All part of having kids.

The never ending mess cycle.

As soon as it is clean it is time to make another mess.

I am grateful for even the messy days of motherhood.

Sheesh.

Mother's Day.

I love the part where I honor my mom and all that she did and still does for me and my family, but I don't like the rest of it.

I always try not to feel like it is a day where I am supposed to get pampered and that my kids are supposed to be on best behavior....because it rarely happens. For some reason the kids always seem to fight more on this day. I was ready to escape in the car from all the fighting today. But I am grateful that it didn't last ALL day....and that we had a nice dinner (with no fighting) around a fire.

Just like the big kids

Today we had a get-together-swim-Mother's Day-BBQ party at my in-laws house. Food, fun, family, and water....what more could you ask for.

For this little one, it didn't matter how fogged up they were or if they were falling off or if they made it so her eyes could barely open....she insisted on wearing them as long as she saw the big kids wearing them.

I am grateful for heated pools.

Until next time

Went to my brothers to see my mom one more time before she headed back home. This isn't a picture fomr today, but I wanted to post one of the 2 of us. Thanks for coming to spend Christmas with us mom! We all loved having you with us!

I am grateful for having such a loving mom.

Live, Laugh, Love

There was lots of laughter and a bunch of tears, but we managed to get a few good ones.

I am grateful that my mom was willing to take some photos of my little family for me. Thanks mom!

Merry Christmas!!!!

After all the hubbub and chaos and excitement of the morning frenzie of opening and playing with gifts, this is what could be found afterwards.

You won't believe how incredibly grateful I am to have been able to have my mom spend Christmas with us. I think it has been one of my favorite Christmas's EVER! =)

In the Spotlight

Didn't take an actualy photo for today so I am using one from the Christmas party.

Today was the performance at the nursing home. There was a reading of the story of the events leading to Christ's birth and mixed in were songs sung by various people or by all of us. And we played chimes for the group songs. My mom got to participate too. She played the chimes and sang with us. We also dressed up for it. The girls were angels and they rest of us were shepards. When it came time for Weston and I to sing our duet, I wasn't as nervous as I had been the last few times I sang the song. I think it was because of our audience. I knew that they wouldn't judge me and would enjoy it no matter what it sounded like. And I think I actually enjoyed singing for them. Especially when they are just radiating smiles at everyone.

But Acadia stole the show. From the get-go she started doing some interperative dancing in front of everyone. She danced for the whole performance and everyone love it! Some of the audience even tried to give her hugs. It was so cute. It was one of those time that I wish I had a video camera.

I am thankful that we could have the opportunity to make these sweet people smile again.

Springville

I am grateful that we were able to go with my mom to leave a wreath on dad's grave.

Have you seen my mommy?

Lets just say that I felt like a lost 3 year old looking for her mommy.

The internet said so. The park and wait said the same thing. The luggage thingie had to agree. And even the helpful person at the info desk said that my moms flight got in at 11:05pm. But my mom was no where to be found and it was getting close to midnight.

I tried her cell phone. I tried her home phone. I tried Scott's cell phone. I tried Weston's cell phone and he patiently tried to help me figure out what to do while I felt like I was having a panic attack because I couldn't find my mother......and I don't think I would have reacted so bad if there werent' past circumstances and health issues and different events that I feel have shaped me this way.

So after pacing around for another 30 minutes a security guard comes up to me (with his hand on his hip at the ready in case this nutty lady tried something). He asks if he can help me and I look at him and start crying a little bit while I try to tell him that I can't find my mommy. To make a long story short he makes a million calls and finally finds out that her stinkin plane was delayed in Texas. And for some reason the new time of arrival was never changed anywhere on any of the signs or anything. (And it turns out my ma left her cell phone at home and didn't have my number to call me and tell me what was going on). Her plane wasn't scheduled to come in now until 1:30am. So here I am. Just me and the floor waxing man. We have the whole place to ourselves.

You will not believe how incredibly grateful and thankful I am that my mom was ok and that it was nothing more than a delayed plane.....even if it did give me a few more gray hairs.

Taking a break.

I have been running around trying to get everything ready for my mom's arrival tonight.

I am grateful that I took a break when I did and noticed this glowing angel. It made me think of my mom.

Which made me even more excited for her to come.

Makes me feel better.

I know that it is not mother's day...not even close to that day. But, one thing that I don't like about mother's day is how they always talk about these perfect mothers who have a perfectly clean house, who's kids act perfect because of the perfect mothering, who always have perfectly baked goods and who's house always has the smell of baking. And on top of that they never seem to have dirty dished in the sink and never seem to yell at their kids. All while they have all the laundary done and the floors swept, vacuumed, and mopped to sparkling clean. You know, it is kind of hard not to compare yourself to someone like that....when I feel like I am doing a pretty good job I hear about someone who puts all my hard trying to shame. And then it makes me feel like I have to be perfect like them.

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But, hey, lets face it THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS THAT LADY WHO SEEMS SO UTTERLY PERFECT IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY!

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So, when I ran across this little article about 'Flawed and Fabulous moms' I knew I had to share.

First, here is one of my favorite quotes from the article:

You are doing your best. "We are all doing our best, even when we fall short," says Sybil Lockhart, mother of two girls, ages 5 and 9, in Berkeley, California. "Since we can't do any better than our best, we may as well call that perfect."

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So, according to that statement, I guess in the end we can all call ourselves 'perfect!'

Here is the link to the article....it is kind of long (6 pages). But it is a good pick-me-up. Cause, hey, we're only human, right?!

But this one special lady has always seemed pretty close to perfect in my eyes.....
Hey, anyone who remembers to put a way cute ribbon in her hair when she goes skydiving has got to be pretty close to being perfect, right?! I love ya mom!

I am grateful for the example that this sky-diving fantastic mom has and still sets for me!