WHAT!?!?!

Today was a hot booger-bear. That's what J. called it anyway. After Daddy left for work this afternoon around 3pm, the kids wanted to play outside. J. had put together this little get-up with a gun, some darts, a walkie-talkie, some 'hand-cuffs' (Don't ask) and man, was he ever ready to get outside and conquer! I was getting myself ready:
1. Go to the bathroom.
2. Get the phone.
3. Get drinks.
When I got it all together, I told J. to come get his juice - "just in case you get thirsty" I said. He looked back at me, with all his ammo in hand and scoffed, "Hunters don't drink JUICE!"

Flossy-flossertons!

A. is finally "All the way" potty trained! She is soooooooo potty trained, in fact, that she is systematically teaching all her dolls to use the toilet. So cute! I caught her in the act this afternoon. Sadly, it was too late for the Cabbage Patch doll that ended up halfway in the toilet... EWWW!
Sunday night is personal hygeine night at the O. casa. I know it sounds funny, but I have a tendency to overlook things like clipping fingernails and toenails, flossing teeth, et cetera, while amidst the endeavor to take over the world.
So I set aside Sunday nights, when, if all other nights fail - at least I did it ONCE this week.
Here's a thought: Whoever set up this idea that you should floss your kids teeth
CLEARLY never followed through on the task. My fingers actually HURT from being gnawed on after we're finished - and their teeth are so tiny...
Please tell me that there are mothers out there who don't floss their kids teeth as religiously as they're supposed to...

WAH!

My camera is broken. That is all.

The tea party.

Today, we had a great time hanging out with some of our church friends at a tea party. The most magnificent hostess I know threw a tea party for the MOPS kiddos! SO MUCH FUN! We ate tiny treats - not tiny in calories, I'm sure...
Our kids ransacked La's house. We laughed. We talked. We ate. The older kids tortured the youngest ones. Then we ate some more. It was divine!
This is where it gets ugly! I was framed! Lori coaxed Esther and Melissa (who, by the way, is ALWAYS the willing one) to "try out" Yoga-bootie ballet - a horrendous workout video where once you start shaking it, your bootie will NEVER stop having tremors...
And at the VERY MOMENT I decided to let loose and stand up and have a laugh with the girls, there she was in all her sinister ways - ready with camera in hand to snap a photo of us - FROM BEHIND!! I know she's gonna post it, so here's my side of the story. IT ISN'T ME - unless for some reason I look unusually slim - and then, why yes, I have been watching what I eat... all the way to my mouth...

We had the best day!

It is so much fun being "off for the summer." Daddy was off work today too - that always means we have an EXTRA-good time! Never in my wildest dreams could I have told you that life would be so sweet! It's not everyday in my big, grown-up world that I get to laugh so much; make so many memories!

Psalm 92:1
What a beautiful thing, God, to give thanks, to sing an anthem to you, the High God! To announce your love each daybreak, sing your faithful presence all through the night...

Solo Voyage

He's 4. NOT 14. Today I went to my parent's house to pick J. up after a night of being spoiled. A. opted to stay here at the house with me - and I was glad because I needed to catch up on fairy kisses and finish up potty training. When I rolled up in their driveway, (expecting jumps of joy as he ran to greet me with much glee...) all I saw was a body running the other direction and my little friend screaming, "But I wanted to stay for SEVERAL YEARS! WAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
How on earth does this reach the balance: If your TODDLER acts as though you are wretched, what can you expect in their teens?
I am verklemmt!

Lowget

So it has come very apparent that A. has some difficulty saying her "R's" and "Y's." Dora the Explorer is Dowa the Explowa and strawberry yogurt is stwabewwee lowget. Well, J. has tried and tried to get her to say them the way he KNOWS you're supposed to... I guess he gave up and decided, if you can't beat 'em...
So this morning they were eating their breakfast and A. was talking about her Dowa Stwabewwee Lowget and J's Dee-laygo lowget *dora strawberry yogurt and J's Diego yogurt* - J. said, "A. is that good lowget?"
And A. scrunched up her face in disdain and said, "Not lowget, It's LOWGET!"

My big little man

Today was J's 4-year checkup. FOUR YEAR CHECKUP. Has it been that long?
He's still holding steady at the 90th percentile. 42 pounds and 43 inches tall.
He was so brave, but he clutched onto me when he saw the needle tray. You have to get 4 shots at your 4-year checkup...
For a moment, I felt like he was a baby all over again. I almost cried when he held onto me as if I was the only one who could save him from the tragedy that was a visit to the doctor. But I held strong and explained to him (the best way I could) why it was so important - not even sure I believed what I was saying.
He's grown so much. He's developing into such a big little man. I am so proud of him.

Potty training.

What can a mother say about potty training that any other mother doesn't already know and even empathize with? I think potty training your child defines a part of motherhood that is indescribably bittersweet.
Complete satisfaction that you'll never have to change another diaper on your child. Excitement over the independence she has attained. Excruciating pain as you find yourself betwixt, knowing you have to let her grow - but terrified to let go.
She's my last baby. I know that. That's probably why she's 2 and a half and still in her crib.
I will use any reason to keep her there. Because I know the moment she's in her big girl bed, that's it. Very different from the oldest child.
I so enjoy each step from infancy to toddlerhood. It's like looking at the same jewel through each of it's different facets, never seeing the whole of it. Until one day, there it is, a beautiful stone that's been carved, at least in part, by you.

Overwhelmed

It has come to my attention in the last month or so that I have spent the majority of motherhood in a state of "overwhelmed."

I now have a new project. My goal throughout this summer (and longer, if need be) is to eliminate the mentality of being Overwhelmed.

In the past, just going to the grocery store was a feat to be recognized by my husband as a trophy-worthy achievement. Let alone, if a hot dinner were to appear on the table AFTER said trip to the grocery store... oooodalolly!

So this is the summer of decompression.

I have been doing better than I expected. I still have to make concerted efforts to remember that I am not, in fact, overwhelmed. It is getting easier though.
I think my kids are appreciating it. I have found myself shouting less and saying "Yes" more often.
I like the new me. It is much more fun than flitting about in a fit of frustration.
If you find yourself in a perpetual state of "overwhelmed" - shake it off.
I challenge you to change your mindset. I wish I had done it sooner.