School Carnival

I love going to these school events with the kids. Even if I am just following them around carrying there little prizes. The school carnival is the kids favorite, just fun and games. And I decided to bring Sydney this time since she is finally old enough that I can trust she will stay near me and listen.
Connor of course was playing with his friends most of the time, but fortunately he always comes back to ask if he can go here or there. I love seeing them recognize and point out people from school and play with their friends.

Field Trips and Field Day

So I promised the kids I'd go on at least one field trip each year. 

So of course I waited for the last ones. 

Connor's was at the Rock Creek Nature Center. 

Which despite the rain was a whole lot of fun!

We had a hike and got to give feathers to the birds for their nests and saw all sorts of creatures!

Connor of course being the boy he is, wanted to pal around with his buddies instead of Mom. So I was left to watch most of the time. But that is my favorite part anyway so that worked out just fine!

Bella's field trip was at Baltimore Zoo.

And she got the bonus of having Daddy come too!

She is of course a lot different then Connor and wanted to cling to us for everything. Having us there I know was a mixture of excitement and anxiety for her. But we made the most of it and she LOVED it even though it was a LONG day! 

Field Day was also around the corner and my goal is to go every year and help out. 

This year I asked Bella's teacher Mrs. Burroughs (Connor's old teacher and who we've loved this year), if I could help her class during Field Day and go to Connor's Lunch. 

So that's what I did. I ran kids back and forth to go to the bathroom and fill up waters, or go to the health room. It was a work out but a fun day with the kids.

Soccer

We found a more casual rec soccer season to try this year. It was actually a home school league but since Sydney was turning 4 and not in prek we all qualified and honestly they are pretty lenient and excited to just have a pro homeschooling group. I loved getting to know some other Mom's that happened to be LDS too. And co-coaching Connor and Bella's team was an adventure, we had fun with it though.

And we had the sweetest cheerleader!

We even got to have some Martin Visitors one week, that made it all the more fun.

Next time I'm not sure I'll coach or if we will really qualify but it was SO fun and I hope to do it again.
The kids had a blast each week and made some new friends, I'm not sure how much soccer skilling they got with me as a coach but we did our best and played hard.

I'm Mom

Mother's Day 2018

The world is constantly telling us who we should be, or what we should be doing, or how we should be doing it; that it is impossible to feel successful in anything. 

But this year after some struggle I truly have felt a renewed sense in my title;

 I am Mom.

I am raising 4 amazing people and it is a full time job, and I am doing my absolute best. Some days are a pure test in survival and strength, and I always feel like I could be doing more. But truly the real victory is despite the exhaustion and battle of inadequacy finding joy in every day. 

By: Bella

It is simply the little things that matter. 

Like the countless stick figure drawings of our family. 

I am honored to call these growing littles of mine, mine!

Motherhood is a wild ride. And I could never begin to express how much crazy they bring to my life. But I love it all! Sometimes being a mother is a battle; a battle for life, a battle for love, a battle for sanity, and a battle for survival in every way. And I feel so grateful for all of those who have mothered my own little children and most of all for my mother who is my best friend and greatest example of true self sacrificing love.