the latest and greatest

The goodness of March means...

Pinewood Derby preparation at Nana and Pops...

Seeing their race cars in action...

A dehydration trip to the ER for Charlie...

This kid is all better, but it was quite a scare! I wasn't too thrilled with my Fun Time Charlie being out of commission. Children's Hospital knows how to hook a kid up, though and make a trip to the ER fun.

Wishing each of you a Happy Easter!

Much love,
Katie

was it supposed to be like this?

I think I had a Walt Disney version of parenting prior to having my 3 boys.

It took just one day home from the hospital with our 1st born to show me that all my cotton candy visions needed to be chucked out the window.

Frequently, I have to do a check and balance of this motherhood gig. What is my purpose? Am I doing okay or I am a total failure?

Tough days make me question what being a mother is all about even more.

Don't get me wrong. Though there are many special moments like reading favorite stories together at bedtime, baking chocolate chip cookies, and celebrating special occasions that make my motherhood title bold and proud, I know it is much more than that.

This week, being a mother means throw up buckets and Gatorade.

It means looking like a train wreck. Um, do you see my "fine" lines?

(in all my sick kid glory)

They are not so fine, but they are representing motherhood like none other.

So what if my unrealistic expectations vs. reality of motherhood have crashed head on? Does it change my definition of motherhood?

I suggest that it defines me even greater as a mother since motherhood is a journey filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.

Like me, you may ask, was it supposed to be like this?

Yes.

All of it.

Much love,
Katie

blog lovin'

I'll be honest, I'm not sure about the whole google reader vs. bloglovin' shindig that's happening, but if you would like to continue following minivan diva, please click on the bloglovin' link on my sidebar.

How was your weekend, friends? I'm sitting on a bed with a bucket and a sick kid. Fun times. Fun times.

Much love,
Katie

when the fuel is low

There are just times when you have nothing but glimpses of happy to hang on to when the circumstances get to be too much.

Parenting has a way of knocking the wind out of you.

The exhaustion can be too much at times. It does not just take down one, it takes us all down.

It is not forever, but it sure can feel like it.

However, the wind returns. Our lungs expand again. We exhale.

Though trials of tantrums, autism spectrum disorder, and boys that seem to argue more than they get along make me feel like I want to shut down, I stand firm. I refuse to shut down. I am not a shut down kind of girl.

Instead, I fuel myself with what I can. It may not be much, but I absorb it and let it carry me through the rough patches of this parenting journey.

Behold my fuel.

80 degree weather and a make-do pool complete with a diving board...

Painting in swim trunks...

Shadows...

A love bug girl just trying to make sense of it all...

A boy who could teach his mama a thing or two about kicking back.

Random Legos on my counter. I will miss these one day...

Wishing you a week full of fuel, friends.

Much love,
Katie