Living Simply

I have long known that there would be, and truly is, a big difference between raising boys and girls. Now, don't get me wrong, I am sure there are some girls out there that could hold their own with boys (namely, me when I was younger), but today my 2nd boy, Owen really took home the gold! I am not saying one is easier to raise than the other, but let's just say, this will go down in the books.
I am outside with the kids when I notice Owen is not out with us anymore. I go in and check to see where he is. "I'm in the bathroom, Mom". Great...I head back outside. About 10 minutes pass and Owen has still not come outside. I head back inside and he is still in the bathroom. I ask if he needs any help and he opens the door holding the beautiful, organic hand towel I had just purchased (for way too much money) in his hand. "Mom, it has poo poo on it," He says. Of course I ask "Well, why would it have poo poo on it" and he points to the empty roll of toilet paper staring back at us and proceeds to tell me that we are out of toilet paper. I open up the drawer under the sink and bring out one of the five new rolls and "lovingly" suggest he look here next time we are out of TP. I carry my soiled hand towel to the laundry room and it is now on it's 2nd round of washing. The ironic thing is that on my hand towel, under the dainty flower stitching is the phrase Live Simply . Ha! I think that was accomplished.

Dog Days of Summer

Kids in da hood

Sword Fighting

Playing Princess

Gray had the most fun!

God Bless the Ice Cream Man

We had a neighborhood street party today after school. The kids and I walked up to meet Wills as he got off the bus and lo and behold, the ice cream truck comes barreling down the hill with his sweet melody ringing in our ears. I ran in to scrounge around the house for some money...it ain't cheap! After we ate our ice cream, we headed up to the neighbor's house for a neighborhood play-date. Lots of kiddos running around playing pirate and star wars and princess and tag. What a fun day and again, I am thankful for good neighbors and friends.

We all Scream......

Muffins and milk! B'fast of champs!

I am a Kindergartner!

Waiting for big brother!

Off the bus!

So glad we did the bus thing today!

Walking back home from the bus stop--pushing Gray Gray

We all Scream for Ice Cream! Yi-pee!

1st day of Kindergarten....
Wills up at 6:30, dressed, bed made and asking if it was time to go.
New shoes on (hope they fit-they did!). A muffin and milk for breakfast. He brushed his teeth. Back pack on. 1st Day pictures. Off to school with Daddy.
Me, alone in the driveway, waving goodbye. Don't get sad! Don't get sad! Hold it together! Walked slowly back into the house.....
Kate and Owen playing "dogs" and running around the house, Gray in his crib screaming for me to come get him, kitchen is a mess, muffins everywhere....
I wish I was going to Kindergarten with Wills today...I thought about him all day long! What is he doing now? Is he having fun? Making friends?
Off the bus at 3:15...HUGE smile---that says it all....it was all I needed to see. I know I am doing the right thing. Thank you God for a great 1st day.

There were 4 in the bed....

When Gray wakes up from a nap, the kids like to go in and "get him up". This usually means they play with him and make him laugh until I come in to get him out of his crib. Well, here is what I found when I went upstairs to get him today!

Lessons Learned

Here are a picture of G's new shoes. I had to take a picture of the shoes next to him, because he refused to let me put them back on him. hmmmmm????


Every time I venture out of the house and brave a store with 4 children in tow, I always end up wondering the same thing..Why am I doing this to myself? This is the exact reason Matt and I rarely take the kids out to eat. It is just not an enjoyable experience. Well, with summer here, what are my choices? I already do the grocery shopping at night or on the weekends, but sometimes I really do need to go "run some errands".
This morning, I piled everyone in the mini-van and headed to get the oil changed. We did pretty good, because we all stayed in the car and everyone remained strapped in. After the oil change, we went to get Gray a new pair of "walking shoes". The child has never had a pair of shoes on his feet, and now that he is walking, the 100 + degree pavement is not kind to his little footsies.
Let's just say we did walk out with a pair of shoes, but along the way (and I will remind you all this happened at a children's shoe store), the following incidences took place:
1. found a frog with a hurt leg (yes, we are at the store--WIERD!?)Our new pet
2. Mommy accidentally stepped on the frog--jumped out of Owen's hands and landed right under me (honest)
3. Owen holds a dead smushed frog and tells me he is going to be fine. I finally talked him into going outside and putting him in the bushes
4. Find bathroom to wash hands. Owen gets lost in the back of the store among all the boxes of shoes (panic attack)
5. Gray hates shoes on his feet = tantrum
6. Kate has tried on nearly every headband in the store and re-arranged the bow display
7. Wills is trying to figure out how to open the fish tank because he is curious as to how they clean it.
8. Now, Owen is climbing on the display walls
9. Gray WILL NOT straighten his little feet inside his shoes so that we can get a proper fit.
10. Kate found a new dress--whining...please please "it is a beautiful dress mommy". It was a size 10, she is a 3/4
11. Wills decides he wants a new pair of shoes and Owen wants this small stuffed animal hedgehog
13. Gray's shoes cost $44~! I see the price after we finally got them on.
14. The guy gives me a discount on the shoes (i think he feels sorry for me) $30
15. Heading out the door and I knock over a tower of sale shoes with my bag. I guess my kids get it honest.
16. In the car, strapped in! Thank you Lord for seat belt laws.
Lesson #1 shoe shopping with 4 kids 5 and under is not a good idea.
Lesson #2 ZAPPOS.com from here on out or a good babysitter!

Okay, I have decided to do this...a blog~ I am hoping this will be a way to keep a diary of sorts for my family to look back and see what life was like when mommy was "young" and so were the kids! To say my life is blessed, is an understatement. I have an amazing husband and 4 beautiful kids, who keep me hopping! W is my oldest and has the sweetest and most tender heart, o is my wild man! I am sure there will be many a posts relating to this wonderful, energetic, wild at heart little boy (4) who keeps me on my toes. K is my beautiful daughter whom I am so in love with. I thank the Lord daily for giving me a girl. Finally, my precious baby G! This little guy has my heart. he is so tender and sweet and i cannot put him down. He is almost 7 months and I don't want it to pass me by! I love each of my kids for their uniqueness and pray that the Lord will continue to show me ways I can be a better mommy and wife to my family.
I cannot tell you how many times a days some random stranger will stop me and say "savor every moment, because it goes by so fast". This must be true because it seems to be the consistent theme. At the end of my day I am physically and emotionally exhausted, but I know I will long for these days once they are gone!