Two Months In!

 I keep getting so far behind it seems like I'll never catch up!  There's been so much to remember and no time to document it.

Ok, so- two months in and things are going swimmingly.  I think a few items have been key to our success:

1) weekly meetings (we call them High Counsel Summits)  This is when we say what's been irking us, things we'd like each other to be aware of, go over upcoming items, grocery status, etc.  It was really nerve racking at first, but it's become a very low-key time of everyone sharing hilarious kid antics that may have been missed by one or two adults.

G now says "Dawdan!" with much enthusiasm

2) being frank- There's really no room for social niceties at all times.  If somethings bothering someone, we're ok mentioning it and then everyone respects that although they don't agree, they'll comply.
Examples?
According to Melissa, if something is in the sink it's dirty.  No picking it back up. No exceptions.  No food gets washed/cut in the sink (at least when she might see it ;) ).  But the floor?  Meh- it's all good.

Unless Kim sees it.  Because floor--hello, people walk out of the bathroom where there are still little people trying to learn to aim and they then walk into the kitchen...no.  No food on the floor is edible unless it's going to be cooked to oblivion, the floor was JUST washed or it is a dry expensive item.

Cora has acclimated to having three sisters with much joy

3) being ok with the other parents parenting.  So, if the biological adult is present they get first dibs on discipline, but for the most part whomever is the adult present is the adult taking care of the issue at hand.  A few times one of us has seen a tantruming child of the other framily and have asked, "May I give it a shot?" to which the bio parent says "BE MY GUEST!" and said child is whisked away to their room to finish the tantrum.  There's also NO judgement on anyone's part as far as parenting.  Suggestions, yes, but only when things are calm and the stressed parent is able to process.

I remember one day it NOT being my child doing the ear piercing screaming and I said with a sweet smile, "Can I just say how relieved I am that your child still does that?  It means mine aren't the only ones making our ears bleed!"

Adult Movie Night- 8pm kid bedtime is beautiful

4) date night- Fridays someone goes out.  Except last week, when Melissa was gone.  Which leads me to...

Quick!  Melissa is never in the pictures!  Say Cheese!

5) being gone.  Melissa left for 3 days and we all took over, but it wasn't this huge "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN GOOD-BYE I NEED A BREAK" when she returned.  We were SO glad she was back, but it didn't really wasn't too bad since there were still three of us (and extended Framily) holding down the fort.  Plus she did an awesome job making sure all the ducks were in a row before she left.  One more day and things may have started to go a little haywire, what with the bread and yogurt supply on low...:)

Lunch with the two little one day

Love.those.dimples.

Anywho, when she returned we got bold and started to discuss COUPLES being gone overnight or one adult being gone over a weekend for a retreat...I might actually get to go on a retreat!  Something I've been wanting to do for years but just didn't know how to make it work!

6) Pitching in.  Seriously- four adults to run a house is SO AMAZING. But we all four HAVE to pitch in.  Dishes are ridiculous and unfortunately, none of us "enjoys" dishes.

Post-sledding selfie

Ok, that's enough for now.  I think.  Maybe we should open this up to questions?  Any questions out there?