Duh

Do you ever do things that you just know you shouldn't? Well I had another one of those moments today. I have them quite often. We are going to a Hacienda Heights Ward Reunion at The Bladh's House tomorrow and I have absolutely nothing nice to wear and even though I know that it is stupid to try and take the kids to the mall when I want to shop for me, I did it anyway. I just don't know when else I can go since we will be doing major yard work the rest of today and tomorrow. So I bribed them this morning and said if they were really good they would get to play in the playground and have a treat when I was finished. Of course they misbehaved as kids often do. They were hanging on the hooks, fighting with each other, screaming, and opening the door and trying to run away as I am undressing, hiding in the clothes racks and not following me when I am ready to walk away. So like a good disciplinarian I told them it was time to go and that we would not be playing or having a treat. Of course the tantrums that flared as I am trying to leave the store were humiliating and the ride home was even worse. They are all home now taking a nap and I think I need one too. I did manage to find what I hope will be a cute outfit, but if I look ridiculous I guess I can always blame it on the kids .

What Was I Thinking?

I Chose This? I Choose This.

Some days I wonder, Is this really what I signed up for? Before I got married I new it wouldn't be easy but I really had no clue. I don't think that anybody ever really does. Sometimes I'll ask myself "I chose this?" What was I thinking? I chose to get married at 19 before I finished college or started a career or traveled or served a mission? I chose to start a family while Danny and I were still in college. I chose to have a second baby and get pregnant with the third before graduation? I chose to have 5 kids before I turned 30? Yes, I did!

These pictures reminded me of a resolution I made years ago when I came across a mother who scrap booked a picture of her toddler in the messiest goop I had ever seen. While admiring her craftiness it occurred to me that she couldn't possibly stop to take a picture if she lost her cool, punished the child and then cleaned up the mess in a huff. Instead she obviously had to go get the camera and take the time to get the perfect picture of the lovely mess. I remembered thinking that it takes a really patient mom to do that. So through the years I have tried to be that patient mom. I don't always stop and take pictures. Sometimes I just loose it, but I love these kinds of pictures they help me realize that even though life gets rough and makes me wonder why I chose this, that there isn't anything else I'd rather be doing.

I did choose this and everyday I continue to choose this life!