After a cold, rainy, and snotty weekend, my little penguins have been loving these warm January days we’ve been having this week! We are loving the fresh air and soaking up the sun while we play outside.
I guess you could say that my little penguins are definitely warm-weather penguins, and this Mommy penguin is too!
There are many moments during the day where I feel like I am more of a referee than a Mommy. It doesn’t matter how many books we have out to read or how many toys are on the floor, Sarah Ann and Reece always want the same thing at the exact same time.
There are also moments where I feel more like a maid than a Mommy. The kids are always needing more juice or there is a mess to clean up, and laundry is definitely an every day task.
There are moments where I feel more like a room mate than a wife. Some evenings by the time the kids are in bed and the house is cleaned up, Jeffrey and I are beyond exhausted–too tired to do anything but sit on the couch without talking and veg out in front of the TV.
There are also moments when I wonder if anything that I am doing is really making an impact for the kingdom of God. I feel consumed by the to-do’s of the day that I’m not able to look at the bigger picture.
But, then there are these sweet and precious moments where Jeffrey and I don’t have to say a word–we can just look at each other and smile when we take one more look at our sleeping babies before we fall into the bed, and we are forever grateful for the work God has done in and through us.
There are these sweet moments where Reece gives Sarah Ann a tender kiss and hug and Sarah Ann responds back with “I love you, Reecey!” and I know that they are seeing love.
There are more sweet moments, even if they are short, where the babies are playing together, laughing together, dancing together and making up games like “Disney World” and “cleaning the garage.”
And there are sweet moments where God, full of grace and love, gently reminds me that my impact on the Kingdom right now means loving and serving my husband, raising my children in a godly manner, and doing everything that I do, from laundry to changing diapers, for His glory and honor!
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. ~Colossians 1:17
A little dancing to the Imagination Movers before bed on Friday night…
Jumping on our friend’s new trampoline on a rainy and cold Monday…
Here are just a couple of things that are pretty normal around our house…
1. Reece always wants to take a toy to bed with him, and he’s not happy if it doesn’t happen. So he usually takes a toy to bed along with his stuff animals and books that are already in there. He also likes to fall asleep with his lamp on. He usually plays for a little while in his crib once we put him down, and then it’s like when he just can’t play anymore, he collapses into dreamland. It’s definitely normal to find him sleeping on toys with his legs in the air when we go turn his lamp off before we go to sleep.
2. It’s definitely normal for me to get almost all the way to church by myself before I realize that I am in fact still listening to “Row, row, row your boat” and “Mary had a little lamb.”
3. Sarah Ann prefers to wear her tiara and a dress at all times. It’s normal for her to request a dress every single morning, and if she doesn’t get to wear a dress in the morning she will most definitely ask for one during her quiet time. It’s also completely normal to put lip gloss on 100x a day!
4. It’s normal for me to say on an hourly basis, “Reece, we don’t lick our sister!” and “Sarah Ann, remember that I am Reecey’s Mommy.”
5. Jeffrey does a great job of really playing with the kids and giving them his undivided attention, especially if I am not going to be at home for the evening. So, it was completely normal for me to see our bed made into a castle and all of the couch cushions being used to make a stair case and using the tunnel as a way to get out of the castle right before I headed to a meeting at church on Thursday evening. But, I am so thankful for all of that–thankful for Jeffrey’s willingness to play with the babies, make up fun games, get all off of their schedule, and have a great time, so that I can have a girls night out or attend ladies ministry meetings. He never complains, even after a busy and full day at work, but is always willing to put the kids to bed and clean up the house while I’m gone. Thank you, Jeffrey! You’re the best!
Playing with playdough and painting are two of our current favorite activities to do at home!
For Christmas Sarah Ann received a playdough “Ice Cream Sweet Shoppe.” It makes a total mess and has lots of little pieces, but she loves playing with it and it has been such a fun thing to do after her quiet time while Reece is still napping. She has been asking all week to play it, so on Thursday I promised her we would do it before dance class and then surprised her with real ice cream and chocolate syrup to eat while we played!
Reece has also really gotten into playing with playdough recently too. He mostly likes to cut the playdough with a little plastic knife and tear it into lots of pieces. He likes it best when Mommy and Daddy play with him, and when I get the playdough out and get him in his seat, he says “Sit right here, Mommy. Do dis too, Mommy!” It is so crazy to me to hear him speaking in sentences now!
It has been a little difficult to spend January making snow crafts when it has been 70 degrees outside, but the babies sure do love snowflakes and Frosty the snowman! Both Sarah Ann and Reece love to paint, so this morning we stayed cuddled up in our pajamas and painted a snowflake picture. Reece loves to mix all of the colors together, and Sarah Ann takes her painting quite seriously! I love my little artists!
Wednesday I threw “my” schedule out the window. I didn’t stick to our routine, Sarah Ann didn’t have her quiet time, Reece didn’t take a nap, and I didn’t get all of my “to do’s” done by the time the kids were in bed…
But my sweet babies got to see the “Elephant Walk” downtown as the circus came to town! Sarah Ann couldn’t believe how close the elephants were, and Reece just smiled and pointed the whole time!
It was such a fun experience, and I’m so glad that I didn’t let “my” schedule get in the way! I am so thankful for all that the Lord teaches me through my sweet babies!
I am a very on-the-go type of person. I like to be out and about, and so does Sarah Ann. In the morning she will ask me, “Where are we going today?” But our little Reecey is just like his Daddy, and he would much rather be at home than anywhere else.
On Tuesday mornings after we drop SA off at school, Reece and I go to his class at “My Gym” and then to the grocery store. He’s been a little stuffy and snotty, so after we dropped off SA today, I said, “Reecey, are you ready to go to the gym?” His immediate response was “No, do home! do home!” So after a quick trip to Bilo, that’s exactly what we did.
We spent the morning cuddling and watching Disney Junior, playing with some of Sarah Ann’s toys in her room that he usually doesn’t get to play with, playing the drums on the iPad, and of course loving on our pillow pets! It was definitely nice to have a morning at home to rest, and I think it did his little nose some good too! It was also a great reminder to slow down and enjoy the little moments throughout the day! It’s so good taking time to be still!
I sure do love my little homebody and am so thankful for all that he teaches me through his sweet little spirit!
Seated above, enthroned in the Father’s love
Destined to die, poured out for all mankind
God’s only son perfect and spotless one
He never sinned, but suffered as if he did
All authority, every victory is Yours
All authority, every victory is Yours
Savior, worthy of honor and glory, worthy of all our praise, You overcame
Jesus, awesome in power forever, awesome and great is Your name, You overcame
Power in hand speaking the Father’s plan
You’re sending us out, light in this broken land
We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb
And the word of our testimony, everyone overcome
Savior, worthy of honor and glory, worthy of all our praise, You overcame
Jesus, awesome in power forever, awesome and great is Your name, You overcame
Lots of bubbles
Lots of smiles
Lots of giggles
Lots of splashing
Lots of fun!
My two little babies love playing with their two little puppy toys.
After lunch today Sarah Ann and Reece took their puppies to “dog class” and then on a walk around the living room over and over again! Sarah Ann loves being the leader, and Reece loves doing everything that she does!
Reece took his puppy “night-night” with him during his nap, and Sarah Ann and her puppy are now happily playing in her room for quiet time. She even requested 2 bowls for food and water, so that she could take care of her puppy while she played.
I love seeing them play together and their imaginations at work–and I really, really love that these puppies are toys!
