I Love You Growth

        My newly wed sister is constantly bragging about how great marriage is... and her husband that left her the cutest encouraging note... and today he folded the towels on her bed to look like birds reminding her of their honeymoon... and cleaned the house. Her picture text was accompanied with the phrase. 

#"When you already live in heaven."....  

       It has touched my tuckered out heart and caused me to reminisce. I did those super cheesy things like writing  "11 reasons I love you", a note to celebrate the day 11-11-11. I remember crying as I walked to college classes knowing I wouldn't see my husband the ENTIRE day. I remember wondering what the point of marriage was if we would spend our days apart locked in different labs to study. Yes I was cheesy, I was young, I even worried if we were to get married would we become less close and not need each other as much. 

I had seen married couples that functioned withOUT texting throughout class. Would we become that?

On my wedding day I overheard my sweet-grandpa-Bill take Shane by the shoulder and say, "Boy you think you love her now? You just wait..." Because of my mindset on marriage and wondering how it could ever get better than this I couldn't help but continue to mull over this conversation for what has now been nine years.

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Today as I am writing this it is past eight-o-clock and I still wonder if maybe my husband might make it home earlier than normal. I don't cry like that young college girl used to. Why?

        I know that when I truly need my husband he will be there and he will cover 100% of our responsibilities if needed. 

        I know that I am strong and can be trusted with covering 100% of our responsibilities if needed. 

That trust is something gained through trials. A love born from the struggle of trying to have kids, the struggle of having kids, the struggle of finding a job, the struggle of having a job that asks too much. Trials have helped me to love more deeply while relying on each other and taking a step into the dark. 

Recently I broke my leg and the way I showed Shane today that I loved him is I never gave up. 

 I cried as I struggled to mop up with my one good leg the pond of cranberry juice, popcorn grease trail, and shattered glass. (All three of which are hazardous on my crutches. Thanks kids.) I yelled... I got frustrated... I apologized... But I fought. The days are hard but nothing says I love you more than not giving up on the priorities we have together. 

       Shane and I are more bonded in purpose than ever and yes we can function even apart. We both fulfill responsibilities beyond our own capabilities and have to rely on each other and our Savior and that is where I see the love. 

I LOVE YOU is in the struggle and dedication of a diligent spouse. This kind of love is the cake and is so substantial.

But the adorable make me sick love is the icing and should be sprinkled on with a heavy hand. 

Who you are with KIDS

Last week, I tried to write a beautiful post chuck full about all my knowledge of motherhood... but before the day was over all my concrete truths were foiled and I had not even posted it yet.

So REWRITE- Honest TRUTHS

-Oh you are having a baby, "Congrats! Here is what comes next that nobody told me."

#1.) TRUTH 

You need to become a naturist. After you have finally gotten the kids to sleep or dropped off at preschool (you might have misconceived notions to call it "free time") you will need to Google caterpillars favorite foods. Or more specifically foods that promote scales that way your son's dream of being a dragon tamer will come true once that butterfly/dragon hatches. 

Here is the mansion I built, because when I said they could bring one home they somehow multiplied into five when I opened the cup. 

Also during this free time you will also need to search the car for gigantic dead snails, because the car is starting to smell funky. Yeah we still can't find the last one.... Oh and did I mention the two thousand praying mantises we had hatch in the car while traveling on a family vacation? My car resale is climbing with every birth- human and un-human... Forget the parenting books just read up on mantises, because they are feisty.

You will also have to know about frogs and have friends that will come check your house after your son realizes he forgot to release "MR. LIGHTNING CRUSH" before the family camping trip. Yeah we never found him either... 

#2.) TRUTH

Your beautiful kitchen will house so many wonderful family dinners and conversations, but the real good stuff is never eaten at the table. Behind every couch and even in the toy box and blanket box -"yes, I believe there is good cover to hide there." That far corner of the living room will always have far more stains than the carpet in the open.

#3.) TRUTH

You will never catch up, because while you are cleaning the morning messes and caring for animals you never knew would be part of the family (in your free time) your kids who let's be honest NEVER fell asleep will raid your bathroom and look "beautiful"  in your mascara. Your trash can will have happy faces drawn on all four sides and you won't even care. And when you ask your daughter about the crumbled up deodorant in the sheets of your king sized bed she will look up at you beaming and exclaiming with pride, "I didn't EAT It!"...and when you don't look satisfied she will add... "Or LICK It?!" Yes, crawl in and finish/START naps there because you won't catch up on cleaning and bonus you will smell great when you wake up.

Don't get me started on the number of stuffed animals that you will be in charge of caring for. My daughter gets far more done DURING her nap than I do. 

#4.) TRUTH 

Well your house is just a mess so get out of the house so that they can destroy something that is not yours. That concept may have factored into our positive list about sending our son to preschool. We save so much money by being away from our house... sadly the city loses money. Good thing we pay taxes?

#5. TRUTH

Clearly I know nothing about parenting, and things go south everyday. (I shouldn't admit how many of those hypothetical stories are from today.) So focus on the things that went right if that happens...

Today we went had two doctors appointments! AND they were both scheduled no ER visits! WIN!!

We also went apple picking!! WIN!!! -only lost shoes and had to walk all the rows while dodging apples with our stroller, BUT didn't lose children!

-"Yes my friend I am so happy you decided to have a baby; kids will change you in ways you never knew or wanted!" 

Thanks Mom and Dad for being there everyday!

Spirit week

Demitri is such a cool dude. One of his talents is that he is an influencer. We go to the park and he always has a trail of boys and is teaching them how to hunt for treasure or climb higher than they should. I watch him at the park or at drop off or pick up for school and every little kid seems to love doing what he does. Which is usually something he shouldn't be doing but... some day he will use those skills for good I think. He normally hides in the car so a teacher has to peak in and he jumps out and scares her, but today he proudly jumped right out and posed in his pirate hawiian outfit for spirit week and there was an audible wave of "wow!" down the line of onlooking preschoolers.

We are making it!

I AM SO grateful...

There are so many dangers in life especially when raising a brood of kids who don't understand (not in any specific order :D) "GERMS", "SHARP", "HIGH"! "HOT!" 

It is so hard to find that balance of bubble wrapping them up tight or letting them rappel out their imaginary castles. But I am grateful for all the dangerous situations in which my kids have miraculously survived and are passing through mostly oblivious to.

My daughter eats everything... Flowers, Grass, Trees... haha no. but for real. Neighbors hanging plant while they were trying to sell their house. Annihilated like popcorn! -GROSS! 

Today was a beautiful day and after lunch we were able to attend a fishing event provided by the city.

It was perfect!!!

 - Nobody drowned from trying to catch a fish with their hands. He didn't realize there was a plan beside neanderthal skills and that poles would be provided.  

-Nobody got a hook in their hand after jumping over the pole to see if she could. 

-Nobody was lost for long... I really need a stroller so I have more hands. 

Anyways WE ARE MAKING IT!! And I am grateful each and every hard day. (That is every day... WHICH IS GREAT! Because it is when life is messy and out of my control that all I can do is stand back and recognize the MIRACLES in my life.

Time Out

Loved our time out from our regular responsibilities to hang out!

Soccer Mom?

After too many last minute attempt to find all of the kids soccer equipment Demitri and I get out of the car and he asks, "mom did you bring a flag to cheer for me?" - haha no kid we are lucky we got your shoes....

Oh wait we didn't.

After the game I tell him, "Bud we accidentally stole Daphney's shoes and wore them at the game today, so you should go put them in her soccer bag." To which he mumbles, "Oh so that is why I didn't score any goals...." -haha yes son it was not your own fault probably just the shoes.

Not only did we wear crazy shoes, but Daphney had a game at the same time so Shane and I took to two cars to head to two different fields. Well wouldn't you know it we showed up at the same field on accident. Whoops... Being soccer parents is harder than it looks.

So I showed Demitri this video and he doesn't laugh or act like he was being funny running backwards for most of the game... so I ask him, "Why?!" To which he claimed, "I was doing that so I could run while still being able to watch the goal so I would know if they were going to score." - And I was actually impressed! Who knew he was actually trying hard and focusing? I am not quite sure his finding cloud shapes during the game can tie in to the soccer game quite as well. 

I mention to Demitri that his team might need to pick a name so we know who to cheer for and he said, "mom we already have a name. Teameriffic!" I am pretty sure he made that up on the spot... But I think next game I might have to have a flag with that monogrammed on. Daphney did get to name her team this year and she was so thrilled that they picked the idea that she came up with. They are the bumble bees!

Picture Day

Preschool and First Grade

Paisley did not have school pics but isn't she adorable.

Dead faces are in this year.