Ups and Downs

This week was full of ups and downs.

My heart has been super sad about the news of some friends from Florida – devastating divorce & the death of a teenager in an accident with the mom and kids. Satan is such a booger. It’s just way too bad when he breaks up families. It’s so tragic when righteous young ones die … but it’s beyond sad when a parent sins and ruins their happy eternal family. Sigh….

Tru was slightly feverish with a rash this week and wanted to be held all day long… which meant I didn’t get anything done around the house. I loved the snuggles … but the wriggling, elbowing, climbing, and whining made me physically and emotionally weary.

My sister Amy is in town this week and staying with my parents. My kids just love having them over even though all her kids are older than mine. Swimming at the Legacy Center was the favorite activity for the kids. Amy and I got our hairs cut. Mine is chopped and will take about 2 seconds to do. This is just what I needed for this summer.

On that note: morning conversation…
Abe: “Mom, I had a really weird and scary dream last night.”
Hannah: “Was it about how mom got her hair cut as short as a boy’s?”
Just what I needed to feel cute… not.

Pretty much love Fresca this week. And dark chocolate covered pomegranate bites.

I keep trying really hard to be a nice mom who teaches & trains with patience, love, & wisdom … instead of lecturing & yelling. I don’t know that this was my most successful week for this.

Can I just hibernate for the next 7 weeks until this babe arrives? Perhaps my house will magically become organized and decluttered. If I hibernate will my back and belly muscles finally relax?

Loving Hawaiian Coconut lotion from Bath and Body Works. It’s like I’m really in Hawaii – or not. But it’s summery and fun.

Favorite dinner of the week: french toast with fresh/frozen peaches and buttermilk syrup.

Disappointed that I can’t share quiet books anymore. I mostly make them for my little fam… but I know so many loved them too. Sigh…

Looking for some cleaning motivation and energy. Last night about 11, I had this crazy desire to clean my house. It drives me bonkers all day every day – my messy house, that is. Alas… bedtime ruled. I hope that motivation continues this weekend and that I can actually get stuff done with tots around.

Got snowcones today after errands to the doc, library, and bank. The kids were good for a time so I treated them to it. Tru and I shared… only really Tru hogged the whole thing and screamed at anyone who tried to swipe his snowcone. He is not very skilled at using snowcone straws… hence my entire white shirt is spotted with Rootbeer Float Snowcone. Max got root beer. Hannah got Superman flavor. Abe got blueberry and cotton candy. I love snow cones.

I’m wondering why my kids fight all summer long. They’ve never been this bad – never. Perhaps their grouchy mother isn’t helping. And I’m wondering why it takes Max at least an hour to say please for something. He’s my most stubborn child about asking nicely. And I’m stickin’ to my guns on this one. Then at dinner Abe prayed that “mom would have more patience…” I less-than-mildly reminded the kids that if they wouldn’t fight so much, I wouldn’t have reason to have to be more patient. I don’t know if Jimmy was laughing because I was being ridiculous or because it’s true.

2nd favorite dinner of the week: waffles with blueberries and buttermilk syrup.

Some of my summer plans with the kids are going well. Others – not so well:
My fabulous dish plan = no bueno.
Chore Charts = so-so.
Morning devotional = though not perfect, it’s my favorite thing ever.
Workbooks, reading, creative writing = about as expected … but good.
Doing any big outings solo with tots = pretty much not happening.
Enjoying the nice weather = excellent.

Tomorrow is a new day… and a new month. I think we need a recharge around here for that occasion.

We’ll start with this new theme … and see how it goes. Heaven knows each soul in this house can do better at being kind (well, except Jimmy… he’s endured his wife pretty well). (Thanks to 1825 for the cute house… and ilovecuteblogs.com for the cute heart)