Weekly ten in pictures

1.  Grant is taking Smart Start soccer again.  He admitted that last year he didn't listen to the coach so we figured it would be good for him to repeat it since there really isn't much else he can do at this age.  His favorite part is hitting the ball with his head.

2.  Farmers Market season has begun!  We were so excited to take a stroll through the market the other day and see all the fresh veggies and fruit.This means summer is definitely on its way!

3.  Grant dressed himself the other day and refused to change when I asked him if he really wanted to wear that.  Some battles are just not worth fighting so he went out for a full day of errands in these lovely knee socks.  Ashton's look conveys his feeling of Grant's outfit choice!

4.  This picture was taken 30+ years ago.  Jenny has been a BFF since I was 2 living in Georgia.  We did everything together- including dressing alike for the first day of kindergarten.   

Jenny's daddy passed away at the beginning of May so my mom and I took a weekend trip to Atlanta to say goodbye to him.  She lives in the house she grew up in which is right around the corner from my old house.  Even though we were there for a funeral, we had a wonderful time sharing memories of our childhood and snapping pics of us 30 years later. Our friendship has been through a lot and we haven't seen each other for 8 years, but you would never know it.  That is what a good friend is all about.

 6.  I had such a great time away reconnecting, but it was so good to come home to my boys.  Grant hugged me for 10 minutes straight.  I think he missed me:)

 

 7.  The day after I got back from Atlanta was Grant's last day of preschool.  I had mixed emotions about this day.  I was so ready to be done considering Grant still cried every day I dropped him off.  The stress of that situation was making me loose my hair!  However, realizing that another year went by was sad to me.  It seems like just yesterday he was standing in front of that sign. 

First day of school

Last day of school.

8.  I told Grant if he didn't cry the last three days of school I would take him to his favorite restaurant on the lake for lunch after his last day.  I am not against bribery at all!  Unfortunately, it didn't work.  He was however, very good for daddy when he was single parenting over the weekend so I settled for lunch at Jimmy Johns instead.  He asked me if we could take a selfie together.  Is he 4 or 14?

9.  Ashton has been coming home from day care in dresses lately.  i think it is funny, but Jason is horrified by it.  I especially like this look with the leotard and tattoo. 

10.  Blessing of the week:  this one is old, but since I am sharing pics from my phone it will do.  My Mothers Day breakfast.  I told Jason all I wanted for the day was for him to make me crepes with strawberries for breakfast.  I think he has been hiding his cooking talents from me because these were delicious!  It was so fun to be spoiled by my boys.  Of course my other babies are never far from my mind on that day.   But as time has gone on, I have learned to live in the moment and not dwell on what should have been.

Tulip Time

It is hard to believe that Tulip Time has come and gone already.  Life seems to be flying by quicker than I can keep track!  It was a gorgeous week here for the festivities.  The majority of the tulips showed up about a week after the festival, but that didn't stop me from dressing my little dutch boys up and parading them through the park:)

 Ashton got to try out his dutch dancing with his day care giver.  He loved it!

 Oh.My.Word.  I can't get over how handsome these two are.  They just melt my heart.

Typical silly faces.

Being so cute sure is exhausting!

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weekly ten

1.  Last week was Media week in my 7 Bible study.  That meant no facebook, no blogger, no instagram, limited email, texts, and internet.  And the biggest; no tv! The point was to get back to the importance of communicating face to face and paying attention to our family instead of our phones and the tv.   It was yet another eye opening experience for me as I discovered how often I turn to media during the day. As we are rounding the last few months of house building, there are so many decisions to be made and I realized that Pinterest has influenced most of those decisions.  It was hard to live without it for a week.  I  felt lonely not checking into my FB all the time. And I realized that I am so accustomed to getting online, that I totally forgot how to pick up the phone and call my friends!   Honestly though, I have been done for a few days now and still have not checked my Facebook page.  (they keep sending me emails reminding me to come back which I think is hilarious!)  That was the only positive that came out of it for me- I felt free of the comparison and competition that I have been feeling the last few years and I am pretty sure it is because I was comparing myself to everyone on FB that appeared to be living better lives than myself.  I hope to make it a month with no FB and then see if I feel like going back.  If I do, it will be very limited.

2.   This week we are focusing on waste.  I didn't think it would be hard since I already recycle, buy thrift and we even use bath water to water plants.  However, I did not realize how many lights I leave on after I leave the room- opps:)

3.  Best way ever to keep two boys completely still for 20 minutes.... put them in front of a garage where they are pouring cement!

4.  Grant and Ashton attended their first roller skating party.  It was hilarious!  They both loved it and cried to leave.  They both wore beginner skates that made it very easy to learn and stay upright.  Ashton couldn't quite get the rolling motion down so he chose to run in his instead. 

5.  We are busy with last minute house decisions that seem to zap up all my time as you can tell by my lack of posts lately.  We are so anxious to get into our house already but still have at least a month or two until it is done.  This whole process has reminded me that I am not a patient person at all.  I had to pull out some of my old devotions from my infertility days to remind myself how to be patient.

6.  I think Ashton is finally potty trained.  Of course by saying this, he will probably have an accident today just to prove me wrong!  It has been a long haul but I am so proud of my big boy- he has done amazing considering how crazy our lives have been lately.  And I am happy to move into a new house and not worry about potty accidents all over my new carpet.

7.  Our last day at library time until summer- shark week. 

9. Ashton is such an old soul that I occasionally forget he is only two years old.   Lately though he has made it hard to forget.  The Terrific Two's have definitely begun for us.  "I can do it myself" is a phrase heard every three minutes.  It takes us 20 minutes to drive out of the driveway because he has to climb in the car, close the door and buckle himself in all by himself.  Did I mention before that I have no patience???  He is also experiencing the frustration of twos- he is happy one second then pitching a tantrum on the floor the next second.  Despite all these frustrating moments, I really do love two year olds.  They find so much fun in everything they do and it is such a great reminder for me to stop and have some fun sometimes.

10.  Blessing of the week:  My Seven Bible Study really has been a great experience and has opened my eyes to the life I was living and the life I want to live and teach my boys to live.  I am so thankful for the ladies that are walking down this road with me and the experiences that we are sharing together. 

Mother's Day

 

Happy Mother's Day to everyone lucky enough to be called mom. 

If  you are a mother to an angel in heaven, may peace fill your hearts today.

And if you are longing to one day be called mommy, may you find strength for your journey.

Thinking of you all today and praying for God to give you the desires of your heart.