School Blues and Life's Blessings

I'm feeling a little sad. G starts pre-k next week. I feel like it took me 4 years to decide to be SAHM. And now I'm about to lose her every morning already. Not that I didn't feel the conflict the ENTIRE 4 years, but I just loved working, too. I craved that creative outlet. I also felt so incredibly responsible for my employees, liked being able to contribute to our family income, etc, etc, etc.  Many of the same feelings most working moms feel I'm sure. But it just started to feel too much like "work" lately. Too much pressure, too much chaos, and I felt like my kids and hubby were paying the price.

Well, when I finally made the jump, I'm just kicking myself for not doing it earlier. I can't believe how much I've gotten done in a month!! And, this is with still keeping a select few client projects and working 1 day a week while the kids play with MawGaw or Grandma. I'm really excited about how I may have finally found my version of 'balance.' I truly love just watching the kids play at home. I love that things have stayed 'fairly' picked up in our once out of control chaotic home. I love that we've had supper before 7:30 every night. I love that I actually sent their school paperwork in by the deadline instead of finding it on my messy desk 3 days late :) I love not having to dash off to check my computer every 15 minutes to check on clients/projects when I'm at home with them. I think that's why, even with my previously flexible schedule I never felt free to just play with them. I always had things hanging over my head...clients waiting for proofs....bookwork that needed to get done....printers with questions....phone calls to return....I just feel so much less guilt now.

I also feel very, very, very blessed to have the ability to be able to make that choice at all. I thank God for my hard-working hubby.  A man who, while I was running a business, would work a 12 hour day at his own family business and then come home to do ALL of our family's laundry at night while I would make sure there would be dinner for us on the table (yes, I actually had to have him teach me how to work our washing machine), and then would equally help bathe and get little ones to bed. I guess I'm a little late to the game, but I'm determined to make up for lost time. My goal is less stress for all of us. So yes, I'm a little sad about G going to school next week already, but my comfort is knowing I'll have every afternoon with them both now!

Sewing

My first "real" sewing project. Used a pattern, did a gazzilion ruffles. Took way too long, but I loved doing it!

Overheard

My kiddos have said some funny things this week. Thought I should write them down before I forget :)

In the car Sunday I heard Grace (4) showing Samuel (2) her Unicorn pillow pet.
Grace: "Samuel, this white thing in the front is called a Corn. It's special because only Unicorns have a Corn in the front."
Me (from the front seat): "honey, actually that white thing is called a Horn."
Grace: "then why is it called a UniCORN??"
Me: "Ummm, well, I'm not really sure."
Grace, pauses, then: "OK, Samuel, this white thing in the front is called a Corn." :)

Tonight I was reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar for the gazillionth time to Samuel. He likes to ask me about everything on each page, but tonight he was focusing on the cover.

Samuel: "What's that?"
Me: "His body"
Samuel: "What's that?"
Me: "His hair" (yes, on the cover the caterpillar has tiny little hairs all over it's back)
Samuel: "What's that?"
Me: "His eyes"
Samuel: "What's that?"
Me: "His antennae"
(Pause as Samuel looks up at me like I'm a little crazy)
Samuel: "Mommy, that is NOT Aunt Hannah"

Antennae, Aunt Hannah....whatever. Lets go to bed.

Lazy (Busy) Summer Days

So I'm starting to get into SAHM mode. It's an adjustment. I'm still working about 2 days a week, but am winding things down more each week.

Today is hot, hot, hot, so we've spent most of the day inside.

Today was somewhat eventful. Last night at dinner we all thought we saw Samuel stick a pea up his nose (why child do you constantly do that?). Well, we couldn't see it, and Tommy was convinced it came out, so we didn't think to much of it again. Fast forward to this morning. Kiddos are playing (wrestling) and I hear "mom, I see THAT pea in Samuel's nose!". She was right, sure enough I could barely see it lodged up in there. I boil some water for the saline nasal rinse, get the little guy pinned down, although he really didn't squirm much...I think he wanted it out. After about 5 squirts up the opposite nostril it still wasn't out. This worked like a charm with the macaroni noodle last time. So out come the tweezers, that didn't work, so I messed with a toothpick. Went back to the tweezers, and FINALLY, wala....out came a great big pea.

Spent some time gathering items in the basement and loading the car up for the Garage Sale this weekend to raise legal funds for our Quarry fight. 

Then Grace opened a package from GG (my grandma). We just love GG. She sends the kids packages in the mail every week. They love opening them, and look forward to getting "their" mail. Well today GG had great intentions, but oh my it didn't end well. She packaged up and sent a row of those freezer pops that are purchased as those long clear tubes of liquid and you put them in the freezer. Grace opened the package then proceeding to carry it across the living room and into the bedroom where I was. She had no idea that one of the packages somehow got sliced open and she was leaving a huge trail of sticky RED liquid everywhere around her.  

Grace is on outfit number 6 today, I kid you not. If she isn't a fashion designer someday I'll be shocked. She climbs up on her stepstool so she's eye level in her closet, then she takes things out one by one in her closet. At 9 this morning she was in her her favorite silver sparkly dress, silver tights, a silver bolero, and black patent leather shoes. It's the "daddy-daughter dance" dress she picked out at a consignment shop last year. At 3 pm she's in a pink sleeveless tutu dress. She's a piece of work.

Then Grace and I made banana bread for the first time while Samuel slept. 

I did actually shower...it was 2:00, but still, I do have makeup on before 5 pm.

Welcome to life as a stay-at-home-mom (or maybe more appropriately...domestic diva)!

Photo Shoot

The fabulous Cheri Harris from Simply Stated Photography shot the kids Friday morning. Initially I scheduled it to document Samuel being 2, but we ended up doing both kids, and even a couple of me with them, yikes!

It was a fantastic shoot, and watching her video makes me tear up every time!!

Click here to go to the Video Link.

Here are a few of the proof shots of my sweet babies.

Big #2

Today my baby turned 2 years old. I just can't believe it...how time flies. I thought I should document some of the brilliant things he can do.

• Knows all his colors, (even the odd ones) and has known them since he was 18 months
• Can say the ABCs
• Talk in complete and total sentences. On the way to the lake we stopped to get orange push-ups. But when I went in to get them Tommy gave Samuel some pretzels. Well I got back and he promptly spit out everything in his mouth and said, "mommy Can You wipe me?" I said, "Samuel, why did you spit that out??" He said, "Because I want-ted an orange push up instead." really??! What brand new 2 year old uses an 8 word sentence and uses the concept "instead" correctly?
• He laughs very easily
• LOVES the soundtrack to "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." Particularly the Pharroh song. He knows every word.
• Also fond of Beyonce's "Put a ring on it", LOL. Calls it the "Circus Song" because they played it when we were at the circus
• Is pitch perfect when singing
• Huge momma's boy. He want me all the time, and cries if I'm not the one putting him to bed.
• He loves to rub my finger ;) It is almost like his security blanket. When rocking or in the car, he always asked for my "finger" then he rubs the tips of his fingers against my thumb and finger 
• Is really getting into trains.
• loves, loves, loves, loves basketball. Started when we watched a few of Allie's games, and now he wants any shirt with numbers on it so he can have a 'basketball shirt on.' There's a few shirts he even insists we put on backwards so he can "see" the number.
• doesn't understand why his sister can wear dresses and he can't

Discipline

Our mom's bible study group is doing a discipline study. We are reading and discussing Dr. Dobson's "The New Dare to Discipline." I love meeting with these amazing women every week. This study feels timely to me, as boy do I need some guidance. I'm very proud of my kiddos. They are generally sweet, polite, caring children. They are kind to others, and help me out around the house. However, like all parents, we have moments of challenge. Samuel, in his terrible twos, occasionally (and most often publicly) throws his whole body onto the floor and screams if something he doesn't like happens. And Grace....

Yesteday was one of those challenging mornings with my sweet girl. Too bad we're only on Chapter 3 of our study :). It was Sunday. We got up, made pancakes, planned to go to 9:15 church. I got Samuel's clothes ironed and ready, then onto Grace. I've learned lately that the little fashionista does pretty well with choices. Left to her own devices, she would wear her favorite shimmery silver sparkle dress (consignment shop find), white tights and black patent leather shoes, and pink tiara, EVERYWHERE. So, I try to lay out 2-3 choices and let her pick from those. Works pretty well most of the time.

Yesterday, I had out 2 dresses to choose from for church, she picks one, all is well with the world....until we get to the shoes. She's on a kick (no pun intended) that her shoes HAVE to match her clothes. Even though it is May, yesterday was a cold 40° rainy and ick morning.  We were in a full out battle over flip flops.  Me, "no, you cannot wear green flip flops to church, even if they do have a fancy sparkle in the middle, it's just too cold" Grace, "BUT THE WHITE ONES DON'T MATCH (cry hysterically)." Me, "my sweet darling girl, here are 3 pairs of closed shoes, you can pick any of them to wear, but you can't wear flip flops to church in 40° weather." Grace, "BUT THESE AREN'T GREEEEEEEEN (more hysterical crying)." Imagine back and forth about 10 times, literally down to minutes before we need to leave for church, and I'm still in my bathrobe.

Finally I throw up my hands, "I'm done, you can wear one of my choices or go without any shoes today" and I leave the room. I find Tommy shaving, and demand that he take care of his daughter since I'm done fighting. I let him know her choices are mine or nothing, and I quickly head off to get myself ready. About 5 minutes later I hear Grace marching down the hall (in the proper shoes I picked out) with her dad, and I hear very distinctly, "Daddy, isn't Mommy Lazy today. We're all ready to leave for church, and she's not even dressed yet." Ha! Lazy, my child, is not the word I had in mind.

Fast forward about 7 hours. We're getting ready for Alicia's graduation party (congrats Alicia). Tommy is at Pointfest the heavy metal all-day concert, so the kids and I have been just hanging out in our sweats. Grace wanted to put on a dress again. Fine, no problem. She heads to her room, and comes back fully decked out. Adorable Matilda Jane dress, only problem is she has perfectly matching wide ruffle pants underneath. I do love this look, but today it was a head-to-toe-in-your-face-exact-same floral pattern. Not a big deal, but I kindly suggested that maybe we wear the pants with a top, or the dress with tights, but that both together was maybe a little much. She ponders this for a minute. Looks down and says, very seriously, "Mommy, no one will throw me out with the trash for wearing this outfit."

I truly couldn't disagree with that reasoning, so off we went the way she was.

...and don't worry, the shoes matched perfectly.

looooove

I cannot STAND to go into Walmart. For some reason, when I go through those doors, I get all glossy eyed, and overwhelmed. There's always too many people, too much to look at, and I ALWAYS leave without something I needed. I typically either 1. forget my list 2. never made a list or 3. a child has eaten the list. So, listless I wander down the crowded isles, fighting the unfriendly, pushy people. (I find the Walmart smiley face ironic since the only smiles I see there are from the elderly greeter at the door.) I know I could be saving my family booku bucks, so I really do try to shop there on occasion, but, then I get there and am just frustrated. Their organic selection is embarrasing. Seriously, I know that in Southeast Missouri, there isn't the high demand from organic households, but is it too much to ask to have yogurt, or a few measly vegetables? All I could find was a bag of spinach, and milk...oh, and canned tomato sauce that is probably BPA-infused from the can lining. 

The kiddos also seem to sense the crowded environment, and I see their little eyes peering curiously at all the racks and aisles. The want to break loose. I can see it. About half-way through the trip, I get the "let me out" chant. It usually continues at increasing volume, until I "let them out." Then I end up chasing them (specifically Samuel) down the long aisles (still filled with people). I'm thinking, why in the world did I let them out?? Then I remember the scream/chant I just endured.......ugh. So, can you tell we were at Walmart today? Tommy was along, so that was a little better. Then we ran into Aunt Natalie and Allie (or rather we watched as our 2 kids screamed and ran down the long main aisle after they spotted them from afar). Then, as we're checking out and I'm thinking WHY did we come here again, I see my precocious almost-2-year old lean over from the back of the cart to the front where his sister was sitting, wrap his little arms tightly around her neck, and say very loudly...."Gracie, I looooooooove you!!" Awww. Heart melt. Good thing we came to Walmart today or I would have missed out on this joyful celebration of sibling love :)

Royal Wedding Day

Last Friday was a big day in our house. Royal wedding day. Prince William and Kate Middleton were getting married. I AGONIZED over which station to DVR overnight so that I would get the best coverage (I didn't love wedding day enough to get up at 3 am....I do have my limits). Although I was tempted to set my alarm just to get up, see THE dress, and go back to sleep!

Grace has worn the same outfit pretty much all of the last week, and woke up in it again this morning, and it just so happens to be particularly fitting for the royal occasion. Grandma gave her these fancy jammies last week for Easter. She has jazzed them up "Grace-style" with a pink shrug, fluffy pink dress up shoes, and a pink tiara that says "Princess Grace."

Watching the unbelievable royal wedding crowds. Note the pink tiara on the table.

 My favorite thing about having two early risers (three if you count my crazy 4:30 am waking husband), is that they love to crawl in my bed and snuggle in the morning. It's one of the best times of my day, even if it's just for 5 minutes. On this day, Grace came wandering in with her fancy shoes and tiara in hand. She seemed to sense it was a big day! We cuddled for a few minutes and watched the vows on TV, then as I got breakfast ready, she was literally glued to the set. So sweet. She was awestruck...kept asking if we could go to London to meet the princess (A recent Disney trip has jaded the princesses are unapproachable idea).

Kissing the Princess...awwww.

As if on que, just as the beautiful new princess and her prince stepped onto the balcony, my little princess had to go plant a kiss on the television set. I just love her sweet little dangly feet. I think all of us had royal fever this week. Who doesn't love a good love story?

Trying this out...

I'm bad. My kids say the cutest things, and they are forever lost in the back of my brain. I "think" I'll come home and write them down...or keep a very organized notebook like my clever sister-in-law. But to no avail. I try to remember at night what all we did and said to share with my sweet hubby, but again, lost. I take a million pictures, but they are all just filling up my iphoto space. I hope I can share the best ones here, so my kiddos can see someday all the fun things we do!

So, this blog is my (current) solution. We'll see how this goes. I tried a blog once when my daughter was 11 months but I wasn't good at keeping up, and sadly after my son was born it dropped off my radar completely. I like to think I'm a little more on top of things now :) I'm a mother of 2, a business owner, a crafter, and cook. I'm finding that out of necessity can juggle about 25 tasks at once, so what's one more, right?

Here goes! Join me as I navigate this life with my really cool little kiddos!