Check out what we did yesterday…
It was so, so, SO COOL! I have video and so many more pictures to share when we get home, but I just HAD to share this with you now!!!!
disclosure: we paid to experience dolphin cove, but we were given a discounted media rate. coolness factor not exaggerated at all.
Honestly, so many days as a mom I feel like this:
Its hard. Its exhausting. It is one of the few things that can make me scream. Or cry. Sometimes at the same time. It makes me feel inadequate like nothing you can imagine. It brings me to my knees daily, as I plead for wisdom is how to do this.
But it does give you perks. Like this:
and this:
And my cup runneth over.
I’m so blessed. With my own amazing little rugrats. And with the moms in my life.
My own mom is still mothering me, even though I’m gone with my own little ones. Every day she is giving me advise, helping me with deal with motherhood (probably while chuckling to herself and thinking “Payback!”) and telling me, “You can do this. You can do this.”
My mother-in-law is amazing – how many other mother-in-laws will come over to babysit and when you get home, say “Well, while Colin napped I did your ironing and cleaned the bathroom. Hope that’s okay.” She is so supportive of our family – we are so blessed.
My grandma is the very personification of generosity and giving. If I called her and said, “I need you!” She would throw Grandpa in the car and be halfway across Connecticut before he even knew what was happening.
My aunts are the same. So supportive, so loving, so adored by my kids.
And my sisters! All of them – in-laws and not – I feel like my kids have 5 extra moms. And I love it.
I feel surrounded by love this mothers day. I wish everyone could feel just like this.
Its been a crazy two weeks.
Actually, its been a crazy six weeks!
Anyway, by Friday I found myself sick and exhausted and looking forward to a weekend of quiet.
Then they found a salamander in the backyard.
And, despite my saying many, many times that there was no way in YOU KNOW WHAT it was coming into the house….
His name is Bob.
Hold me.
Saturday we went to Valley Forge Park on a gorgeous afternoon.
Washington’s Headquarters
helloooooo in there!!
my ellie had her third grade concert.
then gracie had her writer’s celebration! she wrote a book about ballet – so so adorable.
then my husband came home after traveling a ton.
poor colin.
he’s getting kicked out of bed.
then it was spring break! woot!
we headed to…
we took colin bowling for his party.
he had a blast!!
and guess what he got for his birthday??
My husband came in as I was writing a post for All Things Chic {we’re giving away a gorgeous hand-dyed silk pashmina scarf! Go enter!!}
And he’s like, “What are you putting a picture of your boob on the internet?”
And I’m like, “Its not of my boob! Its of my scarf!”
And he’s like, “If you say so!”
That is TOTALLY a picture of my scarf.
Colin won the game we were playing. Since he is all boy, he immediately started running around the living room in circles, pumping his fists in the air, yelling “I’M THE KING OF THE WORLD!! WOOOOOOO!!!! I’M THE KING OF THE WORLD!!”
Then he stopped and looked at me.
“Mom, I’m just joking. I’m not really the king of the world. Jesus is the real King of the world.”
Oh, my heart. I needed that. They are listening. They do remember what we’re trying so hard to teach them.
“Mama, I sort of wish it wasn’t my birthday.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to be your little boy forever and ever.”
Oh, my little love. You will always be my little boy.
Forever and ever.
Happy birthday, Colin.
Mama loves her little boy.
My little Gracie is following in her Mama’s footsteps.
I loved dance when I was growing up – it was a huge part of my life. I danced all through college, teaching dance classes, serving as student director of the dance department all four years. So when my little girl wanted to take ballet, I was naturally thrilled. She needed an activity that could help her coordination. Soccer did not go well and early on I could see that the poor thing inherited my Klutz Gene which tends to result in tripping over air and running into walls. Dance could only help, right?
Grace seemed to pick it up overnight – within two years, she is taking ballet, tap and jazz, she’s been asked to do special performances, and her teacher is always raving about what an amazing job she is doing.
But, beyond that – dance is giving her a gift. Grace is naturally very shy outside of our home. She barely said three words all thourgh kindergarten, and even now struggles to speak up in school. She rarely will talk to adults without us giving her “the look.”
But – put this girl on stage…. its amazing.
She transforms. Instantly.
She is bursting with confidence. Not a lick of stage fright. I asked her if she was nervous to preform before a packed auditorium and she answered, “Why?” Grace is front row, center, with a huge smile on her face, having the time of her life, soaking up the attention.
When I watch her in class, with a huge smile on her face, I get choked up. To see her excelling at something, to have found her “thing” that she loves and she is good at, is priceless. To see her loving something so much that I loved so much is amazing.
As the middle child, Grace often says she feels like she gets overlooked. But dance is hers. Dance is where she shines. The confidence she gets here is bringing her out of her shell. She had a line in the Thanksgiving play. Just recently, she spoke by herself in front of the whole church. She was the only kid in her class who was willing to stand up with the microphone and speak! Talk about progress!
Its amazing how confidence in one area can spill over into the rest of a child’s life. Encourage your kids – help them find where they shine and support them. You’ll be amazed at what a difference it makes!
disclosure: This post was sponsored by Electrolux. The Electrolux Perfect Steam washer gets your clothes cleaner than any other washer2, keeping kids looking their best, so parents can focus on the moments that count. Kelly Ripa and Electrolux want to know your proud parent moments. Visit facebook.com/Electrolux to share your BEST moments and enter for a chance to win a new laundry pair.
Lately our kids have been asking questions. Big questions.
Where do babies come from?
How do I know I’m going to heaven?
How do people die?
Suddenly these little minds are thinking about things that most adults don’t even think about. Even Colin – he was the one who asked how people die. Not just “in an accident” or “because they are sick or old” — he wanted to know physically, what happens to our bodies that makes people die.
Need I remind you he’s only 3?
Nevermind the girls. We’ve been having lots of late night chats in their beds about all sorts of things…
but I’m lost, guys.
I feel so overwhelmed about this. I have no idea how to explain these things to a child. I’d be clueless how to explain some of these things to an adult! The questions are getting bigger and bigger. I need to find some parenting books or something to give me an idea about where to even start.
Especially on the whole “where to babies come from” thing.
HELP!