Things That Pile Up

I know I have so much to learn about life, and mothering and managing a household - but one thing I do know for sure is that it requires a lot of effort and energy to keep all the plates spinning.  You can push out a really hard-effort-day and get caught up in a lot of areas, but if you fall for that old lie that you deserve to rest on that success, it won't be long and you'll be scrambling all over again.  Things pile up.  And they pile up quickly.  I am convinced that it is much, much easier for a pile of laundry, bills, or dishes to appear than it is to make those very same things disappear.

In a busy household of boys, it is very much the norm that I feel like I am behind.  Spending a day to push all of the laundry through the cycles and when they all undress at the end of the day there lies another load of dirty laundry!  You just get dinner cleaned up and they are circling back for snack.  It is the natural flow of life.

When I stop and take the time to think about it, I have to simply accept that although I do want to grow in my home management skills, and need to, I will not change the natural flow of life around here! Even with all the newest pinterest ideas, analyzing of whether I am a piler or a filer, creating systems and strategies to tackle the mundane, it is all going to repeat itself.  Piles happen.  I need to face that fact.  But I also know that the days zip past and my boys outgrow their clothes and wear out their shoes and lose teeth and start new grade levels and learn more words and new skills and they change and grow and change and grow.  All so fast.

I want to remind myself to prioritize my time with my boys.  To set aside the "household tasks" in order to listen to them talk, to laugh with them, to play on the floor.  It can be a challenge to get everything done but I want to be present when they are with me.  Truly present for at least a small moment in each of their days.

All of the other piles just may have to wait because right now I have a pile of boys worth my full attention!

2013 It All Starts Now!

Blogging has become an abandoned discipline in my life over the past few years.  When I glance above to the header of this blog it jumps out to be in a very visual way at how much change has happened in those little boys' faces.  Lots of growing up has occurred and while I am so so thankful I have been there through it all, unfortunately, the blog hasn't.  However, I am going to hold back from pouring out all of my justifications, regrets, and remorse.  Bottom line is this: writing is good for me. Writing about the most precious thing to me - my family - is good for my heart.  Reflecting and recording and remembering are good for my soul.  Capturing a photograph that allows me to recall that very moment much later in time are important to me.  So, it is my goal to reestablish this priority in my life.  On this first day of 2013 I commit to take time for me - to do something that refreshes me - to reinvest time in my blog.  For me.  I am quite certain I will not regret it.  I have, after all, regretted not doing it.  So there you have it!  Enough said!  Let the re-blogging begin! I look ahead in anticipation to the funny, crazy, and special times that lie in wait to be captured and posted for my own good.  There is no doubt in my mind that this simple practice will make me a better person because it is me giving attention to something I love. I am excited. It all starts now....

I Love A Little Boy Without His Front Teeth

One of the many fun parts of my boys growing up is the way they look with that toothless smile.

I remember loving Reece's new look with that gappy grin....and was now anticipating it with Chase! He has a smaller mouth so those teeth were packed in pretty tight.  The front two were loose for a long time but they literally squeaked when he wiggled them because they were so tight in there.

But let me tell you when that first one finally became hopelessly loose - there was very little time before he had worked three of them out of his mouth.  Bam. Bam. Bam. He was determined to get those teeth under the pillow and in the span of 8 days, he had managed to dislodge 3 of his top teeth.  A long while after bedtime snuggles, tuck-ins, and prayers were said, he could be heard shifting around in his bed, or sometimes in front of the bathroom mirror trying to wiggle them free.  On the last 2 of the three - I decided the blood running down his arm was evidence that he was a little too eager to get them out, perhaps prematurely :) Nevertheless, his perseverance "paid off" - mind you, in not more than a dollar bill and a little change....and a very happy little man with a priceless new smile!

To this tooth fairy, you cannot put a price to pay on such an exciting milestone. He has been so so proud to have arrived!

Here are a few pics of Chase & his smile in the before, during & after:

Pierce is a Preschool Graduate

My newly turned 5 year old just embarked upon another childhood milestone - graduating from preschool.  We shared a very special day with our sweet and sharp Piersen Benjamin.  This post has a lot of video and numerous pictures...but just look at how cute he is - I couldn't help myself!  I love his self confidence, his sweet smile, his classic "Pierce expressions". We are proud of how he continues to grow into a big boy with lots of unique and special qualities.  So, scroll on down and celebrate Pierce with me!

(note: the video is not the greatest of quality - several times I am waving at him or smiling at him and then realize I have strayed off of video-ing him)

Pierce and his graduating class :)

His sweet little head barely reaches over the church pew.

His excited face that he is a graduate!!

One of Piersen's classic winks ;)

Seated at the reception.

Miss Marilyn, his very special teacher.

Getting ready to dig into the cake!

Mmmmmmmm!

The special graduates table.

Balloons!

Pierce & his buddy Austin.

Proud parents.

In Pierce's own words "I look sharp today"

I love this picture of my handsome fella.

Balloons are always a hit at this age!

The diploma - or a pirates telescope - whichever you prefer!

Peering ahead to my future...

Yeeesssss! It all looks good from here on out!!!

Congrats Pierce.  You are spreading your wings just a little further...and you are gonna soar!  All of us are proud of you & love you to the moon.

Laundry.

Laundry. Often, or always, a dirty word to a Mom, depending on how you look at it.

There will always be laundry to do.  Even when I work extra hard to get it all cycled through the washer...before long the evening comes, everyone gets ready for bed...& BAM - there is another heap of dirty clothing awaiting attention.

That little truth is one of the major reasons I stopped trying to have one dedicated "laundry day"during the week.  It became too discouraging, not to mention a lot of hard work and restless hours on the washer and dryer (by far the hardest working appliances in our home).  Now, I pace myself and pretty much do a load or two every day. Sure, this way there is never rest from it, but it seems easier to attack. I have tried other techniques and new habits to try to improve on this area of domesticated life. Some have worked. Some haven't.  Bottom line is it is a big job, and somebody has to do it. Little by little I am trying to make that "somebody" be more than only me.

Sometimes, when I am the good, patient Mom, I encourage these boys to sort, switch loads, and even try to fold. But I struggle with consistency. And all that work of folding and then seeing the neatly folded t-shirts topple out of their little hands to the floor, or be dumped upside down into the drawer....ahhhhhh.

Instead, I took the more fun approach to involve the boys in laundry: making homemade soap! I recently made my first attempt at it. My blogging friend, Devin, claims it as a good thing - and she shared her recipe & step by step picture process so me and my little ones took a stab at it.  This post is dedicated to Devin & Lola with thanks for their inspiration for a fun morning of mixing and stirring and load after load of clean clothing to come!

Hudson LOVED stirring.

Can you tell? Ha!

Pierce thought it looked a little like puke :)

Mixing it all together.

Happy helpers.

Carefully adding water.

So far so good!  Clothes are coming out nice & clean! Can't complain when you save money and have fun doing it all at the same time. My only critique is that this wonderful homemade laundry soap still does not result in automatically folded clothes falling out of the dryer and into the appropriate closet- with each and every sock paired up and every t-shirt in the correct pile.

Any chance you could tweak that Devin??  :)

Our Very Own Derby Jockey!

So it is Derby Weekend! I have said for several years now that Pierce has the perfect body-type to be a jockey. Light a a feather. Yesterday he had his first chance.

                                                  Check out the attire. Saggy bottom pants!

                   
                                                                          The boots.
                                                                     

                                                                     The jockey hat.

Receiving instructions about the race.

The jockey's were encouraged to talk to their horses to calm them down :)

                                                             Pierce is ready to go!

                                                      His eye is on the finish line ahead!

And...they're off! (check out the false start that throws Pierce off - and then, in fine Piersen fashion, laid back and easy going, he saunters across the finish line. No speed, but hey, he has the most authentic stride out of his whole class!) So. Cute!


 


                                                           Admiring his horses ribbon.

       

                                                                    All the jockeys.

What a super fun morning.  Our little jockey is a first prize winner to all of us!

They Clean Up Real Nice!

I am posting a long series of pictures of my four handsome boys because it is a rare occasion to see them in something other than sweatpants, sports uniforms or shorts. We got 'em all dressed up for church one Sunday (pics for the church directory) and I snapped a few pics.

Hudson was not the most co-operative about sitting still and smiling - he would force a strong 'cheeessseeee' and then run off of the bench (see photo below!) He also refused to wear the tie for very long.

Pierce was likely the most natural - flinging his sport coat over his shoulder. What a cutie! One of our friends told us they had not realized we sent Pierce to British boarding school :)

Chase was the most enthusiastic.  He loved it! He was insistent on wearing, as he initially called it - a "scarf" around his neck.  I told you, we don't dress up much - he confused "tie" with "scarf" but loved looking like his Daddy.

And Reece looks waaayyyy older than we can even believe! I promise, these are NOT his senior pictures.

In the end, they all endured and I have some great pictures as a result. Every girl is crazy about a sharp dressed man...