Motherhood- 3rd grade field trip....

The other day my only son came running in the house. He was lit up and excited. They had rescheduled his field trip (the first was rained out) and it was next week. The disappointment from the first failure was tough on him so I shared his happiness. Not long in to talking with him though I discovered the true source of his excitement was not simply because the field trip had been rescheduled but because he had decided that I could accompany him on the new one this next week. In the years I have had school age children, six years if we are counting I have found ways to help in the classroom including teaching art, class room parties, correcting homework. All of which I don't do for the teacher, I do it for my kids. The look on their face or their excitement is worth the sacrifice. I, however, have never attended a field trip (unless you count the twins at preschool). Mostly its because I have always had younger children they don't allow to come along. Sure I could have swapped babysitting but my older kids seemed to accept my inability to go so I continued to volunteer at the school in other capacities.... Until this one.

So I said yes! We were scheduled to head up to a Garden I was familiar with so that didn't seem to difficult. Proving to swap the twins proved to be hard on this particular day but in the end a good friend took them.

So yesterday I was running behind after dropping the twins off and went to change into good walking shoes as I knew I could expect two hours walking around the garden and the weather was again unsettled. This is where things went down hill. My gym shoes were no where to be found and I didn't have to look much to know where they were... they were on my sixth graders feet! So I grabbed my boots (which are high heeled and very uncomfortable and ran out the door. My plan was to run in the school and force the culprit to switch me shoes. This would have worked except when I got to the school the previous written planned had changed from eating at the school to shuffling on the bus immediately and heading to a park. So off we went.

I was worried about walking the garden in my boots but the face above was worth the pain.

 Upon arriving at the garden I was ready to get off the bus :)

So we grabbed a poncho and headed out.  We walked through the beautiful Daffodils, past the paved pathways, and out of the garden and headed into the wet, soggy foothills. 

It was muddy. It was drizzing. It was cold and it was steep hills!

I like to hike and like to be fit but I was completely unprepared for this kind of hiking.  I began to contemplate turning back but my pride was hard to conquer.

So I kept going.  It got more muddy and more uneven and it was difficult.  I rolled my ankles several times.  Try walk in grass in high heeled boots. Then imagine walking uphill, downhill, through mud, rocks, uneven ground all the while worrying if the rain increased there is no way I would make it down at all.

It got a lot muddier.  At this point I decided I had to go back or I was going to fall, get hurt, I just couldn't make it.  We had been hiking about an hour and it was here that discovered it was a loop.  I was half way in.  Jacob had ran back to check on me and when I told him I had to go back he was worried and wanted to help me go back too.  This tugged my heart strings ....  I would do anything for him to have his Mom to do this with him.  So I continued.  We passed other groups.. all covered in mud.  All I could think was all those shoes ruined.  Wouldn't other Mom's be mad?   Some kids had ditched their shoes and were barefoot (it was cold too).

Here we are before heading down the steep slopes.  I'll be honest I almost cried. It hurt that much and was that hard but I made it!

 Those high heeled boots are going in the trash!  As for the sixth grader what is the appropriate punishment?  If I had any idea we were doing a two hour hike through the mud and hills I would have absolutely switched her shoes and made the whole entire bus wait.... and I would have had those to throw away too.  But I would have had a lot less pain.

So my first field trip experience wasn't exactly glowing but Jacob's face was.   We stopped for Sundae's and McDonald's and he expressed gratitude to me for doing it all.  That almost makes it worth it.

Girl's night

Alan took Jacob camping so I decided to plan a girls night out for my e little girls. Lindsey went to a carnival with a friend. The twins were so excited because they see me go out on girls night out and are always desperate to join. In fact they play girl's night all the time when pretending (we better warn their future husbands).

Anyway the girls chose a local bakery that has huge dessert case to drool over. It was a priceless time. Dinner conversation was the best part of the night Hailey said when she grows up she is never going to get her kids in trouble. Then she remebered she wants to be famous so she can't be a mother Sydney is quite sure she wants to be mother, but Hailey is very serious about becoming famous. I told her she could do both motherhood and being famous. I also asked her what she would do if her kids were bad? Sydney piped in that she might put her kids on time out but she would never ever yell at them. Hailey agreed. Oh my. The ladies behind me were laughing so hard.
As we drove home Hailey wanted to go to a store, a "make up store" which is Ulta. We picked nail polish. A real treat. I have thrown every nail polish away after so many serious disasters recorded here. I pray I won't regret it. The girls declared it the perfect girls night ever.
It's nights like this that reward me on my path of mothering. Being a mother to these girls. Innocent, excited and sweet. It's a gift today. 

On being a Mother...

Perspective...

This morning I woke up feeling down.

Woke up to arguing. Lindsey telling Jacob the weekly reader stinks. He's unlucky. Seriously? Sitting around the dirty dishes, shriveled up tomato's from last nights dinner. I thought of my day. Made another appointment to the doctor, for Lindsey. Sore throat. Possible strep. I was just there yesterday. Bad bad croup in both of the twins. Sad state for them. Missed the entire week of school. Emergency trip needed for orthodontist as a bracket has come loose. No time. Too many sick kids.

I felt a little overwhelmed and negative.

So I sat at the computer and read one of my favorite blog writers. About loss and life. Didn't have time to spare but it was well spent. Suddenly the illness doesn't seem overwhelming anymore. I feel lucky. Lucky to have doctors to heal and medicine to treat. Knowing the wellness will come. What I am experiencing is just life. Living. The good and bad. Life is full of good and bad and just regular. Some would give a lot for more days like this.

So I feel renewed and refreshed and actually lucky. The girls are playing with the barbie dream house coughing but happy.

We'll make our Valentine cards I saw online. May have to use a little photoshop to cover the dark circles and spots on their faces from all the coughing but it will be fun.

Today is going to be a good day. Maybe tomorrow we'll get to the orthodontist?

Groundghog day...

You know that movie Groundhog day? A lot of people love it. Not me. It drove me nuts to see the same stuff happening over and over. This week was groundhog day- the real one. But my life is starting to feel like the movie... this week I got a very sore throat, then I threw my back out and spent the week in bed. By Thursday I had just had it. My throat and back were getting worse and I finally went to the doctor. I got muscle relaxers and antibiotics. I had strep throat. No wonder I felt awful and wasn't getting better. Please tell me illness will leave for good because I really do hate seeing the same stuff over and over. Did I mention both twins just started a croupy cough and fever? We're home sick from church today.

So I have been stuck in bed watching a lot of t.v. I thought I would share two of my favorite netflix series. Friday night lights, which was recommended from my sister in law Lisa. This show is still running but I played catch up with netflix all summer. I loved it. The second is Chuck. I think they are currently airing season 3 but I just started season 2 on dvd. This is a fun light spy show. I also really enjoy a series on Mtv called Teen Mom. It started as a show called 16 and pregnant ( a new series of this starts in a week or so) and then followed the Mom's in the first year of motherhood (now called Teen Mom). I found this show addicting. I was so interested. It is sad to see the disfuctional relationships and family backgrounds but interesting to see the real drama and challenges they were facing.

SO there you have it. Last week was spent flat on my back watching good t.v. Do you have any favorite t.v series?

Oh and don't ask me how but I got all the girls stuff up on ebay. You can check it out here. Twins ebay

It started with a phone call...

You know the one we never want to get...

"Mom I feel sick".
Not sure you believe her you ask if she can wait a bit. After all you have a friend playing with the twins and people scheduled to arrive in 15 minutes to visit.
"no" she emphasizes.

So you call the friend and drop the three girls to her house. Cancel the visit. Still wondering if you were taken for a ride.

Pick up said child (who looks Grey by the way). To prove she is not faking she needs three emergency stops to throw up the whole way home. The stomach flu has invaded! If your like me this strikes fear in your heart. If you have four kids (or any kids for that matter) you know how it works. If it hits one it will hit all. You can look forward to many sleepless nights filled with violent puking and the washing machine working overtime. If your lucky you will get it too and no one will take care of you.

And so it goes.
Lindsey spent the day puking, and freezing and aching poor dear. Fast forward to the next day. As I am heading off to the gym (at 9pm) I hear Sydney cry and its all too familiar. She is sick too.

Now mind you I am no first timer with these kind of bugs and went in prepared. First I removed the comforters to all the beds (they are a beast to wash) and then each child sick or not sick was made to sleep with a bowl. They were also given instructions on what to do if they feel sick at all.


So back to my story (you may be wishing for me not to continue but I promise your kids won't catch it just from reading about it). Sydney was puking (my twins go more violent than most when they get this type of bug) every 15-30 min for over an hour when Hailey sat up and declared if she heard one more throw up she would puke too. So she did. It was at this time that Alan headed upstairs realizing the situation was escalating. So there we were two bowls, two pukers, it was going to be a long night. Except all the sudden I thought I felt sick. I barely made it the bathroom and realized I was quite sick (I'll spare you the details). So I spent my night in the bathroom miserable, achy and very sick hearing Alan spend his night waking every 15-20 minutes with two very very sick twins. It lasted non relenting till 7am. Mind you he is not trained for such feats as I go easy on him and always take that duty, but every time I would hear a cry and try to help it hit me worse. So I could not.


Sunday rolled around and the kids seemed somewhat improved though weak and tired. I, however, still could not get out of bed. The body aches and nausea were still overwhelming me. I spent the entire day and night without leaving my room. Monday at 4am I woke and realized the body aches were gone. I was left with weakness and a queasy stomach which was bad but an improvement. I slept a bit longer and at 7am struggled out of bed to survey the situation. I found Alan doubled over in the bathroom, three girls each who had thrown up again (probably from overindulging on a weak stomach) and a boy who looked quite fine but claimed he was too sick for school. I was too weak to care and scooped up the twins and went back to bed. At 10am I woke to find Alan, myself and the twins all in bed asleep. Lindsey in her room asleep and Jacob happily playing video games. It appeared he had missed school while still unscathed and again we were all too weak to care. The day was spent with Alan in bed experiencing my previous days torture. I slowly tried to do the basics. Wash what needed to washed, feed who had to be fed and that was it. As evening rolled around Jacob's day was ruined when he too succumbed to the beast that is the stomach flu. He brought in the tail end to the most horrible, violent, fast moving stomach flu we have ever seen. Thank goodness its over. I almost felt relief as he got it. Knowing that while it would be a long sleepless night it was the end in sight.

Today sheets are washing in hot water and small mild meals prepared.

Things I am grateful for while sick..
Mom's getting sick on the weekend!
Alan who took on the twins sick and all day Sunday when I was in bed.
Sisters who brought sprite and Gatorade.
Text messages to check if were still living.
Soup and meals dropped by Grandparents.
Good books. I read fire the sequel to Graceling in two days! Mostly Monday. Sunday I could barely keep my eyes open!
T.v and video games which entertained the children.
meals of just toast, toast and more toast. No one can eat.
and lastly but most of all the good health we have now its returned.

The stomach flu really is miserable!

The day there was sun...

Started with repaving of our road. If you wanted to drive your car that day you had to get your car out by 7am. I opted out on that one. Who needs to drive when one can walk with four kids, right? It was also the only day we sun actual sunshine last week. My house needed a lot of attention anyway so we spent it cleaning and doing chores...
You see that 25 mile an hour speed limit sign? Yeah apparently its invisible to all. No one ever seems to follow it, even with my four little children on the side walk.



The twins room was a hazard. Even they were complaining. It took most of my day. I could do seperate post about their room. How I clean it, how they wake up before the sun and destroy it. How I clean it again and then they destroy it. Then I go on strike and won't clean it. Then it gets like this. We are all unhappy. I give in and clean it. Then Hailey always declares that she will never ever let it get messy like that again. Until the next morning before the sun, it does. It's just so fun to empty all the drawers, and toys and things. EVERY SINGLE DAY!



The kids have chore lists this summer. I declare its more work than ever for me. But its for the good, its for the good, right? I did manage to entertain the twins with vacuuming the baseboards for the better part of an hour. Which made the house stay picked up for one hour longer that day.
This is the lunch you might have if you are out of food. Can't go to the grocery store because the thought of going with kids is very scary. Don't worry I went on Monday. Oh and Egg Salad is delicious to my kids so it was a real treat. While making lunch I received a phone call I was waiting four yrs for, My sister in law, had a clean scan and was declared officially Cancer free. I cried tears of joy in all the egg salad.


I was so tired by days end. Which is beginning to be the norm of all my summer days. Alan came home and declared he wanted to do something fun. So I sent Jacob along with him golfing. Apparently driving a golf cart and helping your Dad golf is like going to heaven.


When summer began Alan declared to the kids "no more bed times". After spending just one day home with the kids, with not one single break for myself, I quickly put my foot down on that one. Bed times were negotiated in my contract.

For the love of bugs....

Looks like she is drinking something wonderful....

Don't be fooled...


The love of bugs and "roly polies" has taken over they're every thought.


and to them it is wonderful.


The sun has opened up a whole new world for you both this spring. The pull to go outside is almost obsessive. Keeping you in the back yard has become a new challenge. I often find you sneaking outside without permission. It makes me uneasy. Two people always waiting for me to let my guard down so you can escape.

On being a mother.....

The fruits of my many labors....


Mother's day I woke up to breakfast in bed. Four excited children handing me their home made gifts. I decided resolutely to enjoy my mother's day morning and read in bed. Not too long into my morning relaxation screams were heard downstairs. I went downstairs, and as usual, I paid a price for my inattention. The once clean living room was scattered with toys. A class picture had been torn in half right through my Jacob's face. I found myself in tears.

Ten years ago, on Mother's Day, I brought my first child home from the hospital. It seemed fitting to bring her home on that day. To embark on my journey as a mother, on that day. Lindsey was so small and so much work. I felt experienced and ready as I prepared for her birth. I had been a nanny. I knew a lot about kids. I was ready. I remember carrying my bundle up into our tiny apartment. Laying my little one on her changing table, as I attempted to pull of her hospital onesie,(which was under her outfit) it would not go over her head. I panicked. How would I remove it without hurting her? I tried and tried and failed. Soon I was reduced to tears begging my Mom to stay the night. I felt overwhelmed, unprepared and I was scared. I had no idea what I was doing. Lindsey wasn't nursing well. After many failed attempts, doctors visits, and lots of money with lactation specialists it was decided that I would pump and feed her bottles. I was set on nursing and very disappointed in this failure but she wasn't gaining weight and so it wasn't optional. I had tried all the options available. Many doctors told me I couldn't pump and maintain my milk supply but I did. In fact I had enough to feed several babies. This went on for 13 full months. I pumped in airport bathrooms, cars, and it pretty much ruled my life, along with feeding and caring for a small child that is. It was hard. I was learning as I went. I was introduced to colic, nap schedules and sleepless nights. Slowly I felt more confident as a mother, slowly we got to know each other. I look back as these memories and it seems like a million years ago. I have since become a much more confident mother, a more skilled person. I am not unsure or scared, most of the time. I wonder how mothering just one child seemed so hard and so difficult and I remember I have grown and changed as a person. I am better equipped to be where I am. I have life experience. When the twins were born early and needed breastmilk to be pumped, I was an expert. I did not question the process or my ability to do it.

Mothering can be relentless, exhausting and full of drudgery. It can also be unlimited joy and blessings. Sometimes I feel like I haven't done much but when I look back ten years ago, to that young girl, I don't recognize her. Now- I am more confident. I am more talented. I am better.

Today I appreciate my children, my blessing in being a Mother. The ability experience great frustration along with great amounts of joy and laughter. Many days are hard and I do struggle. In the end, I know its all worthwhile. Growth is happening for me and for them. The time is passing. Like sands through a glass its moving forward. In ten years time I will look back and find myself in a very different place once again. I hope to have a better ability to find more joy in the now, because its fleeting. Moments pass to quickly and are never to return.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you. I learn from your examples. I am inspired by all of you and I benefit from all of your support.

Wordful Wednesday- On back then........

I remember when the twins were little and I had four kids 5 and under (twins, 2 yr old and 5yr old). I couldn't get anything done. I couldn't go many places without help. Even Costco was a real feat and its pretty much the only place I ever attempted to do and I still took my Mom. I rarely talked to friends, I never read books or watched t.v (unless I was nursing or pumping). My house was a mess, the laundry wasn't done, and I was rarely ever in anything but sweats. My days were spent nursing (with two babies it took a while), changing and feeding. There weren't any girls nights out, unless you count that me and the twins outnumbering Alan a girls night. Because we spent most of our evening walking the floors, the four of us, with crying-lots of crying. As the sun would go down dread would enter my body. Those long evenings with two fussy babies were hard, then when midnight hit and the girls often didn't sleep and I spent so many nights desperately tired. Feeding them and praying they would just stay asleep. Every morning when the sun rose I felt renewed. I could do it another day, I knew I could. Maybe today would be the day everything felt easier? And day by day it did get easier. Sometimes I have a bad day (like today) and life seems too busy and overwhelming( because with four kids it still is) and I think back to those days and I think how did I do that?

Well there were a few unsung hero's who carried me through this time.

A group of women in Lindsey Kindergarten class who heard I had twins, and did not know me, offered to drive Lindsey to and from school. I cry remembering that. A simple act of service for someone they did not know.

My mother. She listened to me when I needed a friend and a outlet. She cheered me on and she sympathized. We all were so grateful to get our babies here safely. She came over to give me naps and recognized I often needed companionship as much as sleep. So we talked instead of slept. She was ready to take me anywhere I needed. We loaded three car seats up several times and went to the doctor, Costco, getting my driver's license. I couldn't go anywhere quite yet without her help. She was there for me any time I needed her.

My Inlaws also came over and gave me naps and walked the floors with twins. The brought food. The offered date nights. Watching all four of my kids in those evenings was almost too much for them or anyone for that matter, with the twins fussing all the time. Not to mention, before the twins were born they lived in California. The pushed their retirement plans into fast forward and moved close to us.

Alan. He worked long hours and still walked the floors with me every night. I longed for weekends because he took the middle of the night feedings. It was amazing to get 5 hrs of sleep.

It's memories like this that make me realize anything worthwhile takes sacrifice. I never questioned or felt discouraged about my girls once they were here. The journey to get them here was so difficult I knew I could do anything after we made it through that.

Today I can read a book. Run an errand alone (when they are in preschool). I get dressed, I wear make up. I am involved in volunteering.

My house is still often messier than I want. I still never feel caught up and I still have those days were the girls cry way too much and I need a time out. But my good days outweigh my bad and it's better... it's much better.

Today..........

I got a call from the school on my way to the orthodontist because Jacob looked like this

So I dosed him up on benedryl and had to take three kids to the orthodontist. Fun.

Then we stopped at The Rack (to make a return I promise).
and were all rewarded with Five guys and a burger. If you haven't tried it you really should. Just don't blame me when you gain five pounds because if you have one you will have another, I promise.

We came home to finally have our ceiling repaired. It looked cool like this because
http://our-munchkins.blogspot.com/2009/03/not-so-welcome-home.html


Then Jacobs eyes began to get red and itchy again. Mystery still unsolved on this one. Never had hay fever before, we didn't change laundry soap or any other thing. He didn't eat anything new either. Go figure.

Today...

I woke up...
Ran kids to school.
Shoveled the snow off the driveway (45 minutes worth of work).
Made breakfast cleaned it up.
Cleaned house.
Folded laundry.
Made phones calls (at the same time).
Ran to school to drop off toy that was forgotten for sharing day. Dropped off ski stuff for Lindsey to avoid another trip back.
Dropped twins at preschool.
Went to the grocery store.
Realized I forgot a snow hat for Lindsey- borrowed one and ran back to the school.
Came home vacuumed house.
Showered.
Picked up preschool.
Made hot chocolate and set out bought treats for a mother daughter get together here from 2:30-4.
Now I have a lull till I have to...
Pick up skiing Lindsey.
Make dinner.
Basketball pics and Game for Jacob
Try to muster the energy to get to the gym tonight.

WHEW!

Don't you hate days like this?

Oh and I need major helping uploading video. I took a small video. Well its bigger but not out of control big... I click on the film strip and wait and wait and even overnight it won't upload. It won't upload to youtube either. The file is a AVI file and is 284 MB. HELP!

Menu Planning...

As mentioned in a previous post... I hate making dinner. I think its because I am a poor planner and my family is very picky. So to combat that and because making dinner can't be optional I tried to organize the whole process.

First I sat down with Alan and made a list of dinners (he is picky too).
Then I listed all the things I needed to make them, plus snacks, breakfast and lunch items. Oh and with Christmas around the corner the extra stuff to make and enjoy too.

I then set out to first Target to finish off the Christmas shopping I bragged was done (its never really done).
Then onto the grocery store and finish with Costco. All in one day, mistake #1.

All organized and bought I have tons of food. Fridge needs to be cleaned out etc... The twins were terrors at Costco and the store was a zoo (mistake #2). I put them down for nap time and laid on the couch in defeat. We are going out for dinner tonight.

In seriousness I am putting the list of meals down (ingredients are bought for all) as they are used they will be crossed out. This way for the next 8 days I will have meals already purchased ready to prepare. I can just choose which one for which day as needed. It should work, in theory. Right? So how do you plan and prepare you meals? What makes your system easier? What do you do when someone hates the meal? Do they skip dinner? Can they make an alternate item? I'd love your thoughts.

Oh and in the interest of updates. I am getting braces on January 7th. Thanks so much for all the encouraging comments!

Mama....

This conversation took place when I was doing her hair this morning. She talks to much she almost forgets to breath.

Mama Remember last night (last night is anything that happened before today) when I was sick and my legs were broken and I could not walk and you took care of me?

Mama is Santa going to give me a good check mark or a bad one?

Mama I love your make up it makes you pretty.

Mama last night I was a princess for Halloween.

Mama I want to be a Mommy when I grow up too. I am going to have babies. Who will work at the store? I don't want to work at the store because I will be a mommy. Will you miss me when I am a mommy?

Mama I like you.

Mama do I look pretty...

Mama I have lots of names. Sydney, Sydney bear, baby B, Elizabeth, our last name (She said it but I don't share it).

and it went on Mama mama mama...
Makes all the bad stuff a little easier to deal with today.

When I grow up...

The other day I was dropping of the girls and their cousin to ballet. Cali (my niece) got out of her booster seat and unbuckled the girls from their car seats... Side note my girls have mastered buckling but not unbuckling. She unbuckled the girls and they told her "Wow are you all growed up"? To which she happily said, "yes". Hailey isn't fooled easily and wanted more info.. "so if you growed up, you can touch all the kitchen counters and drink diet coke"? To which Cali said, "No I can't touch the counters but my Daddy lets me sneak diet coke when mommy's gone".

I love hearing what is coming from the minds of little kids.

We headed out today in the rain/snow and voted. Hope you do too.

Why we need a bunk bed and poop stories...

The twins can't go to sleep together. It's like an all night slumber party that never ends. So about a year go we began the bedtime swapping and its been a routine ever since. It works like this, one of the twins (they take turns) goes to sleep in Jacob's bottom bunk when they are both asleep I move them back together so they can wake together and so I can see when they get up (they walk past my room to get downstairs). A few times we have forgotten to switch them and having them sneak downstairs is not pleasant. Anyway, last night when I arrived home from Volunteering at the hospital I went to check on the girls they had been put back together and were sleeping in each others beds. After I fell asleep I heard crying. Sydney had crawled in bed with Hailey and Hailey wasn't happy. So I put Hailey back in her bed or tried to because when I did she squealed because it was wet. So Sydney wet Hailey's bed and then crawled in bed with Hailey (wet under wear and all). Needless to say Hailey was less than thrilled.

Later in the morning I had this conversation with Sydney:
Me- Why are you wearing different p.j's?
Sydney-Because of the poop?

Great. Two wet beds and poop somewhere. My life is glamorous.

Fighting a good fight...

I mentioned in my birthday post that I had my house clean and the laundry done. These scenerio happens too rarely. Like months apart. So now its all clean I feel myself fighting to keep in clean. To stay on top of it all. The very first night of my clean bathroom I discovered the twins locked in the bathroom, "going potty". I nearly broke down the door to find, five paper cups filled with Mr. Bubble and being filled with water and hot pink on my new white carpets. Next day it was the twins and bathroom again and the a bar of soap being wet and wiped all over the bathroom. Then there is just the basic fights. Doing laundry like mad to make the baskets not be full again. The floor that was mopped covered in rain wet foot prints. The morning cereal that ends up in every room of my house. Rinsing the bathtub and wiping it out after baths. Wiping everything with lysol wipes constantly. The toothpaste that is stuck getting unstuck nightly. A wet bed. Am I really doing myself any favors here trying to keep it clean or am I just making myself more mad, you decide?

Fun...

Making time for fun, just fun is hard for me. I always feel the things I need done weighing on me. I admit to needing to have some down time. I hate being gone every single day, deadline after deadline. Today I made plans to go to the discovery museum with a friend. I hated to leave the tasks I needed to do undone. To give up my only non scheduled day. I almost canceled and did not go. Yet somehow as I sat there watching my girls (who will soon be grown up) I realized its more important to take time to play to have fun then to always be getting stuff done. It's a balance and I am working on finding it. I just don't want to spend all my time cleaning etc that I miss the moments of enjoyment and fun I can have with my kids while they are young enough to enjoy it with me. I let others get that opportunity way too much. Last night we went swimming while Lindsey did swim team and today we played. I still had time for laundry and cleaning too. Thanks Hillary for helping me stop and do that today.

I know when I look back upon these years I won't remember how clean my house only the moments and memories I spend with my kids.

Ps-Please tell my twins to stop making play time at 4:30am. Yes they turn on the lights and begin playing in the middle of the night. A lot. See its all about balance and that is off balance.

Wordful Wednesday...

Wordful Wednesday
You can visit more Wordful Wednesday posts from Seven Clown Circus!



The saddest pictures you have ever seen ...
I cried dropping my girls off at their first day of Preschool.


Then I went to run errands. Alone. I started to feel less sad. Maybe even a little free. It wasn't long. I think after the drive time I had an hour or so alone. It's just three days a week. The girls were over the moon. Dressed with "pack packs" and feeling like big girls. Kindergarten is still eons away (right)?