Truths

 The last few weeks have felt crazy.  I keep telling Chad that from the minute I wake up to the minute the last child goes to bed there is constant whining, crying, yelling, screaming, needing, begging, complaining, mess making, etc etc etc...  Sometimes my ears are literally ringing at the end of the day.  And sometimes (ok most times) my nerves are a shredded mess by about....ummm breakfast.  Well, I have been giving the matter some serious contemplation and prayer and this week I  learned (re-learned actually) an important truth of motherhood.

Truth:  The kids and I have much happier days when we get out of the house and have an adventure

Most moms would say, "well duh Mary" but really I had gotten caught up in trying to get things done around the house and focusing too much on my to do list than making quality time for my family.  I know there has to be a healthy balance between work and play, but we needed some serious fun.  So this week we've gone shopping for school clothes (who knew my kids LOVED the mall?), camped out at spray parks with friends, painted and chalked the sidewalk, and yesterday we spent the entire day at the beach!

Best parts of the day:

 

Playing soccer in the waves with Jack (I was holding Lucy in my arms while we played and she could not stop giggling!  She loved it

.

Hunting for giant clam shells with Marian

 

Helping Lucy experience her first skinny dip in the Atlantic ocean! (don't worry, she was the only one skinny dipping).  I had to get all the sand off her and what else could I do?  She loved it by the way.

Being with friends

We had to keep moving "camp mom" as the tide came in but we had so much fun.  It is amazing what moms can do together...many hands make light work.

Time outs, grumpy kids and a frustrated mom were replaced with:

digging in the sand

  happy faces

and a pleasant mostly scream free day.