Dessert.  Every single night, I know the question is coming from The Girl.  The sweet sweet girl, who was born with the sweetest tooth I have ever known.  And, 43% of the time, the answer is "yes".  On Dessert Night, a term she has ingeniously coined, our conversations go something like this...

H: MAMA!!!!!!!!!! Is it a Dessert Night??

Me: Yes.

H: YEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

    and she crawls up on the counter to select the items for her "dessert salad"

H: MAMA!!  How many points tonight?

Me: Six.

H: Okay.  MAMA!! Six points for my Dessert Salad?

Me: Yes, six.

Then the selection process begins.  Let me explain.  In the cupboard, there is a stash of candy.  Each candy has a designated point value.  M&Ms are .5 points, Starburst are 2 points, chocolate points vary on the type (mini peanut butter cups 1 point, twix 4 points, chocolate truffles 3 points...)  

Harper has to do the math to create her Dessert Salad.  She is smart, and nails it every time.  No wonder the girl got all 4s on her report card.

The Mister doesn't get enough blog attention.  This was my thought as I watched him this morning, and for the millionth time this month, thought about how lucky I am to have found him.  With AP running the morning routine, it's like a well oiled machine.  (ie: He manages the kids, and I get ready and go to school.)  One of the many responsibilities is packing lunch for the ninja and the gnome.

I have been trying FOR YEARS to get those kids to just eat hot lunch, but nooooo...  they want "daddy to pack their lunch"...  can't say I blame them - as he usually packs my lunch, too.  And looks good doing it.

We Rise Wednesday. #room75 #futureleaders #thankgoodness

Now that KT is cooking a TJ, I thought I would take advantage of my favorite DD and hit up the local brewhouse for a little painting lesson - taught by our very own Andrea Mikla!  I have never attended an event like this, but Kylee has her share of paintings hanging in her hall - so she was more than willing to join me at the Urban Moose.  It was fun - the food was good (Kylee told me), the beer was good (I told Kylee) and instruction was superb, and the paintings.... well, I wouldn't say either one of us will be quitting our day job anytime soon.

Harper's Mystery Backpack Presentation

In November, we were busy making plans to head to DC this weekend for the inauguration.  Then, you know what happened, and that plan was squashed.  But, I wish I would have booked a flight for the Women's March.  It. Was. Incredible.

We had plans to march locally, but the flu bug hit, and the rain poured down.  Bennett was quite disappointed, as he had his signs planned - but I told him that we would probably have lots of opportunities to resist.

And while we didn't get to participate in either historical moment, I did get a message from a long ago friend, who was in DC - and brought me with him.  Gimme a J!  Gimme an A!  Gimme a M!  ES!

I didn't blog about election day 2016.  I know. I thought about it, and I tried, I even tried more than once. But, I just couldn't do it.  November 8, I had the best blog post already written in my head.  It was eloquent and witty and monumental... all about this herstorical day, when I wore my (ill fitting) pantsuit, and brought my family to vote for the first woman president in the history of our country.  November 9 happened, and my words were lost.  My hope crushed and fear built - all the while in a haze of uncertainty and yes, mourning.

Fast forward to today.  (Because there will never be any words for that day...)  This evening, I watched with tears, as President Obama gave his farewell address to our country.  He asked us to embrace all, not just some, be activists in our communities and run for office.  And, he told us that he was hopeful.  He was hopeful because of our children.  Good, kind, just, young leaders who know that we all can be a part of something incredible.  They are growing up to know that love is love, and while it may be difficult at times, we must all rise up.

We may have a bumpy road ahead, my friends.  But, we will march that high road, wearing our cat hat.  We will rise up, because this is not a moment, it's a movement.

(Seriously, what did we ever do before Hamilton? #lyricalgenius)

B: Hey, Mom.  Think we can plan a time for Logan to come over?
Mom: Sure!  Want to make it a sleepover?
B (thinking....): Ummm, no.  Probably not.  I mean, it sounds fun, but I need to get up really early for ice fishing on Saturday.  I should prob go to bed early.
Mom: Ok.  Let's make it happen.
B:  Hey, Mom.  We have some plans, I'll get you a list of the supplies we need.

Twenty minutes later...

B:  Here you go.  We might have to stop at Home Depot.
Mom: For what?!?!?
B: PVC pipe.
Mom.  No.  No. No. NO.
B (smiling coyly): What?
Mom: You are not making any type of gun.  No potato gun, no blow gun, no air gun.
B: Awww, Mom!!  What will we do then?
Mom: I'm sure you scientists will figure something out.

Ten minutes later

B: Ok.  Here's the modified list.
Mom: You need how much corn starch??

Just a girl.  In an owl shirt.  Painting a mermaid for Daddy's office.

Is it possible that this is the only picture I took of Safar Family Fun Day 2017??

It can't be - unless all my other pics were snapchats?!?  Regardless, SFFD did not disappoint, and while we were minus a few important Safars, fun was still had by all.  There were cards, and dice, and food, and white elephants (ummmm massaging foot warmers, anyone?), and laughter and did I say food? I wish we were able to get together more, as each year I am reminded how much I love these people - and I am so glad that the tradition lives on. 

Andy and I hired the cheapest babysitter we could find (Thanks, Kylee Kay) and met up with his work peeps for some post-holiday fun.  The fun on the agenda was attending the local "Escape Room" and working with 8 complete strangers (to me, not AP) to escape from a locked room.  Sounds fun, right?  The goal was to use hidden messages/puzzles/codes in the room to escape in the least amount of time with the fewest amount of clues.  I was very hesitant about this adventure, and was also pretty sure the fun factor would not be high.  Fortunately for the Blue Sky crew we did escape, and it was way more fun than I anticipated.

Refrigerator Art via Harper Nicole Prose

After dinner, we frollicked on the Capital lawn, and went to the hipster barber shop for some craft cocktails.  (I may just move to Madcity because I can bring my kids to the bar, on New Year's Eve, and no one even gives you a side glance...) and back to the hippie house for poppers, dancing and games.

So long, 2016.  It's been real.  I'm not quite sure what 2017 has up her sleeve, and while a part of me is anxious, there are a few things of which I am quite sure.  I know that good will always win, and love will always trump hate.  And, I'm so lucky to be entering this new year surrounded by my biggest lovers. 

 In case you were wondering,  the boys and the Safar sisters made it to midnight.  😏