Unexpected Love Note

Parenting is HARD.  And some days you feel like you are getting it more wrong than right.  I've had several of those days recently.  I'm realizing more and more how difficult it is to be "mom" to three children.  I don't know how you moms of four or more do it!  Frankly, I don't know how you moms of three do it....got any tips?!  (ha ha)  Parenting is hard whether you have one child or five children.  

BUT.....

 I walked outside on the porch this morning and saw this.

An unexpected love note from my daughter, Sophia.  

I had no idea it was there.  So simple.  A simple note.  "Sophia loves Mom!"  And it's just what I needed to see.  All this hard work is worth it.  So worth it.  

It reminds me of how God has worked in my life time and time again.  When I don't think I can go any farther or handle any more, He shows up through an unexpected blessing or a gentle whisper to my soul..."I love you, my child."  And I know all is well.  He's in this with me.  

So, thank you, Sophia, for your sweet note.  It made my day.  And I hope you always know, "Mommy loves you!" too.  

Ezra is FIVE!!!

My little Ezra turned FIVE today!!!  His bike is his favorite thing, but he is close to outgrowing the one he has.  So for his bday, we got him a new bike, the next size up! He loved it, of course. He chose to have dirt pudding as his birthday dessert.  He helped me make it. 

We went to Chuck-E-Cheese for some birthday fun!  Landon, Krista, and their kids happened to be passing thru Chattanooga around the time we were going to Chuck-E-Cheese, so they stopped and played with us there.  That was a fun surprise for Ezra and Sophia. Ezra told me that he wouldn't ride this little carousel just for his sake, but that he would do it for Amos.  He's such a good big brother.

To describe Ezra right now, I would say he is playful, but driven.  He loves to work hard and play harder.  He is always ready to be on the go.  He is busy, busy and into everything.  He is ALL boy.  He's sooo handsome.  He's a goofball.  I was trying to take some pics of him today and just couldn't get a serious pose. :)

 I can hear his little giggles in my head as I look at these pictures.  Oh, that boy just has my heart.  I'm so thankful and blessed God gave him to me!  I love you, Ezra Kirk!

Here are the birthday questions I ask every year!...

1.  What is something Mommy always says to you?  You love me.

2.  What makes Mommy happy? When I tickle you.

3.  What makes Mommy sad?  When I don't love you.  But I always do.

4.  How does Mommy make you laugh?  By you tickling me.

5.  What was Mommy like as a child? New

6.  How old is Mommy? 16

7.  How tall is Mommy?  This big. (And then stretches his arms really wide.)

8.  What is Mommy's favorite thing to do?  Photography

9.  What does Mommy do when you're not around?  Clean

10.  If Mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?  This is a hard one.  I don't know.

11.  What is Mommy really good at?  Cleaning because you help us clean our room better than we do.

12.  What is Mommy not very good at?  Hula-hooping

13.  What does Mommy do for her job?  Photography

14.  What is Mommy's favorite food?  Tacos.  No, that's my favorite food.

15.  What makes you proud of Mommy?  That you let me go to Chuck-E-Cheese. (We are going there tonight.)

16,  If Mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?  A good girl.

17.  What do you and Mommy do together?  We celebrate my birthday.

18.  How are you and Mommy the same?  Nuh uh.  Me and Daddy are.

19.  How are you and Mommy different? Because we don't play that much.  We just work. :-/

20.  How do you know Mommy loves you?  (He comes over and gives me a big hug...)  Because you hug me.

21.  Where is Mommy's favorite place to go?  Jump Park.

22.  What makes you happy?  When Sophia tickles me.

23.  What makes you sad?  When no one loves me.

24.  What makes you laugh?  Remember, I said when Sophia tickles me.

25.  What is your favorite thing to do?  Ride my bike.

26.  What is your favorite food and drink?  Tacos and orange drink.

27.  What is your favorite color?  Remember? Red, green, blue, orange, and purple.

28.  Where is your favorite place to go?  Chuck-E-Cheese

29.  What are your favorite movies or TV shows?  Power Rangers and Jake and the Neverland Pirates

30.  What is your favorite book? (He describes a picture book we have with objects in it like guitar and lights. Ha ha!)

Happy 7th Birthday, Sophia!

The week before Sophia's birthday, Mamaw and Papaw came to town and took all the kids to Jump Park in Chattanooga to celebrate Sophia and Ian's birthday.  They had a lot of fun!

Then on Sophia's actual birthday, Dell and I brought cupcakes to her class at school during lunch.  This was Sophia's first birthday that I wasn't with her all day. :( So that felt different.  

Also, her great-grandma and great-grandpa (Mamaw and Papaw Worley) were in town, so we had Daniel's family come over to the house and had a little celebration for her on her birthday. We had such a nice time!

This girl can hula-hoop!

Mamaw and Papaw Worley with 6 of their great-grandkids and a neighbor kid. :)

Birthday Girl!!

For her birthday, Sophia got her first pet.  A fish she named "Splashy".

 On Sophia's birthday evening, I asked her the usual birthday questions and wrote down her exact words.  I'm so glad I started this tradition with the kids!  It's something they look forward to as much as me.  Sophia was a lot less talkative this year and very thoughtful of the questions, wanting to get the “right” answer. :)

1.  What is something Mommy always says to you?  I love you.

2.  What makes Mommy happy?  When I do something I'm supposed to do, and I do it before she asks me.

3.  What makes Mommy sad?  When I disobey you.

4.  How does Mommy make you laugh?  Tickling me.

5.  What was Mommy like as a child? This is hard.  I don't know much about you when you were a kid.

6.  How old is Mommy? Oh let me think, 33.  Is that right?

7.  How tall is Mommy?  I have no clue.

8.  What is Mommy's favorite thing to do?  Celebrate birthdays.

9.  What does Mommy do when you're not around?  Like when I'm at school?  Take Ezra places.

10.  If Mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?  Teaching kids.

11.  What is Mommy really good at?  Talking to Daddy.

12.  What is Mommy not very good at?  Running

13.  What does Mommy do for her job?  Take care of kids.

14.  What is Mommy's favorite food?  Salad

15.  What makes you proud of Mommy?  You're a good mom.

16,  If Mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?  Rarity (on my Little Pony.)  She keeps things clean.  She makes dresses.

17.  What do you and Mommy do together?  Talk because we're doing it right now.

18.  How are you and Mommy the same?  We both have blue eyes.

19.  How are you and Mommy different?  I have blonde hair.  You have brown hair.

20.  How do you know Mommy loves you?  Because you say so.

21.  Where is Mommy's favorite place to go?  To the mall.

22.  What makes you happy?  My birthday.

23.  What makes you sad?  When Ezra kicks me.

24.  What makes you laugh?  Funny faces.

25.  What is your favorite thing to do?  Play games (Phone games, board games, any games.)

26.  What is your favorite food and drink?  Cheeseburger and ice water.

27.  What is your favorite color?  All the colors except dark brown.

28.  Where is your favorite place to go?  Chuck-E-Cheese

29.  What are your favorite movies or TV shows?  My Little Pony

30.  What is your favorite book? So Many Bunnies

We couldn't be more proud of our Sophia Grace or love her any more!!