Perfectionist? Who Knew

I love Family Home Evenings. My kids love it and it is a great time to be together and talk about everything from manners to Jesus. This week being close to Christmas we had a lesson on giving a gift to Jesus by being nice to others. We decided to draw names and try extra hard to be nice to that family member. It is a secret and then we will tell who we had next week. Odd thing is I ended up with Marcus. As I started to think on what I could do I was actually really puzzled. I fold his clothes cook dinner etc. and am a fabulous wife ;o). I was thinking if I got one of the kids I could help them with chores more, cleaning rooms making beds and the other things that they are in charge of doing. But with Marcus I am practically in charge of running this house. If I need help with something he is always willing but it seems that it is my job to keep us up and going.

As I was thinking about it I was surprised to relalize that I have already given my family all of me. I do the cooking the cleaning, get the homework done, the chores policed, volunteer every Friday in both of the classrooms, all the shopping, groceries and christmas, and birthdays, get up at night with the baby, feed her rock her, wipe boogers and tears and bums, make homemade bread, pay the bills, and anything else that needs to get done. When I need a break and time to myself Marcus is always willing to pick up the pieces and keep us moving. He is there for me when I fall apart, when I need extra arms, more sleep and a listening ear. It takes both of us to take care of this family.

I have always had a philosophy in life that I have always wanted to live with no regrets. I wanted to look back on my life and know that I did the best that I had with the circumstances I was given. If something was wrong in my life or my child's it wasn't from the lack of effort on my part. In school I always wanted A's. I suppose I want the same in life knowing I gave it my 100 and 10 percent. I never thought I was a perfectionist. I am a fast cleaner, really only caring if it looks clean to me. Many times just doing things and being done because it was good enough. I remember growing up and cleaning the way mom told you to. She was the perfectionist. And as an adult doing it different. I don't get on my hands and knees to mop. The bathroom isn't scrubbed down with ajax every week. But I suppose I must be a perfectionist when I look at my approach to life. I want the 850 credit score someday, being in the 800's isn't enough. I want the right cash reserves the debts gone, and a happy balanced life.

But I suppose I shall come back down to my life and for this week give Marcus a back rub, knowing I have given my family everything else I have.

I'm a Stinker

How's my mascara look?



Peek A BOO



Tannen is a little stink pot. Everywhere I turn he is into something. I used to think that he wasn't as bad as Landon, but now I don't think so. He is constant and persistent. He will use anything and everything to try and climb onto my kitchen counters. We can't keep him off the table, and he is constantly trying to steal the kids' food. But we love our little stink pots, they make life interesting.

Tumbling

We put the kids in tumbling again this year. They had fun again, and looked forward to their Wednesday's so they could go in the evening. This is the last day when they get to show us everything they learned.


Landon balancing


Kylie balancing


Tannen kept trying to get on the mats.


Not sure what is going on but Kylie is laying down


Showing off their hand stands. Kylie and Landon are on the ends.

Pictures

I haven't been the best blogger so I am trying to catch up. He are some of our randomness from the last month.


Kids being silly after putting up Christmas


Feed Me Daddy


Tannen loves being a big brother


Landon Getting Ready


And Throw


Sweet sisters


Smile from Aria - she is almost 3 months here


Landon and Tannen having a great time on bikes. Landon discovered he could give him a bike ride. Before the snow flew they had a great time together.

Happy Halloween

Landon's mask fell off


Darth Vader in Action


Our cute little cowboy


Little Miss Tinkerbell

Our Halloween was fun. We got to have a pizza the shape of a pumpkin, and we made homemade rootbeer with the kids. They thought it was awesome. Marcus took the kids out trick or treating. It was raining a ton. Good thing they had umbrellas. Tannen was even able to ride on Marcus' shoulders and got to pick out some treats. They made a haul and were only gone for about 20 minutes. Marcus said that they got a small handful everywhere they went and living in town homes makes it go by fast. I stayed home with Aria while she slept. They got to watch a Simpsons Halloween, and called it a day. Between a Halloween costume birthday party, a school carnival, and dressing up for school they got good use out of their costumes this year. I was able to go and help out in Kylie's class for her Halloween party. It was lots of fun this year.

Chatting with Kids

So last night I sent Landon to bed. I don't know why it hit me as funny but he told me. "mom it smells like poo in here." I told him "it probably is poo." Poor guy has live with the changing table in his room.

I was snuggling up Kylie yesterday while Marcus, Tannen, and Aria took naps. Landon was on the computer. I was having a conversation with her that went about like this.

Wendi: Kylie I love having you. You are going to be my girl forever.
Kylie: Not forever, pretty soon I am going to get big and leave.
Wendi: But you will still be my girl.
Kylie: Well I am going to get big and have my own girl.
Wendi: Can I hold her when you have her.
Kylie: Yes, but it might be a boy.
Wendi: That's okay, I love boys too.
Kylie: Ya, my boys are going to be little stinkers and get into everything
Wendi: What if you have a little girl and she sneaks and write all over herself in markers.
Kylie: Oh, I will keep a close eye on her.

Can you tell what goes on over here? Tannen really is into everything. We are constantly locking up rooms. I just wish that I could lock him up sometimes in a padded room and let him go crazy with nothing to climb up on and stick anything into.

Aria is being such a better behaved little girl. She has really slowed down on the crying. I found a little tickle spot under her chin last night. And she is starting to reach and grab and things. So exciting.