March's Everyday Moments

March is usually one of the longest months for me. There are no holidays off and the winter is usually draaaaaggging it's feet in going away. 

But this March was pretty fun! We got out a lot due to the lack of snow and I just love my crazy guys!

This is what they look like when Jeff gets home, since he doesn't come home every night before they are asleep, they get super excited when he is here:

My little gq men, trying on my glasses:

Ryder has recently discovered the boys underwear drawers. He loves to wear them over his diaper and insists on it almost every day:

This month marked a new routine that Ryder came up with on his own...

One morning I went to get him out of his bed when he woke up. However, he would have none of it! He wanted to stay in his bed and he wanted something to do. So I stuck a huge pile of books in there with him and left the room. I didn't hear from him for another 30 minutes. AWESOME!!  

It has since evolved into Tave (our earliest riser) running into Ryder's room the minute he hears a peep. He throws books, toys, games, in the crib with Ryder and they hang out and play together for anywhere from 15-45 minutes. It is so cute and adorable. 

I walked in one morning to find Tave reading Ryder his favorite book:

Ryder loves doing what we do. So naturally, when he saw my hair in a towel, he had to have it too:

LOVE this boy:

Excuse ALL the Ryder pics, the older boys just don't like posing for me anymore and usually run away!!

Ryder loves his batman shirt and can actually say batman!!  He also loves the boys underwear. He wore this for an entire day...classy I know:

My three sweet boys all snuggled up with popcorn and a show. This is how we get through evenings without daddy:

Yay for March, April coming soon!!!

Superhero Week!

Tave has been requesting a super hero week at school. Typically we try to stick to educational themes...but I couldn't say no, he was just too excited. Aaaand, he's only three, so no biggie.

It was a hit (since there are 3 boys and 1 girl in the class, Hailey was a trooper and played along)!!

Each child got to pick the super hero they wanted to create and then I drew them on our rolls and the kiddos colored them.  Tave still has his batman!

I might have had to help a little...these kids LOVE their play time together. Spiderman is completely colored by Noah, though. Impressive, huh!

During part of our super hero training we had to save the good guys from Mr. Freeze:

It was definitely the favorite activity of the week!

Then we had to knock over the villians with a ball (like bowling):

We also did some super hero packets and talked about being super heroes every day by serving others and doing something kind.  

The kiddos earned their masks at the end of the week:

It was a SUPER week!!!

St. Patrick's Day!!

We love holidays around here. I'm  not huge on decorating (maybe someday I'll be better) but we do try to make the 'day of' a little special. 

This year we had to make our leprechaun trap:

I don't know how such a tiny leprechaun left ALL this stuff (that's what happens when Dad helps out, next year I think he's going to bring just a LITTLE)

We closed the blinds so we wouldn't scare him away and Weston kept checking to see if he was trapped yet:

Finding the goods:

The boys found the spot where he escaped through the fence. Guess he left a few footprints behind:

Happy St. Pattie's Day!!

February's Everyday Moments

February is right about when the winter time crazies hit. We're sick of being inside and spring is just around the corner. So we have to come up with some fun things to keep us busy while it's still freezing.

The tent is a great distraction that keeps them occupied for hours:

Ryder has discovered the joy of dress up. His favorites are glasses, hats, and shoes.

Oh man, this kid cracks us up every day!

The boys adore our little Ryder. They seriously cannot get enough of him and want to do so much for him. Which isn't always great when you are 1.5 and wanting independence!! But it is SO fun to see those sweet moments of love between brothers. That is when my heart just fills to bursting and I feel like the luckiest mama alive.  

Tave has taken to having Ryder sit on his lap. And surprisingly, Ryder likes it too:

We typically have pretty good days. I probably always seem a bit frazzled since I still like to think I'll see Jeff more, but reality is sinking in and we're getting used to him being gone a lot.  The boys and I are settling into  a routine and most days, though they don't go perfectly,  are really good.
We are growing together and it is great.

Some days, though, are exceptional days. Days when the kids ALL wake up happy and in great moods. Days when they fight less, love more, and things just fall into place. I don't know how that magic happens, but it's always welcome.   This was a day like that. Everyone was in a goofy/silly mood and we had a blast:

The boys were so excited to show me their 'armies'.  They had set them all up in their room and I had to take a picture to remember this cuteness.  They were pretty serious about their armies, so we had to keep the door closed so Ryder wouldn't mess with them:

A happy happy moment when Daddy was home and got Ryder up from his nap. Oh this boy loves his daddy and loves to snuggle. So sweet!

4th.

Jeff and I were talking the other day about our marriage and all of the things we've done in the past 6.5 years. 

 Jeff has been in school 4.5 of the 6.5 years.

We've lived in three different homes and bought our first home.

I've been pregnant four times.

We've had three (soon to be four) sweet boys.

It has been Busy. Wonderful. Difficult. Rewarding. Sweet. Full.

We both agreed that Parenthood has been, by far, the best thing that happened in our lives. We are loving learning, growing, and becoming a family together. 

We are so amazed by this experience. Every day offers new challenges, new discoveries, new joys, new loves, and new hope.

Motherhood has become a defining part of my life. While I still have other hobbies, interests, loves, and desires, being a Mother comes first. It has to. Babies can't feed themselves, change their diapers, or rock themselves to sleep. Little boys can't teach themselves to read, kiss their own scrapes, and learn how to share with their siblings. Young men don't just accidentally turn into productive people and amazing husbands and fathers. They are taught, and guided, nurtured and loved.  By mothers and fathers.

I have so far to go before I am the mother I truly think my children deserve. But I am trying my best and realizing that my boys love me. Imperfections and all. Motherhood- being their mother - is not just the best job. It is my job. And I love it.

When I saw a recent maternity photo shoot, I knew that I wanted one.

I wanted to capture all the hopes and dreams that are tied up in those 9 months.

Those 9 months have made up a huge part of our marriage. 4 times over.

Those 9 months have shaped who we are and have changed us from a couple into a family. 

From a husband and wife into a father and mother.

How lucky we are to be  part of such a miracle. Each and every time.

That is what I was hoping to capture.

Thank you to Heather for capturing this moment so perfectly.