Project 52:15 | Revealing

Project 52:15

Motherhood is:

REVEALING

imperfections & unveiling failures.

Pinterest projects unfinished & shelved,

nails unmanicured & blogging Betrayed.

In the end our children just want us

playing, singing, reading.

~ Unconcerned with looks or talent ~

They want mommy.

Revealed.

 I know. I know. It LOOKS like we had the most miserable Easter ever. We really didn't. I promise. Actually, I giggle every time I look at this photo! Did my children really give me these looks?!? Part of me resisted posting a picture depicting my children as less than photogenic, but motherhood is real, raw and revealed. We all have these pictures. Right?

As I previously disclosed, capturing a photo of Sadie is most difficult. Easter proved no different. She decided it was super cool and funny to CROSS HER EYES for almost every photo that morning! Where does she get this?? Elam looks equally distressed. 

So here's to my 2012 Easter photos!

 Take Two! A big ole' grin from Elam (typical) and a blurry cross-eyed Sadie (classic).

Take . . .  Twenty! It really is possible to capture a beautiful grin from this girl. 

She IS a sweetheart! And a funny one, too.

Well, I broke my unspoken blog rules this week . . . and it feels good.

Until next week  . . . be blessed and real.

Project 52:14 | Blooming

Project 52:14

Motherhood is:

Blooming.
Every season is a season of change,
but Springtime brings the most beautiful blooms.
Take time to sit amongst, treasure &
walk in the beauty of this season.
It passes so quickly.
And so it is also true with our children.
Watch them bloom.

2012 accounts for our fourth Springtime in Texas. I'm ashamed to admit it is our first venture, and most likely our last, into the Bluebonnets. The Bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas. Although it is illegal to mow or pick any of these beauties you are expected to crush a few every spring just to get that annual picture. So we finally did. Actually, we found a spot already flattened by someone following the tradition therefore sparing a few flowers.

And just like flowers our children grow and change so quickly. This picture really depicts their personalities well. Elam is my lovable, huggable bundle of smiles. He's starting to jabber like he's carrying on a big conversation.  He wants to walk so bad, but hasn't mustered up enough bravery . . . yet. I anticipate I will have a "walker" by my next post.  He surely is a charming and handsome fellow.

Sadie studies everything and loves to learn. Getting a picture with a smile and those big blues looking at the camera is 1 in every 50 snapshots. I've come to the conclusion that it's not her personality. Yet, she will be the first to greet you with a very kind compliment and smile - just don't get out the camera! Sadie is quite keen. She doesn't understand why they are called Bluebonnets because they actually look purple. I have to admit it is a pretty good question and I tell her all the time that God gave her a good mind, good eyes and good ears.  He surely did.

I say all this to say what you already know. Times goes by quickly. And if we aren't careful, we forget to watch the Bluebonnets multiply and miss the opportunity to sit down and enjoy their beauty.

Our children are like Bluebonnets.

Project 52:13 | Going

Project 52:13

Motherhood is:

Going.
Sorting, Packing, Boxing, Selling, Moving.
Going.

I knew it would happen at some point and it happened last week. I just didn't have my blog post ready and I didn't even have the energy to stress over it. I have lots of excuses. None that really matter, but they are still excuses. Hopefully it will be a long while before I fall behind again. Hopefully.

In preparation to place our house on the market I enlisted a lot of help. My mother came for a short weekend. We washed all my blinds, windows and screens, made an Easter cake, touched up the walls and woodwork - after finally finding the right paint and dyed Easter eggs. (We had to squeeze in the kid activities!) It may not sound like a whole lot, but we busted our tails all weekend! Thank you, mother!

Then, my mother-in-law came the following week so I could pull off a garage sale. I'm still surprised we made almost $400.00! I am not sure if I am more excited about the money or having the STUFF out of our house. I don't stay up on garage sale trends, but was shocked that my Friday sale was much busier than Saturday. Those that showed up on Saturday were guaranteed a great bargain and everything I had left went to a friend who is selling it to support a summer missions trip. I couldn't be happier!

And now it is done! All of the junk I was ready to depart with is gone and our house is officially on the market.  A huge weight has been lifted!

Now to just keep the house clean . . . all the time. Ha! And to finish filing taxes and . . .
Anyway, have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Project 52:12 | Grinning

Project 52:12
Motherhood is:

Grinning.
Cause some days that silly face
is all you got.
Embrace it.

To be honest, I have felt a little bit swamped lately. Not much time has gone into my blog - which drives me crazy! I have been scouring the house for anything and everything to tag for my garage sale next week. Clothes, lamps, dishes, ALL my decor and the list goes on and on . . . it's all going bye-bye.

So in between my cleaning rampage, daily home maintenance (ha!), sickness, kid time and any needed bookwork everything else has been neglected. And I'm left tired! Now, I'm just trying to decide if I should embrace my new level of tiredness as normal.

So today, for my sanity, I am changing up the routine. It's on to Hobby Lobby for some therapy with two little grinning (hopefully) faces in tote. And not to replace everything waiting in the garage for the big, two day "moving" sale
(which I'm praying won't have a rain delay).
It is RED. I am looking for splashes of RED. Nothing too extravagant, just a little touch of happiness for that perfect spot.

Adios!
 

Project 52:11 | Guiding

Project 52:11

Motherhood is:

 Guiding

 our children as they

engage in the game of Life.

An umbrella of opportunities

awaits as we take on the challenge to

parent the next generation.

This is no small task.

I do a LOT of guiding these days. I figure I will for the next eighteen plus years or so. It just comes with the territory. Sometimes I feel like a broken record. And other days my guidance is rewarded with a kind, generous and obedient attitude. 

Boy do I cherish those moments!

It seems we are constantly trying to "figure out" our children. What discipline method works best? or Can I minimize how frequently I discipline by using clearer instructions and better management? The list could go on and on. There is never a dull moment in parenting, but there is always room to learn and make improvements.

 

Now, if only I had TIME to bury myself in the stack of books awaiting me on my kindle app! Too much on my list for today. Maybe tomorrow . . .

(p.s. I love to get FREE books for my kindle app & right now  

Crock Pot Cooking: 50 No Fuss Recipes is FREE!)

Project 52:10 | Graced

Project 52:10

Motherhood is:

 Graced

with all sorts of beauties.

Consider the blessings

bestowed upon mothers

and contemplate the rewards.

As for me, I am extraordinarily thankful.

 

I'm so thankful to be a stay-at-home mom this year. Although it has it's challenges, there are so many freedoms that accompany this career.  An afternoon at the park, meeting comrades at MOPS on a Wednesday morning or craft time after breakfast are always nice treats. And on weeks like this that include sick kiddos, it's nice not having to scramble for a substitute or work up an extra set of plans 

for the class while I am away.

These may seem like small pleasures, but they sure add up quickly.

And I wouldn't change a thing.

Project 52:9 | Generational

Project 52:9

Motherhood is:

Generational.
Each and every family creates their own traditions.
Customs with deep roots.
A passerby may observe them as peculiar, quirky or unimportant
but rest assured they are prized treasures.
The matriarch perpetuates the practice
and the heritage continues.
Carry on, mothers, carry on.

This is the art of noodle making.
 Where I come from, we eat noodles instead of dumplings and they aren't bought from a store they are homemade. Homemade noodles with roast and mashed potatoes has been a family favorite for as long as I can remember. When the "kids" make it back home to visit, we are guaranteed at least one meal with homemade noodles. We eat until we are stuffed and then we get another spoonful.
And the welcomed, unspoken rule: No one eats just one helping.

My mother has fond memories as a young child of learning how to make noodles from her Grandma Estie. And after watching my mom roll out and cut the dough countless times over the years, I have learned this special art. Now, my mother has taken it upon herself to train Sadie. Honestly, I don't get too many opportunities to practice and perfect noodle making because my mom stocks us up when she comes to visit. It is not uncommon for her to whip up 18 eggs worth of homemade noodles. We bag and freeze them and I'm set - at least until her next visit.  : )

So I must confess that this picture was not taken in 2012. It was captured during one of my mom's visits last fall. To me, this photograph speaks volumes and I felt it was worthy of Project 52. 

Thank goodness, motherhood is generational.
And thank goodness for homemade noodles!