Picnic in the back yard

 Yesterday was such a nice day. It started off a little chilly, but it warmed up pretty quick. So I decided to do snack time outside in the backyard. Oh man, did the kids love it! They love being outside and they love to eat...combined the two and I got "Mommy Of The Year award! Haha! Anyway, here are some Picts of our backyard snack time adventures! 

Bon appetite! 

beans, beans, lets plant some beans!!

We started off this week with a project.  Since it is spring I wanted to do something "springy". It was a spur of the moment idea so I scoured my cabinets for something to plant.  Just when I thought my idea was beginning to be a distant memory, I found a lonely bag of pinto beans tucked away in the dark corner of the cabinet. BINGO!!! Pinto beans it is! I'm no expert on gardening or planting, in fact I think I have a "black thumb" instead of a green one because almost everything I plant usually ends up dead.  I compare it to my baking skills.  I always mess up when I bake. Oh well, but I'll keep on trying!! That being said, I didn't have any potting soil, so I just dug up some dirt in the back yard and put it in a large  bowl.  I found some empty mason jars and used that to plant them in so they could see their beans grow.  Kawika LOVED playing with the dirt!  In the beginning, I tried to keep him a little bit away from the bowl, but he kept scooting his butt closer so he could get his hands in there. Before I knew it, while I was helping the other child with their project, I looked back and found him covered in soil.  Oh well, at least I know he's enjoying it. Overall, I think the whole thing went pretty well.  Its kind of ironic and pretty funny how I used to be a preschool teacher, but I hate messy crafts. However, on my journey to becoming a laid back mama (not being so uptight about stuff) I just let them go at it and make their messes. I have to say, I had so much more fun with them, instead of freaking out about the dirt that was flying everywhere. Anyway, now lets see if mama did this right and the beans actually start to grow. I mean all the answers in life are on Pinterest right? Please don't let me down Pinterest, or else all hope for me to be a gardening guru dies...its ok though, no pressure! 

Note* Please don't mind Kawika and his no pants or shorts in all of the pictures. Ever since we visited Hawaii he's loved being "free".  No matter if I put pants on him he will eventually take them off.  It was so hot in Hawaii that he preferred to be pantless and that hasn't ended since we've been back.  

'Tis The Season

Ok, so obviously it's not Christmas right now. However, today I learned something that really hit home for me. Lately, maybe in last couple months or so I just have felt so overwhelmed with everything in my life. It seems like I can never catch up with house work. No matter how hard I try I just can't get there.  There's always dirty dishes, dishwasher is full of clean dishes, laundry needs to be washed or folded, kids rooms are mess...and the list goes on. For some reason I can't justify having fun with the kids if  I have "work" to do. No crafts or walks or anything creative because I've got unfinished business to do on my house or what not. Which is so sad, because I have TONS of ideas that I'd love to do with the kids. Then when I feel guilty I let them outside to play and that's about as far as I go. 

HOWEVER, today I learned that people miss their season to prosper because of the circumstances that surrounds them. WOW!  I thought maybe this is my season to raise my small children while they are always home with me. Teaching them and having fun with them while they are so little and like sponges that soak everything up. Instead here I am so upset and overwhelmed about my unorganized house and chores that are a mile high, I'm missing the opportunity to spend time and teach my children. I would be so sad to look back and say I WISH I invested a little more time in their home with mommy time. I'm so happy that I learned this early in the game. I know I won't change overnight and I'll probably still get overwhelmed, but at least I know what is most important. No, I won't let my house go all crazy dirty, but I also won't put off the opportunity to do things with my children because I got laundry or dishes to do. My kids are far more important than chores. One day I'll have a super clean and organize house, but for now I'll do what I can and enjoy THIS SEASON that I have with my children at home because before I know it, this season will be over. 

I was going to take the time to edit these photos , but I really don't want to. I said I'd be real in my blog so this is as real as real can get for us Luna's in the our Luna bin!, buuuuut don't get too used to seeing real photos haha!

1st take

    Aaaaand 2nd 

    GOT IT!!

Family time, foodies and dirty toddlers...

Spending time as a family even with two crazy, emotionally unstable toddlers is one of our favorite things to do. Started off the weekend doing errands on Friday afternoon. To make it a much better of an experience we stopped at Athens Cafe to pick up some hummus, pita bread, meat (I forgot what it's called at the moment...baby brain in full affect) and my ultimate fave Greek food, dolmati!! I was so happy and giddy when I was eating it, sooooo delicious! Kids played in the back yard for a little while before bath and bedtime and that ended our day...WITH, crying in full affect because they hate going to sleep now, must be the age!

This morning we woke up fairly late and didn't mind one bit. We adults take every bit of sleep we can. Started our morning wt a yummy breakfast, biscuits and gravy, (Kawika's favorite), sausage, eggs, and fruit. It was so yummy and filling we were ready to start our day!

  

We were off doing more errands and stopped at our favorite vietnamese restaurant and picked up some bun meis, egg rolls and Vietnamese ice coffees. Ordered it to go and stopped at the park to eat and let the kids burn off some energy. It's so hard for me to let them get dirty, but I know it's part of 

them being a kid! So as a mom I backed off and let them get DIRTY...they are so good at that lately!

So yeah, that was our weekend so far and the kiddos are STILL napping (it's been 2 1/2 hours) yay mom and dad!

Transitions hurt, kind of like growing pains!!

Right now in our lives we are experiencing a transition. George has started his masters program and I'm in search of additional income that will accommodate our crazy busy schedule. I know God is going to take care of us because he already has with all the things that has happened in our lives recently. However, having faith is so hard. I want to keep my end of the deal and be diligent in searching for a job instead of waiting around for something to fall in my lap, but I have to say it's so discouraging when all that I've applied for or thought of hasn't really been the answer that we need...or should I say, want. I want to enjoy my kids and my family, but it's hard to focus on them when I'm always thinking and searching what it is that I'm supposed to do to help bring in money. I kind of wish that something would just fall in my lap then I would have to worry so much. That's one of my weaknesses though...worry. Some reason I can't just give it ALL to God, it's like I always have to be in control and when I'm not, I get all messed up. I'm working on it though, slowly, but surely. I'm no where near perfect, but it's being addressed. I know it's hard right now, but in the end, after all the dust settles and we are back to a normal routine it'll be better, it's just the matter of getting there. 

It made me think of how winters here in Minnesota is hard, it's long and dreary, but in the end spring comes and all is beautiful again. I guess it's all about perspective, maybe if I change that I won't be as worried about my situation. 

This song has been on my heart a lot lately. While I'm trying to really give it all to Him. 

I'm waiting

I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

So today to get my head and heart out of the land of doldrums I rearranged my kitchen table and made it look a little bit more springy! It made me smile with all the bright colors...all I need now is REAL flowers, but these fake ones will do for now. 

It's a..........

So in July I will turn 35 and when I give birth I will have been 35 for a little over a month. I'm a little irritated that I am still considered to be a high risk pregnancy. Now, everything will be watched closely throughout my pregnancy and  I will have more thorough appointments instead of just check-ups. For example,  today, I had a level 2 ultrasound and all went well. However, my nerves were kind of on edge while the ultrasound technician probed at my belly. It's hard not to be sort of worried when the drs/midwives tell me all the problems that COULD happen just because of my age.  I  had to give my anxiety and fears to the Lord the whole time I was in there and once I did that, my nerves calmed down.  I know God is in control of everything and He is going to take care of me and this baby. I have to rest on His promises and not worry so much about the statistics on women having a baby my age or older. 

So that was the bad part of the ultrasound. 

The good part is....

...we found out what we're having!!!!!!

Want to know what it is??? 

Drum roll please!! 

Bddddddddbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbdbd

(you like that lol)

bddddbdbdbdbdbd

It's a,

If you have littles, you know how hard it is to take Picts of them. So here are a few (actually a few of the a lot) that I took of them!.

Take 1

Take 2

Take 56 lol :)

Rainy days and dying eggs

We have been staying at grandmas house since the weekend. We wanted to spend Mother's Day with my MIL. Oh what fun we've had! Since we were gone on vacation we last month during Easter we didn't have enough time to dye eggs, so what better place to dye eggs than Grandmas house! Here are some pictures of our fun event! 

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YOU are the strongest person I know!!

I know I'm a day late in posting this, but I don't think it really matters what day I post this topic on because it's special all by itself. I believe that every time a woman gives birth she has earned her right to be celebrated as a mother. I don't think she becomes a mother when the baby is out, I think it happens right at conception. The ultimate sacrifice of giving of her whole self to grow a child within herself. Giving up bad habits and certain food that she enjoys so that the life that is growing inside will grow to it's full potential. I believe at that moment when she sacrifices what she wants and desire is already an act of motherhood. Something changes in her heart when a baby starts to grow, it can make the evilest of women turn into a gentle mother. Now that she's spent 9 months preparing for her baby to come, the time comes where no woman can ever really be fully prepared for. Amazingly, she finds the strength within herself to work through the pain and contractions, knowing that with every one that passes, she's closer to her prize she's worked so hard for.  Her support system is just as important in this process to her. A gentle touch, an encouraging word, affirmation...just a little of how big a part the support system can be to a mother in labor. It's a hard process to go through for a woman, probably one of the hardest in her life, but soon enough she forgets the pain when she holds her baby close. Basking in the freshness of her newborn baby, the smell, how soft he feels to the touch, even his cries touches the deepest part of her heart.  As her baby grows and reaches their milestones, that pain and suffering of labor soon becomes such a faded memory that sometimes the process of life starts all over again. Women endure a significant amount of pain giving birth, but it's such a blessing to experience it. If you've had the experience of bringing life into this world, please don't take it for granted, consider yourself blessed because for some, even though they've had the desire to, for some reason or another haven't been able to. 

So to ALL the mothers out there who've given birth and those who haven't, YOU are the strongest person I know!  

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

 (a day late)

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Being a mother is probably the hardest thing I've ever done.  As much as I love it, there are so many moments where I realize I must be the worst mother on the planet. In the way I react to my children or explode at them for whatever the reason.  As a christian its even harder.  I know what I'm supposed to do, but in the moment I don't want to think about what I'm SUPPOSED to do, I just want to react.  I often think, "I would never speak to another person the way I just did to my child, why did I just do that?" I am so blessed for having small children who give me grace and mercy MULTIPLE times in a day and are always willing (for now) to forgive me for making a mistake. I used to say I wish there were more hours in a day, but now I have a whole new idea about that! I am perfectly ok with the 24 hours that we have and I am glad that I can start over everyday. I think God knew what he was doing when he made time. I am so blessed to be a mommy to these two amazing little human beings (including the one inside my tummy, always making his/her presence know).  With every mistake that I make and every accomplishment that I do with raising them, they are the ones who are always teaching me to be better. I know I will fail and make mistakes, but  I will keep trying everyday to become a better mother...because I love them.

Happy Mother"s Day! 

Here are some pictures that I took of the kiddos for Mother's Day (for their Grandmas).

Whew, trying to take pictures of toddlers is no easy task, especially if its your own! Well, this is how they all turned out!