The Joys of Motherhood

My heart was so overwhelmed today and saddened when I hear so many people talk about or write on facebook about how stressful their day was because of something  they had dealt with regarding their kids and how it was "one of those days". I chose to think differently, "one of those days" to me means I was blessed to have yet another day on this earth with my children that God so graciously has given to me.

Yah, things are not always pleasant and story book perfect in my life, like today for instance. Snot running out of Peyton's nose getting on everything he touched and he was full of coughs and didn't want to eat a thing that I offered him (he would SCREAM and push it away and then cry). Brayden didn't sleep well the night before so everything seemed to set him off and Ashtyn had a rough afternoon (lots of tears dealing with friends and hurt feelings) with the neighborhood kids after she got home from school, I had this headache that would NOT go away and not to mention the huge pile of laundry that I had waiting for me to fold after I just did 5 loads of laundry. This would have been pretty easy to complain about. But if I didn't have a huge pile of laundry and dirty clothes every day --that would mean my house would be empty and I wouldn't have these precious kids and husband in my life. So the never ending laundry is so worth it to me.

And the rest of it... it's a learning experience for all of us...Each day we are given choices with how we are going to react to those experiences, with love or with anger, with joy or with frustration, with a happy heart or a grumbling attitude...and keep in mind there are these little eyes that are always watching which choice we are making.

There is no greater joy than being a mother. I was asked the other day what I love the most about being a mother.
I am not sure if there is one exact thing to pin point. I love absolutely EVERYTHING about being a mommy, even all those things I mentioned earlier the yucky stuff... I love that I have the opportunity to be in these situations daily and see the hand of God work in each and every situation.I love the smile when I wake them up in the morning. I love the huge hugs I get during the day. I love changing diapers and hearing Peyton giggle as I talk to him. I love seeing the smiles on the kiddos faces. I love hearing their giggles. I love watching them play together. I love watching them overcome a milestone or do something new. I love being a part of all their firsts. I love hearing those sweet and caring things they say to each other and to us.  I love seeing their sweet and innocent faces when they are sound asleep. I love listening to them sing worship songs. I love their caring hearts and their love for God. I love their serving attitudes and willingness to help. I love that I get to watch them grow and learn. I love teaching them and seeing the results. I love hearing them say new words. I love watching them learn how to write, read and understand math and time. I love being the nurse and fixing their owies and how a simple kiss makes it so much better. I love when I make them their favorite meal and the excitement they have when they are eating. I love to hear their stories. I love our spur of the moment activities and trips. I love their love for life. I love their never ending hugs and kisses. I love that I have these precious children to keep me company and that I can do so many fun things with. I love their ideas that they are always coming up with. I love the precious snuggle time we have when we all talk about our day. I love that nothing is to big for or to hard for them that they are going to try whatever they are facing until they can get it done. I love hearing them pray and talk to Jesus. I love watching them stick up for each other, how they help each other out and protect each other. I love their love for animals. I love their love of being outdoors. I love their adventurous attitudes and how they can make anything fun. I love their imaginations. I love the memories that we make together.

At times I can get so caught up in this stuff... (the good stuff or the icky stuff) but something that I always need to remind myself each and everyday, that God called me to be their mommy and above all else I need to raise them to serve and love the Lord. By teaching them in every circumstance...the good stuff, the awesome times and the icky ones too I need to be aware of the choices that I am making and how I am reacting to what is going on.
It is such a joy to be able to do this, to be a part of this amazing gift...motherhood.

These pictures just fill my heart with joy and love and make me so thankful that I get to be their mommy.

 

Fall Bucket List

I saw this idea on pinterst and had to do it with the kids. It was one of the things that we wanted to get checked off of our fall bucket list and that we did! :)

We still have a few things left on our list but we have been getting quite a few things checked off! Yippee!

Back to the pumpkins...We did this right after the pumpkin bowling, it was perfect since we had so many helpers to carve pumpkins! We carved 7 pumpkins and also for the 1st time ever we baked the seeds :)

Peyton, Brayden and Ashtyn all enjoyed getting their hands super nasty and slimy from the pumpkin guts!

The start of the pumpkin carving (Austin helping me out)

Brayden took the top off his pumpkin 

Saving the seeds

Getting the face ready and adding the baking soda!

Then for the fun part... the erupting pumpkins!

We carved out the pumpkins face then got some BAKING SODA, VINEGAR AND FOOD COLORING

Dumped the baking soda on the bottom of the pumpkin and a little on it's mouth and mixed the food coloring into the vinegar and dumped the vinegar over the top. SUPER FUN!

Pouring the baking soda in

Now add the vinegar

wooolaaa! Erupting pumpkins :)

I think we used an entire bottle of vinegar we did this OVER AND OVER AND OVER!

But it was totally worth it!

Pumpkin Lawn Bowling

Pumpkin Bowling was a HUGE hit at our house. When Ashtyn got home from school she glued the eyes on the toilet paper (a must do... this was so funny watching them when they would knock the rolls over).
Then we headed outside, gathered a few pumpkins and started bowling. Within 10 min. we had quite a crowd at our house! 4 neighborhood boys joined in the fun and made a big game out of it. It was so awesome watching them all!

Here they are...before the games begin!

Brayden's 1st bowl

Got em!

Ashtyn's turn :)

A view from the other side!

They let Peyton get super close for his turn!

Yahoo! Knocked them over

Stacking them back up

Ashtyn, Brayden and Peyton with a few nighboor boys that came to play. Austin just got done bowling, knocked the bottom one out!

So much fun!

 

Leaf Shaving Cream

This was hilarious watching all the kids do this. Especially Peyton. Within 2 minutes he was covered from head to toe in shaving cream!
They were all giggling and loved every second of it!!

Here is a finished leaf- I scanned it (doesn't show the real colors)

 

WHAT YOU NEED:

*Paint (I used washable paint!)

*Shaving cream

*Cardstock cutouts of leafs

*Pan to mix everything

Step 1. Pour shaving cream on the bottom

2. Pour paint over the top. Use a stick or toothpick to swirl colors around

Step 3. Press the leaf into the paint

Step 4. Let the leaf dry for a few minute then use a popsicle stick to wipe the excess shaving cream off

Step 5. Afte the leaf is competely dry use Mod Podge and paint a layer over the top of the leaf

Let the baby play!!!

He had so much fun getting his hands dirty and painting on paper

 

Leaf Cookies

Since we have been working on the letter L we made some very delicious leaf cookies!! :)
They turned out sooo yummy and the kids loved being a part of the baking process and cutting out the cookies.

Our finished leaf cookies

 

RECIPE:

3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Combine dry ingredients, set aside.
With mixer on low speed, beat butter and sugar until blended. Increase speed to high, beat until light and fluffy, 5 minutes. On low speed, beat in eggs and vanilla until mixed, then beat in flour, just until blended. Shape dough into four equal disks.

Add a different autumnal color to each disk.

Wrap and refrigerate overnight, or freeze until firm enough to roll, at least 2 hours.

Rollout and cut out shapes, put on greased cookie sheet
Bake @ 350 for 12-15 min.

Adding ingredients

Mixing it up :)

Adding food coloring

Rolling out the dough

Cookie cutter time!

Using a toothpick to make the designs of the leaf

 

D+B Engagement Photos

We (TJ and I) got to do a 2nd round of engagement photos of Derek + Becky which every time we are with them is a super fun time! TJ and I are also really having a lot of fun doing photos together! I'm amazed at the way TJ takes photos. He is always surprising me!

Well this time we had Derek and Becky choose where we should go. They drove to park they mow at, we are driving down this gravel road next to the lake and as we park I see a SNAKE that is slithering across the road not far from the truck.... Derek to the rescue thankfully killed the snake or this girl would have NOT gotten out!

Here is the snake. Y.U.C.K. Oh and we saw some nasty fish skeletons. G.R.O.S.S.

 

 

Anyways for the good stuff! Here are some of my favorites :) .

LOVE her jeans!

2 less fish in the sea :)

 

Ok and for the behind the scenes :)

 

 

Makin some shade!

 

 

After all the fun we decided to go on a double date to the Belview Winery, we got a tour and devoured 2 amazing pizzas. It was SO good and so beautiful! :)

 

Then home to our house and played a few games to end the awesome night