5 Things Friday

 Hey hey! It's Friday! Here are 5 things on my mind today. 

1. We got a ton of snow on Tuesday - over 8"!! It was really pretty - like living inside a snow globe. We got home from work/daycare pick-up after 5 so it was already getting dark but  we let the kids play in the snow because we knew it was going to be much colder the next day. Paul was super into it. It was too deep for Will to really enjoy but he loved riding in the sled! Their enthusiasm for the snow was contagious for me - less so for Phil who had to dig our car out after it got stuck and did all the snow blowing/most of the shoveling. We live on a pretty steep hill and have a corner lot so it's a lot of work to clear snow. I did shovel our front side walks so contributed somewhat! And I managed the kids which is no easy feat! 

He was watching Phil use the snow blower in this photo. He was delighted by
 it!

2. I do look forward to a time when both kids can put all of their snow gear on by themselves, though. Paul is at that stage - I just have to zip up his jacket. Getting Will in snow gear is like dressing a cat. I mean, just getting out the door on a regular morning can be challenging. One morning this week, he would only let Paul put his boots on. #toddlerlife My mom talks about a stage of toddlerhood where I would only let my older sister feed me. Apparently I was very stubborn. Perhaps Will's strong feelings are payback/karma. 

3. You know how I said that my NYC trip last month was my last work trip of the year? Nope. Turns out I have to go to Chicago next week for a couple of days. I'll get to see coworkers from 3 different cities so it will be a productive trip but it's adding to that "I'm really busy" feeling that comes at this time of year. My next trip is LA in January. The flight out there is long so it will probably be a 3-night trip to make it worth my while. We'll see how sustainable this "traveling once/month" goal is! 

4. Tonight Paul and I are going to the light show at the local arboretum. He's been talking about this for months! Last year it was so bitterly cold the night we went but tonight it's going to be pretty mild by Minnesota standards - it should be around 20-30F. 

Inside an apple with the apple of my eye in December 2021.

5. Will turns 2 tomorrow! Some days, it doesn't feel like he's been our lives for 2 years. But in other ways, it's been a long 2 years... Time is funny when you have young kids. We are having a low key celebration with some of Phil's family. I'll make chicken enchiladas, Spanish-style rice, and chips/salsa/guac. I use a rotisserie chicken to make the enchiladas which makes it extra easy. For dessert, we will have a GF cookie cake since Will loves cookies! So that is 2 weekends in a row of hosting people. Younger Lisa would have been so stressed. Almost 42yo Lisa approaches hosting so differently. I think about what I focus on when I am guest at others' houses. I am not looking at the cleanliness of their homes. I am focusing on enjoying time with people. Our house will not be spotless and that is ok. We just make sure the bathroom is clean. I used to stress about food and wanting everything perfect. Now I know to not try any new recipes and to just focus on things that are a lay-up for me. Like Mexican food. And chips/salsa/guac. Everyone loves these foods, in general! 

Here are some flash back photos of Will!

Will's first birthday - we had banana cake with cream cheese frosting

Mama & Baby Will the day he was born

So tiny! Another first day pic!

Paul and baby brother when they met for the first time!

What's on your mind today? Does hosting stress you out?