AFTERNOON AT GRANDMA'S

Happy Mother's Day! It was one of those weekends, after which Ken and I looked at each other with big eyes, because we survived and because we felt lucky. My brain and heart felt all sweaty from the extra work, and it was almost entirely a good thing.

Last week was tough. Everyone was sick and it felt like moving boulders trying to do the smallest things. Lately, I feel driven extra crazy when I find myself trapped in the middle of a series of menial tasks that don't seem to have an end. This is life with young kids, and this is life with young kids especially when busy. I was thoroughly weary of the hustle last week; being sick obviously exacerbates this feeling. Each day demands that there be a lull in response to the swell, and my weariness allowed (forced?) me to build some of that in where I could. I didn't go work out at all, I slept earlier most of the days, and I even spent one whole hour doing nothing but reading a book (a real one in my hand!) in bed. 

 I am feeling much better now, and hope is near again. But even when I wasn't feeling 100%, and I felt well worn by the effort of things, these babies of mine kept showing up like beams of light. Even when sometimes it is because Logan woke up two times in the middle of the night that I am so worn, it is she who will greet me with the brightest of smiles and laughs, clutch me with her baby hands, snuggle her chubby face into my neck, sing me a song, look at me with a twinkle in her eye, and make me feel loved and purposeful. And Sloane, she so patient with Logan and so helpful to me, but lately I've been feeling like she needs extra time with me and I'm badly craving alone time with her too. Even when there is so much to do, my favorite thing these days has been to snuggle with her at night. She tells me the funniest about her day- things that she observed and thoughts that she had. We whisper them to each other in the dark, and it feels like we are in a secret place, just us. It feels like I am the luckiest person in the world.

I'm taking deep breaths! Trying to be purposeful about the swell and lulls of a day so that I'm enjoying the movements instead of trying to keep up. This week, that means being present with my kids in between work and tasks, and prioritizing instead of trying to do all the things.

These photos are from a couple of weekends ago when we went down to Virginia Beach for Ken's weightlifting competition. We spent the afternoon relaxing at my mother-in-law's house, all of us feeling a sense of peace and contentment, which is what these photos remind me of. 

Rusty did a drawing too. 

This is dad showing us what he was going to look like during his competition. 

This is Sloane showing us her moves. 

And then of course, Lola had to try. 

Lola gearing up for a high five. She will load up like that if she sees you coming in and give you the most satisfying thwack.

A picture with Sloane's great-grandmother! And Lola with her animal counterpart, Maggie!