It was a week ago and I’m still thinking about it. Last week took some pretty weird and sometimes miserable turns (IDENTITY THEFT IS NOT A JOKE, JIM! but srsly ugh), but we weathered the storm surprisingly well. Partly because my husband is just the best and most stable rock ever, and partly because we were in such a great place after the Best Thanksgiving Break Ever.

Seriously. This one killed it. I’ve been pretty public about my dislike for Thanksgiving. Well, maybe apathy is a better word. Usually I’m just like “meh” about it, but I gladly take the 3 days off school. This year just might have changed my mind.

It started with the Faculty vs. Students Basketball game on Tuesday. We shortened classes so there was this 90 minute period at the end of the day for the big reward activity. We’ve done dances before, but a lot of kids (most) are awkward and don’t like the dances so we wanted to do something more universally rewarding. Hence a hilarious and embarrassing round of basketball! Initially I yelled at Coach Marsh for suggesting this idea. “Why couldn’t we do this last year? I’m 6 months pregnant!” Last year I was coaching the 9th Grade Girls’ team and in pretty good bball shape. I would have been a ringer! (LOL a 5’4” ringer… but hey, there’s a reason John Stockton is my all time fave!)

Coach D last season

“You should still play!…. no… no!… hear me out!! This is supposed to be just fun and funny. Just come in for a few plays and we’ll like box out and block for you and stuff! The kids will love it!”

Can’t say no to that. Except I could have said no and should have. Because OW. I’m still not back to normal and it’s a full week later! The kids loved it, though. They shouted hilarious things such as:

• “BUT SHE’S HUGE!”
• “Her water is going to break on the court!”
• “Her baby is going to fall out!”
• “Pass it to the pregnant lady!”
• “Your baby’s got game!!!!”
• “DON’T TOUCH HER BELLY YOU’LL KILL THE BABY!”

Even though I was miserably sore and limping for several days that made it worth it. 🙂 The added bonus was that it forced me to take it way WAY easy physically for the entire break to recuperate. The walks, jogs, gym dates and even just active chores simply weren’t gonna happen, seeing as I couldn’t even stand up without help until after Black Friday. Seriously, it was pathetic, you guys.

The actual best and most amazing way to have The Objectively Best Thanksgiving Break Ever was a carefully orchestrated plan of laziness. It was our turn to be with the Holdaways for Thanksgiving. The problem is that when we don’t go to the Budge’s it’s just my mom, dad, sister and sometimes my Grandma. The Beard and I are almost half the family! It always makes me feel sad and a little guilty, even though its much quieter and less annoying without me there. I mentioned this to the Holdaways, who were actually solo (meaning no grandparents or cousins coming) for this Thanksgiving as well. It only made sense.

BOTH OF OUR FAMILIES TOGETHER FOR THANKSGIVING. What could be better? I’ll tell you. Both of your families together for Thanksgiving AND not having a food assignment. I literally purchased a few bottles of Martinelli’s and called it good. [Let the record show that The Beard made an amazing Sriracha Bacon Mac & Cheese to bring because he’s the cook in our family.] This could not have been more ideal unless it was burgers, fries and shakes instead of turkey. And maybe if it was a pajamas-only dress code. And OBVIOUSLY if Elder Budge was home, but he’s killing it in Japan and I wouldn’t have him anywhere else. But otherwise it was perfect.

Obligatory family + animals pic for my brother (bump @ 31 weeks!)

Surprisingly, the next best thing to happen was a mistake. I had a very descriptive,  color-coded to-do list for the break. I had stuff to do for school, for the nursery, for my blog, for my masters program, for my primary lesson, for Thanksgiving and for Christmas prep! I packed up all my papers, gear, planners, notebooks, everything… except apparently my laptop. When I got home and unloaded my backseat I found my papers and charging cord, but conveniently left my laptop chillin on my desk at school. Cool.

Now, I have a little chromebook at home. And not ALL of my to-do list was contingent upon the use of my bigger school laptop & files. Still, it kind of shot my to-do list and productivity right in the leg. (Also I physically felt like I’d been shot in the leg, see bball game above.)

What a blessing this turned out to be. It was kind of like when Ron Swanson locks Leslie in that gross Bed & Breakfast room and forces her to sleep and not work. I’ve been so wound up. So frustrated. So overwhelmed. Drowning. Struggling. Failing. I have a lot to do. All the time. Or at least it seems that way. I’ve been trying to prioritize better and not take on as much so willingly. I’ve talked to The Beard about shared chores and tasks, moving things around (long story short – I’m no longer doing his laundry and he’s pissed about it but we’re still married soooo…). I’ve tried to look at “deadlines” real and invented. I’ve started asking myself the critical question:

What if this doesn’t get done?

All of those actions, plus the critically wonderful mistake of leaving my laptop at school for the long weekend resulted in the most magical break of all time.

• I spent way more time with The Beard, and wasn’t harboring anger against myself or him for not getting more done
• I actually ENJOYED “worthless” couch and bed time, just chatting, aimlessly Pinteresting, catching up on blogs and laughing uncontrollably at the dumbest things like we used to do
• I didn’t need naps – partially because I wasn’t working as hard and partially because I didn’t have as much I felt I needed to procrastinate or avoid with a nap. I weirdly think I was more alert and got MORE done. Crazy how that works.
• We ate out (probably too much) but I actually cooked a few meals because I actually felt like it for once! Huzzah!
• The Beard planned and purchased movie tickets for Big Hero 6 completely on his own – a feat I usually do and drag him along! I credit this to his being awesome and my being more laid back and less like a rottweiler when it comes to making CLEAR AND DETAILED PLANS. It was way more relaxed, enjoyable and fun for all of us.
• I SLEPT PAST 8:30 AM. This hasn’t happened in AGES. You don’t understand. I’m constantly exhausted and sleepy, which, as you know, are two different things. Still, thanks to pregnancy and a 5:25 weekday alarm time I’m kind of ruined from the Danica who could sleep until 1 pm on command. I slept until the glorious hour of 11 am on Black Friday and felt like ten million bucks because of it.
• Game of Thronesssssssss. We couldn’t stop! We finished the entire series. We’re obsessed. It’s nice to have something new and fresh to watch together. Usually it’s Office, Parks & Rec, How I Met Your Mother or Arrested Development reruns over and over.
• Last Sunday seemed so jam-packed at first – Homecoming Breakfast, Homecoming Talk, both of us teaching in our ward, dinner at the Holdaways. {All under the dreaded Sunday Blues, made all the worse after such a great break.} But taking it step by step and telling myself I didn’t have to do anything else that day made it 100% doable and fulfilling. I felt the Spirit and was totally rejuvenated!
• I wasn’t miserable going to bed last Sunday night, and I woke up well-rested and dare I say… excited for the week? That might be going too far.  But I was ready. At least I thought I was because the week turned out to be much, much more than I bargained for.

Simplicity is beautiful. I wasn’t going to blog this when I realized it turned so introspective and personal, but then I read Brooke’s post about the meaningful impact of simplicity in our lives and thought “YEAH.”

LEARN THIS LESSON, DANICA. For the millionth time. Let go of the to do list on occasion. Enjoy moments. Ask yourself “What if this doesn’t get done?” and realize that most of the time the answer is “Nothing bad happens; life will go on.”

You’re about to be a mother and that baby is gonna to chisel down the sharpest Type-A parts of you, whether you like it or not. Might as well start learning to deal with it now. Right? In the words of Elsa, take a look at that to-do list and just LET IT GO.