From My FB Group: Mommies of 3 or More....

"I saw this posted on another group and I had to share. I know I need this reminder daily.

For the days we are running on empty. For the days we just don't think we have it in us to read one more story, play one more game of Uno, wash one more round of sheets. For the days when we think everyone else has it together. For the days we're sure anyone else would do this job better.

For those days. You know the ones.

Repeat after me:

1. I shall not judge my house, my kid's summer activities or my crafting skills by Pinterest's standards.

2. I shall not measure what I've accomplished today by the loads of unfolded laundry but by the assurance of deep love I've tickled into my kids.

3. I shall say yes to blanket forts and see past the chaos to the memories we're building.

4. I shall surprise my kids with trips to get ice cream when they're already in their pajamas.

5. I shall not compare myself to other mothers but find my identity in the God who trusted me with these kids in the first place.

6. I shall remember that a messy house at peace is better than an immaculate house tied up in knots.

7. I shall play music loudly and teach my kids the joy of wildly uncoordinated dance.

8. I shall remind myself that perfect is simply a street sign at the intersection of impossible and frustration in Never Never land.

9. I shall embrace the fact that in becoming a mom I traded perfect for a house full of real.

10. I shall promise to love this body that bore these children out loud, especially in front of my daughters.

11. I shall give my other mother friends the gift of guilt-free friendship.

12. I shall do my best to admit to my people my unfine moments.

13. I shall say sorry when sorry is necessary.

14. I pray God I shall never be too proud, angry or stubborn to ask for my children's forgiveness.

15. I shall make space in my grown-up world for goofball moments with my kids.

16. I shall love their father and make sure they know I love him.

17. I shall model kind words to kids and grown-ups alike.

18. I shall not be intimidated by the inside of my minivan this season of chip bags, goldfish crackers and discarded socks too shall pass.

19. I shall always make time to encourage new moms.

20. I shall not resent that last call for kisses and cups of water but remember instead that when I blink they'll all be in college.

... with love from one tired mother to another."

Kiddie - Isms

BabyGirlie: 
~
"Baby, what does a kitty say?"
"MEOW"
"What does a duckie say?"
"QUACK QUACK?"
"What does a puppy say?"
"PUPPY!"
"What does a cow say?"
"MEOW"

Two out of four isn't that bad, right?

~
She tattles now....

"Mommy!  Mommy!"

"Yes honey bear?"

"Daddy no bee bow no glap ball no bee nat glup NO DADDDY!"

~
Me: BabyGirlie, are you supposed to jump on the couch?


BG: grinning, "No, no Mommy," as she jumps off the armrest....



Boyo:
 ~
"I nin't hit my sister.  I moved her out of my way."

~
"Mommy, when I'm 7 I can see Star Wars with the hot lava.  And when I'm 1300 I can see Spiderman."

~
"I think, when I grow up, I'm going to work with you."

"Why, Bug?"

"So I can play computer games too."

Girlie:
~
"SLOW DOWN!  We are being SLOWPOKES and you are being a FASTPOKE!"

~
"I'm going to miss when my sister doesn't sing any songs and dance around.  She's my little singing baby."

~
"Mommy, I'm not tattling on my brother.  I'm just telling you a story about what he did... That was naughty." 

BabyBug + Applesauce = She's not ready to feed herself

Goofy Guy

I love all my kids -- no matter what.  Even when I'm ready to start screaming my head off because they left the fridge open AGAIN/hit their sibling AGAIN/left the water running in the sink AGAIN/spilled juice on my dinner AGAIN/knocked over wine at the grocery store AGAIN (and so on and so forth), I still love them.  And they know that (I hope).  

But other parents out there will understand that sometimes your kids do something that just makes your heart clutch -- a moment when a rush of love for your child dazzles you, where you want to laugh and cry and gasp, "I'm so happy you are mine!" all at the same time.  

For me, those moments with Boyo come when he comes in and says "I forgot my good night hug and kiss."  

Or when I hand him juice and I get an absent minded, "Thank you for my juice Mommy."  

Or when he can't decide what shoes to wear, so he wears one of each.  

Or when he puts his clothes on backward so "No one will see me coming."  

Or when he worries about rattlesnakes in the hotel.  Or bears on a camping trip -- in our living room.  

Or when ...

He wears his masks backwards so "I haf eyes in da back of my head."

He pretends to be a pirate.

He sets up his Lego guys so all the good guys are taking down the bad guys.  And makes the requisite "P-chew, p-chew" fighting sound.

His hair sticks out the back of his hat.

He falls asleep on my shoulder during story time.

He insists on a Star Wars pj shirt, Superman and Batman pj shorts, and Lightening McQueen underwear (not pictured) to sleep in so "All da good guys will keep me safe!"

Wordless Wednesday: Because you never know when a tsunami will hit ... while you are eating cake.

Happy Second Birthday Baby Girlie!

Oh babyGirlie, how you have grown!  This was just a year ago...

 Happy Second Birthday to the most sweet and sassy,

Messy and Mischievous, 

 

Smart and Stubborn,  

 

Strong and Silly,

 

Fierce and Determined 

 

 Two Year Old I Know! 

I love you, silly monkey!

Tooth Fairy

She was brushing her teeth and out it tumbled... I was super proud of her -- no tears.  Just a matter of fact, "Mom, my tooth came out!"

The tooth fairy pays big bucks for the first tooth.  And of course, the money is sprinkled with fairy dust.

And the tooth fairy wants to promote good brushing habits in the future.

The tooth fairy wrote a note to introduce herself.  Girlie's fairy is Twinkle Toothy.

The letter was Girlie sized, but it was folded up so a fairy could carry it.

She was so proud of herself.

Where did my baby go?  I can't look at this picture without bawling.

Wordless Wednesday: I'm watching you...

I fear this child will take over the world...

Camping!

My kids have been begging to go camping.  They think it will be "so much very much fun, Mommy!"

Yeah, I know it won't.  I grew up camping.  I remember the dirt, the bugs, the sheer work that went into a "vacation."

Still, though, their constant pestering asking has worn me down.  

And a friend mentioned that our city does an neighborhood campout at a nearby park, so I caved and said okay.  One night at a park can't be that bad, right?

Here's the thing though.... we don't have any camping stuff.  And I don't want to break the bank to buy new stuff for a one night event.  Then I remembered our earthquake kit. 

 There is a tent in there.  

A tent that I bought on clearance for $20 at Walmart. 

 I figured that we should set it up before the campout to make sure it was functional.  

I told the kids we were going to have a campout in the living room.  I was immediately awarded "Best Mommy Ever" status.

Everyone got involved in setting this tent up.

It was bigger than our living room.  Sigh.

She was fascinated.

BabyBug taste-tested the stake pin before I could stop her.

I was informed we needed lanterns for camping in our living room -- Dollar Store, here I come.

No sleeping bags?  No problem.  Pillows and bean bags work great.

He was worried about bears coming to eat them.  Polar bears, to be exact.

He didn't even make it until 9pm.

She made it to 10pm.  At that point, I said screw this and carried them both to bed.  Their daddy is doing the campout with them.

Happy Birthday America!

It's my favorite holiday of the year!

Once again, we made a birthday cake for America.  You can keep your apple pies.  In this house, we roll with chocolate cake.

Okay, it seemed a little unpatriotic to not have apple pies... so I made mini ones with the help of a friend. 

 

Real men bake.

And this year, I asked Girlie and Boyo to tell me the story of America's Independence (with a little help from BabyGirlie).

Girlie: America of the United States of America has a birthday.

Boyo: And we have cake!

Me: But why does it have a birthday?

BabyGirlie: CAKE!

Girlie: Because America of the United States of America has a birthday on July 4th.

Boyo: And we have cake! And candy!

Girlie: And fireworks!  And a parade!

BabyGirlie: CAKE!

Me: But why is America's birthday on July 4?

Girlie: Cuz that is when it's Mommy decided for it to be borned.

Me (a little desperately): HoneyBear, remember, we talked about this.  There were the founding fathers...

Boyo: But no girls.

BabyGirlie: CAKE!

Me: And they wrote the Declaration of Independence.  Do you remember what a declaration is?

Girlie: Yes.  The Founding Fathers of America of the United States of America wrote a Declaration.  And then had a parade.  Did they go to Auntie Erin's house too?

Me (groaning): No.  What did the Declaration say?

BabyGirlie: CAKE!

Boyo: Did they ride bicycles too?

Girlie: No, no, no.  The people who wrote the Declaration of America of the United States of America didn't have bicycles.  They were old.  They were like THIRTY SEVEN. 

Husband: Hey! Thirty seven is not old!

Girlie: Yes it is.  You are the oldest person in our family.

Boyo: When did they sing Happy Birthday?

Baby Girlie: I WAN CAKE! 

Me: Can we get back to the story please?

Girlie: They wrote the Declaration to say they could have a birthday! 

Me: Sort of.  They wrote to Great Britain, remember the story?  And they told King George that America was independent of Great Britain and ready to be on it's own.

Girlie: Yes.  And then America of the United States of America had a birthday party.  What did they get for presents?

Husband: Cannonballs.

Boyo: I want cannonballs!

BabyGirlie: CAKE!

Girlie: Cannonballs are not a nice present.

Me (right eye twitching): Okay, story time is over.  Who wants cake?

Happy Birthday America!

Setting off fireworks

Watching fireworks

Right before the sprinklers came on....

Wordless Wednesday: I'm not sure what is funnier....

Boyo strangling the penguin, Girlie getting ready to swing from its beak, or BabyGirlie plotting world domination off to the side.

Gardening!

I recently set up my garden.  Okay, in April.  I'm a bit behind on my blogging. 

I had the cutest little helper....

Who was more interested in watering her shoes...

Green beans, tomatoes, zucchini, oh my. 

My new/old potting table...

Because everyone needs a pretty spot...

Yum!

I don't see this happening... but the kids wanted to try...

I don't see this happening, but my husband wanted to try...

Pretty!

My yield.  This seems pathetic.  Maybe I did something wrong...