What kind of mom would I want?

 
 
 
That one question has done more for changing my heart and responses to my girlies in the last few months than anything else, that, and a beautiful post highlighted by my friend about saying Yes.
IN the moment I am trying to ask myself 'If I were in my girls shoes, How would I want my mom to respond?' When Taliah shows up covered in top soil and green tomato seeds covering her brand new sweet summer dress, in my heart I ask the question, and then I laugh. I laugh and with gentle tones change clothes and remind her that we want red tomatos, and patience is needed.
The other mom would have had a very cross look and huffed her way through the clean up process mourning the loss of precious "clothes" and "tomatos" instead of celebrating the precious girl.

When Eiley asks to put on her swimsuit and play in the rain instead of having a quiet time, I remember that life is short, memories are powerful and I would want a Mama who would rejoice in my creativity and ideas. It definetely takes a heart adjustment.

I like things orderly and clean, and managing three children under the age of 4 often steals my graciousness, but I am learning, I am trying and I am loving the process of changing and growing. Today for our weekly Family Day we went to the lovely St. NOrbert Farmers Market for the whole morning. I asked myself, what kind of mom would I want? and so the little girlies had face paints and kettle corn and balloon toys and we drank slurpees ate homemade butter tarts and then stopped at a splash park on the way home and played in the water in our clothes, because, clothes dry, sugar eventually passes through their system, naps can be postponed and summer is short. It felt so good to enjoy, engage, celebrate our family and love on our little people. The biggest compliment came at the end of the day when Eiley bubbled over with thankfulness for" all the things we did today" and then drew me a picture asking me to marry her :)

Because i don't want to forget

 
My girls say the funniest things, and I so often forget about it, but I remembered a few things today.
While chatting and walking to the store yesterday, we were desperately trying to avoid the hoards of ravenous mosquitos. Eiley fell suddenly silent. Stealthily she glanced at me and in an almost imperceptible whisper, she said " Maybe if we are really really quiet the mosquitos won't hear us" .......OH if it were only that simple =)

Then this morning I reminded Eiley to use the potty before we left the house. Taliah, my determined, anti-potty, diaper wearing two year old cheekily said " I oos potty ah reedy" ( I used the potty already)..... Oh if only that were true.

I can't wait to see what Brielle will say.

one out of three

 
 
 
 
When you try to photograph three children under four years old at the same time it is rather like attending a circus. No one is doing the same thing at the same time, so I laugh at my attempts to capture perfect smiles from all three at once. I am not a great ringmaster. Oh well they are super cute anyhow. btw my incredibly talented sister made the adorable matching pillowcase dresses for my girl.