Manning Mahem

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! We had a wonderful week and we were healthy which was a huge blessing and we felt very grateful for that. Nick was home all week which everyone loves! The boys ask dad to do everything and watch everything they do so that is a happy arrangement!
Christmas Eve we got to see mom and dad and go to the bookstore which is such a great tradition. We then went to the Mannings for dinner and games with all of Nick's sisters. It was a good time. We came home that night and were at home for Christmas which was lovely. Little people are so fun at holidays, it makes me appreciate simple things. Chet loved the toothbrush in his stocking and Wesley loved his books. Then when Wesley opened his massive box of sea creatures, life went to a new level and he was giddy, ecstatic, elated, in heaven. What a great day! We had a lovely Christmas dinner and Nick's parents joined us for that which was very fun for the boys.
Chet is doing a lot of talking these days. He is one active boy and I need help surviving an accident prone, wild man. I am so tired of bonks. Our Sabbath morning was a little rocky because I could hardly handle one more thing and more things kept happening. It started last night when Chet threw a huge tantrum about the above mentioned toothbrush. He wanted to have his and Wesley's toothbrush and it was the end of the world. So he finally went to sleep and it was a rough night. Then this morning, he continued the plight of the toothbrush and when we had breakfast, he kicked himself away from the table and fell over backward and smashed a big dent in the wall with his head. Good thing he is so cute.
I always get reflective at the end of the year and want to improve in dramatic ways but that usually doesn't work very well for me. Elise recommended a book called "The Happiness Paradox" by Richard Eyre, and it has really changed the way I see things. It has given me food for thought on the things I really need to be changing so thanks Elise!
Hope you all have a lovely new year and hope it's not too long before we see you all!