I want to babysit my kids

Before you read this and think I'm a horrible person let me first explain. ..  I don't want to babysit my children because I want it to be short term and get paid.  I just feel like the whole "babysitting" thing is amazing.  When you babysit - you can completely and 100 percent focus on those children.  You don't also need to cook, do dishes, laundry, cleaning, bills to pay, errands, or any grocery shopping.  We are on fall break this week and wow it's been simple, calm, in the moment and peaceful.   100 percent being with my children and not worrying about anything else is seriously the best job in the world.  I hope the boys look back on their childhood with happy thoughts - of course a lot of other things (love, fun, faith) but very little negative.

P.S.  I recently had my first girls weekend since having kids.  It was so complete rejuvenation.  It was with my close friends from college and it is going to become a yearly tradition.  Thankful for friends and husband for being so amazing while I had a weekend.

Swim Lessons for Garrison

This summer has been a big turning point for Mr. Garrison.  He had swim lessons in late May and he has become a little fish in the water. He used to be afraid of getting water in his face and eyes.  Now he wants to wear his goggles in the bath and loves swimming.  The first few days of lessons were pretty tough because he had to get over his fear but, now there is no looking back. Mrs. Hope is amazing.  He was swimming on his own and jumping off the diving board in the deep end by the end of the week.  He is doing so good we are starting private lessons this week - we don't want to stop!!

Twins

These 2 Crack me up.  Sullivan and Jon are complete look alikes.  They have the same temperament, walk the same, and look alike.  I love watching them together!

Easter Time

Easter was a great time this year.  We had Easter walk thru at school, several egg hunts, Easter bunny visits and lunch at GiGis. One thing Jon and I have really tried to do with the boys is bring in the real meaning behind holidays like Easter and Christmas.  This year the boys and I made resurrection rolls.  It is such a great way for children to see the empty tomb and they are fun to make.  

Garrison's 4th Birthday

We had so much fun making donuts for Garrison's 4th birthday.  He loved it and was so happy all his friends and family were there.  Even little Sullivan got into it.

Garrison 4th Birthday Quiz

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? Garrison
NICKNAMES - pumpkin (mommy) and buddy (daddy)
HOW OLD ARE YOU? 4
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR? Green
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL? Monkey 
WHO IS YOUR BEST FRIEND? Sullivan, Henry and John T
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? A Daddy
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO PLAY and TOY? Sharp Tooth - Dinosaurs
WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO GO?  ride the train at the zoo over and over again
WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE VACATION?  beach home
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE? Dinosaurs (The Land Before Time)
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? PJ Masks
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK? Dinosaurs
WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? Mommy and Daddy (but not when we are mad)
WHAT MAKES YOU SAD? When Daddy gets onto him.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? Pizza
FAVORITE DRINK? milkshake (Pedisure)
FAVORITE SNACK? goldfish 
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG? Yo Gabba Gabba
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO PLAY? Sharp Tooth - Dinosaurs
 WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE BIRTHDAY GIFT? All of them
WHAT DID YOU DO ON YOUR BIRTHDAY?  Your party and your birthday were on the same day this year!  We had your party at Donut Hutt and you and your friends made donuts.  Pictures coming soon -

Christmas Time

We had a wonderful last few weeks.  Everyday since Thanksgiving Garrison would wake up and ask whether is was Christmas time or Christmas day?  You can imagine when he finally heard it was Christmas day!  Not sure anything is more wonderful than seeing this time of year through a child's eye.  Truly the most wonderful time of the year.  We also had our little elf visitor that both boys LOVE finding each morning.  Some of the highlights of the last few weeks were Enchanted Forest, Alpine Village, Zoo Lights, Brunch with Santa, and Starry Nights.  We had so many wonderful memories this year.  We made Christmas cookies twice, the boys loved wrapping presents with daddy, Christmas parties at school, and Birthday for Jesus party.  I'm so thankful for such a wonderful time of year and tried to soak in every minute.

My Little Tribe

It was a very Happy Thanksgiving at our house.  I definitely reflect how thankful I am for my little tribe.  My boys, my husband and my parents.  I also have some amazing friends and family in there too.  I got to spend Thanksgiving with my little tribe.  We had some delicious food, wrote what we were thankful for on a pumpkin, Garrison pulled the wishbone, watched Macy's parade, Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and just had a great day.  Everyday is a blessing.  I am so grateful.

Love

The boys and I have been having some serious fun lately.  Sunday afternoon Jon had to work so I took Garrison to see The PEANUTS movie.  It was one of the few G rated movies out there.  Jon and I made a conscious decision a while ago that he would only watch G rated movies right now.  This is his 2nd movie he has ever been to (first was Rio during the summer).  We had a lot of fun and it was a good mommy/son date.  Today we met Charles and Colin at the mall.  We had fun riding the train, rides, and carousel.  We all ate together.  I promised the boys a trip to Build a Bear.  Both boys picked the doggie (Snoopy).  This morning before we left was a rough mommy morning for me.  I lost my temper as I was on the phone trying to find Flu Mist for Garrison (on back order all over town).  It was not one of my better mommy moments.  I felt terrible for losing my temper and for the tired feelings I was having as a mom.  I hope my boys know that I'm not perfect and I will make mistakes but I love them and love being their mom.  I apologized to Garrison and he didn't really understand I did anything wrong.  I hope the boys always know and feel completely loved by me.  They probably won't remember going to get Snoopy dogs but I want them to feel complete love from me.  I love them whole heartedly

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love them whole heartedly.