Yesterday was Valentine's Day. A great day for florists, Hallmark, and chocolate companies. I'm not a huge Valentine's Day person. It isn't one of those holidays that I look forward to like Christmas, Easter or Independence Day. It has always been a nice excuse to go out for dinner with Jonathon and have a date night, but, really not a big deal in my book.
This year, was the first year I got my kids a Valentine's present. I know lots of parents get their kiddos a little something every year, but I never had. So, this year Savannah and Beau got a little coloring book pack and some M&Ms. Just something little, but it was so fun to see how excited they get over something so simple.
Christmas can be an overwhelming holiday for the kids. Honestly, it has gotten a little overwhelming for me too. The whole day, we spend running from place to place and we all get SO much that it just gets to be too much. For the past couple of years, my favorite part of Christmas has been the Christmas Eve program our little church puts on. It is mostly just for the little kids to say a little poem, do a skit of the manger scene, and everyone sings a few Christmas carols. I've really felt like the true spirit of Christmas is found in our little church on Christmas Eve. It is such a simple, small thing. But, honestly, it is one of my favorite moments of the year. Much like the sunrise service we have on Easter morning. When I was younger (with my 28th birthday looming, I'm really starting to think how MUCH younger), going to the early morning service was such a chore. I was grouchy and probably so awful when I had to get up at 6:00 a.m. on a Sunday. But last year, I remember sitting and listening to the congregation sing a song, and it hit me. Mary and God gave their Son up to die for us. Holding my two year old son, sitting next to my husband, who was holding our four year old daughter, and knowing that our newest daughter was growing inside of me, it really hit home. It was a sacrifice I can't even imagine.
Parenting has really changed my perspective. Christmas isn't about receiving gifts anymore. Easter is more than just a day to eat a big dinner with family and look for eggs. I know that those aren't the true reasons for these holidays, but too often I forgot the true reasons. Lastly, Valentine's Day is day for all kinds of love. It is a day to be so thankful for my husband, who brought dinner home last night so I wouldn't have to cook. It is a day to recieve precious, homemade, construction paper and crayon cards and sticky M&M kisses from my babies. Thank goodness for these simple moments.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
If you think my hands are full...
This is my first post, and if you don't know me I am a mom. I have three children ages 5,3, and 7 months. And my hands are full. Going to the grocery store, by myself, with all 3 kids (oxymoron?) is a logistical nightmare.
When we go to the store we have two options: get the regular cart and trust Savannah (5) and Beau (3) to walk nicely beside the cart, or get the giant cart. And, since Savannah and Beau (mostly Beau) loose in the store can be a nightmare, I usually get the giant cart. If anyone hasn't seen the giant cart, its actually a pretty great idea. Some genius took a regular shopping cart and put two bucket seats with four point harnesses on the back of it. Great idea. Unless you also have a baby in a carseat. Then, the baby goes in the basket, and the two kids are strapped into the bucket seats.
Where you might say, do you put the groceries? Oh! Great question. The groceries go into the tiny little compartment you would normally put a child. When that is full, they are carefully stacked around the baby. I'm sure Rhiannon spends her time at Wal-Mart in terror that a box of corn flakes is going to fall on her head. Once you put about ten items in the cart, the load becomes too heavy and it is almost impossible to steer.
Now that Rhiannon is sitting up, she should be riding in the child compartment on the cart, but for some reason, you can't put a child in that compartment. Apparently, people with 3 small children don't shop at Wal-Mart.
Anyway, enough of my tangent. I'm sure we make a comical picture. One harried mom, two preschoolers belted into the cart-constantly squealing, "Mom she is touching me" or "Beau is in my seat!" and baby about to be buried in an avalanche of groceries. This is usually the point of our shopping trip where some very nice, well meaning stranger looks at me and chuckles, "Boy, do you have your hands full!" And, then I punch them in the face.
Not really.
But I used to want to.
Eh, let be honest. Sometimes I still want to. But, I read a blog not too long ago from another mother, one who had a few more children than me, who heard the same thing. And she said, "If you think my hands are full, you should see my heart." If I can find this blog again I will link it because it was great.
Ever since I've read that blog, I think about those words almost every time we go shopping. Yes, going to the store with my crew is generally a circus. And, yes, it is stressful and going shopping by myself seems like a vacation, but, I have been so blessed. I have three amazing, healthy, loving children. My heart is full of love. Now, whenever I hear someone say that at the store, or anywhere, because I hear it ALL the time, I remind myself that my hands are full, but my heart is too.
When we go to the store we have two options: get the regular cart and trust Savannah (5) and Beau (3) to walk nicely beside the cart, or get the giant cart. And, since Savannah and Beau (mostly Beau) loose in the store can be a nightmare, I usually get the giant cart. If anyone hasn't seen the giant cart, its actually a pretty great idea. Some genius took a regular shopping cart and put two bucket seats with four point harnesses on the back of it. Great idea. Unless you also have a baby in a carseat. Then, the baby goes in the basket, and the two kids are strapped into the bucket seats.
Where you might say, do you put the groceries? Oh! Great question. The groceries go into the tiny little compartment you would normally put a child. When that is full, they are carefully stacked around the baby. I'm sure Rhiannon spends her time at Wal-Mart in terror that a box of corn flakes is going to fall on her head. Once you put about ten items in the cart, the load becomes too heavy and it is almost impossible to steer.
Now that Rhiannon is sitting up, she should be riding in the child compartment on the cart, but for some reason, you can't put a child in that compartment. Apparently, people with 3 small children don't shop at Wal-Mart.
Anyway, enough of my tangent. I'm sure we make a comical picture. One harried mom, two preschoolers belted into the cart-constantly squealing, "Mom she is touching me" or "Beau is in my seat!" and baby about to be buried in an avalanche of groceries. This is usually the point of our shopping trip where some very nice, well meaning stranger looks at me and chuckles, "Boy, do you have your hands full!" And, then I punch them in the face.
Not really.
But I used to want to.
Eh, let be honest. Sometimes I still want to. But, I read a blog not too long ago from another mother, one who had a few more children than me, who heard the same thing. And she said, "If you think my hands are full, you should see my heart." If I can find this blog again I will link it because it was great.
Ever since I've read that blog, I think about those words almost every time we go shopping. Yes, going to the store with my crew is generally a circus. And, yes, it is stressful and going shopping by myself seems like a vacation, but, I have been so blessed. I have three amazing, healthy, loving children. My heart is full of love. Now, whenever I hear someone say that at the store, or anywhere, because I hear it ALL the time, I remind myself that my hands are full, but my heart is too.
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