Give me food...

I'm not sure what makes a good eater and what doesn't, but we have a good eater on our hands. In fact we're 3 for 3 with good eaters. I'm sure it's nothing we're doing but I will take it.

Of course they have preferences. Hallie doesn't like bread crust. Hunter likes shredded wheat and he eats way too much of it. Bennett doesn't like...well we've yet to find something that Bennett won't shove enthusiastically in his mouth. He makes some funny faces, but he always swallows!

I'm counting my blessings that I make the same meal for all my children. I know it can't last for too much longer so today we will celebrate!

Memorial Day 2012...

We spent time at Steve's sister's cabin for the weekend along with many of his siblings and parents. I learned a couple important lessons.

1. Hunter is prone to carsickness. This is a first for our family. But next time he starts screaming from the backseat that his stomach hurts, I will listen. I will promptly pull over and I will now carry a ziploc bag in the car.

2. No matter how many times you try and wash throw-up out of car upholstery it will stink. For days. Disgusting.

3. I knew this before, but it was confirmed this weekend: our children are creatures of schedule and routine. We all suffer tremendously when out of routine. Case in point - Bennett was tired the whole weekend. He woke up too early, wouldn't take a nap, had a hard time falling asleep at night. And then when we got him home to his own bed he slept for 17 hours. He went to bed at 6pm and woke up at 11am.

4. I'm a home-body. It's fun to spend time with family for a weekend getaway, but there is nothing that makes me more happy than coming home.

Despite having to learn a few lessons, we had a great time. We couldn't get enough of the cotton candy and sno-cones. It was a windy day and the cotton candy floated through the air and covered the ground. Modern day candyland.

Steve showed us his super amazing strength, we were all impressed.

Hallie and her cousins made friends with the area wildlife. What are kids fascination with lizards? They creep me out.

Surprisingly enough we only misplaced Hunter one time (when he decided to go the family center by himself to indulge himself in racecar games). Typically these two were joined at the hip and they wandered back and forth from their cabins (they were connected).

Both Steve and I thoroughly enjoyed the adult-only dinner. It's uncommon for us to eat without spills and screaming children and we always welcome good conversation. We never seem to get enough cousin time. We were at the cabin last Memorial Day weekend as well - we're hoping two times makes it tradition!!

Being content with what you are...

I am generally a happy and content person. And sometimes as a mother, I've got it. You know what I'm talking about - the groove. Things just work. Kids are happier, I'm happier and life is grand.

But these moments are slippery and hard to hold on to.

Before long I'm breaking up another fight between my children. No matter how many times I sweep the floor in one morning, I still walk through crumbs in my bare feet. And I look in the mirror at the end of the day and wonder who's tired eyes are staring back at me.

Sometimes the "mommy-guilt" creeps in as I feel as though I'm not matching up. I'm not matching up to my own silly standards. Standards that I've set from my associations with other mothers and the overflowing number of perfect mothers I seem to come across through blogs and pinterest.

I tend to get caught up in the mentality that I can do it all. And I know with time and effort I can do it all. I want to paint a room, build a bed, cook a five course dinner, play with my children, pay attention to my husband, have quiet spiritual moments for myself, fold mounds of laundry and in addition spend hours on the computer. And I can do every single one of those things. But not all at the same time. I always tell myself I need to simplify. I try really hard and I truly believe I am making progress, as small as that progress may be. But I've got a long ways to go.

Here's to a simple and content summer!

Spelling lesson...

This sign was expertly crafted by the talented Miss Hallie for Bennett's birthday. As you can see, she wants to make sure everyone knows how to spell Bennett, in the process she made it clear we have other words we need to work on!

Renovation...

Poor Hallie has been displaced from her room for two weeks...renovations can be a little disruptive. This was day one. I'm happy to report I'm much further along, but still not complete, nor close enough to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm in the putty/caulking phase and it is time consuming. Wish me luck...

Graduation Announcements...

This sweet and amazing girl has been a fantastic babysitter for us...and now she's growing up and moving on. It's easy to design announcements around a pretty face like this!

Congrats Ashlyn!

Teacher thank you...

School is done.

Somehow Hallie's teachers survived a whole year of her constant questions and her over-zealous attitude for school.

Her teachers are really great and I want them to know I really do appreciate them. Yet, at the end of the year as I'm writing the card and thinking of a gift, every thing seems so lame! They took care of my daughter more than I did over the school year and note and gift card are supposed to express my gratitude?? Does a homemade card count for more appreciation. I hope so.

Overzealous about school...

This little one loves school. I mean, loves loves school. If she had a choice to go all summer, she would. She's one of those kids that comes home from school and immediately does her homework. Reads for fun. And feels compelled to start and finish every class project with one day of being assigned. She's gets frustrated at times when I push off some of her projects when I know we have two weeks. Her famous line - "My teacher said we had to do it today, she really did." She follows the teacher's instruction exactly and never wavers.

The other day she came home from school and said, "I need to bring orange juice for the Mother's Day program tomorrow." I looked through her backpack and couldn't find any paper that told her to bring the juice. But she insisted. So at 9:30 that night I went and bought juice and loaded down her backpack.

The next morning I went to the program and her teacher told me it was so funny to see Hallie pull out a gallon of juice from her backpack. Her teacher continued to explain that Hallie asked if she could bring something for the program, but her teacher already had it covered. That wasn't good enough for Hallie, so she came home and told me she needed to bring juice.

I can't trust anything that comes out of her mouth in regards to school.