Mommy Needs a Time Out

I had a bit of a challenging week as a stay at home mom. I have also seen my husband have a very intense week at work. I realized that mommy and daddy needed a bit of a time out. I got my thoughts together and called my mom to watch the boys for mommy and daddy to go today and have a bit of a time out. I used to have a hard time and be hard on myself for asking for help. I have now realized that if I want to be the mommy and wife that my kids and husband need me to be I have to put myself first from time to time.

My husband and I are taking the day and going to go thrift store shopping to see what kind of treasures we can find and we are also going to go eat and spend some time together. We don't get very much uninterrupted time to talk throughout the week. Taking a time out and getting to go and have uninterrupted time to talk with each other is priceless. I am excited to see what the day holds.

I wanted to encourage all stay at home moms to take a time out for yourself even if it is just for a little while so that you can process thoughts for yourself. Being the best mom and wife you can be is the most important gift you can offer your children and if you are feeling worn out and bogged down you are not at your best. I am realizing the importance of taking the time for myself. I am going to go and charge my batteries and I hope that you all do the same.

Trying my best!

I have been trying my best to keep a blog going but I have a hard time finding time and getting my photos to upload. I have so much I would like to talk about and so much I would like to share so I am going to try and use this platform to share from my heart.

I recently just composed my first logo and name for my first photography business. This is not an adventure I would like to make a full time job but I have been in love with photography and pictures for a long time and I love my new camera. My kids have been my great clients to photograph for several years now but it is time to venture out. I hope I can gain the confidence for this journey.

I have placed my youngest little man in a big boy bed this week. Eli was so excited to finally have a bed like his big brother. Eli will turn 2 in a few weeks and already is a big boy. He is at the beginnings of the 2 year old attitude and we have some issues to work out with him. He is really bold and very funny. I love how much he has learned in just two years. I have and still am enjoying my journey with Eli. So much more to come.

Luke has been working on his speech very hard. He has been out of school because of all of the snow we have experienced here. Luke expressed to me the other day when I picked him up from school "Mommy, I am trying!" It just meant so much to me to hear from him that he is working on it. Luke makes me proud everyday with his caring heart towards his brother. He is rejoicing with Eli when Eli is excited over something and feels sorry for Eli when it is the right time. Luke is a very caring and sensitive little man. Can't wait to see what God has in store for him.

My life is full of blessings including a wonderfully supportive husband who encourages me in all of my journey's. I am excited to put forth a great effort to try and blog more often and from the heart.

Holiday Traditions!

I was thinking about my little family holiday traditions. Since I have gotten married and had children my traditions have changed since growing up in my families household. There are a few traditions that I have carried over from my upbringing and new ones that I have created. Ever since Luke was born four years ago I have played the movie "The Polar Express" while putting up the christmas tree. That is what Luke remembers and asks for every year. I also love filling the stocking for my boys on Christmas. Also as a family we really enjoy being at home as a family of four to open our gifts. It is important to Jeremy to stay home Christmas morning and to experience the boys opening their gifts from us. Jeremy works so hard for his money and he deserves that home and joyous experience. We have also enjoyed making gingerbread houses with Jeremy's mom! This year we invited Amanda Hill and her girls to join in on the experience. The kids really enjoyed decorating their gingerbread men and women and other various cookies. I enjoyed decorating my house and being with the kids and adults. I am wanting to make new and different holiday traditions with my boys. One tradition I would like to make is to have a family game night. Luke really enjoys playing games and I enjoy watching the glow and wonder in his face when he wins. We played a veggietales game with him this evening and Luke enjoyed it so much. What are your holiday or everyday traditions? Think about starting some new ones!

Christmas Tree Adventures!

My sister and myself put up my Christmas tree today. It was so much fun. This is the first year Eli is trying to understand what is going on. He loved the Christmas lights. He kept touching them very easily just to make sure it would not burn him. Luke is more than thrilled that we finally can put up the tree. He has asked for about a month now. Now Luke's question is when is Christmas day so he can open gifts. Typical 4 year old. Luke had his first day of school today and did really well. He is learning how to say the "c" sound finally. I am so proud of both of my boys. Tis the season!

Messy House and Overcoming Mild OCD :-)

I say I have OCD but I am being silly. I just like things in order and organized but I have no problem in the world letting my kids have fun and make a mess because when the house is messy they have played hard and not been under my feet all day. I am loving how the older Eli gets the more and more the boys play together and creatively make-believe. They will make up things to play all of the time. Eli found so much interest today in Luke's little "Thomas the Train" play-set and that was hours of fun for him. Luke played in his tent and pretended to be Andy from "Toy Story!" I am glad that I have a husband who at the end of the day will help me and the boys tidy up the house before bed most nights. Jeremy is completely understanding of the fact that a messy house represents a boys day of fun. I am loving the life. (Amanda Hill, see my house does get messy!!!!!!!! :-)

Messy Eating!

I know I have a 4 1/2 year old son who eats well now but I still have not perfected how to train my 20 month old how to eat with a spoon. I am having a hard time remembering when Luke perfected the spoon technique but Eli has still not arrived there yet. He is having fun learning though at my expense. I am such a neat freak that letting him learn on his own kills me but I know it is necessary in order for him to learn how to feed himself. Jeremy is the same way about a mess and we both would rather feed him so that we don't have to worry about the mess but we know that is not helping him. I think I will start letting him feed himself a bowl of cereal every morning so he can learn how to work a spoon. I still can't resist that messy smile. Got to love a happy boy.

Halloween Fun

The boys throughly enjoyed their Halloween adventures. After nap we took them to a local church for a Trunk or Treat where I heard several times how cute my two little cowboys were. We then proceeded to go to some friends house and trick or treat. My mom and sister accompanied us on the journey home where we trick or treated in our neighborhood and passed out candy until 9:00 pm that evening. We have a huge bowl of candy to show for our fun adventurous night. Luke and Eli are enjoying looking through the candy bowl on a daily basis to pick out a piece of candy they would like to eat.

I was never allowed to Trick or Treat as a child. We did attend some church's Hallelujah Harvest where you would go and dress up in a Bible character and play games and get candy. When Luke was born Jeremy and I both said that we would not make it a big deal either way. If the boys wanted to do it we would go with them and let them trick or treat. If they ever did not want to we would not push the issue. I believe certain things are only an issue if you make them an issue. I am not so religious in my thinking any more and I have let some of my insecurities go. God is so good to show me the joy of life even in the small things.