it's hard!

today i set out for a little jog with my littlest guy.  as i was coming to the end of my run(who am i kidding, run is a bit overstated.) i was pushing the stroller up hill and clearly out of breath.  a woman going the opposite way screams out, "you go girl!  it's hard!"  i wanted to reach out and hug her.  fortunately i kept my hug to myself and replied with, "thanks!" a thank you for the encouragement and a thank you for the acknowledgment that yes, it's hard.  life is hard.  not sleeping through the night is hard(i am getting too old for this not sleeping jazz).  having patience while being exhausted is hard.  raising kids is hard-- i don't care how many kids you have, it's hard.  discipline is hard.  not having the day go anywhere near what you hoped for is hard.  not getting time alone to shower/use the bathroom and get dressed on a regular basis is hard.  spending days cleaning, folding laundry(why can't that laundry put itself away?!) and wiping bottoms is hard.  modeling kind behavior for your children is hard.  praying for the people that have hurt you is hard.  forgiveness is hard.  reading about moms and dads that have lost their children is hard.  not getting your way is hard.  saying sorry is hard.  life. is. hard.  and in the midst of it there are these sweet people that come along and cheer us on, screaming "you go girl! it's hard!"

may we all be those individuals that scream out to each other with empathy, "you go girl! it's hard!"

mother's day

mother's day i was greeted by my boys with a homemade project.  

and i love it! 

rocks and shells and a bottle cap(ryder was very excited he found that!) found on the beach! 

the boys were giddy to hand over their poster boards they made

asher is pointing out where he colored over ryder's drawing of a rocket.  don't worry, he went to his room for that while ryder cried.  

         

so many wonderful women(many not pictured!) to be grateful for.  these boys are well loved!

3 months of baby noah

 please note the bruise/mark on asher's face from his face plant earlier that morning at the park.  

 you are a good sport, noah!

baby noah you are so sweet!  you are crying less and less(THANK THE GOOD LORD!!!).  you have started to coo and smile a lot.  i love that we can put you down and you fall asleep after only a few minutes(most of the time).  your gas still wakes you up a lot, but you are getting that under control- way to go! the brothers still love to kiss you and your hair (what little you have)usually has spit in it from asher's drool.  you sleep in your little cosleeper most of the night, but i often find you in our bed.  i have no clue how i get you in there, but it happens at some point in the night.  you have started to sleep a bit better in the night, only feeding once on a good night.  yesterday you weighed in at 16lbs1oz.  i am thinking you will be able to hold your own with the brothers. you still barf a lot and i still wear that smell around with pride(that's what i am telling myself).  you are proving to be a sweet baby.  we are so sorry you have already put you through 3 colds.  the good news is that you are building your immune system.  summer is coming and i think you'll be a fan.  when you are screaming we walk outside and you start to calm down.  a boy after my own heart.  let the outside fun begin.  i love you sweet baby.

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each boy has had their very unique personality and look.  take a peak...

isaac at approximately 3 months

ryder at 3 months

asher at 3 months.

more mother's day fun.

last friday my MIL and beth came over to make a fun craft with the boys for me.  they loved the paint!  they were also pretty excited to give chris the poster they made of her jumping out of an airplane and jet skiing.  

saturday morning we met up with the vandergeests and mattinglys(laforges, you were missed!).  as soon as we arrived asher took a big fall off the fence pictured above.  pictures of the marks later.  after an hour of sitting still asher started to play and i could stop worrying.  can we talk about how cut noelle is?!!!

mother's day celebration part 1

ever since dad's day at preschool my boys have been asking when mom's day is going to be.  fortunately for me the school had a mother's day celebration and i got an invite!  

isaac was seriously excited about me coming to school for his mother's day performance.  there are very few times in a mom's week/year/life that she gets to be the center of the celebration.  i felt spoiled!  isaac wanted to hold my hand the whole walk to chapel.  does it get any better than that?  this very tired mama felt good.  thank you boys! 

sweet gifts.  wish i had a picture of the great necklace isaac made for me!

 they practiced for this performance and boy were the kids excited to perform!

 isaac's preschool teacher, ms. michelle

though ryder's class wasn't a part of the celebration they still made questionnaires and plates for the moms.  just wait until you see what ryder says is my favorite thing to do.  

 all of our family made it on the plate. 

 this made me cry.  not sure if it's my hormones or the fact that we do have ryder's handprints on EVERYTHING!

good to know i like to eat.  let's hear it for staying humble.