Motherhood is fun stuff

*So I must put a disclaimer on this post, this is mainly meant for my daughters to read in the future and this is by no means how I feel anyone else should live their lives and I by NO means am judging anyone else or want anyone to feel bad for the choices they make in their lives and families. This is mainly how I feel about my life, family and my own choices.

I have read many different articles online recently, have had talks with others and even this week in Relief Society we had the most amazing lesson on being a stay at home mom.  I keep thinking about this in my life and how my life and my families lives could be different.  I have manly different types of feeling about this, but I want my daughters and future kiddos to know why I choose to have my job title me Mom.

In society today, many times when I tell someone I don't work and I stay home with my kids I get multiple responses. Some good but many include "oh" (in a sarcastic tone) "what do you do all day?"  "oh that must be nice" (also in a sarcastic tone), "I wish I had more time to myself" "You have more time then me to do this" and the list goes on and on.....  Then of course I hear ones behind my back like, "stay at home moms don't have any personality, are boring, are uneducated, yada yada yada."  When I hear any of these I want to slap each and everyone of them and especially when it comes from another women/mother.

What I have to say to these people is that I am educated, I stay very busy with my life and I CHOOSE to stay home with my kids.  And you know what??? I LOVE IT!!!!  It is better then any other job I could possibly have. Do I have days where I want to jump off a cliff rather then hear anymore whining, tattling, or crying??? Heck yes! Many in fact.  Sometimes I would love to have a job to go to, just so I can talk about other things rather then Disney movies and my little ponies.  I would love to eat lunch without someone needing a cup of milk or a bite off my plate.  I would love to have performance reviews and have someone tell me I am amazing and am a hard worker. I would love to get a raise at the end of the year, or a bonus, or heck even get paid would be nice. I would love to use my four year degree and be challenged to learn new things in the work force rather then cook, feed children, clean, change diapers, repeat. I would love to feel more of an asset and needed by someone taller then me.  I would love to have a sick day where I could actually sleep it off.  I would love my house to stay clean for more then 5 seconds, because yes I am home all day, it should be more clean right?? Wrong! Actually it means my kids are home with me all day long making messes faster then I can clean them. I would love to have extra money to pay down the mortgage, buy a boat, have nicer cars or do fancier vacations. I would love not to spend hours clipping coupons so we can afford the good cereal.

But when all is said and done I still love what I do. Here are my reasons why:
I get to see my kids everyday and know when they are sad, happy, upset, anxious, nervous, excited, etc.
I know what comforts them and how to help them
I know their facial expressions and body language
I don't worry about co workers gossiping about me when I have to take yet another sick day with my child so I can take care of them and cuddle with them all day
I get to see their first steps, lost teeth, first days at school, soccer games, gymnastic days, dance practices etc.  I get to go on field trips and not worry about taking a long lunch or rushing back to work.
I get to bake cookies and do crafts with them.
I get to play dress up and play Candyland 100 times in a row
I get to watch as they learn new things and are proud of themselves.
I get a sense of pride when some stranger at a restaurant or on an airplane compliments me on how well behaved my kids are and I know it is because I have taught them to have manners and to be respectful to others.
I feel peace knowing that they got to school safely and were happy to start their day
I don't worry about them picking up naughty words or nasty colds at daycare
I get to teach them to use the potty, read, write, know their colors and numbers.
They make mom pretty pictures
I am the first person they come crying to when they are sad or hurt
I get to hear all about their day as soon as they are home, the good and the bad.
I get to teach them about things in life they way I want them to. Like sex, religion, etc
I get to learn how to make new things and become a better cook and baker, then we have more home cooked meals that actually taste good.
I get to serve others and teach my children how to do it too
I get to tuck them in every night and get a bear hug and kiss.

The list goes on and on.  At the end of the day I am proud to say I am a stay at home mom.  I am needed. I am an asset to my family. I am using my education to teach my children.  I am creative and fun.  I don't get paid in money but rather in kisses, hugs and pretty pictures. I am busy and sometimes can't go to the bathroom by myself. I am a good mom and I have beautiful and well behaved children that are proof of all the hard work.

I am so extremely thankful for my hard working husband because without him, I could not have the best job in the world.  He worked hard at getting a good education and got a good job where we can afford for me to be at home.  He would work 4 jobs before he wanted me to get one.   He does appreciate me, and without a doubt, doesn't know how I do it everyday. He is good at letting me go out with friends and do some mini weekends away because he knows I need some "me" time.  I know many working moms out there wish they could do what I do.  I know many of them have to work to help provide a living and you gotta do what you gotta do. I have no doubt that their kids are loved, well behaved and they are great moms too! I am just happy I don't have to work outside my home. Someday I might go back to work so I can help with saving money for the kids college funds, weddings, missions (theirs and mine) or it might be to help pay bills too. But for today I am happy doing what I do.  I hope my girls can know that yes being home with them means many different kinds of sacrifices, but they are worth every.single.one. of them. 

Forever Friends

I truly am a very blest person.  I have some amazing women in my life.  I have a group of about 8 friends who I call my sister friends.  We get together anytime we can.  Sometimes we craft together, sometimes we eat together (ok most times food is involved) and make fun of the crazy people on reality TV shows. We pull together when one of us is down and needs some help or encouragement. We laugh together and we cry together.  We have seen each other's families grow and other times our testimonies of Christ. Seriously they are AMAZING! I am so blest to have each one of my sister friends and they will always be one of my forever friends. I love you Betsy, Tamara, Erica, Katie, Katee, Emily, Ang and TyLeen. (we need a group photo!)

 

Last weekend I got to go to the Seattle area with Betsy to visit our very dear friend McKenzie. (also a sister friend)  Almost 3 years ago she moved back up north and we miss her so much.  Whenever we are together it is like we don't even skip a beat.  This picture is us at Time Out for Women.  We heard some amazing speakers and I always come away feeling uplifted and ready to be a better mom, wife, friend and me. I miss you McKenzie but I am glad you are not too far away.

Be our guests

We were oh so lucky this month to have some visitors at our house.  We first got to have my mom and Grandma Horsley come and stay for a week with us.  We enjoyed being together, eating out, shopping, watching soccer games, and playing with the kiddos.  My girls LOVED every minute they could soak in and I was loving it too.  I enjoyed cooking for more people and I also enjoyed them cleaning the kitchen after. :)

 

A favorite place around here when guests come is to go to the Country Mercantile. This time of year they have their pumpkin patch in full force. We had a great time on the hayride, getting some pumpkins and treats.

 Got them all in one picture but Danielle is hard to find. :)

They stayed a week with us and enjoyed Danielle's birthday and General Conference with us.  I was so grateful for all the help while they were here and we wish we could see them more often.

The day they left we got some new guests. We had Johnny's little brother Jordan and his family Kristen, Collin and Bradley come stay for a week.  We were so excited because it was our first time meeting Bradley.  He is such a sweet little guy and so mellow.  It was fun to have a baby around again. The girls had some fun playing and getting to know their cousins a little better.

The fun trying to get a pic with little ones....

 Oh there it is.

 If we ever have a little boy I would imagine he would look a lot like this guy.

We had a great time with our guests and are grateful we could make good memories together.

It's another Girl!

This pregnancy has been wonderful.  Still sicker then a dog in the beginning but much easier then the other girls. I was able to keep my food down which helped make me feel so much better and out of the hospital. I thought I would be throw up free this time then it decided at 14 weeks that we had to have a least a few times, but at least it was not too bad. 

 

In the beginning I had a dream we were having a boy.  I felt so much better this time around and had different symptoms then the girls so I figured it was true.  Even the doctor was thinking it was a boy. Then about at 15 weeks I had a dream that the baby came out and it was a girl.  I told myself over and over in my dream that it was going to be ok that it was a girl.  I believe this was the Lord's way and saying "hey this is gonna be a girl so don't get disappointed."  A few days before my birthday we found out we were in deed having another girl.  They had a hard trying to see for sure, and it took two doctors to search so they were only 90% sure at the time.  So I decided I wouldn't tell yet, just in case it changed. At first I was disappointed but that night I went home and looked at baby names and found one I really loved and I knew that was going to be her name.  It gave me so much peace and then I did a little retail therapy to make it better too.

 

I felt I got big fast this time so I probably won't do a lot of belly shots but here I am at 18 weeks

 And these are how we announced what we were having, I believe at 20 weeks.

I am so thankful we are having another girl.  I have been thinking how wonderful these girls are to me and I will love having another.  And deep down inside I think Johnny is too though he will never admit it. Ha! We are excited to meet this little one in February!

Danielle is 4!!!!

Seems like there has been lots of new things for this little lady of mine.  Danielle was so excited for her first day of school.  Almost every single day since February she has asked when she gets to go to school.  Her first day I walked her to the door and she didn't look back.  She started preschool this year with Mrs. Lemon who unfortunately had to have surgery so she has to take a month to two months off. I decided to put her in gymnastics in the meantime and she is loving it!  She loves making crafts and learning her letters.  She also has been wanting us to teach her how to read like Lexi.

 

 We don't really have naps at all anymore but every once in awhile she will crash somewhere.

Danielle got extremely spoiled for her birthday this year by her Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents and friends.  And the best part of all is Grandma Horsley and Grandma Cindy were here for a visit.

 We had our first friend party this year and of course it was princess themed. 

 They decorated wands and party hats with stickers, played outside, ate lunch and of course cupcakes!

 They boys got swords instead of wands. They were excited if you can't tell.

 She really wanted some princess Legos and boy did she ever get some. :)

 We also had a family party at our favorite pizza joint. 

 Enjoying their new bubble wands

Our newest struggle lately is to get this poor girls tonsils out.  When she was 2 I took her to the ENT doctor who agreed with me they needed to come out but she wasn't big enough yet.  She finally weighs enough and I was trying to get it done before baby and school starts again.  But the insurance company says she doesn't need it, so we are trying to appeal it.  I am not sure what will happen, I just want my sweet girl to not be sick all winter and to get some better sleep at night.

Danielle cracks me up all the time.  In the car one day when it was just the two of us she started laughing to herself.  I said, "why are you laughing?" she replied, "Because the baby in your tummy is naked!" 

She is super excited to be a big sister.  She likes to rub my belly and give kisses. She tries to give it clothes or toys and wonders why they don't "fit" in my tummy.  She asks almost everyday if it is Valentines day yet. And my favorite part is she tells me all the time that the baby will go down my leg and come out my toes and it will hurt really bad. I have explained a few times that is not exactly how it works but she insists.  She also believes that she came out my head somehow.

She gets embarrassed very easily. She will hide her face usually at my side. And she really doesn't like to be called silly. 

I have enjoyed having her as my little buddy while Lexi is at school. She is a pretty easy going girl when it comes to doing errands, which I am so thankful for.

This girl has me going crazy one minute and then the next rolling on the floor from laugher. I sure am blessed to have this little princess in my care.

Labor Day weekend and my 30th birthday

We went with some friends boating at Fish Hook park on Labor Day.  The kiddos had a blast swimming, tubing and some ice blocking.

This September, I turned the big 30.  It was a wonderful birthday.  I got showered with yummy treats and gifts.  My birthday was on a Saturday this year and Johnny took the whole day off from soccer and cleaned the house and prepared for a BBQ with my closest friends.  Meanwhile my bestie Betsy took me for pedicures, shopping and lunch.  She also helped Johnny with the planning of the BBQ.  She made a date jar for me which had popsicle sticks with different date ideas on them.  And then each of my friends gave me gifts that go with the jar.  So for example, I got a Wing Stop and ice cream gift card,  towels and bath stuff, and some games that said clothing optional. ;)  It was so thoughtful and a great idea. I felt truly loved and am so grateful for the wonderful friends and husband that I have in my life! (too bad I didn't take any pictures)