Oh Goodness, I think I Messed Up :(

Do you ever have days when things just get to you? Not necessarily "important" things, just stuff, normal, everyday stuff?...normal, everyday but today-I-just-can't-take-it-anymore stuff? Do you ever have days like that? Or is is just me?...

Anyways, today was one of those days. Rather, today was one of those mornings. A morning where I really (and please tell me if this is bad) just wanted a day or at least a few hours to myself. Aaron had the day off and went to work out (which I am glad for but also maybe a bit jealous of the 3 hours he had away from home just to himself)...and I was just going about our morning, doing the same things we usually do in the mornings. Getting breakfast for 2 hungry little boys, cleaning up the mess that was made along the way, changing poopy diapers and wiping poopy big boy heinies, washing sticky clothes, picking up toys that the toy fairies must have strewn all over the house during the night and then trying somewhere in the middle of all that to grab my coffee - my cup of sanity for the day.

Eli, poor thing, well he wasn't having a good morning either. He has been exceptionally crabby this week...ear infections don't help much...but has been improving as his meds have started to kick in. But, he did throw a huge tantrum at his morning nap and woke up in an awful mood. By that time the grind had gotten to me. My "relaxing" shower to myself (a real luxury when it happens) was interrupted by his wailing and as I jumped out to get him I noticed an absence of noise from the room where Johnathan had been playing...never a good sign. I deposited Eli on the living room floor (where more, and louder wailing ensued) and found Johnathan on the kitchen counter attempting to reach his chips which are kept on top of the fridge! Crazy boy.

Aaron came home about this time and all I really wanted was to just be able to get dressed and ready for the day all.by.myself (ie. no interruptions)...yeah, that wasn't happening. Eli at this point was non-consolable and was throwing a huge, loud fit. As I was going about getting dressed (I couldn't just wear a towel all day) Eli would wail louder and louder each time he caught a glimpse of me while he threw his tantrum in the living room. Johnathan wasn't really in a bad mood, he was just being a rambunctious 3 year old with his own needs (me) and wants (me) and Aaron, well he had just had 3 whole hours to himself...not really a crime but to a mom feeling a little burned out it sure seemed like one...and all this to say that after about 30 minutes of crying and being needed and not being able to think straight I had just about had it. I can't even remember what Aaron asked me, but it put me over the top and I yelled out, "Will everybody just shut up! Nobody talk to me!"...can you believe it?!! I was so mean! :(

After a few (or maybe 10) minutes I started to calm down. Started to feel bad for being so rude to my sweet boys who just wanted and needed me. My sweet boys. I gathered them up in the living room, all three of them, and I apologized for what I'd done. I let them know how much I loved them and asked for them to forgive me. Of course being the sweet boys that they are they readily did so, and they were more than happy to have their happy mommy/wife back! And I was humbled that such wonderful guys love, want, need and are happy to have me! :)

After my blow-up & then make-up our day was wonderful! We actually had a fantastic day just hanging out doing fun family stuff. We went to Aunt Jen's for my weekly study with my girls, got back home and the boys took their naps (Johnathan got to nap in his tent in our room which he thought was totally cool). After nap time we had our snacks outside in the back while BoBo (our dog) got a good washing from Dada. Then, we "swam" in Johnathan's little 6 ft. pool and then did sidewalk chalk until dinner time. It was just simple stuff, but it was togetherness and that makes all the difference. I am blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful boys, and I really do love them with all my heart.

*Grace*

Getting Sad

Well today I started packing...let me rephrase that...today I started packing "real" stuff, not just items we aren't using at the moment (like out of season clothes, books, etc.) because I've been packing that sort of stuff for a while now. No, today I started packing stuff that makes our house our home...the kind of stuff that makes our home look loved and lived in. And I have to say, it has made me a little sad. Up until about a week ago I really hadn't had much emotion one way or another about our move that is coming up in exactly two months from today. However, the last week or so the move has gotten a lot more real, has seemed a lot closer (it is!) and I have started to get the moving blues.

Honestly I am really excited about our move, the changes that it will bring and the opportunities that we'll have in our new place. BUT, I also will miss this house that has been our home for the last 4 years and this town that we've now resided in for 5 years now. I guess uprooting yourself is never easy, but in our last several moves I have never felt this way. There was just always excitement over being somewhere different, and this time there is a bit of sadness along with the excitement of new things on the horizon. Probably because we have kids, two beautiful boys who know this house as their home. And probably because this is the first house where Aaron and I have experienced exhilarating happiness...also because of our two precious boys. (Actually, I have written a poem about that entitled I am Not a Home of Sorrow. I am going to hide it somewhere in our home when we leave as a sort of memorial to this house). Anyways.....

I guess getting sad about a big move just goes with the territory you might say. I am just thankful that we do have so much to look forward to when we get to our new destination...Grandmas and Grandpas close by, Aunts and Uncles to visit regularly and lots of Cousins to get into trouble with...this of course will assuage any grief Johnathan might feel over leaving...he can't wait to "move far 'way close to Miles." ;)

Home is where the heart is,
*Grace*

A Most Blessed {Easter}

We spent our Resurrection Day with our dear Whitehurst family...W's, we love you! It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed every minute of it. Since this post is so picture heavy I'm not going to weigh it down with too many words...I'll just let you enjoy the pics! ;)

Happy 1st Easter, Sweet Boy!

*Grace*

Seeing the Beautiful in the Mess

Yesterday I came across this blog post from God Speaks Today...a blog on my sidebar. It really spoke to me and I could totally relate to how she felt. I love her perspective and thought some of you might enjoy reading her post and be able to relate as well. Read it and let me know what you think.

Blessings,
*Grace*

The Aquarium {Again} & Easter Egg Hunt at School

In our last couple of months here in South Texas I want to soak up as much of the local attractions as possible...so, we hit the aquarium again this week. Sure, we've been multiple times and things are pretty much the same every time we go, but it is still a fun place to be and a great place for my little dudes to roam around. They are actually building a really cool splash park there right now...but it probably won't be finished until we leave...boo! :(

When we showed up there were 3 big school buses there...grrreat, school field trip day...but luckily as we ate our lunch on the aquarium grounds outside of the building 2 groups of kiddos left. Then, once we got inside there was really just one group of elementary school kids and of course they had to all stay together in a pack...so we just sort of followed a little bit after them and basically had the place to ourselves...plus a few older couples and a couple of random people. It's always nice when it's not too crowded and when Johnathan can walk easily to see everything.

Here are my sweet boys enjoying some of the sights at the aquarium!

(Toddler meltdown...3 seems be sorta tough on Johnathan so far!)

Yesterday Johnathan had his Easter Egg Hunt at school...and, being the involved parent that I am, haha, I volunteered to be the parent helper to hide the eggs. The hunt was supposed to be outside on the playground, but some other class got their time mixed with Johnathan's class and hid their eggs during his time-slot...anyways, the hunt ended up just being in an empty class-room and a small one at that...so it went super quick and the only sort of decent pic I got during the hunt was of Johnathan right in front of an empty baby crib...not too picturesque for an Easter egg hunt, so I didn't even bother putting it on here...anyways, here he is, right before giving me one of his cheesy smiles! ;)


That's all for now, folks! Happy GOOD FRIDAY!!!
*Grace*