Invite the Chaos

Lately, we’ve been busy figuring out our next few months. Trying to enjoy our current lot in life, to not complain too much about babies and toddlers. Learning to live life with lack of sleep, messy floors, and constant noise. Because we know that waves of change are on the horizon. Before we know it the girls will be in school and our life will be dictated by the school schedule.

I was telling my friend the other day, that when things get hard, I seem to enjoy planning trips.  If I needed a sign, my current calendar fill for the next few months indicates that maybe life has been a bit hard. And yet, hard is not the same thing as bad (shout out to Abbie Halberstadt for that one).

June is the chill month of routine and preparation before we begin the whirlwind. I have on my list this month a few small things that include swimming lessons, birthday parties, and horse camp – and then we jump on an airplane and begin some adventures:  

• Antigua, Guatamala

• Visitors!

• More visitors!

• A wedding in Minnesota (and family time!)

• An epic road trip from Chicago to Boston

• Time with family in Chicago

• The Chicago Marathon

• A visit from Marigold!

• Cuzco, Peru

I am ridiculously excited. I am also a little bit concerned whether this might be an absolutely crazy idea to plan so much with a baby, 2-year-old and 4-year-old. Michael still has a full-time job so he will be working throughout most of this and yes, I’m still attempting to write Marigold’s stories.

Meanwhile, the life skills training of the littles is one of the most challenging things I’ve had to do. Yet, I’m motivated by the fact that we’ll be spending the next few months without much of a routine and training will need to continue on the go. Just last night I learned a very important lesson - do not mess with bedtime if you want a peaceful nighttime routine. And might I add, decent children the next day.

For those of you interested, I’m currently working on tone of voice, sibling arguments, and how we treat others. It requires more patience than I have at the moment. Add to the list a need for me to request some much needed alone time throughout the week.

So here’s to the chill before more invited chaos. My plan for this blog is to document the good, the bad, and the silly of each mini adventure as they come. Perhaps it can add a little bit of a chuckle to your daily routine or a little inspiration to embrace the chaos of life seasons that ebb and flow.