Joining the Club

Here we are almost the end of January and I'm still trying to wrap up 2011.  Well not much has been happening this month anyway, I think January is kind of a bummer month, I'm always sad that Christmas is already over and it's time to put the decorations away, and there's just nothing too thrilling happening.  So I'll just go ahead and finish up my 2011.  I decided I could not end my 2011 blog with out posting about this major milestone in my life...

This was a big year for me, first I joined the "3 Kid Club", which I was not quite sure about wanting to be a part of.  But I'll say that although being a member of this club is definitely challenging, I am LOVING it.  I am just so in love with the little man that initiated me into the club, that it's a complete joy.  Have I mentioned lately how cute he is?

His blue eyes just melt me.  More of this cuteness coming soon.  

Next I joined the "30" club.  I was really, really not excited to join this club at all.  Completely dreading it.  I know some think it's no big deal, but it was a tough one for me.  It's definitely not fun being a member either, the  pregnancy weight has been coming off about 4 times slower than when I was a spry 25 year old new mom.  And I swear, the Fates of Age are evil and the minute you turn 30 they are just waiting to bring out the fine lines around your eyes! And suddenly make you very aware of just how noticeable  the expression lines between your eyes are, it's as if they are trying to make them deeper by the day!  And as if that wasn't bad enough they also start to work on the expression lines around your mouth!  It's like enough is enough!  One fine line at a time please!!!  It's been more than I care to take!  

Now, the reason I had to write about this...

since I had  joined the "3 Kid Club" I also had to cave and join the "Mini Van Club"!  This is old news to my neighborhood friends, I've been sporting this thing since summer, but I just had to document this and also share it with my far away blogging friends.  I NEVER thought I'd drive a mini van!  Ever.  Why not, I drove my Mom's in high school?!  Maybe that's why.  Although my Mom's mini van was very cool.  It was a stick shift.  No one else had a stick shift van.  Most girls couldn't even drive one.  I was very proud I could drive a stick, I was lucky my Mom taught me to drive in that cool ol' blue, Ford Aerostar.  Good times.   Anyway, still, I really never ever wanted to drive one.  I love, loved my Honda Pilot and was sad to downsize and sell it a few years ago.  Our goal was to come back to a Pilot as soon as we could afford it.   But what can I say, minivans are just too practical.  Ryan and I discussed the mini van vs. pilot many nights during the last trimester of my pregnancy.  And I'll just tell you this, it took me one day with baby #3 in a car seat to be totally and completely over the "I'm never driving a mini van" syndrome.  I am SO over it.  I LOVE my mini van!  (Except for the tan interior.  Shows way too much dirt. Don't get tan, go for grey.)  Every mother of three should have one.  If you are on the fence about a mini van vs. SUV, go for the mini van, you wont regret it.  And no one will think you are less cool.  Just totally practical.

A Happy Mother's Day

I was so happy to have such a nice Mother's Day weekend. The first surprise came on Friday night from a sweet husband and a sweet boy...


I'm sure this is the face of the sweetest boy ever! He was so excited to surprise me!

Mother's Day morning was great - Ryan let me sleep in a bit and when I came down stairs the kids were all ready to surprise me and this is what I found...


"Happy Mother's Day Mom!"..."Happy Mudders Day Mom!"
I was spoiled with hugs, kisses, sweet cards and great gifts. I had seen this great frame on sale for 60% OFF and mentioned it to Ryan and he picked it up for me (what a smart guy!), and I helped him out by buying myself a Pampered Chef chopper I'd been wanting for years, and giving it to him to let the kids give me for Mother's Day. I'm sure he appreciated me making it so easy for him. He did actually surprise me with a new CD, and that was impressive. They were so sweet and the kids were extatic with surprising me. Ryan made breakfast and it was a wonderful morning.




We made it through church with only a minor frustration, and then the kids were so thrilled to give me the cute flowers their teachers had ready for them to give to their Mom's. (So lucky to have such great primary teachers!) They were really cute, and after a bit of persuasion we were able to get a few pictures with them.

My amazing husband and Me....I am so lucky to have him.
Ryan and I celebrated our 7th Anniversary the previous weekend, (May 3rd) which I didn't get around to blogging about... 7 years, 7 moves, 1 graduation, 3 offices, and 2 babies later, here we are. And I couldn't be happier. (ok maybe I might be able to be a tiny bit happier, like if Madi would potty train!)

My day was made even brighter by one of my dearest, sweetest friends, when we arrived home and found this on our front porch. It would have made my day even if it was just the bag!

As I enjoyed my Mother's Day - I, of course, thought a lot about my Mom. I am so thankful for the Mother she was so me, for all the good we shared, and all the good she taught me. I am especially thankful that she helped me to gain my own testimony, for it is only through this that I know I can be strong and be happy in my day to day life, even though I am missing her each day. Now that I am a Mom I appreciate her SO much more! (I guess all of us Mom's know that our children will never be able to fully appreciate us until they become parents themselves!) She was an incredible Mom and I can't imagine how she had 5 children at the age of 25 and kept her sanity. Truly she was an extraordinary women.

At the end of a great Mother's Day, I thought - at this stage in my life, here is what being a Mom means to me:
Constantly trying to solve a problem, fix a toy, stop a fight, or take care of an owie...
In between fixing a meal, fixing a snack, attempting to clean up the mess in the kitchen before the next meal
Cleaning, cleaning and cleaning and then accepting the fact that my house will never be all the way clean
Trying to find a little more patience when I think it is all lost and I just. can't. handle. another. fit.
And when the fit is over, the problem fixed and sometimes the mess cleaned up...
I can't imagine any greater joy.