Catching Up

Well. I'm behind. It's almost November and I haven't been keeping up! Since last, Hannah turned 6 and Cooper turned 1!  And life just keeps on getting crazier. 

Hannah turned six and we celebrated the day having lunch at Wildwood Cafe (her favorite) and playing at Evergreen Water Park. We had a blast. I was reminded several times how much braver my kids are than I ever was at that age for sure and perhaps still am! Abby played out in the wave pool just floating along letting the water wash over her head and face and hardly blinking. Hannah right along with her and tackling the huge water slides as she is now (juuust barely) able to ride them. She even went in one by herself! She's awfully brave! There was a small moment where as a result of falling out of her floaty on her solo ride we were worried she had a small concussion but she's ok! 

These are her birthday pancakes :)

Lunch at Wildwood!!

BirthdayGirl!

Six Years Old

Also, Hannah taught herself to ride her bike yesterday. Adam helped her a bit, but literally we told her to take her bike and just coast around on it without pedaling and you could see she started to get it. If she could balance doing that she could balance and pedal. After a pep talk like only a daddy can give he convinced her not to give up and about 30-45 minutes later she was riding hersrlf in circles! Ha! 

Hannah was the one that taught me early that a kid will learn something when they are good and ready. Pushing them to learn to acquire a new skill only frustrates and takes longer. Besides, it usually only is pushed because someone else's kid has learned a skill and as a parent you panic your kid may never learn it. Hannah taught me early on that it's our job as a parent to create an environment where your child has the opportunity to practice and learn with as much encouragement as you can muster. And then when they're ready to learn it one day it will like magic be learned! And you'll wonder what all the fuss was about. This has happened with everything Hannah has learned and now the same is true for Abby. 

Cooper turned a year. I actually did not have the small moment I thought I was going to have! Perhaps it's because his cuteness is so darn distracting! :) He's been walking pretty well since 11 months and is now seriously on the go! He's discovered the snack cupboard and likes to pull everything out. And, (sorry Daddy) despite Adam's baby lock fix yesterday that he couldn't get past much to his frustration, today he cracked it and is back in. So we spend alot of our day walking snacks back to the cupboard. 

He is really good at keeping himself busy. He loves climbing into Abby's bed and hanging out by himself or with one of the girls and reading books with anyone who will snuggle. (It is never hard to find such a person here between me and the girls) He is really snuggly and LOVES to be outside. If we could just get him to stop shoving EVERYTHING into his mouth, trips outdoors would be slightly more enjoyable. But even in the stroller you will hardly hear a peep if we are outside!

Abby's hilarious as always. She gets cuter every day and is still ridiculously charming. Complete strangers have been known to comment on the cuteness that is Abby and her personality. She finds it tragically unfair that her birthday could not also be in October and wanted me to text all our family and let them know she would like the same gifts Hannah and Cooper got. :)

Good. Grief.

I almost emailed my husband about my day...and then decided against it. He has his own "children" at work to deal with. He'll read it here later anyway. ...

I try hard not to post the daily crazies and sighs I sometimes feel like breathing throughout my day on Facebook.  I once had my sister's friend, who spent an entire day out with me, my sister and my two kids at the time, turn to me near the end of our time together at lunch, with a look I'll never forget and inform me that I did NOT post all that really happens with my kids on Facebook. Are you kidding me!? If I did that who would want to have children!? Parenting is a tough job! The toughest one there is! Also, we are trying to maintain slivers of sanity and dignity all up in here! (I often amidst the chaos think of that line from the rap song; "Ya'll gonna make me lose my mind, lose my mind, up in here up in heeere!") I don't avoid putting it all out there because I am trying to hide our messiness or be less real, but mostly because who really wants to read a buncha Negative Nelly comments when all mamas are fighting the good fight with their own kids each day?  Although, sometimes, I have to admit, hearing about anothers hilarious day of trial is a great lift. Hehe

I also don't post alot of the sighs and crazies because It is so very, very true that it goes so fast. Too fast. And for every moment I feel like tearing my hair out, there are two more moments that make me stop and look at my children with pride and awe and wonder and unconditional love and with laughter. 

I think the phrase "This too shall pass" should be a mantra of every household with kids. Because it is true. One day you will realize whatever inspired tears and sighs and frustration is simply not an issue anymore. And in it's place will be a new frustration and phase! Ha!  

So even on those days when your 6 year old has the attitude of a 16 year old and the mindset of a 36 year old and your middle has stopped being cherubic and lovely 100% of the time and has taken to telling you no and coloring on the Kindle with crayons, destroying everything in her path, or painting various items in your house with neon pink blush as you tried to squeeze in a workout...or your youngest fights all his naps and leaves a trail of a thousand things behind him you most likely just put in place...take comfort. It will pass. Grab another cup of coffee (or maybe something stronger) breathe deep...maybe a couple more times there mama, and know. It will pass. Tomorrow there will be a whole new battle. Fight it with your best mama love and choose to remember the better, lovelier moments of each day. They're there. I promise. And then decide to post those. Cause if nothing else, it's really hilarious to watch someone without kids spend a day with you and yours!  Happy Friday Everyone!