My little Pumpkin Pies!
Stop it.
It makes me so sad to see all the pressure of social media for parents and Mothers.. as if we don't have enough pressure already! When you're having a bad day with your kids, know its normal. I am totally guilty of this. Sometimes the bad days seem more than the good days but there is nothing wrong with you or your kids. Kids are tricky.. they test every single layer of patience we have but no matter what we love them. God blessed you with YOUR kids because he know YOU. He knows exactly what you are capable of and this is HIS plan. Embrace it. Raise them the way you want without feeling pressure to read or take in those silly articles that tell you the "right" way to parent... there is no right way... there is no manual. There is you and your instincs. Follow them.
There is a beautiful song that I heard and one line in the lyrics says "Don't settle for the story the world would have you write." And its true. Be true to yourself. You know you and you know your children best.
Our grandparents and parents didn't have social media constantly in their face telling them how to parent.. and we all turned out "normal" right!?
So for now, I am totally the mother who carries my camera around my neck and snap pictures of my children as they grow, play and learn and I don't feel like I'm not living in the moment or missing the moment. I am savouring it for years to come. I cherish these pictures. I am the mother who gives her kids desert nearly everyday.. why? Because we can! Its not always something grand.. sometimes its as simple as sweet fresh strawberries and yogurt.
This is me. This is us, and this is our family.
This past week our little ones were sick.. especially Penny. Come Saturday she seemed to really be on the mend. Brian was working this past weekend but I knew some fresh air would do the kids and I good so I loaded them up Saturday first thing in the morning and we headed out to the Calgary Corn Maze. It was just us. Just my three little pumpkins and me and it was so nice. The kids were so excited.. mostly Carter. He could not wait to get going. He even pulled his little brother and sister in the wagon!
I let Carter take the lead. He showed me where he wanted to go and we followed him. First, the big fancy park! I love that my kids are all little monkeys! Even Penny at 12 months can climb and get onto our kitchen table.. which isn't great but she does fit right in with her brothers. Penny's favourite thing right now is the swing!
Next was the huge slide. The boys were seriously in HEAVEN!
Then.. "THE MOST HUMUNGOUS SLIDE YOU HAVE EVER SEEN IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE" <- Says Carter. I went down a couple of times with Penny.. but it was way faster than I thought it would be and maybe just a little crazy with Penny in my arms so we let the boys finish it off with 20 runs! It is fun moments and facial expressions like these that make me want to take my camera everywhere we go!
Next was the big jumping trampoline thing. My kids really had no interest in seeing the animals this time around but were way more for the physical activity! Penny and I got on too and she liked it as long as I was holding her.. she was holding on for dear life with smiles and nervous giggles. It was adorable.
It was freezing outside and after an hour and a half, Penny was done. She wasn't happy anymore. So we went down a few more slides and then headed over to the little pumpkin patch before heading home.
It was such a great morning with them. They fought, tantrumed about who got which water bottle and who I buckled in the car first but overall it was a great morning. The fresh air was amazing for them and this morning they all seem all better!
Saturday night, my mom came over and watched the kids so Brian and I could go on a date.. (THANK YOU SO SO MUCH MOM!!!! YOU ARE MY ANGEL!). We had originally planned just to go to dinner and a movie but there is something so special about Brian. Since we were just dating and 17 years old, Brian has always opted out of taking me to the regular movie theatre and always surprises me and takes me to an actual theatre to either see a play, a ballet, a concert and yesterday was just as special. He surprised me after we left for our date and he took me to Theatre Junction to see a circus acrobat show called "Catch Me!" and it was UNBELIEVABLE! They are a group of 6 (5 guys and 1 girl) from Quebec. They all started circus together when they were 7 and became a group called the Flip Fabrique 4 years ago.
It was a small show. The theatre holds probably 200 people, and I didn't even know this show was in Calgary for the weekend but it was AMAZING! If they are ever in your area... GO! You will have so much fun! They were hilarious and amazing! The show was done around 8:30 and we then went out for some appetizers. It was so nice just to sit and talk and hold hands across the table with the man of my dreams. I love you so much Brian. Thank you for always finding these fun things for us... I love that this is "our thing" and that no matter how bad he wants to see a specific movie on our dates that are not very often, he always finds a way to make me feel special and like Im still his #1. I love you so much Brian Reed!
Heres to a GREAT week with fun Halloween activities with the kids and their cousins and Bentley's birthday party! Busy Week, lots of fun and so many memories, I am sure!