Report Card Ice Cream!

So proud!

Yesterday afternoon, Natalie's 3rd quarter report card came home. We have been so proud of each of her report cards and have tried to do something special with each one to show her just how proud we are of her efforts. We had told her about a week ago that if she had a good report card, that we would all go out for ice cream on the day her report card came home. We do not go out for ice cream that often, so this was definitely a special treat for her to look forward to. For sure, Natalie shared this potential treat with her teacher and this is what her report card said from her teacher...

"Dear Mom and Dad, Natalie told me that she gets to go for ice cream if she gets a good report card. Well, get the car ready because that is where you are heading! Natalie earned herself another absolutely fantastic report card and I could not be any more proud of her."

She earned excellent grades and showed great effort and pride in her work.

We had a great time sharing in her special treat!

We love you Natalie!

Cake Time!

Ok, I wish that these pics had posted in the other order, but you'll get the idea.

Cake time for Colin was on Sunday. It started off with a shaky start as Sadie was still not feeling great, but with a beautiful day... we decided to go ahead with the fun.

Colin seemed pretty oblivious to most of the party and really had no idea what the fuss was all about until Cake Time! As soon as he was in his high chair, he was full of smiles and had a "check me out" attitude. He was a bit confused when the cake was put in front of him with the candle on it. Good thing that he had a couple of sisters to help him out! Then when it came time to eat the cake, again he was confused. He really enjoyed playing with it and getting his fingers all sticky with the icing, but didn't put it in his mouth. I even tried to put some icing on my finger and have him taste it, but he wouldn't open his lips. In time, he figured it out and enjoyed every bit!

My frog cake masterpiece!

Birthday Boy!

Getting turned around in his carseat! Now he can see all of us! However, when he was rear facing, because we have the van and Natalie always sat in the 3rd row, he would love to watch Natalie and she'd do a great job keeping him entertained. I think he'll miss that!

These are the smiles that we are greated to every morning.

BTW - I think he looks a lot like I did when I was a baby in this picture.

O-N-E

Today, our sweet baby boy turned 1.

What a bittersweet day for me... as I don't want to let go of the idea of my baby being a baby and the constant reminder that time goes by all too fast. Today, Nick and I reminisced (well actually I did and forced Nick to be nostalgic with me) about what it was like for us a year ago today. I clearly remember the sweet good-byes from our girls as we left the house, the funny walk into the hospital for our "appointment" to get the baby, the amazing 1st cry that brought tears to my eyes, then the fear that something was wrong and then the surreal afternoon of not seeing my baby and not being able to share him with the loved ones that had come to meet him.

One year later... he is our laid back and fun loving little boy. He has had a great month as he has learned to scoot and explore more on his own. He gets a smile full of pride when he does something new, like pull himself up or get into "trouble." He knows when he is doing something new and is excited by his own progress. The warmer weather has brought us all outside more and he just loves it. He scoots down our dirty driveway, tries to eat the grass and stones and watches in amazement at the girls riding their bikes and scooters. We have also learned that he LOVES dogs. As soon as he sees one, his legs and arms get moving like crazy as if he is trying to take off. Also high on his list are ceiling fans and light fixtures.

Unfortunately, celebrating his big birthday did not go at all as I had planned (maybe that is going to be a trend for his birthday!). This year, instead of Colin getting sick... Sadie was!! Sadie spent the day on the couch as was sick with the stomach bug! So much for a family bike ride or out for Colin's first ice cream, when one of our clan is under the weather.

Oh well... another day!

Happy Birthday dear Colin. We love you.

Worst Mom Ever... at least I am not alone!

Today was just one of those days when I felt like the "Worst Mom Ever!" Even though I was at work and didn't get home till close to 4 (so I was only with my kids for 3 hours), it seemed like every thing they did it just drived me crazy. I found myself snapping at them for every little thing they did. Particularly Natalie... for some reason, she just was under my skin! I was feeling so frustrated at her and what seemed like her complete inability to play and her constant need to be one of my appendage. On top of her driving me crazy, in the midst of only hours... Sadie got clay stuck in our carpet, Nick was sick and escaped to the quite of our bedroom and Colin had horrible diarreah muliple times ... the kind that required me to bath him and change his clothes.

Tonight, I was just mean. Because Natalie was driving me crazy, I found myself just being mean back to her. Oh me, oh my... I am just horrible!! I even remember thinking to myself throughout the evening about how I am being the worst mom EVER and that Stay-at-home Mom's of the world deserve an incredible award for doing this all day long. So after I forced them into bed (and I didn't have patienece for Natalie wanting to read the book by herself ... yet another reason I deserve the worst mom ever award!)... I got a BIG bowl of ice cream and turned on my recorded Oprah from this afternooon.

Guess what... the eposide was about the unrealistic expecations of motherhood! Here are some quotes that really hit home to me:

• "Motherhood is the toughest job int he world, if you are doing it right." Does that mean I am doing it right?!!


• "Motherhood today has overblown expectations."


• "Mom's today really need a wife." I sure do...


• "Woman in today's society have been taught that that they should and could do it all." The only moments of sanity that I have are when I remind myself that I can't, won't and don't need to do it all.
• "A Good Marriage is the backbone of a healthy family." Thank goodness, we have something going right!

Thank God for Oprah!! At least I can go to bed tonight, knowing that I am truly NOT alone in this and these feelings are normal to some extent. I am probably not the worst mom ever, but I owe Natalie an apology... and she'll get one. But tomorrow is another day...