Skipping

We rarely skip church, we love going, but last Sunday -after a week of crazy- we kind of just decided we needed a break from doing anything. We slept in, I went running (not relaxing to some, but always chills me out), ate Cheez-its and sat outside on the porch. 

And while we were recharging and "skipping' some things, it seems the weather skipped Spring and went straight to Summer. Which is totally fine with me. I could have Summer all year and be ok. The kids are a little unadjusted though, but they will get the hang of it. (I'm sure we will have a little bit more of a cool down before it stays hot, too.)

It was good to just enjoy a relaxing day at home, especially in light of the fact that I now have the plague and have been a zombie during part of this wonderfully-weathered week. (I rarely get sick, thank God, but when I do? I do it with a bang. Fitting of my personality, I guess. Go big or go home.) I have dragged the kids outside though in spite of the hacking and sniffling...so maybe all the sunshine will fry it out of my system asap.

I think skipping things now and then is healthy, and I'm glad we had the chance to enjoy some quiet time and home with nowhere to go and nothing to do. I think, just like this awesome weather, it's been far too long since that happened.

Finish Line Party

Merrick has a very, ahem, competitive attitude. To the extent of being a sore loser. If he ever loses a game he will promptly accuse the winner of cheating, pout, or say he is never playing that game again...sometimes all of the above. I have no idea where he gets this attitude from. ;) Anyway...I've realized that he also loves to race. (I'm not even going to pretend I don't know where that comes from.) This has been something that has definitely come in handy. (Won't eat his dinner? I'll race you. *Dinner disappears* Won't clean his room? Race your sister to pick up the most toys. *Room gets clean.* I'm no idiot. I'll take what I can get.)

Lately I've been able to enjoy a lot more outside running. (I've logged many a mile on the treadmill just because the YMCA will watch my kids while I run. Heavenly.) A combination of the weather and Billy's weird schedule have just magically worked out for this border collie to hit the road. One of my favorite parts about this new development, aside from the fact that running in this weather is nothing short of a gift from God (I know, I know, not everyone sees it quite that way. Haha), is the welcome I get when I come home. After an hour of working hard and winding down, Hillsong in my ears and hills under my feet; to hear their little voices cheering as I come down our sidewalk, and often Merrick's "I'll race ya, Mom!", well I can't think of a better finish line party. :)

Sometimes I hate thinking of a title. So I won't.

There really is no purpose or theme on this blog post. I just had some funny pictures of the kids...it's a Monday...and you are gonna have to take what you can get. Maybe you are feeling a little angry this morning...I bet Tirzah can sympathize.

Or maybe you're enjoying the fabulously warm Spring weather? (Finally, Spring. Geez.) Chillin in your shades (or your mother's shades) like J-Hawk. Just be sure not to rub snot on your mama's shades like the aforementioned individual.

Maybe you ate too much this weekend, and are wearing your big brother's pants cuz nothing else fits, also like Jericho. It's ok...we get it. We ate Cheez-its and cookies all weekend. (And yes, Jericho is in fact wearing Merrick's pants from last summer.)

Or maybe you're just feeling the Monday blues, zoned out at work looking something like this baby. Get yourself some coffee, in that case. Just don't share with Merrick unless you plan on babysitting. He drank half of my coffee this morning. He will be outside until he runs that out of his system and he's passed out in the yard.

Whatever your Monday looks like...I hope that you enjoy it. If you are feeling like your Monday isn't quite exciting enough feel free to stop by. There is always something happening over here that should probably be on the evening news.

Saddest Man Alive

Jericho may seem like he deserves a lot of sympathy from watching this video. Be warned, this was him pitching one of his recently all-too-common tantrums.

I guess as the baby of the family, I should have expected it. With two older siblings you gotta stick up for yourself right? ;) In this case it just happened to be he was sticking up for his right to have some of his sister's Easter candy.

Parked

Every time we say we are going to the park the kiddos assume it will involve playgrounds and things of that nature. The few times I've dragged them to a nearby nature park (that does have a playground in another area) they've really, really, gotten mad at me. It's like they look at me and say, "Mom, how can we ever trust you again? This is no park." It takes hours of explaining every time to get them to understand what a park is.

They always have fun once they get there. Merrick ran and played and climbed on all kinds of things. He only almost knocked one person unconscious with a rock. Tirzah didn't fall once, despite her best efforts of walking on the edges of sidewalks and missing steps and getting as close to the edges of fishponds as possible without actual swimming.

There were lots of photo opportunities, and also lots of babies running away from photo opportunities.

I even got in a few of the pictures. That never happens. Yet another reason I need to invest in my own wide angle lens, (this one is my sister's) because one day my kids won't ask "was mom on any of these family outings?"

I guess it's too much to ask that we have great weather, family time at the park, and a picture where everyone is looking at the camera. I'm happy that everyone is at least in this one, and 4 out of 5 isn't bad I don't think. These customers don't pay very well anyway. ;) Hope you are enjoying the Spring weather like we are!