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Pumpkin Patch
The Cutest Pumpkins in the Patch
Who doesn’t love a pumpkin patch! My kids love it and wanted just about every pumpkin in the patch! I will just pick them, they are my cute little pumpkins. Fall is such a beautiful time of year and enjoying the outdoors and time together is such a joy. And who doesn’t love an area full of orange and white pumpkins that you can sit on, carry, and take to your own home to carve. My kids each picked out their own pumpkin, mama and dada got one too. Big pumpkins, small pumpkins, white pumpkins, cinderella pumpkins, and multicolored pumpkins… there are so many different types you can get. Then you buy pumpkins and bring them home and get to discover what is inside them and carve a design in them. They are so fun! The pumpkin patch is always a blast! Go get your pumpkins this year, and rather than buy them at a store, find them in a patch!
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Signing up for new things: Let’s try SOCCER!
Look at that cutie in his soccer outfit, all suited up and ready to go! My little boy, growing up so fast. I signed Garrett up for soccer this month, and it could not be more fun! While he’s not ready for a real game, he is having alot of fun. It gets some energy out, he’s getting instruction from someone and playing with other kids, and enjoying it! Even if his skills don’t improve, it is something new. And we are all having fun!
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Eat something fun!
Bucket List Challenge is here!
One of the things I have been thinking about doing more with the kids is spontaneous treats. It is easy to get into habits of eating treats at birthday parties and special occasions, or for potty rewards… but when you get to go to a place and experience the environment through food it can be a wonderful thing. I love apples, and the season of fall in my area where I live brings all the people up to apple hill. There is apple picking, amazing apples, apple pie, apple fritters, and of course APPLE DONUTS. We cannot go up to apple hill without experiencing apple donuts. Whether its winter time and we are sledding down the hill last winter, or this week when we get to go experience the beautiful fall weather and the actual apple season, it is always a hit! I love seeing the joy on my son’s face as he gets his own SPECIAL donut. And my daughter even got some bites this time too! So check of my bucket list for eating something fun, just because!
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Read MoreLove Fiercely
This past week I lost a friend. She passed away unexpectedly a few days after her new baby boy was born. The moment I found out I was so shocked, heartbroken, devastated for her family, I didn’t want it to be real. It couldn’t be real… This mom was running by my side a few weeks ago at Fit4mom class and now she’s just not here? While I can’t begin to imagine what her family and close loved ones are going through, this mom and friend was a part of our village and the loss hit us hard. She was one of us. She was a dedicated member of our Fit4mom group. She was a friend. She was a mama who loved fiercely. She was a go getter that worked for what she wanted. She was an inspiration who motivated others. This girl lived fiercely, loved fiercely, laughed fiercely, and left an impact wherever she went. Her smile and tenacity will stay with me and with our village. Her strength is an example to us. Her love is what we can strive for. She will be in our hearts and her inspiration will live on. I am so thankful to have known her. My heart breaks every time I think of it, it doesn’t make sense, it may never make sense, but I know she will live on in the hearts of so many.
Making Time for Mama
Hands in the air if making time for YOU, mama, is hard.
We feel you. It is hard to find time to breathe, let alone actual time to do things for yourself.
You might be in one of those sink or swim survival seasons of life. If so, this might not be advice for you. However, I hope that you will find some things you can incorporate into your life to find a little more of yourself in the mama juggle struggle.
Mamas, I know firsthand how hard it can be to think of yourself. You are raising tiny humans or maybe even bigger humans that require your time and attention. But you know what? You CAN be a great mama and wife and still be a great person. But that person, yes YOU, needs time too.
Here are a few tips that are working for me in this season of life.
- Do things you like WITH your kids.
The benefit here is you are doing things you enjoy and sharing that enjoyment with your kids. It is really important to show your kids things that are important to you and even cooler that you can do it together! Also, no need for childcare. YEAH!!
I love working out, so for many years Fit4Mom was an excellent way for me to share fitness with my kids. I taught classes too, which allowed me to teach (one of my passions) with my kids there with me!!
2. Do things YOU like. PERIOD.
For this one, it’s ok if your kids are tagging along or on the sidelines. They can watch! Goodness knows we will spend many many hours of our time watching our kids do things they love, and they can do the same. Again, you are showing them something …
Read MoreFind your Village!
How is your community as a mom? Have you found your tribe as it is called, or village, or group? Do you have an interest that you can share with other moms? Do you have kids sports teams or activities that you have found new friends? Or do you have a church group of moms? We all want to belong somewhere. We all want to be known. And finding that village can make the world of difference on our experience as a mom. Just having an adult to talk to, sharing stories, gleaning advice, crying, laughing, watching eachothers kids, or even just being in the same place with other people, can all be so vital in the life as a mom.
Today, I get to be a part of the 2 year anniversary of Fit4mom in my area. This is my village. If I had not found Fit4mom two years ago motherhood would look alot different for me. Two years ago I was eager to find something. I was looking for connection, for something to do with other moms, for a way for my son to meet other kids, and people in the same stage as me. I signed up no questions asked the first moment I could (I was the first member… eager beaver over here…). I showed up every day for months without missing. I found friendship, I found connection, I found sisterhood, I found relief, I found smiles, I found tears, and my kids have also become a part of something that is so important to me. Not to mention, a whole lot of handmedowns, ha! I got to birth my daughter into a group of people that is so loving, caring, and positive in my life that she has an instant family. Not to mention, I …
Read MoreMother’s Day Encouragement and Gift Guide
Motherhood is messy, imperfect, and also beautiful.
It is the hardest, yet most rewarding work.
Today, we honor all the moms – whether you have children, have lost children, want children, or love a child in your life like your own. There a lots of ways to be a mom, and today we think of you all.
Whatever stage of motherhood you find yourself in, remember that you are not alone. Hold tight to the truths in God’s word, and lean on the support of other moms when you can.
I have made you. I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you ~ Isaiah 46:4
If tomorrow, when the specialness of this day has gone and you find yourself back in mom life where maybe you are feeling a lack of appreciation or weariness, remind yourself of truth that YOU CAN DO TODAY. I love these words of encouragement from Finding Joy.
Mother’s Day might be here, but it’s never too late to give yourself or a special mom in your life something special. Here are a few of our favorite things for YOU mom.
Books:
For the new mom – 365 Things Every New Mom Should Know
The fiction book loving mom – The Kiss of Deception
For moms that love personal growth – Present over Perfect and 100 Days to Brave
Beauty:
For the New Mom:
For the active mom:
For the Natural Mom:
DIY best facial recipe with bentonite clay, activated charcoal, and apple cider vinegar (1/2-1 TBS of each. Mix. Apply to face. Let sit …
Read MoreThe Transition to Glasses
Last month, I shared that Sophie had to unexpectedly get glasses. When I first found out, I tried to do some research to help make the transition more smooth or to find any advice from other moms who had been through a young child getting glasses. I was very surprised that I could not find any helpful resources across the web. So, I decided to make my own resource for that next mom who needs some help in the toddler glasses transition.
1. Make It Fun
Getting glasses was not an easy transition for our 3 year old. It was hard to explain and reason with her why she had to keep something on her face that had never been there before. So, I had to find ways to make it fun. In the moment, it was not easy so it is important to plan ahead. I had some ideas planned, but I would suggest having back up plans. We had a rough few hours when we first got home – I thought I was going to have to revamp a whole new plan. Luckily, after the first couple of days, she really settled in to having her new accessory.
Here are a few ways I was able to make this change more fun for Sophie: I found a Minnie Mouse shirt with Minnie wearing glasses (I found this on Zulily for cheaper but here is the same shirt on Amazon) and a kitty wearing glasses shirt from Carters. I found a Fancy Nancy book that is all about getting glasses. Her bestie gave her a book called Little Bear Needs Glasses that is so cute – you get to put different glasses stickers on each of the characters in the book!
Some ideas that I didn’t have to use …
Read MoreNew Beginnings in Parenting
Grace… that’s the one word I have to keep reminding myself of… Grace. I am not going to be perfect. Just like my kids are not perfect, even though we wish they were… I have to let myself make mistakes as a parent and not think that one thing will ruin their existence. Parenting is not a formula. It is a relationship. It is a process. It is taking one day at a time. It is a gift. It is a blessing. But it will also bring out things in you that you never knew existed. Because it is a challenge. Because it is hard. Because it is exhausting. And because it is a responsibility. But your kid was created for you, just for you, so that you could learn, grow, explore life, teach them, love them, nurture them, and direct them. But just as they are learning about life, so are we as their parents. They come into the world without anything. We become parents without a set of perfect skills or any prior experience. We take our little babe home from the hospital and think we should have it all figured out. But each day, each step, each stage, we get to learn and grow together. So that is where grace comes in. We have to give ourselves space to learn through all the experiences just as we want our kids to keep learning and growing through their mistakes and successes.
How can we engage in growth as parents:
- Read books
- Listen to podcasts
- Talk to other moms
- Don’t say yes to everything
- Ask for advice from parents that have gone before you
- Have fun with your kids. Get on their level
- Give praise, to yourself and to them
- Give time to your kids. And Make time for
HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY BEKAH
Bekah,
Happy 30th Birthday!
Can’t believe you are 30! What is happening. Time is going so fast!
We wanted you to know how loved and special you are. These 30 years we have watched you love, learn, grow, fall down, get back up, stand up for truth and who you are, and become the amazing woman you are today and we are so very blessed that you are a part of our lives. We wish we could be with you today, but in the chaos of life we are trying to do as much as we can to send you an enormous amount of love and hugs. You are one in a million Bekah, and we hope that today especially you feel that way.
We love you Bekah! Happy 30th Birthday!!!…