We’ve had an unusually busy week. Or I guess I should say that I’ve had an unusually busy week. Lots of meetings and it’s just one of those weeks.

I had a Junior League meeting this morning after the boys were at school. My friend Anna was there, too, and after the meeting was over we realized we had about an hour to kill before we had to go pick up the kiddos from school. We had a very rare treat– a Starbucks date. We laughed and joked that this is what we always imagined we’d get to do every single day.

Hudson was in a bit of a funk on the way home from school today. About once a week he gets like that. He is either really tired, really hungry, or just in a “preschooler” mood. (It’s so weird not to say a “toddler” mood.) He was mad because Hayes was looking at him. He was mad because he was hot and then he was cold. And he was mad because he never wants to come home from school. He just loves school.

And I just think he needed a nap.

He actually just wanted to lay down on the floor when he got home. He definitely needed a nap.

Hayes, on the other hand, was in an especially good mood today. When I pick him up close to noon, he’s usually ready for me to get there. He’s tired and just ready to go. Today he was running around and just giggling. He was in the best mood, and that made me so happy.

Wednesday is one of our favorite days every week because we all go to church. We have dinner as a family and then I go to choir and Hudson goes to AWANA. He has been doing really well with his scripture memorization, and he just gets so excited to recite his verses for anyone that will listen.

Todd had deacon ordination tonight at church. He just finished his term as deacon chairman for our church, and we watched a good friend of ours get ordained tonight. When deacon ordination was over, Todd took the boys home because they were both just so tired today.

Even though Hudson did a lot of whining and had a funky attitude today, I have to remember that it’s normal for 3 year old. It’s normal for a 30 year old! Sometimes I feel the exact same way. There are days when I’m tired and feel like whining all day. I don’t want to eat my lunch and I don’t want to talk to anyone. So how can I blame him for having a day like that?

The other night,  Todd and I were turning out the lights and getting ready to head upstairs to bed. I glanced down at the floor and saw this.

 

I could feel my heart tighten in my chest. There was an immediate lump in my throat.

Those little shoes. They’re for little feet. And those little feet are just an adorable part of two very special little people who live here. My babies. God’s children.

I was overcome with this incredibly strong sense of gratitude. And sometimes God just uses those little symbols as reminders for something really big.

I’m thankful for another day with them. Some days are crummy. Some days are great. And some days one of the boys is great and one of them is a little bit crummy. And then they flip flop.

But I’m thankful for each day. And for each little pair of stinky shoes.

This post is Day 3 in my 31 Days of Back to Basics Blogging series.

I have to say, that I’m already finding so much freedom in the 31 Days project, and we’re only on day 2!

This morning, while Hudson was at school, Hayes and I went to Bible study at our church. It’s a great point in the week for me to be able to see so many of my friends in one place, and talk about our struggles and triumphs as moms. And learn about God’s plan for us as mothers. It’s such a blessing to me.

Hayes was supposed to have speech therapy this morning, but our therapist had to cancel at the last minute, so we were happy to get to go to Bible study.

The boys both took great naps today, and when they got up, I made Paula Deen’s banana pudding for RC’s birthday. RC and PC are what we call Todd’s parents instead of grandpa and grandma.

I let both boys each lick a beater after I finished making the pudding. I am cracking up looking at these pictures because Hayes’s “cheese” face is so extreme!

He has started saying “eeeeese” when he sees the camera. I love that he’s trying to say “cheese.” But he smiles so big that his little face just scrunches up.

It’s just so funny. He kind of looks like he might cry, but he’s really just smiling as big as he can.

RC, PC, and Nana came over tonight to celebrate RC’s birthday. We had pizza, birthday cake, and banana pudding. It was simple and so much fun. Any time we’re all just sitting around laughing at these little boys is a fun time.

Paula Deen’s banana pudding used to be my go-to dessert, but I hadn’t made it in a while. I remember why I love it so much. If you’ve never made it, you absolutely need to!

RC, PC, and Nana stayed while we bathed the boys and then they put them to bed. RC said that was all he wanted to do on his birthday. We are so incredibly blessed to have such loving family who really enjoy being with our boys.

The feeling is mutual. It was a great day.

*This post is Day 2 in my 31 Days of Back to Basics Blogging.

 

Over the past few months, off and on, I get overwhelmed with the thought of blogging. I see a lot of posts urging bloggers to come up with profound, thought-provoking posts. There’s the pressure for each post to make some statement and get readers talking.

Back when I started blogging, it was purely for me. And, for the most part, things are still that way. But I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t blog for all of you, too.

But in order to get back to a place where I love it, I need to get back to basics.

What are the basics? For me, it’s just sharing about my day and my heart. I want to take more pictures and just document the every day and journal my way through it.

No gimmicks. No agenda. Just getting back to why I started this in the first place.

I’m linking up with The Nester this month for her 31 Days series. And I’m doing 31 Days of Back to Basics Blogging.

It’s a simple topic, and my goal is to just write every day in October about a few things that we did that day or what we learned. I want to share pictures, share thoughts, and just let go of the expectations and pressure.

When I started thinking a couple of months ago about what I would write about it, the thought of writing “how to” posts or giving a whole bunch of advice for 31 days just didn’t seem natural. And, frankly, it overwhelmed me.

The basics of blogging are what I miss.

I hope this will be a freeing experience for me and I’m excited to take the time to remember to pull out my camera. And remember to just write down the little things. Maybe they’re things that only I care about, but that’s why I started this little online space in the first place.

Please join me this month, and if you blog, consider linking up with The Nester this month!

I’ll be listing all of the posts for the month on this post as I add new posts.

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Day Five

Day Six

Day Seven

Day Eight

Day Nine

Day Eleven

Day Thirteen

Day Fourteen

Day Fifteen

*a big huge thank you to my dearest friend, Nina, for creating my banner!