Thursday Randoms...

A friend of mine has an amazing blog and occasionally posts random thoughts.  The random posts are some of my favorites.  She motivates and inspires people through her photography, but she also has a huge heart and is a fantastic Mom and nurse.  

 So here are some random thoughts and pictures from life lately:

My kids have been given very adventurous spirits and I am so thankful for them each day.

Yesterday, Owen asked me to snuggle with him in my bed and tell him a story, "about when I was two".  It made me melt. 

Our basement is now move-in ready for the boys.  Yeah!

I love watching Ella and Owen take care of our animals without being asked.  It is very sweet.

Watching Sam chase his brother around the house for 30 minutes this morning was both exhausting and endearing.

I love kissing Sam's cheek's and when he snuggles in to my shoulder.

Ella and I have been reading Little House in the Big Woods and will finish it tonight.  I really look forward to our nightly snuggle/read time. 

The other night, my Dad took us out for Applebee's.  Yum.  We sat at a table in the bar section and the kids watched the bartender make really fancy dessert drinks.  At the end of the meal, Owen said he needed to talk to the bartender.  With Ella in hand, they walked up to the bar.  Owen said, "May we please have some whipped cream in a cup?".  How could anyone refuse that sweet face?   

I am really excited to spend time in Minnesota this next week.

I am really looking forward to spending some time with my hubby, as he has been hiding out in the shed/basement. 

We are going to have pizza for dinner and I am excited about that.

I should be packing.  


I love this photo of Sam.  I took it at his first parade.  He woke up from his nap and I whisked him out of bed because we were running late.  The parade had already started and so we ran to the street to watch.   I told him to wave and he didn't stop waving for the next 20 minutes.  It was 100 degrees out and there he was, wearing his long sleeve p.j.'s and "ooo"-ing at the huge tractors that were driving by.

My kids are so brave.  They challenge each other to do things out of their comfort zone.  They challenge me as well.  I love that they go crazy for rides like this one -

They never stop smiling and scream, "AGAIN!  AGAIN!" when it is done.  That is why we have to set a one-ride-only rule, or we would be broke.....I want to throw up just watching. 

Samuel sits back and watches, just waiting for the day when he can join in the insanity!  And yes, he always has food on his face.  He is the third child. 

They couldn't resist crossing this rope after watching older boys doing it.

Owen was afraid at first, but couldn't let Ella do it and only watch!

They make me want to be brave.

We Will Never Tire

We will never tire of this view.  The sky here is amazing.   

We are so blessed to be under this beauty.  

 

A Face I Love

My sweet Samuel has such a quirky and loving personality.  He gets it from me......

I love this face so much.  The squishy cheeks and blue eyes make me melt.  

When he is very excited about something, he says, "Ooo" and does this -

Then he puts his hand up over his mouth and laughs, like this-

I just really love him. 

Breakin' the Rules

Bedtime for the kids has always been a sacred one at our house.   They go to bed about the same time each night and early compared to most.  But lately we've been a little lax.  Sometimes you need to pretend that they aren't supposed to be in bed or you will miss some pretty great moments.  And besides, keeping them out late gives me that feeling like skipping class in high school, or forging passes to get out of at test.  Not that I ever did those things, but I am sure that this type of rule breaking gives a similar feel......

I wouldn't want to miss any of it. 

Like these adorable faces, laughing hysterically and flying at me at many miles per hour-

Or the chance to make memories with my Dad at his first rodeo-

Or listening to Ella tell Grandpa EXACTLY what was going to happen so that he wouldn't be surprised-

And I wouldn't want to miss out on moments like these-

Even when they are crabby and tired the next day, it is still worth the memories. 

A Mess

WARNING:  This blog post contains graphic pictures (and poor quality ones, at that) of the mess in our house.  Parental discretion is advised. 

Why would anyone post pictures of the embarrassing mess that has overcome their home?  I don't know.  I suppose that some things should be kept private.  But this mess means something to me and I would like to share that with the 12 of you. 

Here it is.....our kitchen floor after dinner.  It was swept just 22 hours before this photo:

Please keep in mind that I have a toddler who insists on feeding himself with a spoon and loves to throw food.  It does wonders for the floor and high chair. 

Next we have the kitchen counter.  It is a random counter that seems to be a dropping ground for everything that is nothing.  We have enough counter space that we don't need this for food prep (which is a blessing)- so why not place the entire world here so I can look at it all day?  This is after ignoring the mess for 3 days:

I haven't cleaned yet.  Why, you may ask, am I blogging and not cleaning?  I don't know.  Denial, I suppose.  You would think I should have the time to clean, paint my nails and eat bon bons while watching tv.  I don't do those things.   But here is the "mess" saga....

If you know me well, then you know that I am a bit OCD about keeping the house tidy and clean.  I dislike clutter and strive to have a house that is free of any - so looking at these photos makes my blood pressure rise.  Clutter actually clutters my mind and doesn't allow me to think clearly or be comfortable in a space.  I know, OCD at it's finest. 

The problem is that I could clean all day, everyday, and not ever be done.  The house becomes messy faster than I can clean it and it is like a dog chasing their tail.....I just can't keep up.  I keep telling myself that it is because we just moved and we are not settled yet (see photo below of other current mess), but the truth is that I have an expectation that I cannot meet right now.  And trying to live up to it can be very stressful. 

The past year has been full of moments when we have been looking forward to the way that life will be.  Whether it is tomorrow or months from now, Jason and I have said, "Just wait until you are out of the hospital," or "Just wait until we find out about this job, " or, "I can't wait until our house sells," or "Just wait until we move in....".

Don't we all do this to some point?  It gives us motivation to look forward in life and have goals to achieve.  But when we are always looking forward, we are missing the now.  That is what I have been doing when I look at our mess.  I miss the now and only see the mess.  I look forward to when we are more settled and organized instead of tickling my little ones and dancing on the kitchen floor full of dried mushed bananas. 

I had a realization the other day, as I was sweeping the floor, that I subconsciously want the house to be clean when Jason comes home from work.  He laughed out loud when I told him this and said, "All I want is for my wife and children to be smiling at me,".  And now the house is messy.  And we are smiling. 

In addition to our messy kitchen, there is a mess in the basement.  We are ready for painting now (hooray!) but here is an early shot- all framed by my Dad and Jason: