Teething Times

Baby is teething and will not sleep. THis rough on mom which is threfore rough on the other children because I send them to their rooms for long periods of quiet time so that I can "help" Baby get some much needed sleep.
Usually kids sneak out of said quiet time after they get bored, and they get themselves into trouble like raiding the frozen blueberries or flooding the bathroom.
THen mom has a meltdown, and tries to think happy thoughts so she doesn't go buy cages to lock up her children in.
The End.

A New Beginning

I wash dishes when it is dark
and I am tired
I hang up tutus and
scattered dress-up attire
I gather up scattered socks and underwear
and kiss the brows of those
who left them everywhere

I tuck tired toes and elbows
back underneath
their quilts
and beloved blankies

I wipe away crumbs and
sweep up the dirt
I cry bitter tears for harsh words said
and time ill-spent
I push away fears
of failing them

And then my own mother's words
come back to me
washing over me, so soothingly.
"Each day, each hour, each minute
Is a New Beginning."

Overload

This might be a little of a picture overload because I haven't been very good about putting up pictures of the girls and updating on their wonderful little lives.

Katie did dance lessons this spring, and LOVED it (surprise, surprise). She is so talented. I am pretty sure she was the BEST dance there. And I'm not just biased (okay, maybe I am just a little bit.)

Gracie was very disappointed that dance lessons were just for big girls (3 and older). She watched on the sidelines and practiced every step and memorized every song.

 kindred spirits if there ever was such a thing

I don't think any of us love on this baby quite as much as Katie does. she can't focus on anything if Amelia is in the room. Boy, does she love on her all the time.

my little darlings

(the only half way decent picture of all of them)

sometimes a girl just needs a frog

"Jumpy"

I had to document Grace enjoying her German Pancakes. She asks for German Pancakes EVERY. SINGLE. MORNING.  I kid you not. I don't make them for her every morning, but probably 3 times a week, I give in.

I made this dress out of a really cute shirt and a pair of leggings. I really liked how it turned out. She's grown into it more now.

Birthday/Mother's Day Extravaganza. So spoiled. Cookies and Cream cake. YUM

Amelia thinks she is really funny, hilarious in fact, when she rolls under the coffee table.

me and my handsome man on my birthday

beautiful girl

forever picking flowers.

just enjoying movie night treats

yes, you are right. There is something wrong with this picture. Those eyebrows are darker and thicker than normal...someone got into makeup. I laughed myself silly over this one. Pictures don't do it justice... but not bad for a 4 year old and a first try.

new bedtime entertainment. Katie discovered she could make shadow puppets when her lamp was turned on. Of course she didn't know that's what they were called when she discovered her new ability.

all tuckered out.

two little snuggle bugs.

no comment

again, no comment

we learned about the water cycle and snow today for preschool, (yes, a swimsuit is the dress code for our preschool, rain or shine). then we made an indoor snowman (shaving cream and baking soda)

G for Grace of course.

sometimes big sisters have to practice their handwriting on your face (and makeup skills too). Grace actually was pretty proud of her "makeup"

Whose Team Am I On?

Today was not a good mothering day. I was angry more than I want to admit. My patience only lasted until about noon. And then I let things get to me. I punished and punished some more. I threatened, and lectured, and withdrew. Not a good day for anyone.

I always try to remind myself to work with my kids instead of against them, but today I was focused on me. I was focused on what I wanted--on what I thought I needed. I was on my own team, playing against them.

Tonight as I was cleaning up the dinner dishes, I thought to myself. Whose team am I on anyway? I definitely wasn't playing for my kids' team today. And that wasn't any fun for any of us.

We have so many happy moments in our home. So many times where my kids laugh at my silly voices or little dance moves. Times where my heart melts because these cute little girlies are pretending like nobody's business. Sweet snuggling moments reading books together. Great adventures in the backyard. Times full of curiosity, experiments, and learning. Teaching moments and growing moments.

And today I missed out on that because I was focused on what I wanted to happen or what I thought was more important. A friend of ours once told us, speaking of marriage, but I think it applies to life in general, that "a little bit of selfishness goes a long way." It sure does. It drives us apart and sets us up for disharmony and discontent.

Well, here's to tomorrow. A fresh day. A fresh start. A day with no mistakes in it.

In the Spring Time

Distractions

 

I do this:

“Not knowing how to feed the spirit, we try to muffle it’s demands in distractions.  Instead of stilling the center, the axis of the wheel, we add more centrifugal activities to our lives—which tend to throw us off balance.” - Anne Morrow LIndberg.

I don't want to do that. I want to SIMPLIFY. SIMPLIFY. SIMPLIFY.

I need to BE STILL. 

 "And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a asepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre."

 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Happy Easter!

A Whirlwind March

Older sisters do strange things to their little sisters.

We took a quick trip to MT for a funeral...I was really happy my kids got to get in lots of Granny Time. I am pretty sure you can't put a price on Granny Time.

Being in the van for long periods of time tends to bring out the weirdness in us all.

Playing in the snow at Granny's house. THe girls were excited about the snow, but they were excited to get back to where it is spring.

We live on the edge of the field where rainbows end. It is wonderful.