Month of Love

I find that when I am having one of those mommy days...you all know what I am talking about...that is does my heart and soul good to do some positive reflecting...so, while we are in the "month of love", why not reflect on the love I have for my babies...instead of how stinkin' tired I am.  :)

This year was the first year that Landon made his own Valentines.  I tell you, this is one of the sweet moments I have dreamed of as a mom.  It made my heart so happy to see him making his own cards and he was so very focused...a very wonderful thing for a 6 year old impulsive little boy.

He even set a great example for Connor who wanted to join in in the fun.  Connor made a very select few...one for his best friend Anna and one for Miss Kim, our fantastic and wonderful babysitter.

Landon worked hard for at least an hour.  So proud!

I think here Connor was working on Miss Kim's card.  :)

Lindsay entertained us with her sweetheart of a smile.  :)

And, once again, thanks to my new Silpat...I am back in the cookie making business.  I decided to make sugar cookies since they will no longer frustrate the tar out of me by always burning on the bottoms! Here they are prior to our decorating with all of the Valentine paraphernalia in the background.

Connor loved licking the batter, of course.

And decorating his cookies even more. 

Connor also got to make his own Valentine's, Spiderman of course...he was caught with his friend, Kaeden, as both of them hid in the playroom and ate their lollipops at about 10:00 in the morning!!  Oh well, what did I expect letting a 3 year old give his 2 year old friend a Valentine with a sucker in it...not to eat it?  

 

Time to celebrate Valentine's Day with the family!

Connor got a ball and modeling clay from Pop and Mommom!

Landon was giving me a sweet smile after opening his Angry Birds Space t-shirt that Stan and I gave him for Valentine's Day.  :)

 Now, Daddy's turn...

Not often, do I surprise Stan...look at his reaction!

Landon helped with this surprise...a biggie!!!!!!!!!

Meet "Shadow"...

 AND "Midnight", Stan's Valentine's Day gifts!

For those of you who think I am crazy...I am.  However, these two cats were rescues.  They came "ready out of the box".  They came spayed, neutered, people friendly, house friendly and just plan FRIENDLY!  They have already been such a sweet addition to our family.

Yep, mom had a little fun with a photo shoot of my little dream...

No sugar cookie went un-decorated!!!  We decided to make more after actual Valentine's Day and are still enjoying them (well, the boys are, I gave up sweets for Lent!).

Landon, hard at work, enjoying his food craft as always.

I am so in love with these precious little boys!  What fun they are and what a blessing it is to be their mom.

And, I can't forget to mention this cutie pie!

So, on a day where there was maybe a 10 minute nap overlap, a potty training accident (#2) in big boy underwear, a fussy little girl (yes, she can be fussy at times!), a 2.5 hour school delay causing a crazed morning for mommy, an under-baked loaf of bread found 2 hours before playgroup that was to be our morning snack (I ended up making 4 loaves of friendship bread as a replacement- crazy me!), a tired and aching back, a broken heating compressor unit discovered this morning and various and asundry other items that occur in a blessed busy household with 5 people and 2 cats...I am choosing to focus on these whom I love.  Boy, it makes me feel better already!

Let.It.Go.

So I have recently started doing an online Bible Study with some friends of mine and some 8,000 other women.  I didn't realize there would be that many people participating and I have to admit...that makes it a bit overwhelming for me.  I am still doing it, but kinda in my own way.  I figure, why not play to the title of the book, Let.It.Go. and realize that I may not be able to to this study like everyone else.  That.Is.OK.

We were challenged this week to think about several things and to blog about them and then do a "Blog Hop".  Cool idea.  But, I tried to view the tutorial and my link didn't work on email or on You Tube.  I tried about three times to no avail.  Then, I decided to Let.It.Go.

This morning started out on the wrong foot, our rear end...I might say.  I came down stairs and greeted my sweet family, my husband cooking me eggs in the kitchen, Connor playing his e-reader, Landon getting dressed, asking me where his sports shirt was.  Dad couldn't understand what Landon was saying and mom immediately understood, rushed upstairs and got the exact shirt he was thinking about for his sports day at school.  One cool point for mama.

Lindsay Jane, my champion sleeper, still slept away as I kissed my sweet husband and thanked him for breakfast.  He also lets me sleep in on days I don't work...sleeping in is until 7am these days.  :)

You see, last night as I was trying to figure out the instructions to the Blog Hop, Stan was waiting for me in the bonus room for our nightly T.V. and talk time.  After giving up the Blog Hop, I went upstairs to go snuggle with him. On my way to the bonus room, I stopped to wash my face and brush my teeth.  While in the bathroom, I realized that our bath mats and rugs had still not been washed, though I had collected them from the floor over 48 hours ago.  So, I immediately set out to put them in the wash.  Well, there were, of course, clothes in the washing machine that had to be transferred to the dryer.  So, I started doing this...time ticking away from snuggling...  As I reached to get the last bit of clothing, I saw something.  It.Was.A.Hotdog.  What?  I laughed out loud and thought, yes, this girl needs to Let.it.go.  This, my friends, is my life.

I went and snuggled with Stan (after pumping of course) as we watched State and Duke play...now you know, I must enjoy snuggling with Stan since I am a Tarheel.

Stan and I quickly went to sleep but not before I pondered the question of the week from the Bible Study...Tool, Toy of Tangent.  Tools are needed, they help us grow physically, emotionally and spiritually.  They can be fun...like, let's say, Facebook.  Used correctly, it can be used as a tool to help us keep up with extended family and friends.  It can also be a toy...as there are tons of games (I don't have time for).  Using it as a toy with limitations on time is also ok.  It is, however, when it becomes a tangent, that it is dangerous.  This occurs when you sit down to use it as a tool....and 2 hours and a billion clicks later, you have wasted 2 hours on basically...nothing.  I could go into how to not use Facebook as a tangent...but you all can figure that out, set some guidelines for yourself.  Instead, I wanted to focus on one of my tangents...that would be...my smartphone.

You see, it is the first thing I grab in the morning and the last thing I look at before going to sleep.  It has my instant connection with friends via text, it has email, it has internet...I can scroll my facebook news feed, while texting and talking on the phone and cooking dinner. A multitaking mother's dream!  What?  I realized last night that my smartphone use has got to change.  It is a tangent.  It is ridiculous.  So, how will I change that?  I will all myself to look at email 3 times a day.  I will turn the volume down on my smartphone when I am with my family, friends, kids.  Afterall...how many immediately urgent texts have I gotten in the past year? So, if you text me and don't hear back immediately...it means I am doing something else with my FULL attention.  This ties in the Bible verse from our study: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" Colossians 3:23.  I am going to stop using my smartphone for tangents and instead work at multitasking less...this will enable my to work at one thing at a time with my WHOLE heart.

Now, back to this morning...still thinking about the Hotdog in the washing machine...I smiled seeing my sweet family.  I did not pick up my smartphone and remembered what I had been convicted of last evening.  I heard Lindsay stirring, so I went to get her and bring her downstairs to nurse.  I sat down on the couch, still so peaceful from my thoughts of the hotdog and the smartphone...My rear end felt cold...Oh well, I thought, as I talked to Connor about taking Landon's pants off and putting his own on (Landon screaming at him in the background).  Then.It.Hit.Me.  Why is Connor looking for new pants? Well...because he PEED ON THE COUCH!  Right. Where. I. Was. Sitting!  No, my butt wasn't cold, it was wet with pee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let.It.Go?

Well, let's just say that I did address this situation with my WHOLE heart...

So, Connor is in pull ups today because after I addressed the pee on the couch, he went and peed in the floor in his room.  My mommy guilt went all over the place as I started beating myself up for whatever reason I could think of that this was my fault some how...another tangent of mine...for another BLOG post.  Then, thankfully, as I cried out to God, he gently reminded me to Let.It.Go.

So, yes, he is in pull ups and is potty trained.  But, I know that he will have a happier mommy today if I don't have to deal with urine on one more piece of furniture or floor...esp. since we are headed to playgroup at Janise's house!

Fun Friday

Today Connor, Lindsay and I had our friend, Emelia over to play.  What do you do with a 4 month old and two 3 year olds????  You keep the 3 year olds busy.  :)  So, I asked them what kind of cookies they would like to make...and in typical 3 year old style, they replied, "Christmas and Pumpkin"!!!!

So, I set out to see how to make this happen...while I let them color some cookie boxes with Valentine themes...from the dollar store bins at Target (love).

Busy at work.  They were overheard talking about staying in the lines, about how they listen to other grown ups but not their parents (YES!!! YOU READ THAT RIGHT) and about whether or not each of them were "he's" or "she's".  I love listening to 3 year old logic.

Ready to bake!

And, always a favorite...licking the spoon.  I mean, what kind of mom would I be if I didn't let them lick the spoon?

Our pumpkin cookies on my new Silpat...LOVE! These cookies turned out perfect!  No more burnt bottoms!  It is amazing! I am so excited to be back in the cookie making business!

Lindsay Jane was happy in her bouncer (see back of picture), Emelia and Connor were happy making Valentine picture frames and I finished baking with my beloved Silpat.

A fun time was had by all...and I got to french braid Emelia's hair...preview of my life with a little girl! :)

Ice Day Fun

We had a great winter's day, spent cuddling, playing with our playgroup friends and each other, baking, sipping hot chocolate, reading and ending with family game night.  Here are some pictures I managed to sneak in along the way...

Connor still wants to hold Lindsay.  She is getting more and more brave...

 And a little "rascally"- look at that face!!

Landon came home from school early and snuggled on the couch watching Ningago while I actually got a work out in because Lindsay and Connor simultaneously napped!!  What?!

Then, Landon and I set off to do our very favorite thing together.  Baking.  :)

Mixing the dry ingredients...

Posing with the three balls of dough before adding food coloring...

Getting his hands all in the food coloring!  You think he liked it??

While we had to wait 2 hours for the cookie mix to chill, Lindsay and Landon bonded as well.  Look at her little face.  I think she already knows she has her brothers wrapped around her finger...

We decided to wake Connor from his nap and the boys enjoyed hot chocolate with peppermint marshmallows!

Landon let Connor help make the cookies...

A very proud young baker!

Cookie making is serious business here at the Cole Household!

Landon lined up his cookies on my new Silpat.  I am ecstatic about how evenly cooked these cookies were! They were delicious and really pleased the boys and me.  We enjoyed these Fun Cookie Suckers on this icy North Carolina winter day!

We ended the day playing the game Mousetrap as a family.  All five of us cuddled by the fire together.  It may be cold outside, but my heart is very warm.  :)

Supersaturated

I read a devotional describing God as a supersaturated cloud, pouring peace into my mind.  Supersaturated. Well, I tried looking this word up and found a lot of physics...  I even found one definition for a child and I still didn't understand it.  As it relates to this post will be my own interpretation, so all you physics folks out there, be easy...

When I think of God as a supersaturated cloud, I smile.  I envision a white puffy beautiful always overflowing mass of vapor.  The state of being constantly overflowing allows a continuous dripping of peace and love and all things so good.  The things of God, the good things.  

When life gets harried, and believe you me...it does with three kids...  this picture of God as a supersaturated cloud centers me.  His goodness never fails to rain on me.  Despite my own failings, there is nothing I can do to stop the constant drip.  

If I think about it, I can even hear that drip, much like a leaky faucet.  Constant, rhythmic, soothing.

As I view my daily life, I think of the constant dripping in my life, the constant blessings.  The richest of these is His presence.  His love. His grace. His peace...  When I take time to hear and feel that dripping, I am amazed at the surface area one drop at a time can cover.

With each drop, I breath.  I thank God for my life.  I thank God for my health.  I thank God for my husband.  I thank God for my three healthy children.  The list goes on and on and is endless as a stream that is ever flowing.

Let me share my ever flowing stream...

My three happy little ones.  Stan and I were standing behind the camera singing, saying silly things and just loving these three sweet smiles.

Connor continues to be enamored with Lindsay Jane.  He still wants to hold her, even though she is getting to be quite big these days.  I imagine these two in the future, and I think her brother will always hold her.  So so sweet.

The boys continue to get into everything.  Here, they are behind the couch, making a fort.  I usually don't let them move the couches, but I am softening with my older age...  :)

I love this picture.  Stan has become quite the photographer with our new camera we got for Christmas.  The boys love riding bikes and are getting quite good at it.  I am so very thankful to live in a neighborhood where they can ride.

My little joy.  Lindsay Jane is all smiles and is just such a fun baby.  She just had her 4 month check up and weighed in at 14 pounds 9 ounces, 7 pounds exactly past her birth weight.  She is growing too fast!

My boys are really into legos these days.  It has been a nice change for them as Santa turned their train table into a lego table. They were really proud of this creation...you got it, angry birds and legos together...a little boys heaven.

One of my very favorite pictures to date of Miss Lindsay.  She has a way with her smiles.  You just can't help but to smile back at her.  She is really this happy most of the time.  What a precious gift.

Here is Connor saying, "CHEESE".  He has become quite difficult to photograph.  He is constantly moving and being silly.  He also has about the biggest heart ever.  He continues to think of others and is very protective of "his family".  Wow to anyone who messes with any of us (esp. at the rate he continues to grow)!!

Landon taking a walk around down memory lane.  We put out our "walk around" for Lindsay and the boys acted like their long lost friend had finally returned home.  So funny.

Lindsay Jane on her 4 month birthday.  Notice her bibs in every picture?  I know I have mentioned how smiley she is, she is equally as "spitty".  She is what us GI folks call, "a happy spitter".  It is hard trying to find bibs that aren't baby pink to match her little outfits.  Oh, the trials of having a girl... :)

Landon and his birthday gift from us, an "X-Wing" from Star Wars.  Stan and Kim (our super duper babysitter) worked very hard to put this puppy together.  It is one of the few toys in this house that has not been smashed.  Landon is quite proud of it!

Hope you enjoyed my update and a little bit of reflecting.  I wish I had more time to write but, I am busy playing legos and reading with Landon, teaching Connor how to bake and make crafts and figuring out new ways to make Lindsay giggle...