Happy Crazy

January 12, 2014

Happy Crazy

I am way behind on blogging. Not surprisingly, life has been just a tad bit busy. The minute I even think about blogging, my mind turns to something else that is a little higher up on the list of important things to get done. Unfortunately sleep is not very high on the list these days but despite the lack of it, and despite the abundance of craziness, all is well in this little, happy life of mine.

I kind of hate to say it, but a simple thing--like a job--can be so life-changing and mood altering. Our house is filled with even more laughter and smiles and good moods than I can remember in a while. I feel more energized, even though the to-do lists are longer and the days seems shorter. And I think my husband does too. The weight of our responsibilities is much greater, but the weight on my shoulders has lifted so much that I feel as light as a feather. These past 2 months have made me realize just how difficult last year was for us. Ever since my husband started working, I've had this happy vibe, this adrenaline rush, and in a peculiar way, this laid back attitude. Kids whining, phone ringing, dinner cooking. It's all good. I've got this. His first day away on the job, I decided to take both kids to the gym and on a Sam's run to get a big load of cake supplies, then out to lunch. I was ready to be supermom. Dad's at work and I'm gonna do it all.

It's craziness, but it's good crazy. It's happy crazy.

I'm sure the mood will wear off. The stress of 2 working parents will set in. Kids will drive me bonkers. But I hope I never ever take for granted what we have. And never forget where we've been.

Brian's second week at work was out of town, and with 3 big cakes to complete, I really had a taste of being a single stay-at-home, full-time working mom. Wow - not easy. My only babysitter (my mom) stepped in a lot to help, but it was definitely an interesting way to start this "new era." I am learning that I need a little more assistance at both ends of my life - kids and cakes. I am still trying to figure out how much I want to do with both ends. I really want to do both full-time, but that's just not possible and I don't do anything half-ass, so there are sacrifices to be made.

I've realized that I only have a few more years of these precious babies under my roof most of the day before they have to go off to school. I cannot work at the level I have been working and also be the mother that I want to be (at least not without a full-time nanny!). I'll still be making lots of cakes, and hopefully squeezing in some fun little cakes here and there, but I am cutting back a lot and saying "no" a little bit more. The juggling act is always evolving. There are no perfect scenarios, but this one I'm in really ain't all bad.

The following cakes are the ones I managed to complete the week Brian was gone. Phew!

Oh boy, and then there was Christmas. To top it off, our first month of this new life was busy with the hustle and bustle of the holidays to clutter our time, our house, our minds. But, oh what fun! Seeing the magic of Christmas through your child's eyes is truly the one of the greatest experiences in life.

This year was the first year Isabelle knew exactly what it was all about. She couldn't wait to get on Santa's lap to ask him for a Cinderella dress on Christmas morning. Collier happily joined her, much to my surprise. Aren't kids his age supposed to be scared of the jolly old elf? Not this one.