Tuesday, July 29, 2014

When Mommy's Away...

Daddy sends pictures!

This past weekend I had a super relaxing girls weekend at the beach before I really get into the grind of work. I am at a new school/position/grade level, so I'm sure I'm in for a doozy of a year. It was perfect timing for me to get away and rest before the school year begins (not to mention my precious kiddos were driving me bonkers the day before)!!

Mitch was going to be on fully daddy duty for over two days. This isn't the first time he's taken charge of the kids for this long, but it's the first time he's done it with three toddlers (babies had just turned one when I last went out of town). Y'all, it's hard by yourself with three small kiddos. That's a lot of sippy cups, meals, food thrown on the floor, baths, diapers, clothes changes, yada yada yada. Not to mention the twins had some belly issues, and my sweet husband changed more than his share of poopy diapers.

One of the best parts of me being gone was the never-ending stream of pictures Mitch sent to my phone. He really was SUPERDAD while I was gone and kept me updated every step of the way. The pictures deserve their own blog post as a reminder to me (and our kiddos) in the future of what a committed, sweet, fun daddy they have.

I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I did...several made me laugh out loud!
     

This was the first picture I got. Sure love them.


That smile. Well - those smiles! I do just melt over Harper's sweet smile!!



We have a similar picture of Maddex from over a year ago...it makes her look so goofy!!

Their response to "Who loves Mommy?" There was also a sweet video to accompany this picture. Brought joy and ache to my heart simultaneously!

First outing: Rue Beignet. BRAVE DAD!

Oh, this girl!



Second outing: Visit Mike the Tiger. The next day Mitch sent me a text that said, "Daddy I had fun seeing Mike the Tiger with you. And I had fun spending time with you yesterday too." These were sweet day's for my kiddos to spend time with their daddy!

Major wanted to hug his big sis when she got up from her nap.

Then he wanted to dance with her. Total sweetness. I often said "Awwww" aloud when I got these pictures :)


Then I got this gem of Maj stuck in a tub. How can you not laugh at that?

Followed by Maddex stuck in the same tub! Soul siblings!!!

My squish...I was requesting pics of her!

She needed snuggles bc her poor bottom was hurting :(

The caption to this pic was, "I think he's trying to tell me something."

My sweet, sweet girl

As an English teacher, this picture is one of my favorites!!! Also, notice Major wearing Maddex's crocs.

My girl. All mine. ;)

My loves!!!!

Don't worry...it was cleaned up before I got home!

Waving at me :)

My soul sister


Sweet siblings

By now I was not too far from home and my sweet big girl was groggy from her nap. When I came home, she ran to me and just giggled and giggled. It was such a precious moment for me :)


Mitch also took the kids to church twice on Sunday! They had a great weekend, and I know the kids loved getting this special time with their daddy. I am thankful Daddy takes great care of them while I'm gone, AND he takes care of my heart by keeping me updated with pictures of their precious faces!

On another note, I am really determined to get back to blogging. I read over my entries from the twins' first year and often see things I've forgotten. Each post is a reminder about this crazy life we live and helps me see the Lord's provision through it all. Ultimately, these blogs are for me to be reminded of the precious moments of our lives, but I do enjoy sharing them with friends and family that we don't get to see often enough. So, hopefully you'll continue to see updates from me a bit more often!

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Dear Working Amy

Months ago, I read this and was really touched by it. As a teacher, I have the joy of working but also staying at home with my kids for about 15 weeks out of the year. I truly feel like I see both sides of the fence and can identify with stay-at-home moms and working moms.

As I sit here in the trenches of summer, I can't help but begin to long for the working world. Being a working mom seems sooooo easy and fulfilling in a different way. Knowing better, I scolded myself and thought of the letters I read months ago. Then, I thought it might be entertaining to write letters to myself - one from stay-at-home Amy to working Amy and, in a few months, one from working Amy to stay-at-home Amy.

So, here in the woes and heat of summer is my first letter…

Dear Working Amy,

Walk those halls. Walk nice and slow through those halls to one of many bathrooms (yes, I'm starting with a trip to the bathroom; these are important, people!). Enjoy those moments to yourself; take as long as you wish. Perhaps you can peruse Facebook or watch a YouTube video. Maybe you'll think back to the days where you had to tiptoe to the back bathroom in dire hopes of a few moments of privacy…only to be followed closely by the pitter patter of little feet (such a cute phrase - but not when headed to the bathroom). Don't think about what it was like to squeeze four people - albeit three of them small - into a toilet room and take care of business while they gaze smile cry up at you or maybe even sit in your lap. Enjoy the solitude, working Amy!

My working counterpart, you had a lovely drive to work this morning? Maybe it was long, but what else was it? Quiet? You mean to tell me no one begged to watch Frozen, or screamed because Harper's foot was on her seat? No one cried loudly for no apparent reason? No one pelted you in the head with a half-full sippy cup? You didn't have to rub Major's head to keep him from falling asleep - AGAIN? I hope you enjoyed that quiet. Use it to listen to some music, say a few prayers (for the crew you're going to face when you get home, ha ha ha), chuckle at the Kid Kraddick Morning Show, call a friend, or just be silent. Amy: don't text and drive.

Hard-working, ever-toiling Amy, did you get to speak to adults today? How many intellectually stimulating conversations did you have with your co-workers? SIX?? You spoke to six different people without interruption or whining? Wait, what? You spoke to more than that?? Ohhhh, but only six conversations were intellectually stimulating. It's tough keeping up with you, smart girl; my stay-at-home mom brain has gone to mush. Anyway, Amy, I hope you lavished in those conversations. May your brain be challenged and your mind exhausted from educational pursuits. I'm going to go kiss a boo boo and cook some yummy nummy supperooni.

Oh Amy, you may have just made it home at 5:00, but look at your floors. They're spotless! I can see my face in them! No food has been slung, no milk spilled, no clothes thrown, or toys strewn about. Your house has been still. The sink remains empty, and gosh-darnit, those clothes can wait! They're waiting for me even now! Go spend a few moments with those sweet babies who've missed you all day! The weekend is just around the corner - be encouraged!

And at the end of the day, how's your "to do list" looking, my working friend? Oh, you woke, got everyone packed for the day, made it out the door by 6 AM, fed the minds of about 45 precious young ones, professionally developed, met with a colleague, called two parents, wrote countless e-mails, graded a set of papers, made some copies, went for a run, stopped for an afternoon coffee, picked up the kids, prepared supper, fed the minions, ran some laundry, unloaded the dishes, got everyone to bed, held about a 7 minute conversation with your mega-hunk husband, and crashed? Wow, you must feel accomplished! All of those items scratched off of your list! Oh, how sweet, you're asking about my list?  I scrubbed last night's quinoa off the floor and peed by myself!!!

Love,
Stay-at-home Amy