Bloom Where Planted

We have been here for 18 months. And we will be here for another 52.............. but who's counting?



I am happy to say that it is starting to feel like home. Obviously I don't like change and I take a while to adjust:)

Here are a few ways I know this is home:

Having our favorite places.
Going out in public and {occasionally} running into someone I know.
My kids' and I having friends. Being known as "Isaiah's mom" again. I missed that when we first moved here. I just wanted to be known, but more so I wanted my kids to be known and loved.
Having places we HAVE TO BE! To be needed outside of these 4 walls...it does the soul well.
Knowing my way around my grocery store.
Not getting lost every time I go out.

We only moved 270 miles away from our last home. But it feels like the other side of the world at times. It is a different culture here. And I have to constantly remind myself that it is just different, not BAD! Again, I don't do well with change. But by God's grace (and whole lot of patience from my husband) I am getting there.

Reading between the lines...

Due to bad weather we spent ALL DAY Tuesday together in our cozy {read: small} house.

At lunch time my husband turned to me and said, “You are the bravest person I know.”
What?
His response, “You stay home with THIS every day and you want more kids. You really are brave.”

My immediate interpretation of his comment was that he thinks I am CRAZY. Like I am losing it. However after thinking about it further I have decided he meant “You are the best, most awesome wife and mother ever. I don’t know how you do it all. You make it look easy and fun. And I would be lost with out you.” Yes. That is definitely what he meant:)

Some other gems he dropped through out the day:

• “You must want to find a job some days. At least then you would get out of here.”
• “You listen to THIS all day long? Every day? How?”

(Just to clarify. THIS = our children)

Yawn

Alternate Title: My Morning.

First I painted these adorable little nails:) We got kind of WILD! Then most of the polish came off in the bath. Bummer.

Then I dusted off a favorite baby toy for our now very stable sitting baby girl. And by “dusted off” I mean scrubbed with windex, baby wipes and a toothpick. Yep that toy is clean! Somewhat related: I love this able-to-sit-and-play-but-not-yet-mobile stage:)

 

And then I drank a Pepsi from a straw (my new favorite…the straw not the Pepsi). And I was excited when I randomly picked the “right” straw from the box! Why is it the “right” straw? Well it coordinates with the can of course. Sadly this makes me happy. I always enjoy Pepsi, but with the coordinating straw it is just that much better!

 



Now I must stop before I reveal the fact that the most exciting moment of my day was when the UPS man delivered 3 packages to my doorstep. THREE PACKAGES! Only to be crushed moments later when he took them back. Wrong address. Or I might over share by explaining exactly how I cleaned the crud from the bottom of our toothbrush holder. But alas I will show some self restraint and STOP! Because no one really cares that the the unplanned bath this morning was due to a small accident while playing hide n seek, right? Right. Stopping now…

Wait. This might be informative and helpful. I FINALLY got my SUBSCRIBE option to work for this here blog:) And I stayed up far far too late trying to figure it out. So now if anyone would like follow along via e-mails said person would just have to enter their email address and click the word SUBMIT above and follow the {super easy and quick} instructions.

Done. I promise.

Confessions

I am currently eating a BOX of Nilla Wafers for lunch. Washed down by my ever favorite Pepsi. This meal may have started with a large rice krispie bar…or two:) Oh and the baby is napping ON me while I enjoy this lunch.

My big kids are wearing the CLOTHES they slept in last night. And I took them out in public.

I fed my kids left-over McDonalds for lunch. Not surprising after the first two confessions, right?

After spending 30+ minutes rocking Hannah to sleep, I gently placed her in her crib and then abruptly woke her by dropping my phone on her…………..head! (I told my husband it was her belly…good thing he doesn’t read the blog:)

I told my husband he could pick out ANY pillow he wanted for his 30th birthday gift from me. Oh the excitement! Then he picked the wrong pillow so I gently suggested a “better” option. We now sleep with a matched pair of “better” pillows!

My Christmas ornaments are still out….waiting to be packed up! Yikes, how is it even possible that Christmas was {almost} 2 months ago?

I forgot to shave my legs before we went away to the Wisconsin Dells (indoor water park). Did I shave them once we were there??? I will leave that one unanswered. A girl can’t tell all her secrets:)

And now an unrelated picture of my adorable, newly sitting independently baby girl…

 

Outtakes

Just wanted to keep things real here. Yesterday’s picture is NOT an accurate picture of my life with 3 kids. Cute? Absolutely. Sweet? Yep. Fun? Of course. Accurate? NOT AT ALL! Here are the outtakes. The REAL pictures.

So how did I get yesterday’s picture perfect shot? Well for starter’s one child wanted to wear her Valentine’s outfit. That always helps. But the real trick? Bribery. Lots of bribery in the form of gum balls. And Hannah’s smile? Well that was just luck. And maybe a little game of “peek-a-boo”. But mostly luck:)