feelings of failure

Seems like more often than not, I feel like I am failing while trying to be the best mom I can be. Did I discipline the wrong way? Could I have handled that situation better? Blah, blah, blah. I just read a book that taught me a lot and reminded me that it's not just me who experiences these feelings. We all feel this way. Nobody's perfect, right? So I am posting this prayer from Dr. Dobson so I can come back to it quickly when I'm feeling down in my role as Mommy.

"Lord, You know my inadequacies.
You know my weaknesses, not only in parenting, but in every area of my life.

I did the best I could, but it wasn't good enough.
As You broke the fishes and the loaves to feed the five thousand,

now take my meager effort and use it to bless my family.

Make up for the things I did wrong. Satisfy the needs that I have not satisfied.

Wrap Your great arms around my children, and draw them close to You.

And be there when they stand at the great crossroads between right and wrong.
All I can give is my best, and I've done that.

Therefore, I submit to you my children and myself and the job I did as a parent.
The outcome now belongs to you."

Philippians 3:13-14

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

toothless

 SOMEBODY snuck Hayes into the bathroom and pulled his first tooth out. I told Kyle I didn't think the tooth was loose enough, but I was wrong.
It came right out. You can see it took a couple of seconds for Hayes to warm up to the idea that he was missing a tooth. :)

We finished the night off with family movie time... what could be more appropriate than Tooth Fairy?

a fun weekend

carving a pumpkin with papaw 

getting our hair did at salon de ellie 

cherry berry deliciousness 

our favorite trick or treat spot ... GG's!

thanks Mom and Dad for helping turn our weekend into a good time!

trick or treat

Here's a first for us. The kids got to go to the store and pick out whatever costumes they wanted... with no help or pleading from Mom. As you can see, we ended up with three dragons. Ellie threw on a necklace for a feminine touch. :) Even though it isn't what I would have chosen for them, I can't help but love that the two little ones wanted to be just like big brother. And I love that big brother was ok with that.

Happy Trick or Treating everyone!

a day in the life of...

Today has been one of those laid-back kinda days.

One with the calm that was meant for us rather than the craziness of packed schedules we find ourselves in.

It felt good. I want more days like today.

enjoying some homemade granola.

nebulizer-cartoon time.

art table.

jelly smile.

daddy took a turn with storytime.

rare afternoon chill out.

loving my new s&p pots (wink, wink joy and diane.)

baked potato soup.

chipping away at my recipe book. yawn.

send-off.

pumpkins and popcorn

We took advantage of Daddy being home tonight and carved our pumpkins. Don't tell Miss Elle, but Cindy-relly has a butchered arm or two

and some wacked-out eyes. FYI... Momma's not so good with carving tools and white pumpkins are a little tougher to cut.

 I also attempted caramel corn for the first time. Oh yeah. 

doughnut man

Hayes and I got in the kitchen today and made doughnuts. We tried a new recipe from Food Allergy Mama so Embry could enjoy them with us.
We had fun mixing, cutting, frying and shaking them in cinnamon and sugar.

At one point Hayes asked if he could make a sign for our doughnut shop. After he made it, he headed outside...
I thought he was hanging it on the door. After he was gone for awhile, I went out to look for him. He was sitting on the curb holding his "Open Today" sign.
Cutest thing I have seen in awhile.