or·di·nar·y

This was one of those days where we have done nothing exciting, but still note-worthy to me. This is a bit of what we do around here on a 'normal' day. I'm pretty sure I'll remember the fun trips to fun places and special days doing special stuff, but I don't want to forget how lovely a 'lazy day' can be.

Kids helping me sweep the floor. I think most of the day goes like this... Kids make mess... I clean it up...  Kids make another mess.... Kids attempt to help me clean it up.  Kids make a mess cleaning up.  I clean it up..... All day long.

After many dirty feet and PBJ handprints and some evidence of mis-used markers and who knows what else, I stripped the couch and washed our slip covers.

Annette helping me spread the PB on her bread.

I cut out a few coupons, and my little helper wanted to help. She picked peanut butter, ice cream, and tape. The essentials.

There is a house being built next door to ours. Right beside Charlie's bedroom. It's a little interesting around nap time. We spent a long time watching big machines move rocks and dirt. Charlie loved it. This is almost a daily source of entertainment.

I also took the chance to take a mini- photo shoot of us. Annette and I are still in our pajamas. Lazy day for sure.

Both of them in my lap. Ha:)

To get them good and worn out before naps, we played in the pool.  Love the ease of this in the summer!

Annette is 'cleaning' out our empty peanut butter jar.

Charlie in Annette's floaties. He will jump off the stairs in these and float around. Blow bubbles. Lay on his back. Kick to the side. Such a little water baby!

And now, Annette is still talking in her crib. Charlie is in a deep sleep. And I am savoring a sweet morning. Feeling overwhelmingly blessed and grateful for these ordinary days.  

Hurts So Good...

I had one of those totally normal nights. The kind of night I thought would happen every night once we had kids. The kind of night I had glamorized. Being an 'experienced' babysitter, I thought most nights as a real mom would go pretty smoothly. But then I had a child. And then 14 months and 1 day later, I had another child. I learned that most nights at our house were NOT  going to be the kind of easy I had imagined.

Some days/nights...(okay, LOTS of days and nights)...  I am just trying to remind myself to breathe through the typical frustrations and stresses of being a mother of 2 children under 3. But, it sure is nice when I have one of those nights that is just plain easier. That's what I was blessed with tonight.

Dad got home a little early (bonus). We fed the kids. Annette and I made some cookies because she had been begging to do so all day. The mess was minimal (another bonus). While us gals were baking, Charles threw the ball back and forth with Isaac. Then, we played outside in the backyard. Came in, bathed our babes and put them to bed. Some how in the midst of a 'routine' night, my heart started almost physically hurting. Not out of stress or heart ache, but because I could feel my heart stretching at the seams with joy and gratefulness and love. My heart gets so full with the sweetness of watching Charlie and Annette hug each other. And when I get to wrap them up in a towel and hug them. It's the kind of feeling that makes me want to cry out of happiness. The kind of thing that would probably make people think I'm a little loco for crying about. Maybe I am crazy. About my many blessings. But, I have a feeling other mommas can relate. And I also have a feeling that I will need to reread this post on one of those not-so-easy nights. Probably as soon as tomorrow.... or at 2 am:)

Hope someone else had an easy night, too.

Annette wanted to leave her swimsuit on after playing in the pool. I realize she probably didn't get as clean as she might have if she had been nakie, but I really wanted to keep the fit-free-night thing going.

 Sometimes they look so close in age!!!

love LOVE love LOVE 'em!

Psalm 126:3

The LORD has done great things for us,
   and we are filled with joy.