I love you even if...

Dear Son,

I love you even if you paint the couch, the microwave, and yourself.

I love you even if you color the floor and the piano with black marker.

I love you even if you smear pizza into the carpet, again.

I love you even if you pester your sister to the point of tears.

I love you even if you do all of this in one day before noon.

I love you no matter what you do.

However, Mommy's patience is not as strong as my love.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

From the child who talks incessantly and asks twenty million questions on an hourly basis...

"Mommy, do you sometimes wish I didn't have a mouth?"

"No, but I sometimes wish you would keep your mouth shut."

"I don't know how to do that."

I won't even comment on how long it has been since my last post. Obviously, I am not that good of a multitasker. Life has taken me hostage. My kids are growing too fast and I just can't keep up with everything that needs to get done or anything that I want to get done. Well, that's not entirely true. Some things do get done.

Since it is summer, we have been doing all the usual summer activities such as camping and swimming. It's too hot most afternoons to be outside much, which means the kids get restless and mommy gets a little crazy. Hubby and I have introduced the kids to another joy of living in the country: Toad Hunting. We don't actually hunt toads, but they are plentiful in the evenings and Daughter loves to catch them. When she finds one, she grabs it and sits down with the field guide to determine what species of toad she has found. I love seeing my 4 year old excited nature.

The wild blackberries are starting to ripen and we have taken a couple of family expeditions into the woods for picking. Of course, Son is not quite old enough to do much but enjoy the outdoors. Daughter is pretty good at picking as long as she doesn't prick herself on a thorn (that's usually when we have to call it quits due to the crying). I am hoping to get enough this summer for canning. I have a blackberry jelly recipe that I would like to try.

Summer has also been a season for babies. I have several friends that have recently become new parents and a few more that will be before summer is over. I have been working on some baby gifts when time permits. I am trying my hand at making some of my own designs and patterns. Maybe this could turn into a money-making venture.

Well, I believe nap time is calling (at least for me anyway).

Why you should lock the bathroom door

The following is a quote from my daughter while she was watching me get out of the shower.
"Mommy, you have big boobies. They're wiggly. You have big, wiggly boobs, Mama. I don't have big boobs. Mine are little and can't do that."

Things I have learned today...

No matter how many times I turn on the dryer, the clothes will not fold themselves.

A glass of ice tea spilled from a height of about 3 feet will result in a splash about 6 feet wide.

It takes a 3 year old a whole roll of toilet paper to wipe herself after going poopy.

Grape kool-aid comes out of carpet remarkably easier than I would have thought.

Toddlers have two volumes: loud and louder.

Mommy kisses are better than band-aids.

It has been almost a month since I last wrote anything. My life has been busy with the usual things. Son had his first birthday and we had a nice party with the whole family. It was a teddy bear picnic theme complete with a 3D Teddy Bear cake. Daughter has started preschool. She seems to be having a lot of fun and I always enjoying hearing about her day when I pick her up. I always put her papers on the fridge, and she likes to show them to Daddy when he gets home.

Since the weather has been so nice lately, we have been doing a lot of outside activities. We have gone fishing several times. In fact, we have unofficially started what I call the Friday Night Fish Club. We have been to the park and we've done some camping. We also enjoy just sitting on the front porch in the evening. I can tell fall will be here soon and I am so excited. Autumn is my favorite time of year. I am looking forward to the cooler weather, the smell of wood smoke, changing colors of the leaves, festivals, and all the other things that go along with the season. But there are still a few more weekends of summer and my family will squeeze out as much enjoyment as possible before it's time to put the bathing suits away.

Where does the time go?

I really don't have much to say today. I haven't really had much to say for a while. I have been busy with the usual mommy stuff. Laundry and dishes and picking up toys. It seems like there is some place we have to be every day. Even the short trips are starting to wear on me. I will kind of be glad when summer is over and the world goes back to routine (well, for those with school age children). Daughter will be starting preschool next week. She is looking forward to it and so am I. I think she will have a lot of fun and make some good friends. I look forward to watching her learn. She is a little sponge, soaking up everything around her.

This week will continue to be busy. I am preparing for Son's first birthday. I can't believe it is here already. My son will turn one and my daughter will start preschool in the same week. Where does the time go? You must enter into some sort of warp speed universe when you have kids. Everyone tells you how fast the kids grow. But you can't appreciate what they mean until you experience it first hand. I still see the little baby I brought home from the hospital each time I look at my children. I wonder if all mothers do. Does my mom still see me that way even though I am an adult? I am beginning to understand why some children will always be their mama's baby.