Precursor to Father's Day

We woke up today with big excitement in our house ...

Jonah lost his first tooth! This little tooth had been "wiggly" for quite some time, but earlier this week, he bit funny into a popsicle, which really loosened things up! For the next couple days, that tooth has been getting really loose, and when he woke me up this morning, telling me something about his tooth, I looked in his mouth to see it nearly laying sideways it was so loose! Once Eli got up (because pulling teeth is NOT my department!), he "pulled" it out. I think all he did was touch the thing and it came out! So, sooooo fun! We had decided that one celebration of a lost tooth in this house - Eli remembers it from his childhood - would be a slushy. So, later in the afternoon, he took the boys for a slushy, and we'll see what Jonah's finds under his pillow tonight = )

He doesn't believe in the toothfairy, but he knows it is the Daddys and Mommys in this world that make the switch of tooth and treasure in the night. He can't wait!

We had a pretty busy day, between working some, watching a friend's little girl, and needing to run some errands to prep for Father's Day tomorrow. (otherwise known as mommy-needed-to-get-the-shopping-done-and-was-behind-on-it!) We were heading over to my parents' tonight to celebrate Father's Day, Eli's birthday, and Adrienne's birthday. AND, my grandma is in town - whom I haven't seen for nearly three years! Whew!

For my dad, I had wanted to make a strawberry rhubarb pie, because he LOVES those. Once the afternoon started to fly by, I realized I needed to alter my plan slightly. I was all set to make this recipe, which I had seen online a couple weeks, and been waiting to make for him! All I did differently was scratch the pie crust. I made the filling and the topping, and turned it into a Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp. And it.was.good. And I found out once I was into the "making process" that my parents had decided to make homemade ice cream. Double win. Homemade Crisp + Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream = Heaven. Yup. I have a bag of chopped rhubarb now put away in the freezer to pull out another time for something like this. It has such a short season around here.

Just keep fillin' my bowl, Mom, and I'll have no complaints ...

The ridiculous goodness that is homemade ice cream

Mmmmmmmmmm

We had a great evening. Lots of little boys and little toddlers running all over the place, and laughter, and good times together. I think my grandma mostly sat back and just watched the madness ... but she met four great-grandchildren this trip that she had never met, so it is special to her. And I'm so glad she is here.
 

Little boys and their Granny

Giving Opa some Father's Day Love!

Me and our littlest family member, Ellia .... sooooo sweet!

Silly Baby

Today, Matthias decided that walking around with his blanket on his head was about the silliest and most fun thing that he could do with his little self. So, we watched him stumbled around, giggle, fall over and just make us laugh for about a half hour straight! Maybe someone else might get a kick out of this silly little boy = )

Gifts

I'm headed to bed in a much better frame of mind tonight = ) Yesterday was just a fight ... some days are like that! Everyone slept better last night, slept LONGER last night, and we started off the day fabulously! Jonah and I were playing on the living room floor with Matthias, when Reuben flew out of his room in his jammies, ecstatic, "MOM!!!!! MY DIAPER IS DRY!!!!!" For the four-year-old who regularly bemoans the fact that he has not been able to stay dry through the night and still has to wear a pull-up, this was huge. Doubly huge, because the was the second night in a row! He has so desperately wanted to stay dry - but the child just sleeps hard! I am hoping that this is the start of being able to stay dry.

We celebrated by getting Dunkin' Donuts for a treat on the way to church. And maybe a coffee for Mommy *wink wink*

Tonight, 7:30, I warned the boys that they could have a snack now before bed, but "None later". They have a habit of being STARVING right when we say brush teeth and into bed. "Choose a snack now if you want one, because the kitchen will be closed later on" I warned. I got them both to look me in the eye so they realized I meant what I said.

Jonah stood up, looked at me back very seriously, "I don't want a snack, Mom, but I am wondering: will drinks be free later on? I would still like to have a drink of milk."

I had to stifle my giggle on that one. Free????

This week the weather will warm up, but we have enjoyed our cooler start to a Kansas summer and spent lots of time outside in the backyard ...

Matthias is working on climbing the Little Tykes slide ...

See these muscles, Mom??? Yup, you wish you were as strong as us!

They bicker all right ... but no doubt these two are also best buds.

The Small Things

Today was such a tough day. The boys, who were exhausted yesterday, all woke up by 6:30 a.m. Jonah was up by 6. They needed the extra sleep! And they seemed to wake up with the predisposition to irritate each other. By 7:30 I was already sitting them in separate places because they couldn't stop doing things to rile the other up. Oh my ...

Even though there were a couple times I got a bit of reprieve (i.e., needing to work for an hour, so my dad and sister helped out, and then an hour at the wading pool with the boys to run energy out) ... it felt like right back into it once I got home. And I kept looking around my house, which was spotless on Thursday from the showing the previous day, and feeling completely defeated and overwhelmed by the toys strewn about, the kitchen that needed dishes to be washed and dried, etc. Having to get it back to show-ready, as always.

Mid-afternoon, I had put Matthias down for a nap (although he was sitting in his crib talking to himself, rather than sleeping), the boys were drawing a picture on the table for a moment, and I sat on the couch and cried. Tired. Missing Eli. Overwhelmed. Alone. Probably hormonal.

After letting the tears escape for awhile, I felt a Jonah hand on my arm. He handed me a tissue and whispered to Reuben, "I think we had better take care of Mommy. She is missing Daddy." He laid his head on my shoulder and prayed for me in his own sweet words. I remembered what I had written earlier this week about seeing the beauty in what would be a tough 9 days for me.

Their little struggles continued on the rest of the day = ) I wish I could say I feel like I emerged triumphant ... but I'm finishing the day okay. Took a bit of time for myself once Matthias finally fell asleep and the boys were settled with a game to play and refocused. We had to run to Target anyway, and ended up seeing our friends there, who stopped and talked with me for a bit. It was actually a wonderfully bright spot in my day. Talked to adults, laughed, the boys laughed and hid in clothes' racks, and Matthias let someone else hold him! When I was walking to the register to pay for my things, I was just grinning.

We still had moments of tears and frustration from one tired 4 year old once we were back home ... but all three boys are now asleep - hopefully for a good long night of sleep! Mommy is about to join them. Amidst the challenges, those small moments of light mattered sooooooooo much today.

June 2nd

Of the multitude of photos that I have and am behind on uploading to websites and organizing on my computer ... some are just there to make me smile:

The are many moments in each day that I probably struggle with feeling overwhelmed: overwhelmed with making decisions about schooling for the boys; about keeping the house clean; about "enjoying each moment" with my family; about getting enough quiet time for myself; about planning awesome workouts for clients; or "I really want to call so-and-so, but I know as soon as I pick up the phone, the quiet will turn into chaos!"; and I have to remind myself that it isn't about getting everything done each day. If that were the case, I truly wouldn't be able to enjoy anything!

But each day is a gift,

Sometimes the gifts are silly, right (see above)? Sometimes they come in the form of someone calling me, just to say hi. Or the warmth of Eli's hug when he walks in the door from work. Or a quiet time in my own room, with my Bible. Maybe even what I thought was an interruption. Really they are right there, all the time, I just have to stop and take the moment to receive them; enjoy them; be thankful for them.

That is one of my goals this week. We have swim lessons, and some extra things on my plate over the next nine days ... but if I can view each day as a gift, and use even the moments in which I feel like my head might explode to see something beautiful ... then it will end quite wonderfully.

Graduations

For many families, they have graduations to celebrate every few years. And depending how many kids you have, you have fewer or more graduations of those kids to check of the list. This spring, Eli's parents had THREE of their kids graduate! Unless you have triplets (or 19 kids), I imagine that doesn't happen too often for many families!

Eli graduated with his Master's degree, his younger brother Ezra graduated from KU with his bachelor's degree, and his younger sister Joy graduated from high school! Whew! Talk about a lot going on in the family! We're headed in a bit to an open house to celebrate Joy's graduation ... we had one last week for Ezra, and we've been to multiple graduation celebrations over the last two weekends for other friends and youth as well. Just some memories ...

At Eli's graduation in Springfield

Eli with Pastor Stan and Allison - our youth pastors in high school and college!

Whoop! Got the official DONE!

Daddy's outfit is a pretty good costume ...

Drooling???? = ) I made a homemade Snickers cake for Ezra's party!

Helping Uncle Ezra open presents

Ezra's girlfriend, Daniele, graduated also!

Nephew Love!

Congratulations to Joy!

Run It Off

I had a sick baby this week, as mentioned previously. That fever was wretched. Matthias was glued to me most of the day Wednesday, and even more so on Thursday. Poor little guy. We ended up on antibiotics for an ear infection, and he has vastly improved! It changed up my schedule, which is a good reminder that "my" schedule and plans for the day need to be flexible - always. Flexible for the kids ... flexible in case the Lord puts something else in our path. At one point, I looked at that little face looking up at me, and thanked the Lord for the reminder that I have lots of selfishness within me to get rid of. Maybe I surrendered a bit more over the last few days - I pray that I did! To become self-LESS ... what gain!

But, I did indulge myself in a run. At one point, I finally got him to lay down and sleep in his own bed for awhile. And headed to my treadmill. It's not new, it's not a gorgeous one by any means, but the thing runs (albeit rather loudly) and served its purpose for me that day! I put in my earplugs, set the boys on the couch with books and other things to occupy them, and ran some stress away ...

1-5 min - Warm up jog 6.0

1 min @ 6.5

1 min @ 7.0

1 min @ 6.5

1 min @ 7.5

1 min @ 7.0

1 min @ 8.0

1 min @ 7.5

1 min @ 8.5

1 min @ 8.0

1 min @ 8.5

*repeat above stair-steps at 45 sec intervals

*repeat stair-steps at 30 sec intervals

2 min @ 8.0

Cooldown!

I think I was on there somewhere around 35 minutes, and it was just what I needed. Cooled down, and heard stirring within the crib. Quickly showered and was back on baby duty! I love running intervals, not just because it is great training for running and for a powered-up workout, but also because the time flies when I'm pushing buttons all the time! = )

I kinda felt like I could have used another one of those today. Great day, but incredibly busy, and we were running here and there, it felt like. And the temperature was up and so was the humidity! I feel sweaty, exhausted, and ready to go to bed ... aaaaannnnnd, it's 8:30. Ah well! We have a showing for the house tomorrow morning - YAY! - and the house is clean, the boys are bathed and asleep. I have no shame heading to bed myself shortly!