Lessons I Learned While Walking to the Park

I was recently having a bit of a rough day. You know the kind. You can't find your keys. You pour a bowl of cereal and you're out of milk. The bills are piling up. The dishes need cleaning, the laundry needs folding, and everyone needs your attention. You know those days. But then, my son asked me to take him on a walk to the park. And my daughter jumped up and down and clapped and said, "Yes, the park!" And let me tell you what, that little walk to the park sure taught me a lot about life. I thought I would share...

First, I learned that when life gets too bright, put on your princess sunglasses and ruby slippers. There's no place like home, right?

I also learned a few lessons via someone's sidewalk chalk art. Like, when you feel like giving up, you should just keep going forward.

I also learned to just stop and enjoy the view from wherever I'm at. You never know when it might be the last time you get a view so wonderful.

I learned that there is love in unexpected places, like the sidewalk chalk art.

And I learned that sometimes, the hill we have to climb may seem steep and impossible.

But if we keep going, we WILL eventually get to the top.

And our reward will be more than worth it.

I also re-learned that this is a beautiful country that we live in, and that other people still fly our flag proudly. I was also touched at my son recognizing it and it's beauty. God bless America.

And I also learned that when in doubt, always wear your riding gloves...

<3

Wardrobe Wednesday: Work Day and the Babies

Happy Wardrobe Wednesday, everyone! Here are a few looks from the last little while! Love to hear what you think or your ideas! 

This first look was for work, and then my handsome hubby surprised me on his lunch break to drop off a much needed Dr. Pepper! Couldn't resist adding that to our mess of happiness!! 

Yellow Top: Cotton On; Black and Leopard print Scarf: Nordstrom; Maroon Lace Skirt: My Sister's Closet; Black Lace Tights: Target; Grey T-Strap Pumps: Forever Young Shoes; Jewelry: Apricot Lane Boutique (Bracelets) and Old Navy (Earrings).  Frankly, who knows what Dan is wearing. We love him regardless. <3

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These sweet kids make me so happy. They look great, right? But it's more important to me that they treat each other right, and they do. I'm a proud mamma. No but really, they look great. 

Landon- Grey cordouroy pants: Gymboree; Black Dress Shoes: The Children's Place; Button Down Top: The Children's Place; That Adorable Smile: His Handsome Daddy

Adelle- Black Onesie: Gerber; Denim Jacket: WalMart (really!); Floral Skirt: Justfabkids.com; Textured Tights: Target; Mary Jane Shoes: Payless; Black Headband: The Children's Place; Attitude: Her Mamma

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This sweet girl had a day-date with Mommy and picked her clothes out by herself! (I helped with the hair, though...) Love that she already loves to go through her drawers and closet to find things she wants to wear and put together. I love it even MORE when it works, so that I don't have to either just let her do it, or trick her into my idea! (I mean, no...I never do that...)

Skirt: Old Navy; Top: Wal Mart (again, really!); Opaque Black Tights: Target; Pink Combat Boots: Ruum; Coat: Costco (no lie...); Bows: Wal Mart

Hope you're all having a GREAT Wednesday! 

-L

Wardrobe Wednesday: From Sunday Best to Mechanic's Threads

Well hello, everyone!
First I just wanted to say thanks for the phenomenal turn out, I guess you could say, with respect to the giveaway last week for the Agnes and Dora leggings. It was so much fun, and the support from everyone meant a lot to me! Fashion is a huge passion for me (another post) and pulling these outfits will one day not just be what I do for fun on my blog or when collaborating with other designers or boutiques. IT WILL BE MY JOB, MARK MY WORDS.

Okay, onto some more fun stuff. Here are a few looks as of late. Happy Wardrobe Wednesday!

So this first look was just me and my babies before church one morning. We played with neutrals and a few pops of color. Ellie's whole outfit (minus her purse and shoes) was a Christmas gift from my Grandma Bonnie. She always does have great style. Especially when my Aunt Jill helps her pick things out. Thanks, ladies. Ellie looked beautiful. Though I couldn't get a full shot of my Landon (he's just so busy with very important things to do, ya know??) he felt nothing less than dapper that day, which he showed by telling everyone at church, "I look pretty great today." No lie.

Ellie-Dress: Children's Place; Cardigan: Children's Place; Heart Tights: Old Navy; Purse: Wal Mart; Bow: Children's Place; Shoes: Payless.

Landon-Pants (not pictured-Khaki slacks): Target; White Button-Up: Children's Place; Blue and Green Tie: Target

Me-Aztec Skirt: Old Navy (available in Tall, ladies!!); Chevron Tights: Target; Oxford Pumps: Sole Society; Chambray Top: Nordstrom; Nude Pullover Sweater: Old Navy; Jewelry: Old Navy

This second look was right before heading out to the concert that I blogged about here. Dan surprised me with a cute v-neck tee from Edelbrock, which is a company that he loves to buy car parts from. What can I say? I'm married to a mechanic. These jeans are the Rockstar line from Old Navy which they now sell in mid rise. (Ladies. Like, buy mid rise jeans. They don't look or feel like "mom jeans" but you hate your muffin top, I know you do because you're constantly grabbing the two belt loops closest to the button and doing the oh-so-flattering "up and over" routine. Please. Do this to help yourself and everyone behind you when you bend over to pick up your kids. Kthanks.) They also offer these in Tall and Long (not sure the difference...anyone want to enlighten me?) which I love because I love the slouchy look you can get from a great pair of skinnies and sneakers... but my legs are too long.UNTIL NOW!

TShirt: Gift from the hubby and Edelbrock; Jeans: Mid-rise Rockstar Skinnies from Old Navy; Shoes: Converse; Bracelet: Um. I forgot.

What did you all wear this week?! Link up!

-L

Wait Just a Minute, Here

They grow up so fast and I often struggle with finding the balance between taking in the moment, mourning the past and the outgrown, and deciding if I'm more scared of them growing up or more excited to watch it happen. 

And there are so many times that they are just so darned independent. Too independent, if you ask me, but not really. Just growing and learning; trying and failing and spilling but learning.

And I want to say, "Now wait just a minute, here! I have not said it's okay for you to get bigger, or know how to pour your own juice, or repeat swear words, or be embarrassed by my mommyness or write your freaking name."

And then sometimes they still just need to be held.

So do I.

-L

My Weekend in Snapshots

I went to school on a snowy Saturday morning, and obviously with an empty tank of gas.

I did laundry and other domestic things...#wefinallyhavecleantowels

It snowed.

A lot.

So I drank warm things.

And wore warm things.

And then we wrapped a birthday gift for Uncle Josh and made him a birthday card that we subsequently forgot to attach to the gift.

Then the kitchen actually got cleaned.

And Landon's room went from this, to this:

Which is something of a miracle.

Ellie's room stayed like this.

We had our weekly Sunday morning breakfast.

And went to church.

We picked our candy out of the Santa calendar.

And tore a paper off our our Christmas countdown chain.

We drove to Grandma and Grandpa's house for Sunday dinner.

Then we came home to make apple cinnamon cupcakes.

 They wrestled around on floor.

 And I sat down and read a book.

And now the house is quiet. And finals are approaching. And instead of sleeping, I'll be studying. 

And I think I need a weekend from my weekend.

-L

Mouths of Babes: Christmas Edition

In our home at Christmastime, we have a little Santa calendar with pockets. You've all seen them. You know, the type that has a flurry of pockets in rows across Santa's belly, one for each day until Christmas Eve?
                                      
In the pockets of our Santa, there are little slips of paper with something fun to to each day. Things like, "Make Christmas cookies" and "Make a paper chain" are mixed with more exciting things like, "Take a trip to Salt Lake City to see the Christmas lights" and "Go to the church Christmas party!" Carefully typed, cut into strips and folded, these little activities fill the pockets across Santa's belly and my kids stare at them, wondering what fun surprise they'll unfold tomorrow.

This morning, Landon ran straight to the calendar and said, "Mom! It's the three day!" (Today is December 3rd.) He knows that after he gets home from daycare and does his chores, he gets to choose the paper of the day. All day, I know that he dreams about what he's going to get to do. He can't wait to find out what the "actibity" as he calls it, will be.

On the way to daycare this morning, Landon said to me, "Mommy, I love being a kid. I don't ever want to grow up because kids get to pick out of the calendar. I want to stay a boy like Peter Pan." I laughed and told him that if he wanted to stay four years old forever, that would be fine with me.

The concept has been mulling around in my mind today since he said that, though. Somehow, my small four year old boy is aware enough to think that only kids do "fun things", and that if he grows up, all the fun will go away.

I can't help but wonder, am I too detached, too busy, too frazzled to just stop and have fun? With my culmination of being a student, a mother, a wife, working (more than) full time...am I telling my kids that when you grow up, life isn't fun anymore?

This December, as we pull little slips of magic from Santa's pockets, I'm going to make a conscious effort to have a freaking blast. My babies are growing. They're aware. They're noticing. They're absorbing. I guess it's my job to make sure all of that happens the right way. Apparently, that's what parenting is.

Who knew?

-L

Living for Today

I have been reminded lately how short life can be. We live our lives with a "tomorrow attitude" and a "yesterday perspective". We spend our days planning what we will need to have, need to do and need to accomplish in our tomorrows instead of what and who we need to think about today. We worry about who has hurt or offended us yesterday instead of who we should forgive and love today. We are all just people. We are not invincible. We are not bulletproof. We have absolutely no guarantee for tomorrow, and I can't help but think that at the end of my life, I probably won't look back and think, "I wish I would have done more laundry. I wish I wouldn't have forgiven that person. I wish I never would have got back in touch with that friend. I wish I would have read less stories to my kids and I wish I would have spent more time at work."

Nah.

I don't think that's what I'll be thinking about.

We are human, and yes, part of having a good today is planning on tomorrow. We should save our money. We should sweep the floor. We should study for that test, and we should have those goals. Sure, too much living in the moment can be a dangerous mindset when important things are disregarded in the name of "living for today". But! Sometimes, you're halfway through folding a basket of laundry and you have to just ignore the rest, because there are babies who want you to read them stories. 

And life is too short to wish I'd finished that basket of laundry instead.

So I left it.

And I read stories.

I wish the things that reminded me of this weren't so tragic, but they are sometimes. And I've been reminded to worry less about yesterday, obsess less about tomorrow, and actually live for today a little bit more.

That doesn't involve laundry. It involves bedtime stories. 

-L 

A Letter From a Working Mom

This letter originated in the personal journals I keep for my kids. You can read more about that here. I decided to take it from the pen to the computer screen.

Dear Babies,

Sometimes, I have to leave you. More mornings than not, you are sad not to have morning snuggles and you are wanting for a slower routine.

I can't give that to you.

Sometimes, you cry when we go our separate ways each day, holding out your sweet arms for me and telling me you don't want me to leave.

I can't stay with you.

Sometimes, I look at the clock about mid day, and I realize you've had your lunch already, and you're probably going down for your nap. You're holding your sippy and you're snuggling your blanket.

I can't be there with you.

Sometimes, I wonder if you've fallen down today while riding a scooter or jumping from a swing. I wonder if you cried.

I can't kiss your "owies".

Sometimes, I text your babysitter just to tell her I miss you or ask her how you're doing. I love her, because she loves you. I love her, because she takes care of you when I can't. I love her because you love her. Each day, I give her the most important pieces of my life, and she loves you while I am away.

I can't thank her enough for that.

Sometimes, I feel bad for being away from you most days. I feel bad because I worry that you don't understand. That you don't know that if I could, I would be with you every minute. But our family doesn't work that way. Your daddy and I are away from you during the day because we love you so much, and we know that we need to take care of you.

I can't help that.

Babies, please know that when I'm away from you, you are always on my mind.

In the morning, when I stop for gas or a drink and I open up my wallet, I see you. I think of you, and I miss you.

When I sit down in my office at work, I see you. I smile, and I'm proud of you. I'm happy to show any and everyone who walks into my office that you are mine. You are perfect.

When I pull out my phone at lunchtime to talk to your dad for a minute, there you are. I see you.

Long after you go to sleep at night, when I sit down at the desk to do my homework, write, get caught up on emails, finish things up for work the next day, etc. I look over and I see you.

Babies, I'm sorry for all of the "can't". But though I miss you throughout the days that I can't be with you, know that I work hard because I love you. I realize that a lot of your friends have mommies or daddies that get to stay home with them all day long. Our family isn't that way, but we love you just as much as any mommy or daddy ever could.

Know that I want what's best for you. I might be sad to be away from you, sad when you reach for me and I have to leave, sad for the naps I don't get to put you down for or the lunches I don't get to feed you, but I'm at peace knowing that you're in good hands, and I am at peace because it is all because I love you.

I'm at peace, because this is the very best I can do.

I treasure the few days a week that I get to wake up and snuggle you, get to see your sweet faces marked with blanket and pillow lines after your nap, get to smile at the static in your crazy pig tails after you rolled around and played on the floor, and get to put Monsters Inc or Angry Bird bandaids on your owies.

Sometimes, I can't always be there. But I see you wherever I go, and I love you.

Love,
Mommy