I'm going to miss this

As difficult as it is to be a mother of a 5, 3, and 1 year old, I realized today that I WILL in fact miss this time.

Today is a good day! The kids are all adjusting back to their routine very well and have had a great time playing with each other. They wanted to have a picnic together so they gathered up a blanket and headed for a shaded part in the yard. I even got the, "this is a kid only picnic, but if you want to come mom, you can". So I made some hot dogs and cut up some cucumber. While doing so, I looked out at them. They were just laying in the yard, snuggling, watching the clouds and counting the number of cars that rolled past (for you information it was only 2...we live in the country people). It made me start thinking about how much they really love each other. Cooper just adores his older sister...he wants to do everything she does. Kylie loves being the big sister and bossing everyone around (in a good way..sometimes). And Addy...well, she is just starting to play with the older ones. Outside, I laughed at some really not funny jokes and just enjoyed their company. Who would have known that I would be sentimental type?

Then it hit me...

Kylie is going to Kindergarten in the fall. What will Cooper do without his playmate?

So I promised myself that we will make the most out of this last month that Kylie is home on a daily basis with us. We will play, and play, and play, and just spend time together.

The past five years have been filled with craziness and I never thought I would be this sad about sending Kylie to school (remember my homeschooling dilemma?)

They grow up to fast...WAY TO FAST!

I came across this post a few days back about how our children are our disciples. How true! It is MY JOB to raise these kids according to God's word. To teach them what is right and what is wrong. Instead of feeling guilty for all of the things I think I haven't taught my kids yet, I took it as a challenge to continue to teach them the right way. How fortunate have I been to be able to stay home with my three little ones? They are my daily blessing!

Now I am off to be a mom...

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

Vacation picture of the day.

Back to reality

We had a great time up at the cottage! It has to be the most beautiful, relaxing (well as relaxing as it can be with 3 kids under 5) place in the world. The simplicity of being there is amazing...no TV (well DVD's on rainy days), no internet, very limited phone access, and not a lot of the every day things I depend on. I actually love it! Really..not to be distracted by facebook or reading up on someone's blog. It was great. Anyways..here are a few highlights from our trip..

1. Addison's 5 attempts to empty her stomach on the car ride down (I guess that wasn't a highlight but makes it a little more entertaining).
2. Cooper sailing with his Poppy a few times (even fell asleep once)
3. Kylie winning a medal at the cottage kids day.
4. READING A BOOK
5. Dutch Blitz with the fam every evening
6. Running some KILLER hills and learning the definition of shin splints
7. Watching Shawna, Kylie, and Cooper ride on an aqua port...standing up!
8. Swimming, swimming and more swimming
9. Boat rides
10. Just spending time together!!!

It's great to be back but man do I love that place...

I swear my kids love to see how much mommy can handle in the store!

Shopping with three kids 5 and under IS CRAZY! It never use to be this crazy. I think it happened when the baby decided to have an "opinion" along with the others. So here is how it goes..

Goal: Get necessary items at Target and Kohl's for upcoming (tomorrow) trip up to the cottage.
Deadline: 11:30/lunch time

We finally got out the door around 9:30 only to have Cooper report his desire to use the restroom...NOW.

Cooper: "I have to go (number two)...REAAALLLL BADDD"
Mom: "we are right around the corner from Target, you will have to wait".
Cooper: *whine* "RREEEAAALLLL BAAADDD MOOMMM"
Mom: "HOLD IT"

So I get the baby in the ergo, and sprint into target with Kylie and COoper. I carefully lined the toilet seat with firm instructions to NOT touch anything.

Mom: "Are you done yet?"
Cooper: "Yes mom"
Mom: "are you sure? There is no (number two) in there"
Cooper: "tricked ya"
Mom: *arrrrggggg* reminder to self to tell the story about the boy who cried wolf.

We wash hands and load into the cart only to have Kylie start pulling things (glitter pens) out of the dollar section.

Mom: "Kylie put that down, we have some at home".
Kylie: "NO MOM..I WANT THESE ONES"
Mom: "Kylie..NOW"
Kylie: " But mooommm, I NEED them" *whine, whine*
Mom: "I am leaving now"
Kylie: "I don't care..go".
Mom: "People are starting to look at you, now put it down NOW and lets go".

I pull her into an aisle and give the, "you will listen to your mother or there will be consequences" speech.

And we are off....

Cooper: "Kylie keeps pulling the cart"
Mom: "Kylie Get off of the cart...NOW"
Kylie: "FINE" but really didn't get off and continued to wiggle.
Mom: "You have already earned a 5 minute time out...would you like me to add some more minutes".
Kylie: "I don't care, I will stay there for one million years, because (once again) I don't care".
Mom: " Watch it Kylie, your mouth is getting you in trouble".

Pick up some toilet paper, paper towels, and cleaning supplies. Then we were off to the vitamin aisle when I hear...

Kylie: "I have to go pee".
Mom: "Seriously Kylie, we were just there"
Kylie: "I didn't have to go then, now I do...NOW"
Cooper: "me too"

So we headed to the bathroom for the second time.

Then we headed for the grocery section to pick up a few snacks for our trip.

Kylie: "I want candy and gum and fruit snacks"
Mom: "no Kylie we need healthy snacks"
Kylie: "FINE"

I was asked if we could buy almost every bit of junk food in the store before checking out.
At the check out line we had another meltdown over Cooper wanted a bag of his own. Ummmmmm, NO!

We get back to the car and the kids get a little lecture about how we need to behave in the next store or ELSE! I then was able to redirect another temper tantrum over food in the car.

In Kohl's we found one of those thrifty double cart/stroller things. Yeah..not so much fun to push. The kids then decided to have a few Chinese fire drills while mom picked out some new shorts (because I have NONE). I firmly reminded them of their consequences if they didn't behave ONLY to hear...

Cooper: "She won't share her seat..it is my turn to sit in the back"
Mom: "Kylie are you taking turns?"
Kylie: "I changed my mind, I am going to sit here now"
Cooper: *scream* "IT'S NOT FAIR"
Mom: "we are leaving now..NOW"

As we check out, I watched Cooper pull Kylie's hair and then Kylie gently push back at him...

Ummm this is why shopping with kids is absolutely CRAZY. But I did remain calm through most of the trip.

As we pulled in the driveway I got the "Mommy we are sorry, can we not go to time out" line...again, "NO".

Let me tell you, the rest of the day, the kids were rather well behave due to fear of what consequence I would give them later.

Like I said, they love to see how far they can push there mama.

And this is why we are going on vacation for a whole 11 days....YEAH for the Cottage!

I am officially a runner.

Some of you may know (or not) that I decided to run a 5K back in April of this year. It was a crazy idea at the time but in order to loose some of the awesome baby weight, I needed to set a goal and stick to it...

and I did...

It wasn't easy at all! The entire first mile was up a hill and lets just say I defiantly saw my breakfast after I was done BUT it was worth it! The feeling of accomplishment I had afterward was just what I needed after a few hard weeks.

It was great to have my dad run in the same event...even if he did run the 10 mile (maybe someday I will join him).

Already planning my next adventure!!!