She went to school today....

I am so on an emotional roller coaster of crazy right now. I am unfortunately going to have you take a trip down memory lane with me today. I am sorry for any misty eyes or sadness.

My baby went to school today. Summer school but her first day of any kinda school besides Sunday School ever.

She is being taught by someone that isn't mommy. She is playing with (or I hope so anyway) new friends. Learning new things. Off on her own without me there to hold her hand or kiss her boo boos or make sure she can get off of the monkey bars herself.

It was one of the most awesome days of my life. While at the same time one of the saddest days too.

7 months old here...


Not quite 2 (I was a very pregnant momma at this party get together)


with her brother...just before he turned 2 and she turned 4...

her first bubble!

Our friend Casey took this photo last October when she had just turned 5...

With her brotherS (plural) here...


And today before I sent her off to school...





Tell me where it went ladies? Where has the time gone. She went from baby to big girl and I swear I didn't even blink. I am so thankful she is independent and strong and smart. I am so thankful God graced me with this little amazing person. I am so thankful to be her momma.

I am so a little sad today.
A thankful and tearful
Momma to 3
*Shay B*

the KIDS in my life brought to you by the MAN in my life...

I know I blog about my kids A! LOT! However those three beautiful babes didn't happen magically. There was another partner involved this guy...



He may leave me over this picture being posted by the way :) He HATES having his picture taken and was being sarcastic to me so he totally deserves this.

He is pretty good guy. I love watching him with the babies. He is so funny with Leanna her know it all attitude completely comes from him right down to the smirk of AWFULNESS! Hudson gets his hands on behavior and want to "fix" things from him. So far Nolan just has his Dad's rugged good looks.

I love watching this man with our children. He is so good with them.

Some examples...






I am so thankful for a man who loves his children the way my man does. He works hard and comes home and tries to work hard again! So glad God gave me him. Such a great worker and daddy and husband.

Have an awesome Friday everyone!
Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Burden of Proof...

Why do we as Mom's feel the need to prove ourselves?

Proof: evidence sufficient to establish a thing as true, or to produce belief in its truth.

We have to have proofs of purchase, proof of payment, proof of residency, proof of identity...

That is why we feel we have to have proof of how our days are spent. How we are raising our children what we are doing all day long, proof of a clean house or a well behaved child. We stress ourselves out so much on things because we worry about "PROVING" ourselves, our decisions, our parenting, our life to others.

If we are living our lives pleasing God. Who else do I have to hold myself accountable to? NO ONE!

I need to remember that sometimes a dirty house means loved on kids. I need to remember that scrapped up knees means one gnarly adventure for my little man. I need to remember that muddy laundry means a treasure digging adventure. I need to remember that a sink full of unwashed dishes means a day where the food was plentiful and bellies were hungry and gracious enough to eat it (A LOT OF IT)!

Yes a clean house and tidy rooms and well behaved children are important. Absolutely. But NOT if they are the mean to proving myself as a mom, teacher, wife, friend or any other role in my life. If they are because I worked hard AND had a CHEERFUL and THANKFUL attitude about doing them ABSOLUTELY.

God sees me working hard. God sees my struggles and hears my prayers to make sure I am making the right and hard decisions for my kids. God knows my head and my heart and my fears. If I am living right he sees every diaper I change, every boo boo I kiss, every dish I wash (AGAIN) and every attitude I correct INCLUDING MY OWN!

Just needed this to remind myself and thought it could be something someone else needed to remember too.

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

City Museum Fun...

So our cousin Christopher --->
had a birthday this month. He is a whole 4 years old. Not sure how that happened. Annnndddd we won't discuss how in 4 months my little guy will be 4 as well. I can't even fathom that just yet.

Moving on... he had a birthday party at the City Museum. This is a super cool place for kids to be kids things to jump and swing and slide and jump and crawl through. It was crazy awesome and that was just one floor and one area (which for safety reasons because so many kids so few adults) where we stayed!

Some pictures of the fun...
Christopher telling Hudson, "You can do it pull HARDER!"

His smile is soooo infectious!

The girls had a ton of fun together!

The cousins had a blast.

Thanks Cousin Christopher to inviting us to your super amazingly fun birthday party!
We had a ton of fun!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Music to get me through THOSE days.

Thanking God for music this week. It has been a small saving grace this week. I have felt very overwhelmed with somethings in my life going on.
Nothing I can't make it through. Nothing life threatening. Thank you God for that. Just overwhelmed a little bit. I don't want to complain. I am so blessed and things could be so much worse and others have flooding and devastation and loss. I want to remember that I do have SOOOO much. So blessed.

So instead of wallowing this week. I went to my computer and pulled up a playlist maker and I decided some inspirational music was on the agenda while I cooked or cleaned or whatever. Heck music is great background noise for me. So I wanted to share some of the songs, pieces of lyrics and/or artists that have helped this week (with prayer of course!) not seem so gloomy and so desperate, lonely or overwhelming. Music speaks to me. It lifts my heart and my spirits, it can mean so much or so little. For me it often means much.

So maybe it gives you a new artist to check out or a new song to listen for. Heck if the lyric can bring a smile to your face as it has done for me... well then it works.

Missy Higgins - Where I Stood

See I thought love was black and white
That it was wrong or it was right
But you ain't leaving without a fight
And I think I am just as torn inside

Joshua Radin - Brand New Day
It's a brand new day
The sun is shining
It's a brand new day
For the first time in such a long long time
I know, I'll be ok

I don't think I need to post the lyrics to The Beatles - Here Comes the Sun I mean that songs SCREAMS Happy!

Ingrid Michaelson has some amazing stuff. I love her tone and her voice is so calming. Keep Breathing is what I was listening to when I wrote this post. AMAZING.

Old school Third day and Casting Crowns. Pretty much anything by them helps me through even the darkest of hours. With three small people and as many rainy days as we have had? Yeah it can get CRAZY!

There was a brother/sister group LaRue that I think I just about drove my roommate crazy with in college. It reminds me of simpler days and fun. I listen to that when I need a fun little poppy tune to dance in the middle of the floor with the small people.

This is going to sound corny to most of you but there is a country song. Hudson sings to me. It is called Big Green Tractor by Jason Aldean (amazing voice I think both Jason and Hudson). He has the sweetest sound. He sings it to me sometimes for no reason. So sometimes I put it on just so I can see his face light up. The singing it together is just a bonus! (I may have to videotape him doing it and play it here one day soon it is that awesome.)

I also really love It's Your Life by Francesca Battistelli

Are you who you always said you would be?
With a sinking feeling in your chest
Always waiting for someone else to fix you
Tell me when did you forget

It's your life
What you gonna do?
The world is watching you
Every day the choices you make
Say what you are and who
Your heart beats for
It's an open door

To live the way that you believe
This is your opportunity
To let your life be one that lights the way

It's your life
What you gonna do?
The world is watching you
Every day the choices you make
Say what you are and who
Your heart beats for
It's an open door

Well holy long post batman. Music it really is healing. So do you have a song you turn on just to belt it out? Is there a song that speaks to you in the dark moments? Is there an artist who has helped you out of a funk? Sorry this got so long. But it was fun for me. Tell me who is your favorite?

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Zoo Trip! With Friends of Awesome!

We got to go to the zoo with some (I missed you Beth you are still a friend of Awesome too) long lost friends of awesome!

Okay so they weren't really lost. We know where they are. We just have missed them and are so glad we got to hang out together!

We got there early to ride the carousel (Casey was sooooo LUCKY to have to be late). I happen to think the carousel is a ride of puking awfulness. I brave it only because my small people love it.

Sarah's little girl Evalyn calls it, "whooooo haaaa" it is soooo adorable. I love it.


Then we explored statues.


An awesome friendship is budding with these guys. I really hope they remain friends.


Lily is someone I have mentioned several times here. Leanna and her really seem to play well together and I love that they are friends. It makes me smile.


I know their momma's are such amazing blessings to me. I thank God for putting each of them in my life. I met Casey at college. She was my roommate. I really am thankful for her. She is an amazing momma and such a fun person. Sarah and I met at camp/college still not sure exactly sure. She is a really incredibly kindhearted person. They are both very talented and extremely fun to hang with. I kinda want to be them when I grow up ;)

So hop over to their blogs and take a peek. They have some of the cutest kids. Sarah a momma to all girls (God bless her) and Casey to one of each. They have some fun stories and their share of completely crazy. Which just makes me even happier they love me and all of my crazy too!

Momma to 3
*Shay B*

Sweet Moments

Skipping the tell part. Here's the show!







So thankful that they love each other. They have their moments like any sibling group does. But there is love there.

Dear God,
May there always be that outward showing of affection. May they always stand together. Thank you for blessing me with them! Help me raise them to love one another. Help us to raise them to love others. Help remind me everyday that being their momma is the greatest job I will ever have. Thank you for Leanna and her kind although mothering ways. Thank you for the energy that is Hudson and the excitement he brings to every little thing. Thank you for the smile, the love, the new and exciting things Nolan brings to our family. Thank you for your Son and the grace you give me each new day with these little ones.
Amen.
Momma to 3
*Shay B*