…of what it is like to try to take a picture of all four boys together.

My sweet friend Dani Mogstad came over today to take some pictures for us, and she did such a great job too!  We ended up with several way cute shots,  but man I felt sorry for her.  The boys were SOOOOO uncooperative about getting photographed together, and although this is something I am used to from every single year before.  I have to admit, I’m feeling less and less forgiving about it!  They are getting older now, and there is no reason why they shouldn’t be able to sit still for just a few short minutes.  The kids are all school aged, they sit still alllllll the time, they are good kids too!  I mean really generally pretty sweet and good listeners… usually I’m quite proud of them…. But it never fails, when we put them together for a picture, they are not the sweet compliant kids I’m used to, and instead they are down right rude!  Sigh….

It just makes a mommy a little bit sad, it isn’t like I make them take group pictures every single day (although maybe I should just to get them back!)…. but I just find myself thinking that by the time they are actually willing to sit for a picture, they won’t even be children anymore….  they are cute NOW and I want pictures dangit!

Hahaha, ok rant over.  In the end I was really surprised that we ended up with a few really great shots, and a whole lot of true to character ones….  I guess its better that they are generally good kids most of the time, and total hellions for photographs rather than the other way around right???

And after all, they still do look pretty dang cute…. lucky for them, because they really were not on my good side a few hours ago.

I’m going to let Tennyson do the talking for me today:

(if you’re here from an rss feed or like google reader or something, I’m pretty sure the video doesn’t show up in my feed – but it’s worth it to come see!)

So… this weekend I did something totally exciting for me….

I’ve always been really partial to this particular kind of jewelry, but never really have been one committed enough to any of my ideas to actually follow through on it…. I do much better when things just happen, than trying to plan them.  So when one of my bestest pals, Erin, told me that for her birthday she wanted to go get her nose pierced, I decided it was the perfect time to actually go through with it and get a needle stuck in my face (hahaha yuck! but technically that is what they did) so I invited myself along.

Umm… So, with out further ado let me introduce you to my new look:

What do you think?!?  (I know mom dad and liz, please forgive me! )  It is funny because although it is a bit extreme, as in I see it, on my face, every time I look in the mirror at myself, but when I looked at it the first time, it just felt right… maybe in my own head, I already had it pierced ages ago.  I really have always loved the look.  This ring is a bit on the big side, but they pierce with a bigger sized ring so that it can account for swelling, in about a month they’ll put a smaller one in for me.

Actually it was really really very painless, I think my upper ear piercings hurt like way way more… this was like… an iv or giving blood or something.  It was actually way fun to do, and even a few days later the pain is practically nothing, I’m really impressed.

So, yeah there you have it .  I’m really excited about it…. and it is one of the few things I’ve done ever, just only for me.  No one else suggested it, I didn’t need it to be anyone else in the universes approval for it.  I just wanted one – then I did it!  Now that it’s done, I love it.  How’s that for decisive… seriously anyone who knows me and my lack of decision making ability should be really proud.

Part of my "mom thing" this week was getting my shaggy haired boy’s hair cut!  So I took a day and tackled all of um!  (well three little boys and one daddy, luckily little t’s hair is not needing trimmed yet, just those guys tired me out!) But I just think they all look so cute so of course I wanted to show off the guys in my life

Owen (is it just me, or is he really looking older lately!?):

Reece – I have a real soft spot for this expression, it’s very reece:

Here’s Gareth… He’s constantly amazing me with how just mature he is getting, my little boy is really growing up!

..and a sweet laugh (anyone else notice the missing front tooth!?)

And… well a little brag post on the boys wouldn’t be right with out a picture of my baby boy too (he was so mad at me here for making him stay still for a picture – little stinker is ALWAYS on the move right now!)

sigh…. I’m so proud of my little guys.  Seriously, are they the cutest little men or what?!

Well, after the chaos of last week, and the last few weeks in general…. I was finding myself toppling a little on that tightwire… my life had gotten chaotic unbalanced and just exhausting…. So this week I started Monday with a new plan: taking the time to focus first and foremost on my family, and my home, and then on making sure I was getting the time I needed just for me….

For a little while it’s time to let the other things in my life (specifically work) just be…  One of the beauties of my job is that I have the freedom to work at my own pace… so I decided it was time to start focusing on actually setting a pace that was better for me and my family.  Who knows, maybe in taking a breather and letting myself be, I’ll also be refreshed and inspired so I can enjoy working again when I start!

So, this week I’ve focused on getting dinner on the table every night (and eating as a family), being more available to the kids, keeping the house more cleaned up – and just enjoying my family a bit more.  It has been nice, I really am enjoying the time spent at the table together, the time talking with the boys, waking up to a clean house in the mornings and not feeling so stressed out I can’t see straight!  Although I have to admit, I’m not particularly enjoying the hours spent in the kitchen, or the fact that cleaning never ever ever ends!

I’m realizing too… this mom thing really is a full time job!  I think I’d forgotten that, and was getting down on myself for not having everything just so, even though I was working a bazillion hours.  I guess it just is good for me to realize that even if I cut out work all together, I’m still reaching the end of the day totally exhausted, so when I add working into the mix, well, no wonder I was overwhelmed!   Don’t get me wrong, I think it is all worth it, and I’m not planning on giving any of it up, but sometimes it’s good to just take some time and take stock of it all.

Tonight, even though I feel tired, I also feel extra fulfilled.  It’s been a good day, I have a great family, and I’m really appreciating this extra time to focus a little more on them.