I Live With a Tiny Distructive Army of 2

I don't know why I am always so surprised by the mass distruction my children can cause in a short period of time. I have one three year old boy and a one year old little girl and together they make me feel like I have 5 kids. 

All I wanted to do was a quick 25 minute work out... Right, I know, working out while your kids are awake is not smart. I have not perfected the art of waking up at the butt crack of dawn to work out and shower before my kids get up. This means that I squeeze in a quick video workout twice a week while my children torment me and test the ever loving patience of my sanity. I actually take them to the gym with me three days a week and they play in the care room for an hour. All of this is so exhausting though. Getting them ready, then into the car, out of the car, dropped off, picked up, back in the car, home and out again is tiresome and frustrating. Gone are the days when I could hop in the car, grab my music, run, and leave in less than an hour. All while feeling rejuvenated and happy. 

Today really tested and defeated my patience. They were horrible. I'm trying to do lunges, which suck as it is, while trying to not step on them and hurt myself or them. My three year old knows better so I know he was doing it on purpose. I screamed at him, like a raging lunatic and then shortly after I hear him scream like a lunatic at his sister. Hmmmm, someone needs a break...ME!! 

When you stay at home with young children with no time away for yourself it can really get to you. It's important to take time to recollect and have a mental health day. 

My mom came over and I went in to work  and purged some files, super fun, right? YES! Why? Because I was alone, doing something easy and mundane with no interruptions. I just needed that time. The following pics are samples of what my kids do, in very shory periods of time. 

Life Lately

So summer kicked in and I've been trying to make each day count. When you are a teacher, summers are such a blessing but they also fly by! Do you remember how long summer felt as a kid? 

Our baby girl turned 1 on June 19th, there are pics below. I also have pictures of getting ice cream, a local festival where Noah rode rides by himself for the first time, and some other random summer shots...

The Sitter is Down for the Count

There are many different forms of child care. We chose a baby sitter because she was very affordable and we have grown to love and trust her. She has been watching my children for almost 3 years. Last week she came down with pneumonia and we (I) realized how important she is to my sanity. She was unable to watch them for a whole week and I work full time as a kindergarten teacher. My husband travels just about every other week and, of course, the week he is gone, the sitter is also M.I.A. Normally my mother is my back up but she has a new job and has been working. So what do you do when your sitter is out and your back ups to your back ups are all not available? Well, I had to call off work and plan for a substitute and take a sick day! That is very hard for me to do, because unless my children or myself have the plague, I never miss work, ever. Well, I had to miss today. It was nice to be home with them and I leave thorough plans so I know my room is going to be fine when I get back, but just being left without any options and having no choice but to call off work really bothered me. 

It is very difficult to be a working mom with a traveling husband. Especially when you can't afford a nanny or Au pair or cleaning lady and you do it all yourself. Sigh...and I only have two children. How people do this with more is really beyond me. 

Life Lately

All I have time for is a picture update. We are just waiting for the appraisal to go through on our place and then it's officially sold. That has been taking up some time and stress. I am 5 papers away from finishing my class and it is dragging on. I can only work on it sans children which rarely happens so that's why I still haven't finished. Pictures are all I can muster at this time.

Life lately...ala iPhone

Stella is 6 months and Noah is 2 1/2. I just spent 17 days home with them from my school/ work break. 3 of those days were extra snow days because we had -12 degree subarctic temperatures. Life is nuts.

The kids, my online class ( which I'm making glacial pace with), work, social life(ha! What social life), 20 pounds still to loose...it's just nuts.

Why? Rhetorical Question

This happened earlier. We just got back from a great camping weekend (pics of that to come later) and I had to take a shower. That surprisingly happened with no issues other than the baby screaming for the last 3 minutes of it. So I did a few more unpacking tasks, a load of laundry, fed Noah, and thought I could dry my hair real quick.....wrong!

I finished my hair to find Noah sitting on the floor pouring, just dumping baby powder all over his four wheeler. I yell at him all the time for this so I was SO mad! I put him in his room for a time out while I  had to take time to clean it up and I find myself asking "why? Why is this happening?" But in the same thought sentence, I know why. I'm a mom, I wasn't paying attention to a 2 1/2 year old, and Daddy left to go out of town. Even though I am clearly aware of the "why" I still feel burdened when these moments happen.

Girly Things

Stella is not even two months old yet and she has a plethora of hair accessories. I can't help it, they are so cute. Etsy, of course, has a ton of options for headbands and hair bows, especially if you want something unique. The pink headband with the feathers in the picture below, I got from Etsy. The white headband with the orange flower and the all pink one are from this website Funny Girl Designs. I just wanted to share because sometimes we have to find these things out on our own as mommies and it stinks when you find out too late.

Mother's Day

A 3rd notch on my Mother's Day belt. I can't believe I'm old enough to be celebrating my third Mother's Day. So far, all I've really gotten is some Malleys Chocolates, but it's just cool to actually get to be included on this day. 

I'm thanking my little man, who on March 23rd, 2011, made me a momma. In 5 weeks, I will be a momma of two- which is frightening but exciting. This job of motherhood is tough shit, it's no joke. I take it seriously and love my babies. These little people make you love more than you ever think is possible. They frustrate you and make you want to hide in a closet and cry. The good news is, you are not alone, because every good mom has felt the same way. 

Here's to new moms, my mom, and any mom working their butt off for their kids. 

We went to church together today and here are some pics...