Wiggly and Wonderfully Made

I have had trouble getting to sleep at a decent hour for about a week and a half now. It started out as a stomach virus, but now I just am not sleepy until around 2 or 3am! So I have lots of time to think. Tonight I was reminiscing about one of my Halloween memories. And I had an AH-HA moment.

Earlier today I was rushing to finish packing for my VA trip, and make sure that I don't forget anything...plus getting the kids costumes gathered, making a snack for James' bottomless pit of a stomach, and taking the markers away from Bella, and for the millionth time tell James that a bed is not a trampoline. (I was beginning to feel my patience slowly fade...the hectic crazy day with a toddler and PreKer overwhelming me) When Mark came home for work, everyone got so excited, because his arrival meant that it was time to dress in our costumes to go to the fall festival.
Instead of enjoying the process of getting the kids ready, I started to rush and was short with James...who was now bouncing off the walls while I tried to put on his costume.
Put your socks on James, the ones we laid out last night. James, put your socks on. JAMES, James-are you listening to me, get you socks-they are right there on the coffee table. The socks we picked out last night-look where I am pointing. James stop tickling your sister, James get off the bed...it is not a trampoline. That's 1! JAMES DAVID WATERS!!! Go get the socks! (he gets the socks, comes back into the room, throws them on the ground, then starts jumping around the room, chasing his sister) James, that's 2! What do you mean you can't put them on? Why don't you ask for help then? Go bring the socks to me, and I will help put them on. James..JAMES....JAMES DAVID WATERS!!!! Go to time out now!
(We ended up putting the socks on in the car later on...after I calmed down and started having fun and enjoying the day again...)

So, as I reminisce about my childhood Halloween memories at 2am I think back to my mom singing this silly song about two witches. My sister and I are dressed as cute little witches, and my mom is adding glitter and worts...the finishing touches to our costumes. Lots of smiles and singing. She sings a song while we walk round and round the coffee table. It was a long song that lasted as long as we wanted it to I guess, Later on we found out she had made up that song-custom made for us! (I love you Mom...you were and still are a great inspiration.)
And I realized that my memory isn't about going house to house for candy...but all my memories are of getting ready...smiles and fun with my parents before the event.

So, I realize that I need to try harder at slowing down and enjoying the small stuff. Getting dressed is part of the memory! Friday I will get a second chance at the Halloween memory making...and I pray for patience. Because there will be 4 kids in the mix. But more adults too! Maybe mom can conjure up another fun song and all the kids can dance and sing along making new memories.