Observations on a summer night 2014 (Ben 8, Mason 8, Izaak 11)

I think I will be using my blog as more of a journal...I am not recording things like I want to. I am not going to worry about spelling errors, grammer, etc...so these might be hard to read. But, they are for me and my family to look back on...and I don't think most people look at blogs anymore anyway. (I know I don't) Ben was acting kinda lethargic yesterday. He asked to watch netflix on my computer, and then stayed in my bed watching cartoons for 2 or more hours. He never sits that long. I wasn't paying much attention to him, I guess because it was nice to have a silent child for awhile. When it was finally time for bed, he came into the living room and just broke down. Started crying while he was telling his brothers to please not put books on his bed...because then he has to lift them off his bed and put them on his bookshelf. I knew then that I had neglected Ben, he obviously wasn't feeling well, probably over-tired, etc...I got up and went into his room with him and layed with him for about 30 minutes talking about our day. He is such a snuggler and loves the individual attention. I tickled his back and his face. He LOVES this. I have done this since he was a baby and it instantly relaxes him. It was just so peaceful, and almost spiritual, as I lay there and soaked up the goodness of my little boy. He was almost asleep when his brothers marched into his room. Izaak went straight for a toy and I was just about to scold him for waking up Ben...when Izaak explained that He and Mason were here to clean his room for him. I went from being upset to immediate feelings of gratitude for my boys. (I had promised earlier in the day a special surprise to anyone who got their rooms cleaned...really cleaned...like nothing under their beds or stuffed behind closet doors. Mason & Izaak both had their rooms cleaned hours before, but Ben wasn't up to it and didn't get his done. My surprise was also only "valid" for today. They had to get it cleaned the same day I offered the surprise. The surprise was any night of their choosing they could stay up as late as they wanted.) So, you can imagine how proud I was to see M & I come do such a sweet service for Ben. It's moments like these that I realize what precious souls I have charge over...and that they are much better people than I am. I learn so much from them. I am so grateful to be their mom.

Doors!

Something to think about

When you surrender to that fact then real balance comes, of having your soul and mind and heart in sync. ...We can never go back to the fleeting moment that constitutes our children's childhood. We only get one chance to get it right. And doing it right takes a lot of time. How we choose to spend our time is ultimately our greatest power as human beings" Iris Krasnow from her book "Surrendering to Motherhood"

I'm back!

Finally getting the hang of my new computer and Windows 8. I still haven't recovered all my old pictures. I think I can get a lot of them back...but I haven't had the time to get into Randy's work and copy them. I will forever back up my pictures. Anyway, I am excited to be scrapping again.

New York Times article to read later

“The bottom line: if you want a happier family, create, refine and retell the story of your family’s positive moments and your ability to bounce back from the difficult ones. That act alone may increase the odds that your family will thrive for many generations to come.”

Legos