part time

I'm thankful to be home with these girls a lot more now that I'm working part time.  W is in JK, so he goes to school even when I'm off.  It is definitely an adjustment, and some days I feel like I'm trying to work 2 full time jobs instead of being part time.  It is such a different pace after being in such a goal-oriented situation (med school and residency) for so long.  It is hard for me to not measure the success of each day by what I accomplished.  It is hard for me when the house is messier and there's more laundry at the end of each day than when I started, but I am praying that God is accomplishing his work in these little hearts (and mine as well).  

princess dominos: 

feeding her babe while I feed mine (please ignore the mess:)

baby e...turning one next month!

Happy Friday!

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

#survivaltips

I was thinking that if I do keep blogging, I want to add in a few things that help us get through the week.  I'm sure this never happens to anyone else, but there are days when it is nearing six o'clock, there are multiple bigger children whining and a baby crying, and something has to be done about dinner.  Before kids, I either cooked or we went out.  We didn't really eat dinners at home that weren't "cooked".  Now, sometimes I have to throw something together that previously wouldn't qualify as a home cooked meal, and that is ok.  You have do to what you can to do to survive some days.

So, here is a meal you can make in ten minutes even if you have a baby in an ergo (no boiling or draining water, no dishes to hand wash, no opening the oven).  Boom.  Amazing...and the kids will love it.

Microwave (Kraft) Mac and Cheese:

-put the pasta in a microwave safe bowl (pyrex)

-barely cover the pasta with water

-put four slices of butter on top of pasta

-microwave on high for 6 minutes

-add the cheese and a little milk (I don't measure)

-stir

While the M&C is cooking, I cut up whatever fruit we have in the frig and put it on plates.  If we're out, applesauce or mandarin oranges.  If we're out of that, sorry kids, we'll be healthy another day.  Then, I put hot dogs in buns and roll them each in a paper towel.  Microwave on high for 20 sec per hotdog.  I try to get the whole wheat buns and pasta to be a little healthier. Sometimes.  Also, my biggest OCD tendency is that I am terrified of choking, so I cut all the kids hot dogs up.  I even still cut W's in half lengthwise.  HJ thinks I'm nuts, but oh well.

here we go...

I'm not sure if there's anyone out there who will read this, but here we go.  2013 was a wild year, and I fell off the blogging wagon.  I keep going back and forth about continuing this blog or not.  I like looking back and seeing how things have changed and remembering things that would otherwise be forgotten.  So, I'm just going to try it out again and see how it goes.

Last year, I turned 30.  We had baby number three, I finished residency, studied for boards and took them (and passed, hallelujah!), HJ started a new job (same company), and I started a new job.  It was insane.  We are insane.  But, I am looking forward to 2014 as having fewer "new's" and more "same's".  

Here are a few other recent happenings:

H turned three! I can't believe it.  She is so full of life, spunky, and independent.  She loves all things princess and ballerina, and I am getting educated on the girly side of things.  She prefers to sleep in a tutu, too.

And E is now 10 months.  You would think that a third child would bring more chaos to your life, but she has brought only more joy!  She has been the easiest, happiest baby...such a blessing in a crazy year when I needed sleep to study for boards, and God just provided more than I could ever deserve or imagine.  She tries hard to keep up with her older siblings.  She loves to eat and be in the middle of any action that is happening.

 y

 W has gotten so big lately.  He is a serious guy, just like HJ.  He loves to read chapter books, build legos, and most of all dress up.  If we are at home, he is in costume...his new favorites are Max Steel, the Flash, and Triton (Ariel's dad in the Little Mermaid).  He will be 5 this month!

That's all for now...Happy New Year to anyone reading this:)