A Quick Picture

I just had to post this picture as a tribute to our anniversary. Picture taken by Mindy, my fav photographer.

Think This is Dangerous?

No? Not dangerous? How about this?

Now I know why that high chair has shoulder straps on it. I even put the tray locked in the closest position to her possible and she still wriggles out, turns around and stands up.

I have to laugh at this because: 1) I have been alone with the kids since 6:30 this morning, I have 14 more hours to go (and possibly another 24 after that), and would cry if I didn't laugh; 2) 2/3 of my children have been crying all day and they are currently crawling all over me, 3) I was insane enough to take the kids by myself to the 8 a.m. church service, where I had the opportunity to hold my crying, clingy 1 year old the entire time (during which I was wondering how much I actually got out of the service); and 4) I'm just happy, after having fed, cleaned and disciplined and baked for three kids, that they are all alive and in one piece.

No one told me how hard it would be to have three small children, it has been a hard year and I really need to look back on this post when I get those crazy fleeting moments of wanting another child. So I will label this post "Don't you dare have another baby. Ever" so it will be easily retrieved.

I have tried a new tactic when I get overwhelmed by the twelfth "Mama! Jude took my toy!". I just say "I'm not taking complaints right now" and it confuses Samuel enough to walk away and forget his woes.

To end on a good note: I dropped Samuel off at the kindergarten classroom. Kindergarten. I have a five year old! What an amazing journey this has been (all kidding aside, I truly love my life and feel incredibly blessed).

Another cool thing about today? It's our twelfth anniversary!! We married when I was 18 and he was 20.