Our days at home

Since my "people" are still very little, we hardly ever go out. We go to church, the grocery store, doctor appointments, to see grandparents, and thats its. It's hard enough just going to run the basic errands with these three minions, I can't imagine electively choosing to wear myself out by going to a shopping mall and wrestling toddlers in a stroller. It just sounds torturous. 

I could complain about not going anywhere, but I'm not going to because I'm an introvert. This is my dream. My favorite thing is to stay home and do laundry. Crowds aren't my favorite, getting ready takes too long, and I despise having conversations with strangers. 

So, really, home is the only place I really want to be. 

Because we stay home so much, I have to be creative to keep my little people distracted and happy, or everyone becomes stir crazy. And we all know that cooped up toddlers is never a good thing. I do my best to not let them watch too much tv, but sometimes momma needs a break, and Elmo usually saves the day. Go ahead and judge me. To make it more eventful than it really is, I make a "bed" in the floor. They think it's the best day ever and I can sit down and catch a breather. Sounds like a win win situation to me. 

One thing that I'm still trying to learn is that it's okay to have a mess. Really. It is. This is our home and it's where we live, so naturally, its going to have that "lived in" look. But in my head, I want it to be museum ready with every pillow fluffed and every candle lit.

Nope. Not around here.

Just look at that mess. 

This is another way I keep them distracted. I let them make a huge mess, they have fun making it, then they spend the next 30 minutes cleaning it up. They can use their creativity and it also teaches them the basic life skills of picking up after themselves. Their future spouses will thank me. 

On occasion, we have dance parties. No, my son doesn't make it habit of putting on skirts. On this particular day, his sister wanted him to wear one to match her. I thought it would make for great blackmail pictures one day. Ha!

My little minions just love music. I'm hoping that at least one of them will be musically talented!

While my little people are busy keeping themselves occupied, Momma has a little fun. I recently taught myself how to sew. I'm not a professional, and there are lots of buttons on the machine that I have no idea what they do, but I have made some neat creations so far. My ultimate goal is to make slip covers for my couches in the living room. 

I just painted my fireplace recently, and I could not be any happier. Seriously, best thing I've done to this house. The red was cute, but it just wasn't me. Red isn't my favorite color scheme, but for some reason the decor in my house ends up red. So it was way past time to change something. I used an oil-based primer, one coat, and I used some left over "Antique White," one coat. Ta-da. Wham-bam-thank you ma'am. 

Although the Redman clan hardly ever venture out in to the public, we have a pretty good life here at our home. We live, love, and laugh. Being a homemaker is one of my favorite jobs, aside from being a momma. There's nothing more thrilling than relaxing in a place that you've made your own. And a good smelling candle helps with that process!

"Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm 37:4

Boys. Boys. Boys.

I grew up in a house full of girls, so I don't really know a lot about raising boys. Or even living with boys. My dad was the only male in the house. He was military trained and naturally, I thought all males were of this nature. False. Not true at all. When I got married and moved in with my new husband, I quickly learned that not all males are like my dad. Sometimes, males leave their underwear in the floor, dishes in the bedroom, and heaven forbid, anyone ever throw their food wrappers away. Haha!

I now have two young boys of my own. I'm only two years in, and I'm quickly learning how to live with stinky, busy, dirty boys. I'm also falling in love with it.

(Notice the no pants)

I am learning so much. Two years ago when we found out I was having a baby boy, everyone who had already raised boys would always say "Oh, boys love their momma so much," or "boys are so sweet," or "you will love having a boy!" All of those are so so so true. HOWEVER. No one told me how much work boys are! Seriously, no one ever mentioned it. 

I wake up every morning and think, "okay, today will be the day that I keep my patience in line. I will not lose my temper. I will not yell. I will not cry. I just won't." 

Then I give out breakfast.

Can you see my middle one "eating" cereal? He does this EVERY SINGLE DAY. Of course you're probably thinking, "why don't you give him something else besides cereal?" Oh but I do. I have even tried bread. Just plain bread. He still manages to make a mess. I now know what it feels like to clean up a stadium full of trash after a football game. Same amount of mess. 

  

From the minute I wake up to the moment I lay my head down on my pillow, I never sit down. I do occasionally call a 'time out.' But it's pretty rare. My middles child keeps me on my toes. Literally. He is into EVERYTHING. 

My baby is a "rookie," but he's learning very quickly on how to be a typical boy. I would like to say thank you to my middle child for being a wonderful teacher. 

No one ever told me that my heart would be teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown. My middle one runs, jumps, climbs, hits, throws, and experiments things that wouldn't have even crossed my mind until I had a little boy. I feel like the only thing I say all day is "Do not climb that. Get down from there. That's not a good idea. Leave her alone. We don't hit. Leave my chandelier alone." 

Boys think they are invincible. For real, why does he think that riding his batman car down the steps is a good idea? Just yesterday, he thought he could literally move a tree. 

("I push it down!")

Baseball, soccer, football, and basketball are all his favorite games to play. He loves rolling in the dirty outside and getting grass stains on his clothes. I'm a proud owner of ten bottles Shout stain remover. Best stuff ever. His obsession with trucks is quite unnerving, his love for killing bugs is probably concerning, and his hatred of vegetables is so annoying.

Most days, like I mentioned, are filled with frustration, losing my temper, and raising my voice loud enough for the neighbors to hear. I believe God is teaching me about His never ending patience for me. I make mistakes and do things that probably makes Him shake His head and rolls His eyes. But he never loses His patience. He's so merciful. That alone is worth praising His name. 

Despite all of those typical "boy things," my boys are the sweetest, most apologetic, and good hearted little people I've ever seen. They love cuddles, kisses on their boo boos, and the occasional mischievous grin is my favorite. 

Even on hard days of cleaning up mud on the carpet, pee in the bathroom floor, and beads from his sister's broken bracelet, this is still my favorite thing I've ever done. Just like all the mothers told me, boys love their momma, they really are the sweetest, and I love having boys. 

The Lord has surely blessed me.