"Real Life"

Real life for us means, me dropping of and picking up Lucy, meal planning, and not having a live-in babysitter :D. We did I ok!! Dropping off and picking up Lucy went MUCH better than I anticipated. And a couple of the mom's of her friends are just the kindest and most thoughtful people. They have picked up Lucy one day and let her sit with them in their car until it was time to go in. I am so thankful for the kindness of others.  We have been so blessed to find these wonderful people.

                     

Morning cuddles

                         

I was determined to be happy and positive, to not let 'to-do's' keep me from giving the kids the time they need. I was really good  at reading my scriptures and conference talks.We've been having a lot more fighting, whining, arguing, and short tempered-ness(mommy)  over the last couple of weeks. I understand there is a transition and adjusting phase to having a new born and another addition to a family, but I'm ready for the negative aspect of that to be over. We did ok this week. Towards the end of the week I didn't do so well and we all struggled a bit more. I always hear and read, "the Mother sets the tone of the house" or "If mom's not happy, no one is" I feel like this week I really experienced that. 

We had a little art lesson (I've really been wanting to do this weekly). We started following THIS SERIES, we began by reading "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak. It was a fun activity and I feel like giving them a direction with their painting was helpful instead of just setting out the paints. 

                           

 Cole did a really good job at not leaving any white. 

 

 Sadie got frustrated with the water colors and lost interest long before the older two.

                          

Lucy had fun drawing the scenery around her 'wild thing' and didn't want to fill in all the white. I didn't push the issue :)

We had teen an single digit weather so we stayed indoors. Which led to me trying to come up with ways for them to expel their energy...

Thankfully we had friends come play one afternoon, and we were able to make it to Story Time at the library where we came home with a record of 30-yes you read that right- THIRTY books...no worries, they all have been read multiple times already.  

                         

This Little man is 3 weeks old now. 

                         

Cole's counting is going so well! He wanted to do activities one morning but I was trying to console a fussy Eddi so I couldn't sit down with him. I later found him doing his numbers by himself. It can be hard to get Cole to do anything sometimes but when he wants to do something, he can be very determined. 

 Sherry came and watched the kids while so I could get some grocery shopping done! 

Cole really does love his brother...

                           

Sadie thinks these are hats-without fail, everytime.

 And we always LOVE our visit from Jessica on Thursdays. She says it is therapy for her since all her kids are now in school but it does wonders for me to have someone to talk to :). 

 

 We have incredibly thoughtful librarians. They planned a horse story time specifically for Lucy, and we missed it because it was the week after Eddi was born. But they saved us the craft and ordered the books for us! The books all came this week and we were able to do the craft! The kids loved it and the books are hilarious!

For once I was NOT the one to suggest brownies for dessert. Lucy asked and did almost everything to make them!!

 I love the sticking-out-tongue-concentration to get all the batter in :) And she LOVED getting to lick the bowl--or should I say her hand!

We had plans to play with friends and the I see Big Hero 6 on Saturday, but alas it is cold season and we have caught coughs :(. 

Real life with four isn't so bad, not going to lie, I was a little worried about how we'd handle it. 

I know the Lord has strengthened us. Everyday I pray for His strength to help be be the mother he knows I can be. I am so grateful to Him for entrusting is with another special spirit. We are so very blessed to have been given these children to care for. I pray we can be the parents we need to be for them.