Truth in Blogging

I started this blog when my girls were a year old. 

The girls’ first year was a hard one in a lot of ways…the uncertainty of new motherhood, the exhaustion, the rollercoaster emotions…the seemingly endless cycle of feeding babies, orchestrating wake-time activities, and adhering to the rigorous nap schedule I’d set…then rinse and repeat.

Still, even at that time [save for the first couple of months, anyway], I felt a sense of balance, at least in the longer term, bigger picture…hence the name of my blog and tagline, “Thank Goodness the Triumphs Outweigh the Trials”.

While I think of myself as relatively glass-half-full, I don’t necessarily feel like a happy-go-lucky person.  I don’t speak in a perpetual singsong voice.  I don’t walk around with my head in the clouds, and I know that life is not all rainbows and butterflies.  I think my approach is one of assessment of the current situation, followed by the development of a plan of action.  (This approach was born out of my time in the business world.)

So how does this relate to my blog?

I know I tend to focus on the rosy parts of life with my baby girls.  It's just so natural, so easy to do!  They’re smart, they’re fun, they’re energetic, and I feel so incredibly blessed to be their mommy.

Still, that doesn’t mean we don’t have our “challenges”.

I know I’ve written about the poop-smeared crib I found once upon a time…about The Most Draining Week of My Life when Baby A started potty training…about avoiding phone calls because the girls decide that’s the moment to attempt to swing from the chandelier…

…and on a Mommy note, I’ve written about not bonding with the girls immediately…about Mother’s Day being bittersweet…about putting the girls in the car to go through the Starbucks drive-through, just to have them stationary in their car seats for a few minutes and give myself a little break.

Those are more memorable challenges, but I can assure you that we have challenges in some form or fashion every day.  Trust me.

I think our girls are pretty well-behaved, but they still push their boundaries.  They make messes.  They often look with their hands more than with their eyes at the grocery store.  They sometimes cry when they don’t get their way. 

And I certainly have my moments, too.  I have raised my voice more times that I want to count, I once spanked out of frustration (spanking not being part of my discipline tool box), and on several occasions I have broken down in tears, thinking, “I just need a break.”

But I rarely write about those daily challenges.  

It’s not that I’m trying to paint a picture of our life that is sweeter than what it really is.  I’m not trying to suggest that our life is completely blissful.  And I certainly don’t mean to attest that I know more than any other mama about navigating parenthood, or that my girls are any sweeter / smarter / more mannerly than average.

I guess I think about the daily challenges as being just what comes with the parenting territory.  At least for me, I think I can still “keep it real” and choose to focus on the many little things that amaze me every day.

While I'm not always presenting the entire [raw, in-the-trenches] story, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Hiking, Houses, and Horticulture

We had such a fun-filled weekend!  On Saturday morning, I cashed in my Mother's Day wish to go "hiking" with the girls at a local state park.  I say "hiking" in quotes because -- by hikers' standards, I'm sure the trails aren't very challenging -- but for a couple of three-year olds and their [over-protective] parents, it's quite the workout!

This was our second time at the park, and it was even more enjoyable than our first trip, in April.  For one, we recognized most of the trails, so we could be a little more carefree [meaning, not so worried we'd get lost with too-few graham crackers to sustain us].  And second, the butterfly habitat was open, and we were the only ones inside!  The girls got a lot of up-close-and-personal time with the butterflies...one even lit briefly on B's nose!

This time we braved a little tougher detour up and around a small waterfall.  We carried the girls across the bottom, stepping on rocks.  It was only a short ways, and the water was only a couple of inches deep...but it was enough to make this mama's heart race just a bit.

In addition to the butterflies, we saw three really cool frogs and the biggest crawdads I've ever witnessed in one of the blue holes in the park.  The frogs were just hanging out, but the crawdads were pretty active and very easy to see.

It's just awesome that the girls are to an age where we can begin to enjoy such family adventures.  There are few things better than good, clean, and FREE family fun!

(I didn't take my camera so I would be sure to "be" in the moment on our outing, which was wonderful...but there were a handful of times I wish I'd had it.)

Saturday afternoon, a friend of mine brought by a playhouse that her boys had outgrown.  We'd been thinking about something along these lines for the girls -- as they LOVE a similar house at our local orchard -- and I was so glad to have been in the right place at the right time to snap up my friend's offer.

Here are the proud new homeowners...

 Here are the girls playing lemonade stand...or special delivery, one...
 

On Sunday, I gave the girls a sale paper.  They played "mailman" with it...

...and then here's B, looking very intent on scouting the very best prices for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend!

Sunday also brought the girls' first time to plant flowers.  This was on my "bucket list" for last summer, but we never quite got there.  A few weeks ago, the girls and I found the cutest little gardening gloves, and I was determined not to let another season go by without putting them to use.

We went to the garden center and let the girls choose flowers.  We agreed beforehand on petunias, as we've been admiring some on our walk for the past couple of weeks.  B chose pink, and A chose purple.

Here are B and A, showing off their new gloves.  (They were a booger to get on, though!  The girls have only ever worn mittens in the winter, so I guess it was a new experience for them...and a funny one for me!)

Here the girls are, preparing the dirt for the second pot.  (There aren't many action shots, as Mommy was elbow-deep in potting soil most of the time, trying to manage the mayhem...and not let our little petunias get squished from all the "attention".)

Afterwards, the girls watered their new plants...

...and here they are, talking to their petunias, and admiring their hard work.

So thankful for adventure-filled weekends with my baby girls!!!

Kitchen Creations

Over the past few weeks, I've made some new things in the kitchen, most of them Pinterest-inspired.  I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite finds...

Chocolate and Strawberry Nachos

These were really easy and so-so-SO very yummy!  [RECIPE HERE]  I used whole wheat tortillas and dark chocolate, so they contributed to my whole grains AND antioxidants for the day...in addition to the fruit and whipped (dairy) topping, of course!  

[I didn't ask Hubby to pose, digging into the first bite.  He refused to wait while I grabbed the camera.  (Oh, and these were an after-the-girls-were-in-bed treat for us...not sure I'd want to share!)] 

Chocolate-Dipped Rice Krispies Treats on a Stick

I made these for our MoMs' Night Out last week.  [INSPIRATION HERE]  I made the treats in an 8x8 pan, so they would be a little thicker.  I let them sit overnight, and I did my best to cut them into even rectangles.  I inserted the lollipop sticks and dipped them into vanilla bark, and then used some sprinkles to decorate them.

At the risk of seeming too "Martha Stewart" I tied ribbons on the sticks.  :)  These were super easy, and really, really good!  I'm not a huge fan of Rice Krispies treats...I can usually take them or leave them...but dipped in chocolate???  Count me in!  And, they were an easy handheld treat for our craft night.

Monkey Munch

I've confessed before to being a fan of John & Kate + 8.  I remember seeing Kate make "Monkey Munch" a few times, and I always wondered what was in it.  I found the recipe [HERE] (which -- although I haven't compared the ingredients -- looks a lot like "Puppy Chow" to me).  We used Wheat Chex and omitted the butter...again, healthy!  :)

It was such a rainy day on Mother's Day, poo-pooing the plans I had to go hiking with my littles.  Instead, I decided to do something fun with them in the kitchen.

The girls had a blast measuring the ingredients, and then shaking the powdered sugar in a big bag.

And while I don't have pictures of the next two savories...I can promise they were some kind of savory!

Garlic Butter Roasted Mushrooms

I have made these twice [RECIPE HERE], both times to rave reviews from the entire 'fam.  I used baby bella mushrooms, most of which I quartered (depending on the size...I like some "bite" in my 'shrooms), and extra garlic, roughly diced (there's always room for more garlic!).  The first time I used capers, and the second time I omitted them.  And Hubby and I used the juices to dip our French bread...also recommended.

Roasted Green Beans

This is similar to the roasted asparagus that I make, but it a great - and quick! - way to make a side dish from fresh green beans [RECIPE HERE].  I snapped the ends off the beans and then let the girls snap them into pieces.  They loved helping, as always!

I love doing new things in the kitchen.  It is a fun way to mix things up...and make me feel like my time "invested" in Pinterest is worthwhile.  :)

Fab 15 Friday (in Bullet Points)

Switching up the format a bit for my Fab Friday post.  No matter how I dice it, I'm so thankful to have so many fabulous things to count!

Stuff That Never Grows Old…

1)      Hearing the girls tell each other, “I love you.”

2)      Seeing Baby A tuck her baby dolls in for bed…she has a very elaborate system for keeping them cozy, and it so warms my heart.

3)      Eating out for Saturday lunch.  We tried a new restaurant downtown, and – among many other little pleasures – it makes me so proud to see the girls enjoying the new tastes (and shunning the children’s menu).

4)      Joining the girls’ friends for a birthday celebration.

5)      Seeing my shadow flanked by my girlies’, walking through the neighborhood.

New Stuff This Week…

6)      Listening to the girls answer questions with Daddy for the Mother’s Day quiz.  I’m so glad I sneaked around the corner to hear them!

7)      Hearing my girls wish me “Happy Mother’s Day!”

8)      Making Monkey Munch together as part of my Mother’s Day treat.

9)      Hosting Aunt Shanda for her birthday breakfast on Wednesday.  The girls were so excited to see the festivities.

10)   The girls noting their favorite part of breakfast: B said, “The muffins,” and A said, “Aunt Shanda”…awwww!

11)   As we were out for a walk one afternoon, we saw a lot of cars parked at one house (seven, the girls counted).  A said, “They probably have some people visiting.”  And B commented, “That’s a good hypothesis.”  Hahaha!

12)   The girls asking me to take their picture before bed one night…a very rare treat, one that this mama was very happy to indulge!

13)   A new outside game, beanbag toss.  The girls have asked to play it every day, and they are so very happy when they score.

14)   At the birthday party, both girls petted the dog.  They LOVE animals, but they are usually too skittish to pet one.  This was a major deal!

And While I Don’t Want to Make a Habit of It…

15)   Baby A had some trouble going to sleep a couple of nights.  She called for me several times.  I finally asked her why she was doing that.  Her reply?  “I just love you and I want to see you.”  

Amid the inevitable craziness, the fabulousness is what I want to remember.

Preschool!

This post is in follow-up to one I wrote a few weeks ago, entitled, “Preschool?” 

I so appreciate the input, both in comments and via email.  [Everyone was so very gracious…offering their honest opinions and experiences, but without fail reassuring me that “there is no ‘right’ decision”.  Thank you.]

After much, much thought (bordering at times on mental anguish), I can finally change the punctuation to something more definitive.

We’re doing it!

I’ve said all along that I’d start the girls in preschool when they were three-ish.  That’s been my gut call…and I finally decided to go with my gut.

I am so excited to think about the girls making new friends, and me, meeting some new moms.

I know that a measured introduction to some structure will be good for them.

I look forward to them having another authority figure.

I think they will really thrive, being challenged in new ways.

My struggles with this decision primarily revolved around the idea that I might be rushing my babies to grow up…about me not soaking up every ounce of them while I can, knowing they’ll be graduating from college before I blink.

While I think those are valid considerations, and I still have pangs thinking about that, I finally decided to look at my decision from a numbers perspective.

The girls will attend preschool two days a week, from 9:00 - 12:00.  That’s six hours.

My guess is that the girls won’t be napping for very much longer.  (Yikes!)  If they currently nap for an hour and a half a day, that’s 7.5 hours a week…more than the time that I’ll be “giving up” to preschool.

It may seem silly to have set up a mathematical equation in this context, but I had to try to put a finite end to my over-thinking.

And, on a serious note, I really think that their preschool experience will augment our time together. 

I so look forward to building on their curriculum topics.  And I think it will be some kind of awesome to be able to talk to them about their day, me not actually knowing what answers to expect.

I am excited about this next chapter.  I think it’s the right decision for us.  And I look forward to soaking it up, too.

Parties and Themes and Pretties, Oh, My!

The girls' third birthday party was four months ago...which means I've been thinking about their fourth birthday party for about three and a half months.

It's just so much fun at this age, thinking about themes...and corresponding cupcakes and decorations and games and favors...and of course, invitations and thank-you notes.  (Fueled by my recent entry into the world of Pinterest, this could easily become a hobby, such that I'll be looking for more reasons to celebrate!)

For their party in January, I chose a ladybug theme.  I immediately began thinking about a birthday banner, I started practicing my cupcake decorating skills...and I started looking for the perfect invitation.

I searched for "ladybug birthday invitations" and Tiny Prints was among the top search results.  When I visited their site, I found numerous options for ladybugs, more than on any other site.  I have several friends who I knew had used Tiny Prints before, so I was excited to give them a try.

Among many other things I found when I ordered the girls' invitations, I loved that everything was so easily customizable.  The invitations I chose were actually for a baby shower, but I was able to completely change the text to fit our party.  And I loved that the invitation was two-sided, which allowed me to include a picture of the girls in their ladybug Halloween costumes on the back.

Tiny Prints recently contacted me and asked if I would be interested in doing a review post for them.  I always love hearing about products and services from "real people", and -- given my recent satisfaction with Tiny Prints -- I am glad to be able to share my experience.

Tiny Prints offers a huge selection of stationery, ranging from invitations and announcements to personalized stationery, and even to stamps and embossers.  They also have a great selection of gifts, like calendars and wall decor, printable mugs, coasters, and iPhone covers.  And they offer photo books, too.

And...I just realized that Tiny Prints has an awesome assortment of customizable party favors.  So glad I found that little gem!

And don't forget to check out some of the great discounts that Tiny Prints offers...such as free shipping and free samples (offers vary and are good for a limited time).

I seriously think Tiny Prints offers something to complement virtually every party idea I've pinned on Pinterest, which (ahem) is a lot.

Hmmm...eight more months until the girls' fourth birthday party.  I'm not sure I can wait.  Perhaps I need to conjure up a reason to have a party...just so I can indulge my Need for Theme.

***

I received a discount on select future orders in exchange for writing this review.  All views expressed are my own.

Sun Catcher Kite {CRAFT}

Following the tactile rainbow sun catcher the girls made a couple of months ago -- the fruits of which still adorn our windows -- I continue to be in love with multi-colored tissue paper and contact paper.

It's been a super windy spring, and kites have been on my mind.  I cut a kite shape from a piece of construction paper, placed it on a sheet of contact paper, and let the girls have at it with tiny squares of tissue paper.



I love seeing them sort through all the tissue paper to find the perfect color.  And this is a great exercise in fine motor skills, to pick up just one piece of tissue paper and to stick it on the contact paper, without the girls also adhering their sleeves.  :)

Once they were satisfied with their tissue paper arrangement, I topped their kite with another sheet of contact paper and cut around the kite shape.

For the tail of the kite, I cut several squares of felt in different colors, with two slits in each square.  The girls worked really hard to thread the squares on a long piece of ribbon.

Showing off their ribbon tails!

I punched a hole in the bottom of the kite and tied the tail onto it.  I tied a knot in the bottom of the tail so the squares wouldn't fall off.  Here is one of our masterpieces...

And how pretty it looks against the window!

I'm linking up with Charlene at Adventures-in-Mommy-Land for "Hey, Mom! Look What I Did!"  Check out her blog each week for so many awesome kiddie crafts...there's always fantastic inspiration to be found!

And I'm linking up with Julia at Pontifications of a Twin Mom for "Mama Loves".  Each week she features tips, tricks, gadgets, and gear that make mamas' lives a little bit easier.  This mama sure loves crafting with contact paper.  The possibilities are endless...and have I mentioned it's virtually mess-free???