Cleansing

Why is this so hard to do? I need to go through the girls things, get rid of stuff, purging their toys, clothes, etc. It is a challenge. Especially when you have 3 girls at different stages of playing, growth and personality. Clothes are getting easier but Brian says I keep way to much. Though, now that I have a niece, she can wear all of what I saved! I suppose once I have gone down the nieces phase (assuming I will have more!) then I can get rid of more clothes. It's not my fault I had 3 girls! Erin says that Ellen has a new outfit for everyday till she's 1! Ha, that's what 3 girls gets you, a LOT of clothes!

Toys is another matter. I want to get rid of some stuff but then as soon as I think I can, someone plays with it! Ahhhh, please just grow out of it already! There are definitely things that I have gotten better about though.

1. Don't save puzzles that don't have all the pieces anymore, you will not find the missing ones and if you do, you won't want to figure out which puzzle it goes to.
2. Don't save board games for the same reason. The good games are always around forever, ie Candyland, Shutes and Ladders, etc.
3. Toys are not made like they used to be! Things are getting more cheaply made and kids are hard on them.
4. Don't save it if it's broken. You will not find the time to glue/sew/patch it back together (see #3).
5. Don't let your kid have something you don't want ruined, broken, used for who knows what in tea parties. You'd be surprised what I find after a tea party (see rule #4).
6. Which reminds me, tea parties should be sanctioned. Unofficial tea parties always lead to trouble.
7. If your child has a table in their room, make sure the rules are clearly defined as to why it is there (see rule #5 and #6).
I am all about storing things and keeping them but there will be a point when the attic is full and I will have to go through the contents and do some more purging. I WILL NOT get myself to the point that Clean House or Hoarders will need to come to get me some help. Brian would disagree but I just remind him of all the money that I have saved from not getting rid of clothes or toys when we have had another kid and that now we get a great tax write off when I finally decide to let go!

Princesses

I was so excited to watch the Royal Wedding this morning. I wanted to experience it so that I could remember where I was and who I was with. I woke up Michelle so that she could watch it with me and then Carolyna dn Leah woke up in time also. The four of us sat on the couch and were just in awe of the simpleness but beauty of the wedding. We loved the trees in Westminster Abbey and the long red aisle.

The girls were amazed that there are real life princes and princesses! Michelle kept asking " Mommy is she a princess yet?" and "When are they going to kiss?". She is so funny, I really think that it was making an impact on her! Brian woke up to us all sitting on the couch watching and told the girls that if they want to get married like that, then they will need to marry a prince. An actual prince! Well, I'm sure we can make them look like princesses when their time comes.

What a fun way to wake up and spend time with my girls though. It keeps their fairytale alive, even if it is far from our real life!

5th Birthday!

Carolyn is my best party girl! She loves having birthdays! She was so happy yesterday celebrating her 5th birthday! I can't beleive she is now 5!!! She could not stop taklking about the fact that she is now 5 and that it apparently is a number she has been dying to get to! I suppose that it's because she is now able to go to school with Michelle in the fall. I just love how happy she was and is with her birthday! What a blessing. More posts to come from the Candyland party happening this Saturday!!

Being a Parent is Harder than I Thought

When you are a little girl growing up, you often imagine yourself as a mom. Whenever you play house, you are the mom and you have babies to take care of. So many times I see my girls going through this same act as I once did. Rocking their babies, feeding them a bottle, burping them, changing diapers and of course spanking. Pretty much what kids see their own moms doing! I don't think that I ever played at having kids in elementary school or really anything other than a baby. So, other than being a child myself, I was not prepared. Girls are emotional. They are dramatic. They react to everything that happens as if it is the end of the world. I guess I was fortunate that I had brothers and it taught me to have a tough skin. Girls are so hard. Physically they are not too rough, they don't get hurt as often as boys do. Anyone that says that girls are easier has not experienced girl drama! Raising children is hard, no matter what gender! It scares me that someday my girls will be hormonal teenagers! They are so special to me and love in their own ways. I have gone through school meetings, friend issues and hurt feelings lately and I just don't remember this growing up. By the grace of God I am still here and love my girls where they are at. I am learning that each child has their own way of being who they are and they are still figuring it out themselves. I am constantly reminded that my girls are very different from each other. God created them to be unique and they are that! I am thankful for them and I know that my faith is constantly tested with them! Thank goodness I have that though! I'd be lost without HIM!

Saying Goodbye!

Well, I would hate to not go and say that we are now done with diapers. It has been a long time and I almost cried when I gave the rest of them to church this morning. I've been friends with diapers for a straight 7 1/2 years. It was hard to say goodbye. They have always been there for me! At night when I don't have to worry about bedwetting, on long trips, so we don't have to pull over at a rest stop or (don't judge me) the side of the road. When I didn't want to know my kids bathroom schedule in every detail, well, until later anyway. It has been a great journey but it had to end sometime. What to do with $20 extra at Sams Club? What about wipes? Well, those will stay forever. At least I have them to help me through this time of change. I never thought that I would miss them, Shhh, don't tell anyone. As I get farther away from this phase, I won't think about it anymore. Accept maybe on that drive to Harlingen, Houston, or Kansas City! Thanks for all the memories Diapers!

Copying!

Last night, the girls were taking baths together. Michelle and Carolyn always have Barbie bathing with them. Leah got to have one for herself last night. Of course, Michelle and Carolyn are always having conversations with the dolls, one is usually the mom and the other is the child. So, I am in there and hear Leah doing the same thing as they are, all by herself! It was so cute. She's having a little conversation with Barbie, having the best time talking and the big girls have no idea! I love when Leah copies them, it's so adorable that she wants to be like her big sisters. Someday that won't be the case but how I cherish that time right now!

Serious talks.

Carolyn is my serious one. She does her best serious talks in the car, on the way to school, to ballet, the gym, wherever we go.
So, the other day, she tells me, "Mommy, I need to have a serious talk." Well, it must be very important. Her face is so concerned and it really must be something troubling her.
"Mommy, did you know that if you're a kid and you get in a car and the windows are up, you could DIE!"
"Well, yes, Carolyn. I do know that. It's important to not stay in the car alone. It's not safe." I say to confirm her information.
"No Mommy, you can't breathe if the windows aren't open and you will Die. But you will go to heaven, so that would be okay!"
I respond, "That's good that you would go to Heaven but hopefully we won't have to worry about it for a long time."
"Yes, I KNOW MOMMY! But there was this girl, well, it's not a real story, but there was this girl who was looking for her mom at the mall and she couldn't find her, so she went to the car to see if she was there and then she was in the car by herself and she DIED!"
" Well, I'm glad it wasn't a real story but it could happen." I say to reassure her of my hearing her story.
"Yeah" Carolyn says, bored with the conversation.

I don't even get her started on the fact that this "girl" has lost her mom and has walked to the car alone and was able to get into it withou the mother's knowledge! Always an interesting story with Carolyn!