommy, but right now on earth I am hers (still hard for me to grasp).  Allowing myself to understand this has really made a huge difference in connecting with Norah.  It is a strange dance, allowing myself to fully embrace the role of mommy to Norah while honoring and remembering my sister.  It is not always easy.

We made a little video for Norah, now that she is adopted, from mommy and daddy.  We want her to know how much we love her, and how much she belongs here, we want her to know she belongs with us!


New Project from Brett and Jenni Goodlin on Vimeo.