How to Embarass Your Mom - 101

Morgan - giving the prayer (completely by himself) in primary today -

"...Please bless my mom. Help her to be nice..."

Hmmm, I guess everyone better pray for me that I can be nice,

apparently I need some divine help!

And in other news...Seth and I got a new calling today...

we are the new activities committee chairpeople!

Yay!

Is it weird to be so excited about a calling you can hardly stand it?

Who cares if it is weird, I am excited!

Seth wasn't released though...yet...so he is still the YM President and the Activities Chair...

and I asked/begged/petitioned to keep my primary class

(now that I have finally figured it out)...

so, at least for this week, it is "another calling" and not a "different calling".

Now for the fun part...what activities have you done in your ward/neighborhood that you have loved/remembered/looked forward to? Or even elements of them that you think are cool? Activities for the kids, Block Party ideas, FHE Groups, Block Party ideas, Service Activities, Block Party ideas, Christmas Party themes, Block Party ideas?

Oh and did I mention Block Party ideas...

yeah...that's in 2 1/2 weeks and we are starting from scratch! :)

YIPEE!!!

Throwing in the Towel

I recently decided that, on occasion, comfort should trump cuteness when considering what to wear and how to do my hair. You are probably wondering why I would think anything else, unless you know me well. You see, chances are pretty good that you will never see me without mascara (even in the pool or while backpacking in the mountains) and I am not one to stay in my pajamas all day unless I am seriously sick or they are doubling as work clothes for a full day of painting/using power tools/gardening. I even get dressed in the hospital the day after having a baby. Now, I am not suggesting that these things have changed, but I have modified my thinking slightly.

For example, I don't look cute in shorts...never have, never will...so I don't wear them. I own 1 pair of shorts - truly - and they are reserved for hiking...or at least they were. But, it is hot and I have to haul around 3 kids with me and play outside with them all day and clean the house and cook food, not to mention the number of clothing layers I wear, etc. etc. So, lately I have been wearing said pair of shorts more frequently. I realize that they are not cute, nor flattering to my taking-way-too-long-to-bounce-back-after-baby-number-3-body, but they are cooler than capris and more comfy than jeans.

So here's my thinking...on days when Seth is working and I have no big plans (big plans being things like playgroups, outings to somewhere other than McDonalds, and any other event where I will see people I know that are over the age of 4), what is the point of being uncomfortable for the sake of looking cute? I still put on makeup, do my hair and get dressed, but my kids don't care if my hair is in a ponytail or if Mommy's shorts don't flatter her figure. In the past I have used the reasoning that Seth appreciates his wife looking cute, but when he works at 7, he leaves before I get up and gets home when I have usually already changed into my pj's and put my hair in a ponytail. When he works at 11, we usually do yard work in the morning (in work clothes, of course) and I have been in my jammies (and possibly even asleep) for hours by the time he gets home.

But after today, I am throwing in the towel on being comfy and getting back to the "cute is way more important than comfy" thinking I used to espouse. You may be wondering why? Why am I throwing in the towel and why am I crazy enough to think I still need to look cute every day when I am a stay at home mom of 3 and have been married for 6 years?

Well, here's why: Today, while wearing my ugly shorts with a top that did not look cute with them (nothing does, but this one really didn't, I was just too lazy to pick out something else after I put it on), I ran to get some diaper genie refills and sippy cups from Target while the kids played at Grandma's house. As I am headed to the exit doors with purchases in hand, I see a guy I used to date. He looked happy and pretty much the same as he did the last time I saw him and normally I would have loved to chat and catch up, but instead all I could think about the whole time was - I can't believe I am wearing these ugly shorts today!!! Sure, I know I have been taking care of 3 kids all day, and I know that my youngest child is barely 6 months old, and I know that I am happily married to the greatest man alive and I know that I have been pureeing apricots to jam and making fruit leather all day, and I know that I look exhausted because I lost track of time hanging out with Seth by the firepit in our backyard last night and didn't realize how late it was until the sprinklers came on at 11:45 pm and we had to grab our chairs and run to keep from getting soaked, but this guy...he didn't know any of that. He just had to assume that I have gotten a lot fatter and less attractive since he last saw me. sigh. Now, I realize that this thinking is totally irrational, unfounded and probably sounds very Seriously So Blessed, but it is the way my brain works (and don't get all self-conscious if I have ever seen you answer the door in your pj's or I have seen you without mascara on...I don't have these irrational expectations for anyone else...just me...I know...I'm crazy).

So, I ask you, is it better to feel awkwardly self-conscious when you run into people you don't want to see when you don't look adorable, or irritated that the only people who saw that your hair looks totally awesome today are covered in their own dinner and want to wipe their hands on your cute outfit? I am thinking I'll pick the latter. Thus, you can consider the towel thrown!

Growth Experience

Since I used this blog as a venue for venting about the challenges of my new calling as a primary teacher, I think it only fair to let you know that I am feeling like the storm has passed (or maybe, I am just in the eye of a hurricane, but the optimist in me would like to believe the first). After serious reflection, study and seeking out helpful resources (thanks to those of you who offered encouragement and suggestions), I decided to have the kids come up with some rules and rewards and basically just have a candid and open conversation about how we could bring the spirit into our class. Of course, I had some ideas of my own that we combined with theirs, but they were excited to have their ideas acknowledged and implemented.

The next week, I arrived in a room that was fully set up, kids -with scriptures in hand - who were reverently chatting with each other as they awaited their lesson, and then the whole lesson (taught by my teaching partner, Ashley) they were attentive and participating. At the end of the lesson, Ashley and I were both wondering if we were really in the same classroom. I would have updated you then, but I thought it may have been a fluke, however, it has continued to go very well and, as I finished preparing my lesson for tomorrow, I found myself excited about the lesson and the opportunity to teach it to my sweet class. And, at our Primary summer party, I was thrilled to have the girl in my class excited to be on my team and the boys excited to be racing against me and soaking me with water guns...that is how you know they like you, right?

Really, I can take no credit for the change...I am just thankful that callings come with guidance and direction from the Spirit. I still miss my sweet sweet young women...I think I always will...but I am grateful for this growth experience and I am truly enjoying my calling again!

Mom, Can You Please Hurry Up

and get me some food, so I can stop eating this table and move onto french fries!

Homework Part 2 aka "Awww Cute!"

Here is another one that I couldn't resist sharing (I took this picture last month and am just barely getting around to doing anything with it). Did I mention that I LOVE photoshop? The subject matter is pretty darn cute too!

Homework

I am taking a lovely photo editing class from the super fantastic Jessica Sprague and I am so excited about all of the stuff I have been learning! I heart photoshop! Anyway, since I was out of town for the weekend, I am playing catchup and this is one of the homework challenges...I love it so much that I sending it off to Costco to be printed (even though I already had it printed about 2 weeks ago in its more original form) in an 8x10 for my wall. Credit should be given to Seth for the lovely photo of the temple, I just did the editing!

Here is the original picture in its raw and unaltered state...just in case you wanted to compare.

To my baby girl...

Brynnie,

Every day I wonder to myself how we ever lived without you in our lives. I feel so blessed to be your mommy! Yesterday morning when I was feeding you, I kept falling asleep, so you decided to play peek-a-boo with me. You would say "Boo!" to wake me up and then giggle like crazy! The little things you do each day bring sunshine to our home and family! Thanks for opening your mouth as wide as you can and diving toward me when you hear the word "Kisses". Thanks for sucking your thumb nonstop...despite my best efforts to make you stop. Thanks for being totally content to lie on your back and look at the ceiling fan. Thanks for sleeping through the night. Thanks for looking at me with those giant bright blue eyes and making me wish I had your eyelashes! Thanks for loving your turtle toy sooo much. Thanks for the giggles and coos and cuddles and sweetness!

There is no shortage of adoration for Brynnie at this house...your brother and sister think you are the greatest thing that has ever happened to them and you have your Daddy wrapped around your finger already...even though you don't work it like your big sister...yet, I'm sure you'll learn though. I love you from your mostly bald little head to your teeny tiny toes and everything in between!

love Love LOVE you forever!

Mommy

Overtaken by Monsters

For any of you who have shared a recent playdate with my children, it is no secret that they like to be monsters/lions/{insert name of anything else that growls here}. And while this behavior is extremely annoying to me, and most other adults, they love it and their friends play right along, so apparently they like it too. In an attempt to not sweat the small stuff/pick my battles/attempt to not yell at my kids all day long, when used on a playground or in the backyard and not in the middle of church, at the library, or directly into an unsuspecting face, I have decided to let this one go. That seems harmless enough, right?

Wrong! Yesterday, all the kids were sleeping when I heard a growl coming from the portable crib. I must be hearing things, I think to myself...and then I hear it again and again and again! Later in the evening, after the big kids were in bed, Seth and I were watching a (crazy and very weird) movie, again comes a little growl from the portable crib. "Was that a growl?" Seth asked...and what could we do but laugh?! So yeah, our dainty little 5 month old girl is a fluent babbler, roller and now growler! I guess it will be funny in a few years when I tell Brynnie's handsome date that her first word was "grrr" (pretty much identical to the sound Lion makes before it pounces its oponent), but for now, I feel as though my house is being taken over by monsters of the growling variety. It is true that babies are sponges...and when they have older siblings...that isn't always a good thing!

Weekend Math

fun filled days

+

lots of grilling and hot dogs

+

even more watermelon

+

late nights of fireworks

+

3 kids age 4 and under

=

very tired kids

=

longer (and harder) "working hours" for mom and dad

=

very tired mommy and daddy

=

a family in serious need of some sleep

Thank you to the picnic table who so kindly took our only "family of 5 photo" thus far...and we are in hiking clothes!

We are all looking-ish so I guess it will just have to work!

(Fun times and good memories should factor into this equation, but I am no mathmatician!)

And, of course, some pictures for your delight!

First encounter with a slip-n-slide at Grandma's 4th of July breakfast...Chloe's "slide"

Morgan's slideThe best thing to watch...Chloe cheerleading for MorganBackyard BBQ/hot dog roast...have I mentioned how much I love having a backyard again?

The kids might have had more fun watching the street fireworks than the big fireworks...who knew that tank fights could be SOOO cool? (thanks for letting us join you Kelli and Nate!) And of course the big event...fireworks! (these are 3rd of July fireworks pictures...the kids did not survive the 4th long enough to watch fireworks!)

Hope you all had a fabulous 4th of July!

Before You Give Up On Me, Let Me Explain...

I realize that I have been a total slacker when it comes to my blog...and as anyone who reads this blog regularly can attest, no posts for 2 1/2 weeks has to be some sort of record for me! So this is what I have been doing...

I found this site and joined the group and started the baby steps...which led to reading this book...and keeping my sink looking like this...all the time...
which led to taking a lot of this (this is one of more than 5 loads...and I am not even finished with the upstairs) to the D.I. and garbage cansand after/amidst that, feeling inspired to do some touch-up painting/redecorating and making my room look lovely...seriously the flylady is amazing!

Watching a lot of this...which was very entertaining...

with her...

and him...And watching a lot of this...which was quite exciting after he reacclimated to the concept of swimming...

There has also been a lot of watching this...

laughing about stuff like this...hanging out on the sidelines with her...
and enjoying moments like this...
I have cleaned up a lot of this...and this...because it is worth it when I see this...
I have been enjoying the sound of Seth and Morgan doing this quite frequently...and feeling happy about seeing a lot of these fresh cut from my garden...I smile thinking about how he picked this outfit out all by himself...because it "matched his orange flip-flops"... and knowing that she is doing this now...Honestly, I can't get enough of this girl...she is just so darn sweet!

So, that is a quick snippit of what has been keeping me from writing these past couple of weeks...of course there is plenty more I could say and so much I didn't capture in pictures (mostly of the wonderful times I have been able to enjoy with my sweet husband), but I think I'll leave it at that!