Priorities

Being a mom has taught me a few things, things that I would have never figured out on my own most likely.

1: Being pasty white is not the end of the world. Some people, Nicole Kidman for example, even look good while being pasty. Hey, less wrinkles for me. Saving children from the depths of the kiddie pool is much higher on the list.

2. Relaxation is not exactly necessary to enjoy your summer. While it's nice, and some filthy rich people get to have their cake and eat it too, also known as a nanny, for the lowly middle classers *and that's being generous...I'm probably not quite middle material ;)* we take our vacations with the kiddos, and their tons of stuff. And we LIKE it...mostly. Repeat to myself: I do not need to sleep while on vacation, I do not need to sleep while on vacation...and a little sand ingestion never hurt anyone.

3. Staying up late and sleeping in after enjoying summer festivities is highly overrated. When I was a mere college undergrad...I came and went as I pleased. Stayed out till all hours of the night, and then slept in *what is this sleeping in you speak of???* to make sure I still looked great the next day. Now? Mama...you're gonna pay for leaving us with Grandma while you were out with Daddy. Kids, I happen to LIKE dark circles under my eyes...have you totally missed the vampire craze? Also related...see point 1.I love my two kiddos dearly, and do not for one second miss the carefree days of summer that I had before the two of them arrived on the scene. Ok, I miss the carefree just a little. But yes, they are totally worth it and I wouldn't trade them for anything. Hope this little post has helped you all in getting your priorities right. If not, just do what I do and keep repeating to yourself: they will graduate one day....they will graduate one day...;)

Ride On.

This past week we took the yearly torture excursion to Kings Dominion. Yes. I said torture. I hate rollercoasters. They are dumb. Last year I had a baby to get out of going. You think I'm kidding. Wouldn't you like to know for sure? ;)

They make me scream and shake in a way that is not cute. I am not afraid to birth 2 children, or run for hours, or even of snakes, but don't you dare ask me to strap myself onto that rattling growling monster and hurtle down a hill at high speed. Are you crazy? I honestly think I'd rather jump out of an airplane.

So I stood around trying to make profusely sweating and sunburning look sexy (it was 100 degrees) while my husband and our youth group rode every ride in the park, including The Intimidator. More like the widow-maker if you ask me. My sister literally passed out. I hear this is kind of common on this ride. Again I ask...are you crazy? Passing out is not normal. Put down the season pass and walk away.
I'm kidding...I don't care if people ride roller coasters, and there was a time in high school when I rode them myself. For fear of being made fun of. Now? I really don't care who makes fun of me...I'm so over that peer pressure thing. Make fun...I'm still not getting on it. I am embracing my inner chicken.

We did have a fun trip. I love hanging out with the youth group...they are so ridiculous. I mean that in the best way. They aren't like adults either, and totally beg me to take their picture. That's fun for a change.

And also...Billy bought me a choc. chip sundae that weighed more than I do. Well...more than I did before I ate it, that is. It was so hot most of it melted on me...but I made sure to lick it off so as not to be wasteful. Hey...I had to find something to do to keep myself occupied. Ya know, besides the sweating.

This week at YouCapture the theme was "vehicles". Check out the link for more shots!

Better him than me...

In all my life, as of yet knock on wood, I have never run out of gas. I probably should have, many times. I'm really bad about driving the car until its pretty much running on fumes because I hate how much it costs to put gas in it. My dad says this is bad for the car, and it probably is...he's right about all things annoying like that.



We have run out of gas twice since we bought our car. Thankfully, both times, it's been Billy's fault. I say that because I would feel like a giant idiot calling him to come get me because I ran out of gas. I'd much rather he run out of gas so when I finally do? He won't really be allowed to be mad at me. ;) The last time we ran out of gas was just last week, in the triple digit weather.

Thankfully, we ran out of gas on the way home from the gym, which is on a really busy road that is home to a bored collision repair shop employee who practically begged Billy to let him drive him to get gas so he would have something to do. Poor guy. He was really bored. Glad we could help. Next time we run out of gas...we'll know who to call. And hopefully it will still be Billy's fault. ;)

I always do this...

I have days where I dream...just give me five minutes away from the insanity of being a mom. Oh the things I could do with those 5 minutes. Eat, shower, go to the bathroom without an audience, or even brush my teeth. My husband would appreciate it.

But then the time comes. The time to pour some attention into some other, older but no less rambunctious, kids for a week. Youth camp time. And I panic. OhmyGOSH what will I do? I'll have to go to the bathroom alone. I'll have time to eat. No, please. I changed my mind. Can't I stay home?

Wait, no...I really want to go. But ohmygoodness what will I do without those faces to kiss? Those faces that are always in mine wanting something. I might not be able to function without a diaper to change. Ok, I may be ok without that. But oh...I already miss them and I haven't even left them yet. I'm doing a backwards kind of countdown...still 5 hours left with the hooligans.

I know, just KNOW, no one can take care of them as well as me. What if they cry and no one understands what they need because I am their go-to translator? I even understand Merrick through the stuttering, the "I'm too excited to talk slowly" stuttering. I totally trust the capable hands they've been left in, don't get me wrong. But still...I'm mom. Which is synonymous with worry.

I am so excited I get to go to camp this year. I think. Maybe I'll ask Billy if it's too late to change my mind. No...I can handle it. Maybe. But wait...no one is pulling on my leg. *hyperventilating* I'll have to ask one of these highschoolers if they can PLEASE ask me for something every two seconds so I won't have some kind of attack. I thought homesickness was usually for a place, but now I totally understand its for those you cannot have home without. Only 5 more days till I'm home again...

1

One might seem like a small number...in the grand scheme of things. But think of how much it can change. It can mean winning or losing a game, missing a flight, or one more hour of sleep, which is invaluable around here. No one ever really talks about the two loves of their lives...it's really only that one special someone, your one and only. We only need One Savior to save us, and one simple but huge belief in Him to change our lives...the only one we get.

It can also represent this past year. One whole long but amazingly short year of Tirzah Shae. This time last year we saw her chubby-cheeked little angel face for the first time. Love at first sight. *Only needed one look...one whiff of new baby...one little "where on earth am I cry to know it was love.*

Amazing...what a year, one year, can do. We went from 3 to 4. From me and my boys to the four of us. One minute we were anxiously begging her to show up, and the next we were holding her and thinking how in the world did we get so blessed? One tiny little person that is one huge responsibility, and gift, all in the same package. How in the world, I wonder sometimes, am I going to do everything I need to raise these kids right? Not just one, but one million prayers...that's for sure.

I cannot imagine life without her...one blue-eyed, feisty-tempered, heart-stealing heck of a baby girl. Our one and only Princess Poo. Tirzah Shae. Baby girl...we are so blessed. There is only one of you in this whole world. I am the most blessed mommy to have you in my life. Praise God for letting us be your family. Happy first birthday, my sweet girl. We love you!

"A girl is innocence playing in the mud,
Beauty standing on it's head,
And motherhood dragging a doll by the foot."
- Alan Beck