Over-structured, over-scheduled, perfectness

Our days this summer have been long, busy, and wonderful.

I'm not a busy person. But like all things, my children, most especially my sweet daughter, seem to challenge all things I believe in parenting.

Like, I'm of the mindset to homeschool, H is hell bent on attending school.

I believe in lots of unstructured, free range play, H demands structure and busyness. It's like she needs it to thrive in a way I've never experienced.

So when we have days like Mondays where she has swim lessons, gymnastics, and dance class, I'm exhausted, but she's all revved up and ready for more.

As is parenting, I suppose. You want one thing, your kids want another. And I just have to stop and take a deep breath and remind myself that my children aren't me. And sometimes that's a really hard concept to swallow. I mean, I carried them for 40+ weeks in my womb. They were physically connected to me. But when it's all said and done, they're their own little people with their own thoughts and ideas and needs and wants. And they don't always line up with my own.

And that's okay. Because it's my job as a the mom to filter through them all and separate the wants from the needs and take action. And accept that their needs will time and time again differ from my wants. And I can't be selfish enough to enforce my wants just so my ideals can be played out.

I digress.

Sort of.

Today was a busy day. A typical day. A beautiful, wonderful, fantastic day.

The kiddos had swim lessons at 9am. This is good at getting me prepared for when they start school in September. Having to be out the door at 8:45am still has my work out schedule thrown for a loop, since I typically do it in the morning. But we also typically have an extra hour, so I just need to find a new groove, which will likely consist of getting up at 5:30am so I can work out before they wake up. But that takes a lot of motivation...

After swimming we visited one of my good friends who had a sweet baby boy last week. Miss H was over the moon holding the tiny babe, and Mr. B was excited about the pirate bubbles she gave us for his birthday party next month. (WHAT!? How is my sweet baby a month shy of three?!)

When we departed I'd intended to go home and get some cleaning done and do some packing for our upcoming trip, but the kids asked if we could go to campus and play, so per typical, I obliged them. Who can say no to playing when the alternative is cleaning and packing!?

We made a pit stop at home for 40 minutes for lunch and then met my baby sister and the little boy she's baby-sitting for bowling.

I've not been bowling since I've been married, and then quite some time before that. So it was the kids first time. They were totally stoked and it was so much fun just watching them.

We topped off 3 hours of bowling with piano lessons for H, gymnastics for B, and then dinner with Papa and Grandpa J.

H is learning "Do a Deer" on piano, and I obviously think that is awesome! If I thought she'd sit through The Sound of Music I'd make an afternoon of it. But I doubt it. If it were a live show, for sure. So maybe eventually!

I love my kids. I love my husband. I love my life.

And sometimes, okay most times, I have to just bite my tongue and accept that things have a way of working out the way they are supposed to. It's hard some days to let go of my control-freak ways. But Lord knows that when I do, it's all for the better.

I can't force H to not want to dance or do gymnastics or the million other things she's involved in. I could prevent her from doing them, of course, but where would that get me?

So to the momma in me that once said I would never have over-scheduled, over-structured, too-busy kids - well, screw you. You had no idea what you were judging. You had no idea what you were against. Because your busy, busy daughter is awesome. Just freaking fantastic. Even if her needs differ from what your ideals had once been. Because she is perfect. She is ideal. Vivacious, stubborn, high-maintenance and all. She's everything I could have hoped for, even if I had no idea once upon a time that this crazy structured, play-by-the-rules, girl was the one I was meant to mother.

I can embrace anything.

So never say never.

Will you waltz with me?

J was headed out the door this morning, running a few minutes behind. I handed him breakfast and lunch to-go, while he grabbed his briefcase.

He'd all ready bid the kids farewell and filled them with hugs and kisses to last until his return.

Two steps out the door, about to shut it behind him, and Miss H runs to the door and says, "Papa, will you waltz with me? Just one dance before you leave?"

J, hands full, came back inside, put everything down, and waltzed with his tiny daughter.

I've been told I'm "lucky" to have such a great husband. That my children are "lucky" to have such a calm, involved, doting father.

But luck has nothing to do with it. I married this man because I knew how wonderful he was. I refused to settle for "good enough."

Good enough has never been a choice I've made; I'm too type-A for that. I strive for the best.

And I got that in both my husband and the father of my children when I found J.

He is the best.

My best.

The kids' best.

Our best.

He was running late today. But H asked for a dance. And he stopped the world, revolving on it's axis, for 60 seconds and danced with her. Because he knows what's more important.

And he's the best.

Rainbows and Sunshine

Here's a bit of cuteness for your day.

I'm kind of in awe nearly every second by the awesomeness and amazingness that are my tiny offspring. I'm just not sure how I ever got to be so blessed and fortunate to have these two amazing little people. It's hard not to always be happy, even in the middle of craziness, when I've got these two people to be so thankful for!

For sure, it's not all rainbows and sunshine all the time. But 99% of the time, yeah. Yeah it is. And I freaking love it!

H and B are such beautiful people. They have such beautiful souls.

My dear H is so wise. A little old lady trapped inside a tiny girl body. She's thoughtful and loving and oh-so nurturing. She's crazy-smart and very witty. She's so creative she blows me away most days. And her smile is contagious. She's the first one in a group of kids to offer up a solution to a problem. She's always eager and willing to lend a hand when I need help with something.

And B. My funny, silly B. He's a ham. He can make anyone laugh in .02 seconds, no matter your mood. He astounds me everyday by his physical abilities, which seem to be limitless. He's my lovey cuddler, always full of big hugs and funny words. He's quick to destroy, but the things he creates are breathlessly beautiful. He is quick to wipe a friend's tears away and give a kiss. He is a super hero in his own right.

Those dimples!

 None of the loving was staged, I just clicked away while they hugged and kissed. Their sibling love is the best thing to witness!

 



They wanted to make sad faces.

And mad faces.

The way B looks at his big sister...

B wanted to take a picture.

So of course, Miss H had to take a photo as well!

 

 

June: A Month in Review

It seems June has come and nearly gone and we've been so crazy busy I've hardly posted anything.

Summer is in full-gear around here! And summer mostly just been busy! But really, we're always busy. So that's nothing new!

J has been away most of this months so it's just been the kiddos and me. It feels like we hardly stop.

H is in gymnastics 2x a week, perfecting those bridges and splits and whatever else it is they do. I don't know, despite like 12 years of gymnastics I still can't do a cartwheel. So Miss H totally did not get her talent from me, ha!

B has progressed to the 3 year old gymnastics class, which he loves because "No mommies allowed! Just big kids!" It's really fun to watch him in that setting, apart from me, thriving and having fun.

They're both in tap. They enjoy it, but have both made it clear that they expect to go back to ballet when tap is all over.

H did two weeks of swim lessons, and we're gearing up for the next two week session to begin tomorrow, which B will also start. He asked to go, so this should be fun. I'm totally rooting for him!

Miss H has super gotten into spelling this month. It's been a lot of fun listening to her ramble off how to spell words, and asking for help when she gets stuck.

Mr. B has found great interest in puzzles, and the look of pure delight when he finishes putting the pieces together all by himself is awesome.

And Aunt Bucky came home!!! H and B (and me and J) couldn't be happier to have my baby sister home.

June has been fun-filled. Two of my dearest and closest friends flew out to attend another friend of ours' wedding. We crashed with them in their hotel room and the kids had a blast, both at the hotel and just hanging out.

Oh, and baby the best part of June yet - B finally seems like he might be outgrowing his wheat sensitivity. That would make my life a million times easier - such a good reason to be thrilled, right?

We are definitely looking forward to a busy and fun July, and hopefully a more laid back and mellow August before school starts up the first week of September!

But enough with the jabbering. Here is our month in pictures (not in chronological order, because that takes too much time). I won't hold it against you if you don't get through them all! ;-)

Putting on a show at the hotel

 

 So excited to have Aunt B back that he insisted on eating cereal on her shoulders!

 

 Look at those heels!

 

Goodness, I'm the luckiest!

H zeroed in on the baby at the wedding and made herself the official helper.

And to think, I went abroad with not intention of making friends. And I ended up making the best!

Tuckered out from all the partying.

Kate knows how to make friends with H and B - cake pops and chocolate milk!

 Wakey, wakey!

 

Two beautiful ladies!

She's got this travelling thing down!

 Spelling!

 

 Big kid gymnastics!

 

Tracing each other...or a scene out of CSI. 

 Papa jungle gym.

 

Sometimes, it's just too hot to go on.

I love this!

This will surely be known as "The Summer of Dehydrated Fruit."

Aunt Bucky is back!!!

H's new gymnastics center.

Observing the little fledgling.

Climbing trees while H is at piano lessons.

Back of a semi at Touch a Truck.

Read for World Cup!

This is the first time B let them clean his teeth! Hooray!

Baby love! I had FOUR friends have babies this month. And one more to go next month. Loving these little squishes.

 We know how to do the ghetto waterslide around here!

 

 H loves her some babies!

 



 B: Okay, you take it back.

 

 We bought some fall school clothes...suddenly she looks 13!

My lil' taco Viking.