How We Cure the Sickies Around Here

It's that time of the year, isn't it? Playdates get canceled more frequently, snot covers everything, nobody sleeps because there's always someone coughing or who can't breathe. It's cold/flu season.

I'll touch briefly on the flu. I'm a firm believer in the flu shot. Now, that does not mean our house is flu free by any means. We ALWAYS get something. But, when we do it's usually a brief stint of barfing from each boy and then it's over. The one year we didn't get the flu shot is was DAYS of cycling through each of us, all of us barfing and on the toilet for 12-24 hours each. Horrific. I still get an upset stomach just thinking about it. So, while not the "crunchiest" momma thing to say ever, get your flu shot.

Now, onto that pesky cold. The one that's currently making a little stop at our pad. We have 5 sure fire ways of getting rid of a cold in our house.

1. JUICING:

Or making smoothies. We do a combo of fruits and veggies, greek yogurt, almond milk, chia seeds. When we juice it's always with something high in vitamin C. And PLENTY of greens. Zuchinni, celery, carrots, spinach, kale, apples, lemon, oranges, etc... anything goes. At least one juice/smoothie per day around here when people are sick.

2. TYLENOL:

Every 4 hours on the freaking dot. I'm not kidding. We all can't make it through the day (or night) without drugging the children.

3. VICK'S VAPORUB:

Here's the trick to Vick's. Put it on their feet (the bottoms) and cover those tootsies up with socks. It seriously helps them breathe. We only do this at nighttime and it makes a HUGE difference.

4. HUMIDIFIER:

Why, yes we do have that cute little guy! And, he works. We use him all night, every night when the kiddos can't breathe.

5. REST

I'll nap with the kids more just to keep them sleeping, we'll put them to be earlier, let them sleep in our room, put on movies and let them veg out. Hell, I've even been known to buy them milkshakes and let them eat them in the car just to keep them happy and still. Anything to get us through the day when everyone is cranky and tired and doesn't feel well.

What do you do to help your kids over their colds? Any new tricks out there?

31

I turned 31 today.





I've been thinking a lot lately about the things I really want in my life, what's really important. There are many a blogger following the model of monthly goals, one major accomplishment for each month of the year. I, too am taking on this model.

January:Organize the house 
What better way to start the new year than to get everything organized and clean and shiny :) I'm working on it - I'll give you an update at the end of the month.
February: Shower and get dressed and make a genuine effort to look pretty EVERY DAY. 
I spend most days in jeans and a sweatshirt of some sort with my hair in a hat and no makeup. I'm known to go roughly 4 days without showering. It's gross.
March: Learn Photoshop 
I think learning Photoshop would really enhance my business. I'm hoping to gain a good grasp of the basics in March.
April: Obtain a business license 
This is just something that needs to be done and it's also one of those things I'll avoid like the plague. It will probably get done at the END of the month.
May: Eat all meals at home 
We eat out WAY too much. This will be a crazy challenging month for us, but I think it's an important habit to get in to.
June: Exercise every day 
Again with the good habits! I haven't been exercising and my body can tell. I'm hoping to have begun SOMETHING prior to June, but it's my goal to do some sort of physical activity every single day in June.
July: Zero frivolous spending
No buying movies, no new clothes, no household items that aren't necessary, nada. Another tough month.
August: Learn a new craft 
The craft world is my oyster. Yarn wreaths? Sewing something? Knitting? Painting? What will it be? Even I'd like to know.
September: Dedicated 1 hour of unplugged time with the kids each day 
SO important!! I've been profoundly aware of how plugged in I am. I definitely spend time with the kids. 10 minutes here, 15 minutes there.... then I check the phone or my computer, or I make a call, or I take a picture for instagram. All fine things in moderation, but I want my kids to know that every day they have my undivided attention, even if just for an hour. One solid hour.
October: Read Pillars of the Earth 
Why this book intimidates me, I'm not quite sure. It's been on my list forever though, so here goes nothing!
November: Overnight trip with Ritchie 
Because of December's goal and how much money we're needing to save, I'm not sure where we'll go, but even if we get ONE blissful night in a nearby hotel without kids, sleeping in and enjoying each other uninterrupted it will be a huge investment in our marriage.
December: Apply for adoption 
I'm scared to even put this down. We've just begun to really save and commit to this in our minds and hearts. There's still a TON that could stand in our way. The longing to start this process grips me so tightly that I can barely breathe sometimes. It's a goal. An important one.

Follow along, will ya?

Countdown to Christmas

We've been counting down to Christmas in this house. With a VERY excited 3 year old and travel plans to finally go back to California and see so many loved ones, we're all really anxious for Christmas to get here!

Here are some of the fun things we've been doing, sprinkled in with some looks at our house all ready for Christmas.


This is what we're constantly finding these days... Ben about to climb up onto the table.


Max and I made links to count down to Christmas and have faithfully been tearing a link everyday.

 


There were 5 days left on this particular day.




Ben spent a few (consecutive) days in the same reindeer pjs. Mom fail, but festive.


Max shows off our new ottoman! More to come on that later!


Every year I try to make these... and every year they are really ugly. They're tasty though! Oh and Santa? Clearly I need new baking sheets - yikes!

All of the Christmas tree lots around here carry these reindeer made from cuts of the tree. They're adorable!!



Although we didn't take one home this year, next year Rudolph will be ours!































Then we went to the "fishy store" (Bass Pro) to see the festive truck and, of course, the fish. I do not recommend going there 2 days before Christmas. Madness.








The best I can get of the two of them. Ugh.









Ben's newest game:





Peek-a-boo!


Max is turning teenager on us already. Whenever he has a chance he's hooked up to the iPod listening to toddler radio with headphones.




There's been SO much of this going on lately. It's sweet, but my back is seriously thrown out due to carrying this heavy kid ALL THE LIVE LONG DAY. Teething? Separation anxiety? Spoiled? Your guess is as good as mine.

And, our house. Oh, our house. It's my favorite place that we've ever lived to date and dressing it up in our quirky way for the holidays has been so lovely.


Our 5th annual Charlie Brown tree.


I bought those reindeer after a ceramic snowman broke :( I figured they couldn't break wooden reindeer. I was wrong. I had to hot glue ALL of the legs back on.




So happy to have a fireplace mantle to decorate again. I love this whimsical feeling space.


We haven't done much with our Elf, but it's on the "to do" list for next year.


I do, however, love to write in chalk on every surface that chalk is accepted.


Yum, indeed.


The living room in all its festive glory. The toy room has a few more little odds and ends, but it was messier than I'd like in order to photograph. Can't have you guys thinking I don't keep a clean house, now can I?

Oh wait.....

Merry Christmas from the whole Lincoln clan!!