Who needs a stool?

One last nice weather playdate

What started out as a morning coffee date with the little kids ended up as a mad mob at Erin's house. In the effort to take advantage of the last little bit of nice weather, we all spent the afternoon playing outside, having ice cream and trying not to mourn the impending loss of sunshine.
A fun sensory game, fill a pool with dried beans and pasta. Give the kids bowls and let them have fun.
Ice cream and brownies in the clubhouse...
Just enjoying the day with friends...thanks Erin for your hospitality.

Laundry Induced Meltdown

Upon reading the title of this post, you may assume that the melt down I'm referring to was from one of the kids. Nope! It was me! While emptying the fourth basket of clean laundry that I needed to somehow fold and put away while my boys seemed to be swimming in it on the floor, I snapped. Darin was in the kitchen trying to clean the swamp we call a fish tank, and I was standing amongst the piles literally crying my eyes out. Much credit due to my awesome husband, he proceeded in comforting me and telling me of all the amazing things I do on a daily basis in raising our wonderful three children. And that being a stay at home mom is the "hardest job on the planet". But is it really? Why is it so hard? What is so hard about laundry, dishes and keeping the house clean? To the untrained eye, being a mom and having the "privilege" of staying home instead of going to a job everyday is the easy part.
While at the bus stop this afternoon, I confided in my friend who also has chosen the same career path as me, about my laundry induced meltdown. Of course she was completely sympathetic and commiserated with me on the struggles of day to day life at home. "Why is it a housekeeper can keep the house clean? and a chef can get the meals prepared with no fuss?" Upon listening to her, I felt much comfort knowing that I am not crazy, nor am I incompetent. A housekeepers main job is to keep the house clean. A chef is meant to cook. They are in no way taking care of our children while doing it. No noses to wipe, no diapers to change, no laundry to fold and refold when attacked by a toddler. No timeouts to give for one sibling throwing toys at the other sibling's head. These are things that stop us from getting our jobs done. Or are the jobs getting in the way of us raising our children?
I feel much better now that my tears motivated my husband to stop everything and move furniture that I can never get to, and clean our swamp of a tank before all the fish die, and help me to finish my mountains of laundry.
And for the record, while I was "taking a minute for myself" to write this post, I had to stop several times due to a 3 year old who couldn't possibly take his nap without his dinosaur bin, and his pirate, and his blankets, and his....Also I had to stop for a husband who got half way to work and forgot his clothes, he "was wondering if I could fish them out of the laundry and run them out to him as he does a drive by".
Yes this job is hard, not for the obvious reasons or for the mundane tasks that fill my day each and every day. But because of the responsibility to my family and the dependence they all have on me. I wouldn't change it for the world, I could just use a little help with the laundry every now and then.

Growing up

For some reason, Bella looks so much older to me today. She got all dressed up for school this morning and loved her outfit so much she had me take a picture. When I looked at the camera I couldn't believe my eyes. My baby girl has gotten so beautiful. I didn't think it was possible to get more beautiful in my eyes. I am so proud of her, every day, more and more.

OCD in Toddlers

Apparently Cameron thought my organizational skills were lacking and took it upon himself to create a new filing system. Thanks Cam.

Milk

After getting the OK from our doctor, Logan tried milk today for the first time. I think it was a success!

Random Pool Pictures

I just found these and thought they were really great.