On Being a Playful Parent.

“Children don't say, 'I had a hard day...Can we talk?' 

They say, 'Will you play with me?'"

—Lawrence Cohen

no winter woes...just happy snow.

I have to admit after the warm weekend we just had the spring bug really got to me. I  literally began cleaning up the house & got a headstart on some spring cleaning & were not even in March yet. I got the girls to do their part in helping out. I even began to take out some of my spring clothes & folded all of my winter scarves up & tucked them away neatly in my hope chest. 

library, park, and a waffle cone kind of day.

This morning I woke up, did my routine as every mom does...get the kids ready for school, making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (because the food at the school is pretty gross), hurrying Chelsea because she is the last one to leave, and I swear she will sleep in until the last minute, and hustle to get ready. I am still in my pj's while doing this, and luckily the school bus moved closer to my house because on rushed days like this it's nice to stand outside your door to watch her as she runs lallygags down the bus stop with other neighbors kids...and i don't worry.

The weather lately has been too gorgeous to pass up by staying indoors to watch cartoons, do crafts, laundry, or other things us homemaking moms do because with this boy my motivation is in full swing, and time standing still for him is limited.

Today we went to the library, and actually sat  inside for once. We normally pace around, choose which books we want, check them out, and leave. I really, really like this idea because it alliviates the stress of paying any accumulating late fees. No matter how many times I'll tell Noah to put the library books away in a place where we can easily find them to return, we always seem to find them after the date is due! I think trips to the library and hanging out there to sit, and read his favorite books to him is more beneficial than taking them home. Well...sometimes. I mean we do have a stash of books of our own at home. I really think that I'm going to invest in buying the story that he chose for me to read to him. 

After carefully choosing the book of the hour we sat down I read him this story which is now one of his favorites. I think the fact that it had boats, and central park combined in it has inspired him to build one and take it to central park to put it in the water. I'm sure that can be done.

After reading an x amount of stories to him we left the library, and sure enough I thought this kid was going to fall asleep in the car, and actually take a nap, but to no avail. 

As soon as he recognized the street I was driving on he knew exactly where we were headed towards. All of a sudden I hear his voice saying, "Park! I want to go to the park mom." 

It was such a beautiful day, and loved looking at the colorful leaves on this tree underneath the blue skies. 

Ah, fall! 

I love this time of year, and being alone with Noah again...just me and him without papa seemed like old times. Don't get me wrong, I love it when Jon hangs around, but sometimes you just need that mother and son alone time you know. Especially since I've been used to it since Noah was born! I'm just so grateful that Jon has a job!! Yay! Keeps us young you know! 

This indian summer sure is lasting a while and because of the strenuous playground time we had we stopped by Wendy's to get ourselves a waffle frosty cone. If you haven't had one yet you need to try these. They are delicious!! 

^^my messy little eater...he's such a BOY ^^

Noah, 

Times spent with you are the best, and I count my blessings everyday that I had you. You are the sweetest little boy, and I love you. I didn't have days like this with my mother, and because of that I know this is why i hold on to you, and treasure the things I do with you like there is no tomorrow.  This day is going down in history as one of the best days of my life. 

xo-mom

Can't wait until next week when the temps will be in the 60's! That will be a perfect week to go to the pumpkin patch, and go apple picking! 

Bring on the fall traditions! 

earlier this week, & some of today.

The weather is getting chillier and nothing ushers fall like venturing outdoors to explore the beauty of God's creations, and to see how amazing it is for the eye to see how quickly one season transitions into another.

You'd think that the rain would keep us indoors, but it didn't. Not us. I can't stay cooped up all day long with a boy who is used to going to parks, and stores. Our house is not big enough for him to run around, and our backyard...well, I don't even call it a back yard. It's just a little 5x7 piece of small heaven that's in the back of our house slapped with some grass and a huge neighbors garage which is an eyesore. But...we've managed to make our summers happy with it, and now that fall is in full swing I'm trying to find things to keep this boy active. 

Earlier this week I ran a few errands so Noah and I decided to do a little bit of shopping. Sierra's bed has been in need of new sheets for quite some time now, and since Chelsea has taken over her bed while Sierra is away at school I felt it was time to buy some new sheets. 

I made my way to Kohl's where I used a gift card that I received for my birthday. I normally don't shop there so I didn't mind using my gift card to buy this nice, flannel sheet set for a bed that I don't even sleep on. But my kids come first and she was very happy when I bought warmer sheets for "her" bed. (Sierra will be too when she comes home on some weekends.)

Noah is such a good helper, and a wonderful shopper. He doesn't throw tantrums, or wander off. He's beginning to hate the cart though, and luckily for him Kohl's doesn't have any that will hold a child (he says they're for babies anyway). As I was looking through the sheet sets he grabbed one which was not too my liking, but the fact that he was helping me as to which one to choose was very helpful. 

When I picked the one I wanted he insisted on carrying it for me all the way to the register. That's quite a walk for a small person carrying a sheet set. He didn't mind, and he was so cute with his chivalrousness, and all. 

We decided to go rogue and took a different route home on that day. We were driving in a residential area surrounded with tall trees that reminded me a little bit of North Carolina. The fall foliage was beautiful, and the leaves...man they were huge! 

The rain had subsided so we decided to get down to take in the beauty of fall. 

I also found this holly looking tree, and kind of caught the Christmas bug when I captured it. 

We ventured out some more today at a nearby park, and I'll blog about that over the weekend. This boy gets too giddy when we venture outdoors. I can already tell that he's going to be the perfect boy scout by wanting to do everything that pertains to the outdoors! 

Yes...these are the moments that I cherish, and whether we are indoors or outdoors these kids spend their time in ways that are meaningful and happy, and that makes me one happy mother.  

Even when Jon exposes Noah to games. 

^^candy corns are perfection in my house right now ^^

So thank you fall, for finally coming, and for making the second week of October the best. I am 
looking forward to many moments throughout this season that gets me prepared for the upcoming holidays.

Hope your weekend is colorful, and fun! 

seek, ponder, & pray.

All day long I had been sitting at home trying to figure out some temporal things that have been on my mind lately. Now that Sierra has chosen her school, and all the deposits for tuition and housing are paid for I am pretty much relieved.

Yet, I felt as if something is still missing. I asked myself am I praying enough, am I reading God's word enough, am I serving enough? Why do I still feel out of sorts? And then the thought came to me about the temple. It's been a month since I haven't gone, and boy am I going through withdrawal. Since I don't have a temple nearby that I can drive to within five minutes like I used to it's really nice to live in a neighborhood where pretty much everyone works, and the street is pretty quiet hence being a perfect time to concentrate about 'life'. 

With Noah's allergies acting up he began to fall asleep, & instead of doing laundry, blogging, or reading I decided to take advantage of the glorious weather. I figured this was my opportunity to connect with the divine through prayer, and just relax by being outside.

I decided to grab a blanket, took Noah with me, and we both laid on it with the sun shining down on us. As I was laying down trying not to cry too much in front of my boy I couldn't help, but to think about my family's future, Sierra's graduation, the possibility of a job change for Jon, and all the things that were written in this talk that I'm going to teach about this Sunday.

I read it again while laying outside, and again so that I can be well prepared for my lesson this Sunday. There are a few things that connected with me in relating to this talk that brought back memories of my childhood. It was also a reminder to me to make the right choices in this life every single day.

This is the closest I felt to God today. An afternoon of laying out in the sun in my little backyard while Noah was sleeping. What I felt on this day was amazing. The feelings, and thoughts that came into my head as I focused on the things that are paramount. I may not have been at the temple or in a sacrament meeting at church, but I sure did feel God's love for me today. I never want to lose sight of recognizing those feelings. I love Him too much to let go, and give up on the things that are eternally important.

This is a blessing of motherhood, and instead of taking Noah to the park, and running afternoon errands, I am so grateful that all I did today was focus on receiving some inspiration from above. I wish I could have these moments everyday (minus the allergies...poor Noah). The difference is that I was seeking it, and instead of me waiting to receive guidance from Him...I came to Him first.

And that was a great feeling!