Little Moments Not to be Forgotten

 

 

 

 

 

// baby yawns //

// brotherly love //

// snail fun //

// bath time //

// rain fun //

// a sky on fire //

// always stopping to smell the flowers //

// baby drool //

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A First {baby} Kiss And Other Random Musings

 

Callum came home from the kindergarten pick up one day last week with a nice set of red lips on his cheeks. There is this amazingly sweet grandma that picks up her granddaughter once a week from Connor's class and loves her some babies…so she loves on Callum. I loved the lips. I don't wear lipstick and I can't recall a time that any of my kids ended up with a little lipstick kiss on their cheeks, so I particularly liked it. I found it enduring.

But, I want to talk about this grandma a little. She is one of those ladies that is refined and confident, yet so friendly and endearing. She is constantly asking all the moms how we are doing and then remembering back to her own struggles with small children…which, let me tell you, that in and of itself  is a rarity. People seem to only want to remember the rosy parts and never seem to remember their child having a tantrum, disobeying, etc. So, that in and of itself makes me adore her. Being able to build people up and relate to them at the same time, really is a good quality in my eyes.

There wasn't much of anything that I went into parenting saying I wouldn't do. So really, I haven't "broken" any of my own rules. In fact, I more had an idea of things I would do, rather than wouldn't, and have stuck to those. And now, watching this lady, I have an idea of what kind of older adult I want to be. It's always a good thing to be relatable…and to love on and tell people how adorable their children are. Compliments really can go a long way.

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10/52

Connor: And just like that, it's tball season again 

Isla: Doing her own hair involves putting copious amounts of product in it and combing her hands through it. 

Callum: Playing. Like actual playing. It's cute. 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2016."

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Bath Time Fun

We have probably used/owned practically every kids bath toy/product out there. I've learned what works and what doesn't. And by "what works" I don't mean what entertains the kids, because really it all does, what I mean is what doesn't destroy the bathtub. Like, a long time ago, I learned that bath crayons are about the hardest thing ever to remove from bath walls. So, I've never gotten them again. Bath paint is a huge hit in our house and always easy clean up. The kids shaving kits and foaming soaps are great as well. But that stuff leaves behind MAJOR soap scum…which, speaking from experience, dawn and vinegar in a spray bottle will take it off literally without any scrubbing…pinterest for the win! But, the product that has the most staying power and I buy over and over are those crayola color drops. They don't stain the tub or the walls, so really require no clean up. The color possibilities are endless. And the kids love them.

Recently I was cleaning out the kitchen and set out a tea pot to get rid of. One of the kids grabbed it and started playing with it. And it somehow (cough, Isla, cough) migrated to the bathtub. Then started a tradition of me making a surprise color in it and the kids learning the color when either them or I poured it into the tub. I know it sounds corny, but it really is fun. I think the mystery of the color makes it fun for them. And I enjoy watching the concentrated color hit the water and spread like a cloud through the bath water. This is just another one of those things that proves it really is the little things in life!

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Grandest Act of Love

^^ A picture of Ian and I because, well, if I am going to talk about love, I've got to include us! Oh, and the hearts were already on the wall…so we just had to stand by them and take a picture. Which, this photo is courtesy of Connor. He's getting pretty good.

I was thinking the other day about people who are literally in love with love. We all know one (or three). The ones who are addicted to engagements and marriage, yet never seem to go the distance with anyone. As soon as they aren't happy, they move on. As I watch this someone in my life on another one of their love cycles, it got me thinking…

In our culture, we almost make any engagement or wedding the main act of love. The grandest act. When really, it's the life that follows that truly proves your love for one another. The grandest acts of love are really lived out every day. It's making your spouse feel noticed, loved and appreciated. It's helping each other out. It's having fun together. It's the hand squeeze when you are somewhere outside your comfort level, or them taking the screaming kid in the middle of the night. 

Somewhere along the way, society, and all the movies our there, has gotten it wrong. Grand love is made in the mundane things in life, not in the grand gestures. Don't get me wrong, I loved our engagement (on the beach, in case you were wondering) and our wedding (Who wouldn't love a reception in 100 degree weather?! Which, by the way, I didn't even notice it was hot…others told me later just how miserable it was.) and I still love getting all fancy and going out on a nice date with Ian. But what I really love and notice are the little things. Him bringing home a little treat he knows I like, him making coffee for me in the morning, when I go to throw something away and notice the trash has been taken out. When he takes a crying Callum from me without asking, when he lets me sleep in on a Saturday morning. 

It's these acts of love that are the most sacrificial and really the grandest. 

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Columbia State Park

 

 

^^ From the first time we busted out this stroller, Isla has claimed the footrest as a seat of her own. No Isla, it totally isn't hard having all the weight in the front and the tiny baby in the back!  

 

 

 

On Saturday, the kids and I went with my family up to Columbia state park. Fun fact, or not so fun fact, Columbia was almost the capitol of the state of California and at one time was the second largest city in the state. Kind of crazy to think, given that it seems so far up in the hills and not close to anything. But, in the heyday of the gold rush, I guess it was the place to be. Anyway, I hadn't been since I was like 15, so didn't quite know what to expect. Well, it was perfect for Connor and Isla…gold panning, building to explore, a stage coach ride.

I really enjoyed roaming around. We couldn't have asked for better weather. And I loved that not many people were up there, so I felt comfortable letting the kids just be kids and not feeling like they were getting in the way or going to get lost. Though we did some damage at the candy store, we didn't go to the ice cream place, so win for us and self control. Isla said her favorite part was "playing in the water" which was panning for gold. The kids were guaranteed gold while panning and each got a couple tiny specks. And they were plenty happy with that. Both kids played/panned for gold until we made them move on. They did it for a long time. All three kids were in such great moods all day…I'm not sure if that was because it was so fun, because of the beautiful weather, the company or what, but I'll take it!

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9/52

Connor: He is so literal, yet still so full of imagination.  

Isla: Oh her and her lip gloss…and yes, it did stain her skin a bit.  

Callum: The smiles have been a plenty now that he is healthy again.  

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2016."

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