Beautiful day

  One day John pointed out something he has noticed about my prayers.  He said every time I prayed I said "Thank you for this day" and asked if it was repetitive or sincere.  I replied very seriously that I was sincere.  "Even on days that you tell me are terrible?"  Yes, even terrible days are days I am thankful for.  Here is why: I learn something every day.  Yesterday was a pretty crummy day.  I spent the entire day getting ready for a party, cooking food and cleaning the house.  What I wanted to do though, was play with my kids and read with them and cuddle and wrestle.  I was grumpy and irritable, impatient and at times even unkind.  It was one of the worst days.  Glen said it was worth it to have a party, but I think he is the only one who thinks so.  Benjamin said it was so not worth it and Elizabeth, well, I think too often she gets less mommy time then the boys.  Anyway, at the end of the day as I prayed I did say thank you.  I said it was a terrible day, but I was grateful because I had learned that spending time with my kids is so much more important then having the perfect party, a super clean house, and themed snacks.  I bet they would be just as happy with a bowl of popcorn and a movie. 

Because of yesterday I wanted to spend extra time with my kids.  After school we went to the park together for a little bit until lunch.  While eating it started to rain and we all went out to enjoy the storm.  We danced and jumped in puddles, drew with chalk and ran from pelting hail.  Benjamin and Elizabeth were fascinated by the storm drain and Elizabeth gathered hail.  As I watched them play in the rain I could almost see them learning and absorbing information from their world.  It was wonderful to watch.

Pure enjoyment

For the past few weeks I have really been enjoying motherhood.  Could it be the new baby you ask?  Yes, but it so much more then that.  I do not do pregnant well.  I am impatient, tired, sick, angry, and want to just be left alone.  All. The. Time.  This isn't good for kids.  The last, wow, it's been almost a month, I have had energy and felt good and so I have enjoyed...well, being alive.  We have made trips tot he park, gone on walks, read books, wrestled, built forts, I have given pony rides and chased kids around the house.  Even being tired from night feedings, even frustrated at my inability to help sick kids, and the stress of so much...new-ness, has not put much of a damper on this enjoyment.  In the last few days I have cheered over spilled cereal, responded calmly to hot chocolate in the carpet, tickled, laughed, and played tag.  Nothing compares to being a mom.  Nothing is more stressful, more worrisome, or on the other hand more fun, or more rewarding. Here is just a sample of the enjoyment of the past month.

Big brother likes to give me baths in my clothes.

Holidays

I love holidays.  All holidays, especially the small ones.  Yesterday was Dr. Suess day, unless you teach school of have a child in school, I bet you didn't know that.  Dr. Suess day is one of my favorite days though.  Every year we have green eggs and ham, and this year we added in some thing one and thing two cupcakes.

I guess the reason I like the small holidays so much is that I like any excuse to bake and do fun stuff with my kids.  And I really like making food fun.  The other day I made a cake for dinner.  I made the meat loaf in two round cake pans and frosted it in mashed potatoes.  The kids were so excited that we were having cake for dinner, and they loved how fun it was even when it turned out to be real food and not chocolate cake.

So anyway, Dr. Suess day was a lot of fun, we had green eggs and ham for dinner, we made thing cupcakes together, and we read Dr. Suess books all day long.  It was a lot of fun to take some of the cupcakes to our friends too.  They didn't know it was Dr. Suess day... their kids did though.  :)  I must be a kid still.  Now I am looking forward to Pi day.  Should I make a square pie?
I hope that my kids look back on all my silly little holiday traditions with fondness.  I hope that the heart shaped pancakes, thing cupcakes, meat loaf cakes, and candles in all their food on birthday are good memories for them.