Next Week...

I am looking forward to next week! I have the whole week off!! Literally.. we are dropping the kids off at my parents (a 6 hr drive) for the week. Initially we were hoping to be able to go on a vacation, but that's not going to happen due to $$.. so instead I decided I'm still going to drop the kids off and then get some work done at home! So I have big plans of completely cleaning and organizing our unfinished basement, so that when we have the time and $ it will be cleaned up and ready for work! Also, I'm sure me and hubby will go out a few times.. have some reconnect time. Ever since we got married I've either been pregnant or we had kids, so it'll be nice for us to have a little time for us.. although sometimes I wonder if that makes me a bad mom, wanting to have a week off? At the same time, being a 'single' mom for so long takes a toll (being the only one responsible of taking care of the kids and household, as hubby works away from home). Either way, I don't think I need to make excuses.. my kids are going to LOVE being at grandma's house for a week! they can play outside to their heart's content, they get to play with puppies, they get to see uncle J and auntie V... they get to go for quad rides with grandpa and help grandma water the plants :) it's a kids paradise at Grandma's house :) The nice part, I get to work on home projects and the garden for more than one consecutive hour!! lol.. anyway, here's a peak at the fun at grandma's house from last May

Wordless Wednesday - Easter

The Things Kids Say...

Conversation 5 minutes ago:
As I was making porggie (oatmeal) for K, I could hear my son calling from outside: Mommy, Mommy!

Yes TJ?

TJ: When I am outside, you are going to take care of my sister? Ok Mommy, you take care of my sister?

Yes, I will take care of your sister

TJ: OK Mommy, I'm just outside right now.

Caught on Camera...

I found my son emptying the peanut butter jar, he would stick his whole hand in and wipe the sides clean with his fingers! Yesterday, when I thought my son was napping quietly, turns out he had found a spoon and a new jar of PB.. lol.. there's something about that smooth, sticky stuff :)

TJ and K.. portraits.. finally

I have been really bad at getting the kids in for their yearly portraits.. but I finally did.. so here's a preview.. enjoy :)It was so hard to get K to cooperate, but we did manage to get just a few good shots of her.. but when we tried to get the kids together.. there was no way she wanted to be near her brother.. lol We wanted TJ to put his arm behind her, but she would not allow it :) lol.. so this is what we ended up with (we did get a few other good shots tho)

Trust and Dreams

Lately I have really been challenged in many areas of my personal life. I have been exploring new ideas and dreams. I found that I had lost some of that part of myself with the fact of having kids. God has really been trying to teach me a lot about trusting in Him. It seems that there have been many seperate incidences that altogether have been working towards that goal.. Trusting my family to Him, trusting my future to Him, trusting our finances to Him, giving Him my whole life value and trust that He has the best plans! It's a tough thing to learn, but somehow I think God is preparing me because He knows that tough times are ahead and I need to hang onto the things that are really important! Onto the dreaming.. I've always had high and lofty dreams, but like I said, it's seemed that since I've had kids, those dreams and even just thinking about them, have been put on hold. As many of you mothers know, with small kids, a lot of your time is taken up in the daily routine of physical needs. More recently I have realized that I need to take care of myself mentally and emotionally so I can give my kids the mom that they need to teach and take care of them! So, a few things I've done in the past while... I signed up for a library card here where I live.. and it's funny, something so small seemed to open up a whole new world for me.. You see, I used to read a lot but now I don't remember the last time I actually finished a book.. but I signed out two books and have started reading again.. a little at a time. It may sound funny, but lately I've been thinking about the future, thinking that I would like to go back to school. Funny, never thought I would dream of going back to school :) I've been thinking that once my kids are a little older, I would like to try and get a degree. I know that four years is a long time, and in reality, things will probably take longer for me (having a family). I've also been thinking that it may be an idea to try and take a few courses here and there as I can. I know it will be a challenge, but I would like to try. It's not like things are carved in stone about this, and I want to be open to God's leading, but I still, I think it's important to have a goal and dreams to work towards. I am a mother, I will always be a mother, but I want more than that. Not to say that being a mother is not satisfying, but there are other desires within me and God knows this because He made me that way and I trust that He will lead me to where He wants and I know that He wants the best for me. All in all, I just wanted to share some of the things that have been going on underneath the surface :)