Loving the story I'm living now

My blog popped into my head today and I knew I hadn't done a post in a long time, but I had no idea how long it had been. To say the last 6 months was crazy for us would be an understatement. 

Within days of my last post back in May we decided to list our house to sell it, we moved, boys had a busy baseball season, we camped a bunch, we worked a ton, we paddle boarded and swam the summer away, then came the fall with way more sports than we expected and a last minute decision to quit my job and move into something new.

It has been absolutely insanely busy and at times overwhelming, but also so filled with love and memories that I wouldn't change for the world.

Truth Tuesday - putting myself first sometimes does not make me a bad mom

I spent the first 29 years of my life putting myself first and the next 10 putting my kids first. Now that we’re in a new stage of life I’m working hard to find a good balance between the two. I'm finding and making time for me, with daily walks and Aquafit and yoga classes as often as I can get them in while also finding myself more engaged with my kids as well. 

I can truly say that I am the happiest and healthiest that I've ever been since becoming a mom almost 11 years ago. Making time for me makes me a better mom because I have more patience for them and for myself. I can admit that at times I felt resentful for not having any time alone to do things for me. In my opinion, after they are in bed DOES NOT count because by then I'm exhausted and over touched and overstimulated and don't want to do anything for anyone else or myself. Now I don't feel that way at all anymore. Even 20 minutes alone to walk and listen to music and think just clears my head and makes me feel able to tackle the rest of my day and makes me so proud of myself.

There are still days that I don't want to do anything, but by forcing myself to do even just a short walk I'm proving to myself that I am worth the time and effort. I'm so damn proud of myself and how far I've come with my physical and my mental health over the last 2 years. I have worked really hard to become the most authentic and true version of myself. I am loving my 40's so far and am determined it's going to be my best decade ever. 

 

Weekly snapshots of the Barrows family

Now that I've got a new system in place for getting photos onto this blog I am committed to doing more random photo posts with no concern to date order or captions. I take so many photos and so many never get shared. I love these posts just so in the future I will be able to look back and see my kids at every stage of their life. Just like with each of my kids, there are always more of the youngest and far less of the oldest one who tends to do his own thing more and more these days so I'm starting off this post with a photo of him and his daddy at the ball park the other night! 

She is in LOVE with her new dollhouse! Swap and shop win on this one!

FINALLY he is toothless!

Sunday afternoon playdates with Mom and Dad!

Jim and I decided on Sunday to take the afternoon and have some fun with the kids. Jim has been working a bunch of overtime lately and we felt that we haven't had much time to do fun things with them. I took Kennedy to airplane park, then Willingdon beach while Jim took the boys out to Myrtle Point to hit some balls. Then we met up at Putters for some before dinner ice cream :) 

Then we stopped at Nana and Papa's to check out the new gazebo being built on the deck!

Making memories with sunset swimming

On our recent camping trip we found that one of Kennedy's favorite things to do was head to the beach for a before bed swim...usually in her clothes instead of bothering to change into her swimsuit! This spot at Haywire was absolutely beautiful, especially with the gorgeous sun setting behind her.

Beach time dancing girl

Another day and this time Kennedy and Jordie went in in their clothes! 

And on the way back to camp we jump in the huge mud puddle in the trail! She was so happy and truly living her best life getting dirty and having fun!

This time it was swimsuits and a swim with our girls Hads and Kins!

These are the memories I am trying to soak up now that she is growing so fast. So often we find ourselves alone with her while her brothers are off doing other big kid stuff. I am sad that we don't do as much family stuff, but also grateful to have these moments with Kennedy too. Everything is so different with her, not just because she's a little girl, but also because she is our last baby and these moments will be the last of these kinds we get to share with our kids as toddlers. We are treasuring the moments while we can!!