A Little "Me" Time

Less than 21 hours from now I am leaving...
Just me.
A little vacation for myself.

I am so excited about time to myself I am giddy. Any mother can relate, there is a mix of "YES! Time off from caretaking!" with a little of "how much is the baby going to change and no longer want me at all when I am back?" (Especially since I am the last parent she wants this last week, feelings have been hurt.) But really, I just am excited for a break. I know I will miss these little ones. Especially since I am going to stay with my folks in Florida. There are so many memories there that I just won't be able to escape thinking about them. But, there will be no childcare waiting for me. No laundry. No dishes, hands, faces, or bodies to wash. No butts needing wiping. No diaper changes. No rocking a screaming baby in the middle of the night (sorry honey, that will be your job for 5 nights!) Absolute bliss.

I hope to return to a home that is still standing with 3 healthy kids and a husband that has a new appreciation for me (I know he will, 3 kids on your own for 5 days!) If the laundry that is piled on the couch making up our own Mt. Deschneau is no longer there I will be impressed. But, if it's there, I won't mind, it will just feel like coming home. I am not grocery shopping, scrambling to clean and organize and put things away before I leave. I have decided in my head that I am just going to pack my bag and go tomorrow. Sorry, dear husband, but the grocery fairy/cleaning lady/event planner doesn't come for me either during the week. I know you will do awesome, you always do!

And of course, I have to say a GIANT thank-you to all my great friends that are helping out with childcare. I am so humbled and amazed to have such generous friends. Finding childcare for 4 days for 3 kiddos is tough when there are no family members available to help out. It is also eye opening at how much child caring I do! Thank you, Thank you, and Thank you! Especially Jim who will have a 5, 4, 1 1/2 year old, and then the 14 month old Tess! You rock Jim!

(Tossing the occasional goldfish off the couch should work well!)

So, I hope to post a few updates for the kids while I am gone. Hopefully the man of the house will remember to have them read them. I told the kids that I am going to get Florida ready for them next month because it will be less than a month until we all go when I get back! Score! So, hopefully I have a lovely mini-vacation to myself. I hope to come back feeling rested, restored and ready to continue this journey of raising my 3 spirited little loves!

My Valentines!

My first Valentine.......

I just love you. I always have, always will. My first love. My true love. What a gift you are to me. I love spending this life together and just love your patience, humor, and sensitivity. Thank you for such awesome memories and thank you even more for the next 3 Valentines, they are more than I could have ever asked for! Thank you for partnering in this journey with me.

My Two Valentines

What joy these two bring! I love this picture of my big kids, they just are having so much fun with each other. Makes me forget the times when they aren't having so much fun with each other! Such smiles! How appropriate that they are both in their red jackets too? Love it. Love them. Cale, I just love your heart. You have the biggest heart I have ever found or seen in a child. I love that. And Missy Mary, your SPARKLE that you bring can make my heart bubble over with love for you. I never know what you are going to do or say but I do know you will do it the "Mary" way! You are like no other, and for that I am so glad.

My Tessy Boo

Oh Little Monkey, you are the smallest Valentine! So sweet, sweeter than a candy heart! I love you. You bring us so much joy into this family. So much joy, and happiness. You were sent to us specifically to help give and share your joy! I can't wait to see you grow the next few years!

Fancy Nancy Soiree

In honor of Mary's 4th Birthday we decided to have a Fancy Nancy Soiree! What a fun time this was. All the planning was so much fun, everything had to be SO fancy. Of course, Mary was more than willing to help plan, make, pick out everything for the party. Midway through the preparations the husband did ask..."Is this a party for Mary, or a party for Mommy?" Well, of course you all know the answer, it was for BOTH! I love birthdays. I love planning and all the details. I love to decorate and make it the kids' special day! This was an extra special party to plan, it was the first GIRL party with friends! So, had to go all out and make it that much more girly!

This first picture is the party dress up that all the kids got. When they arrived they were wearing their "fanciest ensemble" and then we added a tiara, feather boa, and of course, pearls. Mary's little gentleman friend, Will, was given a top hat.

Here is the birthday girl in the first birthday dress. Fancy Nancy's beautiful dress that she got for her birthday!



Then, here is the picture of all the party guests dressed to nines! It was just a pleasure and so fun to see these 3 and 4 year olds in their fancy gowns and suits! Even baby Tess had to wear her pearls all day! How cute are these kids?!?!

This is the fancy table set up for the party. We had finger sandwiches, fruit salad, cheese balls (not fancy but needed!), and then Parfaits instead of cake! The kids loved assembling the parfaits and getting to choose what was in each one. Some like the birthday girl chose only cake, and some chose cake, ice cream, chocolate sauce, caramel, whipped cream and a cherry! After a month of talking about the parfaits the birthday girl decided to go simple. Oh well, it's her party!!

Of course, all guests left with fabulous Swag Bag filled with more fancy things! What a fun party it was for both Mom and daughter. Can't wait to plan the next one!

Later in the evening we had the family over to celebrate our little princess. Here is the fancy cake we made for the party! It was so fun letting Mary help pick out the decorations and assemble the topper!





And here we are after all the celebrations! New Princess dress up, new princesses and all sorts of new girly toys to keep us busy until we can get outside with the spring weather! Mary is endlessly dressed as a new princess every day and changes multiple times throughout the day.



Happy Birthday my sweet Mary! We had one great soiree and I can't wait to see what this year will bring!