We've spent a lot of time at home lately...... it's just that time of year where have football behind us and summer travels awaiting us, and AP trying to study 30 hours a week and working 40+ hours also isn't conducive for travel. So we are soaking up some family time on the weekends.
I said last night, I feel like we had a "stay-cation" by accident. I LOVED this weekend... just chilled back with no agenda.
We woke up Friday with no agenda, but it was too chilly outside to head to the park, so I called one of the best friends in the world to my rescue! And like always she came through for me. I love Lila Lee with all I have, she taught me so many things through her gentle, loving, kind spirit in college. I am a better person spiritually and mentally for having her in my life. Now she teaches me many life lessons still, but most importantly how to be a Mom.
She's the one I called overwhelmed and helped me pick out items for my baby registry while pregnant, she's the one I called about a month before Lydia got here to make sure I all the "necessities" which included an in-depth conversation about a wipe warmer.... clearly, I knew all the other mom questions and was worried about the wipes being warm! She pretended she didn't have a 2 year old and new born and took time for me! She is the person I called on my way to work (Before 7 am on a Friday, when she, again, had two kids to get off to school and get to work herself.) when I didn't feel "well" the day Lydia was born. In her calming way, she made me feel much better, yet encouraged me to go see the Dr. Thinking about it, she saved my life that day.... no really I was stubborn and didn't want to "bother" the doctor with pain or swelling while pregnant because that's what happened when you were pregnant, right?! So I bothered my best friend, a wife, a mother of two and a gentle, calming spirit, and of course a medical background, which always helped! (Did I mention she was a pre-med Biology major with a 4.0?! She is also one of the smartest people I know-- I feel smart just hanging out with her!) She is the friend everyone loves, she would do anything for anyone at the drop of a hat. She is an amazing wife, mother, daughter, granddaughter (I think her Grandmaw is my Grandmaw too!), sister (to 4 sisters!), niece, friend, oh and did I mention roommate?! We lived together senior year and got to plan our wedding together since they were a WEEK apart! Lucky her, she came straight in from her honeymoon to be in my wedding.... you get my drift, she is the whole package plus those extra goodies that get thrown in sometimes! I love her to the moon and back.
This day was a simple trip to the museum, but she most likely saved my sanity...... saved me from Disney Jr. ALL DAY long, from hearing my name (Mommy) called over 1,347 times, from all the struggles joys that staying at home with a 2 year old brings. She knew I needed an out when I called, and that's what we did..... took 4 kids to a museum! And it was a delight! I really felt like we were on vacation, having a good ole time! We looked at the fish, the dinosaurs, the alligators, even the snakes--with 2 heads... gross!! We strolled outside, even had a picnic and let the kids run around. We had ADULT conversation and let the kids play together.... to a stay at home mom, it was a little piece of paradise (even if it did take us extra long to get "real" clothes on and packed up for a morning, it was worth it!)
Friday AP came home about an hour early, WOW! That makes a girl HAPPY! I just ask for the little things, right?! I could have stopped there and been one happy girl, but that evening (which is about 5-5:30, if you have a toddler that goes to bed around 7:30) Lyds and I had a DATE with Daddy, he took his girls out for pizza at Soulshine and yogurt after at Berry Berry Good! Two of my faves, it was such a fun night, especially considering that I was asleep at 9:30 or so, my kind of Friday right there!
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| Of course this wasn't taken at the museum, we don't get that dressed up anymore and mom's never get in front of the camera! This was a year ago at a friend's birthday party. I love this girl! |
Saturday KK took the girls shopping and we got out of the house while AP studied. It was a fun girls morning and when Lyds woke up from a nap, AP took us girls out again to Babalu because we were craving their guacamole (and the Baba-Rita!) Lyds was very well behaved and we had a great night! We came home by way of the park and ran into the Lila again!! It's fun when you're already thanking God for those blessings and then here she appears again! Plus I love seeing those precious boys! We had a little late dinner, put Liddy down and watched a movie! It was free and silly, but it was a REAL movie and time alone with my hubby so no complaints!
Sunday was church day where another friend's baby was baptized, so that's always fun! What a special day in their family? I'm glad we were there to witness it and welcome baby Owen into God's love! Why can I never make it through a baptism without crying like a baby?!?! I think it started while we were praying for children and I was the most emotional, then I was pregnant and it was special to think of my baby being baptized, then Lydia got baptized and it took on a whole new meaning, and then Baker got baptized two days before he died, and dang if the preacher patting the baby's head with that water doesn't get me crying like a baby every time! It's just so emotional these days, but I LOVE it! It's a great reminder of our baptism and our children's baptism! But most of all it reminds me of Baker and Heaven, which is a good thing but still makes me cry.
Thank you God for a weekend of rest, fun, family, and friends! We praise you from whom all blessings flow! You are the creator of it all and we love you from the inner most being of our souls. Thank you for allowing us to raise Lydia into your care and for giving us a loving family, and especially for special friends who guide us along the way and lead us to You! Continue to bless and guide us as we continue this journey. We love you and thank you, Amen!
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| He loved this contraption and showed the younger kids just how to do it! |
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| This is how most of the day was spent, Lydia chasing the boys! Boston was the leader, then Carter, then Lydia trailing behind! |
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| Is getting a group picture of kids even possible?! Of course my child will not participate. |
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| Picnic! |
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| An attempt at a pic of all 4. |
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| Finley! He's so sweet and was the best baby during the trip, he rode in his stroller and didn't make a peep! |
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| Finally playing at home, my little artist :) |
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| I think this was from Thursday when it rained so much her curls were PERFECT! I was eating them up! When Alan got home from work, he even asked if I curled her hair, silly boy, like she'd let me do that! |
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| Happy girl Saturday morning with her milk and cartoons! |
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| Just a Saturday afternoon toddy! |
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| She wanted to read Minnie and Daisy a story when we got home... so cute, she's turned into quite the little mama with her babies! |
PS: I simplified the blog look recently.... I loved the blue and yellow birds, but there was getting to be too much going on... hope you like it! Here's a look at the old one just so I can remember later!
