One down, nine to go

As a parent, you often wonder if your kids really appreciate the things you do for them, not that you are looking for a big thank you or recognition or anything. Yesterday was the first day that I came home from work with the kids and Scott and Molly were not home. Now, for the most part, Scott is usually home when we get home before he runs back to the church for a meeting or to get work done. He has this great habit of meeting us in the driveway to help unload kids and all of their stuff and just get all of us into the house. Noah wants no one but Daddy to unbuckle him resulting in a temper tantrum, the diaper bag was left in the car which had Gracie's cup and Nuker in it so she's crying, and everyone wanted something to eat and drink. As we make our way in, Scottie makes the observation, "It's better when Dad helps us." My response: "Yes, aren't most things?" I'm sure during the next 9 days, my little ones will be appreciating many more things that their Daddy does for them regularly. At this point, I find myself operating in survival mode, which involves very little motherly love and sympathy, but getting done what needs to be done in the quickest way, which usually involves some yelling. We get through our "moment" and end up spending some time playing outside and planting some blueberry bushes before it rained. I had a conversation earlier in the day with a good friend of mine and had decided that I did not want to just merely "get through" the next 9 days that Scott was gone, but I wanted to make sure that the kids got to really live those days and have fun. This change in my attitude I am sure helped, but dinner and bedtime went surprisingly well and uneventfull. Of course this outlook of living each day to it's fullest is nothing new, but how often do I find myself instead just getting through the day? I should be living everyday of my life to the fullest for Christ.
So, these pictures are for Scott to see what we have been up to. The top picture is of Gracie helping me plant those bushes. A good friend of my told me that dirt has probiotics in it - She is getting her share!

As you can see, Noah has come up with a new way to wear his ear protection.

Gracie was riding down the slide by herself and loving it! Mikey must have put her down that slide a hundred times! Thanks for the new toy, Daddy!

We hope you guys are having a good time down in Atlanta!