Learning to Shoot

Benny has insisted for the longest time that I learn to shoot our gun so about a month ago we went out to his mom's house and had some target practice. Jake went with us and got to shoot Roy's 22. I am not a huge fan of weapons but thought I should learn just in case. Here are a few photos of our day. PS I'm not a bad shot! (at least that's what Benny tells me)

Family pic

Ryan Klintworth is starting a photography business and was taking some pic's outside when he snapped this one of us! I love it

Defeat

Today has been one of those days were you just feel defeated by all things "mommy". I am so blessed to have the boys and I WOULD NOT trade it for anything but there are times when I wonder why God thought I was capable of "teaching, training and rebuking" two small little humans. Before having Bennett I was worried that I wouldn't be able to handle 2 well but for the most part it has been great. God has really blessed us with pretty easy going kids but now that Pax is talking/running/ wanting to go outside I find myself torn. EVERYDAY Pax wants to be outside playing when Bennett is down for his mid morning nap and I don't know what to do, wake him up or make Pax stay in and play.?.?.? It's hard because we live around many bouncing boys who are out in the yard playing and pax can see them from our window so I consistently hear "mom I want to play" "go out and play with boys". It literally breaks my heart some days and others its just an opportunity for me to grow in my character because I'm so annoyed at the 100Th time of hearing "i want to go out" and not being able to take to him that I want to scream (but I don't). Today though I have felt more defeated by the monotony of our everyday and seeing Pax look as though he is bored out of his mind, that it has made me feel like I'm failing him some how. He is such a bright little boy so I want to continue to give him creative opportunity to learn but I also want to be a good wife and have meals cooked and the house in some kind of order. Lately I have found myself super anxious when I sit down to play with Pax or read to him because all I can think about is the next thing that "needs" to get done on my list. This is a problem because I should be enjoying those moments with him. I know some of you reading this are laughing and saying one of two things.... I know how she feels or Don't sweat the small stuff. I know I know It seems so petty to worry of such things, dishes will get done and dinner will get made (even if it doesn't hit the table until almost 7 some nights). I just needed to vent a little bit about how my role as wife, mother, house keeper, organizer, potty trainer, diaper changer, nurser, cook etc has felt overwhelming today. I so want to do a great job at this thing called motherhood and I feel honored that God has given me two sons. If any of you read this and have some suggestions for creative at home things to do with toddlers pass them my way! Sincerely one of those days:)

Paxton's Elmo Party

Family photo! I can't believe that my sweet little boy is 2!

They love eachother! Truly Pax talks about Edy everyday.

enjoying some cake

getting ready to eat some cake but the candle went out before the birthday boy got to blow it out. We quickly re-lit it.

The adults loving on the babies

Caleb

The Kids coloring their elmo pages

Pax deep in thought about his color choices

Finished product! We had a great time making it.

We started the morning icing 70 cupcakes which I regretfully don't have a pic of and then we decorated the cake. Thank you melissa G. for helping me make the elmo cake. It turned out wonderfully!

Can it be....

I can hardly believe that our little Bennett will be four months old in only 12 days. He is such a funny little guy. We just introduced the bouncer to him and he LOVES it!

Only 4 more days!!!

In only 4 more days we will get Pax's cast off. We are so excited!!

We POOPED in the POTTY!!!!!!!!

Yes you read that right. Pax finally pooped in the potty. Its been 3 weeks since we began our potty training journey and he has yet to poop in the potty but today we turned a corner!!! He mastered the peeing in the potty after only 5 days but we have had more poop accidents than I like to remember. This afternoon, after eating ALL of his lunch, he stood hesitantly at the door of the bathroom. I quickly sat Bennett down and we rushed to the potty, just in time might I add. I told him to push and out it came. I think it surprised him because he looked at me with those big blue eyes and said "mommy" with a worried look on his face. I assured him that he was OK and praised him BIG BIG time for going #2!!! We did a little jig after we got up and flushed it down and now he is sitting on the couch watching his beloved "Finding Nemo", which daddy had told him he couldn't watch again until he went poop poo in the potty. You better believe right after he went, before he even got off the seat, he said mom I watch nemo :). This kid remembers everything we say. I love it though!!! What a morning. Now I'm off to get a root canal :)

Happy Tuesday