Okay, so I haven’t written since Sunday… which kind of blows my whole “post every day” thing out of the water. But in my defense, life has been a lot this week. I’m hopping back on the routine train, though — even if it’s dragging me behind it by a hoodie string and half a cup of warm coke.

Monday was full of snuggles.
I took Piper to her OT appointment, and then we came back home and basically melted into a cuddle puddle for the rest of the day.
Both girls missed me — and I missed them so much.
Aubree, who usually treats lap-sitting like it’s a chore she wasn’t hired for, actually curled up in my lap and stayed there.
Like… voluntarily.
I nearly cried.
My mom heart was overflowing.

Tuesday I got my hands back into the construction zone that is our bathroom.
The walls were a hot mess, so I was sanding like a madwoman and reapplying drywall mud like a pro (or at least like someone who’s done it enough, it looks decent).
Piper spent most of the day in a chair where I put her, which was odd since she can usually wiggle her way out of anything. I worried she forgot how to get down.
Spoiler: she didn’t.
It was just her way of saying, “I’m here, but I need a minute.”
Aubree also parked herself in a chair.
I think they were both still decompressing from that long week away.
They had to go back to their dad’s last night, and yeah… I wasn’t thrilled about it.
But what can you do?

Today, they came back and immediately went back to bed.
Piper slept until 11am — she never sleeps that late.
That’s how you know she was exhausted.
Meanwhile, I put on my DIY cape and tackled the bathroom again — sanding, painting, and almost finishing the whole thing.
It’s small, which helps, but I did hit one spot that still needs more mud. Tomorrow’s problem.

Aubree and Piper were once again stationed in the chairs.
Piper eventually got down and tried to get me to play, but I had paint in my hair and drywall in my nose.
She ended up napping after a bit, and Aubree kept herself busy with the TV, her beloved sea turtle (which is on its last battery legs), and a random painting edger she was obsessed with for the soft bristles.
Of course, there was also the daily diaper-shredding attempt — but after a few firm NOs, she actually listened. (Small victories, y’all.)

They go back to their dad’s again tomorrow night (ugh), but then I’ll have them until next weekend before they head back again for another full week.
I’m counting down the days until all this back-and-forth is behind us.

The house is finally coming along!
The outside is almost done, and the inside is shaping up too.
Tyler — my brother’s friend — has been helping the past couple of weeks, and honestly?
He’s been a huge help.
My parents are paying him since his regular job closed down, and it’s been good for everyone.
He’s funny, easy to work with, and doesn’t mind my sarcastic toddler-mom humor.
Or maybe I’ve just been so desperate for adult conversation that I find fishstick (inside joke) banter hilarious. Either way, I’ll take it.

It looks like we’ll hopefully get a contract on the house soon, and once that happens, we’ll have 45 days (maybe less!) to pack up and move.
I’m beyond ready to say goodbye to this place.
There’s nothing left for me here.

My mom is still trying to get in an offer on the house she fell in love with down south, but we’re waiting on the buyers of our house to sign the contract.
One of them got stuck in India due to flight issues and has been trying to get back for nearly two weeks.
He’s supposed to be home in a day or two, so fingers crossed!

Everything feels like it’s finally shifting forward — slowly, but surely.

I’m tired, covered in paint, emotionally whiplashed, but thankful.
My girls are home, the house is coming along, and I’ve got hope tucked in next to my paintbrush.