Our Life with Oliver

{guest piece for  www.laitdelavie.com } [blend·ed fam·i·ly] noun NORTH AMERICAN a family consisting of a couple and their children from this and all previous relationships ___________________________________________________________________ Traditionally, blended families consist of his, hers, and ours. We are a non-traditional blended family. As time goes on - we are becoming the norm - however - it is a mouthful to explain to those who ask about our dynamic. Especially - now that Jaxin has started Kindergarten. I've drawn a "non-traditional" family tree. The kids are listed first - because they are the priority and who really matter in this world of ours.  Now the fun part - the explanation. Jaxin was the first born out of this wild group. He was born in 2011 - to Devin & Jayce. Jayce is my little brother. A high school romance created this handsome little man - who has brought so much love and light into our home and h...

We are winding down into Holiday time as the end of the year approaches. Ever since we had Oliver, the holidays have such a different level of anxiety for me. Holiday pictures, events, gatherings - I strive to make sure all of my children feel special. I want to make sure that we can look back as a family and know that everyone  felt involved.  Easier said than done. So much time gets away with us as these days fly by. It is as equally exhausting as it is amazing. At first, with just Oliver & Jaxin, it wasn't that difficult as a task to meet. Now, we have Oliver, Jaxin, Olive and Opal. [side note: we wanted one child.  we all see how that played out :) ] I want my kids to feel my love - but to not have one feel less than the other. I worry that I try to hard to include Oliver -- that I almost let my grief over shadow the happiness of the holiday time. I try to make sure Olive and Jaxin feel equal with time and attention -- which often times ends up as s...