Thanksgiving

Lately I have been trying to transition all of us back to normal. After vacations it seems almost that I need to get back to normal more than the kids it seems. I love vacation because I get so much extra help with the kids, then when it is back to reality I seem to get overwhelmed. Lately, I have been in pretend world forever. I got out the Christmas "little people" nativity scene for Rachel and all she wants to do is play Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus. I love it that she is learning about Jesus and all, but living in play world is a little trying for me. It will be nice when all the kids play together. I have liked to see how much Rachel learns when I do play with her, because she is learning so many new words and phrases. It is amazing what she says and how she uses it. Today I was telling her something and she wasn't totally understanding me so she said, "what are you talking about mom?" Just like a little adult. It seems that she is learning a lot, but also trying me in her behavior too. She has started into really whining. I had been trying to "talk" with her when she does it to get her to use words to figure out what is upsetting her. But I have seen that is futile, so I have started doing timeouts. It seems to work and she ends up behaving better. Especially at lunch. She hasn't been eating well at lunch time if at all. So in the beginning if she whines I am putting her in time out right away no warning, and she is doing much better. Even so, it is so hard to keep it up. I totally know that other moms are feeling it too, especially as winter approaches. I am also wondering what next year is going to hold for us. Dana's shift will be during the day mon-thurs. So instead of having help in the morning, Dana will be there for some of dinner and bedtime. Hopefully I can get showers in there sometime.

Someone just rang our doorbell and woke up Lauren and Rachel form their naps!! Ugggh...