Motherhood Is…{48}

I am blessed by my children's creativity.

I was out running with the kids in the stroller and Eden stopped me because she saw a dinosaur! I couldn't figure out what she was talking about, until I looked at what she saw. She was noticing that there was a cloud that looked like a t-rex. I thought it was so cool that I just had to take a picture of it - because it actually *does* look like a dinosaur!

This isn't the only ounce of creativity that she shows on a daily basis. She and Hunter play so well together these days. He's getting to the stage of using his imagination and enjoying creative play with Eden. They've been known to have tea parties together. He loves to drive his cars. They love to color together. I just love it!

Holidays are Here!

This week is the week of Thanksgiving and I'm not going to lie - I'm already getting a head start on Christmas decorating and crafting with the kids. Some of our crafts can't be shown yet because they're going to double as Christmas gifts for grandparents and other extended family.

Since Thanksgiving is first and I just can't overlook it completely I made shirts for the kids to wear to Thanksgiving dinner. I've tried my hand at different things, but this is by far what I'm most proud of to date! It didn't take a whole lot of time - probably 3 hours total, beginning to end {cutting the fabric to completion} - and they turned out kind of cute.

The kids and I are trying our best to get into the holiday spirit. It isn't taking much effort, so that's a plus! My favorite craft that the kids and I have worked on {that I can share now} is their Christmas list.

Eden had circled things in a Target catalog recently, so I cut them out and the kids and I made their Christmas list. After we glued the items on the card stock I broke out the white paint and let the kids paint "snow" on the paper. We included a hand print on the paper that I turned into snowmen {like an ornament I made last year with the kids} and I now use the lists as a visual to remind the kids to behave. If they're getting out of control they get a warning that the list will come down. If the list is down, Santa knows not to bring anything for them. Eden has had her list taken down at least twice and they've only been up for a week…she's just got too much energy!

Motherhood Is…{47}

I am blessed to have this man in my life! {I mean, don't we look good together?!}

It is so great to get a night out every now and then. Not to mention, we got to celebrate the Marine Corps birthday together. I love getting dressed up every year for the ball, it's one of my favorite times of the year. The timing of the ball this year was perfect for when Lane came home from deployment. We were able to take a night out and spend time together without him having to take leave.

I've always been a firm believer that time away from the kids {especially with your significant other when you can} is vital to being a good mom {or dad!} Getting a night out gives me the opportunity to unwind. It never fails that Lane and I start talking about the kids when we aren't with the kids. What's funny is that no matter what we're talking about we end up laughing about it. Even if we're talking about something that might have made us want to rip our hair out earlier that day, we are able to laugh about it.

A night out is refreshing, rejuvenating, and restful! I love being able to spend time with Lane, especially when I can claim that I feel like I'm a better mom for doing so.

Motherhood Is...{46}

I am blessed that there are 4 people in our ice cream picture this month!

Don't we look good together?! I couldn't be more excited abut the fact that we all got to have ice cream together. Ice cream tasted so much better to know that our company was as good as it could get!

Motherhood Is…{45}

I am so blessed by so many things in this picture…

We only ever had to use one hand to count the months that Lane was gone
We had great ice cream company each month
We were able to celebrate each month instead of being disappointed/sad/depressed - each month marked one month closer to Daddy!
We had a great excuse for ice cream
We got to enjoy pumpkin pie ice cream!
Hunter never looked at the camera for our monthly pictures - it makes me laugh!
Eden counted each month for the visual in the picture
We got to have ice cream WITH Daddy after this monthly celebration because this was our last one before he came home.

Motherhood Is…{44}

I am beyond blessed that this man is home to share in our lives!

Being a mom is much easier when there is someone around to back me up. I know that I had a great support system throughout the duration of the deployment, but it was nothing like having Lane home! When he comes home from work and entertains the kids, or just simply reminds me of the small things that I accomplished throughout the day {that I tend to overlook} it makes life a lot easier.

To be able to look across my living room to see these three cuddling together makes my life so much brighter!

Motherhood Is…{43}

I'm blessed that this boy is changing from a baby into an independent little boy.

One of the motherhood curses - blessings often come disguised as things that are very bitter-sweet! I mean, who wouldn't be excited that he looks so cute sitting in his own listening circle at story time. But, just this time last year he was nursing while Eden was enjoying story time. Story time used to be "Eden's thing" - one of those things that I tried to keep regular after Hunter was born - and now it's something that we do because both kids enjoy it! How did he grow up so fast?!

I cannot discount the fact that I am blessed by his growth and his health, but could time slow down just a little bit?!