Freeze Please

Do you ever have Mama days that you wish you could just freeze and stay in forever?  Last Thursday was one of those days for me.  I didn't even want to go to bed because that would mean it would end. 

Zac worked out of town the majority of this week.  While he was gone, Logan and I worked HARD on a surprise for him.  There were tears (Logan) and tempers lost (me), but we persevered and when Zac came home we had this GREAT surprise to share with him!

No training wheels!!!

This was truly a great surprise because Zac had tried to teach Logan and it was just not happening.  Logan is a very timid boy, and his lack of trust was frustrating.  That's why this new skill is more than just a milestone.  It was also a lesson in trust. 

It was fun to be in cahoots with Logan all week and it was thrilling to surprise Zac, for both Logan and I.  We couldn't wait for him to come home.  Zac was so proud.  He was beaming!!!  We stayed outside until the sun was setting and watched as before our eyes, Logan got better and better until it looked as if he had been riding without training wheels for years.

We eventually headed in to enjoy a "family night", which is what the kids call a night where we cozy up and have a simple homemade meal and enjoy a movie together.  We eat together as a family every night, so I guess "Family Night" should really be called "Movie night."  Anyways, Logan suggested pretzels so I whipped up our home made pretzel dinner, which consists of these pretzels, apples, cheese, and lots of dips.  I made a special bike pretzel to celebrate Logan's accomplishment. 

I made the rest of us our initials out of pretzels, which the kids always love.

As I baked, the sounds of kids wrestling with Zac, dancing to their iTunes playlist, playing chase, and in general just racing around the house making lots of noise, was heard.  This is often a time of day when I'm overwhelmed with the noise as I prepare dinner, but today, the noise was so wonderful.  After many days without Zac, I was smiling from ear to ear listening to the kids enjoying having their Daddy home.  I have a new appreciation for that raucous.

We had a great family night.  As I was dressing Felicity for bed, she was very upset that she had to take off her Mama made skirt to put on her P.J.s (which are also Mama made, but this girl LOVES pretty skirts).  I promised her I'd wash both her Mama made skirts right then so both would be ready for her to wear in the morning.  I loaded the clothes and then headed to the kitchen.  Zac came in and told me to go look in the laundry room.  There I found Felicity, standing on an emptied out toy bin, staring into the washer to make sure that BOTH her Mama made skirts were in the load.  She was not satisfied until I dug around and showed her that in fact, both were in there. 

Back in the kitchen, Kian helped me put away the groceries.  I love how proud he is to be able to help more and more.

Here's his pride coming out as a ham for the camera.  :)

After all the kids were tucked in, I finally shared with Zac a dream that has been running through my brain ever since Kian's birth.  I'd like to have our next baby at home.  He shared that he did too.  No, we're not planning number 4 yet.  Just dreaming.  :)

Oh, and I forgot to mention that this all proceeded a very fun day at the park with friends and a grocery run where Logan was so very helpful.  I went to bed feeling proud, thrilled, loved, excited, and dreamy. 

Thank you Jesus for these free and simple pleasures in life!