Summer's Sunshine: July 2014

Its the most obvious on holidays. We just got through the July 4th weekend- and I gathered my little family around me and participated in parades, fireworks, symphony, breakfasts, bubbles and a baptism. My heart was full. I never never felt so whole when I was single. The holidays were good but now they are great. My life was good but now it is great! Even more so with three kids! We look around our dinner table and to have one more person in the room with us - just feels right! I guess this is the best way I can describe life with three kids-- more complete!

Lets start with Benny boy! Lately, when people ask me if it was hard going from 2 to 3 kids.. I say nope! I've survived Ben's terrible twos-- this three kids part feels like a cake walk now! Our little Ben has been the subject of a lot of my thoughts and prayers lately. I worry about him. I think about how to parent him. I am becoming keenly aware that I can't keep him safe under my wing anymore. He started primary, and will start preschool in the fall. I know he won't always make for an easy student or an easy classmate. Today I substituted in his primary class and he made a kid mad - the rest of the time this kid said "I hate Ben," "I don't want to sit by Ben"-- of course I was sad about that, but I was even more interested in preparing him to be OK even when "the world" isn't OK with him. Even when kids are mean or he is not the teachers favorite. I believe my Ben has infinite potential-- I am impressed with his determination. He is strong. Rarely cries. He is dynamic. He will definitely excel to anything he puts his mind to. He is my diamond in the rough. Wish me luck on being the parent of such an exceptionally hard but wonderful kid! I hope I am up for the challenge.

James is my sweetie. He is soft and gentle and thoughtful. The other day he got out a cereal bowl for himself and then one for Ben. He insists on putting his plate in the sink and when he is done clearing the dirty dishes he starts putting the clean dishes in the sink. I put half a drawer of clean plates and cups in the dishwater the other day before I realized my little james was handing me clean dishes. In other James news he still has asthma and we decided he has allergies too! I hope he grows out of both!!!

As for my little Madison- We put her down for a nap yesterday about 5 pm for what I thought was going to be a short nap. Well that nap turned into bedtime and she woke up the next morning at 6 am. Will kept checking on her to see if she was ok and she was! She is my amazing sleeper! She has been sleeping through the night since she was one month old! I haven't quite pegged her personality yet. She loves the water, she loves her brothers (they are always so sweet to her too). She doesn't like to be held facing in and she rarely cuddles- both my boys cuddled more than her. She burps more than them too :) Besides these tidbits my sister Cami insists she is the easiest baby on the planet!

As for Will and I -- well you could guess a little bit from my lack of blogging lately-- we have been BUSY this summer! Three kids two part time jobs and water parties and camping and hotel stays and birthdays (mine) and my dads retirement party and swimming and the list goes on. I hope to catch up soon. Until then- We are still here and happy :)

Be ready for picture overload from June/July 4th...