2013 - Year In Review

It is Christmas time, and we are busy at the Dozier household - well, surviving - with a few candy canes and an advent tree mixed in. But I started thinking about our year in review - and other than the obvious 'Twins Again' - here is where I ended up...

1. Lauren's favorite accessory is a purple sequined princess crown headband - and I don't just mean favorite - think eat, sleep, wake, play, laugh, cry, with a bike helmet, in carpool, walk in classroom, go to church, go to grocery store, wear ALL day EVERY day ANY where and EVERY where doesn't leave her sight favorite accessory.

2. Implementing the laundry schedule is a great way to discover that your child is only wearing one pair of underwear per week - because you failed to notice otherwise.

3. Nicholas is known to have quite a few street smarts...he refused to eat PB&J every day for lunch after about two weeks - put his head down, crossed his arms, and shook his head 'no' at his teacher when she opened his lunchbox and he saw it in there - again. We had to make a few adjustments to his lunch box after that.

4. Placing the kids' names in alphabetical order will result in an entire segment of the alphabet carved out for us - especially helpful when I get older and can't remember their names - visual - as I holler up the stairs at 8am - "J, K, L, M, N - time for school - let's go - we're gonna be late"

5. It is not so uncommon to have two sets of twins if you get pregnant within the first three years of the first set of twins - 1 in 12 to be specific. Would have been nice to know...

6. One set of twins just barely missed the naming rights to "Uh oh Spaghetti-oh" and "Oopsy-Daisy"

7. It's not super heroes and super powers at our house - oh no, we are full on princess dresses, Barbie songs, and any movie with a bad witch mommy.

8. A summer schedule will allow time for Water Wednesday and matching Dora bathing suits.

9. I have said more than once to more than one child this year - "It's not a good idea to chew on the cord to the lamp - it's just not safe".

10. A breakfast schedule that includes cheesy sausage balls once a week will result in a hilarious back and forth game of who gets to eat the extras between my husband and my daughter. He recorded a video message for her on my phone the night before cheesy sausage ball breakfast for me to play for her the next morning warning her that she shouldn't eat them all and to save some for him - we go a little crazy over cheesy sausage balls! Too bad I couldn't get it to load...

 11. If everyone who said "you have your hands full" was also kind enough to also give me a dollar, I would have enough money to send each child to college - tomorrow.

12. Five in tow is not so bad - with three exceptions - first, the cirque de so lei act you perform into the backseat of the minivan multiple times a day; second, the pediatrician's office - enough said;  and third - the logistics of getting in and out of an establishment (i.e. parking near a ramp, using the sidewalk, staying in the car - KIDS, STAY IN THE CAR!!) But I have a work around for each - stay limber; bring books, IPAD, snacks, or anything to entertain - also, milkshake bribes are OK; and use drive up/drive through/to go services - I have a feeling they WANT me to stay in the car with this crowd.

Thanks for letting me share and reflect on our year - oh what a year - I am encouraged and reminded that this controlled chaos we call life, does bring about an abundance of blessings, funny moments, and happy memories!

P.S. Note the purple princess crown again