I birthed Dennis the Menace

Before noon, he had replaced my Aldi quarter with a fake nickel. pulled up my dress while I was having a conversation with an elderly couple, and flushed a bag of acorns down the potty.  The following day he locked us out of our house while food was cooking and threw plastic toys in out steaming veggies.

Don't get me wrong, we have the sweetest moments together.  I love being this kid's mommy.  I just hope his future kid returns the favor.

Meet the real life Dennis the Menace, Hudson Patridge:

Team Night

Last night, we had the joy of hosting Will's varsity soccer team in our backyard.  With a few folks help, I rounded up lights, tablecloths, lanterns, tables, chairs, jars, flowers, and even a photo booth.  We catered in Taziki's, and I grabbed a few desserts from Publix.  It was a fun night for sure.

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When Will took this job, our hope was to have these girls into our home and into our lives.   We wanted them to feel welcome and loved.  Last night was a big part in making this happen.  Thankful that Will wants to include me in this.  It is a joy to be a part of this with him.  Just don't ask me for any soccer tips.

Instagram Love

I am a big Instagram fan.  When my children are older and read this blog, I am not sure what will be available through social media, but I love this app!  It is an instant way for me to share pictures with a smaller group of people, specifically our family.  It is also a way for me to take quick pictures and then either add them to this blog or order through an online site.  My favorite part is that it helps to recognize the beauty in the most mundane and ordinary moments in my life.

Although, folks that read this blog and follow me through Instagram usually receive no new info from my blog now. Instagram ate this place.  Yet, I am continuing to blog.  Mainly so that my family has this journal, but also as a place for me to write when the mood strikes!

Glimpses of last week through Instagram:

Rainy day activity: he watches the fish and she watches the people.

Afternoon swing while brother gets his energy out on the trampoline.

Caught them snuggling.

Double fisting.

I walked away for a minute and when I returned, she was covered in markers and he was washing his hands with the entire bottle of glue.

First ponytail.  April 19. 2014

Prepping our garden. Dirt is his favorite.

Our first garden.

Easter 2014

We celebrated Holy Week very simply this year.  We read a few Bible stories and books pertaining to Easter, including The Tale of the Three Trees,  The Parable of the Lily, and Peter Rabbit.  We made Resurrection rolls, dyed eggs, and painted a few watercolors.  We also made resurrection eggs, but only did 3 of them.  Fail.

On Easter, we attended church and then went to Ge and Pop's for lunch.  Ge always makes things very special with cute decorations, Easter gifts for everyone, and party poppers. It was a fun day celebrating Jesus!

Easter baskets!

Church

Ge made Clara's dress.

How was my day?

A SAHM's response to her husband's question, "How was your day?"

"Today has been a lifetime.  There were moments when my heart was so full, I thought I might explode, and there were other moments when my senses were under such intense assault that I was certain I'd explode. I was both lonely and desperate to be alone.  I was simultaneously bored out of my skull and overwhelmed with so much to do.  Today was too much and not enough. It was loud and silent. It was brutal and beautiful. I was at my very best today and then, just a moment later, at my very worst. Husband, when your day is totally dependent on the moods and needs and schedules of tiny, messy, beautiful rug rats, your day is all of these things and none of these things, sometimes within the same three-minute period.  But this is not a complaint. Don't try to fix it. I wouldn't have my day any other way."-Glennon Melton

Such true words for ALL moms.  There is so much richness to my days.  Always joy to be found, both in the happy and hard moments.

Here are some glimpses from our past few weeks:

Mud again.  His happy place.

18 month check up.  She never goes anywhere without baby and snuggie.

Rest time selfie.

Dinner with friends.  

Hudson and his bedtime necessities.

Sweet moment.  

Friday donut date.

Cul-de-sac cookout.

How Clara occupies herself during Hudson's preschool time.

Trying out his new rain boots.

One on one time with this baby.

Watching Daddy coach.

"Mommy, we are in the fireplace.  Now set us on fire."

Sandbox is up again  Now we have a lid to keep out cat poop.  You live and you learn.

She fell asleep like this.

Our pastor gave our kids this battery powered fire truck.  He is happy.  So are the kids in our cul-de-sac.

Dessert before noon at Maw Maw and Paw Paw's house.

He fell asleep while putting Hud's to bed.  

This guy loves a tent.