Hello and Happy February. We had a really nice weekend and I needed it. I felt like I had been struggling with parenting lately and had felt so frustrated with just how hard it’d been to do every day things with them, from getting ready in the morning, to cooking dinner, to doing ANYTHING without someone touching me or saying “Mom! Mom! Mom!” all the time. But this weekend was filled with things I’d always imagined and looked forward to as a parent and it just the best. Seeing them walk places holding hands, Friday movie night with popcorn, crafts at Home Depot, watching them play outside with other kids, helping with chores, going to birthday parties together. It’s too sweet 🥺🥺🥺

Also: 🎉🎉🎉 LYDI PASSED HER DAIRY CHALLENGE!!!!!! We had gotten really used to modifying for her but now that she can snag a bite of my lunch without me having to tell her no, or eat pizza at a birthday party, or share cheese crackers with her brother, I am immensely happy. The allergist told us ease into it so TBD on her reaction to real ice cream but I’m looking forward to that moment so much 😁

My poor mother-in-law finally got hit with the stomach bug overnight on Thursday, so Lydi stayed home with us on Friday. We dropped Dempsey off at school before grabbing coffee and heading home so Mom could do a little bit of work, but then we played outside for a bit and it was so nice getting some fresh air! I, unfortunately (for Joey), had a facial scheduled for 1 PM, so he had to come home and relieve me but Lydia was napping the whole time so he hopefully got some work done. My facial was so relaxing and much needed!

Joey and Lydia walked over to pick Dempsey up from school and then they walked back together holding hands 🥺 It was too cute! I cooked everyone dinner and was barely interrupted by anyone hanging from my leg or asking me to hold them, so that was a nice surprise. I accidentally made the black pepper tofu way too spicy for the kids but Joey and I liked it and at least the rice was safe for them 😅 Afterward, Dempsey declared it movie night and said we needed to “fluff and vacuum the couch, then make popcorn” 😂 Well okay! Lydia’s first buttered popcorn and she was a big big fan! We finished up the second half of Sonic 2 and then Dempsey ran around the rest of the night saying he was Sonic 😂 After the kids went to bed, Joey and I watched Blitz and I can’t say it was a fun time. Very stressful, very sad.

We had a busy little Saturday. First up, Joey made us all some lemon yogurt pancakes with blueberry compote 🥰 Afterward, we made our way to Home Depot to pick up some paint for the playroom and to do the kids craft. It was PACKED but the kids both made some cute little Valentine candy boxes. Dempsey scoured the store for the Halloween stuff but I told him he’d probably be waiting till September for those 😅 Elliott’s birthday celebration was later that afternoon at a brewery and they had the most beautiful flower arrangement for her 💜 It is so sweet seeing all of the kids running around together and at the same time it ACHES that she is not here with them all. Back at home, Lydia took a late nap, Dempsey and I watched Mulan and Joey started painting the playroom. I made us a pasta bake for dinner and Lydia is a fan of fresh mozzarella! After the kids went to bed, Joey and I watched Mass and it was HEAVY to say the very least. Very well acted too but dang, we need to watch something light-hearted soon!

Sunday fun with my babies 🤍 We had breakfast and then Joey got to work painting again so the kids and I cleaned some stains on the couch (the red handprint from New Year’s Eve candy canes was only slightly alarming 😂) and then the three of us walked up the street to the Cottage Baker for pastries. Both kids got morning buns and I can tell you from all the crumbs I licked from my fingers after breaking them off pieces, that they were DELICIOUS! They picked out a raspberry danish for me and then we played at the school for a little bit before heading to pick up Dempsey and I’s pottery. His skull turned out so cool! He’s ready to fill it with change for the candy machine at Edgewater 😂

In the afternoon, Lydia napped, Dempsey rested — we made a little spot for him so I could use the TV for my workout and he looked so chill over there! — I made salads and Joey… painted 😅 Then we headed to a birthday party for Dempsey’s friend from school. There were like 70 people there! The kids all did some gymnastics and even though it took a little bit for Dempsey to warm up to it all, he had a great time once he did. You know Lydia, she was running around with the big kids from the second she got there 😂 She also got to eat her first piece of cheese pizza and she seemed to really like it! We sang “Happy Birthday” to the birthday girl and I was looking around for Dempsey when I spotted him standing RIGHT NEXT TO his friend. Ever ready for candle blow out assistance 😂 We got home and put them to bed so we could eat our own dinner and watch our episode of Severance before going to bed ourselves. A weekend well spent!