Just wondering...

Seriously, who needs toys?

Am I the only parent who has considered tying my children to their chairs at the kitchen table and into their beds at night? Not complaining, just wondering if this might be a legitimate solution....

A Few Happy Moments

Sometimes things get a little ugly around here. That is when I know it is time to slow down and enjoy these little rascals and all of their quirks.

Seems like there is always a fight to see who can get closest to Mom. I do not enjoy being crawled on, jumped over, and injured in the process, but this day, there were no bruises... Just a lot of giggling.

After church, I often return to my home and find the remnants of a very hectic Sunday morning; I find the milk sitting on the counter, the fridge door open, or any other number of other signs of a frantic dash out the door. However, one Sunday afternoon, I arrived and found this. Such a relief to know Katelin and Seth are responsibly caring for their dogs.

Katelin loves making, wrapping, and giving gifts lately. I told her that if she wanted to keep these bows for future use, she needed to find a place to keep them. An hour later, I find these attached to the wall in our entryway. Yes, that is a very handy place, just in case you need a bow.

Usually silence at our house equates to trouble. On this particular afternoon, it was too quiet. I discovered nothing more than Katelin "reading" to Seth. So refreshing.

Rainy days

The best company

It has been a long day. When Trevor suggested he forego the rental car this week, and leave me home for a couple of days carless, I quickly agreed. With the pool, the playground, and Walmart all within just a few steps, I knew we would be okay. What I didn't count on was the rain. And the mud. So today we have been trapped inside. It's too wet for a walk, and walking is our only option. Not that I'm not thankful for the rain. I really am thankful.

But with the day worn away, and pizza on the way, I think we will be fine. Seth is napping soundly (in spite of the wisdom that suggests you never let your toddler sleep past four... It is now 5:10). Katelin is singing and chattering away in her bedroom -- the quiet time alarm went off, but she is enjoying herself too much to want to leave her sweet alone time. I love listening to her.

"I want to stay in quiet time for a long long time because I'm having too much fun," she is explaining to her toys right now.

My kids saved me today. Like I said, it was a long day. But I just couldn't keep keep from letting a little bit of their happiness creep in. It is just too hard to resist. Bless their happy little hearts. Not even a rainy day stuck in a small apartment can get them down.

Daily Essentials

Nothing beats playing on the stairs

It seems I am constantly working to find a perfect balance of time to myself, playing with my kids, and tackling the endless items that end up on my to-do list. I remembered today that for me, a few things are essential:

1. Exercise
2. Quiet time (nap for Sethie and quiet play for Katelin)
3. Taking several breaks to just laugh, read, or play

Cleaning and laundry are definitely optional. I'm always amazed with my kids. They both have their moments, but overall they are remarkably joyful little souls. Give them food, sleep and a bit of attention and they are usually good to go. Could my own needs possibly be that simple?

Don't You Just Love it...

when you discover that your 15-month old son knows how to remove his diaper??? Oh, and do his business on your carpet?

After scrubbing and re-scrubbing the carpet for 45 minutes, I realized, (in case I ever had any doubt) that I could never house-train a dog.

Fashion Sense

Black ballerina dress - (free from cousin Addie), pink tutu (Walmart -$10), white gloves (mmmm? Not sure), pink princess shoes (Walmart $3), Princess backpack (c/o Grandma Budge)

White summer hat (c/o Aunt Julie), heart swimming suit (c/o Cousin Addie), pink tutu (used to be Mom's) Purple top (gift from Trevor's co-worker in India)

A friend of mine used to joke with me that you knew you had given up on life when you started wearing sweats to go grocery shopping. I haven't resorted to that yet (after all, why would you wear sweats, when you can wear yoga pants), but after two years of pregnancy, breastfeeding, and basically putting of any major clothing shopping, things in my closet were starting to look kind of shabby (and definitely not shabby chic).

So, with spring in full bloom, I decided it was time to replenish, my dwindling wardrobe. I am by no means a fashion expert, but I can't explain how much better I feel about myself when I have a fresh t-shirt and a new pair of flip-flops. It's the little things right?

I used to spend a good chunk of my hard-earned teaching money on clothing and on looking professional. I started teaching when I was 22, and I felt I had to dress up so that I wouldn't look like a high-school student sneaking over to the junior high school (as a student-teacher at Sky View High School I had been sent "back to class" by one unknowing teacher). When I quit teaching, I slowly sorted through the dress pants, the skirts, the collared shirts blouses and after four years as a stay-at-home Mom, I have given all but a few pieces away. The bulk of my wardrobe now consists of jeans, shorts and t-shirts.

I like the casual dress-code of motherhood. It is fitting to dress down for diaper changing, training toddlers to self-feed, and playing at the park. But there is something about putting on a skirt, a bracelet, and a fresh coat of lip-gloss once in a while. Just because I'm casual, doesn't mean that I have to wear sweats.

Giving Up.

Keeping me busy...

I give up.

I give up on trying to keep food out of the carpet and crumbs out of the bed. I don't mind if you wear your pajamas (or your dress-up clothes or just your underwear) all day long -- even when we go out. Feel free to throw your mush, your milk, your crackers, your utensils, your muffins crumbs, and anything else you'd like to on the floor, the walls, the windows.

I give up on trying to keep my shirt away from constantly runny noses. I won't even hope for seven or eight hours of straight sleep, or a shower that lasts more than three minutes.

I give up on keeping the tub-water in the tub and the pots and pans in the cupboards.

I give up on uninterrupted phone conversations and eating my food while it is warm. I promise that I won't even attempt to leave the house on a whim.

I give up on trying to do things my way, on my schedule.

I give up because I love my kids and because I have to and because it just feels so right to sacrifice a few comforts for something that matters.

Morning Sounds

Loving those teeth!

We woke up to lots and lots of rain this morning. It was a nice addition to the sounds that come as we wake up each morning. This mornings sounds start with cries from Sethie. I pull him out of bed to feed him, hoping he'll nurse back to sleep, but he never does. Once he's done, he sits straight up and smiles at me in the darkness. I want to just pull the covers over my head and go back to sleep, but you really cannot ignore that smile.

His chirps fill the quiet of the rest of the morning. Trevor left early for work. Katelin is recovering from her first rough night of Project Bedtime, something I'll have to discuss at a later date. I'm on the computer listening to the rain, the Seth's chirping, and the quiet.

Katelin wakes up grumpy, but the rain cheers her. Her excitement for the rain, for preschool, for the projects of the day bring our quiet morning to an end. I hear pounding with the toy hammer and tool bench as the two kids play. Then Katelin disappears and I hear opening drawers and doors. She is proud to get herself dressed and ready for the day. Seth's happy chirps soon turn to whines. It's time to get off of the computer. This day will be full. There might be crying. There will definitely be a runny nosed baby, and a tired Mom at the end of the day, but somehow that will be okay. A good Monday to start a good week.

A few questions

Dear Seth,

Oh how I wish you could speak to me and reveal all of your mysteries. Why must you smear baby food all over your hair each evening at dinner time? Is there any particular reason that you reach for your poop each time I try to change your diaper? And what makes you insert every item the size of a marble into your little mouth?

Love,

Mom

How to be a good parent - Part 2

Just say "good job," when your three year old runs to tell you that

1) she has just gone "peeps" all by herself and

2) that her baby brother is now playing in the unflushed toilet.

Then clean the bathroom while you give your kids a bath.

Disclaimer: This one time event resulted in what I consider to be good parenting behavior. In no way to these type of events always result in such behavior.

Today...

Sethie's Purple Swollen Teeth - taken just over a week ago

• Today Trevor woke up just 20 minutes before he was supposed to be at the dentist.
• After Trevor left I realized that we forgot to pull out the carseat so that Katelin could get a ride to preschool with a friend.
• Today Sethie's second upper front tooth finally made an appearance.
• Today I felt like I had accomplished nothing during the 2.5 hours Katelin was at preschool.
• Today I looked at the mold growing the cracks of my tile in the bathroom and simply COULDN'T take it anymore.
• Today Katelin & I fixed the wooden letters that make her name and re-hung them in her bedroom.
• Today Katelin "spelled" silly words on my back while she procrastinated going down for quiet time.
• Today the phone lines went down and we couldn't make or receive any phone calls any phone calls.
• Today my kids managed to make three big messes in less than two hours.
• Today I spent what felt like the ENTIRE afternoon cleaning the bathrooms while my kids destroyed the rest of the house.
• Today Trevor rescued me by helping at least straighten up the rest of the house and suggesting Rudy's instead of a home-cooked meal
• Today Seth and I bonded with a few grins and laughs during dinner
• Today we caught up with an old friend while the AT&T repairman fixed our phones and our internet line (I hope).
• Today it is late. I am tired. I will probably wake up with Seth three times between now and six in the morning, but today, life is good.

Creating

I can't say enough how much I loved President Uchtdorf's talk in General Relief Society Meeting (you can find it here) and the emphasis he placed on finding happiness through creating and compassion. So here are a few of the creations from my house that are bringing a little joy to my heart.I've been wanting to make whole wheat pizza (loaded with veggies) for a while now. It felt so good to do it, though it still needs a few improvements.

A few preschool supplies. Prepping for 6 preschoolers is surprisingly fun and flashes me back to my teaching days. There isn't a lot of difference between preschoolers and adolescents.

Katelin's hay "H" was a nice creation, but the big deal was her name written on the bottom of the page! She can write it if I tell her the letters.

I love Katelin's mini-buns! It's a succes when she lets you comb her hair. I love Seth's do too!

Trev created the perfect spot for cuddling and vegging!

More vegging and snuggling.

Seth just does a great job of creating smiles and laughter.

Life is so sweet (especially when you remember the good moments).

Recipe for a perfect morning...

You'll need one little chimi and "the big guy"

Add a few toys and a dash of pretend.

Finally, add a little something to chew one.

Bake as long as everyone stays happy!!

When daddy is away...

One long week without Trevor
+ one tired Mama =

"Mama said I could." (It's true)


Of course the project had to be done in underwear!

And I'm pretty sure he just swallowed a piece of yarn.