Grandma's are the best... and my kids have been blessed with two amazing grandma's! Today my mom came and took the three oldest kids to the children's theater... also known as the "feeder." I love having my mom so close and that my kids are able to have such a close relationship with her! (Not gonna lie... the couple hours with just Tucker and me were a nice perk.)

So thankful for those occasional days when I wake up motivated and ready to clean clean clean! (I'm sure David is grateful for those days too!)

While I was standing in line at the grocery store today I was reading some of the headlines on the covers of magazines. I thought to myself... Man, I'm glad I'm not famous. I can go about and live my life, make mistakes, enjoy my children without being scrutinized by others! That's a pretty awesome thing!

Today I am grateful for my awesome husband!  He likes to think outside the box and I tend to think very much in the box so I think we compliment each other well! He is always coming up with fun things to do... whether it's going to Hawaii for 2 days to go camping or going to a live taping of America's Got Talent! He is such a go getter and lots of things I do reluctantly (always worrying about the kids etc) but am always glad we do! He is amazing!

Today I found this website called Orange Rhino! It's about a lady who took a self-challenge to not yell at his kids for a year. The article I read was about what she learned after not yelling for a year! This article struck a cord with me because: I am a yeller! I don't know how it happened. It was like I started yelling a little, then more, and it became this downward spiral! I hate yelling! I hate feeling how I feel after I do! Mostly, I hate how I know it must make my kids feel! Yesterday I snapped at Aidan(over nothing) and I literally saw the expression on his face turn from concern(about his dinner, which I was well aware of after he had already told me 4 times) to pain(would it have killed me to acknowledge his concern one more time in a calm manner... no!) I once hung a sign on my fridge that said: You're yelling so loud, I can't hear what you are saying! It's true. I yell so much my kids tune me out so I yell louder and clearly it becomes a never-ending battle.

So, why am I writing about this on my blog about JOY. Surly yelling and feeling like a rotten mom is not something that brings joy. But, instead of beating myself up about it... I am renewed. Recommitted! Will I take the challenge not to yell at my kids for an entire year... not sure! (I'm thinking about it) This article was just what I needed today! It reminds me that there are other's out there who struggle with the same things, whose kids tell them they hate them, who are not perfect. And it reminds me mostly that I CAN BE BETTER!

Today was pretty awesome! There were a few things that stuck out to me as being extra cool!

- All the kids were outside with David in the backyard and Tucker was sitting at the back window watching them. He was on his knees  bouncing up and down with excitement. All of a sudden, he put one foot on the ground, reached his arms up higher on the glass, and then just stood. I'm like 99% sure that this was the first time he has done that and I just got to watch him go at it. See... awesome!

-  I was holding Tucker tonight in my arms. All the other kids were in bed and the house was quite. Tucker had been giggling and laughing and of course I was loving every min with my happy little boy! I said, "Tucker say "mama"" and he turned his head to look right at me and said clear as day "mama." You could tell that he knew exactly what he was saying and what it meant.

Today at church... no lie... one of the talks was about finding joy. David and I just looked at each other and smiled because him and I have been discussing this little journey of mine. It was just another affirmation that I'm on the right track!