If you don’t look, you won’t see it.

I’ve mentioned I’ve been trying to get out of the house, and yesterday was the day to do it!  Monkey was already in his 2nd outfit of the day because he spilled his milk all over himself, my boys were dressed and ready to get out the door! I was figuring out details with a friend on the phone and turned the corner into the kitchen and found this:

I swear to you I was not on the phone for more than 15 minutes, of which maybe the last 3 my kids were much too quiet…

What would you have done? Freaked out? Yelled? Cried? Laughed? Get our your camera and document it?

It wasn’t all of my flour so there was no reason to cry. All plans put on hold, I let them play. I got down and my knees got dirty, but it was not worth using my energy to be angry. My little one was just having way too much fun…

Yes, we did eventually get out of the house… an hour later than planned.  But I’m telling you, there are not many times when I know I have handled a situation in a way I know my Heavenly Father would proud of... but this was one of those times.

At first I saw a mess. But when I took a moment to “see”, I saw an opportunity. I believe that we see what we want to see. We have thought patterns that determine so much of what we do, say and how we react! But these are only thoughts, and thoughts can be changed.

I think we want to cherish the moments in our children’s childhood, but if we don’t look we wont see them.

I used a dry rag to gather up the flour, scooped what I could into a bowl and threw it out. Vacuumed up what was left with the attachment that looks like a brush. DONE.

Who Woulda Thought…?

That these two … would grow up, fall in love and get married…to have two of their own…

Makes me wonder who is out there raising my future daughter-in-laws… (please do a good job!)

Oh, What do you do in the winter time?

We’ve been doing a lot of this: 

 

And too much of this:

With one car down, we got into our daily routine which rarely consisted of doing much outside of the house besides play in the snow for a few minutes.

The car was down for months.

Now it’s fixed and I’m having a hard time getting out of our home-bound routine. I want to get out, but honestly I’m just too lazy! That’s the honest truth of it.  Between lunch and naptimes, the teens getting home from school, Cam getting  home from work… you know, it’s a routine!

Have  you ever experienced this? If you have, how did  you get out and about again… other than errands? Or did you?

Can we do that again?

It’s not often enough that we go out and have fun as a family. I mean, we have lots of fun all the time… but you know those really fun days that you created some amazing memories? Those are the days we don’t have often enough.   One of those days was sledding with my boys and enjoying the SNOW! They had fun climbing up the white, snow covered hill to hop on the sled and ride down the hill without  a care in the world! It took a few turns to realize that there was so much snow it would indefinitely “splash” up the front into their (our) faces… which, err… wasn’t as fun. So the rest of the day they went down on their tummies facing the top of the hill… I can’t explain why, but that is SO MUCH FUN! The snow just kept coming down the whole day! We made snow angels and snowballs and kept busy and moving so the cold never sat in! I would love another day like that even if it meant snow!

I miss…

…playing in the ocean!

…Aunty Stella

…My parents.

…Plumerias.

‘Nuff Said.

Home-made laughter…

This picture  makes me literally laugh out loud! This is one of  Monkey’s  many silly faces. He’s getting to the phase where his behavior is easily encouraged by the reaction of his “audience”.  He’s a ham. He used to refuse to let me take pictures of him, he wouldn’t even look at the camera! Now he’s the one that asks me to take pictures of him… but don’t expect too many “normal” shots of this kid. He’s a poser and lately silly faces have been his forte.

I can’t imagine where he gets it…

Yes, comedy and laughter run freely in our home…

It’s all worth it

So, I  feel like I haven’t slept in three years… and I don’t have the figure I did before my first pregnancy… sometimes I can’t remember my own name and refer to myself as mommy… and I’ve poured ketchup into Monkey’s cup instead of milk… in all honesty, I feel like I’m losing my brain.

But it’s all worth it.

I am only a shred of the woman I used to be before I became a mom, but I am 10 times the woman I was. I am more patient (being a bossy first-born, this is a big deal for me), more kind, loving, and affectionate.  I have little people who need me more than anyone else has ever needed me. It feels good to be needed. It feels even better to be loved unconditionally. It is the best feeling in the world knowing we will be a family even after we die.

Hug your babies. Tell them you love them. Forgive those who have hurt you. Fall back in love. Go on vacation. Play in the snow. Enjoy the sunshine. Laugh. Be happy.

Where there’s a will there’s a way….

What do guys do when they don’t want to buy a season’s pass, or climb a mountain? When they don’t want to waste daylight traveling to their destination? When they want a quick (and sometimes not so quick') snowboarding fix?

They build their own jump in the backyard.

True  Story.

And who gets to freeze her fingers off taking pictures for them?

Yep. That would be me.

On the bright side, I’m getting to practice action photography… and night shots!

Just another day in paradise

I’m not going to apologize for being a blogging slacker, because there is no obligation. If you missed me, I am flattered! However, I dare say I actually miss blogging! I may have to start up with daily topics/themes again  to help my thinking process. It’s been a challenge coming up with something I want to write about more than the daily happenings of my little family… which I “journal” on another blog. But I miss you all. Yes, I miss the comments and the mentally stimulating conversations… the things I learn from you all that make my life a little easier and more enjoyable! So there! I said it.

Until I get back into a routine, I am going to draw writing inspiration from photos I have taken… saaavy!?

Anyone else’s house look like this? Multiple times a day?!

 

How am I supposed to be upset with that face!?!? I’m turning into a softy/push over. I have thrown my hands up and most of the day my house is cluttered with toys and books! I pick up first thing in the  morning (or last thing at night), just before Cam gets home and if we have guests… *sigh*… on a good day. Eventually , they will grow out of this phase, right? RIGHT? (and onto other undesirable phases to be sure!) Yet, I love it because it means my children are alive and well! Something to be grateful for.