THOUGHTS OF A STAY AT HOME MOM.

Someone asked me the other day if I missed teaching. I get asked this question a lot. The answer is no. This is my third year out of the classroom, and I will admit, the first year was the hardest. It was never really our intention for me to stay home just then, we always planned for my days at home to begin when we had baby #2. So I actually went back to work when Nugget was three months old. It was awful. I didn't dislike teaching, not one little bit. But everyday my stomach was in knots and I yearned for my baby girl. The one who was at someone else's house. Growing and learning and changing by the minute. And I was missing it. Someone else was taking care of my baby, and that just didn't sit well with me. I had waited my whole life to become a mother, yet there I was, being a teacher instead. I was back at work for all of three weeks when I had the following two weeks off for winter break. We decided then that I wasn't going back the following school year. We pretty much knew it was a forever, life changing decision, but just in case, I asked for a leave of absence.

While I was soaking up every second living my real dream of being a stay at home Mommy, I also knew the school door was open, waiting for me should I want to reenter.  I wavered more than once. I had after all, gone to school to obtain my degree longer than I actually used it. I felt like I owed it to myself, my dad who paid my way through college, my amazing boss, I don't know who really.

It's a hard thing to do sometimes. To tell that stubborn people pleasing gene to go take a hike. And to not return. Because I always, always, knew where my place was. Once I made that painful leap and officially resigned, it was like the clouds parted ways and then sun shined down on me. I have not regretted that decision a single day in the last two years. Do I miss it? Not really. Do I want to go back? Not right now. Will I go back someday? Probably not. I have learned so much about myself since becoming a mother, and have found many other things that interest and suit me. But if times got tough and I needed to, I can't think of a better job than teaching.

In the end, it all comes down to this. My kids are only little for a little while. And I don't want to miss a thing. Is this job easy? No. But I never expected it to be. Is it rewarding a million times over and then some? Absolutely. I have bad days. I get frustrated. I yell. I cry. Some days I am worn out and stretched thin and overwhelmed. Some days, the grass looks greener on the other side and I think maybe juggling a career alongside motherhood doesn't sound so bad.

But then I look into their sea blue eyes, and I am filled with love. I want to give them the world. I want to be the one who guides them and teaches them, who tends to their joys and sadness. I want to make their days happy, their hearts smile, their tummies full, their boo boos better.

It is hard to balance it all, mostly because I don't have the option to be anything but their mom. I don't have daycare, I don't have babysitters, I just plain don't get a break. I have a husband who is out there busting his butt to help me live out this dream. And while we often disagree on who works harder, who is more deserving of a break, the truth is that we both work hard. In completely different ways. But for the common good of our family. So we just shut up and plug along.

I find my rewards in simple things, like I love you Mama's, chubby little legs hooked around my middle, invitations to read stories, do projects, and play games. Cries in the middle of the night that only I can comfort, a warm little body that slides in next to mine in the morning. Play dates with friends, visits to the library, trips to the park. Washing tiny little clothes and hanging them to dry. Trips to Target. Ice cream. Photos. Blogging.

My life isn't perfect. I don't have it all. But I am happy. And I am grateful. My heart is full.

So to answer your question, do I miss teaching? Not at all. Do I love staying home? With my whole heart. Thank you for asking.

CATCH UP.

I've had these pictures sitting in my blog folder on my desktop for a week now, just waiting to find the time to write about them separately because they are all deserving of that. But it just hasn't happened, so here I sit on this Sunday night ready to play catch up.

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous as of late, but when those rainy days sneak in between the sunny ones, we have fun making pillow piles in the living room and reading stories.

And we never pass up an opportunity to bake.

When the sun shines again, we race back outside to soak up every last drop.

We wasted no time in planting our garden this year. Things are already popping up and we just can't wait to devour its deliciousness.

For the second year, Nugget has her own little raised bed to tend to.

Dude doesn't have his own garden just yet, but that didn't stop him from wanting to help. I think he was a little confused about the timing of when we eat the deliciousness. Clearly this isn't it.

We celebrated Mother's Day much like we spend most of our days. Together. Outside. Taking pictures. A bike ride. A trip to the park. Picnic lunch.

I loved sneaking up on my girl and capturing these sweet pictures of her. Wish I would have had a zoom lens on, but they are still sweet as pie.

But then I got busted and she ran away...

Doodey learned how to blink on command and it's so darn adorable. We've been working on animal noises this week and so far he's learned how to growl, baa like a sheep, and make an elephant noise/sign. It's so much fun to see him soaking things up.

And lastly, one night this week while Daddy was working away on our bathroom project in our house that was eighty nine degrees, we snuck out to get ice cream. Daddy definitely got the short end of that stick.

More Slavik family fun to come. Have a great week!

WE WENT TO THE ZOO.

Last week we enjoyed a visit to the zoo with some fun friends.

 Alice, Abbey, Nugget, Brother and William.

Nugget really likes playing with Alice, and on this particular day we also got to enjoy her older sister, Abbey. What a treat. They are seriously some sweet girls.

It was a great day to explore the outside areas of the zoo, and even go all the way down to the farm, which I think was every one's favorite. Except for when one of these crazy creatures spit in Alice's face.She was saving her special goat food for the little babies, and that made a big one mad. So it spit in her face. For reals. Poor girl.

She recovered gracefully, and we continued to visit all the creatures before enjoying a picnic lunch.

It was so, so , so much fun and tuckered my kids out. So much so that they slept all the way home. Bonus! Love days like these!

ALL THAT JAZZ.

My sweet little Nugget girl has completed her first year of dance! I was really excited for her to begin this adventure, but I also had my reservations. Turns out I had nothing to worry about, as she has absolutely loved it. She looks forward to her Saturday morning class all week long, dances everywhere she goes, and has made some new friendships while deepening others.

Two weekends ago, she had the dress rehearsal for her first recital. Let's just say it was a little chaotic and overwhelming for a three year old and a first time dance mom, but we survived.

She didn't get to watch any of the big girls dance before going on stage to practice her own ballet routine, and that's where the overwhelming part came in. She didn't really understand what this was all about, nor what she was supposed to go out there and do. My poor little love. At least she wasn't the only one.

With that out of the way, we got to sit back and watch the rest of the first act, and oh my goodness, she was in awe. She completely perked up, was excited to do her tap dance, and carried that one out with much more enthusiasm.

***

Fast forward to this Saturday, and it was time for the real deal. We weren't able to go to class during the week due to both my kids catching a nasty virus, so she hadn't danced at all since the rehearsal. I was worried about that.

They were the first dance after the opening production, which again proved to not mix well with my slow-to-warm-up girl. So it didn't really surprise me when she spent the entire ballet dance, Call Me a Princess, like this:

But I was still proud of her for staying out there. I was one of the group leaders so I was just behind the curtain watching, and I was half expecting her to run off stage to me, but she didn't.

There was plenty of down time until they danced again, which was lots of funfor the girls and helped Nugget bounce back.

 The Wednesday and Saturday classed combined for the recital, ages three to five years.

 Friends, Abby and Nugget.

 Abby, Nugget, and Emily.

Friends since wee little babes, Abby, Nugget, Olivia.

When it was time for her tap dance, The Lion King, Sister was ready to rock it. I'm sure my bribe of a chocolate shake from "Old McDonald's" didn't hurt either.

I was beaming from ear to ear on the side lines. I knew she loved to dance, and I'm so happy she decided to let everyone else see that too.

There was lots more time to kill before she was to take a bow in the finale, so Nick and I swapped kids for a bit, allowing her a chance to watch some of the dances, and also say hi to her grandmas who came to see her.

I made good on my bribe, and afterwards we got a little treat at good ol' Micky D's.

And yes, despite the cookie pictured here, she did indeed enjoy a milkshake.

It was a fun day, an experience that I am glad we both have under of belt. We'll take a just-for-fun class mid summer, then resume again in the fall.

Bravo to you and your first year of dance, my little Nugget girl!

BLACK AND WHITE.

I love black and white photos, although I tend to always chicken out and stick with color. Which I think I have backwards. Color is more daring, black and white is more classic. Right? Well anyways, I saw this idea from the sweet Alyssa Ann, and thought it sounded fun. If nothing else, it forced me to play around with my new camera, which I still haven't really done. I love how these moments were captured, and the best part...no editing!


Favorite garage sale finds so far this year? Duplos and Lincoln Logs.

Seriously a mess.

A trip to town for ice cream.

The boy loves to eat. What more can I say?

Gerber Graduates Crunchies = Baby Crack.

The frog is back (under our hot tub cover). Gross yet fun. We like to hear him during the day, and man, is he loud!

Want to try this too? So simple. In your menu settings, go to Picture Style, then select Monochrome. Play around and have fun!