May 18... how? The hours of the day really fly by with three little ones. I certainly am never bored! Things are fairly simple around here, but I still find myself longing to make them even simpler. I think the goal is to get the chores and the work done more quickly and efficiently so that I can spend more time actually playing with the boys, and also focusing on my own physical and spiritual health. Motherhood is such a crazy balancing act!
Here's what we've been up to this week:
I keep thinking that we're going to have a rainy day or a cold day, and somehow, it's still been warm and sunny! I've pulled all of the summer clothes out of the closets, and we are soaking up the time outside.
These two cousins are starting to play together more often, and I think they're going to be best friends!
This is Bricks, our dog nephew. He's huge and a major guard dog, but he's warming up to me :)
We had a school week about Bears. I LOVED that "Winnie" book - the true story of Winnie the Pooh. It made me shed some tears! "A Bear's Life" has beautiful photography. Also, the Mother Bruce books are always a fun favorite.
On Saturday mornings, when my oldest and youngest are up by 7, I'm grateful for this sweet boy who loves to sleep.
Steve's parents were able to visit from PA last weekend, and we had the best time! They got to watch Nolan's soccer game, they came to see our new church, and we had a big taco lunch for Mother's Day.
I found August with the watering can. He knows what to do!
I'm so grateful for these three sweet faces, for their homemade cards, and their generous kisses. It was a special Mother's Day.
The boys are SO excited for Incredibles 2 to come out next month. They have money saved in their paper wallets for tickets!
Last week, I mentioned we have a Mama Robin outside our front door. I got up on a chair to take photos of these gorgeous blue eggs. The babies will be here any day now!
We collected a bunch of bird books from the library. The "Just Ducks" book is really cute, "My Book of Birds" has beautiful illustrations and is very informative, and my favorite is "Have You Heard the Nesting Bird?" I'll definitely be buying the last two.
Our world right now is centered around finding a house. We have been inside nine houses, but we haven't found the right fit yet. A few of them we didn't realize were foreclosed. The photos online made them seem decent, but when we walked in, we were shocked at how rough they were. Think: mold, animal mess, birds living in the siding, no floors. We are hoping that this weekend, our new house will come on the market!
This little trooper had his blood drawn and got an MMR shot in one morning. I'm glad those are over now!
One afternoon this week, I walked around our house to the side that we don't usually go on, and I found these amazing irises. I've never seen multi-colored irises before!
Yesterday, Nolan drew a family portrait of us. My favorite part is my hair ;)
We picked forget-me-nots and some other blooms growing in our backyard. Whoever lived in this house before really loved his/her flowers!
When raspberries are cheaper than blueberries (they've been $.99 a container at Target), I make raspberry muffins :)
I've been thinking about this verse the past couple of days. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." Galatians 5:1
We can be free from slavery to sin and guilt, and free from that feeling of not being good enough. I am the queen of beating myself up over a mistake, vowing to never do it again, and then messing up the next day. I am working on letting go of that guilt, accepting freedom and grace, while still aiming to be kinder, more patient, and more self-controlled. Only with Him, only with constant prayer, can I change.
This verse popped up in my One-Year Bible reading a couple nights ago,
Jesus said "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
John 8:36
Off to the library and to pick up a Friday night pizza!
XO