FFF......crafty? ME?!? Who Knew?

There are many reasons I like this picture.

1. Captures so much of WHO my children are at this point.
2. Love the view of Colorado Springs spread out like a blanket behind the kiddos.
3. Shows off one of my few recent “crafty” moments-the dyed shirts. (Which I got the idea from here-super fun!!!)

But, because I couldn’t get all the kids to STAND, LOOK AT THE CAMERA & SMILE (thank, you Nat-ha!), I wanted to show you all a better picture of the shirt-sans the cute (if somwhat pouty-for one of them, at least) models!!

Now-go on out there & make some for your kids-really-it's easier than I thought it would be!!!

Mommy Guilt.......

I don’t often succumb to this nasty monster, but two weeks ago, I caught a pretty severe case of it.

We’re talking-driving down the road crying so hard I should have probably pulled off.

But, I didn’t-& I’ll explain to you why.

*Welcome to a week that almost every mother experiences in the month of May.*

This particular weekend, (from Thursday-Saturday) we had-
~A ballet class-Ruth
~A school choir concert rehearsal-Ana
~A school choir concert-Ana
~A ballet recital rehearsal-Ana & Ruth
~A ballet recital-Ana & Ruth

You guessed it-something had to overlap.

Along about Friday afternoon-things began to unravel-when Ruth had to be at the ballet recital rehearsal at the same time as Ana’s choir concert.

I DID plan ahead, though, & had another mom agree to keep an eye on Ruth after I dropped her off at the ballet rehearsal.

And flew down the interstate, hoping to catch the end of Ana’s concert.

But, Dave called when I was still 15 minutes away to say Ana’s first school concert was done.
& I missed it.

For the first time ever, I missed something of hers-& it was her FIRST ever school performance.

I bawled like a baby. All the rest of the drive.

I almost started again later that weekend when Ana told me she almost started to cry during her concert when she realized I probably wouldn’t make it back.

Agony! Still makes me sad. (& yes, Daddy took plenty of pictures & video, but it’s still not the same…..)

Please remind me that she won’t be scarred for life!

Wordless Wednesday

Diligence........

Goofy me! Why didn’t I think of this before?

My philosophy on teaching diligence has apparently needed some adjusting!

I never knew how hard a child could work until I offered her $5 to get rid of all the weeds in the yard!

Why shouldn’t I pay her to do a job I'd rather skip?

It took her several afternoons of work. Each afternoon after completing her schoolwork, she can be found persistently and carefully checking for weeds in the backyard.

(Next week, it’s on to the flower gardens!)

This post was created in 20 minutes for Steady Mom’s 30 Minutes or Less Blogger Challenge.

Trying to Teach About Chores.......with moderate sucsess....

I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew here, though. He does a great job-flinging crumbs everywhere. & screaming-"My DO IT!"

Consistancy only happened for the first week or so-then life got in the way!

Do you try & teach your really little kids any chores?

Or should I just give up for now!

Expanding Horizons........

No-that light colored appendage is NOT mine.

I am not very brave.

I don’t like squirmy things.

But my Ana took the “littles” in tow & patiently taught them all about worms this week.
“Nat, hold it gently.”
“Ruth, be careful-the worm might think you are a bird if you are too rough with it & it might be scared of you!”
“Here, let’s take them over to the driveway where we can watch them move.”

& I (bravely-ha) took out my camera & documented it!

(Aren’t you proud of me?)

(yes, I think this counts for some science, don't you?)

(& this kinda even fits with the theme over at Hannah's Blog-"That's What Friends/Big Sisters are For!" YEAH!!!)

Is This Disturbing to You? It ought to be!!! Ha!

In my quest to declutter, I figured a PICTURE of this momento from my childhood was better than keeping it. What do you think? ;)

(Who knows why I thought this was special-I can't even remember who I got the little bench from-& the little Japansese woman?-she looks diseased, doesn't she?)

Hey-I got a decent pic of the kids!!! :)

Hopefully I am BACK for a While!!!

What thrills this mama’s heart faster than just about anything?

The sight of both daughters-dancing on stage in a grand culmination of many months of hard work.

& the sight of sheer joy on both their faces!


(Yes, I danced with my oldest. No, I promise I didn't wear jeans to the recital-this is the rehearsal!)
Ana-dancing with you was one of the biggest privileges & joys of my life! Seeing how thrilled you were to dance with me-now there can’t be a much better joy for a mom! I love you & LOVED being on stage with you! What fun-dancing to One Little Heartbeat at a Time (& by some minor miracle I managed to keep my eyes dry-the entire song! Whew!)
Ruthie-my little ballerina! I love that you even dance with gusto-just like you do everything else! You were such a cutie-& I think you probably stole the show again-just like last year!

To all the teachers at Turning Pointe Dance: Thank you for faithfully loving on our girls & devoting so much of your time to teach them-not only about ballet-but mostly about Jesus-& what it means to dance to His glory!!

(In a few weeks, we will have some great professional pics I can post!! Stay tuned!)

New Camera!!! I am so excited about this!!!!

Dave just picked up the NikonD5ooo for us!!! I have only had the oppurtunity to take a few pics, but I LOVE it so far!!

Here is one I took tonight (the other two kids are gone with Dave).

Can't wait to learn more about how to use this thing!!!!!

Mom.......

I thought about this a while……what does being a mommy mean to me?

I wondered, “How is my life different than any other Mommy out there?”

I finally figured that what makes my life different is that God has given me the perfect kids for ME-to grow & develop me as a person.

They all try my patience at times, but……..

Ana has taught me compassion for others. Our 70ish older neighbor passed away last week, & she has NEVER been intimidated by death. When she found out he was dying, every time she saw his wife outside, she would BEG permission to just run & give Mrs. “H” a hug. WOW!!! How often would I do something like that? While I’m not scared of death, per se, I still don’t particularly relish running out to comfort someone who is in the midst of the worst trial of her life.

But…..my daughter does.
She LOVES….with such an open heart.

Ruth has taught me to laugh-at almost everything! Just about every time you look at that child, she is either laughing or smiling. You can’t help but have your spirits lifted around her.

She also LOVES hugs. I am NOT a “hug” person.
At least, I could live all my life without hugging.
But, not now that a “hugger/cuddler” has come into my life.
She demands it (you know how 2 year olds are).

& it’s very good for me.
I have discovered it’s good to have hugs.
Especially from one who loves you so completely
& unconditionally.

Natty has slowed me down.
With one or two kids,
I found I could still pretty much do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted.
But three!!?
Nope. I have to slow down & stop to meet their needs first-
or else my whole day quickly falls apart.

He is also LOUD. Before I had a boy, everyone told me boys are LOUD. I never really understood that until he found his voice.
His volume is good for me, because I have found that my tolerance for general “kid” noise has greatly increased as well.
(& yes, we are starting to work on using an “inside voice” inside & an “outside voice” outside…..but, hey, he’s only 21 months. Can’t have too high of expectations, can we?)


How have your kids made you a better person?
**************************************************

Also, I want to thank the mothers in our lives for all they have contributed to us:

My mom, Dave’s mom, Grandmothers. You have taught us well, & we love you all!

But, the mothers I can’t ever forget-

Mama A*****-thank you so much for the love you showered on our children when they were so young & vulnerable.

Mama N*****-thank you…….there really are no words to describe the GIFT you have given us.

This is a repost from last year around Mother's Day.....with a new pic, though! :)

Sorry I have been such a bad blogger lately!!!

I know, I know......I told you that I would be posting some-but time is just FLYING by!
Before I know it, the week is half gone & I still haven't posted!


Anyway, thank goodness Spring has finally arrived in CO, & Tuesday, the kids & I spent over two hours outside!

&, thank goodness-they actually all got their pics taken-& they turned out-at least a bit!!

(He was too busy "driving the car" to bother much with me & my snap-happy self!)
Sheer delight!!!

What a beauty!