Taking a second...

I so wish I had loads of time to blog about feelings, acitvities, and all the good stuff. Right this second I have enough time to breathe. Maybe. 

So in the meantime I will just upload some randoms. 

I tried to take first day of school pics of the boys and at one point they both grabbed themselves. LOVELY!! I guess it has begun. 

 The boys new very favorite babysitter Drew. Tyler never wants her to go and cries ridiculous alligator tears when she leaves. This particular night he held her money so she would stay.

To all parents who have 3 kids .... WHAT?!?!?! As I am watch my niece I just can't seem to get my act together most days. Except when they are all in swings and happy.

I have been overwhelmed with new jobs this season and honestly haven't been the best mommy. The "mom" part is fine (everyone is dressed, lunches packed, clothes laid out) but face to face fun stuff has gone on the backburner. Sweet Ethan will be my one to call me on it "LOOK AT ME AND PLAY WITH ME... NOW!!!" 

Mae-zers!!

 Sir-Grimps-alot

Legoland and Batman- a 3 year olds wonderland! 

These two are the sweetest. Tyler adores both of them, but these two have a special connection for sure. I hope it lasts for years to come. 

End of the Summer

The end of summer is so bitter sweet for me. I have to admit, I am SO READY to have the kids and I back into a routine. I don't do well without my day scheduled, and I honestly I am a much better mom and wife when my dayplanner is color coded and full. 

However, there have been so many random moments of pure sweetness and fun this summer that I don't often appreciate in those scheduled months. I must learn from these moments. There is love and joy in the comes from the random sporadic fun. I suppose I need to make room on my to do list for "sporadic fun!" No, but really. 

Last week we had a paint party. Throw some paper up on the fence, get the paint out- and ta da!! So fun. 

And then last night we had a dance party. The three of us have daily dance parties, but yesterday was one for the books. Daddy joined us, we turned off the lights and did a rave with glowsticks, and got out all the instruments. I haven't had that much fun in a really long time.  

The typical happens. 

Tyler: " Mommy- dance with me." 

Ethan: "Look at me Mommy... I am a rockstar!? 

And of course Watermelon breaks. 

I will miss this summer. But I am so glad that I soaked in every minute of fun time with them. This year is starting off busy and it's going to be a year of transitions for sure. These years are going by so very fast.

Death

Death is a tough subject with toddlers. Their brains can hardly handle the concept that their teachers don''t live in their school, let alone someone being gone.

Today Ethan explained that the way we were driving looked like he way to Wahado's house (the name of my grandmother who passed away a couple of moms ago).

"Do you remember where I said Wahado was now?"
"Umm... Nope."
"She's in heaven with Jesus."
" that makes me sad... I miss her."
"Me too."

A few minutes later

"Why is she in heaven?"
"Because she dies. And when you love Jesus and die you get to live with Jesus."
" how did she die?"
"Umm... Sometimes when people get older they get really sick..."( I panicked!)
" she should go to Dr Hanig... He always makes me better."
" yep. He does. But sometimes when you get older your body just can't get well and so she went to be with Jesus."

He seems to be okay with my answers.

Tyler " Wahado die?
Ethan " yes."
T- " how did she die?"
E- " she got old and then moved to live with Jesus. . Jesus loved her a lot."
T-  why no bandaid?

What a sweet and innocent heart to think and truly  believe that a bandaid could fix anything. In the midst of all the hurt in the world I think maybe it's time to remember to think like a 2 year old.

-always remember and remind others that Jesus loves us a lot
- we should continue to hold the ones we love dearly in our hearts and in our tongues
- sometimes a hug and a bandaid really can cure the soul
- feel your feelings, jump into them , then move on

My boys teach me more than I could ever teach them. Thanks for he reminder today buddies.

Cleaning Out the Cloud

Just cleaning out the Cloud and wanted to savor this cute moments. The last couple of days I have had inservice meetings, so Bryan is on full time parenting duty. And of course- on daddy days there are snow-cones and long hours at the park. Who cares if it's 103 degrees??!?! 

And then a should out to these 8 cuties (only missing 1 on the end who was NOT having it this evening). Bryan and I have been praying for a community of believers to share life with for years. And God surely blessed us 10 fold with this bunch. 10 adults and 9 kids makes us a loud and roudy bunch for sure. But there is NO ONE I would rather have on my side then these guys. God knew what he was doing when He created us for community. And honesty- name a cuter bunch of kids! I dare you! 

The best part of the kids picture was seeing that Bryan had captured the moms attempting to get everyone to smile and stay still at the same time. What a mom will do is totally ridiculous for one good picture.

Shut My Mouth and Change My Heart

I always feared God would give me a girl . I just knew that if I had a little girl that all my insecurities and body hatred would rub off on her. I was so relieved when I had boys... I had the (WRONG) idea that I therefor didn't have to worry about what I said or thought about my body around my sons.

I WAS WRONG!

This morning as we all sat down to breakfast I noticed that Bryan had made me a ridiculous amount of scrambled eggs.

Me- I need someone to take some of these?
Bry- why?
Me- because I don't want to be fat.

As we were finishing, and yes I finished all my eggs, Ethan looked at my plate and said "oh no, you're fat." He had a true sense of anxiety on his little 3 year old face.

I thought I only had to worry about this with daughters.

Later as we're getting ready for the zoo, I looked down and felt like a slob. At the same time, Ethan came in my room ...

Ethan- what are you doing?
Me- trying to find something else to wear
Ethan- why?
Me- because I don't want to look ugly and fat.
Ethan (yelling down the hall)- mom u\is changing so she won't be fate and ugly for you dad.

I just stood there. What am I teaching him? That girls should always be skinny and worried about their size? That HE should worry about his weight? That mommy isn't happy unless she has her act together? That he can't be happy unless he is skinny and handsome?

I was wrong. My insecurities will wipe off on whoever is around me... The little boys included.

I want the boys to know how God created each of us so perfectly. That we should be thankful, daily, on the vessel he gave us and to take care of it (not tear it down). I want to model a woman who is thinking about her identity in Christ and not her jean size.

God Help Me.

Green Ugly Cupcakes

Dear moms who blog everyday- HOW? I feel like I am an organized mom, but finding time to blog and even think through complete sentences sometimes is difficult. That, my friends, is why we will not be having any more children! =) I can't even handle 2. 

Last week we had Tyler's 2nd Birthday. I love how different the boys are. Ethan is very content with just a few people he knows and loves. Tyler is happier with MORE- MORE of everything. So we had more friends come and join us at a local splash pad for cupcakes, juiceboxes and loads of wet water fun. 

I feel like the 1st birthday is for the parents, but by the 2nd birthday they really can tell you what they like. So I let him pick out all his decorations, snacks and cupcakes. At Sams he pointed out THE UGLIEST color green I had ever seen, with primary color sprinkles and Lightening McQueen art.... so that's what he got. As much as everything in me said "these are the ugliest things i have ever seen!" my heart was happy in seeing Tyler smile with pride at his creations. 

Big Brother was more than happy to help eat the cupcakes and volunteer to "help" Tyler open his gifts. Unfortunately for him, we have a "you dont have to share your toys on the first day" rule at the Head house. So he opened up all the gifts and then realized Tyler didn't want to share ANYTHING. And didn't have to. That boy was VERY EXCITED for Sunday. =) 

My cousin Zack is THE BEST with the little boys. They call him Uncle Zack and I love watching them all together. Zack was a champ to chase them around the water. 

I love how God made this one. He is a burst of energy, testosterone, and cuddles. He LOVES 

dance parties with mommy

wrestling with daddy

cheese sticks and blueberries

his paci.blankie and koala bear when he's tired

school and playing with his sweet friends and teachers

singing songs with the windows down in the car

jumping in the deep end

church and praying for "ethan and elliott" (those 2 are covered!) 

He is certainly harder to parent some days than Ethan, but I continue to pray that God is going to use this strong willed little spirit to His glory. 

It is my joy to be his mom. Can't wait to see what a lifetime of loving this man will bring. 

photoshoot

My boys LOVE to have their pictures taken. To a point where they are little WEIRD about it. Like say last week, when Ethan stood up in the cart in the checkout line of Target and asked the checkout girl "excuse me, can you take our picture?" and put his arm around me. Are you kidding? So, recently the boys and I were trying to things to pass the time before bed and Ethan suggested to take pictures. 

So thus began a Monday night photo shoot. 

These two really do LIKE eachother. Having them so close together was not the easiest at first, but it's certainly paying off now. They are sweet best buddies. 

I love tyler's face!!! 

So, finally Ethan was holding Tyler a tad too tight so I told him "loosen up on your grip," and this is what happened.... 

AWESOME!!

and my faithful boy for the last 12 years.... Old Faithful Jake. Always right under foot lately.