I am in the thick of it now. A mom of three. The gillnetting season has been done for over a month, crab season has just finished, and we are seeing the light as to when my husband will be around until halibut season in early March. 

I am living my most feared chore as soon as I looked down at that pregnancy test almost a year ago. How am I going to put three kids to bed by myself? Although I have been doing it off and on for the past few months, I've mostly had help. Either my parents were here, family friends, or my in-laws were here to help during the night time routines.

So as my husbands deer hunting trip was approaching closer and closer, a little bit of anxiety started to creep into my mind. How am I going to put my kids to bed for 7 nights straight? Get Charlie to school? Pick-up? Get Loralai to Montessori Camp? Dance Lessons? Swim Team? Board Meetings? Diapers? Clean house? Fundraisers? Tummy time? Attend to my infants needs (Lucas is now 2 months and so big). Making sure I "take time for myself." Oh whoops, never mind that last sentence. I remember a while ago, when I was very pregnant I needed some help with kid watching while I volunteered for our local preschool, I called my friend Kat to ask for the favor  and she said "Sure, you can always call in the troops." And from that moment, I realized I am not alone. I am never going to be "by myself". I live in a place with friends and people that when you ask them to jump, they say "How high?" So now my most feared chore or chores, is not feared because I can count on my troops.

So this week I have Jola and Sarah taking Charlie to school, Alisha watching Loralai so I can go to Chariie's parent teacher conference, Corrie having us over dinner so I have a night where I don't have to cook (or do dishes), Leslie the "cleaning fairy" coming over to help clean my house, Stoli who is excelling at teaching dance so I don' t have to, and the box wine in my fridge that rewards me at the end of the day with a nice glass of Cabernet.

So yes husband, enjoy your deer hunt before your winter break. I have my troops and I am just fine.

"Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity." ~ Khalil Gibran

XOXO

~Lexie

Photos: Sarah Elliott