Weekend Update

  
  It's finally starting to cool down here in Chicago, but we had our hottest weekend yet. This weekend really seemed to fly by though, which surprised me since my husband was gone working for most of it. Friday he was off though and we went and got the rest of the plants for our garden, had lunch at one of our favorite Mexican spots, then came home to plant. Saturday was spent in the backyard playing in water, and I took out their little pool to splash around in since it was over 90 degrees. Then Sunday I took the boys out for coffee and donuts, stopped at the farmer's market where we picked up some delicious strawberries and focaccia, and then the park. Later I was even able to get my oldest to nap, so I could take lay down for a bit. Then we made dinner and had my favorite summertime dessert, strawberry shortcake. Here's to hoping this week goes fast since we are spending Memorial day weekend in Indiana. Hope everyone else enjoyed their weekend as much as I did. I also really need to take more pictures, so I have some more to share with you guys:)

The Kindness of Strangers

     Sometimes I read blogs and I think, "Wow this lady really has it all together: her house looks amazing, she dresses nice, she bakes, cooks, does crafts, she is like some ubersupermom." Then I start to feel bad about my parenting thinking I should do more and be more since most days I wear comfy clothes, structured projects are rare, and my house looks like a tornado ran through it even if I just cleaned.
      I try to be organized, but it just doesn't seem to work. Usually I have all the kids stuff together, but then when it comes to my own stuff I'm a mess. Always trying to find my keys or cell phone. Yesterday after coming home from my mom's house I unloaded all the bags out my car and the kids thinking everything went smoothly. Then this morning my doorbell rang and I looked out to see a man I didn't recognize I opened the door cautiously and he said "I saw this purse laying on the front lawn and figured it belonged to whoever lived here." I had no idea I left my purse after rushing in late and getting everyone ready for bed. I am so grateful that he brought it to my door and everything was still in it. Lately I've been hearing of robberies in the neighborhood, so I feel so lucky that it was still there. Thanks to one kind stranger who made my day:) Now you know at least one mom who is far from having it all together.

Happy Mother's Day

  
 While being a mom is the hardest job you will ever have it is also one of the best. I know when I look back these will be some of my fondest memories even though there are days that are hard and filled with tears those will be forgotten. All I will remember are hugs between brothers, Liam reading a comic to Declan, Rory shaking his head and waving his hands as he dances at the first sound of music, the funny way Declan says hot dog, and watching Liam help his brothers.
      I hope all you ladies were able to relax a little and enjoy your Mother's day:)

Why do You Blog?

     Do you ever get caught up with looking at the stats on your blog? I know I do, it was especially bad when I first started I always wanted to check and see how many people were looking at my pages. This is why I don't weigh myself because I become obsessed with numbers.
        Now I will look once in a while, but not as often because I write this blog for myself and my family. I hope one day my children will be able to look back and see all the wonderful memories I have of them. Which reminds me of another cute thing Declan does when the tea kettle goes off he will jump up and start saying "oh, hot water" and then will go turn the stove off. Don't worry he is always supervised. The first time he did it I followed him to see what he was going to do and was surprised he knew how to turn off the stove. Then I thought about how smart he is, but also how dangerous that could be if he just decided to turn it on one day. Luckily our house is small though so I can always see into the kitchen or hear what is going on.
       I went a little off topic back to blogging and stats. While I would like people to read my blog because I find it nice that people are interested in my life or writing in the same way I enjoy reading others blogs, this blog is really for me and my family and I try to remember that now. I think when I started I worried if I was posting enough and if I was writing about the right topics, but I have learned to take a more relaxed stance now. Maybe too relaxed at times because I really do want to keep all these small memories here that I will probably forget about in a few months or years.  Soon I will be writing some updates on Liam and Rory and have those reviews I was talking about.

Declan at 2

   


  Since this little man has turned 2 he has been talking up a storm and his personality shines more and more everyday. A few things I want to always remember about him at this age:

*He just started saying I love you and it sounds like this "lalo mom"
* When he tells some he is sorry he likes to do a chicken dance flapping his one arm
* He loves his blanket if he could it would go everywhere with him. He calls it his blank he even sometimes likes to tell me he has a nice blank and other times is know as Blanket Boy capturing evil doers by throwing his blanket at them
* Anything Liam does he wants to do
* Any time anyone says they are going anywhere he says "I'm coming"
* He constantly asks for fruit snacks all day they are by far his favorite thing and he is relentless
* He usually just calls Rory baby, but has just started calling him Baby Roar roar
* He has an obsession with Orange Juice
*  He calls our IPad pie and loves to read stories on it
* He calls Batman "dun, dun" and would wear his batman pjs all day everyday if I let him
* I love when he comes up to me and says "Hold me mom, hold me" he can be quite the cuddle bug
* Oh and he has the sweetest little face and it makes it so hard to say mad at him

    Declan I love you to pieces:) After having you my heart expanded. You have brought us so much joy and I love watching your personality unfold. You are a laid back, goof ball, and I am lucky to be your mom.

Nature Museum

       Sunday we went to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum thanks to a great friend buying our family a membership for our sons birthdays. I can't believe we have never been there before. It's right across from Lincoln Park Zoo which we go to often, but I never thought of it. It's by far one of the best gifts they received for their birthday all of them loved it. Plus since they have so many toys it's great to get a gift we can all use as a family again and again. There was tons for them to do, yet it was a very peaceful place  I think my favorite part was the butterfly habitat. There are so many beautiful butterflies fluttering around and Liam was so excited when one landed on his shoulder.

                                            After sitting patiently a butterfly landed on him

                                                  We got to see a mama and her baby:)

                                                                Our Little Walker

                                                                 Taking a Break

                                                            Having a snack

Positive Thinking

   Recently I read this post about the effect our words have on others and the impact our negative words and complaining has on our family and friends.If you have a minute you should really check it out. I'll just tell you this post really hit home this is something I have been trying to work on  for a while now and still struggle with because I do always tend to look at the things we don't have instead of all the things we do. I tend to always think the worst. Looking back I know that some of the way I think has to do with the way I was raised.  I know that negative thoughts and complaints are not just going to disappear, but I am going to work hard and not voicing them especially if they are of no value to anyone. What good does it do when I complain about how hard my day was? Instead on what to start focusing on how good it was and share those parts of my day with others. Because even though being a mom is one of the hardest things I've ever done it also is the most wonderful and I can not even begin to explain how much love and joy has filled my heart since becoming a mom and with each child it has grown more. When my children look back I want them to remember a mom who was happy and filled with love, not a grumpy and crabby mom
      I want to raise kids who think positive and are grateful, but how can I do that when they hear me complaining all the time. Because as adults we always worry if we are giving our kids enough and look at what other moms or families have or the things they do. I know this is especially true in the blogging world. I read some blogs and get sad because my house doesn't look like a pottery barn catalog and I can't do tons of awesome crafts, but we all only share part of our lives and usually it's the best parts. I know these are not things my kids are worried about though all they want is me and it takes so little to make them happy just my time and attention. Sometimes I get caught up in the everyday life and truly forget how lucky I am, but now I have been trying to slow down in those stressful moments and realize that most of the things I stress about really are not a big deal(so what if the house is a mess, if we are five minutes late, everyone is crying) As long as I am doing me best and my family is healthy and happy all the other stuff seems so small