Thank You

Recently the germ-fest of 2011 ran through our house. We all had the sniffles, the coughs, the sore throats, and the general grouchies. Who wants to waste energy being friendly when your throat is on fire and you can't breath through your nose, right?

I've been trying to work on this myself, and teach my kids while I'm at it, to be kind to people no matter how you are feeling. (I think the only possible exemption may be while in labor, that's a whole different level there ;). One of the "sick nights" Billy got us Chinese food and a funny movie. I think laughter really is some of the best medicine. Plus it's a lot easier to say please and thank you with a belly full of General Tso's chicken.

Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness 

will find life, righteousness, and honor. / Proverbs 21:21

Check out more shots at Lisa's Chaos

The View from Here.

Saturday mornings mean different things for different people. When you're young they often mean sleeping in and being lazy.

When you're older, and have kids of your own, sleeping in is so 3 years ago (which would be before Merrick was born). At least for everyone at the same time. We have to sleep in shifts around here.

I recently told someone that I think it's sooo funny how my kids like to wake me up screaming/crying/pounding on the walls. I can't wait until my kids are teenagers, who want to sleep the day away. I will have my revenge. ;) I've thought up many a way to wake them in that sleep-deprived stupor of mine.

But in all seriousness, if that's even possible at an early hour on a Saturday morning, I love these kids. I love this season of our lives where we are short on sleep, but long on awesome memories. Even if they are a little foggy since I seriously need a nap already.

Check out more shots at The Paper Mama

(The first shot is my pick for this week)

Before?

I barely remember before there were these two heads in the tub on a Saturday night. I can't picture my life without them in it. Even though sometimes I secretly accuse them of making my life utter chaos. (Which is probably a bit true, in my defense. But its chaos of the best kind.)

Trying to think back, those 3 years ago, feels like looking through a fog. I feel like they've always been here. Always running around leaving a trail of toys and laughter, splashing water and their toothy little grins all over the bathroom, and making my heart explode every day with this chance to love 2 people so much. (No, I'm not crying...I just have something in my eye. Or I'm sleep deprived and can't breathe through my nose. Which is totally their fault too, bless their little germ-carrying hearts)

Some days its hard. They are fussy, they fight, I'm fussy and I fight back. But then I sneak in their rooms while they are sleeping. And my word...those little eyelashes splayed on their baby cheeks are enough to make me die of some kind of sentimental attack. Their little fists holding tight to blankies and bears, stuffed kitty cats and plastic trains. One day these things will be memories, and not my present. So forgive me this rambling sentiment today. I want to remember this time with them every way I can.

















 

Bubbly

For once, I'm kind of short on words. I've been so busy getting these "touchable" bubbles off of absolutely everything in the house. So I really don't have much to say about them. But the kids are cute playing with them. Shoot, the kids are cute even when they are getting on my nerves. ;)

While they are lots of fun, they are kind of not lots of fun to clean up. I keep finding bubbles stuck in weird places. Like up on a wall, in the closet, on my head, etc. :) I found these in the check out line at Old Navy. They totally sucked me in with all that junk they have sitting there. I think they purposefully take a long time to check you out so you just grab something and buy it out of sheer boredom.

(that is not one of my kids, but he's still pretty cute) I think I am now aware of why mom told me not to blow bubbles in the house growing up. But in my defense, those bubbles just left a little soapy spot. These are the bubbles that keep on giving. They do make for some fun shots, though.

Not kidding, one of them just floated past my nose as I was typing this. I mean, where has that thing been hiding for 2 days? The kids keep asking to blow bubbles, and I keep wanting to "lose" them...but they look at me and they have these big eyes and they're blue and...so we blow more bubbles. And I clean up more sticky touchable bubble goop. But hey, I guess it's better than having to watch Robin Hood for the 816th time today. ;)

Check out more shots at Sweet Shot, Perceptive Perspectives, and Trendy Treehouse.

(That last shot is my pick for this week)

Young Tomatoes

My grandma used to plant tomato seedlings in tin cans from tomato sauce & puree & crushed tomatoes she got from the Italian restaurant by her house, but she always soaked the labels off first. I don't want them to be anxious about the future, she said. It's not healthy. / Story People

While this quote is meant to be funny. (I've recently fallen in love with Story People.) I'm seriously taking it serious when it comes to my kids. I want them to grow up without a label (stuck on by me or anyone else), to be themselves, and enjoy every minute of it. They are far too stubborn for me to tell them who to be anyway...and I think God has them figured out just right. ;)