Is this really working?

So I thought that going to bed earlier would be a sure cure for excessive amounts of energy - wrong! I am completely wiped out today after doing little compared to days gone by. I even fell asleep today on the couch with Savannah and that is something I never do. I am just not a napper (is that a word?). I hope its not a precursor to something worse - I hate to even think about getting sick. I used to love getting sick when I was younger. It meant staying home in bed, watching TV all day and moms complete and undivided attention. What more could you want? Right? Unfortunately, as a mother laying in bed, watching TV, and mom's attention don't exist. So hear is to good health and lots of energy.
Now that that is out of the way the real reason for this blog was to do a little catch up to show off our fun trip to Hawaii over the New Year. Thanks to Brock's Dad and step-mom Crystal we got to experience Hawaii together for the first time - and it was amazing. Sit back, relax and enjoy some of our favorite pics.!

We love visitors!

Sundays are my favorite days

I am really serious about this title. I really love Sundays. I love being with my family and knowing that Brock doesn't have to work. I love not feeling the need to clean my house, run to the store, or pay bills. It is truly a day to draw closer to God and family.
Today I had one of those moments of truth. I have been thinking the last two days about the need to go to bed earlier so that I can start my day earlier - therefore accomplishing more. It should be this simple- Not! For some reason after my kids go to bed I feel like a kid at a sleepover - when you can stay up all night, eat junk food, and do things you never would at your own house. Or maybe more like I'm 16 again out for a my first drive alone with the windows rolled down the cool summer night air blowing through my hair while singing along to a favorite J.T. song - FREEDOM. Don't get me wrong I love my kids - I really love my kids. But, I love my time alone and that usually only comes around 8 pm or so. Than it's a mad dash to get ready for bed, spend some time with my other love (Brock) catch up on the days happenings, plan for the next day and blah blah blah. Than at around 9:30 or maybe 10 Brock slips into slumber land and it's finally quite. Oh, how I love this time. It's my time to do whatever I want. Or is it, it's now 10 o'clock and my sweet little kiddos will be awake by 7 hungry and ready to start the day. And if I start my alone time now, by 12 if I'm lucky I will finally join Brock in dream land only to be awoken at 2 by Lucy who has yet been able to sleep through the night - and before I even feel rested I am awake and ready to start another day groggy and sleep deprived. So, back to my moment of truth for any of you who still care. Today in church during a talk on scouts (not really my focus right now- which just goes to show that you can learn something from any talk) a heard a fabulous quote which I believe goes something like this - "a man/women who can conquer his/her bed can conquer the universe." This was the moment of truth for me. As much as I love my freedom at night, it's going to be a hit the hay at 10 and enjoy the sunrise at 6 Jenny from now on. (Tonight doesn't count of course.)

Savannah 90% of the time.

Lucy was taking a bath in our sink when we lived in Midway and Savannah had to do the same. Suprisingly she actually fit in the sink. This was about 2 months ago before we headed down to sunny Arizona for a try at real desert living.

A day in the life

Well, I didn't think it would take me this long to post again. Not to say that I haven't tried many times but to no avail. So I am skipping past all the updates and right in to the good stuff. The good, the bad, and the ugly - the way life really is.
I officially hate bugs in my house. After a scorpion, a ginormous centipede (and yes, I know that ginormous isn't a word, but you get the gist), and some strange jumping bug all found within the confines of my own home I will admit that I am not the bug lover that I once thought I was. I don't mind them outside, in fact I still get upset if someone intentionally tries to dispose of one of Gods creatures - outside that is. But I no longer let them stay inside and I was actually glad to see the pest control truck pull up in my driveway to offer some peace of mind that I would not be waking up at 2AM to a thousand little centipede feet across my arm. Thank goodness for chemicals.
Tonight I have to count my blessings - not because the day was so fabulous that my heart is brimming with gratitude, but for the very opposite reason. I had a very hard day. You think I would know better than to take two tired kids to Costco. Unfortunately I didn't pay attention to my better half and ended up with a screaming toddler trying my best not to notice the stares and gasps as I batted her hands out of the way in self defense as she violently swung at me time and time again. I was humbled once again as a mother. I usually feel pretty confident in my parenting skills and ability to handle most situations. Well, I was sadly proven wrong. During this entire fiasco I was dumb founded. I really didn't know what to do. I just stood there not wanting to make a bigger scene but not able to just up and leave with a cart full of groceries, thinking to myself, "how did this happen?" "How did I get here?" To top it all off the lines were unusually long - and I just stood there completely at the mercy of an exhausted 3 yr. old. Not a pretty picture - but none the less in all this there was something to be grateful for - and that my dear readers is the fact that I have a 3 year old who yells, screams, hits and cries because she wasn't able to put the syrup on her little pancake tasty (these types of things are obviously a bigger deal than I give them credit for). But at the end of the day I can still find her as cute as ever and to see her eyes light up as she grabs her stories to read and snuggles next to me asking me a million questions about each character and word that I read. I am a mother to two beautiful girls so full of life and for this I am eternally grateful. They keep me humble.