New projects

Now that I have officially and finally graduated from college, I have a new list of projects. The following is the list, but by no means is it complete.

1. Repaint Riley's bedroom
2. Paint the playroom
3. Refinish Riley's dresser
4. Paint Seth's room
5. Work on the kids' scrapbooks
6. Read the pile of books I couldn't read while doing classwork.
etc. etc. etc.

It doesn't seem to matter how many things get done there are always more to do.

On a more positive side, my days are sure to include playing, no matter what the weather, and hugs and kisses from my 3 kids. Even on our worst days, I am guaranteed a sweet "I love you" from the boys and kisses from everyone (very slobbering ones from Riley).Can a day be any better than that?

Mirrors

I know there is never enough time in the day, it doesn't matter if you have kids or not. But really where does it go? My days are full of cleaning, clothes, food, changing diapers, and playing, and these are the days I'm not working at the Y. Most days it seems like I wake up and all of a sudden it is time for dinner. These are the days I feel like I blinked and another day with my kids is gone, while we were caught up in the craziness of life.

The problem comes with those days that seem to last forever. There are just some days you get up and the first half of the day seems like it has lasted for the entire 24 hour time period. Those are the days I need extra grace, wisdom, and patience. We all seem to be in a bad mood at the same time and have a clashing of wills that will not stop. I never see myself more in my kids then on those days. They enable me to see the worst of myself (not fun), but also to give me a minute to think about how that must look to other people(especially Jared).

Having children has helped me take stock of who I am and given me incentive to work on some of my more unpleasant personality traits. I know I will never completely succeed, but it helps to have those 3 little mirrors to reflect into everyday, I think it has also helped me see how frustrating we must be to God, insisting on our way instead of his, refusing to see his wisdom, and not appreciating his love and wisdom. It is true, I do learn more from my children then they learn from me some days.

Introductions

I thought I'd post a little bit about each of the kids.

Noah
What can you say about a child that surprises you from the beginning. We were told we were having a girl, so imagine our surprise when Noah was born. No, we did not know ahead of time, in fact we did not know until several minutes after he was born, because they were so sure he was a girl. Life has been quite a ride ever since his arrival.
He loves to play, he is definitely all boy, but he is the sweetest little boy I have ever know. When his brother was born a short 13 months later, he was never jealous, he would sit beside me and rub Seth's head constantly, it's a good thing Seth was bald, or Noah would have rubbed the hair off his head.
Currently he goes to Mother's Day Out 1 day a week and loves it. He asks all the time when he gets to go to "school". Other than that he loves going to the Zoo, playing at the park, and riding his tricycle.

Seth
He could not be more different from his brother, except for the sweetness and their looks. I get asked on a daily basis if they are twins. Seth is our clown and daredevil. He is not afraid to try anything, he loves to climb and swing, basically he's a monkey in little boy clothes. Seth loves to do anything and everything that Noah does and is not afraid to get hurt if that means he can do it also. I had to reschedule his 2 year-old pictures three times due to a busted lip, a black eye, and a giant scratch on his cheek.
Seth is fearless, which scares me to death when I think about the future. He also loves the zoo, the park, and riding his tricycle. He loves to tease you and his favorite expression right now is "That funny, that funny mommy."

Riley
Last but certainly not least. Our second surprise in as many years, but this time we got to use all of those girl clothes we had been given the first time. She was my early birthday present last year, Nov. 29, 2006 and the best 30th birthday present I could have asked for. She is the happiest, quietest baby I have ever known.
She loves to follow her brothers around the house and is quite certain she can do everything they can do. She loves to blow kisses and tell people bye-bye. She is well protected by Noah and Seth, which she is not going to appreciate when she is around 15.
She started walking in early December and she looks funny. At only 16 pounds and 27 inches tall, she looks like a 6 month old walking, but boy can she get around now. Every night she likes to help put her brothers to bed before she goes to sleep and lets you know if she feels left out of anything.
Currently, she loves anything the boys love, because that means she is getting to do it to.

First time

This is my first official blog so we will see how this goes.
We are all suffering from the cold weather this week. For the first time all winter the temperature is cold, at least for Nashville, with a high yesterday of 21 degrees and 3 kids 3 and under in the house all day life is not a barrel of laughs. This weekend is supposed to be back in the 50's and I for one am looking forward to that.