Thankful on Thursday

I'm struggling. Like, doggy paddling. Everything is just A LOT. Life issues, work is beyond insane, children have woken up screaming in the middle of the night every single night for the last week.  We are moving at warp speed. Did I mention school is pure insanity? But there will be no sinking. 

- I am thankful that when it feels like I am sinking I get a boost from my husband, parents, and in-laws. 

- I am thankful that I have gotten at least 4 hours of sleep every night for the past 5 nights. Yep, that's right. But less than 4 leaves me delusional, so at least 4 is good. 

- I am thankful that my kids are so unbelievably cute and say the sweetest things before they go to bed. 

- I am thankful that I have a job that I know is doing some good, even if it is breaking me at the moment. 

- I am thankful that my parents are so close and able to help when things are crazy. And when kids are off school and we are not (oh how I wish we for Columbus Day!). 

- I am thankful that I have a job that while completely and utterly insane, let me take the day off Wednesday to go on Logan's field trip. 

- I am thankful for a friend's email tonight that have me a fabulous laugh I needed. 

- I am thankful we have a weekend to relax with no commitments, not even soccer!

- I am thankful that at some point this is all going to get better. I just know it. 

Pre-K, Month One

Oh you guys...he looooooves it. I mean the kid is head over heels in love with school. He tells us about all the kids, all the songs, centers, books, playground time, you name it, the kid is into it. 

Surprisingly, his favorite center the past few weeks has been writing. Um, yeah, the kid who I've always worried about fine motor wise! Turns out what I tell parents is actually true - it's developmental and when you put the right tools in front of them and they're ready, they'll love it. If it's fun and not scary. The kid is taking big risks and not worrying about perfection. I love it. 

This is a note he wrote me outside this weekend: 

It says (um, read right to left and the I is first then the m?) "I'm not happy with J" (our neighbor, they were arguing about something they were playing). This so looks like it came right out of one of my education textbooks as a developmental stage of writing. I know, it's nothing. But it's something: he chose to write and understands writing has meaning! And there are some sounds there!

In other big news, he was the snack helper today.

And yes, he wore his tag to bed tonight. He takes his job very seriously. 

I'm so excited about how well this experience is going for him. I mean, remember the debacle that was science camp?!?! I know my poor dad was horrified at what drop offs might be like. 

Pre-K rocks. For real. 

Dress Up

This post really has no point except that every time I look at this picture I die laughing. She's supposed to be a knight - that's the shirt part, but I think it's backwards. 

Anyway, with it on wrong and the pirate hat I think she looks like a dean at graduation. Can't you see it up on the stage? She looks like she's going to launch into speech. 

Oh goofy girl. And oh, messy house!

Weekend Review

Hmmm, how quickly can I do this???

We went to our favorite playground to find...

No playground. What the heck??? There used to be 2 play structures and swings! Gone! 3 weeks ago I know it was there. I felt like I was in the twilight zone. And Aubrey did not seem to buy my explanations. 

So we found a new playground because I am ruthless when it comes to hunting play spaces. 

I only allow going up slides when no one else is there...

I pretty much die every time they hold hands unprompted. 

He wanted to go all the way up and over. What does he think he is, big?

Peter hunted a vipers den. 

For real. Like a snake nest. Who knew there was such a thing? Please observe how close it is to our porch. And the fact that apparently we were going to eradicate them with ant spray. 

Today we played fabulous soccer and then Logan got scalped. 

For real you guys. And before anybody worries, I moved the chest clip up. But yeah, his hair was NOT supposed to be that short. I kind of freaked out. He loves it. Why, oh why can I not find someone to cut his hair well on a consistent basis? When he needs another cut in oh...3 months, we're taking him to either the person who does my hair or Peter's. He loves it though. 

Yep. That was our fun! Wild and crazy, I know it!

Being a Mom, #5478

I've been spending a lot of time lately with the word perspective. Days are long but years are short, all of that. You all know that I am pretty much consumed with fear that I am "missing it" or not being "in it" enough or that I'm already forgetting what it feels like to change a diaper (I know, I know. So ridiculous. But I miss it sometimes!). 

But sometimes I get hit in the face with reminders that really, it just is. Life IS. And if I get too caught up in it I miss little things like this: 

I just pulled back the covers on our bed and found a pterodactyl waiting for me. Remnants of when a little boy was hiding under our covers this morning. That's life...reminders of them everywhere. 

Aubrey's been waking up with nightmares (I guess) around 10:00 for a few nights. And I kind of have to smile that she yells out "mommy" and I can make it better. I can fix it. In her mind, I'm security. How did I get that lucky (please note that at 5:30am I find it harder to see it as lucky)?

Every day I wonder...did I hug enough? Did I say I love you enough? Did I listen enough? Did I question enough? Did we laugh enough? 

I hope so. I really, really hope so. 

Thankful on Thursday

- Incredible, incredible friends and family

- The best husband ever. 

- The normalcy that my babies bring.

Just a day. Always, always thankful. 

Wordless Wednesday

Baby snuggles triumph over all. 

Today, we feel all the feelings. One day at a time.