By the time Sunday rolled around, I wasn’t sure whether to laugh, cry, or stage a hostile takeover of VRBO and UPS simultaneously.

We came to the cabin for peace. Rest. Family time. Marshmallows by the fire like a picture-perfect postcard.

Instead, we landed inside a chaotic, backwoods reality show with plot twists nobody asked for.

Let’s start with the basics:

• The cabin had larva on the shower  floors. 

Actual living creatures. Wiggling like they were paying rent.

• The smoke detectors were disconnected, which I guess is one way to ensure no one complains about false alarms when your cabin is busy hatching new life-forms. Ask me how I found out…It includes a loud boom and blaring noises at 3 am. 

• And when we calmly reported these very normal, very non-negotiable issues?

The host retaliated with a revenge review so dramatic it deserves its own Lifetime movie.

A one-star “cleanliness” rating.

From him.

In a cabin where I literally had to sweep larvae out of the way like I was clearing a path for Moses. Never mind the years of dust and dog hair the larva were using as shelter! 

Sir, be serious.

While I was documenting safety violations and VRBO’s Trust & Safety department was probably printing my emails on their office prayer wall, UPS showed up to add their own flair to the circus.

Because of course they did.

They attempted to deliver my wine — FIVE MORE TIMES— to the wrong house.

Not just wrong…

Consistently wrong.

Like a GPS whose only job is to disappoint me.

At this point, the universe looked at my stress levels and said,

“More.”

And that’s when she appeared.

Our Elf on the Shelf Kaci, the tiny festive menace returned from the North Pole.

But this year?

She didn’t come alone.

Oh no.

She came back with a baby sister elf for Harper like she was fresh off a maternity ward reunion tour.

Because what I really needed, here in the cabin of doom,

with VRBO drama and UPS chaos and a host throwing star-ratings like ninja weapons…after texting me he wanted us to come back and offered a discount…. 

was an extra infant elf to parent.

Harper, of course, instantly adopted this elf baby like she birthed it herself 14 hours earlier in the Dollar Tree Christmas aisle.

So now I’m sitting in a cabin:

• arguing with VRBO support,

• emailing UPS screenshots labeled “NOT THIS HOUSE,”

• dodging vindictive host ratings,

• sweeping up larva like I’m the world’s saddest entomologist,

• and managing an elf postpartum situation…

While my kids sit by the fire roasting marshmallows like life is perfectly normal.

And honestly?

That’s motherhood.

You can have full-blown chaos erupting around you, appliances failing, hosts retaliating, wine getting rerouted like a witness protection program, elves multiplying like Gremlins and your kids will still be out there living their best cozy little lives.

Grace isn’t always gentle. Sometimes grace looks like standing in a dirty cabin with your hair in a bun, emailing customer support like it’s your full-time job, watching your kids giggle over elf babies while you quietly consider screaming into a decorative pillow.

But there’s still magic in it.

Magic in the firelight.

Magic in the laughter.

Magic in the elf nonsense.

Magic in surviving all the “yikes” and somehow still choosing joy.

So here’s to Sunday:

To messy cabins,

misdelivered wine,

unhinged elves,

and the kind of chaos that becomes a story your kids will laugh about one day.

Maybe even tomorrow.

Because honestly?

This trip is a hot mess.

But it’s our hot mess.

And that’s grace. 

Nothing some Cavicchioli 1928 Sweet Red Lambrusco and S’mores cookies can’t fix. 

Check out the recipe page did your own gooey chaos remedy. 

Ps seriously yall the wine is still MIA and the coffee is running out. Mama needs help!