Water The Flowers

"I don't want to forget this lesson: Imperfections are normal.  They are temporary.  They don't define us.  They might temporarily mask the beauty we wish we could see, but the potential is still there.  It always has been.  Sometimes we just need someone else to show us what we can be." - April Perry

Life is much sweeter when we concentrate on the "flowers" in our lives rather than the "weeds"/imperfections.  

That is my challenge to myself this week.

Personal Development

I think it's super important for others, especially our family members, to know that we're truly happy.

Let others see you doing things that make you happy, whether it be reading a good book, going on a run, talking a walk and enjoying the scenery, etc.  As a parent, I know that I am a huge influence on my  kids.  My attitude and actions towards everyday life helps to shape their view towards life.

If you aren't feeling that happy, here's a great article to check out:

5 Reasons Why You Might Feel Unhappy by Ashley LeMieux

Cherish Them

I'm trying to do a better job at soaking in special moments with my kids.  I'm trying my best to really focus on what my kids tell me throughout the day.  I want them to feel heard and I want them to know that I really want to know what they have to say.  I would hate for them to feel like I'm ignoring them or that I don't care about what they're excited to share with me.  Being an attentive listener is important to me.  One of my favorite times a day is between 7 and 7:30pm.  We have our pajamas on and we snuggle (a.k.a. "snug") on the couch and watch a little TV before bedtime.  My two youngest get to "snug" a little longer than my oldest because he reads and practices his spelling words with his dad.  I make sure to have my arms around them and plant kisses on their cheeks.  Big hugs are shared before Dad whisks them off to their bedrooms.  Dragging her favorite "ganket" (blanket) behind her, Katie runs to her dad when the time comes to get ready for bed.  When she gets to the bottom of the stairs, Katie remembers to run back to me to give me a big huge hug and a kiss.  

I cherish my kids.  Oh yes I do!

Memories Made in the AM

My goal to get up and make memories in the morning is going quite well.

I've felt like I've been missing out on some major bonding time because I've been sleeping in.

Slowly but surely, my mornings are changing for the better.

This week, Tyler and I surprised my mom and sister (who were visiting us) by bringing home

some raisin cinnamon rolls and Cutie's tangerine juice for breakfast. 

Tyler and I dropped Katie off at preschool.  Then I surprised Tyler with a gift bag at the temple... some doughnut holes and skewers.  (To kids, putting something as simple as doughnuts in a gift bag makes it seem extra special).  We made doughnut swords and drank "Sun Juices" (aka. Capri Suns) for breakfast at the temple.   After 3 minutes, we couldn't stand the cold anymore so we finished up our fun breakfast at McDonald's.  Tyler even made a new friend that's his same age... Andrew.  I had a nice long chat with Andrew's grandparents.  They are very nice people.

Lenny the Leprechaun came to visit the night before St. Patrick's day.

Lenny's card told the kids that they could eat the Lucky Charms out of one of the new green cups

and that after church, they could help mommy make some green Jell-o.

I want to be an excellent mother.  Notice, I didn't say "a perfect mother."  Being a perfect mother is impossible.  So, I've been trying really hard to let some things go... (aka. cleaning) and just hang out more with my family.  Also, I've been trying to make things a little more fun around here by doing things that are out of the ordinary.  I love it when I give myself permission to be spontaneous.  Spontaneity is how memories are made...even if spontaneity to me means still sleeping in on Saturdays.

Homemaking

A BIG HIGH FIVE to all of you HOMEMAKERS out there!

I hope you have made enjoyed making your home into a haven for your family. 

I've enjoyed decorating our home and making it comfy and cozy for my family and friends.

We've lived in our home for just about 4 years now and it took 

me and Sam a good 3 years to get our house looking the way we wanted.  

One thing that we'd like to do is paint an accent wall in the family room.

What is your favorite room/area of your home?  I really like how our office/guest room turned out.

My Profession

Until I saw this quote, I never really thought about child rearing as a profession.  

I thought of child rearing as my responsibility (and at times obligation) to my family.

I was not one of those little girls that played mommy all the time 

and daydreamed of my days as a mother.

Sure, I knew that eventually I'd get married and raise a family.

But to claim to others that child rearing is my profession... now that sounded strange to me.

The time came that I sat down and brainstormed all the wonderful things 

that come along with child rearing, and my attitude completely changed.

Now I am proud to claim child rearing as my profession.

Sure there are some major things in my profession that I don't enjoy, 

but the benefits outweigh the inconveniences.  

The health and happiness of my family is of the utmost importance to me.

As my children get older, there is always some tweaking to be done to help things run smoothly.

I'm proud of my family and hope that the contributions that I make are somehow making a difference.

Reclaiming My Mornings

I recently read an article that goes along great with the above quote.  

The article is called Working On It and it is written by blogger Emily Anderson.

The ideas Emily shares really hit home to me.  It makes me want to take better care of myself

so that I can be present in heart and mind with my little family.

"We must get up for our children, rather than to our children." -Kat

One of the biggest things that I need to work on is spending my time wiser in the mornings.

I sleep in until the last possible second.  By the time I get up (I'm NOT going to admit what time that usually is) Sam is at work and Brian is at school.  Katie is awake, talking to herself, sometimes repeatedly saying in the sweetest sing-song voice, "Brand new day." She is just patiently waiting for me in her crib.  And then there's Tyler, who has already had breakfast with the boys.  This 5 year old boy of mine is usually watching the TV downstairs, munching on junk food, some of which is always mashed into the carpet,  just hanging out alone.  Tyler turns that room into his own obstacle course consisting of couch cushions stacked up in a creative new way.  And I will not get into how the kitchen usually looks when I get up.  Just the messes he creates alone while I'm asleep should be enough to make me want to get up earlier and get going with my day.  But, it's sad to admit that most of my mornings are spent moping around the house, begrudgingly cleaning up the disgusting messes made, and shaming myself for allowing myself to sleep in again.  

I love this quote that was 

referenced in Emily Anderson's article, 

" I love you.  I am for you.  I enjoy you."  

Try saying it to your children and to your spouse.  

I am going to try saying this to the members of my little family.

I really think that by telling them those short and sweet little sentences will make a difference 

and will help to encourage myself to change my actions and attitude in the mornings.  

It is far better to cherish your children than to flat out ignore them.

Precious moments await me in the mornings and I am totally letting them pass me by.

As of today, I am putting my foot down.

It's time to reclaim my mornings and make fond memories with my loved ones.

I promise to follow up on this with a post titled "Memories Made in the AM."

Attention Moms Everywhere:

Your Children Want You from Whittier Area Community Church on Vimeo.

This video is a dramatic reading of this article, Your Children Want You,  written by April Perry, one of the founders of The Power of Moms.  Enjoy!