Balance

I've been back to working full-time for almost a month now, and I am still struggling to find a balance. I am feeling pretty good about my role at work, and I am energized and excited for the year. I'm having some difficulties with time management at school, but I think well on my toes and know my job enough that I am able to compensate. However, I feel like I am totally failing at home...

Last week was a rough week. I wanted so badly to just be home with my princesses. Poor Princess Ruthie has been cutting teeth and missing mommy quite a bit. Princess Natalie is getting used to the ever-changing dynamics at day care, and she is the big girl that has to set the example for the others. I LOVE our daycare provider, but I HATE being away from my children every week day. Thankfully, Chris has been picking the girls up after school since it is on the way for him. He has been AMAZING!!!! Ever since we have been married, Chris has been working his tail off. We enjoy the nicer things in life, so he has always gone above and beyond to provide for us. Well, he finally decided to quit Best Buy, where he'd worked part time for 7 years. It was time for him to move on, but it had helped him feel more financially secure. Now he is at a new school this year, tutoring, and will starting assistant coaching girl's basketball next week. Soon enough, I will be back to doing everything myself until he gets home most nights at about 8pm. Not looking forward to it...I told him yesterday that I feel like I have been the slacker in the relationship lately. He has really stepped up, helping with the housework and supporting me in every way. He has been so kind and patient toward me, while I have been negative, impatient, grouchy, and not very nice to him at all. I REALLY owe him. He even reassured me yesterday when I was feeling badly about not doing as much around the house, that he didn't feel that I have been slacking at all. It is nice to know that when he isn't completely drained and exhausted from working 70+ hours a week, we actually make a pretty good team! He deals with the house stuff so I can enjoy the girls in the evenings. He gets how much I am missing them...

So, I am working on finding the right balance of being the best me I can be at work AND at home. Pray for me, that I can make the best out of a blessed, but not always ideal, situation. The Lord has never let me down...

It's Almost Over...

So, my extremely long (and blessed) maternity leave is almost over! It makes me quite sad to think about it, but I know that I have been very lucky to get as long as I have. It has reinforced in me that I really would LOVE to be a stay-at-home mom. Unfortunately, that just isn't in the cards for our family at this time. It certainly makes one question the choices he/she has made in life, but we live our lives with no regrets. Our girls are flourishing, we both love our jobs as educators, and we have an amazing child care provider who loves the princesses about as much as we do. I can also be proud that we are teaching our children the importance of working hard, finding a balance between a profession and family time, and that they can be extremely happy even when life isn't exactly what they had planned. We are excited for this coming year because Chris is starting at a new school and teaching a different grade. Also, he finally quit Best Buy after seven long, but good, years. I think he deserves to only work one job after working at least 70 hours a week for many years now. Being the bill payer in our house, he is currently questioning if this was the best choice for our family. I have faith that everything will work out.

Some of the highlights of my time off included lazing in bed for half the day with my girls when Princess R was brand new, baking and crafting with Princess N, and getting to play and hang out with my and Natalie's friends at various locations. We have had SUCH a good time. I also enjoyed visiting our families in Vermont, which we are super blessed to be able to do every summer.

Now, though, I am looking forward to seeing how Princess Ruthie fares at daycare and watching Princess Natalie blossom into an even more awesome big sister. She loves that role these days! I am also looking forward to returning to school and seeing my kids and co-workers. I get really energized by working with creative people, and I am blessed to get to do that daily as an elementary school counselor. This is my 4th year, and I am anxious to become even better at my job.

Pray for me, pray for my princesses, pray for my family. I promise, I'm praying for yours, too.
We have an exciting year to come <3

It's Been Awhile!

Hello, Friends!
It has been awhile since I have posted. We just returned from our annual summer vacation trip to see our families in Vermont. It was a long car ride, but the girls did great and we thoroughly enjoyed getting quality time with our loved ones, and showing off Princess Ruthie for the first time! I also got to attend my 10 year high school reunion. I loved seeing friends from the past...

Poor Princess Natalie (who is almost NEVER ill) has come down with strep throat. She has been such a trooper! After a couple doses of the antibiotic, I could tell she was feeling much better, as she was certainly testing her limits yesterday. A good way to keep sanity in our house is bath time! Not only does it give me a few minutes where I personally don't have to entertain the kids, but it is a relaxing activity before bed. I plunked the two princesses in the tub and sat back to supervise. I love watching Princess N wash Princess R in the tub, share toys with her, and talk to her. Princess N decided to have a tea party in the tub with some of her toys. I totally respected her creativity, but then I had an idea...while unpacking from our vacation, I noticed many of N's plastic toys were looking rather grubby. I ran to her room and grabbed tea cups and a couple of other items that could serve as bath toys AND get a good washing at the same time! Genius :) I searched around for any other toys I could chuck in there. Ta da! Clean toys and happy princesses. If you don't like the idea of your kiddos bathing with toy "dirt", feel free to remove the children first, then use the tubby water to wash waterproof toys. You could even add the appropriate amount of bleach to the water for sanitizing. I was impressed with myself for coming up with this idea to save water by using bath water for cleaning toys! How green of me, huh? ;)

We had to skip church this morning as Princess N hadn't been on antibiotics for 24 hours yet and was, therefore, still contagious. We decided to get crafty! Before we left for Vermont, I had made all of my nieces bandana dresses/tops and my two nephews tie dyed tanks. The ones pictured below are the 4th of July outfits I made for the princesses:

I made the tanks using the permanent marker and rubbing alcohol technique. Have you heard of this?  It is very cool and easy peasy. This is where I found the directions, although I modified some of the steps. Since then, Princess Natalie has begged me to make her a shirt, too. I picked up a white onesie and a white shirt for the princesses on the clearance rack at Walmart the other day, so we decided today was the day to tackle these projects. I did all the marker work and allowed Princess N to help with the dropper and the rubbing alcohol, but if you have older children, they could definitely do all of this themselves with minimal supervision. We love how they turned out; just the right amount of handmade appeal :)

Princess R's flower onesie

Front of Princess N's heart shirt

Back of N's shirt

Later, we are going to test out how this technique works on paper...we have a birthday card to make for a very special someone, so this is the perfect opportunity.


Enjoy your Sunday!

Our Favorite Free (or almost free) Summer Activities

Since I had Princess Ruthie on February 28th, I didn't have to return to work as an elementary school counselor this school year. My 12 weeks extended to the end of May so I have an extended summer break with my girls. We have been having so much fun, so I thought I would share some of the free (or almost free) activities we have done. Keep in mind, we live in Springfield, MO, but check online for similar activities near you. Feel free to add more ideas in the comments section, too!

1. Today, we were invited by friends to play in The Fountains. It was so much fun, and perfect for small children.

2. We had a coupon for $19.99 for Chuck E. Cheese, which gave us 40 tokens, a large pizza, and two drinks. Check here for more coupons and to sign up for their email club.

3. Making something artsy-craftsy is one of our favorite things to do, regardless of season. I am always saving food boxes, toilet paper rolls, and other things to make various crafts. Princess Natalie has a "Robot Radar" that she has been adding stuff to for weeks. It is neat to watch her find an object and say, "This would make a good nose/eye/arm/etc for my Robot Radar!" We also enjoy finger-painting, making cards for special occasions, and coloring.

4. Play Doh is another easy yet fun activity. You can make your own Play Doh or use the pre-made store stuff. I spread a vinyl table cloth on the living room floor for easy clean up. This is a good solo activity for kids, too. Princess N will often play for over a half an hour on her own while I feed Princess R.

5. We love going to Rutledge-Wilson Farm! It is completely free, but there are animals to see and a fun playground for kids. They have fun activities all year round.

6. I subscribe to GroupOn, Living Social, and Daily Deals, and scored with a half-price zoo membership for $30 this past November. It is good for a year and even comes with some bring-a-friend passes. We have such a good time checking up on the animals, and they discount animal education classes and other fun events for members. Also, our membership gets us in to other zoos nationwide for FREE.

7. Obviously, if you are friends with me on Facebook or have followed me on this blog, you know that me and the girls love to bake and cook. Pinterest is a great resource for easy and new recipes that kids will enjoy cooking and eating.

8. Nature scavenger hunts are really fun and free! You can make your own list, or find some ideas online.

9. Sidewalk chalk is another favorite. Did you know you can even use it on wood? We have used it on our deck and our fence, and it washes off. Just don't leave it on there too long.

10. On those super hot days when you just want to be in air-conditioned comfort, you can go to the mall and play at the play place or window shop. Other free places include the library, a book store, or even Toys R Us! No one says you have to buy anything...you can just play with the toys and go.

11. Although not necessarily stroller-friendly, you could strap the baby to your back and take a hike at a local trail or nature center. This is one I would like to do more often...

12. We enjoy taking the princesses to the park after dinner. It is often cooler and less crowded. One of our favorites here in town is Nathanael Greene Park. Not only does it have a nice playground, there is a pond to walk around, a butterfly house, and botanical gardens.

13. Playdates!!! What a great time to provide the kids with social interaction as well as some much-needed adult conversation for you. Take turns hosting them with friends, make some fun snacks, and keep it simple.

14. When the sun is shining and the pool is glistening, it is hard not to feel guilty for just staying in. However, there are some days that we all need a break. The girls and I proclaim these PJ Days. We stay in our pajamas all day, lounge on the couch, eat whenever and whatever we want, and play movies. We might make some tents out of blankets and we might not. It's ok to have lazy days, y'all!

15. Spa Days are something new we just started this summer. And, really, it isn't a whole day of stuff...it might just be an hour or so. We declare Spa Day and take turns doing each other's hair, putting on make up, playing dress up, painting our nails, and giving each other massages. 

There are many more things that we do to fill our summer days, but I thought this was enough to share for now. Enjoy!

My Dad: Through the Eyes of a 3 Year Old

In honor of Father's Day, I, once again, interviewed our sweet Princess Natalie. This time, I asked her questions about her daddy, Chris. Enjoy!

My Dad
Natalie Kate Lawson, Age 3
6/15/12

My dad’s favorite color is blue.
His favorite food is chips and candy and nuts.
Daddy is 22 years old.
I think daddy weighs 90 pounds.
Tell me something about your daddy: he has a penis.
 My daddy’s favorite song is Ants Go Marching.
I show daddy I love him by dancing like a big girl in my recital.
I really love it when my daddy plays games and eats chips with me. And goes in the pool and goes outside.
 My dad likes to nap and sleep on the couch.
 My daddy always tells me, “Listen”
 The best thing he does is mow.
 It makes him happy when I make something for holidays.
 My dad loves to relax by playing with mommy and sitting on the ground.
I like it when he plays outside with me!
The best thing he cooks is smoothies.
When my daddy shops he likes to buy eggs and cream cheese.
My dad’s favorite household chore is the sweeper, like a witch rides on one.
My daddy’s favorite TV show is the car show.
If he could go on a trip, he would go on a walk.
Daddy’s favorite sport is basketball, but I don’t like sports. I just like dance.
I love my dad because I am so proud of him!

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful daddies out there! I am blessed to have an amazing father who has always supported me in anything I wanted to do and who has ALWAYS been there for me. I am lucky to have a great husband who is one of the best daddies our princesses could ask for. Both these men are hard working, loyal, honest, and loving. I hope you are as blessed as I am!





Loving life...

I am so loving life lately...what more could I ask for? Chris and I will be celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary on Sunday. In September, we will have been together 12 years! Crazy. He asked me if I wanted to get a babysitter and do something this weekend to celebrate, but, honestly, I would rather do an activity with the whole family. Now, don't get me wrong; I love doing stuff with just Chris, but I also don't feel the NEED to get away from the kids at this time. Does that sound strange? Maybe I am not normal. I mean, I have spent almost all day, every day for the past 13 weeks with the girls. Shouldn't I want or need a break? To me, bed time is a break :) They go to bed by 8:30pm usually, and then I get some "me" time. I actually miss my kids when they sleep! Haha. Now I know you are thinking I am one crazy chick...Anyway, I love our Sundays, so I am thinking we will just do our normal thing. Church, Wing Stop, and family time. Maybe we could go to the park or something, too.  

On a different note, I have hit a wall with my journey towards a better me. I had met a personal milestone last week, and then I did what I always have done...stopped trying as hard. What happened next? I gained a few pounds in just a couple of days and, *poof* there went that milestone. I know I haven't made big enough changes for the weight to really start coming off, but I was pretty disappointed in myself when I took a few steps backwards. I'm trying to refocus and really make more changes, especially in the exercise/movement category. I have to be creative, though, as Chris is rarely home to relieve me of mom duties so that I can take a walk or do something active without disruptions. He works every day at Best Buy this coming week, too...boo. Ok, no more excuses! I am gonna get off the couch now and find something to do.

Have a GREAT weekend, y'all!

P.S. Enjoy this picture of my two beautiful Princesses!!! Love them...

Saying "I Love You"

Growing up, my parents, siblings, extended family and friends always helped me to feel loved. My parents supported us in anything we wanted to do, be it softball, soccer, theater, dance...I had a GREAT childhood. In my awkward middle school years, however, I felt a void. I really wanted to hear people tell me they loved me. That's not something we really did in our family. Did I know they loved me? Heck, yes. But for whatever reason, we just didn't SAY it. I can remember back to sleepovers where my girlfriends would call their parents and say goodnight. They would end the conversation with an "I love you" and that seemed so foreign to me. I had a mini-meltdown in 8th grade where my mom actually had to come pick me up from school because I was such a mess over this issue. I am sure it was mostly teenage hormones, but I think it says a lot about the importance of actually telling someone how much you love them, and telling them often.

Then I met Chris, my Prince, who is now the King of our castle. He threw those three little words out very early on in the relationship. It took me a while to say it; it didn't really come naturally to me. Although I loved him, I just wasn't used to saying it. Overuse of "I love you" can cause it to lose meaning, if you ask me. I wanted him to say it to me, but only when he really meant it, not just out of habit. After almost 13 years, I think we pretty much have it worked out ;)

I used to get upset that Princess Natalie wouldn't say "I love you" back to me. I consciously try to tell her I love her when I am really feeling it, you know? I try to make sure I get eye contact from her and she can see that I mean what I say. I will often add something after it, like "I love you. No matter what!" or "I love you more than I could ever express" or "I love you because..." However, there are times she doesn't respond, she turns her head away and folds her arms, or just ignores me. You have to admit that it hurts! But I also realize that no matter what, she still needs to hear it.

Lately, Princess N has been saying those special words to me more often. Out of the blue, she will look at me and say, "Mommy, I love. You're the best" and go on her merry way. Sometimes, she will pull me in for a hug and say it, or she will tell me how much she loves daddy, Princess Ruthie, and even Willow. I love the spontaneity of how she expresses her love for us! It really shows me that she isn't just saying it in response to someone else saying it. She says it when she is really feeling it. I have told her how much I appreciate this, as I totally think we need to be good communicators with our children. Princess R certainly hears "I love you" quite often from the 3 of us :)

I'm going to pat myself on the back tonight. I think I am doing a pretty good job raising these princesses. It is a tough but rewarding job. Not everyone will agree with the amount of openness and honesty I encourage (even with my 3 year old who knows a lot about a lot of different things) but I am proud of the woman I am and the ones I am encouraging them to be.

If you are reading this, please remember: YOU ARE LOVED. And never feel ashamed about telling and showing others that they are, too. Don't let the way you were raised or people who have hurt you steal the special meaning these words have in your current relationships. Whatever happened, it isn't a good enough excuse...Tell someone tonight, and I mean REALLY tell him/her, how much you love him/her. Tell him/her why, and make sure he or she hears you. If nothing else, look in the mirror and tell yourself.

Have a blessed week!