New House, New Home

We just bought our first house a few weeks ago!  It's so exciting to be home owners!  We had been in the process of buying this house since August.  Our closing date kept getting changed because of lots of little things, but we are finally in our new home.

The past few weeks have been incredibly busy, and the time just seems to fly by.  My husband spent several days packing everything up from our apartment.  I can't believe how much stuff we have.  We did donate quite a bit of stuff.  I have spent the last several weeks unpacking everything at the new house.

Sweet Sixteen

3 years old

Sweet sixteen

Where has the time gone?

My first born turned sixteen this month.  It's hard for me to believe that I am the mom of a smart, caring, and beautiful young woman. 

I didn't plan to have her, but she has been one of the best surprises in my life.  We have gone through good times and bad times together; hard times and easy times.  I wouldn't change anything for the world.  I've loved helping and watching her grow into the young woman she is.  And as much as I say I'm counting down the days till she turns eighteen and moves out, I'm not ready to let her go.

Blessed Solstice and Merry Christmas

The boys on the beach with the sun rising

Our family enjoyed a very wonderful holiday season.  We celebrated Yule and then enjoy Christmas with our families.  This year we were very lucky to have beautiful weather for the Solstice.  We woke up at 6am and the children checked out their stockings from the Yule fairies.  Then we all headed out to the beach to watch the sunrise.
Thanks to the weather being so nice and almost warm (60 degrees), we spent much longer enjoying the beach and sunrise.  We wrote

Where to start...

I've realized that it's been almost a year since I've written anything.  And a lot has happened in that time.

A Lot.

Ladybug will be turning sixteen in less than a month.  I don't know where the time has gone.  She is growing into an amazing young woman.  We are still having sex talks, but thankfully it's still just talk.  (Big sigh of relief)  Her letter to Santa, from last year, has mostly come true.

Let's talk...

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Strike update

So far we're doing amazing.  After my father and I talked with the kids, I've seen alot of improvement.  I am still on "strike".  Which basically means I won't clean up after the kids, and I'll only give them one reminder.  Which really in the grand scheme of things isn't a strike after all.  This is the way our house should and used to run.

The last few days I've had to remind them all to clean up after themselves.  But this morning I was pleasantly surprised with No breakfast dishes on the table or in the sink.  This is amazing progress!  I couldn't be happier.
They are still having some trouble remembering to put away coats and backpacks.  But one reminder of "Where does your coat/backpack belong?"  and it's taken care of.  Chores are also getting done mostly without reminders!  Yeah!
I am happy to report that my little mess makers have realized the error of their ways.  And I have realized the error of constantly doing for them.  I was doing all of them a great disservice.  I also realized that constant nagging/yelling is no fun for anyone and I'm hoping things will continue to run a little bit more smoothly everyday.

Pictures of my shame.

Water bottle and Dunkin Donuts bag on livingroom floor

Sink and counter piled with dishes

Kitchen table.  Not sure what is left on that plate

Dishes left on stove too.  Yup that's french fries on that bowl.

Coats, snow suits, hats, mittens, and boots piled up in the bathroom.

~Earthy Mom

No longer a Silent strike

I couldn't take it any longer.  I couldn't look around my house.  The mess is getting to me.  I think I was even beginning to drive my father insane with it.  He was in the know and I shared it all with him.  The few ups and many downs.  Today my father came to down to my house and looked around.  Then he told the children, "Your house is a trash pit.  Do you even realize it?"  They looked at him with blank stares.  "Your mother has gone on strike.  She is done cleaning up after you and doing Your chores."
The children, specifically the oldest, were angry.  They told him they didn't know what their chores are.  That they didn't leave any mess.  He told them to look around.  And that they are lucky to have me as a mom, because he would do much more than go on a silent strike.
So how did it come to this point?

My Mommy Strike

Today is the morning of the fourth day of my Mommy Strike.  I'm pretty sure nobody but me knows I'm on strike.  Not even my husband, because I have not told him yet.  I'm actually debating as to whether or not to let him in on it.  Since as I look around he has helped create some of the mess.  At this point in my strike I am having a really hard time looking around my house.  It is begging me to clean up.

Here is how the days have been so far.