November 5 - Thankful for days off with my family

Please excuse my tardiness on this post.  ;) Catching up for missing yesterday.

Today (yesterday) I'm thankful for days off with my family.  Sometimes it's out and about, sometimes it's quiet days at home.  I sincerely value this time spent with just us when so often or lives are incredibly busy.

As a stay-at-home-mom, it might seem like every day is a day off, but I think that couldn't be further from the truth.  On the contrary, I am always "on" or "on-call".  24-7 I am entirely or partially responsible for the care and well being of 2-4 tiny people.  So when I say I'm thankful for days off, I suppose it should actually be phased as "times assisted".  Monday through Friday I watch Dayton and Delaney 9 hours/day (along with Avery and Connor) all by myself.  In the evenings, Michael is home to help me, but most of our evenings are spent running around.  Monday night is gymnastics, Tuesday is the occasional Winds of Worship practice for Michael, Wednesday is Kids Connect and Choir, Thursday is Life Group, and Friday night is generally free (read: decompressing from a long busy week).  During the weekend we're down to two kids and Michael is home to help with them, I can't tell you what a sigh of relief the weekends can bring!  There's definitely a reason we decided to stop at two kids, and it was a very good decision for our mental and financial health.  Over the weekend we're usually very on the go as well, after staying home all week during the days, I like to go out and do activities and family time, do some of the fun stuff that we can't do during the week because I have 4 kids and Michael isn't home.  But Sunday is usually busy again, at least the first half of the day, usually spent at church.

This Saturday was more Michael's speed, and I have to admit, I enjoyed it as well.  While do like getting out of the house over the weekend, this Saturday we were all just home together.  I made breakfast, which we all are on the deck together.  Then we played in the basement and watched some TV.  Eventually my sister texted me and asked if I wanted to go shopping.  I thought I was going to be gone for an hour, but it turned into four.  This was good for my soul as well, because as much as I love my children, some quiet time away from them does me a lot of good.  Later I came home to spend the evening with my family again.  It was nice to not go anywhere for a change.  To just enjoy my little family here in our home.  I don't take the time to enjoy us nearly enough.  I'm thankful for my terrific family and for the opportunity to enjoy some nice quiet home time with just us.