March Happenings

 OK, I have a few minutes so it's time for an update.  I'm just going to give some background info on the pictures I've uploaded from my phone.  I have decided it's time to just embrace the fact that my life is really busy right now.  It's just the season of life I am in.  Don't tell me I need to slow down because I can't.  I could if I would, believe me!  My goal each day is to spend my time wisely, not be too rushed, and not measure my success based on how clean my house is.  When I can remember those things, I'm usually pretty happy.  I've adjusted my expectations a little bit so I can find a place where I'm getting enough me time as well.  I exercise MWF and Saturday because it feels good and I don't have time to shower or exercise more than that.  It's a good balance.  I hate that I don't have enough time to read.  I've always loved reading both for enjoyment and it keeps my brain from turning to mush.  Getting one book a month finished is a major accomplishment for me so I tried doing Audiobooks instead.  It's definitely not as good as reading the actual book and I found I had to keep backing up because my mind wandered or I got interrupted so I've started listening to podcasts and I love it!  A friend of mine shared the podcast, "Better Than Happy" with me and I love it!  Episode 87 was a complete game changer for me and I recommend you start there if you want to try it out.  I've also started playing the podcast Bedtime History for my boys when we're in the van.  The stories are short and interesting.  Yesterday we listened to one about Navy Seals and the story of Sylvester Stallone.  They loved both of them and kept telling Henry to be quiet so they could hear.

Parker loves playing with Henry.  I think these two pictures say a lot about what a day in the life of Henry is like.

 I took the little boys to a Lego play thing at the library while Randy had the big boys camping in a snow cave at Mt. Rainier.  I love doing things like this with my kids.  I think I thrive at mothering younger kids.  Or maybe it's just because they still want to do things like this with me.  The older boys would rather be with their friends or watching TV.  Lame.

 These Lego creations are so cool I had to take a picture.  But I hate Legos!  They are taking over my house.  We have a Lego room under the stairs, a Lego drawer in the kitchen for all the random pieces I pick up throughout the day or that get left on the kitchen counters, a Lego building table in Landon's room, and a basket for random Legos in the bonus room.  I'm accepting that they will never be organized or contained to one spot. 

 There are days when this boy lives in his car seat

 I never take enough pictures of this cute boy and I already regret I've never had professional photos taken of him.  But I can make up for quality with quantity.

 Marcus loves spending time with Henry.  This time it involved Marcus running and jumping as high as he could to tickle Henry's feet.  It was cute to watch,and loud and totally typical of my boys.

 I posted these super cute pics on Instagram but had to share here as well.  Enough said.

 Spring has sprung which means yard work has begun.  It's amazing to me how my boys manage to whine and cry and complain every time I make them do yard work.  Marcus and Ethan have pretty much figured out it's best to just grin and bear it.  Plus they are getting old enough they get to do fun things like chop down trees and use the hedge trimmer (Ethan calls it a chainsaw so he feel manly).

 I love that he's big enough to do real labor

Marcus is running for office for freshman year.  randy came up with meme posters and we thought it was so clever.  Marcus turned in all his stuff so it could be hung up by some teacher and when he walked into school the next day he discovered that another girl was using the same slogan.  I died!  And am super annoyed the teacher running this stuff didn't consider calling the two candidates to tell them had the same thing going.  Marcus shrugged it off the girl was super upset.  (probably because her posters weren't as good).  She got permission to make new ones.  

 By the way, I make really good cookies.  My boys LOVE them and me for making them.  I think all boy moms need a few good recipes like this up their sleeve. And a fridge full of milk!

 Landon and Parker helped me pass out fliers for Scouting for Food.  Luckily a lot of the homes built in our area are crammed in like sardines so it made the flier drop off go super fast.  (those homes on the right are selling for over a million dollars.  Its sick.)

And my alarm just went off telling me it's time to pick up Parker from preschool.  How did people survive before phones with alarms preset for everything??  I can't live without my alarms!  And I have no time to go back and edit this, plus I was typing half of it while Henry was nursing.  but it's done.  (Mic drop)