Now I feel like I have 3 kids

For some reason... no, I think I know the reason... these last two weeks have felt increasingly harder. As in, I'm finding that I have even less sit time than in the last 6 months. Taking care of 2 little kids plus a non-moving baby just got stepped up a notch. 

Set isn't crawling yet, but he's scooting, rolling over everywhere (even off my big bed, oops://), grabbing everything, eating everything, etc. Taking way more energy than just his nightly feedings. 

So now for the first time I feel like I have 3 wildly moving parts and only two hands. 

He's such a goooooood baby. Super easy. Never knew what an easy baby was until I had him. Yet, he isn't just sitting in a swing anymore. Here is all 7 months and 20 lbs of him. 

Here are the last two weeks as I've hit a new type of survival mode. 

Super fun gatherings like this make my version of survival mode much more fun. 

Isn't Brooks CUTE!?

I'm always feeling like I have to have help from other moms with less kids. Like, 'Do you mind pushing Charlie on swing for a sec, while I change a diaper?' Or, can you carry this or that? The list of my needs for help is pretty embarrassing. 

Then I see other moms of 3 who are further down the road than me and they've managed fabulously. 

Visiting friends from PA= renewed energy:)

VBS at Pulaski Heights. My kids loved it. And helped in entertaining my kids. 

This is me pushing 3 kids in the huge cart that I'm so grateful Target provides. 

I sometimes think my blood pressure reaches crazy levels when they are all begging for something by the end of the Target trip. 

And then my mom gives me a break and takes the older two so Isaac and I can go to the lake for the afternoon/night with just Set and some friends. Those breaks are a huge gift. 

We got to visit with uncle Thad and aunt Rachael over at nonnie and doc's house the other night. 

Family dinners with amazing food and company remind me of all my many blessings. 

Isaac plays 'rough house' with kids every single night. His energy level is off the charts. He also lets me have help two days a week. My precious babysitter Callie comes over and helps me with kids while I tutor (and get a chance to use my teacher brain and make a few bucks) and then go to store, or make house building meetings, or whatever else I am struggling to get done with 3 kids around. So it's not like I don't have lots of help. I do and am hugely thankful for it. 

Keeping up with things (keys, phone, paci) is another suit I'm not strong in. Had to call Pop A Lock the other day. Charlie was sure he should cover his ears thinking there would be a loud POP :). This is another reason I will make sure to have a code box thing on my new carport door. 

Speaking of new house stuff, the grant street house is coming right along. 

I'll be posting about that progress sometime before we head to the BEACH next Saturday!!! 

I love that last picture. Watching my family grow up. Even amidst the tired arms, my very tired back, and a lot of dirty clothes/cars/dishes/kids/hair/bathtubs/diapers/floors....You name it, it's dirty right now... I can handle the survival mode feel of it all. I know it's just a phase that's going to pass by way too quickly. 

Happy Saturday! 

~Morgan

Not super interesting weekend fun

We took the kids to a breakfast place over near us, and then to the museum of discovery on Saturday. 

It's about as old fashioned as you can get at the Ozark Mountain Smokehouse.  

He seriously said, "mine's not big enough!" We had a little lesson on what big means. 

A quick daily walk thru the house. Framer Gary was busy working on our porch/front door area. He seems to love the challenges that come with mixing new house with old house. I like that about him. And that he likes working on Saturdays. We had them move our front door Over about a foot to be more centered between the outside square columns. It's a little change, but one that we think makes a big pretty difference. More on that, and where that 'new' front door came from in another post. 

Museum time 

Molding pennies

My personal favorite spot... The tinkering room. This homeade robot thing reminder me of the Inventions Hugo, which I read a couple of months ago. It was SUCH a great book. 

Charlie lost Interest. As did Isaac. But Ann and I had fun creating a non flying helicopter. 

Annette has such determination. Her strength and pure will was worth two pictures here. 

 

Set shadows 

And here my lovelies are this morning. All squinty from that beautiful sun. 

Three in a tub. Love it. 

Goodnight,

Morgan 

Visiting Uncle Jordan, A Parade, and The Lake

We started off the holiday weekend by going to the pool on Wednesday evening, and then got up for the Hillcrest parade on the morning of the 4th. We had fun doing this last year, too. They've been doing this parade every year since 1976. Pretty cool tradition. 

Set napped through most of it.

Annette was tired and hot by the end of the walk, but the weather was actually super nice compared to last year. 

After the parade, we headed to Greenhurst in Charleston, AR where Isaac's younger brother Jordan lives. This has also become a fun tradition that we really look forward to each summer.

Lots of good porch time.

My kids did their first ever Slip-N-Slide. None of us adults wanted to demonstrate the how-to's, and you'd be surprised how much they were needed. Guess my kids have never seen this activity done before. Where are the older more experienced 8 year olds when you need them? ;) 

Soon enough though, they figured out that if they got a running start, they'd slide right down the semi-sloped grassy hill. 

Popsicles. Lots of popsicles. And Doc pitching the wiffle ball.

Such a pretty place. When you look out the back door, this is your view. I would have loved to have family pictures taken here. Next year, I might see if I can find a photographer in town do that for us.

I think I've busted my camera lens. I think that's possible, anyways. Its focusing ability seems to have declined. And there is this cloudy spot on the images.

Annette had fun entertaining Set with bubbles.

We headed down to Hot Springs on Friday afternoon. Another good window view here. Just being next to the lake makes me feel like I'm on vacation. Even if I've just finished changing another poopy diaper.

While the boys napped, I took Annette to get a pedicure for some quality time with just her. With 3 kiddos now, it seems like this intentional one on one time is much more needed. I had so much fun with her. She loved picking out the purple glitter polish (cringe) for her toes. 

Wasn't sure about the massage chair at first.

The End.

Of  Our Most Recent Wonderful Long Weekend With Loved Ones.