This Blog!

Soooooo.........this blog is my only source of creativity. I used to think that I wasn't very creative. I used to think that creativity didn't play much of a role in my life. However, that is changing for me. I think it's especially important for moms. Moms often do mostly for others, their lives often feel mundane and full of habitability. Creativity, no matter what form, lets them feel like themselves which is often a rarity and something we just simply don't have time or energy for. It lets them express themselves in other ways than the role of mother and wife and caregiver and fire putter outer. It's what makes them unique and different and special.

After saying all of that, I don't think my blog is very creative. When I do posts, I'm like a machine! I've learned how to just crank them out which is why I'm pretty good about staying up to date with it. Basically, I look at the pictures I've taken since my last post and pick the ones that will tell my story. I upload those pictures and then quickly and briefly write cliche comments and statements about those pictures. I feel like that's what people want. People are busy, they don't want to actually spend time reading paragraphs. However, I'm not sure why I feel that way because my top 3 blogs (that I read daily) are ones where the women are open and honest. They use these beautiful, powerful things called words to express themselves and their emotions. The good, the bad, the ugly and the amazing. I find myself feeling incredibly inspired, encouraged and so much more at peace and invigorated after reading their posts. Oh, and I literally have 3 pages of nothing but lists of blogs that I love. I try to get caught up on as many as I can whenever I can (which isn't often). I find it amazing that there are these women out there with similar stories, experiences and thoughts as mine. These women are so talented, brilliant and creative! If it weren't for blogs, they'd be secretly tucked away in their homes. What they're able to offer through their words would be lost and that's such a shame. I'm actually a super sensitive, emotional, insightful, interwoven being. I don't express those things because I know many people really don't like that kind of thing. But what's so great about getting older is you learn how to start embracing yourself and accepting yourself too.

I've wanted for so long to be more honest with this blog but haven't been able to break through yet. I'm not sure why I'm so worried because I don't exactly have a following. :) So far, the reason I've continued to go strong on updating this is because I love that it documents my children's lives. It goes by so quickly and it's easy to forget so much of it. I often reminisce and go back through my blog. I can't explain the joy it brings me. I truly hope my children cherish it someday. I want to be more honest and myself so my children will be able to know me through this blog. I would have loved to have known what my mom was thinking as she was raising me. Don't worry mom, I'm absolutely not blaming you here. I'm fully aware you didn't have access to things like blogs.

So here I go! I hope this is the first posts of many like this! Yay blogworld! Oh, and I'm still going to add pictures. The only reason I'm not taking the time to add them right now is because I should be helping Daniel feed the girls dinner as we speak, I have both girls' laundry to do, I need to go to the grocery store right now and I still need to pack for tomorrow's trip to the lake. And this all needs to be done tonight. I still feel blessed though.

Midwest Trip - Day Three!

Day Three – July 4^th

July 4^th started off with a 4^th of July parade in Ohio at Uncle Chris and Aunt Laura's house. Their two little ones are Katelyn and Matthew. I loved that our girls got to spend time with their cousins. This is one of the main reasons I think it's so important to visit our Midwest family. I really want our girls to make memories with their cousins.   

 

 

 

Matthew was so chill through the whole event, while Katelyn was hardcore. It started to rain and Morgan and Matt retreated under cover. Katelyn, however, stayed out in the rain collecting candy.

After the parade, we packed up to head to Daniel’s mom’s house. The Ohio Irwins drove up with us to stay with Grandma Linda too. This was a half way point to Wisconsin where the Irwin reunion (of sorts) was to take place.

I really enjoyed the views as we drove. I even got super nostalgic at one point while viewing beautiful corn fields, Midwest homes, barns and a few horse drawn buggies carrying Amish people. At one point, Bruce Springsteen’s Born In The USA came on the radio. The houses and yards and fields looked like something straight out of the movies depicting Middle America. I especially enjoyed seeing the Amish.

Once at Grandma’s house, we relaxed and ended our night with some fireworks. Daniel did one sparkler with Charlotte and she screamed when it was time to stop. She loved them! I truly love this kind of stuff. 

Midwesterners call soda, "pop".

We drove through many little towns.

I love that Linda's dining room table sits in front of big windows with a pretty view. The kids enjoyed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner.

Look at them all running together. Love this!

Charlotte just loved her Uncles!

Look at poor Morgan's face as she first did a sparkler! I had given her so many instructions, the poor child was terrified.

After a couple more, she got used to them.

Look how cute this is! Daniel and Charlotte doing a sparkler!

All by herself...

There are always beautiful views in Grandma's yard.

Midwest Trip - Day Two!

Day Two – July 3^rd

On day two of our vacation, we headed to Daniel’s Uncle Mike’s house. He and his wife, Gloria, have a beautiful house on Buckeye Lake in Ohio. The lake actually wrapped around their house and their house had huge beautiful windows in every room. I loved the character of the house. It was filled with stuff that looked like had been part of the home for generations. 

 It was a treat being there. We got to see Daniel’s dad, his wife, Daniel’s Grandma, her husband and a bunch more cousins, family and family friends. The girls enjoyed swimming in their pool that was surrounded by the lake. 

Below, Cousin Katelyn and Toby the dog enjoy the pool. 

 Doesn't the below picture epitomize summer for a child? Morgan is soaking wet in a bathing suit, floaties and has ketchup on her mouth from the hot dog she had just enjoyed. 

 Daniel's cousin Tim, nephew and niece hung out by the lake waiting for a storm to pass.

 Daniel's grandma is below in the blue shirt. Love her! 

 Daniel's brother, Chris, and father, Steve, converse below. 

 Their yard was beautiful.

 We didn't yet have a pack and play for Charlotte but came up with this idea instead. It worked perfectly! 

 Daniel and I enjoyed yummy food and adult beverages. Poor Charlotte took a 4 hour nap which allowed me to actually relax! It was heaven! 

 Charlotte enjoys strawberries while snuggled with me.

 She decided to make herself comfortable in the middle of the deck with about 20 people walking around.

We even enjoyed a quick rain storm. I miss those. I, however, don’t miss being sticky and sweaty and smelly thanks to the horrible humidity.