joys of motherhood | Small Words Blog

It’s a New Year!

January 1, 2012 By Kim Filed Under a little Christmas, family, joys of motherhood

I hope everyone had a great December, a wonderful Christmas, an awesome New Year’s eve and a fabulous start to the New Year! The month of December flew by. And I can’t believe we are already in the new year. It’s funny how the idea of a new year is so exciting. The belief of a fresh start – when really the fresh start is every day you wake up. But just like everyone, I do love the new year. I’m not big into the resolution thing, but I do try to line up things for change in my house. It seems every year that I change up stuff around here – how I clean my house, work my business, how much time my kids spend with the tv – things like that!! And this year will be no different. I think it is because of December. Everything is thrown to the wind that month. With all the craziness that comes with the holidays, chaos always ensues. I need a new year just to give me that sense of calm.

But no matter how crazy the month of December is, I love it. A lot. I did great this year with gift buying. I had it all taken care of by December 1st! And I came in under budget! {Always a plus!} I had a plan and it fell into place. It was really nice. I enjoyed it all. My kids were awesome. Emme tried hard to convince us that Jesus is a baby on Christmas – every Christmas. She gets that he is 2000 years old, but on Christmas . . . he is a baby! Except from midnight to sunrise . . . then he is Santa Claus. “Because he is amazing and he can do things like that.” haha! Still cracks me up when I think about it! Lawson has every Christmas song memorized and is still singing them. Carson loved the Christmas lights – and has decided that we are keeping the lights in his room. Hudson, . . . well just know that he has been watching Christmas movies everyday since June. That boy has been “in the spirit” for months. He was disappointed when he woke up on December 26th.

Em is on a Lala Loopsy kick – anyone else out there have an obsessed child?

Lawson’s favorite toys are all educational. Seriously, this dollar toy is one of his favorites! And his absolutely favorite was a president puzzle. {And my OT friends, I don’t let my children sit like this. I specifically remember asking him to sit the correct way after this picture!}

This is the fake smile. Everyone with kids have at least one kid that has the “fake” smile! haha! This really is probably one of the most hysterical expressions ever. And he is going to kill me one day when he knows that I just posted this for the world to see. {Sorry babe, this is what happens when you keep doing it!}

And Hudson with his beloved Innotab. He is in his serious mode here. And on top of the world.

I’m fortunate to have taken a few pictures. Normally, we are so wrapped up in the excitement that we don’t even think to pick up the camera! But the one picture I get every year is the after math . . .

This is my happy picture. This is what I dreamed of Christmas morning looking like when I was a kid. Don’t get me wrong, I think the Grinch said it best when he said, “It came without ribbons!… it came without tags!… it came without packages, boxes, or bags!” But with a 3 gift minimum + each child gives each sibling a gift in the $10 and under range + Santa’s gift = a lot of gifts! My kids don’t get toys other than at birthdays. Don’t get me wrong there are times they do receive little things. But I knew before I had children, that toys were not going to be given all the time. And I’m glad we have stuck to it because it makes times like this unbelievable! Nothing like seeing a grateful heart on Christmas morning.

And because I know you want to see my Christmas card for this year {although I’ve not sent them out yet!} Like last year, they will be a “New Year card!” I already have a caption for this – I will tell you in another post. BUT I want to know what you guys would put on this! haha!

Again, I hope you all have a fantastic new year! And blogging is on my priority list for 2012!

4 Comments

20 – Landon . . .

November 20, 2011 By Kim Filed Under joys of motherhood, small words art

Last night, I think I saw the beginning stages of pink eye for the third kid. I wish I wouldn’t have said anything, because he freaked all night. But I’m certain he has it.

As a parent of four, there are so many times that I sit back and start laughing. Last night was definitely one of them. I know that sounds mean. And I know I’m not the only one that does it. But to be frank, I would probably go crazy if I didn’t!!! I swear, I’m not laughing that my kid has pink eye. It is just they fact that the first day that all the kids are well -BOOM- the cycle starts over!

aaannnnddddd now I’ve woke up to the congestion {to include a nasty cough} that the kids have/had. The gift that keeps on giving. But the good news is that I’m the mother and I possess those super powers where you can just keep going no matter how bad you feel. One of the wonderful gifts that God gives you when you have children. Although, I have every intentions of laying on the couch today because I really feel that bad! And I’m not beneath bribing my children to take it easy on me.

I have another painting to show you guys – okay, so I have quite a few, but only 1 at a time!

For those wondering about the bedding . . .

photo credit

It came from Polka Tot Designs. If you click on the above picture it will take you to the boys’ selection of bedding. And the bedding above is called “Jared.”

1 Comment

October . . .

October 29, 2011 By Kim Filed Under joys of motherhood, sneaky peeky

This really, really, reall-yyy is the busiest month of the year. Always has been. But this year, it has been busier than ever. When I looked at my calendar for this month, there wasn’t a single day that didn’t have something going on. From dental appointments to field trips. It really has been some kind of crazy around here. I’ve actually got several posts about art that were ready to go up, but my heart has been so far from the computer. I’ve been absent from twitter, pinterest and even facebook.

On Tuesday the 18th, I had to put my dog down. Yesterday was actually the first day that I haven’t cried. And I’ve done great today, too. I have been a total wreck. She woke up fine that morning, but within 30 minutes she was puking, pooping, breathing heavy and couldn’t really stand up. I took her to the vet as soon as I got everyone else to school. Since she had been fine, I was really hoping it was viral. Apparently, she had a massive tumor that had ruptured causing her to get sick – QUICK. I chose to have her cut open before I made a decision to put her down. Needless to say, she had been sick for a very long time and I had no idea.

This dog was so loyal. I have had her since she was 5 weeks old. I got her for my other dog – Frenchie. That is what dog owners do – get a dog for their dog. I was devastated when French passed. But this time has been awful. I think where I didn’t have a dog to come home to made it so final. When I came home from dropping off the kids two days after she died, I screamed out, “TIDDLES! COME GIVE ME SOME LOVE!” I’m sure it was only a split second, but I actually had the complete thought run through my head, where is that dog and why isn’t she killing herself to get to me! Because that is what she did when I came home. She would hang out with me, at my feet the entire time I would paint during the school time when the house was empty. She would even follow me to the bathroom when I was cleaning out all my brushes. She was the type of dog you didn’t need a leash for. She always walked beside me. There was no need for a doorbell. And I swear when you said “bye,” she would always say “bye” back. I think eventually we will get another dog. And I’m sure it will be a Sheltie. But 8 1/2 years was such a short amount of time with my dog. It might take me that long to accept a new one.

For all those who left me such sweet messages about Tidbit, thank you. And to all those who cried with me, that means more than you will ever know.

The day after the Wheelers all were traumatized by the loss of our pet, Carson and Lawson turned 5. I can’t believe my twins had another year older. We had a party outside the home this time. And I’m soooooo glad I did. With Tidbit’s passing there was noway that I would have been in any shape to clean my house and cook for everyone. We privately rented the Discovery Center. It is one of those hands-on type museums for little people. It was fantastic!! I wish I would have taken more pictures so that you can really see this place. We had the whole place to ourselves and we had a substantial amount of people. AND none of my kids flipped out on me – miracle!

I love posting pictures like this! It blows me away how much Carson and Lawson look alike. Which really is probably one of the stupidest things I’ve ever said since they are identical! But those jokers have my head and everything on it {Poor kids!} It is hard to see it in this picture, but the parts in the hair are actually on the opposite sides of the head. These two are what is called mirror image twins. Lawson’s {the middle picture} part follows mine. And amazingly, his hair has crazy body in it like mine. I’m sure it would hang in ringlets if I would let it grow it out. {Not gonna happen.}

And like I told you guys in the last post, I swear that I’ve been painting. And somehow, I’m going to have to pick up the pace because . . . . My van has the doors that will automatically open with a push of a button and the passenger side door has blown a motor. A teeny, tiny part. A part that is going to cost me $1600 to repair. You read that right – One thousand, six hundred dollars. Because it wasn’t bad enough that it got stuck open when I was rushing out the door to pick up the kids from school while it was raining, the joker will open up while I’m driving down the road!! Hopefully, I’ll be able to push some paintings out this month!

And proof that I have been working, I’m going to show you guys some sneaky peekies for your viewing pleasure!