The holidays are coming in hot friends. Working 7 on 7 off seems like a stellar schedule until your days off are so crammed with events and being a mom of involved teens you don’t even realize that your days off are over and its back to work you go. Today was MY day. I had to just be. I slept in until after 9, and spoiled myself with a long hot shower.

I went to sleep last night telling myself that I would maybe fast for a couple of days to revive my energy level after these past few days, but nope. A shortbread cookie ALWAYS goes with coffee.. and so does my mom’s family famous shrimp dip, and also leftover taco salad. Needless to say my energy level is not 100. So here I am sitting next to our boxer dog, The Duchess, and she is snoring very loud. We are twinning in energy today.

The realization that if Christmas decorations don’t come out of the dungeon last Thursday they wouldn’t be up until mid December hit Wednesday night. I went one red and green tub at a time and only brought up what I felt was keeping it simple. We aren’t hosting any dinners or family this year, so keeping it simple actually sounds great considering it makes putting it away so much easier. I hit 23 floors that day I think on my Fitbit, up and down the stairs over and over again. Even decided to take a shot of pre-workout drink at 8pm! I got so much done that day however it wasn’t done.

Friday morning I did a quick trip to Missoula, MT. The teens had sold wreaths and my big mouth/heart said, “of course I’ll deliver to you”! Our schedule got crazier than normal with a dance scheduled and a fundraiser auction we always attend that same weekend. So my mom magic had to make it all happen! They were fresh wreaths! They had to get delivered! 515 am road trip it was. It was such a beautiful drive going through all the small towns before dawn, getting so see all of their Christmas decorations on the main streets and as the sun rose the trees were all glittered with white frost. Stunning. I snuck in and out of Missoula with just one non-wreath stop at my favorite grocery store bakery to bring the best shortbread cookies back to the family. I also breakfast treated myself to these killer caramelized raisin bran muffins they make. I had one stop off on my way home and was back napping on the couch by 2pm.

That night the kids had a Snowball dance. I LOooveee helping my kids get snazzy. I am not sure they will ever know how much it means to me that they make me feel important, that is until it comes time for picture taking, then they get ornery. I got to bubble wand curl,  loose braid and bun E’s hair and add a barrette of sparkle. I got to golden her eyes and pinkish her lips. I got to steam C’s shirts and help him decide what to wear. I couldn’t have been more happy when he decided to go with the batman Hawaiian shirt and vest. There is nothing better than some fun personality in an outfit. E’s date and his parents arrived, we played with the puppy they brought, googled over how nice the kids looked, talked over each other in typical mom’s who don’t know each other silliness, and finally took some pictures. Off the kids went to have a delicious steak dinner “Marybeth’s mom” offered to cook. Sounded like it was a great night, and about 11 teens arrived afterwards for grilled cheese, soup, oranges, Swedish fish and Sour Patch Kids. Movie night in the shop guest room! I love being a safe place for them to hang out. I just make sure there is enough teenager food and they are set.

Saturday was awesome. No alarms set for anyone! We had a relaxing morning once the teens made their arrival to the kitchen. Coffee, fresh from our coop eggs, hash browns in the air fryer and I think there might have been a sweet tiny green coffee mug of Matt’s famous Cuban coffee by the pellet stove fire. We had more wreaths to deliver in Great Falls and then our favorite event of the holidays, the auction for Toys for Tots. I put on my new bright red pants romper, a grey 3/4 length cardigan and some strappy grey boots that were not for snow and ice, but when you are Montana girl you take the risk. Matt is a silent auction bandit. We definitely brought up those bids with our bidding wars, and their money raised was record-breaking. We ate prime rib with Santa. (I’m not exaggerating. THE MAN in the RED SUIT sat with us at our table!) We saw friends. We hugged friends that are family. A wonderful evening and the one time a year we look forward to looking pretty and feeling good about giving to the community. The BEST part of Saturday was sitting in tree lights with all four of us home at 11pm under blankets and watch Christmas Chronicles with Kurt Russell on Netflix. It means the world to me when the teens are willing to spend time with us. I guess at 11pm on a Saturday night I can finally tie them down to hang with their momma.

Sunday that alarm went off at 515 and I looked, silenced it and was like there is NO WAY I can get up and drive 4 and a half hours right now. At 8 I decided I better get going. E and I got road trip ready in our best sweatshirts, and left for our excursion to Billings, MT to deliver a wreath and get hugs from two cute nieces. She wore a sweatshirt that has be kind embroidered on it, and my green sweatshirt screamed BE HAPPY in pink lettering. It was bound to be a fun day. We saw three bald eagles. We laughed at weird facts my mom has made her to believe. We belted our lungs out at the soundtrack to “A Star Is Born.” We enjoyed our mother daughter time very much, even when we had to call Gramma to get this scoop on the magpie almost being Montana’s state bird.

On the way back home, passing through one of the many “ghost town” like towns in Montana, Moccasin, there was this little white start lit up on an agriculture building. I thought even in this tiny little town in the middle of nowhere someone has spirit enough to put up that star. Small gestures bring happiness to my heart.

‘Shallow’ was most definitely the song of the day. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga really sure do know how to make this woman happy. I love when songs are driving, singing at the top of my lungs, feeling like I’m really in tune and that I could be the next Voice winner worthy. They nailed it on that soundtrack if I have anything to say about it.

I thrive off of mom busyness .. but I also hurt. Today my back and hips are D.O.N.E. Tomorrow is acupuncture day! Bring on those needles, Kimberly. I’ll introduce her to you another time.