Unclear

Tom says I wasn't clear enough in my last post. I have started over at a new blog. Please visit my new place at Combat Boots and Ballet Shoes. Thanks!

Starting Over

Things have been feeling a little forced around here, so I've decided to make a new beginning. I'd love for you to join me!

Ruthless is...

...the 2 year old who takes her 3 month old sister's blanket since she didn't bring her own "blankie."

Thought for Today

There's nothing like having children to shove the Greatness of God right in your face.

Happy Birthday, USA!

*These pictures are actually from our Flag Day celebration.

Friday Funny

June has been busier than I ever expected. Hopefully, I'll get some more posts going soon, but until then, enjoy this picture of sweet Maire that makes me laugh.

Quick Takes - The Photo Edition

This week's Quick Takes is sort of a catch up on what's been going on that I haven't quite gotten around to blogging about, all in pictures. Enjoy!

~~~1~~~

Alexis turned 2! (I'm really late on posting this.)

~~~2~~~

My little "Cover Girl" found my makeup bag and the mascara in it. At least she knows mascara is for her eye, right?

~~~3~~~

I already posted the video here, but I just love this picture of my ballerina!

~~~4~~~

I have been waiting to do a post on Maire's baptism, but I still don't have the words to do it justice. I'm still so emotional about it.

Maire is Irish for Mary.

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Maire is 2 months!

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The girls helping daddy out in the yard.

~~~7~~~

This is my first year to be back in Colorado Springs for graduation day in over 5 years. I was really surprised how many memories and emotions came back to me. I also realized how much the graduation ceremony itself affected the local area. I knew to stay away from the stadium where the ceremony was held, but I didn't realize how things like, oh, the vice president being on the highway, could stop traffic off base. Of course, the most exciting part of graduation day was the Thunderbirds! It turned out to be a perfect day for them to fly. Here are a few of the pictures I took. It's a day like this that makes me hope a better camera is in our future!

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen.

Hitting Close to Home

This commercial cracks Tom up. I think he sees his future in it!





I'll let you know if I see him wearing a tutu.

On this Memorial Day

Please remember, and say a prayer for, those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for your freedom.

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war, is much worse. The man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.

-John Stuart Mill

7 Quick Takes - The Struggles Edition

Visit Jen's for more Quick Takes.

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I don't mean to get too down in the dumps with the title here, but this has been a hard week, unexpectedly. I think, maybe the sleep deprivation has caught up with me plus 2 major events are over with, so I think my body is crashing from the adrenaline rushes.

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Probably the biggest source of my struggling right now, is potty training. You know how some people don't "do" blood? Well, I don't "do" bodily functions that require a toilet. So, this is an extra difficult "trench of Motherhood" for me to navigate. Isabel has made progress, but I really feel like I'm at the end of my rope and out of ideas on how to get her to be fully successful.

~~~3~~~

My biggest struggle with Alexis right now, besides the fact that she is TWO and acting every part of it, is her sleeping. She gets out of her bed a gazillion times, both at bed time and nap time. It's frustrating because she has always been a good sleeper, we didn't have any issues when we transitioned her to her toddler bed. I also get really upset when the other two girls are down and I could be doing something productive or sleeping myself.

~~~4~~~

After I passed my 6 week check-up, I was so ready to start working out. I got off to a great start with the 3 mile MS Walk, and then a couple of good workouts with my friend, including an amazing stair workout (I'll have to post a picture later). But then events got in the way (Isabel's recital, Maire's baptism) and I dropped the working out off of my to do list. And last week was such a hard one, I turned to food. It didn't help that I had all of the leftovers from the baptism party. Nothing left to do but start over again this week.

~~~5~~~

I've decided to take the girls on a World Tour. I needed some direction to help me with activities for the girls (an area I desperately lack in) and came across this and was very excited. Of course, then I got really serious about getting it perfect and my stress level increased. So I've been struggling with the details and probably been a little too obsessive. I just need to remember that anything the girls take out of it is a plus and there is no formal requirements to be met.

~~~6~~~

If you haven't read this post by Kate yet, go read it! It hits so close to home!

~~~7~~~

Maire has been a wonderful baby. She sleeps well and so far has only really cried if she is hungry or needs to be changed. This is where I make up my own Mommy guilt and feel bad that I may be taking her laid backness for granted and taking advantage to get things done. I'm also reading some books that are making me second guess some of my parenting "techniques" and this isn't a good thing when you are already emotionally drained and having a "bad week."

I started writing this last week, but of course, it was put on hold, like so many other things. I'm glad I decided to finish it, though. It has helped me to wrap up the bad week and start fresh again today.