(I picked probably the worst spot to sit for photos, but I did get some.)

The class.

Love that smile.

Hoping to be picked to answer one of Father’s questions.

Singing her heart out.

Receiving Communion from Mrs. J.

Friends of Jesus.

Nana, Mom and Breille

Brielle and Dad

Brielle led the prayer with Father Cummings before our lunch/reception.

It was an honor to be there and it is such an honor to be your Godmother, Brielle.
Love you,
Heather

My mom and all of her kids

My mom and my brother, Scott.

All of us moms.

My sister, Angie and my nephew, Gabe.

Thank you to my wonderful husband and my boys who made my Mother’s day simply perfect.

Me and Ricky.

Me and Nolan

Me and Benny

Me and my boys.

Attempting a picture of all of us.  Ken was happy despite how this make look

Tired.   It was a busy, fantastic day.

Love,

Heather

Love,

Heather

It’s a beautiful night.

Love,
Heather

My neighbors and I have commented many times over the past few weeks about how awesome it is.   From “I think the cul-de-sac is going to be hopin’ this summer!”  to “Wow, how many kids are out there?!?” (for the record, there are LOTS!)  to “I LOVE this” …. the sentiments are the same.    We are all thankful for the friendships forming between our children.     We all come forth from the houses and while the kids run quickly to each other, the parents eventually make it to a curb, the grass or sometimes the middle of the driveway to sit and chat about naptimes, potty training, school, jobs, work, life.    It’s just what my kids need.   And at the end of a long nap-less day and in preparation for the bedtime battles of late, it’s just what I need.

(Love the picture above… you never know what character might join you in the circle)

From baseball to basketball,

From motor vehicles to bicycles,

From hide and seek to masked sword fights

From baby bouncers to pogo sticks – there’s something for everyone.

(Please pray for this little man who underwent a procedure yesterday to open his airway which was previously only open at 10%!)

 A co-worker of mine asked a rhetorical question the other day, “My gosh, do kids even  play kick the can anymore?!?”  with the expected response to be “no, too much video games, organized sports, etc.”    But, if there was ever a neighborhood that could keep that game alive, I think we’ve got it.
The past few weeks have indeed been hopin’!
Looking forward to summer evenings in the circle.
Love,
Heather

Or if you know my husband, this may also seem like a moot point.   Ken was a pitcher in college, starts planning his Fantasy Baseball team each year in January and we’ve spent each one of his birthdays since I have met him at a baseball game of some sort.

But it terms of our family, not just Ken, it’s starting.    It may be a little early to call and I may be a bit biased, but Ricky is loving baseball.

Our little man scored the first run of his first game.   During the second game he ran to first base like a speed demon to tag a runner out.   And during the last game he hit a triple.

And while all these things are great and I am very proud, my favorite part of it all is that he loves it.   He gets excited to practice, he wants to know when his next game is and the recent surprise of new baseball pants went over way better than a hotwheel car or candy surprise.

He likes that his team is the Diamondbacks, “because that’s a rattlesnake, Mommy.”

And he is SO interested in who he is going to “verse” each week.    “Mom, we are versing the Giants this week!”    “Awe, Mom, I think we are versing the Redsox today” (he doesn’t really want to beat the Redsox since his uncle Scott loves the Redsox).

He and his friends use this verb often and I have yet to correct them, because I think it the cutest little phrase ever.   They are constantly saying things like, “Let’s verse Ashton with nerf guns.” or  “Ryan, I’m going to verse you on the Wii first, then I will verse Kyler.”   Ahh, I love it. 

He is into the game and is really starting to understand it.

So, we’ll see how it all goes, but I think he may just be a baseball player.
Love,
Heather

I’ve been busy with life.   I’ve been packing my days full with all of the things I mentioned in my last post:  running, planning parties, visiting with friends and enjoying my family.     My boy’s energy seems to have exponentially grown in the past few weeks and I am running like crazy to keep up with them… enjoying the race most days (however, I’d really go for a nap by all of them at the same time any day now  ).   

And, I’ve been reading.   Yes, ME, reading a book other than The Hungry Caterpillar, Berenstein Bears, or Star Wars.   A book of my choice that I love and can hardly stand to put down.    It’s funny how things work.    The day I announced to the internet that I couldn’t remember the last time I finished a book this book arrived:

This book is written by my favorite blogger, an amazing mom, photographer and writer, Kelle Hampton.  I pre-ordered the book a few months before it was available and when it arrived I cracked the cover and read three chapters in one sitting.    I haven’t finished it yet but I’m close and I have enjoyed each and every page.

Kelle has a a wonderful, positive outlook on life and beautiful views on embracing and celebrating everyone and their differences.    I’m reading these last few chapters slowly because I’m not quite ready to be finished.

Anyway, a huge thank you again, not only for reading the last post but to all of you who return often to look at my pictures and read about my life.   I appreciate it more than you know.
Much love,
Heather

When I first read the blog post I walked away from the computer with the exact feeling she was trying to prevent us from having… that I didn’t live up to the mom that I should be.     You see, her examples hit home with me.  The first being  the idea that moms are “convinced that everyone else has magnetic, alphabetized spice containers.”    Well you know what?    I love having organized cabinets, drawers and cupboards.   In fact I have an organized snack rack (albeit, not alphabetized) hanging inside my pantry.

Her next example was, “thematically accessorized” parties.    It’s no news flash that I love planning and creating themed parties.   Another example was that she didn’t make grilled cheese in the shape of ice cream cones.    Well, I spent last Saturday morning cutting turkey and cheese into star shapes for star-shaped lunchables.   And so on.     Towards the end of the article she mentioned that her mother, “didn’t lift weights or run marathons.”    Here I am fresh from the gym where I lifted weights and am training for, yet another, half marathon.

Slam.    What I read was, “you must not be giving your kids YOU if you do all of these things.”   And I felt guilty.    I honestly felt guilty all afternoon for enjoying a Pinterest project and almost didn’t run home from Ricky’s baseball practice because my kids probably needed me to ride in the car with them on the five minute drive home.    But during that run, (one of the most enjoyable runs I’ve had in awhile)  I reflected on what my kids really need from me.

What my kids need from me, is not necessarily what your kids need from you.    I have a friend who is learning how to sew and is becoming an amazing seamstress.    She gets ideas from pinterest and in turn posts her projects to her blog and to pinterest.   And she is an amazing mom.    I would venture to say that her kids need her to spend the time sewing because it makes her happy.   And maybe that helps to make her a better mom?   I have another friend who does all kinds of educational projects with her kids all of the time.    It’s something she is good at and something that makes her happy.   And she is an amazing mom.    I have another friend who works full-time and never misses a school performance, soccer game or cuddling with her kids even though her schedule is so crazy busy.    She works full-time because she loves her job and is good at it and she, too, is an amazing mom.

Benny needs me to lay with him and snuggle him every morning.   I need the snuggle time too.    He needs me to build with blocks and do puzzles.   When he gets hurt or is sad he needs to be held.

Nolan needs me to rock him, just him, for a long time each night.  Rocking and winding down in their dark room is one of my favorite parts of the day.   He also needs me to pretend that he is a scary monster that is going to get me.   He tells me multiple times each day, “I hold you,” when he needs a minute with his mommy.

Ricky needs me to do creative projects with him.   He needs me to watch him practice baseball.    He needs me to read an extra book at night and snuggle longer than normal, sometimes.   I also need this time with my oldest boy.

There are some days when my boys and I both need a spontaneous trip to the duck pond, just because.  Just because I’ve worked all day or just because we’ve had a busy afternoon.

But, my boys also need me to go for a run, write a blog post, catch up on Facebook, have a night out with my friends or a night out with their Daddy alone.   These things make me ME.   In addition to spending time with my boys, these things also make me happy and in turn make me a better mom.

When I returned from my run, I re-read the article and realized that I had missed the whole point.    She was saying exactly what I had figured out on my run… my boys want ME.   All of me.    The runner, the organizer, the snuggler.      Her point was not to compare yourself to other mothers and I had done just THAT.    Maybe you hate to run, perhaps sorting m&ms to color coordinate with your next party will make you go crazy and possibly bags of chips will come flying off your pantry shelf when you pry open the door.

I know moms that are gourmet cooks.  I am a terrible cook.    I know moms that read books (plural!) every single month.   I don’t know the last time I finished a book.     I know moms that have cleaning routines that rival Mr. Clean.   My floors are never quite clean and I constantly have piles of laundry waiting to be done.     I know moms and kids who are dressed and showered and are beautiful before the sun comes up.   My boys know a mommy in pajamas and with no make-up on more so than not.    The point is, and her point was… your kids and your spouse need YOU.  They need you to be who you are and most importantly need you to not dwell on who you are not.   We all have things that we do well and things we would like to do better.    We are all doing the best we can and doing the things that work for us and our families.   No one is perfect despite what Pinterest or Facebook or their blogs may tell you.   We’re just all working towards the most perfect version of ourselves.

Do I spend too much time on Facebook?  Absolutely.   Do I compare myself to others on Pinterest?  Sometimes.    Do I wish I could be like the moms that author my favorite blogs?  Yes.    Thanks for the reminder April Perry (author of the blog post) of what is really important.

And finally,
and I will preface this last comment with saying that I am the least political person you’ll probably ever meet (it’s a wonder I married my husband and that I am the daughter of my opinionated father  ), in light of the recent political Mommy Wars, whether we work full-time because we want to or because we have to, and whether we stay at home because we want to or because we have to, we all deserve respect.    We deserve it from others and we need to give it to ourselves.   Trust that you’re doing what is best for you and for your children.   And if you’re not, you’ll do something different because we’re mothers and we are constantly adapting and changing to do what is best for our families.

Love, Heather

Ricky’s friend:  “Christmas is the best holiday ever.”
Ricky:  “Ya.  Well Christmas AND Easter.”
Ricky’s friend:  “Ya and Easter too.
“Ricky:  “Because Easter is when Jesus died for us ALL.”
Ricky’s friend:  “Ya.  He died so we all could go to heaven.”
Ricky: “Yep.”

And, my heart was content.  I stood there smiling at these sweet boys having this conversation about the important things all on their own.    I’m not going to kid myself, it’s a little confusing to Ricky still and quite confusing to explain on a 6 year old level, but I know he is beginning to understand the real meaning of Easter.

Friday afternoon, when I began to get a little concerned again that the Easter Bunny was taking over the holiday in our house, Ricky said to this same friend, “Do you want to see some very special eggs?  These eggs are special because they teach us all about God.”

Ken’s mom sent us these Resurrection Eggs and from the moment they arrived, we have all been excited about them.

We started by opening an egg a day and reading about each one.   Each egg has a significant object in it having to do with Jesus’ death and Resurrection.  It comes with a book that includes a bible verse that pertains to each object in the egg and then an explanation in lay terms that is easier for children to understand.

The eggs contain things like a spear that they stuck Jesus with to make sure he was dead, a rock that covered the tomb, a crown of thorns, etc.   All things that tell the story of the Resurrection.

The spear.

Over the weekend we opened and read about each egg again.

The 3 nails, formed into a cross.

This will be a great tradition for my kids to have each year to help us focus on the Resurrection and not so much on the egg hunts and Easter bunny.    Thank you Grandma DeDe for the (as always) unique, meaningful and awesome gifts.

Last year, Grandma DeDe sent us a Golden Egg.   A month or so ago when we unpacked all of the Easter stuff, Ricky remembered the Golden Egg and was SO excited about it, convinced he would be the one to find it on Easter again this year.   A couple weeks ago Ricky dropped the Golden Egg and was devastated.

I told Ricky that I would do my best to glue it back together (because I had searched and searched and cannot find one anywhere!) but I kept forgetting to buy super glue.    Luckily the Easter Bunny brought some with him and this is what we awoke to on Easter morning.

Along with filling all of our plastic eggs, he fixed and filled our Golden Egg.   He also left the glue in case we should happen to need it again.

The boys woke up bright and early and searched and searched for their Easter baskets.   Ricky found Nolan and Benny’s baskets (and new Shark bike helmets) first and was so excited when he finally found his and his Darth Maul Light Saber that he has been wanting for months.

I had no idea that all the boys would be so interested in the light saber.

Benny also loved his “colors” and “Polar Express” (aka Train) Coloring Book.

But didn’t want to miss out on Light Saber time, either.

I hid the eggs outside so the boys could have an Easter Egg hunt before church.

Nolan and Benny would find one egg, open it up and eat the candy before moving on to search for any other eggs.

And Ricky, indeed, found the Golden Egg!

After church we headed to Papa and Nana’s house where the boys received another Easter basket and got to compete in another Easter egg hunt.

Star Wars Legos from Nana – it was quite the Star Wars themed Easter for Ricky.

My nephew, Gabe, digging in to his Eggs instead of finding more, also.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter.

Love,
Heather

Here are a few shots of our fun afternoon… some of which aren’t the greatest shots because of the darkness, but still fun.

The jellyfish are always some of my favorites to see.

And the stingrays (where they can actually pet and feed them) are the one of the kid’s favorite spots always.

We’ll be back again soon and are anxious for the new aquarium to be built.
Love,
Heather