I'm Kickin' Stress Out The Door

It is really cold outside...

We are getting all kinds of beautiful snow...

And the girls have a snow day.

A lazy, stay in your pj's, get the crockpots out, play lots of rounds of Old Maid, snow day....it's a beautiful thing isn't it??

I love crockpots. Possibly the most practical kitchen appliance for the busy mom, don't ya think?

So we had a nice relaxing day here, just me and my little ladies.

And yes, I took my self imposed stress level down a much needed notch...and I didn't yell...as much :). Oh, this motherhood thing is a process isn't it? If I'm not being hard on them, I'm being hard on myself...

Geez, relax. Let's take this one sweet day at a time.

If I don't relax and de-stress, I'm going to end up in a therapy session somewhere talking about my childhood and how my yelling is somehow related to a bad perm I had in the 6th grade. Ahem...

So one of my goals is to be more patient and less stressed - they deserve that from me. And after all, this time is fleeting...I'm done wasting my time being stressed about things that don't matter near as much as my girls happiness. They're little, they're sweet, and they are truly a gift.

Well those are my random thoughts for now...

Thankyouandgoodnight.

A Cross Mother

Today has truly been a "I should be fired, with no option of re-hire" kind of day.

I so badly want to pretend that I never yell at my girls, and I never lose my patience. I want to write about bows and funny times at Target. But the only thing that I could think of tonight when I sat down at my computer was, "just confess that you've been a crappy mom today!" So there it is.

I've been a crappy mom today.

(excuse me while I go swallow my pride.)

Oh I yelled at the girls - taking my stress out on those sweet little savvies...when they don't deserve it.

So I thought I'd post a prayer/poem that my mom gave me, she kept it close while we were growing up. I'm sure some of you have read it before. It's a good one...

A Prayer For Cross Mothers

Oh God, I was so cross to the children today. Forgive me. I was discouraged and tired - and I took it out on them. Forgive my bad temper, my impatience, and most of all, my yelling. I am so ashamed as I think of it.

I want to kneel down by each of their beds, wake them and ask them to forgive me, but I can't.

They wouldn't understand. I must go on living with the memory of this awful day, and my unjust tirades.

Hours later I can still see the fear in their eyes as they scurried around trying to appease me, thinking my anger and raving was their fault.

Oh, God, the helplessness of children. Their innocence before the awful monster - the enraged adult.

And how forgiving they are, hugging me so fervently at bedtime, kissing me goodnight.

All I can do is straighten a cover, touch a small head burrowed into a pillow, and hope with all my heart that they will forgive me.

Lord, in failing these little ones that you have put in my keeping, I am failing You. Please let your infinite patience and goodness replenish me for tomorrow." -Majorie Holmes

Here We Go...

Well...

We've baked...

We've ate...

We've played in the bath...

We've opened gifts...

We've visited family...

We've played Memory...

...in which I've been beat by two 3 yr olds more times than I'd like to admit... why can't I remember where the cards are anymore!?

We've built towers...

We've posed for pictures...

We've stayed in our pj's...

We've played Hello Kitty bingo...

We've danced to Girls Just Want To Have Fun...

We've made necklaces...

We've laughed...

We've run out of things to do...

And we've broke every Slinky in the house...

I think it's time to get back to our normal routine! Oh man, it is going to be a big, freezing cold shock in the morning!!

Oh well, at least we have some sweet little faces like this to warm our hearts...

Here we go...

I'll take a Tall Nonfat Peppermint Latte, two 3yr olds, two 1yr olds, and the 75% off section at Target, please.

Thankyouverymuch.

2009 Rewind

You might want to sit down for this...

Janurary
Kinley & Raya turn 2 months old...
Octomom gives birth to 8 babies...
I decide to hit the gym again...
I start to find out our new normal isn't exactly...normal.

February
Eric and I celebrate 6 years of marriage...
I eat popcorn off the floor at Target...
The Steelers win the Superbowl...
And I embark on a journey to find a Double Baby Carrier.

March
I turn 28...
I start making more homemade baby food...
We start looking for a new home with a big backyard.

April
Reese & Charlotte turn 3...
They also join the land of going on the potty...
I feel the itch to make the jump into a photography business I've always wanted...
I think about using only cloth diapers...
And Susan Boyle changes Reality TV.

May
I start taking my camera everywhere...
I do my 1st real photo shoot...
Ella decides she wants to live for Jesus...
And the babies start cutting teeth.

June
Ella turned 5...
We put our house on the market...
I introduced our crazy crew to the pool, people stare...
And I buckled under the pressure of being a mom to many small children.

July
We celebrate the 4th...
I begin learning a lot about friendships...the good and the bad...
I start finding myself saying, "my friend that I know through blogging..."
And I realize how blessed I am from all your encouraging words, comments, and love that you all pour into my life.

August
I confess my love for pj pants...
Eric & Reese fall in a local restaurant that puts them in the ER...
We decide on an amazing and incredible preschool/academy for the girls...
And Ella has her 1st day of Kindergarten...


September
I start baking pumpkin goodies...
I write a poem about Target...
And Reese & Charlotte start preschool.

October
I'm overwhelmed with all our showings...
I decide I don't want to sell our home...
I catch the flu right before Halloween...
Our house sells.

November
Kinley & Raya turn 1...
I can't believe it...
I get some great deals on black Friday...
We move out of our home on Thanksgiving...
Move in with family, and start looking for a new home.


December
December proves to be the most stressful time in our 6 years...
I start driving 45min each way to the girls school...
Eric works around the clock...
We get an up close view of how stress can affect a marriage...
And we struggle to just keep our heads above water.

Whew! So here we are.

A new day, a new year.

Not to mention a new season of the Bachelor starting this Monday! Sorry...I'm not the only one that watches am I??

I am sooo incredibly thankful for a fresh start, and we are looking forward to seeing what God has planned for our family in 2010!!
Happy New Year!

Outside The Box

Well, give me a week without a crazy schedule, and you will find us all still in our PJ's at noon. After all, if we have no where to go, why not stay in our pj's? They are the most comfortable piece of clothing that God created, am I right? ?

Listen, it's the holidays, with all the food we have flying around here ( and I actually mean that literally), pajama pants are just practical.

Ahem...at least that's what I think...

Oh yea, I've wrote about this before. My passion for pj's runs deep. Real deep.

And let me just tell you, our girls just LOVED all their gifts this season - they can't put them down. Unless of course they are too busy spending ALL their time playing with the boxes instead of the actual toy...

That's right folks, that is your everyday "camp out in a box."

At least they brought the camera. You never know what kind of scenery you might run into inside A BOX!!

Ahem (again)...I'm not bitter. It's not like I stood in 10 degree weather at 4am on Black Friday for those toys...no no no, not me. Alright I did.

Sooooo...

I hope you all have a fabulous New Years! We are having some company over and making a some yummy food (like I need more delicious dishes laying around here!). I will post pics of our yummy appetizers.

Please be careful, and please be safe! I had to say it, it's the mom in me...

Good Times

Christmas brought great memories...

Good food (and I mean gain a few pounds good)...

Lots (too many, actually) of fun gifts...

And some incredibly cute winter accessories...

That, is some serious sweetness right there :).

Hope you all had a great holiday!

From Us...

Hope you all have a fabulous Christmas - I can't wait to read about all your holiday fun!!

Much love...

Check.

Christmas cookies, Check.

Snow outside our window, Check.

Proper attire, Check.

2 amazingly sweet babies that love wrapping paper, Check Check.

I don't know about you, but I have some excited little girls over here... :)

Is That What I Think It Is?

Wow, where have I been!? I feel like I have lost track of what day it is...and I actually have.

I thought it was Friday today, so I took goodie bags for Ella's Friday Christmas party, only to find out that I was one day ahead of the rest of the world...(or at least the rest of our town) I showed up at Ella's classroom door with a box full of goodie bags for a party that wasn't happening yet. I was a little embarrassed.

But not as embarrassed as I was yesterday when I was waiting in line for 4 prescriptions at the local store. It's quiet, people are waiting for medicine, the babies are throwing cheerios, and the older girls are running around a pole in the middle of the aisle...

Reese picks up a a box of pregnancy tests and says,

"mommy, is this the medicine you need? Here it is mommy!"

Ahem, baby put that back. Believe it or not, mommy doesn't currently need that medicine...I know it's shocking.

People chuckle, and confirm that "with as many kids as you've got here, it's no wonder she thinks you need one of those!"

Oh that's hilarious, people...no really, very original. :)

(it was kinda funny, actually)

(the perfect oppurtunity to throw out a joke)

Anyway...

Good thing this pregnancy test finder is such cutie...



Tomorrow? Christmas cookies. Pictures to follow :).

Hope everyone is having a great week!

A Good Nights Sleep

I guess I would sleep like a baby too...

If I spent all day crawling around, and licking every window in the house...

That can take a lot of energy out of you, don't ya know!? :)

Do you see her looking at me in the reflection? Cracks me up.

(A Random Post)

I know I have been missing lately - life is just a little...well, wild.

I am up to my eyeballs in laundry. But don't worry, I have more help than I need...

And I thought of taking a little bloggy break...just cause life is a little out of control...

But then who would appreciate the fact that I got pulled over yesterday, just so the Police Officer could tell me my front license plate was missing?

And who would really appreciate the fact that he pulled me over for just that, and not the fact that I was going like 72mph instead of 65?

(Maybe I was going 77.)

(Alright, I was definitely going 77.)

(And for future reference, please don't pull me over while the babies are sleeping...taking away from the few quite moments in my day....thankyouverymuch)

Sorry, I value my quiet time.

If I didn't blog, who would I tell about the old lady at Trader Joe's yesterday that asked me if I was running a nursery?

Who would laugh with me about these things!?

You ladies keep me sane, and keep me laughing. (and I really love to laugh) I love getting my thoughts out here. It's therapeutic - even if they don't make sense sometimes :).

Speaking of babies, don't you just want to squeeze this little love??? Yum.

In other news, I've been thinking that maybe I should get over myself and just accept our situation. It's not like it will last forever...even though it feels that way sometimes. Maybe I should believe what I say when I say that this is God's plan for our family - His perfect plan for this season in our life. You know, because it's a lot easier to just get on board w/ His plan than to try to make my own...my plans have holes and selfish demands.

But I just want find a house...I miss our home, Lord!!!

Ahem, Humility isn't easy, people.

I need to listen to Him more. Listening to myself talk all day is exhausting.

(even though I do make myself laugh at times.)

(and unless of course I'm talking into a Starbucks speaker ordering a Tall Skinny Peppermint Mocha. That talking is beautiful and beneficial....and delicious.)

So anyways, that's what we've been up to the past few days. Business as usual.

(if you consider living with this sweet little thing "usual".)

Hope you all are having a fabulous week!

From Her Head To Her Feet

Our little Raya is back in action...

She is full of energy - From her tough little head...

Down to her sweet little toes.

Which is good - cause Kinley needs her sidekick :)!

Please Pray For Raya

UPDATE: We are home. Raya's CT scan was clear. She got to come home with a concussion and a sore little head. We have to wake her every 3 hours, and every time I do, I thank God that I am rocking my baby at home, and not in a more tragic situation in the hospital. We are so lucky, I can't say that enough.

Raya (who only stands alone for about 2 seconds) had pulled up on the gate that was at the stairs - the lock popped open, and she literally just went face first, head over feet, down 15 steps. I saw her pull up, but right before I got to her, the gate opened and she fell. It was without a doubt, the worst 3 seconds I think I've ever had. Those gates aren't completely child proof. It was truly a "something horrific is about to happen to my baby - mom moment." I wish I could get the image out of my head.

Anyway, I am more thankful than you will ever know for your prayers, comments, and encouragement...it means the world. I will check in again, hopefully w/ some pics of our sweet little trooper :).

------------------------------------

Raya fell down a flight of stairs - she is vomiting and not herself. We are on the way to the hospital...please pray for her if you get a second...

I'm Just Going To Say It

I miss this little place...


This small house that we started our journey in just 6 years ago.

I miss my tiny laundry room...

my narrow driveway

and our kitchen table.

I miss my spice rack...

I miss our pictures on the wall...

the place on the couch where I used to sit at night and blog and edit pictures...

and I miss the "feeling" of our home.

I miss our old windows that the babies used to stand at and watch the older girls play out back...

I loved taking pictures by those windows...

But this is just a season, right?

Things will eventually go back to normal, right?

We will find another home soon, right!?!?

(at this point it's ok if you lie to make me feel better)

So what brought a good laugh and a smile tonight to this house hunter? National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.

(and chocolate covered pretzels)

(and possibly a chocolate chip cookie)

(or two.)

And the quote, "Suprised, Eddie? If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet I wouldn't be more surprised than I am right now." Hahahaha, I don't care who you are, that's funny.

Hey it's the small things, right!?

Hope you all had a great week!

Tis The Season

For Holiday Tutu's.

Now that, is some serious Holiday Sweetness. :)

These tutu's were made by Jeni over at Carabella's, you must head over there and check out all of her adorable stuff!