Christmas Week

What can I say about Christmas week? It was crazy. It was non-stop. It was hectic. It involved lots of travelling. It was full of family. It was awesome.

We left home on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. and arrived at my mom's shortly after lunch. When I say we, it is: Myself, Jason, Kaleb, Boomer, Bella, my brother and all sorts of stuff. (Side note: I use to think our truck was huge, and it is quite big, but it sure seems tiny when its packed to the brim.) The next morning, we packed up all our stuff, minus my brother, and headed to Jason's parents.

We arrived at his parents just before lunch and spent the afternoon there (making marshmallows!) before getting all dressed up and heading to his grandmother's for Christmas Eve supper. There were 20 some adults and a handful of kids all crammed into her house! We had an amazing meal, followed by the younger grandchildren and now great-grandchildren getting gifts, and grandma opening all sorts from the family. And I have to say I'm pretty proud of my boy. We were there until almost 10:00 p.m. and he never complained. He was having fun playing with his cars and all the tissue paper!

What a handsome little man!

Christmas morning was spent with Jason's parents. We spent the morning opening gifts followed by brunch. Afterwards, we headed back to my mom's and opened gifts there as well. Kaleb was spoiled by his grandparents and uncles! We had Christmas supper with my mom and played a few games of Euchre afterwards.

Boxing Day was spent running to the grocery store and baking. We made homemade french onion soup as an appetizer for supper as well as Kaleb's cakes, one for his photo shoot and one for his birthday party. The day was finished by some more Euchre!

The next morning we packed up all our stuff again and headed to the photographer's for our Family/Kaleb's First Birthday photos. This where I had a mommy fail: we had put the cake in the porch the night before since the icing was melting from the heat of the kitchen. When we took it out the next morning, it was hard! And it hadn't thawed any when we got to the photographer's. Ooops. So we broke a couple pieces of icing for Kaleb, but after stuffing his mouth with a huge chunk of icing, he was no longer interested.

After we headed back to Jason's parents, where his mom and brother watched Kaleb while Jason and I headed back to town to have lunch and do shopping for his party. It was so weird to not have him with us. It was one of the first times ever. 

Friday was spent preparing for Kaleb's party and Saturday was the actual day! It went so smoothly, I was so relieved. I'll write all about in a new post tomorrow. 

All of his toys

The next morning, our week was over. We packed up (again), headed to my mom's for lunch and my brother's things (he hitched a ride with my aunt who had a little more room) and headed home. Kaleb and I slept most of the way, while daddy drank coffee and listed to sports. Were we ever glad to be home, until we realized the Christmas tree had to come down to get all of Kaleb's new toys in! Thankfully we were done within an hour, and his new toy storage was up and filled in another hour. 

It truly was a great week, but next year will definitely be more quiet. I can't wait. 

It's Back to Work I Go

I used to love my job. I loved getting up and going into work (almost) every morning. I could see myself doing it for the next 30 years.

Then I had a kid.

An adorably sweet, loveable and always happy little boy who's got his mama's eyes and his grandfather's copper hair.

And suddenly, my priorities changed.

Don't get me wrong, I still love my job. It's just so hard to get up in the morning and leave my baby behind. Especially when he's laughing away because he learned to wave good bye. THAT is the definition of heartbreak.

And this week was "easy", he was home with Jason. Tomorrow is the real challenge. He starts going to his babysitter. I don't know how I am going to do it, dropping my baby off with a complete stranger. 

But I will manage. Why? Because I am a mom. It's in the job description. I will shed a tear or two, but I will remain strong. Because going back to work is what is best for our family right now. 

By going back to work, I am helping to give him a roof over his head, food in his big belly, plenty of toys to play and learn with, and most importantly, providing him a future. I am beyond lucky to live in a country that allowed me the opportunity to stay home for a year. I have plenty of mama friends who went back to work as early as 6 weeks. The lucky ones went back at 12.  If they can do it, so can I (especially since my "baby" is one step away from toddlerdom).

In a perfect, easy world, I'd be a full-time stay at home mom. And I think I'd be good at it. However, for now at least, I must work.

To all the moms, whether you stay-at-home or work, I salute you!

Oh and please wish me luck.

We Now Return to Regularly Scheduled Programming

Hi. My name is Sara. I am a blogging failure.

I have good reasons, although I am sure they'll just come across as excuses.

I'll tell you anyway.

First: I got sick, at the beginning of December, for THREE  WEEKS. Not cool world, not cool. I had all these amazing plans and projects in my head for the 25 Days of Christmas Challenge. That did not happen. I barely got our Christmas gifts to family made before we left to go home for a week.

Which is reason numero deux: We went home for a week. I even brought my laptop in hopes of getting a few posts up. That did not happen. Our week was a hectic, non-stop on the go crazytown. It was an awesome week, and I'll write all about it tomorrow. I promise.

Third (the biggest one): I WENT BACK TO WORK.  (If you are looking for me, I'm over there crying in a corner). I started on Wednesday and have been working non-stop since. I've already missed two bedtimes, and will be missing at least one more this week. And I'm sooooo exhausted. I was tired before I had a kid, now, it's like a million times worse. But I will survive and thrive! Just bear with me while I get my life re-organized.

So there are my reasons. Do you forgive me? Please do. I promise I'll be better.

Oh and by the way, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! 

Photo-a-day 27: Night Time

Photo-a-day 26: Grateful