Sometimes it's just hard

Sometimes being a mom is just plain old hard work.  Today I wanted to just pull the covers over my head and stay in bed all day.  Instead I got up at 4:45 and went to a 5:15 am boot camp workout.  I guess that was the better option.
Seriously though, I've been struggling this week.  I'm not trying to have a pity party or "whoa is me" moment.  I'm not trying to compare myself with others, but I guess in a way I am.  I'm wondering what I can pass down to my daughter. (and even my boys).  There is a family at church that I am absolutely blown away by.  I think to myself "is there anything you can't do"?  All the children are very bright, can play about every instrument out there, can sing and cook and sew and crochet and and and........And that gets me thinking.....what can I pass down to Jenna?  I'm so afraid I am leaving her nothing.  I can barely sew a button on, I can't really teach her music lessons, I can only cook the basics, can barely draw a stick person....so what on earth can I pass down to her, and how can I figure out her gifts when I have a hard time with my own. I am blown away when people see something on pinterest and can run with it.  It doesn't work that way with me.  Sometimes I feel like I'm just a stay at home mom and sometimes I'm not even doing good at that.

Science Fair

There has been a lot of stress in the house.  It's that time of year again.  Science Fair.  It gets so hard with 3 kids and keeping deadlines etc.  The projects are due Monday and I am happy to say that we are done so I can enjoy my weekend:)!!  Josh and Jake did caffeine and the heart rate (they did their own work) and Jenna did tornadoes (had to do a weather related project).  Joshua had to do a paper, log book and poster board.  Jacob also had to do the same thing.  Jenna had to do a paper, poster board and a model of the work. (Jack has to do the finishing touches on that this weekend).  Josh's project is in black and Jacob is in white.

Love is in the Air

Last week was valentines week.  I ate too much!!  We had so much going on and then Jack and I had a short date night on Thursday.  I made M and M blonde brownies and these button treats (perfect combination of sweet and salty).  The girls and I made love bugs (not pictured) butterflies and fish.

Final game

Josh got to start last night in the final game because one of the starters was out.  He played a great game.  He had 4 points, two steals and an assist.  It was a losing season, but a growing one and they played really hard last night and showed great improvement.

cuteness!

How can you have a bad day when you see this?

Please give me advice.....

I am sitting here watching Joshua and his friends playing.  He has some REALLY good friends.  We are blessed with that.  They are playing football, basketball and later will make smores and some hot dogs.  I have a 12 year old boy....a young man.  I'm finding myself having more and more teachable moments with my son.  I'm also finding it hard knowing when to protect him and when to let him just learn things the hard way.  (have you seen that commercial where the mom protects her son during a dodge ball game....that's me:) ).  Maybe I have wrong thinking here, but sometimes I feel that we as Christians think that we can live in a little bubble and protect our kids from the outside sources.  Let me give you to instances.
1)  We played a charter school last night.  Since there were varsity teams playing after the middle school and they also had media there, a big cancer campaign going on, there was a lot of people.  A lot of black people.  Now there were things that I did not like....rap music during breaks....things of that nature, but it was a learning experience for the entire team.  ( I don't think our school knew it would be that bad and I know we will NEVER do this again) While I don't want Joshua involved in rap and things like that, it truly was the real world..... a mission field.  If I sent him to Mexico, China, India, or wherever on a missions trip, he would see the real world.....he just happened to go to Durham!!  I tried to talk to him about how we don't want to live like that, however this was a "mission field" night.  I've always wanted to shelter my kids, but in fact one day they are going to be faced with people who are not Christians.
2) At school there has been a boy that Joshua is not fond of.  He's been calling Joshua and others some names and teasing him a little.  As a mom I want to go into the school and demand he gets kicked out....but where is the mercy?  What if this was Joshua....would I want him to be kicked out?  My teachable moment for Josh is that there will always be someone we are not fond of......a difficult boss, a pesky co-worker....what do we do?  We pray for them!!  We try to love the unlovable (and I still can't get that lesson).  We also realize this kid, though he is in a Christian school probably does not know Christ.  I also told him to be thankful for the Godly friends he does have in his life. So when and how to you start exposing them to what the world is really like? How much is too much? I certainly don't want to keep him in a bubble, but I want so desperately to protect him too. Am I the only one that thinks this way?