Thursday Thoughts

Today I'm thinking about...


...How parenting really doesn't change all that much as your children grow. When my kiddos were little, I struggled with letting them learn to do things on their own as opposed to me doing it for them. Not out of frustration on my part, but out of my love and desire to nurture and care for them. For instance, learning to tie shoes, or dress themselves, or make their beds...These were things I loved to do for them, and it was hard for me to let go and allow them to learn to do them on their own, even though I knew it was necessary for their growth and independence. Now, as Madison approaches eighteen (WHAT!!!!), I am struggling with the same thing...learning to do laundry, packing lunch for work, cleaning her bathroom...These are all things I know in my mind Madison needs to learn to do for herself. My heart, however, has different ideas! I enjoy doing these things for her. I love having her laundry all clean and folded on her bed when she returns from a long day of work. I find comfort knowing her bathroom is clean and tidy. Does she have to learn these skills herself? Yes. Will she? Yes. I guess balance is the answer. Or not. : )


...About packing away my summer red, white, and blue decorations before giving the house a good cleaning. And then...be still my heart...decorating for autumn! The warm, cozy days of fall are coming!


...About changing my meal planning routine to fit changes in our lives. I currently plan meals one week at a time, with a specific meal planned for certain days. I mentioned recently that our one and only grocery store is closing...can I just tell you how sad that makes me? I have so many memories of pushing my little ones through the aisles every Friday...But I digress...That leaves us with Walmart. I can't. I just can't. No disrespect to anyone that can, but I just can't buy my groceries in the same place where people get oil changes and buy plumbing supplies. So, we have decided to plan two weeks of meals at a time. I think it will work best if we choose about ten meals or so and shop for those items in the beautiful grocery store in the nearest town. Then Peyton and I will plan meals as we go for the two weeks, allowing for leftover nights too. We don't have as many outside activities anymore as the kids are homeschooling, so we have less activities to plan around. Happiness! So, we will see how this goes...


And here are some pictures of the past week in our little home...

My little lady all ready for Mass for the Feast of the Assumption last week...

 

 

The Lavender plant at the end of our driveway is pretty this year. No thanks to me. It just kinda grows. : )

 

 

Afternoons around here are wild and crazy...

 

 

just the way we like 'em. : )

 

 

My girls. So different, but so much alike. I love the love between them.

 

 

We had cupcakes last week. It was Cupcake Day! This one was divine.

 

 

Do you play ABC Mouse with your kids? Flynn loves it...and I love braiding her hair while she plays. : )

 

 

My baby has been waking up early. Really early. And I am glad. We watched this beautiful sunrise together this week. No filter here...none needed. She loved it...She was amazed...and I will remember that morning on the porch forever.

 

 

My baby got this flower yesterday when we visited Daddy at work. One of Steve's employees gave it to her, and she hasn't set it down since. : )

 

 

And leaving you with my Snapchat face...because I am weird like that...

 

 

Happy Weekend!!!!