Tag: writing

Christmas Eve, Snow, and So Much to Be Grateful For ❄️🎄

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It’s Christmas Eve, and for the first time in many years… we’re actually expecting snow.

We get snow almost every year, but usually not during Christmas. It usually waits until January or February. But this year snowflakes are finally coming right on time, or so they said. 

There’s such a beautiful kind of happiness that comes with that, not just for the kids (though my girls are beyond excited), but for us adults too. There’s something about snowfall on Christmas Eve that makes everything feel softer, calmer, more magical.

The girls are waiting for the snow, waiting for Santa, and the whole house feels wrapped in excitement but the gentle kind. Not the rushing kind. We’re just spending a peaceful evening at home, the four of us. No stress, no last-minute chaos, just quiet joy.

Tomorrow we’ll head to my parents’ for Christmas lunch. My grandma will be there too ,the girls’ great-grandmother, and my in laws, and we’ll gather around the table, eat together, and soak in all the beautiful, ordinary moments that make this time of year so special.

From our little home to yours: 

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you peace, warmth, love, good food, long naps, laughter, and maybe even a little snow.

Wherever you are and however you’re celebrating I hope you feel the magic.

Sniffles and Sleepless Nights 

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School has only just started and the colds have already made their grand entrance.

It didn’t take long and my eldest brought one home just days after school began, and as much as we tried to protect the baby, she caught it too. It’s that time of year, I suppose. New routines, shared classrooms, weather shifts, all the perfect ingredients for runny noses and scratchy throats.

And it hasn’t been easy.

The baby is having a tough time with it. Her nose is so congested that it’s hard for her to breathe, especially at night. We’re using saline drops and suction, but if you’ve ever tried to aspirate a baby’s nose, you know it’s a mission. She’s been fussy, sleeping poorly, needing extra cuddles and rocking and patience, all while I’m running on coffee and hope.

But she’s still eating well, and that alone gives me peace of mind. We seem to be on the tail end of it now, those last lingering days where the nose won’t stop running but everything else feels mostly okay again.

To help boost their immune systems, we’ve started giving them a little vitamin C on top of their usual daily vitamin D (which we never stopped, as per our doctor’s advice). I’m also starting to look into some multivitamins, just something gentle and age appropriate, as an extra layer of support.

And, of course, we’re going strong with fruits and veggies, especially seasonal ones. Apples, pears, plums, roasted squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, cauliflower and cabbage. Even pumpkin, which I’m slowly starting to sneak into soups and muffins.

Anything that gives their little bodies a natural boost and also feels like autumn. 

And while we’re talking about this, how is everyone else doing? Has the change in season hit your home too? Are your kids adjusting well?

It’s always comforting to know we’re not alone in these moments and if you’ve got any tricks for getting through the early autumn bugs (especially with babies), I’m all ears.

Because this season may come with sniffles, but it also comes with soup, cuddles, golden leaves, and warm mornings in pajamas. And we’ll take the beauty with the chaos as we always do.

Why I never leave without the baby bag (even for a short drive)

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Yesterday, someone asked me why I still carry my baby bag with me every single time I leave the house, even when I’m just going to pick up my eldest from school.

It’s a fair question, I guess. The school run is about 20 minutes each way, so 40 minutes total. My baby doesn’t get out of her car seat during that time, and honestly, most days she doesn’t need anything at all. She eats before we leave, or if it’s not her mealtime, she’ll have a little snack and I always make sure she has a clean diaper before we head out.

So technically, I could just hop in the car without the big bag. But I don’t.

Because here’s the thing, anything can happen.

We drive on a busy, fast moving road. And while everything usually goes smoothly, I’ve seen what happens when it doesn’t. An accident can turn a 20 minute drive into 90 minutes stuck in traffic, or even longer. And when you’re stuck in the car with a baby, especially a baby who’s hungry, wet, or uncomfortable, those minutes stretch forever.

So yes, I bring the bag.

Even when I think I won’t need it.

Even when I’m 99% sure everything will go just fine.

My baby bag is always packed with the essentials:

-Water

-A snack or two

-Diapers and wipes

-A change of clothes

-And anything else she might need, just in case.

It gives me peace of mind. It makes me feel prepared. And honestly, it makes those short trips feel a lot less stressful because I know I’m ready if something unexpected happens.

So no, I’m not overdoing it. I’m just being a mom.

Because when you’re traveling with small kids, even a short trip is still a trip. And being prepared doesn’t make you paranoid , it makes you practical.

The Last Weekend Before School Starts

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Tomorrow is the last weekend before school starts and my heart feels a little heavier with each hour that passes. Monday marks the beginning of a new routine, a new grade, and another chapter. And while I know she’s ready, I can’t help but feel a bittersweet ache as summer slowly slips through our fingers.

I know a lot of parents are counting down the minutes until the first school bell rings. And I get it. Truly, I do. There’s no judgment from me. We all need quiet sometimes, time to think, breathe, hear our own thoughts. I’ve had those moments too. But this year, I find myself dreading that first Monday morning more than usual.

Because the truth is… I’m going to miss her.

She’s my little sidekick, my helper, my partner in crime. She’s my coffee buddy in the morning while the baby is still half asleep. She plays with her baby sister so I can whip up pancakes or sneak in a quiet sip of hot coffee. We have slow, cozy mornings where time doesn’t rush us, just us, the cartoons humming in the background, the stroller waiting by the door for a midday walk.

And now, that pace is about to change.

School mornings are rushed, chaotic, full of missing socks and packed lunches and half finished cereal bowls. And while they have their own charm, I’ll miss the soft rhythm we’ve had these past few months. I’ll miss her chatter, her laughter, her “mom, look at this!” every two seconds. I’ll miss the way her baby sister lights up when she walks into the room. And honestly? I think the baby is going to miss her the most.

Of course, we’ll adjust. We always do. But the first few weeks are always the hardest. The house will feel quieter. The days will stretch just a little longer. And 3 p.m. will never feel like it comes soon enough.

So this weekend, I’m holding on to every second. We’ll squeeze in all the cuddles, pancakes, and cartoons we can. Because come Monday, we step into a new season, not just the school year, but the season of letting go a little… and cheering her on as she grows.

A Leap Into Gymnastics (And a Little Leap of Faith)

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This summer my eldest started gymnastics.

It’s something she’s wanted to do for a while now. I’ve seen the signs, the handstands against the wall, the cartwheels across the living room, the way she bends into a split on the rug like it’s no big deal. She’s watched gymnastics on TV and mimicked every move with a kind of quiet focus that only comes from passion.

But I’ll admit something, and I hope I can say this without being judged…I hesitated.

Not because I didn’t believe in her. I did, completely. I knew she had a natural talent. But gymnastics is no easy sport. It’s physically demanding, time consuming, and incredibly disciplined. And she already has a full plate: school, piano (which she’s truly gifted at), and everything else that comes with being eight years old and curious about the world.

I was just afraid of adding too much. Of pushing too hard. Of overwhelming her.

But I also didn’t want to hold her back. I could see how much she wanted this and how ready she was to try. So we said yes. We took that little leap of faith together and two weeks ago she started her first gymnastics class.

Today, something happened that left us speechless. After class the coach pulled my husband aside and asked: “Where did she train before this?”

And my husband smiled and said: “She didn’t, she just learned at home.”

The coach was impressed and just like that, they moved her to the advanced group.

We’re so proud of her. I can’t even describe how it feels to see your child step into something they love and be recognized for it.

We still don’t know how we’re going to balance everything. Piano, school, gymnastics, family life, it’s a lot. But when you see your child light up like this, when you see their joy and natural ability come together, you find a way to make room.

Because she’s not just learning routines or techniques, she’s learning confidence, perseverance, and what it means to pursue something that sets her heart on fire.

And that’s something worth nurturing.

One More Week Until School Starts 🍂

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Today is September 1st and I can hardly believe it. In just one week, on September 8th, my eldest will be heading back to school to start second grade. The final countdown has officially begun.

We’re trying to make the best of these last seven days of summer break. Slow mornings, walks, play. As much unstructured time as possible, because we know what’s coming: the rhythm of routine, early wake ups, packed lunches, and evening homework.

But we’re getting ready. We’ve actually managed to check off most of the big things and that honestly feels like a small victory. Her closet is sorted, all the too small clothes have been donated and she now has a brand new wardrobe for the autumn and winter season. We’re ready… or at least we look ready.

Emotionally? I’m a mix of feelings.

I’m excited because I truly love this time of year. The way the light shifts into that warm, reddish glow. The crispness of the morning air. The first signs of leaves beginning to turn, pumpkins, soups and soft sweaters. All the cozy little things I live for.

But I’m also just a little bit sad.

Because this summer was good. It was full. It was ours. We made memories, small ones and big ones. We went to Greece but we also had slow days at home. We’ve watched the baby turn one and my eldest grow a little taller, a little more thoughtful, a little more herself.

And now, a new season stretches ahead of us with its own kind of magic.

There’s comfort in the return of routine, even if it comes with a little chaos. There’s peace in knowing what to expect each week, even if it means a louder alarm clock. And there’s beauty in watching your child step forward into the next chapter, even if it tugs at your heart a little as they go.

So here’s to this final week of summer. We’ll savor it slowly, knowing that change is near but also knowing that with change comes growth, and new memories waiting to be made.

📚 Back to School Prep: Sorting Clothes and Making Lists

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Summer is slowly winding down, and that means one thing in our home: it’s time to get ready for back to school.

My 8-year-old is heading into second grade this year (how?!), and with the first day creeping up on us (September 8th) the preparation has officially begun.

And when I say preparation, I don’t mean buying a pencil case and calling it a day. I mean opening the closet and basically pulling out a season’s worth of clothing to figure out what still fits, what can be passed down to her baby sister, and what needs to find a new home.

There’s something oddly emotional about going through her autumn and winter clothes, a tiny sweater that used to reach her wrists now looks like it belongs to a doll. Little boots that she once adored won’t even zip up anymore. So we sort. We try things on. We make piles:

👚 Donate

👗 Keep for the baby

🧥 Still fits, yay!

And we write the lists.

✏️ The To-Do List (So Far…)

• Check clothes & shoes

• Donate what we’ve outgrown 

• Set aside pieces for the baby

• Buy her new school uniform

• Order a new school bag (last year’s is already passed on!)

• Restock basic supplies: pencils, glue sticks, notebooks

• Mentally prepare myself to pack lunches again…

We’re not quite there yet, but we’re getting close. Bit by bit, I’m checking things off, sometimes during nap time, sometimes while my coffee is still warm (which is rare), and sometimes while tripping over a baby toy in the hallway.

Getting ready for a new school year always feels like a mix of excitement and gentle panic. I want her to be ready. I want everything to feel fresh and special. But I also want to hold onto this in between moment, where summer is still lingering, but a new routine is waiting just around the corner.

Second grade will bring new friends, new lessons, and probably a few new challenges. But we’ll face them together, with the right shoes, a backpack that fits, and a whole lot of love packed into her lunchbox.