Sick Days Made Fun

     Poor Brayden having a not-so-fun cough, woke up from his nap crying and just needed some mommy cuddle time.  An idea pop into my head of how to take his mind off being sick.  So we blew up the air mattress, rolled out the sleeping bags, ate some yummy popsicles, and watched some home videos!  Then we turned out the lights and read some books with our flashlights.  It helped us all feel better!

     Since feeling all-the-time yucky with my pregnancy, we've lived in "survival mode" or I guess "default mode" where we just try to get through each day. I've been having a difficult time finding as much joy in my role as a mother.  Depending on life circumstances, I think we all go through stages of SURVIVAL MODE at times. We feel discouraged and frustrated or we go bonkers because it seems like we can never get the house clean and organized or even get a meal on the table!  In fact, when I've tried to make a couple meals lately, they've just turned out gross :).  But you know what, WHATEVER, it's okay!!   So this epiphany struck me from this "sick day made fun" that one way I FIND JOY is when I am BEING AN INTENTIONAL MOTHER.  Those creative juices and excited plans to have fun and teach my children - have been stifled for the last couple months.  But, I am excited to try to bring that joy back.. slowly but surely!  Thanks to those brilliant ideas out there on Pinterest, we made this... 

All you do is put food coloring in each muffin tin and then stir in shaving cream!  Brayden got to "paint" the bathtub while Princess Hailey had dress up time.  I was shocked at the easy clean up - just turn the bath water on and wipe it down with a rag.  It didn't even stain anything.  He was so giddy about the whole thing... especially uncovering which color would show up as I mixed each spot.  I finally felt like a fun mom again!

  

I'm also working on making a super simple apron for Brayden.  It's tricky to have one-on-one time with your older ones when you have little babies.  So, when Hailey was taking a nap, Brayden and I made brownies together!  And I ate most of them... chocolate makes any day better!  I have been pretty much an out-of-commission-chef while being with child, but I hope the apron will make it fun for Brayden to "help" me as I try to venture into cooking again.  Whew, I can do this!
WE CAN DO FUN, INTENTIONAL THINGS WITH OUR KIDS... and really those special day to day moments with our loved ones are the essence of what matters most.  It might not be much right now, but I'm giving my family all I've got.