Waking Up to Immediate Noise
January 4, 2026 started the way many mornings do lately—with the kids waking up before the adults.
And with that came messes. Makeup. Noise. Movement. A level of chaos that seems to arrive fully formed before anyone's had a chance to open their eyes.
At some point, the makeup drawer became fair game. The two youngest experimented creatively—mostly on themselves—and on the oldest girl's leg while she was still asleep. When she finally woke up and realized what had happened, things escalated quickly. Words turned into fists, and suddenly the morning required much more energy than anyone had planned for.
Eventually, things settled.
Or at least slowed enough to breathe.
Biscuits, Gravy, and Predictable Resistance
Around 10:00am, my mother started cooking biscuits and gravy. The oldest girl immediately announced she didn't like it—before even trying it.
We insisted she take a bite.
She put on a convincing performance of disapproval, but her face betrayed her almost instantly. Anyone watching closely could tell she liked it just fine.
Kids are many things, but subtle isn't always one of them.
Errands, Timing, and Almost-Empty Shelves
After some playtime and a bit more normalcy, I took Eve and the girls home. Their grandma watched Isabella so Eve and I could run an errand together.
We went to The Up Store in Orlando—a deeply discounted store that requires qualification to shop at. It was Eve's first time there.
Unfortunately, I took her on the wrong day.
The shelves were nearly empty. Still, we found a few items worth grabbing before heading out. Not a total loss—just poorly timed.
While we were there, I picked up a can of a particular tea for The Sister. Not so much for the drink itself, but for the packaging. The can had a bold, creative design, and knowing how artistic she is, I thought she'd appreciate it.
Sometimes the container matters more than what's inside.
Quiet Time Without Kids
Afterward, Eve and I went back to my house—just the two of us—for about forty-five minutes. We finished watching Beauty and the Beast and enjoyed some calm, affectionate time without interruptions.
Moments like that feel rare lately.
Simple. Unrushed. Needed.
Back to Routine, Then Back Again
Once that window closed, I took Eve home, picked Isabella up, and returned to my place. I did a little cleaning—nothing major, just keeping things from slipping too far out of control.
Later that evening, I picked Eve up again—this time without her girls—for a sleepover. The main reason was practical: she has an early doctor's appointment, and I plan on taking her.
Sometimes logistics double as togetherness.
Movies and an Early Fade-Out
We watched Pixels together, then started Eagle Eye, one of my favorite movies.
I didn't make it far.
The day finally caught up with me, and I drifted off not long after it started. One moment the movie was playing, the next thing I knew, sleep had already claimed the night.
Ending the Day
January 4 was messy, loud, and imperfect—but it also had calm moments tucked between the chaos.
Sometimes the best ending to a long day isn't reflection or resolution.
It's simply falling asleep mid-movie, knowing you did what you could—and that tomorrow will sort itself out when it arrives.