Livy Bug

This is Livy at the pool today..............love the glasses!

walk down memory lane

My dear friend, Rachael came for a visit this weekend with her new baby and her husband. She brought a whole bunch of pictures from when Chad and I first had Livia(I put the pics in the above slide show). Watching her and Zach with their new son this weekend brought back the feelings I had when I was a brand new mother. Sure your sleepy and a little overwhelmed, but you also have this excitement stirring inside you all the time (like Christmas morning-only better!). I used to love cuddling up with livia in my bed and watching a movie. I loved putting on her cute little outfits and giving her baths that made her smell so good, that for the life of me I couldn't stop kissing her. I think the most special part about having your own baby is that YOU are who they want -(by the second one this becomes quite annoying)- YOU are the only one that can make it better for them at times. Before I had children of my own I would ache to hold a baby. I remember sitting in church and watching my sister in law, Tess with her new baby girl and I just wanted to hold her so badly- or when my niece, Zoey would cry and try as I might it was only my sister that could make her happy again. Rachael is attached to baby Jace. She can hardly stand to be apart from him while he is napping- I loved being able to observe her this past weekend. It made me look at my two little ones in a new light and to stop taking them for granted. I remembered how special they are and that I am their Mom- the only one in their lives that can make everything better. What an absolute honor.

yes, it is still there!

Still growing strong!!! I am really going to fold this today. If I get it all folded and put away before Chad gets home he is going to take me to get a Snicker's Blizzard. We are trying a reward system- Chad thought it was worth a try-It works great with the kids!!!

Check out my Slide Show!

Tennis lessons!

Here are some pics of the kiddos on Tuesday at their tennis lesson. My sister inlaw, Tess, is teaching them the Athletic stance and how to shake hands with their rackets. We did lessons after swimming for 3 hours so they were exausted. Next week we are doing Tennis first- Then swimming! Please forgive me for dressing my little boy in a girl's shirt- he spilled a drink all over his clothes.

words of wisdom

I was just on A friends blog and one of her posts really hit home. (Jen, I hope you don't mind me copying one of your posts on my blog.)

I've been thinking a lot lately about my attitude as a Mom and I know I need to improve. I want to be really positive and I'm trying to enjoy every moment I have with them. The time goes by so quickly! One of my dear friends from colorado Mary, told me something that has always stuck with me. We were talking about parenting and she said "sometimes you have to get off your butt" I think about that all the time when I'm doing one thing and a child needs something...again. Or when I'm busy and the kids are fighting, or whining about one thing or another, or the classic yell across the yard because I don't want to get up. When I do get off my butt things run so much smoother. They can see me there engaged with them, making eye contact, caring. Anyway, I've learned so much about being a parent. I've learned that sometimes it's so hard that I feel like I can't do it anymore, like I'm not good enough to take care of such amazing and draining kids =). But then the moment, or sometimes the week, or the month passes by and I find myself renewed and ready to enjoy whole heartedly again. I just want to say to all Mom's who have kids and sometimes feel like you're drowning in kidness- I've so been there. I know how important it is to get out, by yourself or with a friend and be YOU again. I can't say that enough, it's not selfish, it's necessary. Even just once every 2 weeks, get out and do something that you love to do. It will make you a better Mom, wife and person. I can already see such a difference in my stress level when I take that time for me. I was just talking to my sister Annette about that. We also talked about how hard it is to have little little kids. She has 2 kids under 2. That really is a 24 hour job. And it's an emotional roller coaster. One minute you feel like you could burst because you have children to attend to constantly, and the next they're both sleeping and you're thinking 'what was my problem, this is easy.' Anyway my point is, it gets better. Maddie is 6 and I can feel the difference, I'm not entertaining all day long, I don't have to dress every child, I no longer have 3 in diapers, and I'm actually sleeping through the night, and the kids don't have to be supervised 24/7. I love it! Heaven. So hang on if you're on the emotional no sleep, nasty diapers, spit up, crying multiple children phase. It's a great time of life and goes so quickly, but it does get a little less stressful

Check out my Slide Show!

A recipe for an awesome "Tater"tot casserole!

I Need Help!!!!!

(Can you find Livia?)


(Same pile different place)


Alright here is the deal- When everyone comes to my house they compliment me on how orderly I keep things and how on top of everything I am- and I pride myself in keeping a beautiful home. But here is the dirty truth- well actually it is clean-but a problem never the less- I cannot keep my washed laundry under control. I have an actual name for this problem it is called "The pile moving Syndrome". Here is basically how it works. It started out that I would let the dirty laundry pile up for days to the point where I would do laundry and fold for two days straight. I was designating one day to laundry and it was just overwhelming. My sister in law, Kellie, told me to try to do 2 loads every day and then I would be able to stay on top of things. Now I stay up on the washing part but with these two little kids I can barely find the time to fold them. As the week goes on I develop this gynormous pile and now we live out of it! In the mornings we all go and dig through the pile to find what we will be wearing for the day. (Livia is a pro at this-she even picks out clothes for tate!) It isn't uncommon to find my poor, hardworking husband digging through the pile for a match to a sock-It kills me! The reason I am calling it the pile moving syndrome is simply because I move this pile constantly. It usually starts out in the guest room which is by the Laundry room- then we will have an overnight guest and so Livia and I will lug it into my room. There it will move to my bed because I think "surely I will fold this pile today!"............nope it becomes night time and Chad and I begin the routine of moving the pile to the floor along with the throw pillows. It is becoming a huge problem. I think it began when Tate turned one and started walking. They just keep me so busy and before I know it another day has passed without folding. With my high standards of house cleaning it just seems that since I can somewhat hide this the job never fully gets completed. This year my theme is to be more Honest with myself and others. I am going to stop trying so hard to appear like I am on top of things. Now you all know my ugly truth about my housekeeping skills. It is like Monica's closet on friends. anyways my reason for this post is two-fold #1 I want to recognize my husband as a patient and loving man who has accepted my inadequacy- has never complained, has helped me fold when we can't find each other in our room anymore and most importantly helps me move the pile. #2 I need your comments on this one. What do you all do to keep up on the laundry in your home? (Chad just read this long post and said maybe instead of writing for so long about this problem I should go and just fold the clothes instead.- a better use of time maybe?)

My Best Friend

Look at these 30 year olds. I love this picture- Time has changed us both so much. We are on our 8th year of being together and I can hardly remember how it was before him. It is so nice to be married to your best friend. I love that Chad always can crack me up- even when I am really mad. He just knows how to always make things better it seems. I love him.

Aprons

Livia and Tate helped to make these aprons at there art class last Wednesday! They wear them whenever it is time to do "Craps" That is what livia calls Crafts. never a dull moment!

Summer Fun!!!!!!

This summer is going to be great! I am one motivated mother. After Tate was born and I was recovering from a second c-section my sister came to take care of me for a week. Every day she took care of Livia for me- it was such a huge help. She had her little routine and Livia loved having her cousin and Auntie there for company. When my sister had to leave I was so scared. I didn't know how I would ever manage an 18 month old and a brand new baby on my own. My sister told me to just get up in the morning, brush my teeth and take both kids for a walk, let livia play at our neighborhood park for 20 minutes or so, let her throw rocks into the pond for a few minutes. If I got out at least once each day I could go home and not feel any mom guilt. It was the best advice. Just having one activity a day seems to make everything just go better. Less whining, less time outs! I decided to follow that advice for this summer. I have planned one main activity each day for the kids as well as chores for them to do. We are on our third week and it has been such a fun summer.

Check out my Slide Show!

Check out my Slide Show!

funny man Tate

I can't get enough of this little clown!!!!I can't figure out how to rotate the last two pics. I love the first one because tate was eating the fishing bate!!!!

Livia Lee

I found this picture of livia the other day and it made me think for a while about this daughter of mine. She is such a funny little one............. So opposite of her loud mom who usually enjoys the spotlight. Livia is shy and very thought full. she hates being the focus of attention. This is at her 3rd Birthday and she hated that I wanted her picture with her next to her gifts. She never likes it when people are watching her get her picture taken. I love her so much. Her sensitivity always takes my breath away.

Fishing by the grand canyon

We found the greatest little fishing hole (it literally is a hole) while hiking around a couple of Saturdays ago. We were hiking to some of Chad's trail cameras and found a fun place to take the kids. A bite every cast- although they are little (the fish) I have never laughed so hard at how excited Tate and Livia were!

so typical....................

I truly want to have a fascinating blog but I have never been good at keeping a journal. I have told so many people to go to my blog and here I have not posted anything in months!!! I will just have to recommit.