Mom truths

So remember my most recent post (you can find it here) about time being a thief and wishing I could soak up every moment of my kids childhood. Well this week I take it back.  I think this picture of Rhett describes my feelings exactly.

Overall I have really enjoyed summer break.  We have had lots of quality time together.  Read LOTS too much time together.  I think there is a good reason why we aren't normally together all the time.  Just as much as I need a break from my children, they need a break from me, and each other.  The fighting has increased a billion percent and it seems like we aren't even awake for a few minutes before my big kids are arguing and someone ends up crying.  Throw in twin toddlers who are either getting into everything, screaming mom every 5 minutes, and the big kids antagonizing them.... well you get the picture.

Isn't it funny the emotions you go through as a parent?  You can have such an immense love for your children and also be counting the minutes until bedtime all in the same hour.  You can go from wanting to spend every minute with them and taking them to do all the fun things, and also be hiding in the closet just trying to enjoy a minute of peace. Parenthood is full of so many emotions. So so many. And you know what, that's okay.

Just because I need a break from my children doesn't make me a bad mom.  Actually in my case, it makes me a better mom.  Ever hear the phrase "distance makes the heart grow fonder?" Well it applies to children as well.  When I get a break, I have more patience, I am less exhausted, and I am a better mom for it.  Even a short break makes all the difference.

We only have a few more days before my big kids are back in school and we go back to a normal routine, and I may be counting down the days.  Does that make me a bad mom? I don't think so. Trust me, I'm sure after a week or two of them in school I'll be wishing they were home again.  And that is the irony of motherhood.

Time is a thief...

Does anyone else feel like January 1st was just yesterday?  What the heck happened to this year? I cannot believe we are already in July, and in a short 6 months we will be in the year 2020.  My mind is blown!

Time is such a crazy thing.  Sometimes I want to speed it up and sometimes I want it to slow down.  Recently I have been trying better to live in each day, in each moment, instead of wishing time would slow down or fly by.  

It can be so hard to try to make every moment count.  I will be the first to admit that I can get caught up in the social media hole, or getting mindlessly caught up in whatever TV show I am watching.  But as my kids get older it makes me sad to think that soon enough they will be out of my house and all of these moments I could have been doing a better job.  I want my kids to remember that I tried my best, had fun with them, but also encouraged them to have fun on their own.  I want to remember the fun times we had, and also the simple quiet moments of movie watching as a family, or eating dinner together.  

It seems like the older I get the faster time goes.  I don't know if there is a correlation because I am busier and most days just trying to stay afloat.  Or if time is playing a trick on me.  But either way I don't like it.  

Being present.  It can be so.dang.hard.

I recently took a trip to Utah and told myself I would try harder to put my phone away.  It was so refreshing to spend time with my grandma, to just listen to her stories and take it all in.  I don't know how many more years we will have together, nobody really knows how much time they have left on this earth.  It is so important, to be present, ask questions, take it all in.  I am so glad that I made a more conscious effort and it truly made a difference.

What are some ways you stay present and enjoy the little moments?  I would love any ideas that you have.

It's Great to be EIGHT!

We had a crazy few weeks in March! We raced home from Disneyland (we drove home Friday) so that we could be home to get everything ready for Kenz to be baptized on Saturday.  To say it was a busy and exhausting week was an understatement.  We are so thankful that Kenzi made the decision to be baptized.  She is an amazing daughter, sister and friend.  She is so responsible, caring, loving and thoughtful.  We are so blessed with her in our family.  I can't believe she is 8.  She is growing to fast and it kind of makes me sad. 

She was baptized on March 16th, by her dad.  Her dad also confirmed her a member of the church.  She was shy and nervous at first.  And she still wasn't big on all the attention.  She is 100% her mothers child.  Although she has grown so much in the last year, she is still my shy and quiet girl when there are lots of people around.

My wonderful sister in law took baptism pictures in front of the Gilbert temple and they turned out amazing.  We sure love this sweet sweet girl.

Our most recent Disneyland trip

For Spring Break this year we went to Disneyland to watch my daughter perform with her dance company.  We knew going into it the trip that it was spring break so it was going to be crowded.  We just hoped for the best, and luckily my parents went with us, which was a lot of help.

This time around we rented a condo that was within walking distance from the park.  It was nothing fancy but it was great for us.  It had 3 bedrooms and 1 and 1/2 bath.  It even had a crib for us to use, and a stroller available as well. It was about a 7-10 min walk to Disneyland and it was perfect, after a long day at Disneyland though it felt like the longest walk ever, of course :).  But I would definitely recommend renting a condo/house next time you go.  You pay about as much as you would for a hotel room and you get way more room.

We decided to leave a day early and visit my grandma and her husband in Yuma on the way to California.  I am so glad we did this.  It is so nice to visit with my grandma as much as we can.  We enjoy seeing her and my kids love her.  So after spending some time with her we were off to Disneyland!

We arrived in California on Sunday and had originally planned to go to Disneyland on Monday.  Unfortunately Kenz ended up being sick so we decided to give her Monday to completely rest up, we just did some exploring in Downtown Disney and we headed to the parks on Tuesday.  

Kenny and I had already discussed that this trip would be more about the kids, we had prepared ourselves to be disappointed if we did not get to ride most of the "big kid" rides.  And I am so glad we did, because truth told this trip was exhausting, in a different kind of way, but we still had so much fun!

 The twins did NOT want to ride in the stroller.   Which obviously made things difficult.  We let them then walk as much as we could, like while going through Downtown Disney and walking from the condo.  But once we got into the craziness of Disneyland it became much harder to keep track of them walking,  But when we put them in the stroller they would scream and cry and toss and turn.  So it was interesting to say the least.  We tried to do an equal amount if crying and walking, I'm sure we looked like quite the circus act.  In hindsight I should have prepared them more for being in the stroller.  We just don't use the stroller much at home, so I can't blame them for not really wanting to be in it.

My mom suggested last minute that we do a character dining this time around and thankfully we found an opening at Goofy's Kitchen, and I am so glad we did! My kids had so much fun! The characters are great and the food was pretty good.  They had so many options, literally something for everyone.  I can't wait to try the other character dining options next time we are there.

 Kenz really wanted to try to get as many characters to sign her autograph book as possible, and I think we did a pretty good job.  We met lots of princesses and characters, it was so fun to see the excitement in her eyes from meeting and talking to them all.  She was a lot braver than I thought she would be, I am so proud of how much she has grown in the past year.

On Thursday Kenz performed at California Adventure with her dance company.  It was so cool to see her up there performing, an experience I am sure she will never forget.  Her cousin is in her dance company as well, so she then got to ride a few rides with her.  I wish we could have coordinated more time together, but I am grateful for the time that they did have.

Tate was SOOOOOO excited to ride the Incredicoaster.  Last time we went, when it was still California Screaming, he was too short to ride it.  I remember him going up to be measured, and the cast member told him he was not tall enough, to which he replied "But mom I'll sit really still, I promise."  And it broke my heart.  He was so sad he couldn't ride it.  So you bet he jumped on it every chance he got! He rode it so many times and kept asking when he could go on it again.  He is my thrill seeker, he loved Guardians of the Galaxy as well.  He wanted to go on any roller coaster he could,  I love his fierce, brave soul. 

Overall it was an exhausting and great trip.  I love seeing Disneyland through my kids eyes.  I love to see what they are excited for.  We got to catch one of the parades which the twins loved, they got to go on quite a few rides, note so self Rem is NOT a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean.  Apparently the drop at the beginning is scary for some two year old, whoops, forgot about that.  I can't wait until the next trip when they are a little older.

Why you should stop in St. George on your next road trip

The kids are out of school, summer break is in full swing, and most families are starting to think about their upcoming vacations. Our family is no different.  Every year we take a trip to visit family in Northern Utah and most recently we have changed our route, and gone through St. George.  This route has more freeway, and no little towns to pass through.  It also has less wildlife crossing the freeway/highway, so if you are doing any of the drive when it starts to get dark, this is an easier route.  St. George is a beautiful city, full of red rocks and lots of things to do.  Whether you’re just looking to pass through or stay for a few days, here is a list of things to do.

Hiking

• Red Cliffs Nature Trail – This hike is good for families, its an easy hike that leads to a little waterfall.  While its usually best to hike this during spring and fall, it can be done in the summer as long as its earlier in the day.  Families can cool off in the spring, crawl around in the waterfall, and there is even a natural slide that you can slide on.
• Pioneer Park- One of the staples of St. George is the rock with the word “DIXIE” written on it.  On our most recent trip we decided to venture up and see if we could hike the rock.  What we found was Pioneer Park.  A short hike up to the top of Dixie rock and also a bbq with picnic tables.  From this spot you get a great view of the city its definitely worth the stop.

Places to eat:

• Pizza Factory – Known as St. George’s favorite Pizza restaurant, the Pizza Factory is great for that family feel, and delicious pizza. They are also known for their breadtwists, which are the similar bread sticks, and they are longer than any bread stick I have ever seen.  They also offer salads, sandwiches, wings and calzones.
• Larsen’s Frostop – Larsen’s is an old fashioned drive-in, and the food is typical of an old fashioned drive-in.  On the menu you will find hamburgers, french fries, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken tenders and corn dogs to name a few.  They are also known for their milkshakes, it’s a perfect stop for families.
• The Bear Paw – If you’re looking for a nice breakfast spot then the Bear Paw is your stop.  The menu has a wide variety of food in a cute little cafe feel.  Be sure to try one of their stuffed french toast and the home fries! You can’t go wrong with your choice of food here.
• Judd’s – Judd’s is an old fashioned ice cream shop which also offers lots of old fashioned candy and sodas. Its a kids dream.  There is seating outside, for you to enjoy your treats.

Things to do:

• Thunder Junction Park – If you’re looking to have your kids burn off some energy this is the perfect place. It is  an all abilities park that includes a splash pad and train ride (for an extra fee).  This park is so fun your kids will never want to leave.  Us adults even had a blast watching the kids swing and spin, they even have drums and a xylophone for the kids to explore their love of music. Definitely make time to stop here.
• St. George Children’s Museum – The children’s museum is full of fun and interactive exhibits that kids will love.
• Tuacahn Ampitheatre – Tuacahn is more for older kids and adults, but it is one of the coolest theaters.  It is set up against the red rocks, during the evening.  Some of the past plays have included, Mamma Mia, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Tarzan and this year the line up is Matilda, Cinderella and The Prince of Egypt.  It is definitely worth the money to experience a play underneath the red rocks.  

So next time you’re on your way out of town and are looking for a place to stop, or looking for a new place to take a trip, I highly recommend stopping in St. George and seeing all that it has to offer.

This article was originally posted on East Valley Moms Blog, you can find it here.

Exhaustion, Patience, Joy and Love

Never in a million years did I think I would be a twin mom. Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a mom. I thought it would be fun to have a couple of kids, a boy and a girl maybe. I wasn’t sure the exact number of kids I wanted, but I knew twins were never on my radar. After having a girl and a boy I thought life was going pretty well, I was happy with the kids I had and thought we would have one more kid at the most. When we found out I was pregnant again I was anxious to find out if it was a boy or girl. I will never forget the moment the ultrasound tech said that she saw two heads.

Wait what?

Did you say two heads, as in two babies? Yep, she confirmed, congratulations you’re having twins. I held it together as I walked to the car. As soon as I got to the car I was in full on tears. I don’t know if it was the shock, the excitement, the exhaustion or probably a mixture of it all. I was overwhelmed to say the least.

I had no idea how I was going to take care of twins, along with the two other kids I had, plus continue to work my full time job. In the months leading up to the twin’s birth, I tried to collect all the advice I could. I talked to friends who had twins, joined support groups and just tried to prepare myself mentally for what was to come. Some advice stuck, some things didn’t.

Photo credit: CC Shotz by Christy

My twins are 10 month now, and in their short life I have learned a few things. On the top of the list; be prepared to be exhausted, in every sense of the word. I find myself mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted more times than not.

Everyone said get them on the same schedule. Ideally that would be amazing, and my twins did great for a while, but then they decided that wasn’t for them anymore. One sleeps, the other is awake. One wants a bottle and the other could care less. They are constantly keeping me guessing and I have lost all sense of time and keeping track. But luckily, they let me know when they need something. I just pay attention to their cues and we go with the flow. That is what’s working best for us now.

I also learned that if I had any chance of leaving the house on a regular basis we better start early. So I did. I took all four of my kids out almost as soon as I could. We quickly got into a routine, my older kids learned how to help and we learned how long we could be out before the babies had a total breakdown. Not every trip is successful, but because they are now used to it, I don’t completely dread leaving the house.

Lastly, I realized really early to just expect everything I did to take at least twice the amount of time, if not more. I learned patience. I don’t know why, but when people see twins, they act as if you are a celebrity. No matter where we go we get stopped at least 2 or 3 times with people asking, “Are they Twins?”, “Boy/Girl?”, “No way, you are so lucky.”, or my favorite, “Man you have your hands full.” We are seriously like a circus act. Patience. Every twin or multiples mom needs to have patience. No trip can be simple and fast, even if you try to avoid contact and keep your head down. Someone will stop you.

Although my journey has been short so far, this experience has been exhausting and so rewarding. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I look forward to many more stops at the store, and a life full of more exhaustion, patience, joy and love than I ever thought possible.

This post was originally written for East Valley Moms Blog, you can find it here.