What's your favorite?

In the last year I have somewhat gotten my act together and every evening I make dinner and we eat as a family. I grew up this way and I love that we have the same tradition in our home. I love the community it is already building with our kids, they are still so small but I hope to cultivate a safe place that is consistent and "normal".
Now I am not saying we all sit still and eat and have manners like we're the Cleavers or something. It might be the opposite of that... But we are there and together and talking about life. I think that's what matters most.
There is constant complaints about what we are eating, Sofia is ALWAYS out of her seat dancing around, Moses is ALWAYS rubbing rice or ketchup in his hair, and Zeke is ALWAYS burping then cracking up. SO we have some issue to work out, but we have fun.
We started this tradition about 6 months ago where we all go around and say our favorite part of our day. Sofia is the leader, she always remembers and goes from each person asking "What's your favorite"? It is sweet, and they love to share. Moses says the same thing everyday of his life, that his favorite was playing with Ryder, his best buddy. Most days we haven't even seen Ryder but it is always his favorite!
I hope that with each year the kids will just grow into a habit of sharing their day with us at the table, learning to express how they are feeling and learning how to listen to each other.
It is absolutely my favorite part of the day!

One down, a lot more to go!

We have lived in our house for about 8 months now and with three kids it has been hard to really settle in and "decorate". Whatever that means.
Anyway my parents have come up to visit numerous times and work themselves to death helping us! This last visit Dan and my dad hung two new fans and moved an old one to Zeke and Sofia's room. (It might surprise you to find out Zeke broke his old ceiling fan by climbing on his bookcase and hanging on the blades!)
Then my Dad and mom and Dan worked on our sprinklers all day as well. They are amazing and do so much to help us!
Anyway last week I finally finished one room completely in our house! Moses has been really wanting his room to be done and look put together so I did it! (that is a joke, he is only 10 months old, he doesn't really care!)
I am happy with it and the curtains came out good and it is simple but cute!
Next up is Dan and I's room, I was working on a shelf but the wood got warped after I had been distressing for a week, awesome.
Someday it will get done, for now I have one room down!!

of course..

Of course on the day we are getting the keys to our new house our kids would get sick!
We have huge plans for painting and cleaning our house this week, we hope to finish in a week and move in the end of this week. But as soon as I put my gloves on to get down and dirty my phone rings. It is Zeke's school office letting me know he has a fever! Sofia also has one!
So sad when my kids are sick, they have so much energy normally so when they just lay on the ground with sad faces it breaks your heart!
So I guess we will see what we can get done, Dan will defintely be doing all the work.
Thanks Annette for helping me clean this morning, your a great friend!
I guess I will be home more than I planned, then again I have barely packed so I guess I will have plenty to do!!!

quiet house

This morning I am enjoying a quiet house. I can't remember the last time I have had that. Zeke goes to school MWF and Sofia sleeps in the morning. But I don't usually enjoy these quiet times. Mondays I work, Wednesdays I usually skip her nap to go to playgroup, and Friday Dan has the day off so we work on the house, run errands etc. So today we stayed home, and I basked in the quiet of my home. I fought the urge to empty the dishwasher, clean the bathroom, make my bed, wash the diapers etc. I sat down with my earl grey tea (with cream and honey) and read my Bible and wrote in my journal, uninterrupted it was great. I have to fight against my nature to get things done and instead do what I really need which is to be quiet. I love the chaos and loudness of life with kids but I also need a balance of time alone. I am lately trying to figure out what I need to be a better mom and wife, and time alone and stillness around me is one of them. It is not always possible but at least I can find snippets of every once in awhile. I think Scarlet needs quiet time too, she has to look over her shoulder all day with the kids around! She is peacefully snoring on the couch also enjoying the quiet!

ahh a clean house

Is there anything better than a clean house? I just love going to bed with clean sheets, and knowing my house is clean. And I mean really clean! Tonight I went to help Dan with his Anthem show for a couple of hours, picked up the kids, put them to bed and got to work! I turned on some Killers (sam's town album) I love to rock out while cleaning! I cleaned the whole house more than I have in months. I mopped the floors on my hands and knees, cleaned the bathroom, did the laundry, and the dishes and I feel so great! Yay for a clean house and it will last more than 10 minutes because the kids are in bed. I am going to savor this because tomorrow morning by 7:30 it will be dirty, after the dog comes in from outside and Zeke heads out to cover himself in dirt and sweat. But that is the joy of kids and pets!
Right now I have a cleansing face mask on, I am going to jump in the shower and I just might treat myself to a no pudge brownie from Trader Joes!