May Week 5: Joy

This week I had a focus of joy and boy this week did not disappoint. This week was full of light, laughter, and joy. We did a lot of activities and had plenty of snuggles.

Monday:

It was a pretty average Monday morning. The girls and I got up and made Dutch Babies, and then settled on the couch. I nursed Lyra and read my Bible while Lucy read hers right next to me. Bam so early into the week and I was already experiencing so much joy. I am able to read the word of God, and instill that in my sweet daughters.

After we got breakfast all done and cleaned up we read a couple more books. Then I got the girls dressed and then we got into the car to head to the library for story time. There was tons of kids there and Lucy had a blast playing with them all.

Around 11:30 we got back into the car and drove to their Aunt’s house so they could spend the night. Lucy could not have been happier, I am pretty sure she thinks that her Aunt’s house is her spa. So I left them to be doted on and headed home.

I got home and cleaned for a little while. It is so crazy how quickly you can get chores done when the kiddos aren’t running around. Later when Bryton came home from work he made us some margaritas and I warmed up some enchiladas. Bryton’s cousin came by with her bf and they visited for a bit. We had a lot of fun and laughed a lot.

After they left I did some of my puzzle and then read some of my book cuddled up on the couch. It was a nice day.

Tuesday:

Today was a really nice day. I went and got the girls from their Aunts. Lucy fell asleep on the way home in the first 2 minutes, she is always so tuckered out. Lyra chatted the whole way back. When we got home I transferred Lucy to her bed, where she slept for several hours. Lyra and I made some Hershey drop cookies and snuggled. I love being able to still have one on one time with my girls.

It was super rainy outside so we did not play outside today and just enjoyed the warm house. Lyra had a ton of laughs and was trying to play peekaboo. She plays peekaboo by putting her hand on her forehead and she thinks that we can not see her. It is the cutest thing.

Once Lucy woke up we read some books and cooked in her play kitchen. One of her favorite things to make is iced tea. It is one of the best moments as a mother, watching her imagination bloom.

Early Head Start came and we worked with Lyra on her walking. Bryton came home at 5 and we had cilantro lime chicken burritos. I read with Lucy some more and played with both girls until it was bed time.

We brushed teeth and sang the song we sing ever night to the girls and laid them down. I love these simple days with simple joys. I am so grateful that I am able to stay home and love on my babies.

An hour after the girls went to bed Lyra woke up to nurse. After I nursed her I just held her and rocked for around 20 minutes. I could stare at her forever. I tried to memorize everything about her sweet perfect features.

Being a mom brings me such immense joy. This lens was so easy to look through my week through. Becoming a mom has taught me so much, the joys of being a homemaker and making these happy fun memories are my favorite way to spend my life.

Wednesday:

Today was another really good day. Bryton got up with the girls and made them some breakfast. After that the girls and I went outside to play and he went to work. I cleaned branches from the winter storm we had recently. The girls played in our water tables.

We went inside to make lunch and Bryton came home on his lunch break. Which is such a blessing, I love being able to spend time with him. Sometimes the blessings in my life blows me away. How much I love the Lord and this family he sent me.

Once Bryton had to go back to work the girls went down for a nap. It only lasted about 45 minutes, but I was able to get some work done in that time. They woke up and we made our way back outside to play.

Our nephew and niece came by for a bit to play. We had a lot of fun playing with the chalk and water table. I worked for a bit more and then I went to get Taco Bell. We ate dinner, gave the girls a bath, and then we put them to bed.

I worked on my Etsy store for a bit. While I worked I just reflected how joyful my life is. The blessings that the Lord continues to send us are unmeasurable. My dream life as a child is exactly what I have now.

Thursday:

Bryton got up again with the girls and made the breakfast, Lyra has been getting up several times a night to nurse. I am so appreciative that Bryton helps me in the mornings after a rough night with the girls. He did have to leave after breakfast so I tapped in. We wandered outside to play. We played in our sensory bin with pinto beans and black eyed peas.

We played outside until Lucy and Lyra went to take a nap. My sister in law came over for a setting for her custody case. Once she left the girls woke up, and they wanted to play outside again. I try to soak in days like this, these simple days are my favorite. I truly believe these simple days are the most important, how important is to show consistency for our kids. I love to read, play, and sing with my girls everyday.

They played nicely by themselves and I snuck in some quick chores. I am always so happy to make our house a home, with a clean sink, warm cookies, and happy kids. I did have to leave the house at 2 to observe a visit at DHS.

After the visit was completed I went home, I was saddened after the visit. I know that Mother loves her child but is unable to shake her demons that keep her from being what her kid needs to be. I want every mother to experience the same simple joys that I have with my daughters. I am aware that some parents are unable to become to escape the lifestyle that stops them from being clean of substances or the mindset that does not allow them to partake in healthy parenting.

Once I came home Bryton took Lucy to the store. She has been talking all week about going to the store with her dad, and he was finally able to take her.

I made some Osso Bucco while they were gone with Lyra. I am in love with the office, and this is the meal that Jan made in the episode Dinner Party. I highly recommend it, It was not crazy hard and was super good.

I have made it a goal to make more cozy meals. I love to cook and I want to make more meals that are homey, like chicken noodle soup or a Sunday roast. Those meals that will be a home for the kids in a way, foods that carry memories and love for my family.

I read to the girls for while until it was bedtime, we brushed teeth and then we went to bed. I am so grateful the Lord has given me the sweet little girls.

Friday:

Again Lyra was up several times through out the night so Bryton made the girls some eggs. I thank the Lord for my dear husband, he is a wonderful father and husband. He left for work and we moseyed out way out to the girls favorite part of our home, the backyard.

Lucy played with the water table while I rocked on the patio swing and nursed Lyra. I took her inside to play a bit out of the sun. While she played with some kitchen utensils and I added some chia seeds to water so they could soak in them.

I wanted to do an ocean themed sensory bin with the girls today. While they soaked in the fridge Lyra helped me do some laundry and Lucy sat on the couch reading some books to herself. When the laundry was all folded, we made our way back outside to play.

I rocked the girls on the patio swing and read books to the girls. After several books I went inside, stirred the chia seeds and added some blue food coloring. I put the chia seeds in our sensory bin an added Lucy’s sea creature toys. I put the bin outside and let the girls play around.

Lucy just wanted to have her sea creatures swim in the chia seeds and Lyra just wanted to shovel them into her mouth. Lyra is normally a very picky eater, I guess I found out what she loves chia seeds.

When Lyra and Lucy were done with the sensory bin I gave them both a bath in the sink. Then I started making dinner. I made some korokkes, a dish I used to make with my cousin. It was fun to introduce the dish to my family.

We played with the girls for a while until it was bed time.

Saturday:

There was a frontier day festival in Colorado Springs that we had planned to go to. When we got to where they were shuttling people to the festival and we saw the line we decided to not go. It was crazy long and I knew Lyra would not handle it well.

We decided to go to Calhan and visit the Wildlife Park there. Once we made it to Calhan we stopped in at a little pizza place and had some of the bet pizza I have ever had. Then we went to the Wildlife park.

There was cows at the park, they were quite friendly and got very close to us. Lucy was so excited to see the cows, she did really good on the walk. She stopped a lot to look at the dirt, grass, and sticks. I would have liked to walk at my pace, but watching her love nature and enjoy the little things I found joy in stopping and looking at was around me too.

Children are such good reminders to stop and smell the roses, the world is an amazing and beautiful place and I wish I could see the world through Lucy’s eyes. She has such delightful curiosity and love for the world.

Our friend texted that they got new puppy and wanted a puppy play date. We got home around 6 and she came over shortly after and their new puppy Juniper and Bear played.

Bear tried to play with her but I think his energy scared her just a bit. He loves puppies, and other dogs and could not have had a better time. When she left we got the girls to bed and then Bryton and I cuddled and talked about our day. It was a great joy.

Sunday:

I got up with the girls and made some crepes. We decided that we want to start a tradition of crepes every Sunday morning. Bryton and I talked a lot today about some things that we want to start for our family.

I grew up with our family sitting down every night to read the scriptures, say a pray, and talk about our “happy thought” which is just the best part of our day. We talked and decided that we wanted to start that. We also talked and wanted to begin having Family Home Evening every week too, which is another thing that I did with my family.

After the crepes though I went to take a shower. Then we got ready to go to church. At church Lucy made friends with the girls sitting next to us. When we were done with church, I drove home to pick up Bryton.

We had a birthday party to attend. The birthday was a lot of fun and Lucy played very hard. Before we got to the first stop sign after the party Lucy was completely out. When we got home Bryton put her in her be and I got Lyra.

At 5 people started to show up for our weekly family dinner. We had walking tacos and it was so much fun. I love seeing my family once a week and having our kids grow up knowing their family loves them and wants to spend time with the family.

We gave the girls another bath and then brushed our teeth and laid them down. It truly was a joyful, and a wonderful day.