Sixteen

Sixteen more days of school.  I'm so ready for summer, and lazy mornings, and evenings outside.
We went to the park the other night with some friends and it just made me long for summer even more.  The kids love the park playground but also love the creek that runs behind the park.  It's brimming with tadpoles right now.

 Looking for tadpoles

Two of the ones  they caught

 Pointing out the rabbits in the field

Just sixteen more days.....

Creative Laziness

I would never call my children lazy.  But occasionally they do have a funny way of getting out of work.

The other day I asked Bailey to go upstairs and pick up the playroom.  She said she was just too tired to climb the stairs.  I made her do it anyway.  Five minutes later Skylar came downstairs and said, "Did you know Bailey is asleep on the stairs?"

Poor kid wasn't kidding.  She really was too tired to climb the stairs.  Or else she just REALLY didn't want to clean the playroom. 

Last week I went to use the bathroom downstairs and saw this:

Rather than actually replace the toilet paper, Reagan just set it on top of the counter.  And in case you weren't sure what that roll was, she labeled it:

My kids crack me up!

Pretty much...

This is how I feel today:

Mom

I posted some pictures from Easter on facebook and a friend from Virginia commented on one.  She said, "I remember when all you wanted was to be a mama.  Now look at you."

The comment nearly brought me to tears.  It's true.  It's all I've ever wanted.  I remember asking my mom for years and years if she would give me a baby brother or sister.  I told her that I would take care of the baby and she wouldn't need to do anything.  (sounds more like I was asking for a puppy huh?) :) I didn't understand that it wasn't "possible" for my mom to have any more babies.  I just knew that I wanted a baby of my own so badly.

I started babysitting at the ripe old age of 9.  Yes, 9.  By 14 I was a full fledged nanny during the summer months.  At 16 I had a little girl I watched so much that she called me "mama." As much as I enjoyed it, I had to teach her to call me something else.  I was the first face she saw in the morning, and the last she saw at night. I witnessed her first steps, and heard her first words.  I loved her like my own but it broke my heart.  I knew her mom was missing out.  It was through that experience that I decided I would do whatever I had to in order to stay home with my kids.  I was blessed to marry someone with the same ideals.

It was only two years after we were married when we had Reagan.  I remember holding her for the first time.  Besides the flood of emotion that comes with any normal delivery, I was also overwhelmed with the realization that I was finally a mom.  I didn't have to give her back.  Even as we were leaving the hospital two days later Brian suggested we stop at Babies R Us to get some preemie stuff and I said "Is it ok to do that?" He responded, "She's ours.  We can do whatever we want." :)

Now, almost 8 years later, I know I'm doing exactly what God wants me to do.  It doesn't make each day easy or filled with rainbows, unicorns or cupcakes with sprinkles.  But even on the days where I feel like locking myself in the closet for some peace and quiet, I cling to the knowledge that our sacrifices are not in vain.  There are plenty of things I'm not, but I know that being a mom was a desire placed by God and fulfilled by Him alone.  And "He who began a good work will be faithful to complete it."

I also know that God placed an incredible example in my life as my own mom.  She amazes me with her quiet strength, her love, selflessness, and sense of humor.  She is a blessing to me and my girls are incredibly lucky to have her as their "yaya." 

(yes, I know we match....and we didn't even plan it)

Thank you mom for being a Christ-like, shining example in my life and in the lives of my girls.  

Happy Mother's Day!

Mud

I finally backed up our computer and deleted a bunch of files so I could download new pics.  I know you've been waiting on the edge of your seats. :)

For Skylar and Bailey's birthdays my mom asked if she could get the girls a sand and water table.  At first I said no.  We've had a sand and water table before.  I know what happens.  The sand doesn't stay on the sand side.  The water doesn't stay on the water side.  It turns into a mud table.

I don't mind fun messes, but I wasn't too keen on the idea of mud being tracked through the house.

But she convinced me that it would be so much fun for the girls, so I caved.

She was right.  It is fun.  They love it.

But I was right too.  It's a mess.

A big, muddy mess.  

But such a fun mess!

Who needs the beach when you have this in your backyard?

Thanks mom! :)