Our day has consisted of: 

-Playing Mr/Mrs Potato Head

-Taking MJ to preschool (today was gym and library day)

-A trip to Walmart. I carried J in my sleepwrap and E was in the front of the cart. We got so many stares/comments when people saw me-either "Is that a baby in there?" or "Oh, how cool is that?!" Some people just looked and smiled. 

-Stopping in the parking lot to feed a very hungry J Man

-running around outside after the rain storm

-coloring

-puzzles

And it's only 3 p.m.!

Not snacking

MJ decided not to eat her lunch today. So, I said, "Okay, but no snacks and don't ask for anything else if you get hungry."

MJ: "Okay Mom, I won't."

She just walked in with her hands outstretched and I asked what was on them. She said cinnamon roll stuff (I'd made Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread for breakfast.) I gave her a questioning look.

MJ: I'm not hungry, Mom; I just wanted to eat something. There's a difference.

Oh, really?

I guess that was her way of getting around what I'd said earlier about not snacking since she didn't finish her lunch. :) 

Pray for Stellan

Little Squirt

I took these photos of J in this cute sleeper from my friend Dacia and her daughter Isabel. It's hard to believe how much he's changed lately. He turned 7 weeks old yesterday. He hasn't outgrown anything yet, but he is getting close. He's much bigger than the girls were at this age. He's such a sweet boy. I'm so proud to be the momma to a son. 

Little Piggie

My Aunt Janie sent this adorable outfit to Jayten. It has this little nursery rhyme on it, "To market, to market, to buy a fat pig, home again, home again, jiggity jig!"

How cute is that?!

Artist at work

Here are some more photos from drawing with the new sidewalk chalk. It has since rained and we have a fresh canvas now. Unfortunately the weather has turned cold again.

MJ said she was drawing a cocoon. (I hope I spelled that right!) They had been learning about monarch butterflies in school so she was telling me about the life cycle of them. I can't believe all the stuff they are learning in school. 

Some thoughts about Motherhood

Motherhood is the GREATEST and the HARDEST job I have had/will have. (Those of you who are mothers are probably nodding in agreement. Those of you who have yet to become mothers-please don't let this scare you-remember I said greatest before hardest.) 

There are some days like last Thursday when the weather was so great that I said "phewey" to my "to do" list and spent some much needed time outside with my kids. Then, there are days like this Monday, where I just had to get bookwork done and became so frustrated, impatient and downright annoyed at my children. I was in tears almost all day from the overwhelming feeling. I felt like I couldn't sit down for more than 30 seconds before having to break up a fight, get someone off the counter, feed someone, clean up a mess, take care of bathroom business, etc. It was literally like that ALL DAY LONG. And with E not napping every day anymore and J not on a regular nap schedule there was no break from it. There are days where I start my day off with quiet time with God, my exercise bike and a decent breakfast. The rest of the day goes smoothly and we all have fun together. Then there are days where nothing seems to work right and I let them watch way more TV than I'd like to admit because it's the only way to have a minute to do anything else. And while I want to be a better wife and mother all the time, I know that I can't/won't ever be the perfect wife or mother. Along with struggling just to get through the day, I also had to struggle with that reality.

So many thoughts have been going through my mind lately. I've been praying for many people (our friends and family, as well as friends from the blog world) who are experiencing some really sad/scary things right now. Sick children, lost jobs, far bigger worries than I have right now. So in the big picture of it all, we are really blessed and I have spent many days/nights thanking God for his blessings. 

But, after reading a few recent posts on "being real" I realized I want to be real and transparent too. I am imperfect, living with an imperfect husband and imperfect children in an imperfect world. Some days I wonder how we will survive the toddler/preschool years, but then night falls and I get to sleep and wake up to another day and a clean slate. 

So, if you're still with me, thanks. I started this blog for friends and family so we could keep in touch with those far away. It's also my online journal/scrapbook when I get behind on the real scrapbooks (which I am right now). And I've hesitated about posting things other just cute photos of the kids, but again I have to be real. This is who I am. I'm a writer. I process things this way, by writing, by talking, so please indulge me a little every now and then. 

I promise to add some more photos next time. :)

And even though Monday was one of those HARDEST days as a Mom, these last two days have been better and ultimately through it all, I'm thankful that God blessed me with the GREATEST job of all.