Wow, I can't believe that it has almost been a month since I have posted. I don't know where life has gone and I have so much I could post to catch up on life. I think I'll have to pick and choose. I love blogging and documenting things for my
kid's for the future and for my family and friends to keep tabs on our lives. The only problem is my computer and blogging can be such a time sucker. I was at a MOPS conference a month or so ago and we had to write out the things that are most important to us in life and then we had to write out our daily schedule. It was an eye opener that my schedule doesn't always match what my values are and what are the most important things to me. We all talked about how in this day and age the computer can be such a time
stealer if you are not careful. My eyes were also opened to the fact that so often as moms we are multitasking. We are folding laundry while fixing puzzles. We spend all this time with our kids each day but are we giving them the one on one, eye to eye time that they need? So with 3 little ones this also has been something I have been trying to do. They get along so well and do everything together that it is easy to just spend time with all of them but I've been trying to give them each some one on one, eye to eye time and not while I'm doing wash or cleaning the kitchen. Oh, it's always good to do a little self reflection.
Well, I'm going to stay up late and try to do a little catch up tonight in the blogging world since my husband is out of town. We're going to start back at Mother's Day since my kid's made me the sweetest little gifts. Hopefully I can blog a little more this summer since we have no schedule. Maybe not though since we live outside.
So back to Being A Mom. As I reflected on being a mom on Mother's Day these were some of my thoughts. I love being a mom. From the time I was a little girl I knew I wanted to be a mommy someday. My mom stayed home with my us and instilled in me the importance of being home with your kids. I loved the fact that she was always there, saw all the good and the bad, was able to help at school and go on field trips and was home when I got home from school everyday. I knew I wanted to stay home with my kids and feel so blessed that I am able to do that. I know it is not a luxury for everyone to do that. I also feel very blessed that I have a husband who supports me and wants me to be home with our kids as much as I want to be home with them.
I had such a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. On Saturday I was served Starbucks in bed followed by a yummy breakfast. I layed in bed and read a book interrupted. I then proceed to take a bath that was interrupted. Kudos to my husband for keeping all 3 entertained and no one slipped upstairs. I then was off to get my hair cut and a pedicure. I had a little time to run some errands and then we had a picnic in the family room while watching a movie. What a great way to end a nice, quiet, relaxing day.
Sunday we were off to church and Sunday School. The kids all sang in church which was such a special treat on Mother's Day. The battery ran out on our camera so I didn't too many pics of them singing or the rest of the day which was a bummer. They were each so cute. Alexa knew
every word and sang her little heart out. Emma is our drama queen and has quite the expressions when she does anything. Shane was just a cute 2 year old would would sing and then get distracted but what was going on around him. He was pretty cute though. My favorite was him saying out loud to his friend, "Jordan, there's your mom!" and then pointing to her in the middle of a song. He also had people laughing when the little boy next to him was singing really loud so he put his fingers in his ears for the whole song. I was so bummed we didn't get any pictures of that. Well at least it is written down!
We had a very yummy brunch and then we all took a 2-3 hour nap. Eric and the kids made a yummy meal for me at night and the kids had special gifts. They were so excited and I can't believe they kept it quiet for over a week. Their little gifts also showed their little personalities. I was proud of Eric for venturing out the Pottery Painting Place with all 3 little ones. He was a brave man.
Alexa is my little helper and likes everything in its place. She decided I needed somewhere to put my jewelry when I take it off. She also loves cupcakes so what could be better. A cupcake jewelry holder.
Emma is my little fashion queen and brings such a flair to our life. She would be my coffee drinker if I would allow it. I should restate that. She would be my Starbucks coffee drinker if she was allowed. She wanted to make me a mug for my coffee. She thought the best part of it was the lid so I can take it in the car. She also was proud of the fact that she painted it black and flicked her paint brush to make spots on it.
Shane painted me a plate with his precious little hand print on it. He was so proud of his hand and explained to me that the lady painted his hand and then he put it on his plate. He also said he gave the lady high 5 and then her hand was all messy. He thought that was pretty funny. He also kept saying bounce, bounce, bounce. Eric informed me that the lady had given Shane a sponge and told him to make it bounce around the edge like Tigger. So he was occupied bouncing with yellow paint on the edge of the plate.
It was a wonderful Mother's Day!! The best part was celebrating the gift of my 3 Little Blessings. The reason I am able to celebrate Mother's Day!!
Shane, Emma, Alexa, Darby, Tyra and Mya
Darby and Alexa ... the brown haired, brown eyed Dutch girls!
Emma and Tyra .... the blondes having way too much fun!
Papa and Grammy with their little Dutch gang. Next year Papa is going to be in full costume!
The kids, grammy, aunt Alissa, aunt Ang and me all tired out after getting the streets clean. It was fun to do it as a family plus we need 8 eyes for all the little street scrubbers.
Shane is taking a little break before the festivities begin!
There is a tradition at the Tulip Festival called Scrubbing the Streets, at least that's what we call it. We need to get the streets ready and squeaky clean for the queen and her court to come down. The men and boys fill their buckets with water for tanks on the side of the road and throw the water on the road. The women and girls then come behind and sweep the streets clean.
Tyra and Alexa busy sweeping the streets.
Shane filling his bucket up with some help from mom!
Emma concentrating on the work at hand!
He had to make sure every drop of water was out of the bucket!
Alexa, Emma and Cousin Darby all tired out after scrubbing the streets!
It is hard to believe that the school year is already over. Alexa and Emma had such wonderful teachers this year in preschool. They loved every minute of it and were sad to tell their teachers and friends good bye. It was fun to see all the ways that they have grown and matured this year. Alexa can not wait for Kindergarten and Emma is excited to move up to Alexa's preschool class. Mom can't believe how fast they are growing up.
The golf cart was another hit by the kids!
Fun on the 4 wheelers!
When Alexa and Emma were sick a couple of weeks ago their preschool had an Family Night that we missed. A local Pottery Place in town came and all the kids painted a square. This is the first year the preschool is open and so the first classes there are going to have a little wall made out of all their tiles. The girls have made a special little bond with a little girl in each of their classes that happen to be sisters. They have become the best of friends. They also missed the Family Night so we went with them to paint the girls tiles for the wall. They had so much fun painting together.
We are finally all better over here. Alexa's fever ended up breaking after 14 days. Her poor little body is still recovering. She is still really tired but we are very happy to be out in the real world again. When the girls were sick we had a little Spa Day. I found these little kits and eye masks in the $1 section at Target. After being sick for over a week I thought it might be fun for them to be pampered a little. We took bathes, curled hair, did toes, sprayed glitter lotion on and relaxed with eye masks. The girls were full of giggles and loved every minute of the pampering. Shane was a little disappointed that he didn't get his toes done. I don't think daddy would have been too impressed if he ended up with some pink toes with flowers on them. I'm sure we'll be playing spa more often. 
Shane and Emma started running fevers on Monday so all 3 kids have been sick ever since. Alexa is going on day 12 of a fever and nasty respiratory stuff. Shane and Emma had an 8 day fever along with the respiratory stuff. Shane and Emma were fever free today so we were jumping up and down. We are praying Alexa will join them tomorrow and that life will be back to normal really soon.
We have spent our days cuddling on the couch, watching movies, fixing puzzles when they felt like it, playing some low key games and taking long naps. The only outing of the week last week was to the doctor. Eric chased me out of the house quite a bit this weekend so I did feel refreshed and ready to take on the sick little ones again this week. 
