We were pleasantly surprised to see how long the kids wanted to explore and take in the new sites of Colorado. (A bit different from the Midwest!)
Thursday
My Favorite Picture of the Big Kids
I took this on a recent trip to Colorado. The kids loved hiking! (Calling it hiking was a stretch, but hey, it's a start!)
Wednesday
Big Girl is Getting Bigger!
Lately, I'm learning that it really is true when they tell you the years go by so quickly. They do!
A little over a week ago, my oldest child finished up Preschool. It's been a little over eight months since she posed for this picture. It was her first day of school! She was so excited!
Here she is eight months later eating ice cream after her last day of school. I told her if she keeps looking so old, I'm going to stop taking her picture. (That was a big fat lie if I ever told one!)
Even as I sit and look at these pictures, I can't help but smile. It's hard to be sad about time going so quickly when your heart is bursting with pride. I'm not sure why God chose me to be this girl's mama, but it's an honor!
A little over a week ago, my oldest child finished up Preschool. It's been a little over eight months since she posed for this picture. It was her first day of school! She was so excited!
Here she is eight months later eating ice cream after her last day of school. I told her if she keeps looking so old, I'm going to stop taking her picture. (That was a big fat lie if I ever told one!)
Finally, here is our big girl showing off her Pre-Kindergarten certificate.
Even as I sit and look at these pictures, I can't help but smile. It's hard to be sad about time going so quickly when your heart is bursting with pride. I'm not sure why God chose me to be this girl's mama, but it's an honor!
We love you "Big Girl!"
Good Night Traditions
I've sung "Jingle Bells" to my children at night more times than I'd ever imagined possible. Yet, I wouldn't trade those precious before-sleep moments for anything. Read more here.
Tuesday
Defining a Bad Day
My oldest daughter recently overheard me talking with a friend who was having a rough day. After we left my friend, my daughter asked me why my friend was having a bad day. I responded that mommy's sometimes have rough days.
"Kids sometimes have bad days too," said Ann.
"Oh really," I replied.
"Yes. Like when we don't get a toy we want or something like that," she explained.
I chuckled to myself as I thought about how life would be so easy if that was an adult's biggest concern.
Later, I recalled the conversation, again laughing at what Ann considered to be a bad day.
A moment later my laughter stopped and it was though someone had thrown cold water on my face. Hadn't my daughter summed up what makes a bad day? Isn't it a bad day when we don't get what we want? Doesn't that truly sum up bad days for adults as well as children?
Of course, those desires may be something that is completely understandable such as health, a job, or something more trivial such as peace and quiet while making dinner. Still, at least for me, my bad days typically involve me not getting what I want.
That daughter of mine is one smart and observant kiddo. God sure is teaching me a lot through my little ones.
"Kids sometimes have bad days too," said Ann.
"Oh really," I replied.
"Yes. Like when we don't get a toy we want or something like that," she explained.
I chuckled to myself as I thought about how life would be so easy if that was an adult's biggest concern.
Later, I recalled the conversation, again laughing at what Ann considered to be a bad day.
A moment later my laughter stopped and it was though someone had thrown cold water on my face. Hadn't my daughter summed up what makes a bad day? Isn't it a bad day when we don't get what we want? Doesn't that truly sum up bad days for adults as well as children?
Of course, those desires may be something that is completely understandable such as health, a job, or something more trivial such as peace and quiet while making dinner. Still, at least for me, my bad days typically involve me not getting what I want.
That daughter of mine is one smart and observant kiddo. God sure is teaching me a lot through my little ones.
Saturday
Time to Lace Up
Today marked the first time I went on a walk with one of my children when I was the one who had to struggle to keep up. To be fair, Ann was riding her bike and I made the mistake of thinking I would just walk and keep up with her. That isn't easy to do when you're wearing sparkly flip flops and jeans!
As I trailed behind her, I couldn't help but think how much our ride/walk symbolized my life as a mother right now. Slowly but surely, I'm leaving the season of sippy cups and afternoon naps. (I hope that completely leaving behind afternoon naps will be very slow in coming!) Sometimes I find myself struggling to keep up.
Often, I'll be getting ready to do something for one of my children and they will have already done it. My oldest makes her bed, fills her water cup, feeds the dog, sets the table, sorts her laundry and more. Yes, I like that she does these things. After all, we've trained her to do them. However, with each new skill she learns, I'm reminded that she is ever so surely decreasing her dependence on me. Of course, that is how it is supposed to be and I have every intention of celebrating with her even if I occasionally wipe away a tear or two.
This week we will be going to her end-of-year PreK program. She is registered for Kindergarten and I know it won't be long until we're shopping for school supplies and packing her lunch for her first day of school. You see my thoughts haven't kept up with her development. In my mind she is still a three-year-old meeting her little sister for the first time as she holds her one-year-old brother's hand. She is the two-year-old who eagerly anticipated our move back to Kansas. She is the one-year-old who had a most impressive vocabulary. In my head, she is most definitely not a five-and-a-half-year-old who grows less dependent by the day.
Apparently my mind is wearing some flip flops. I suppose it's time to get myself in a running-shoe frame of mind. After all, as much as I'm going to miss these toddler/preschooler days, I sure don't want to miss any of the fun that's sure to come.
Time to lace up.
As I trailed behind her, I couldn't help but think how much our ride/walk symbolized my life as a mother right now. Slowly but surely, I'm leaving the season of sippy cups and afternoon naps. (I hope that completely leaving behind afternoon naps will be very slow in coming!) Sometimes I find myself struggling to keep up.
Often, I'll be getting ready to do something for one of my children and they will have already done it. My oldest makes her bed, fills her water cup, feeds the dog, sets the table, sorts her laundry and more. Yes, I like that she does these things. After all, we've trained her to do them. However, with each new skill she learns, I'm reminded that she is ever so surely decreasing her dependence on me. Of course, that is how it is supposed to be and I have every intention of celebrating with her even if I occasionally wipe away a tear or two.
This week we will be going to her end-of-year PreK program. She is registered for Kindergarten and I know it won't be long until we're shopping for school supplies and packing her lunch for her first day of school. You see my thoughts haven't kept up with her development. In my mind she is still a three-year-old meeting her little sister for the first time as she holds her one-year-old brother's hand. She is the two-year-old who eagerly anticipated our move back to Kansas. She is the one-year-old who had a most impressive vocabulary. In my head, she is most definitely not a five-and-a-half-year-old who grows less dependent by the day.
Apparently my mind is wearing some flip flops. I suppose it's time to get myself in a running-shoe frame of mind. After all, as much as I'm going to miss these toddler/preschooler days, I sure don't want to miss any of the fun that's sure to come.
Time to lace up.
Friday
More Than Enough
Whew! What a day!
The day started with my son spilling water on my cell phone. (It survived.) From there it progressed to a potty-training toddler who missed the toilet and somehow managed to get some poo stuck underneath a door. (Seriously?!)
Unfortunately, I didn't take the hint and craw back in bed. Instead, we headed to a meeting about one of our kiddos to find out if maybe we should be taking more action or getting more assistance with said kiddo's behavior. Instead of learning anything new, I left feeling very, very frustrated. I felt as though I'd wasted two hours and had no new insight into how to best help my child.
So, as I drove home to where my friend was watching my other two children, I took a deep breath. I prayed and realized that God will help us to train our children in the way He wants them to go. Now, though I became more peaceful I was still frustrated.
Later on in the day, Tony called to check in and see how things were going. At the time, they weren't going so well. However, he also had called to inform me that he had been given a surprising and generous raise.
Though I couldn't be more proud of Tony, it was something else that struck me as I hung up the phone. I knew in that way that I'm not quite able to describe in words, that God was reminding me that He loves me. He is taking care of things even when I don't realize it. Though I might be looking for one answer and focused on what I'm not getting (answers to my child's behavior) He is reminding me of how much He loves me and will always take care me.
So, I'm not ending the day any closer to answers for how to best train our child. However, I am very much reminded of how much God loves me and how freely He gives. (Both materially and spiritually.) That is more than enough.
The day started with my son spilling water on my cell phone. (It survived.) From there it progressed to a potty-training toddler who missed the toilet and somehow managed to get some poo stuck underneath a door. (Seriously?!)
Unfortunately, I didn't take the hint and craw back in bed. Instead, we headed to a meeting about one of our kiddos to find out if maybe we should be taking more action or getting more assistance with said kiddo's behavior. Instead of learning anything new, I left feeling very, very frustrated. I felt as though I'd wasted two hours and had no new insight into how to best help my child.
So, as I drove home to where my friend was watching my other two children, I took a deep breath. I prayed and realized that God will help us to train our children in the way He wants them to go. Now, though I became more peaceful I was still frustrated.
Later on in the day, Tony called to check in and see how things were going. At the time, they weren't going so well. However, he also had called to inform me that he had been given a surprising and generous raise.
Though I couldn't be more proud of Tony, it was something else that struck me as I hung up the phone. I knew in that way that I'm not quite able to describe in words, that God was reminding me that He loves me. He is taking care of things even when I don't realize it. Though I might be looking for one answer and focused on what I'm not getting (answers to my child's behavior) He is reminding me of how much He loves me and will always take care me.
So, I'm not ending the day any closer to answers for how to best train our child. However, I am very much reminded of how much God loves me and how freely He gives. (Both materially and spiritually.) That is more than enough.
Thursday
Don't Advertise Your Own Stupidity, Blah, Blah, Blah
Okay, so I probably shouldn't admit this, but this is the following email I just sent to my husband.
"I just got a toilet brush stuck in the toilet. Yes, yes I did.
Who does that?
So, yes, I'm once again the damsel in distress who needs your help, because clearly you don't have enough to do that you need to come home after way too many hours at work and fix the toilet.
I love you."
Um, yeah. I have no idea how it happened other than I guess I got put a little too much elbow grease into cleaning the toilet and the brush slipped down the hole and got stuck. Seriously, who does that?
Growing up, my mom always used to tell us what her dad told her--"don't advertise your own stupidity." I agree, unless of course, others might get a laugh at your expense. I know I sure did. Though that little mishap pretty much ended a not so hot day, I couldn't help but laugh.
Seriously, who does that?
"I just got a toilet brush stuck in the toilet. Yes, yes I did.
Who does that?
So, yes, I'm once again the damsel in distress who needs your help, because clearly you don't have enough to do that you need to come home after way too many hours at work and fix the toilet.
I love you."
Um, yeah. I have no idea how it happened other than I guess I got put a little too much elbow grease into cleaning the toilet and the brush slipped down the hole and got stuck. Seriously, who does that?
Growing up, my mom always used to tell us what her dad told her--"don't advertise your own stupidity." I agree, unless of course, others might get a laugh at your expense. I know I sure did. Though that little mishap pretty much ended a not so hot day, I couldn't help but laugh.
Seriously, who does that?
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