Show a little grace

Sadie and I have been working through some regular 5 year old testing of boundaries, and I've been trying out a couple moments of "grace based parenting"  After explaining a reason why something was wrong to her and what the consequence for the action was, I told her what grace was, that instead of getting what you deserve, you are given love and forgiveness.  She saw it inaction a couple of times (and I'm sorry to say, not in others)  So she understands the concept, a little...

So later tonight, my precious Telly was stirring up her usual ruckus when it got out of hand, and she crossed the line a little bit, as I felt particularly snappy, and I asked her " What are we going to do to change this Telly???"  "It has to stop!"  Well, my mature and very earnest little five year old walked right over to me, pulled my head down to her level and whispered in my ear "  I know what you should do mommy, just show her a little grace!"

Its amazing that in the moment, all my anger dissipated and I honestly felt like God used Sadie to calm my heart.  My second born, my Telly has my personality.  She is strong in her attitude, strong in knowing what she wants, strong in her emotions, strong in her desire to be independent and strong in her own idea's.  Which in themselves seem like incredible assets.  But together they are an EXPLOSION!  You simply can not do all these things at once.  Not if you are Telly.  She is a marvel!  I know she needs me to listen and understand how she is feeling, and at the end of the day, all she wants is to be understood, and snuggled.  Sadie opened my eyes to that today!  And for a moment Telly and I forgot about the chaos, and were able to enjoy a little calm!

Starting over... its a new season!

So I don't think it was tiredness as much as laziness and we should admit when we are wrong! I was, I just wasn't into it, but I am back on the blog bandwagon, (especially now that Mia has one!!!) no promises, but here we go again, I am a bit late on some letters to my kids, but they know I love them already! Other than that... spring is arriving, and it brightens my day/weeks for the beautiful weather ahead, with the occasional Calgary middle of May, middle of June, middle of July... snowfall craziness! I can handle it as long as it is sunny and warm!

So with expectations low we are forging on ahead, I figure if I have something that important to get out there, then it will happen... eventually!

If you can't tell I love"..." It does wonders when you don't want to go into all the details! Sometimes I do and others, well...

SO LAME!!!

Here is the fastest thing I can write while still giving an update!  I've been to exhausted in the evenings to do anything, don't know why???   Thus no blog posts, I fell asleep in front of the TV, ten mins after I finished for the evening around 9:00pm, WHAT???  To bad I can't even blame it on being pregnant!  Cause I am not!  The one thing I was good at... no super fantastic wonderful at... but I guess not!  Good luck maybe next time!  But if I stay this tired fat chance of ever "doing it" again!  Was that to graphic or personal???  Whatever, the Internet is shocking these days, so I just joined the club!!!  So we'll hope for immaculate conception, it happened once, there could be a 2nd, in history!  MANY posts on there way....

What???

I was informed today from Telly- my 3 year old daughter this (in exact words)

"Miss Sarah is BE-A-UTIFUL!...  thats what Daddy said!

Here's the background, Miss Sarah is Telly's dance teacher, and she is BE-A-UTIFUL!!!   I am sure Rob has never even met her, but it was still pretty funny !

I was most excited this week when...

Sloan ~ You started giving hugs this week!  Every time Sades, Tel or me would ask you for a hug you would run right over with your arms out and lay your head on our chest.  I was so loving!  Also high five's are a regular part of your routine now to.  You are such an enthusiastic boy!

Telly ~ I was praying in your room with you tonight and I was telling you how much Jesus loved you!  I asked you if you knew that and you said "yes", then I asked if you knew who Jesus was and you said "GOD!  Right away, no hesitation, like" Of course mom, why would you even ask me that, you silly girl!"  And then She told me "That's neat!"  With a high squeaky Telly voice and my heart was lifted in that little, yet profound moment!

Sadie ~ You something new growing in you a concern for others, a constant thought and wondering how they are doing?  This morning you asked me "How was the nursery?"  And I went to a bridal shower this afternoon and right before bed you asked me " How was the shower mom?  Did you have a good time?"  I appreciate how you are maturing and growing into a beautiful little girl and I am looking forward to some wonderful moments like those today!  Thanks for caring about me too!

I love you three!

Sunday Afternoon Adventures

Sunday to many of you is a day of going to church, big Sunday dinners, sometimes sleeping in, relaxing all day, or just another day of the weekend, at times in my life its been any and everyone of those things, not anymore...

Sunday is FOOTBALL day!  

For 75% of the year we are an NFL family!  I must admit I rarely watch a whole game, and sometimes its just highlights, I am sure there are those out there that can understand and relate, maybe not football but some other sport obsession!

Even my girls are into it, they ask me now can we eat our lunch with Daddy, down there (pointing to where our  TV is)  Sometimes I give in and its morning till night NFL!  

Well its over... the season that is, except for all the bowls, you know the Pro, rose, orange, and so on and so forth!

That will still be a little while longer!

So I decided that the older 2 (Sadie and Telly) and I would start doing Adventures!  Today we didn't go to far from home, just down to the field under the overpass, we did find a calculator which was so exciting at the time!

It was fun and something I am going to try to do now and then with them, so Sundays can be more than just football, but memories with mom! 

Happy 18th Month Sloan!

Sloan, you are so big now!  In your actions and attitude!  You are so brave, you want to try to do everything.  On a day to day basis you think you are as old as one of your sisters, you want to play with them, jump off the stairs with them, eat what they eat, use markers that sometimes turn out to be permanent!  All of which lead to a pretty interesting/not so great outcome!  You can sometimes be a little bit of a bull-dozer!  You know exactly how to push their buttons, which I guess brothers can do, and all in the same moment you lay your head on there tummy for a little "I'm sorry cuddle"  You love them, and bug them at once, but you get so concerned when one of them cries or gets hurt!  You have an infectious smile, and you know when I am staring at you cause you show me your baby teeth and a twinkle in your eye.  I love being your mama and seeing you turn into a new little person each day!  Life is full of discovery at every turn and you are so interested in doing it on your own.  So independent!

Here you are desperately wanting an ice cream cone, and Sadie is NOT SHARING!

I love this one, your eye's are deadly!  You pierce me to the core!

I love your face!

You've come a long way already!

My little man, your growing up!  And I still remember when I looked like this, and I enjoyed every minute with you, even all the crazy stuff like the puking, and stretching, and the pushing you out part!  Its was all  amazing and a miraculous experience!  I am so glad we have you!

Here I am, around 8ish months!  I still think I looked cute, but lets be realistic!

Here you are day 2, being loved by your big sis Sadie, and she still loves you like this today!  You love to cuddle up on the couch with her, and read books, and watch cartoons, and sometimes you just walk over to her and lay your head on her tummy!  Its pretty sweet!

This was fresh out of the womb, and you totally look like you have a contented smile on your face!  This is your take on life right now!  Especially if I am around!  Actually only if I am around, you are kind of a mama's boy, but its nice to know I am your favorite person!

I love you, you intense crash-bang, football, touchdown, hockey stick hit loving big boy! Slow down!  You are growing to fast and the baby side of you is slipping away and the grown up boy is pushing its way in way to fast!

Love Mom!