Halloween

So my Halloween photos are little lackluster this year, but you'll get the idea. We walked around the neighborhood with our friend Claire and Eric and their little boy Wyatt, the scarecrow. Right away my hands were full with two shy little princesses and a bashful Tigger (who was actually feeling a little sick before he consumed any candy) who were much more interested in wearing their costumes than showing them off for the neighbors or--don't make me say it--actually talking to them. Our little guys were so reluctant to say "trick-or-treat" and "thank you" that we nearly took them home. Once that became clear, Gabriel and Amelia amped it a up and bit and began to speak above a whisper. Abigail still shied away from most of the doorbell ringing, but she was also dealing with an injury that made walking around a literal pain. Last weekend at the world's funnest place (the bounce house) she took a bad landing when she jumped from bounce castle to cement floor. From Saturday to Sunday Garrett and I thought she may have broken her foot. X-rays on Sunday morning didn't show any break, but she came home from the clinic with a splint and a hop in her step, since she only had one good foot to use. She woke up Monday still refusing to bear any weight on it, but by the afternoon was limping all right. But walking the neighborhood was a bit much to ask. Apparently she felt reluctant enough to talk to strangers that she didn't seem too upset that she couldn't run around the neighborhood, so all in all not too bad of a situation, given the possible alternatives. Today the kids have fond memories of collecting a small stash of candy, and Abigail's foot continues to mend, so we're in good shape.

This has been a good week or so for us and I am a firm believer the turnaround from what felt like resident chaos a couple weeks ago has been the implementation of afternoon quiet time. Amelia, Abigail, and Gabriel abruptly stopped napping eons ago at the ripe age of 2 1/2, despite my continued efforts to enforce afternoon sleep, and they've never gone back. Every once in a while I've tried enforcing a quiet time or nap time when things get particularly hectic, but I think the peace I am feeling this week is due to a completely new approach. Quiet time happens every weekday for one hour, and I suspect that the key for the kids is this: Mommy has quiet time too, in the hallway outside their bedrooms. Simple enough, right? But I never slowed down to think that that could be my haven too. I've used quiet times in the past to try to rush around completing all the things that take forever to do with three kids at my heels, but instead I'm now committed to using the time for my own daily devotions and quiet time with God. Oh my word what a difference! It's only been a week so I can't say I've successfully cemented a whole new habit, but I can tell you I am gung-ho to keep it up. I've been reading, praying, writing in my journal, and wonder of wonders, my kids have been sitting on their beds for an hour at a time being quiet! And, significantly, sometimes they are even napping! For an hour or two! Ahh, God is good to me. Sometimes just the simplest things... It occurred to me to try this after Gabriel was consistently coming home from school saying he was tired and one of his teachers suggested a regular quiet time even if they wouldn't nap. I guess all I needed was some "homework" to get me to see the light. And it's been a treat to listen to them from the hall as well, because even though they're not supposed to talk, Gabriel will talk to himself while he's playing quietly, and once I heard Abigail say this prayer:

God, I want to be more kind to Mommy.

So can you help me be more kind?

Thanks. Thanks God.

That made my day, but what was so cute was the rest of the day Abigail would check in with me: "Am I being good today Mommy? Am I being so good for you?" What a treasure. And to be able to respond, "Yes Abigail, you are very good for me," well it just makes the crazy days slow down and purr.

Thanks. Thanks God.