Where does the time go?

It's been over a week since my last post! We're all finally feeling better. I'm SO grateful to generally have good health.

Some things I'm loving right now:

1) The HIPPY program. It stands for Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters. It's a non-profit organization, completely free if offered in your county. An instructor comes to your house once a week and gives you preschool packets to do with your child. They take a test at the beginning to evaluate the child's level, and then take a test at the end of the year to see how much they've learned.

Aubrey LOVES it. She'll say to me, "Let's play some games." and thinks learning is all fun and games (for now)! It has given me tons of ideas for crafts and teaching. We've made a pinata, playdoh, pudding, french toast...she gets new books every month. She colors, cuts, glues, and smells things. And it only takes a few minutes each day to do the activities. Check HERE to see if it's available in your area (it's offered for 3 and 4 year olds).

2) MOPS, which stands for Mothers of Preschoolers. (Can you tell I need all the help I can get with my little ones? hehe) All us moms get together at a church and have fun activities like "spa day" and "Love and Logic" while the kids get to do crafts and Christian themed activities. The moms get rejuvenated, the kids have fun and learn. Our group offers it twice a month, and I love it! Check HERE to see if it's available in your area (or feel free to start up a group)! I've made so many good friends at MOPS, and it's helped keep me sane. Seriously.3) Gwyneth Paltrow's website. She reminds me of Martha Stewart. I really want to try this exercise. I'm sure I'd see some results in my butt after a few days, since mine's a bit saggy. :)

Have a fabulous weekend. Pictures to come!

I love

I love my Savior! I love this painting by Del Parson. Sometimes I feel like my world's falling apart, but then I look at this picture and remember my purpose here.

*I love*

Going to bed with a clean kitchen. Having friends. Relaxing. My bathroom wall mirror, so I can see my hair as I do it. Journal writing. Prayers.

*I love*

*I love going on fancy dates with Doug. We went to a Cincinnati Symphony concert and had box seats. It was SO fun.

* I love our new home. Here's a picture of the outside of our complex. I'll be posting pictures of each room in our house in the next week or so. I'll try to post one room a day. That way you won't see the tornadoes the kids make.

*I love how Aubrey is such a helpful big sister. She takes care of Zach by playing with him, bringing him diapers and blankets when I need them, wiping his spit up, giving him his pacifier when he cries. They're both great entertainment for each other.

*I love Zach's smile. It's finally arrived, making all our efforts worth it. I wish these pictures weren't blurry...

*I love the store Carrabas. It's a bulk produce store where grocers buy from. The bishop introduced it to me and I came home with boxes of tomatoes, onions, green onions, potatoes, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, strawberries, avocados, peas, cilantro, garlic...so much for super cheap! So I canned 18 quarts of salsa with a friend (who's in labor right now with her 5th child--what a trooper!), made strawberry freezer jam, seven layer dip, and then cut and froze the rest of it. Our freezer is packed. I'll be using yummy fresh vegetables for the next year. And I'm not much of a canner, so the salsa is quite an accomplishment. It tastes delicious.

Breakthrough

I've been thinking a lot lately--about myself, my family, the world. I've realized that all my life I've been trying to be something I'm not. I've looked at others with amazing, exceptional talents and qualities, and then made this perfect image in my mind of who I want to be. The only problem is that this person is PERFECT and basically Superman (or woman)! So every day, I end up feeling guilty for not achieving everything I wanted to. But I am HUMAN. I have flaws, even though I hate to admit them to others. I make tons of mistakes. I procrastinate. I would rather spend my free time blogging than practicing violin, which I should be doing right now since I have an audition this weekend. I get upset that I can't fit into my pants, even though HELLO, I just had a baby 6 weeks ago. So here's the moral:

Life is beautiful. It is hard. It can be challenging. And I am NOT perfect and never will be in this life. And you know what? I can be me. I don't have to be an amazing photographer or scrapbooker. I don't have to be an outgoing crazy fun person. I can be who I am and love myself for that. And sure, if I want to improve in areas, I can focus on them and will see results if I'm willing to put in the time and work. But until that happens, I love me for who I am. And I love all of you for who you are.

I guess this is my first i love post. I love me. And if I love me, I can love others. I am much more selfless when I love myself. Isn't there a triangle of love: God at the top, then you and your spouse below? Well, I hope to come to love God more each day because he will never stop loving me, regardless of my faults and incapabilities. I want to read the scriptures more and to come to have them be my TRUE source of inspiration. Time to go practice while the kids are still asleep!