Toilet Paper 1, Satan 0

So all at the ol' house is not so good. I have a tween. She thought she grew a pair but after further inspection, found none, then proceeded to tuck her tail between her legs.

I held toilet paper for ransom. She was out. I had some. I exorcised her foul mood while she was on the toilet and contrived promises of goodness and solidarity and kindness and no foul language and love and respect and repeated apologies.

I love when the planets align and give me mom superpowers.

Oh, and this week was lock down week. My house is a-spark-a-lin' baby.

Gotta love those tween hormones.

My tween with her brother.

Randomness

I needed light. My mind craved light. So I painted. Light. Gray blue. Love it.

So with the light comes thought and peace. At least for me. Seriously. I want to cry. Happy tears. I am in a happy place. Content. For those of you who know me know that this is sometimes difficult to achieve. To think I've wasted years on negativity. To know that I've made a choice to think about today, now and in the light is a great thing.

Lyssy, Manuel, Michael, Aiden and Isaiah are healthy, smart, loving little people. I certainly did not envision my life today as it is, but the older I grow I know one thing for certain: God has a reason for every curve ball he throws my way. It may not seem so at the time, but in the end I hit that ball out of the field. Not all the time. I'm far from perfect. But I try. 

I am thankful this morning for little boys who smell like sweaty puppies when they wake up even after a bath last night, roly-poly bellies ready for raspberry kisses, straightening Lyssy's hair, taming Aiden's hair, and slicking back Michael's. I'm thankful that today I will have lunch with Manuel and Michael at school. Mickie D's. Yummy. The temperature is in the mid 80's. We're actually cold. The boys begged for sweatshirts this morning. I laughed but complied. For cheesy baby necks that can identify my baby out of millions with one sniff. And I keep sniffing because it causes deep baby belly screams of delight. For my family who allows me to make stupid mistakes and still loves me. Who help pick me up without the I told you so's. They are the greatest. My momma and stepdad, aunties, sisters, brothers, dad, uncles, in-laws...especiallly my 5! monkeys...they are why I get up every morning. To challenge the new day. To behold the wonders of God and all that He has given me. Me. I don't deserve these wonders but apparently God thinks I do. Who am I to prove Him wrong?

Crabby

I have to tell you. I woke up very crabby today.  Just thinking of all the crap I have to do TODAY had me feeling pissed as hell irritated.

Then this happened. Lyssy said she didn't have volleyball practice today and she was coming home early (yay! I can spend some time with her. Practice + Hours of Homework=Absent Lyssy). Isaiah actually sat in his high chair and had breakfast (messy, but he ate), Manuel kept blowing me kisses, Michael came up to me just to say he loved me, and Aiden did the most profound thing ever, he slept in. 

I am so thankful that my job allows me to be home for my wild herd. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful to have a job when so many do not. I am thankful for my far from perfect life. 

Now, if I can actually take a shower sometime today I'll be reeeally thankful.