sometimes saying yes to the mess is the right thing to do. No matter how much you want to say no because you've been trying so hard to clean the kitchen. AGAIN. the cows were less than impressed. 45 glorious min of the kids playing, in one spot and not fighting. 110% worth the mess. double score? kids wanted to wash their toys in the bath tub. 30min bath time. im not sure what this stuff is called buttt
2 parts corn starch 1 part water 1-2 drops food coloring 1-2 lavender essential oil measure out corn starch, mix coloring in with water before mixing with corn starch. add essential oil. we saved ours for future use in a sealed container. We will have to add more water but thats ok with me!
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The "Polar Vortex" is upon us again. Its a whopping 6* out this morning. Well almost noon! BRRRR. Flipping through photos last night I ran across these. It poured this day. Poured. We were tempted to throw in the towel and make it a movie afternoon. You know, that stretch of time from when the kids wake up from nap and when dad gets home? That time always feels like it takes FOREVER and on days when we "cant get outside" it seems like Dad will NEVER get home.
The kids so wanted to play outside, I wanted to go curl up in my favorite chair with a good book and a cup of coffee. I hiked up my big girl mommy jeans and took them out to the garage. Sprinting thru the rain, trying desperately to stay dry. As I sprinted encouraging the kids to move faster, they covered their faces and giggled. As a parent/grown up, how easy would it have been for me to break their little spirits and tell them they needed to stay out of the rain, to not get wet and in Zaza's case not get full of mud? OOOHHHH I was tempted. But the fun these kids had playing in the rain? Totally worth the wet clothes, muddy faces. The laughter, smiles, giggles more than enough thank you from my kids. It's their way of saying "Thank you for letting us be kids!" without actually having to say the words. I struggle sometimes as a full time stay-at-home mom. I feel under appreciated. I hold a lot of value in two little words "Thank you". I'm always reminding the kids to use their "polite words" Somehow hearing "thank you" after I've reminded them, it just doesn't feel the same. I forget sometimes that God gives children ways of saying thank you because they can't always remember or understand there are things to be thankful for. One more thing: it being 6* out makes me even more great-full that we didn't waste this time on a movie. What I wouldn't give for a day to play in the rain! My kids lasted all of 5 min outside this morning. That's after we spent 10 min getting everyone dressed and outside. And now my kitchen is covered in snow pants, jackets, hats, mittens, boots and snow. :-) Guess what I'm doing after I post this and the kids are napping? We did come in and wrestle though. Thinking warm thoughts from our cozy chair enjoying the (deceivingly warm) sunshine! Yesterday was Sunday. A day I look forward to all week long, but yet dread at the same time. I go planning on soaking in the Good Word, listen closely and let the words absorb into my soul. I mean if for nothing else Fr. has worked hard to plan out his homily, to emphasize the teaching in the readings for the weekend. This weekend ( like every weekend lately) After the readings were over. Seriously all 3 were over?!?! How did I miss that? Oh yeah, J was asking me if it was time to go yet, K was dancing and then got kicked in the face by Z. Z was getting crabby because apparently the 3 bowls of cereal and whole piece of toast and some grapefruit wasn't enough for breakfast wasn't enough to keep his belly full. Oh yeah and THEN he needed to pee! Ok not a huge deal. I'll get the cliff note version from Fr.'s homily. Oh wait, J n K do NOT want to go to children's homily. They won't go without mom. They are now crying because I asked if they wanted to go. (Like I do every weekend since I stopped going with them) Fr's homily is over?!?! It was about fishing right? J has asked me 1 to many times if it was time to leave yet, does K's eye look like its a bit swollen? GIVE ME THAT PIECE OF PAPER AND PAY ATTENTION like any good 3 year old who has already had to sit still for 30+ min should? What does my hair look like now? Z decided to redo it while I was TRYING to pay attention. Oh yeah, "AMEN" I almost missed that response but my 21m old belted it out as loud as can be so we were all supposed to say it right?, were we really supposed to say AMEN or maybe I shouldn't take my cue from a toddler. J is now singing Jingle bells. Finally, the final hymn. I swat little hands away, pick up my hymnal and sing. I may not have gotten as much as expected out of mass today. But we survived. They are only little for so long. How else will they learn. I sing my praises and wipe the slate clean for next week. We strive to teach our children about God in the best way we know how. By example. Fr. PREACHES that if we don't make the time, if we don't make it a habit to spend time with God, we will not find that strong relationship with him. I may not be fully present during mass. To be honest I am maybe 85% present in mass but I am there. I am not just writing it off and saying, when they get older we'll go more often so I can truly get everything I can from mass. I am going NOW so I can get as much as I can between the questions, the crying, pulling Z back into the pew... My sanity will return. Someday. Today I have no expectations of keeping it. Tomorrow either for that matter. To those blessed families of littles sitting around us. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. From you I learn that we are not alone in this. NOBODY else's children sit still. Kid's are a blessing. They are blessings that are loud, and wiggly. But from us they learn. And I was informed Decon Vic gave the homily but it WAS about fishing. At least I got it half right. At our church, we are blessed. Fr. Mark embraces families with children. He makes an effort to learn ALL the children's names. Honestly, he gets my kids names correct more than I do. Ben and I have been entrusted with these three loves. I try my best. I may fall down sometimes but I pick myself up, dust myself off and try my best.
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