On a Winter's Day

the sweet little children will play
they will sled and laugh and cheer
and make me so happy that I am here
their little smiles warm the cold air
their little giggles can be heard everywhere
the memories of this charming day
remind me that in this moment
we are better than just ok

Alright, so I'm not much of a poet but we had quite a lovely day today - relaxing and unstructured and {relatively} calm. An great winter's day!

Mommy Notes

Hi Kiddos,

Mommy here. I feel the need to apologize to you publicly. I've spent much time pondering my parenting of late {being the new year and hope for new improvements and all that jazz} and can't say I'm quite pleased with myself. Heck, I'm downright disappointed {in me, not you}. I've been cranky, inconsistent and surly. I'm heartbroken to realize that overwhelmed and impatient is my par for the course these days. I know it has been a very difficult year for our family and I'm supposed to protect and shelter my little ones from the nastiness of life, without bringing my own nastiness into the mix. I'm so very sorry.

Let me just put it out there that I'm not perfect nor do I believe in perfection. But I do believe in doing your absolute best at any given moment. That is where I feel I have failed you and where I want to improve. Significantly. So, I will begin to listen more, breathe deeper, reflect before I respond, and show more understanding. I won't sweat the small stuff {but I do have to say that picking up your room or not complaining about dinner or doing a helpful act without me asking you to do it 15 times or using a respectful tone when you answer me once in a while would go a long way to helping me on my journey}.

My sarcasm? That one will take a bit more work.

The fact is that you babes are my lifeline. You are my soul and my heart and my spirit. Your giggles and smiles and the twinkles in your eyes is everything to me. I love you from here to the moon and back. From here to Saturn's rings and back. From here to Pluto {or whatever it is now called...will always be Pluto to me} and back. Arms wide open, heart on my sleeve, dreams come alive - you are my loves.

So I resolve to work on me, work on my parenting, and find my way back to my inner zen.

I love you truly and forever and unconditionally.
Mommy

PS. A little patience with me would be appreciated, as well as a little photo cooperation now and then. In my reflections, I have also realized how much a beautiful photograph of my angels means to me. A lovely photo of all of you now and then would certainly help my mommy skills {hint, hint}.

PPS. Note that no such photo is part of my open letter to you. I don't have one. No sarcasm here, just letting you know.

PPPS. Little A let me get a few snaps of him today so we should have a good evening together. Especially if you don't give me crap silliness about doing your homework. See, I'm already improving my communication skills! <3

It's not clickin' right now

I mean, how could it, with such charming images like these? My children want nothing to do with the camera in their face. And I must say, with photos like these, I haven't much wanted to take their pictures!

Just going for a cute holiday time photo here. I love how when the camera comes out, the eyes look elsewhere. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.


Ooo, this is a classic! Nine year old attitude. And MAJOR homework attitude.


At least he is smiling! Covered in oatmeal, yes, but smiling!


Gotta love the food stuck in the snot photos! Doesn't this make you just want to eat him up?!


I think I'm going to post the holiday photo card out takes. They are REALLY GOOD for a laugh and to brighten up the gloomy, frigid days we are having! Maybe after that I'll get the urge to click away again.