outside fun

Loving this weather. The kids and I have been trying to take a walk around the neighborhood once a day to get some vitamin D and exercise. Yes, I have successfully walked around our neighborhood with three children. One strapped to my chest, one on a teddy bear leash, and another on her bicycle. I never thought this day would come and it has. I am so proud of myself. I am usually exhausted after said trip especially carrying Miss 15 pounder on my chest. Whew.

We enjoyed some time out in the sprinkler today before the storm hit. Maddax is slowly warming up to water hitting him. I think he likes to go out in the yard and play long enough to need a bath. He loves to play in the bathtub. I caught him lying on his belly in the tub slurping down the water. Yuck. I hope this does not bring on any diarrhea.

They both love playing outside. I love having a fenced in backyard so they can run wild with me knowing they are safe.  Well except for what they could possibly do to each other.  I want our next house to have a fenced in back yard as well. I have gotten pretty attached to it.

Maddax enjoyed some OJ after playing outside while waiting for his turn in the tub.

Miss Emme liked lying on the floor.  She was just singing up a storm while hanging out there. I love listening to her talk.

Makenna requested pancakes for dinner. She ate three and Maddax ate two. Totally one pancake kids but I guess the sprinkler worked up a hunger. Then Makenna and I had a movie night. We eat and drink things that are really bad for you and enjoy an movie or two short cartoons. Her pick was Little Einstein tonight. Cute and educational. She knows what pianissimo is. He piano teacher would be pleased thanks to Leo, June, Quincy, and Annie. Oh and don't forget rocket.  She loves it when her and I do something with just the two of us. Me too. We finished up the night with her daily Bible story. She said, "Mom, can you read me the story about when God died."  I had to chuckle.  Oh baby, our God is not dead. He is alive!!!

God's Grace

Had an epiphany tonight. Makenna and I were reading her Bible and it was talking about God's grace. It said the meaning of grace was that God will always forgive you for what you have done wrong as long as you go to Him and ask for it. It made me step back and take a hard look at my parenting.

Makenna has pillows on her bed that my mom made that have strings on the bottom that tie it together. She for some reason is drawn to these pillows at rest time.  She somehow someway ends up undoing them. I get so frustrated with her about it that she now gets a consequence for undoing them. Now in the light of eternity this truly does not matter. It is the lesson of obeying. I get that, but what I do not get is that my attitude toward it does not show grace. She comes and asks for forgiveness and I remembering that this is a continued occurrence get frustrated with her yet again. Isn't it amazing that our Heavenly father does not get frustrated with us when we go to him for forgiveness again and again. I think about things that I struggle with and that I constantly stumble over trying to obey God. And every time he is so quick to forgive me and then the Bible says he forgets it like it never happened. I sit and think why can't I be like that.  Why? I am human in an imperfect world filled with sin. It is interesting how much you can learn from a children's Bible, not to mention the child you are reading it to. Thank you Makenna for always showing me the grace I do not deserve.

Happy Mother's Day

Mother's day just gets better every year. Now I have three beautiful babies to help me celebrate this day and one wonderful husband. Chris had to work Derby security that morning for some big to do party, so we did not get to see him till after nap times.  Makenna kept telling me daddy was taking me out to eat. I asked her where and she said "Marks Field." Which means "Marks feed store." I was glad. I love, love, love fried pickles. No I am not pregnant again. I found out later that Makenna chose the dining location. She loves their PBand J minus the J. Strange child does not like jelly. We had a good dinner together. The poor family behind us in the booth had two children about 6 and 3 and both of them spilt their water, all their water, while we were there. Chris said, "Man I thought we had it rough going out with 3." It is a little hard to dine out with three small children but we have learned to let the little things roll off our backs and just enjoy our time together. The biggest problem is that Miss Emme is not fond of her car seat, so most meals out include either Chris or I holding her. I do not mind, I know it is only for a season. One day I will wish I was able to hold her during a meal again, so I might as well enjoy it now. Right?

Chris had planned on a trip to Lowe's but that was usurped by my headache, so we came home and just hung out. As I have mentioned before, Emme likes to be talked to but likes it most when it is her daddy.

She will sit and listen or even carry on  a conversation for 10-15 minutes with him. She sure does love her daddy. We all do. He is a great daddy.

Last week we were having cabin fever because of the rain so I went and got out Emme's bathing suit to see if it would fit her. I was hankering for some sun and water activities. It fit but not sure how long. She looks so ready for summer. I hope she enjoys the water as much as her siblings.

After trying on the bathing suit and posing for the camera, Emme and Makenna were playing in the floor. I think Emme wants to do gymnastics. She seems to be practicing her back bend.

It was a great Mother's day. The best part was spending it all together.  I only wish that my mom was here to celebrate it too. Oh well have to do some extra trips to Graters to celebrate all the holidays since her last visit when she comes in to visit next month.

So tired

Well I never officially made it out of my pajamas today. I did change shirts once due to a spit up episode but returned to my original shirt since Emme was in the closet napping. I do not think I stink and Chris is at work so it really does not matter. Right? So much keeps me busy throughout the day that by the time I get a chance to change clothes it is time for bed.  Plus my thyroid has been a little haywire since Emme's birth so I am going from Taz to Sloth as they try to get it regulated again. Lately I have been extra tired. My meds were upped a few days ago and I am looking forward to that extra burst of energy it will bring. Soon I hope.

We have been trying to catch up on school stuff since the new baby rocked our world for a few months. So Makenna has been doing extra grammar and penmanship in the day and tonight we knocked out 4 math lessons. Its not like we have to get them done since by law she does not have to be in school yet but we are trying to get kindergarten done so we can start the first grade curriculum in August. She is so looking forward to it, as am I once I figure it all out. I am so glad for the most part that she loves school. I know she does way more than I did. I try to make it fun for her so that she wants to learn. The math we are doing is Saxon and it uses all kinds of fun toys to learn like tanagrams, linking cubes, and geoboards to name a few. I probably would have liked school more if I had those to learn with.

We finally found Emme's neck today. It did not stay around for long but at least now we know it exists. She is laughing more and loves to be talked to. I am so psyched for my mom to see her and squeeze her. Only 6 more weeks.  The red cast to her hair is becoming more pronounced as it grows out. Chris keeps asking where she gets it. I told him that my brother and an aunt had red in their hair. He is still not buying it.

By the way...I am going to be an aunt again.  My sister is pregnant and due in November. I am so excited for her and that Emme will have a cousin about the same age. I hope I can offer her as much help as she has given me over the past five years.