Ear Plugs Are This Girl's Best Friend

Sometime over the course of this journey called motherhood, I discovered ear plugs. I think my husband introduced me to the squishy beauties. I'm a person that needs it pitch black and completely silent to sleep. There must be no soft glow from a clock or tv. The moon is not permitted to peak through my curtains. I need it dark. I also need it quiet. Enter, ear plugs.

Over the years I have found myself relying on them much more. I often leave them in until the boys get on the bus. My ear plugs drown out the early morning loudness quite wonderfully. Relax, I can still hear them. Their voices are just softer at 7AM. If one of them was bleeding, I would hear it. I have forgotten, on several occasions, to take my ear plugs out. I've realized at the grocery store check out. I've realized at a friend's house. I've realized at the boys school. Not to worry though, I just pop 'em out and stick my beloved's in my pocket. I'm not ashamed.

Ear plugs also come in handy for day time love with your husband. While it doesn't help the bangs at the door, it dulls the chaos that is happening since we left them unattended.

I buy my ear plugs in bulk. I keep them in my nightstand. You can also find them in every drawer, in my car, in my jacket, on the washer, and any other place I happened to be when I realized they were still in my ears.

Ear plugs are this girl's best friend.

Goodbye, Boys

The boys headed back to school this morning, sadly. I am normally very excited to send them off after a long break. Sorry, but it's the truth. This morning though, I wasn't excited. I found myself soaking in long stares of each of their faces. I carefully tried to remember our week. The past ten days were filled with so much joy and laughter. Yes, and some yelling too, but more laughter. We didn't do anything super special, we just spent a lot of uninterrupted time together, as a family.

I think I enjoyed this holiday season so much more because I decided to be much more relaxed. Whatever got done, got done. Whatever didn't, didn't. The house stayed manageable, but I didn't turn into a crazy woman when it got messy. The playroom is still a mess, but here I sit on the couch with my girls. Life is too short not to enjoy it. My kids are too important not to enjoy them. I needed this week to pause and listen to Joey's lengthy stories, something I would normally cut short. I needed this week to play the wii with Jadon, something I would normally say, later. I needed this week to help Christian set up his toys and take pictures of them, something I would normally say, not now.

I am thankful for this week. We enjoyed each other.