I passed my three year blogiversary on May 9th, or was it the 12th? I didn’t have any goals in mind for how long this space would be kept. I knew that I wanted to share our life in words and pictures.

So I started blogging….actually I started another blog in the spring of 2009. Thinking it’s time I imported it over here, that way I can have all my memories in this one space. I love to write, always have. I remember keeping several diaries as a kid on into my teenage years.

If it weren’t for this blog, I would’ve forgotten the time Nakiah talked about wanting to live there,  or what Ava said on her 4th birthday.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget my first big outing with the kids just weeks after Samuel was born. There’s also the times I’ve talked about my struggle with depression. Maybe the details will fade from all my memories, but I’m glad I have a gazillion pictures to remind me…along with the words.

I love being able to go back and see how my writing style has changed, my thought patterns on certain issues. My deep and not so deep thoughts. The joys and challenges of motherhood, and wonder where am I going from here?

I love this community you all have helped me build over the years. Your comments, emails, tweets, and messages on Facebook. When I step back and take it all in, I feel really humbled. I’m thankful for all of you that continue to follow my family year after year. You all have been with me through two pregnancies and births!

I’m also thankful for the new readers, and new blogs I’ve had the pleasure of coming across recently.

All of the interviews(Bamboo Magazine is one) people have asked me to take part in, the blog carnivals, and all the new opportunities that have come my way recently….so very humbling, and amazing.

I’m not exactly sure what the future holds for this blog. I’m sure my style will continue to change, the content will change as I grow, and the kids too! I have no plans of stopping anytime soon. I’m excited to see what’s next!

Sometimes keeping up this space is hard work, and I forget why I started this blog. Then I go back to read old posts, and I’m reminded of all the little things, and that’s why I keep blogging.

Thank you for continuing to tune in to our adventures.

Not much knitting or reading going on this past week, but I did manage to make some progress on Ava’s skirt (like Kiah’s dress/skirt) You’ll remember this strawberry yarn was originally for this summer top.

Erin even came back and typed up the pattern for me since I couldn’t understand it. She put it in much simpler terms, and I haven’t given up on making the top, just set it aside for another time…..and yarn.

I want to buy more. Shh….don’t tell my husband. I’m supposed to use up all the yarn I currently have first. Maybe I can find something amazing on sale in the next couple of weeks.

Loving how this skirt is coming along. I alternated knit and purl for the hem line. Also loving how easy it is to knit. I can pick it up anywhere. Ava says she wants to wear it right now!

This may be the first project I actually post as finished during Yarn Along.

Ava got her ears pierced the Friday night before we dropped Kiah off. She cried at the pinch, but after that all she talked about was how pretty her earrings were.

Saturday started with picking Kiah up from her first sleepover. She’s becoming quite the big girl. The hosting mama said she was sad and missing us, she cried a little, but didn’t want to call us….she didn’t want to leave her soccer friends slumber party. When we picked her up she told us she had a lot of fun, and now wants to have a sleep party at our house.

Then it was on to party preparation. We had a Luau theme for their birthday this year. Dee came over early to help me set up. It was our first get together in the new place.

I made over 40 cupcakes. I only got to eat one…. Samuel stayed glued to Charles almost the entire time.

The first part of Sunday was spent at home, sleeping in, lounging around the house and our awesome backyard.

Then we were off to the Umoja Festival. Earrings, clothes, music….. That was really nice! We had the chance to sample some amazing body butters, and hair products. I wish some of those people were local.

The highlight for me was Eric Taylor – International Violinist. I’ve never heard anyone play the violin the way he played it….and he really played it.

How was your weekend?

Let’s see….we’ve been to the Nauticus Museum twice in one week. They really like that there’s a museum so close to the water, and that they can go on a real ship.

Inside is a mini aquarium, a little shark pool, and a horseshoe crab hang out. You can step outside to look through the scolded and watch people working on cargo ships across the water. We also spied several smaller ships and sailboats passing by.

The Battleship is amazing! We got to check out the mess hall, the executive officers room, see the tiny shower stalls and bathrooms. Oh, and the cannons, those things are huge! I was Oohhing and ahhing right along with the kids.

Right next to the museum are apartment complexes with walking trails. The girls called it the Japanese trail, because of the restaurant and the Koi we spotted in the ponds.

There’s been lots of puzzle play, especially this alphabet puzzle. An almost 3hr trip to the library. We have three libraries near us. One is closed for renovations, we haven’t been to the other one yet, and the one in the picture has a fantastic children’s area. We like it a lot.

Kiah bridged from a Girl Scout Daisy to a Brownie on Tuesday. It was a really cute and sweet ceremony. She’s so happy and proud to be a Brownie now.

A couple weeks ago, my friend Erika gave me a big bag of all kinds of seeds, and plant food. She gave me the cinder blocks to finish my raised bed, and I’m getting some soil from her garden. I planted some collards and purple cabbage in containers from the seeds she gave me. My cabbage has sprouted already….it had been less than 5 days. The raised bed garden is taking longer than I expected to get going. I’m trying to be ok with that.

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I did Kiah’s hair Tuesday, mine last night, and Ava’s is getting done today. There are three baskets of laundry waiting to be folded and put away.

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Kiah has her very first sleep over Friday night. Soccer is out for the summer. She’s excited to hang out with her soccer sisters again. We were hesitant about her sleeping over….but we’re taking Ava to get her ears pierced, and possibly catch a movie. The plan is to hang out near the sleepover house long enough to see if Kiah will really stay the night. The house is about 45 mins from where we live…..no one wants to make that trek in the middle of the night.

I need to pick up almost all the decorations for Samuel and Ava’s Luau party Saturday. Ava turns five on Sunday! I can still get away with having their parties together. I’m sure Ava will want her own party as she gets older.

There are cupcakes to be made, shells and sand to gather, laundry to do, and a house to finish cleaning.

As you can see our done is pretty big. Our doing is small, and our to do is on the longer side…..it’s going to be a busy, and wild few days.

Doing some crochet this week. I picked up a big bag of yarn and crochet hooks from a garage sale a few weeks ago. Decided to crochet this girls lace pinafore for Nakiah ,but as usual, I’m having trouble understanding the pattern.

Dyslexia totally sucks sometimes. I’ll read the same line over and over for 15 minutes, and it still won’t click. Give me a regular book, and I’ll fly through it in no time.

Dee kept telling me to make a tube and put some straps on it, so that’s what I’m doing. Still undecided on if it will be a skirt, or a dress….I’m leaning towards a skirt – I can have it finished sooner. Loving the colors, and the way it’s coming along so far.

Reading: Raising Your Spirited Child -again. Some days I feel like I just don’t understand my kids at all. Lately it’s like they’re wind up toys, except they never wind down!

Each child has their own brand of spirit… the older they get, the more I see the different qualities coming out…..of course they change with time as well.

I don’t usually read the same book more than twice, but something new continues to jump out at me each time with this one.

Joining Ginny.

Samuel is two years old today. Can you believe it? I can’t!

The 2nd birthday is harder for me than the first….they’re still babies at one. I wish I could explain what it is about this 2nd year that’s so difficult for me. Maybe it’s the ever growing independence, or the dramatic change in facial features.

Today marks two years of mothering this sweet and rambuctious little boy. Two years of nursing, babywearing, watching him sleep, and smothering him with hugs and kisses. I love him so much!

He’s developed a serious love for trucks,(dump and fire trucks seem to be his favorite) trains, and most recently, dinosaurs. This is one of his favorite songs, and this is one of his favorite videos.

He’s grown and changed so much this past year. I’ve really enjoyed watching his personality develop over these two years. Shy, but also out-going. Sometimes demanding, and so so very happy. I love his laugh, his smile, and those big brown eyes. I love hearing mama come from that little voice and person….even when he calls me 20 times.

He doesn’t eat cake or ice cream, so we’ll probably do popsicles. He loves chicken…and I’m sure we can arrange a chicken dinner for him. Later today we’ll head to the library for him to pick out some books and videos on trucks and trains…later on, we have a Thomas the Train set waiting for him to open when Charles gets off tonight.

My baby boy is two years old today.

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I had been looking forward to a Spa Party all week. It was being hosted by one of my fellow birth junkie friends….and not too far from where we live.

Charles had to close the store, and with it being a Saturday evening, it took a little longer than usual. The party started at 7….the store didn’t close until 8….we didn’t get back to our place until 10. Charles was going to drop me off and pick me up, but it got to be too late….and the kids were asleep.

I decided not to go. I don’t have to tell you how upset I was….missing out on spa time, girl talk, and sangria! It took letting the kids play ball in the house so I  could get ready w/out them calling me every two seconds…..

I sat in the car stewing after he took the kids in the house. After a while I decided to do some very minor retail therapy and grab a bite to eat.

I did feel a little better after getting some new mascara and my delicious volcano nachos from Taco Bell.

Why does it almost always seem like such a fight every single week to get in a little time for myself? *sigh*
Even though it wasn’t exactly what I had planned, it was nice to be out alone for a little while….you know I didn’t walk in, grab mascara, then walk right back out.

Did you get some time alone this week? How was your weekend?

I’ve realized I’m having some growing pains right along with my kids.
Maybe we’re all still getting settled into our new place, maybe it’s all the driving I’ve been doing lately, or it could be that the two youngest have birthdays this month, and the oldest is feeling left out….she’s also approaching her half birthday.

I’m annoyed that we’re still unpacking, still no pictures on the walls(hard to hammer and nail with a toddler hanging on you)laundry literally piled up the walls, and I’m the only one doing the work of keeping house.

Kiah has been showing unusually aggressive behavior towards her younger siblings (kicking, biting, pushing, etc) and that makes me feel more aggressive towards her.
I’ve talked with her and asked her if she needs help finding out what to do when she feels angry, she said yes. This part is hard for me, because no one talked to me about my feelings or how to handle them as a child. It was get spanked and punished. Now I’m sitting here with my kids trying to navigate these intense emotions with them….learning right alongside them. It’s tiring, and some days I don’t feel cut out for the job.

Lately I’ve been feeling like I’m one moment away from losing it.
I’m feeling resentful, under appreciated, and overwhelmed. All the horn tooting in the world isn’t helping much these days.

A few weeks ago I set a daily alarm on my phone that says “did you pray today?” It goes off right before it’s time to get the day started.
One of the things I pray for every day is more patience…
I see I’m being tested on that one left and right.

After talking with friends and deep soul searching, I really think a huge part of the problem with the kids is that I’ve been running from them. I’m tired of the mommy I need and mommy I want…24/7.

How do those Super Moms do it? How do they find time to fill their cups, and still have the energy and patience to fill their kids up?
I feel like I’ve been running from my kids emotionally, and it’s really not fair to or good for us as a family.

I always thought that kids need you less as they get older, but that’s not always true. The girls have more what, when, where, why, and how questions. Samuel is becoming more independent, but still a baby. Some days I feel ready to wean him….lately it seems like all he wants to do is nurse.

So I’m still very much needed, but  left screaming what about me!?

I feel pulled in so many directions, and I think the kids are picking up, and feeding off that. I received some really good suggestions for how to help Kiah and her siblings with their disputes, but I also need help in finding my happy place. I don’t really like my first reaction being anger and frustration.
I think they key for me is learning how to feel those emotions, breathe, but not react with those emotions. Easier said than done!

Sitting here realizing I don’t really have a clear thought or close to this post….I’m at that mind all over the place stage again.

Hopefully by being home a couple days, I can clear my head a bit.

Right now I’m busy obsessed with growing my garden.
The Summer Carnival will run from today until September 1st.

Carnival co-hosts:

Sunnydaytodaymama, Mama Smiles, Winding Circle*, The Mahogany Way, Smiling like Sunshine, Home Baked, famiglia&seoul, All Things Beautiful, Like Mama~Like Daughter, Plain Vanilla Mom, Little Homeschool Blessings, Simple Whimsy

You are invited to join us and link up your old
You can come back and link up more posts throughout the summer. Please be sure to link to the URL of your summer themed post. Each blog is hosting the same linky, so no matter what blog you link up with, your post will be shared across all of our blogs.

We hope you’ll enjoy visiting the host blogs and posts from the linky for lots of summer ideas and inspirations.

I almost forgot….you can follow all year round on Pinterest. And don’t forget to grab a button!

*If it’s nearly winter, rather than summer, where you live then come by at Winding Circle for a winter focus (including a winter Linky).

Don’t worry, once I get down to business on decorating the inside,  I’ll go on and on about that in every other post.

First up…my parents got me a Begonia plant for Mother’s Day. I chose the pink one, mainly because I love the bright green look of the leaves. The red ones leaves are too waxy and fake looking for me. There is another plant they got for me, but I can’t remember the name. I’ll check the name later and get back to you.

On Sunday I ran to the store to get Potting soil, another plant or two for myself, and the girls picked their own. Have to get back to you with photos and the names of theirs. We also need to transplant them.

I really love how everything we have so far is low maintenance…something has to be around here!

This is my Medium Celosia. As soon as I saw them, I knew I had to bring some home. I love the bright colors, and the bumpy like texture. They are the perfect addition to the front yard.

I’m in love with this little space outside my front door.

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Around 3pm Sunday afternoon, we were finally ready to head to downtown Norfolk.

I read about Theodore Tugboat in one of the local online activity magazines.
Theodore comes from Halifax, Nova Scotia. We learned this is one of Norfolks sister cities.

It was free to go on and check out the boat. I had no idea people actually lived on it…..I guess they would have to…touring the country to show off Theodore.

Samuel slept the entire time. The girls were quite fascinated with the boat. He’s much bigger on the inside than he looks.

I must admit that Charles and I were pretty impressed with Theodore as well.

We were able to check out every place on the boat, except the kitchen, and down below where they sleep. What’s that called?

You can see where Theodore has been so far. They hadn’t updated the blog with his visit here last I checked. You can probably also find out his next stop by doing a google search.

I didn’t realize how popular he was/is. There was a TV series, YouTube channel, Twitter, and Facebook!

If you get a chance to check him out in your neck of the woods, come back and let me know!