Enjoying the Sweet spot

This morning we got outside before it got too hot. May 14th and it's close to 100 degrees outside. Didn't we just have snow 10 days ago?? Crazy weather!!!

So today we went to Wilder Park in Allison and I love that park it's the perfect park. It has a pond so you can throw rocks or go fishing,  it has a playground,  it has walking/biking trails, and different games you can play. The girls love it too and there is enough to do that they for sure don't get bored!

It was the perfect morning and then Brandon met us for lunch. It is only about half a mile from his office.  It was one of those days that Brandon would say this is the "sweet spot". It was beautiful out, the girls were getting along, our dog Rudy was enjoying the sun and then......

Harper falls in the pond.

As Harper tells the story she "nearly drowned and Teagan saved her life". Lol it wasn't quite like that.  Although Teagan was a nice big sister and helped her up they were in a spot that the water wouldn't even come up to her knees but she did get pretty wet and fortunately it was warm enough out she dried off quickly.

We still enjoyed the day and now were home trying to stay cool without turning the air on.....because it's May.....and I refuse to turn on my air conditioning in May!! My electric bill needs a break!

Hope everyone else is staying cool and finally able to get outside and enjoy all things fun like flip flops and sun!

Family Church

So Brandon and I had this genius idea about a month ago (well actually it was just me but Brandon has helped implement the idea :) So I thought I would share it with everyone.

We moved to Parkersburg almost 4 years ago and we started attending our church at that time too. Our church encourages children to stay in the service and worship as a family. The concept really makes sense to me and I get it but I got to be honest up until a month ago I hated it!! Sometimes there would be a nursery during 2nd service but not always and Teagan and Harper are now both older then 3 so technically they aren't supposed to be in the nursery anyways so we just decided they would stay in the service with us.

For the last 4 years we have been trying all kinds of things.  Snacks, suckers, gum, books, toys, the church "quiet" bag, etc.  They all have left me wanting to scream by the end of church. I felt like the whole service was spent trying to keep my kids quiet and I leave unfilled and have got nothing out of being in the service other then stress and wondering why my kids don't behave or listen. Envious of the parents whose children just quietly sit there perfectly and just plain annoyed.

That was all until my genius idea I had a month ago and I am a little bit afraid to share it with you as it might jinx me. This is what has worked for is the last 4 Sunday's.....

This is what we have finally found works!!!

We give them............

NOTHING

Yep that's right nothing (Genius right??!)

I wish I would have thought of this brilliant idea 4 years ago! The last 4 Sunday's I have left church feeling peace,  and calm and not stressed out. I have been proud of all 3 of my daughters quietly sitting in church not distracted by which crayon they want or which toy fell under the pew, or why does she have more of a snack then I do?

I have actually been able to listen to the sermons!  Amazing huh?!

Now as I think back all this is kind of my fault. All those stressful Sunday's of thinking my children needed some sort of activity to keep them busy and occupied. I am the one who thought they needed all of those things. When in reality they don't need anything!  Sometimes more stuff actually just becomes a distraction. I think we can learn a lot from this. We need to simplify other areas of our lives too.
One blog that has really inspired me to simplify our lives is:
www.livingwellspendingless.com and she writes a blog entry on why she took her kids toys away. She is a much better writer then me!

Disclaimer: this idea might not work for everyone and my children are by no means perfect in church now. They are still kids we have still had to step out to the bathroom a time or two (which everyone knows can never be good ;)
But we are learning as a family what works for us and this has decreased stress and distractions for us!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day Weekend in Pictures

How stressful is raising your child?

Every time we go to the doctors office we get a little sheet to fill out. They ask questions like can your child count to 10, do they know their alphabet,  do they use good eye contact,  etc....then there is that one question that you know they aren't screening your child they are screening you...the mother.....

HOW STRESSFUL IS RAISING YOUR CHILD?

I am preparing for this question for Monday. The only problem is I don't know that the nurse practitioner is prepared for the answer. I am already envisioning me having a total breakdown at the doctors office crying, huge tears just streaming down my face... very similar to the breakdown I just had in the van driving home from Cedar Falls.

All I can say is some days are stressful. .....very very stressful!

I feel like everyday is stressful when you are raising kids. Some days are just less stressful then others.  Being a Mother is hard work!!! Raising my daughters is the most Important job I have ever had. I want to raise them to be followers of Christ, to love others, to choose amazing husbands like their own daddy, and to love each other because they are sisters who will always be there for each other.

So what do I find stressful about that?  I am scared, scared I will screw it up, screw them up. 

So here I fall on my knees and Pray tears falling, giving it to God!

I'm Not 21 and I'm not 60

This is really just more like a pitty party so read along if you want, but just warning you ahead of time. :)

I turned 29 in April, I have 3 kids, and I am completely exhausted about 98 percent of the time. I usually have an hour or two during the day that I feel pretty good. But after that I am just tired. I am considering I need my thyroid checked but I think I've decided it's just my age.
I am no longer 21, I have responsibilities like a job and kids, a house to take care of, bills to pay, and my metabolism no longer lets me eat whatever I want.

But all this has put me in a funk. I don't feel all that great about myself.  I haven't had a hair cut since October partly because I am growing it out,  but also I don't have the time,  and I don't want to pay the money. Same reason I haven't got my eyebrows waxed.

I've started wearing make-up more but really it's just not me I would rather spend an extra 10 minutes in bed then take the time to do make-up. Plus I don't really know how.

And the clothing option well that's where it about puts me over the edge to complete funk. I try to go shopping with the little money I have and this is what I find it's either hey I am 21 and like to party or I am 60 headed to a retirement party. I can't seem to find that happy medium of hey I am a mom, and I am professional but I still have some style. I look around and a lot of my mom friends still got it.... for some reason I don't. I end up throwing on the same ol' sweatshirt with the same ol' jeans put my hair in the same ol' pony tail and out the door I go. Then I look around and wonder....why can't I have cute clothes? Then I start to get down on myself and I start to have my pitty party. But my question is this why? Who am I trying to impress?  And why do I care if you're not impressed?

The answer to this is as women we're always trying to impress other women. This is absolutely ridiculous!!
There is really only one earthly person that I should care about impressing and his name is Brandon. I call him my husband and he is who I should want to impress. 

Now not every husband or guy is the same they all find different things attractive but here is when Brandon tells me I am beautiful the most.....(Brandon can correct me if I am wrong) but it's when I am wearing a carhart coat with a pair of work boots and I am outside getting dirty.

So while I still want to find a style. I need to remind myself....who am I trying to impress?

May 5th

Friday we had a historical snow fall of almost a foot of snow on the ground.

Today, Sunday we had the most beautiful weather.  Brandon mowed the lawn for the first time.  Teagan scored a goal at her soccer game, we played at the park and now we are outside enjoying the last minutes of daylight.

Now this is what May should be about!

May 3rd and it's still snowing! !

May 3rd and it's still snowing!!!

I was expecting a dusting not an actual snow fall. But last night I woke up to our power going in and out and looked out to find even more snow had fallen and still going!

I have a co-worker who planned an outdoor wedding this weekend.  Who would have guessed you would have to worry about snow??!!

The girls are enjoying it and surprisingly Rudy Paws is too. Even with his new summer buzz.

The rain has not started and I am confident all this snow will be gone by tomorrow and by next week when it is 68 degrees this will all just seem like a crazy dream!!

I am ready to go back to taking pictures of green grass, dirty feet, swinging, and riding bikes!! WHERE IS SPRING??