Weekend Adventures: Hartland Orchard

Though we have great plans for travel with our littles, but truth is we can't always fit in long trips right now. So I'm constantly taking hints from other moms and even local events I see on Facebook to find ways we can enjoy each other simply for the day.

Here in Northern Virginia there are tons of great activities that are usually within about an hour away from our home. So this past weekend's adventure was at Hartland Orchard! Not only do they have a fantastic location for picking apples and other tasty fruits and veggies, they have a fun Pumpkin Festival that you can participate in. The boys had a blast and everyone crashed by the end of the day!

The cost per person was $10, but you were able to do a Corn Maze, tunnel slide, enjoy live music, try out the apple cannon, and several other fun activities. I would definitely recommend it as sometimes the other popular pumpkin patches in the surrounding areas can be overcrowded on the weekends and/or even more expensive. It just depends on what you want to do!

What are some of your favorite day trips to take with your kids? As the season changes and it gets cooler here, I want to take advantage of as much as we can! Hope you had a wonderful weekend.

In this Season: New Surprises & Family Moments

Though I took an unexpected break from blogging, it has definitely still been in the forefront of my mind. Being able to share and record life in a unique way is a big piece of my heart and I'm so grateful to be back (hopefully for much longer). Well much has happened! Lots of growth, changes, challenges, but oh so many triumphs. The ones that humble you and remind you that God is working ever so sweetly in your life to make you better. 

As you can see the boys have grown! And their personalities are something for short stories and live television for sure...especially Titus. They are so much fun, so much that we are having our THIRD BOY in February! Yes, you read that right...our THIRD BOY ha! I can't say that Mike and I weren't hoping for a girl (so much he thinks we should try one more time...), but my heart truly is at peace and full of excitement. 

We had the opportunity recently to do a family photo session with one of my absolute favorite photographers and close friend from Uplifted Photography! I cannot even describe how I feel looking at our family in this new season. Thank you as always Bri for capturing us so perfectly, and sweet baby boy before his arrival!

Motherhood: This is hard...

The last few weeks have been hard. I mean lost sleep, way too much yelling, and tears after bedtime hard. I lost my cool so many times I can't count and all of me would like to hide under my sheets until I can pull myself together. Sometimes this parenting thing really throws you some curveballs and you can't dodge or catch them fast enough. 

 

Last week Mike and I sat down and spoke with Kai's teacher and the PreK director in regards to preparing him for Kindergarten. There were concerns about his ability to self regulate and if he may be too young to really adjust to the structure of the actual classroom setting. Truthfully the feedback was helpful, though my momma heart was so torn and broken as I felt I missed the mark. I kept thinking how did I not see this? Have I been too lenient and passive? What do I do now? And I beat myself up. Blaming what I felt was a stamp or label (which it was not) on our son....and my job as his mom. I cried. I ugly cried. Did I say I cried?

Everything inside of me wanted to quit motherhood for the next several days. But I knew I needed to really get my head straight and see what was what. When you hear "negative" or unpleasant things especially about your children it can overshadow any truth. All of the sudden you think it's ALL bad and it's ALL over, when it's probably not. So I took a mental break and this past weekend I did some rearranging. I received several helpful tips to better prepare myself and Kai for next year along with developing a structure and expectations that are conducive without overwhelming him at home (I'd love to share my 3 favorites):

 

1. Get Creative in Learning your kid's learning style: Though every child learns differently, knowing how your child learns makes you a stronger advocate. You can share and provide tips when working with your child's teacher. It's great to know and verbalize your kid's needs, because they are one of many in a class (not bad, just reality). Trying flash cards, art projects, interactive apps, videos, and games help you gauge what your child leans towards in comprehending content. I'm noticing that Kai does very well with all of those and I'm still learning more!
2. Have a learning time in your schedule: It's okay to carve a specific time in your day and/or week that's dedicated to learning and academic growth. I have shied away from this in efforts to not "overwhelm Kai," but he has eaten up our 10-15 minutes a day of skill work. We started off with 5-7 minutes as his attention span was a concern and are close to 10-15 now! I time it as I know he will be required to maintain focus for that long with a few breaks in between.
3. Find Resources!: From Pinterest to Target and even ALDI I've found awesome skill workbooks and ideas that have been so helpful. It has also taken the pressure off of having to come up with it all. I will be sharing my favorites soon! 

In my fear and lack of knowledge in how to engage Kai academically I almost missed a new side of connecting with him. I'm really grateful that asking other moms, educators, and being able to see the recommendations for him from the school have turned into a positive situation for all of us. Wish us well as I navigate this with him. He is so bright and amazing I want him to always know that.

Weekend Adventures: Great Eats & Sweet Moments

 

Finding quaint places to eat and new adventures have become our thing, and it's great to enjoy it with Kai and Titus as well. I am convinced that the best places to eat are sometimes the hardest to find! And being able to try new things always makes for new memories and great weekends.

This past Saturday we were invited to try The Secret Garden with a friend of ours. I've heard about it and the dining experience, but just never found the time to make it. The restaurant is located in Old Town Occoquan here in Woodbridge, VA. It's most certainly hidden, only providing a hanging sign to its entrance. 

 

But my oh my is it fantastic! The food was absolutely incredible and the service was outstanding. I tried the salmon burger (trying to eat healthier...most days) while the boys ate fresh blueberries with chicken and fries. Did I mention they have a children's menu and all of their ingredients are fresh?!? We all had such a wonderful time amongst the peaceful and semi quiet (my kids were quite entertaining) environment. 

 

 

Mike and I plan to go back again for brunch just the two of us. I've heard it's even better! What are some of your favorite quaint spots? 

Motherhood: Raw, Honest, and Beautiful

 

When I originally took this photo Titus was almost two months, it was really to poke fun of myself. One of those "look what I've become," moments haha - a human cow and a foot rest. I sent it to my sister and mom, I knew we could all get a good laugh. I didn't post it because people get sensitive about revealed nipples and I get sensitive because I know they're the size of oranges... 

Despite the fact that I noticed that I look incredibly annoyed (slightly if you see how Kai was on the verge of choking me), I was actually really content. If you've been in the motherhood game for some time, even for a few months - these moments are like gold. I was terrified with having TWO kids. And the pull of not giving "enough" love and attention to each weighed heavy on my heart. But in this moment it was happening. With my lack of sleep and completely undone self, they were both content...and so was I.

 

This is what I love about motherhood and being real with other moms. My best moments are my least photogenic, because my heart is so full.... I could care less about what I look like. My kids remind me daily how their needs are met and their hearts are just as full if not more. Yes even with the yelling, tantrums, and craziness it's a raw and honest beauty I've never known until they came into my life. I love the reality that motherhood brings, and when we spread it around we all benefit...good, ugly, and indifferent. 

I enjoy looking through the hashtag realmoms on Instagram. It's like a treasure trove of all of us just enjoying our lives a little less styled and a lot more lived in and loved. 

Toddler Chronicles: 'Tis the Season

It's almost Christmas and of course we had to see Kai perform at the preschool winter recital!! This guy cracks me up. For the last few weeks he has been randomly singing different songs from his program in the car or around the house. I have to say I was intrigued by the mixed up versions of songs. 

Last year's performance was full of tears and him coming off the stage after he realized I was so near him. So I made sure to make a mental note: STAY IN THE BACK! I didn't want to make the same mistake again... But he did see us! Kai kept waving and saying hi to his friends in the front (repeatedly), but he had a great time. I'm so proud of him. Daily I'm amazed at how smart, intuitive, and fun he is. 

Makai you truly are the best four year old I know stinky pants. 

Toddler Chronicles: Don't Forget Me!

 

"Mom! Don't forget me!!" With big gorgeous brown eyes that melt my core... He says it every time he sees his brother receiving attention and I know exactly what that means. My independent, smart, and wild little boy hates to feel left out, so he's big on not excluding others. He has such a heightened sensitivity to it... it's one of the things I admire about him.

With everything in me I have to take a deep breath and pause, because he is still just a little as his brother in his eyes...and he refuses to let anyone of us miss it. Juggling two kids has been an adjustment...that's an understatement friends. It's been a HUGE adjustment. Daily I have to take it in stride with sweet baby Jesus' loving grace. 

Initially kai's phrase a sweetly painted above would get on my nerves...a lot. I'd bark back (I know, not my best moments) with "Kai it's not about you! Wait your turn!" Or try and redirect him to play alone. But Kai is persistent, a quality from his daddy haha! And the more he said it the more I realized I've got to change my perspective on this and acknowledge we are adjusting at our own pace. Honestly I'm glad he's adjusted more on the inclusion side than other less loving moments of toy snatching, shoving, you get the point - brotherly love/hazing. 

 

But more importantly deep down I'm glad he notices, because I watch his fierce character notice that for his friends too. Sometimes at school I get to watch him play just before picking him up and he is always surrounded by other kids. Always inviting someone to our house or giving a ton of hugs prior to his departure. He's already set a standard for himself, and I'm okay with raising my own bar of expectations for him. 

So Kai, don't worry you're always included...and even when you're not I know you'll create a place wherever you are so that others don't have to ask "what about me" either.

Family Vacation: Hello from Disney!

Can you believe we made it to Florida! All four of us! It was a much needed vacation and far far overdue for all of us. Over a year ago, Mike and I sat in a time share presentation (for three hours...literally) so that we could go on this trip which included airfare, hotel, and tickets to the Magic Kingdom! I mean it really was a deal we couldn't pass up, only having to pay taxes (which was still fantastic). The trip was amazing, and I am so grateful that we stopped and made the necessary time to be with the kids and not once talk about work or deviate from just enjoying the time together away.

I would totally go again! Even with small kids, planning truly is what made this trip worth while. Three things I learned that allowed for this experience to be one with no regrets were:

1. HAVE AN ITINERARY! You may not stick to it all, but having an outline of what we wanted to do each day allowed for enough expectancy and flexibility to keep us all excited to see and enjoy as much as possible. I had posted on my facebook asking for any and all Disney Expert advice, which came in handy! Things like buying some toys from the Disney store ahead of time, doing a character breakfast, and a few tips of being able to bring food into the park were so so helpful.

2. PACE YOURSELF! With a four year old and very active almost toddler, I knew we couldn't do it all...which is hard for me. BUT it made me slow down and just enjoy the simple things we did like play in the pool at the hotel, take a long nap (the simple things), or just sight seeing after bedtime. Vacation gets so hectic, you can forget the point is to relax...so relax.

3. IT'S OKAY TO KEEP A BUDGET! Disney can bring the best AND worst out of your kids - no matter how much money you spend. I realized that quickly as my kids still had meltdowns and tantrums...because they're kids. Knowing that, I know that the best moments we had were when nothing was purchased, but lots of laughs and pictures were taken. Knowing we were doing specific things allowed me to save on trinkets and items that I knew my kids would care less about once we returned home. So I didn't buy the $18 sparkling light saber, but I did find a $3 one at target! But we did splurge on face painting and other things that I knew Kai would never forget.

I'm no travel/vacation expert, but I hope to take these lessons and plan our next trip somewhere as a family. It was so rewarding to see the boys have a BLAST and us too. Here are some of my favorite moments

What are your favorite travel tips with littles? I can't wait to see what new adventures we take as a family of four this year. Especially since we survived the plane!

Harvest Carnival 2016

I had great delusions of grandeur (using my psychology degree) of making an incredible costume for the boys. I mean really pulling out my MOM DIY SKILLS and taking it to the next level. Then reality set in and two days before Harvest Carnival, I was scrambling at Walmart, Target, and JoAnn Fabrics trying to not be that mom who didn't come through. 

So Mike with his bright ideas (thank God honestly), he told me to check on one of the online yard sales we're a part of on Facebook to see if I could snag a costume. And wouldn't you know I got TWO! A wonderful lady was selling a ton of costumes and I got an Optimus Prime suit with mask (the one Kai is sporting so fiercely above) and an Ironman full suit for $20! When Kai came home and saw them both his reaction was priceless.

So glad there were no tears and tons of smiles tonight. He kept wishing everyone a Happy Halloween haha and binged on all sorts of unnecessary sweets. That's what it's about right? 

Hope you had a safe and wonderful time too!

Ministry & Family: Being Creative with Quality Time

We are embarking on a full month of being engulfed in ministry as our second Annual Pumpkin Patch fundraiser is upon us. For the next month our lives are going to be filled with pumpkins...pumpkins...and more pumpkins. To say I'm a little overwhelmed is an understatement, but I'm definitely up for the challenge. But most importantly I'm thinking of not allowing this month to completely cause my family and especially the boys to feel excluded. That's the battle isn't it?

So we're finding ways to connect the boys while the work is being done. Kai has been waiting for this time of year, because he always has a blast and I'm looking forward to Titus enjoying himself too. From hayrides to games and pumpkins, I want to make sure that the boys feel as included as possible while keeping the balance of all the things...

Hopefully after school I can bring the boys to the patch since Mike is overseeing it the majority of the time. I'm ready for them to enjoy some fun time added into our routine. Being creative with our family time is definitely the name of the game. My biggest prayer is to not have the boys resent our time in ministry, to ever feel like ministry took us "away" from them. So being able to keep them engaged and feel apart of things will always be a priority to me. So far this has been what they've needed for just enough fun after a long day. So far they seem to love it! Only 21 more days left haha.

Motherhood: Apple Picking Field Trips

 

 

Out of the almost dozen photos we took, he still didn't look at the camera! I adored the time I got to take and spend it Apple Picking with Kai and his class this week. The weather wasn't fantastic, it was quite cold actually...but there is nothing like having your child be proud of your presence. These are the moments that remind me that I made the right decision in focusing on my family more than my career or hopes for a certain financial status. 

It's a breath of fresh air to do this with him...by no means is it easy. Many days I wonder if I'm doing the best thing for the boys in this season right now. Then I look at this photo

 

 

...and I'm reminded yes. A complete and peaceful yes to moments like this. The rest will fall into place, but I only get this once in my lifetime.

 

Weekend Adventures: Sunflower Farm

There is something so sweet about new experiences with your kids. This weekend we took advantage of visiting a Sunflower Farm! I mean it truly was a sight to see, even though it was the very last day of the season. Kai was incredibly intrigued by the open fields, bubble wands, and huge bouncing pad on the grounds. Titus didn't hesitate to explore as well, trying to keep up with big brother. Both boys fell right to sleep on our way home, which made for an awesome nap time! I really enjoyed the time together and fun fact, Mike's favorite flower is the sunflower. This was a special treat for all of us, as I didn't even know where the seeds are in the sunflower along with how beautiful a farm could be. After clipping our flowers and finding some local honey at checkout, I have to say this may become a tradition for us before fall begins!