Napping.

I haven't been really good at pulling out the camera over the last few weeks. I'll blame it on the cold that I've complained about in the last two posts below.

But I did happen to pull it out this day to capture some serious fort building or more like nap house making.

 

Spring Fever.

Can you relate to this photo? If so... your either a super cool mom that lets your kids jump on the bed or you a sympathetic mom that lets your kids jump on the bed because there is 6 inches of snow on the ground in subzero temperatures with nothing to else do.

 



Below is what it looked like before I ran down to switch the laundry. So sweet an innocent just looking through their library books. Now it's the time of the year where I am like, "do whatever you want as long as you aren't fighting."

 

Ice Skating.

It's sort have been boring around here... It's definitely feeling like winter has been going on for at least 9 months now. And it's getting to the point of coldness that our home is starting too resemble a slightly more flattering prison cell. Really, only true Minnesotans can understand what the months of January and February do to a person.

We have been trying to keep busy with weekly trips to the children's museum, library, doing pinterest projects and getting outside when we can (which hasn't been often).  A couple weeks ago temperatures soared to 37 degree (be jealous) so we decided to take the kids ice skating for the first time. Harrison had been asking for weeks to try it. Our lake rents out skates which is an awesome added bonus since his feet are still growing.

When we got on the ice....Harrison didn't want to try skating anymore. This didn't surprise me. He is the kind have kid that gets so pumped up about things and then when they actually happen he is reserved or doesn't even want to try. I call this behavior "need a kick in the butt." He really does...he would never try half the things he does if we didn't push him to at least try and by "trying" I mean actually put effort into it. Once we got past the point of "I can't do it," the rest of skating was enjoyable. The first thing he asked when as our evening ended was, "Can we come back again?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

First born.

It's hard to believe that this guy is entering kindergarten this fall. Five years ago I wasn't a mom. I always remembering wanting kids one day...for sure one, maybe two, definitely not three.

Things change after your first is born and suddenly you can't imagine or hardly remember life pre-kids. I'm sure I looked better, actually slept and wasn't up blogging at 2 am :). So, so much is different that if I were to name everything I wouldn't go to bed tonight...but lets just say it's a good different.

I admit I struggle with going back and forth with someday will there be a #3? Two is enough for Doug and he's made that clear from day Miles was born. But on the day Miles was born... that first look into his eyes, new life, new start new everything is so completely and utterly amazing. I can't help but want to feel that feeling again and bring to the world new life.

I'm 30. I figure I have roughly 6-8 more years to decide whether to have another baby or not (and convince my decided husband). So it was a bit of a reality check at my doctors appointment when my doctor said, "you should decide pretty soon if you want to have another baby given your age."

After I got over the initial OMG. I did a little study on statistics and fertility and it is a reality that 30 is downfall to reproductively not to mention I am super high risk and I am someone who actually has to try to get pregnant. All odds against me.

This makes me a little sad. Reality sucks sometimes.

However in talking to my doctor he said, it's rare, even after a women gets her tubes tied not to want or ever not have urge or want to have another baby. I never really thought about it this way. I have friends who just say they just knew they were done and I have others teetering in the same spot I am in. Its just a realization if there is ever a baby #3 someday it's likely I still would come back to this very same feeling/place. Damn these women hormones.

For now... I need to know that it's ok with not even knowing if I (we) will ever be done having kids, life will decide that.








 

Dear Moms

It's hard work raising kids. You know you hear this at least a dozen, hundred, even thousand times before you have kids.

Well those people were right. It's really, really freaking hard. I read an amazing article Dear Mom's you are stronger than you think  that pretty much sums of just how crazy life can be and how much you sometimes feel like you are failing as a parent. I totally promise the read is worth it and awesome pick me up especially after your two year old empties a entire tube of tooth paste on the carpet, followed by half a bottle of hair gel and then opens an entire jug of apple juice on the floor within a half hour, true story---so don't ask about my Friday.

In the end... I love these boys to pieces. They just make me a little crazy :)

 

Epic Painting.

This session... I can't say how awesome, amazing, wonderful, epic and memorable this was. I'm finally getting around to posting these. Seriously, seriously best Tuesday night fun, ever.

This idea came off of Pinterest, but we put our own twist on it making it ours. As much as I try to capture the kids lives (and they love seeing photos of themselves), I find myself hardly ever making an appearance in a photo. In a way it's like they have an invisible mom. I wanted a fun session to capture what our everyday life resembles. Life is crazy, it's messy, it's fun. We tickle, we laugh and we do it all it again (with a few meltdowns, time outs in-between---keeping it real).

I saved a few pieces of the paper from the session and one day when I actually print a few of these I'll frame a little of the art work with the photos.

I think session maybe worth repeating each January. Love my boys.

Epic Painting