Today, I started my morning with a hot shower and a plead to Heavenly Father for some patience. Yes, that’s how things are rolling around here these days. Mommy is snapping about every 30 seconds it feels. Thankfully, Heavenly Father has heard my call for help or seen the terrified look on my children’s faces, either way, he is pulling through.

I’m sure the snapping has nothing to do with Kevin ripping apart Julia’s pretty pink Boa in 20 seconds flat. Or me building a Gargantuous fire and FINALLY getting the house warm to walk into the dining room with the sliding door wide open, only after begging, and pleading, and begging and pleading with my children to not open the door. Or for example, when Kevin asked to play outside, and I said no, (it’s like 45 degrees and blustery and rainy,) I go to the bathroom to come out and find the sliding door wide open again and 2 missing children. GRRRRR…The last few days, it seems like it just doesn’t end, but as I look at these pictures, I’m grateful I have this blog to remind me of all the things I have to be grateful for.

For example, Kevin’s brain, yes, his brain, I’m grateful for his whole body, but I love how his little brain works. To see him figure things out is so much fun. Like yesterday morning we were driving in the car we were talking about break lights, blinkers, and head lights. After explaining all of their jobs to Kevin when we started to slow down he said, “Now the back of our car is red, and if you just hit the break fast and then let go, it will blink red really fast.” It’s fun to see him make connections and learn so fast.

Another example. Lacey has been sleeping between 5 and 7 hours every night with one 4 hour nap during the day.  She has also started cooing and smiling. She is also two months old now. Two months have flown by. She is very well tempered and so fun to have around. (and she has made up for her first month of being blow out free. She has several outfits in dumpsters across the Milwaukee area. You know when they are just tooo gnarly to clean out! EWW, sorry for that image!)

Yet another thing to be grateful for, Kevin and Julia LOVE playing with Lacey. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it. They are both so soft and so sweet to her.

And, probably the thing I am most grateful for right now. The naughtiness I explained a few weeks ago with Julia has come to a complete STOP. I cried myself to sleep a few times during that whole ordeal, and now I find myself crying tears of joy because my sweet little girl is back. (although, she still holds every ounce of sass!) She has learned to use her big girl voice and the screaming tantrums have come to a close. I do have to make sure I set aside time to hold her on my belly, it’s her favorite thing ever to lay down on my chest and have me wrap my arms around her. If I do that a few times a day we are golden.

One of Lacey’s favorite ways to sleep is cuddled under my chin with a handful of hair. Just like Kevin.

I am also grateful Cody covered my planters because now I no longer catch pictures of Kevin and Julia scaling the bookshelves to find their goods hidden in the planters. LOVE IT!

I’m grateful for the health and strength my kids have. We’ve been fighting a few random colds around these parts, but compared to health problems other people are facing, we are healthy little birds.

I’m grateful we had so many visitors come over the summer months. It was LOVELY having everyone, and I’m grateful we were able to find a rockin’ deal on plane tickets so we don’t have to make the yucky drive west ward in the dead of winter.

I’m grateful my family sends me picture text messages on a regular basis. This is my brother Blake, who I hear is becoming quite the expert on the unicycle. I love getting picture texts.

I’m grateful for story time at the library and play group with our friends. It is a guaranteed good time every week. The kids LOVE story time and sit so well. They love the singing, finger play, and books. It’s always a hit. And right after story time we head right to play group, super fun Wednesdays for us.

I’m grateful for the funny things my kids do. Yesterday morning Kevin was looking through a book that contains pictures of all of his aunts and uncles. He expressed a spoken letter to each aunt and uncle, here they are…(I’m kicking myself for not recording him, but I’m glad I wrote it all down)

They all started the same,

Dear Aunt/Uncle, I miss you sooo much.

J.D. and Ash, Thank you for letting me swim in your swimming pool. Thank you for having baby Madie so I can play with her.

Tess and Dillon, Thank you for letting Tessa, Lucy, and Sam come to my house. I had so much fun. I miss them already. Sam, you remind me of me, I had no hair. (he is referring to when he was a baby, he keeps telling me that he and Sam are the same!)

Tyrel (he doesn’t know Alyona yet and I don’t have a picture of her yet) Thank you for wrestling with me. I love you.

Cody, I wear my hat backwards just like you. Tell Grayson I miss him.

Trev and Ash, I love to play soccer, because I love Trevor. I love your skunk, and I love that you let me pet it. It does scare me. Why do you have a skunk?

Logan and Kitty, (katie) I love your snowmobile so much. I love that it goes fast and I love that it can jump high. Please let me ride it.

Shas and JP, Thank you for sending me presents in the mail. I always get presents from you and I like it. I like you too.

Granny, Blake and Jordin are my aunt and uncle. They love me. They come to play and I love them.

and they all ended the same,

I miss you sooo much.

Love Kevin

 

In bed last night Julia said, “Mom, Aunt Tessa your Mom?” Me, “No, she’s my sister!” J-“Her your sister?! Aunt Ashlynn your Mom?” Me, “No, she’s my sister too, Granny is my Mom!” Ju-(in a shocked voice) Granny you Mom!?” It was super funny. Surprised it’s something she was thinking about.

And, I’m grateful for this hard working man. He is the cheese to my macaroni. He is so very supportive, loving, and the comic relief, all at once.  He is fabulous about coming home and doing my list of to dos, grabbing Lacey or one of the other kids to join him in whatever he is doing. As of late he has been doing bedtime when he is home and sending me off to either take a bath, go to the store, or do whatever it is I need to do to regain my sanity. (Which I hope will be back tomorrow, 3 days with out it has been HORRIBLE!)

 

I realize I have much to be grateful for.  I’m glad I got an e-mail from Grandpa Kevin asking for a blog update, because I feel like doing this has changed my outlook on the afternoon. Fun, here we come. I think we’ll make a scare crow when the kids wake up to set on our front porch. That should wipe away all the blues. Here’s to hoping.