What's in your memory box?

My six year old wanted to go through her memory box tonight.  I had heard of making a memory box a long time ago and thought it sounded like a nice idea so every now and then I add things to the kids' memory boxes that I think are, well, memorable.  I feel a little stuck with those boxes though because I don't want to add too much stuff that by the time the kids are 8 there is no more room to add stuff and I don't want to not add enough stuff that I regret not saving something. 

So what is really memorable?  What are the important things that when you open up the box, you can look at it and say where it is from or why it is special?  I also have to admit that my oldest child's box will have the most items in it because I had more time to think about adding things where as now, I am just happy if I know where the box is!

I'm not really sure what is most important to be saved but here are some of the things that I try to have in each kiddo's memory box:

baptismal candle and towel
outfit they came home from hospital in and hospital hat
outfits from milestone pics (3,6, 9 mos, etc.)
xmas cards starting with the first one they were in
hospital bracelets/certificates
first birthday balloons
a special first birthday card that I write for each child's first birthday
yearbooks

I don't know if this is enough or too much but for now, I guess, it's manageable.  For each child I have a scrapbook for their first year of life and a photo collage for their first year.  I also have a school scrapbook with two pages for each school year.  I put some artwork and the report card in between the two pages.  I have only done this with my oldest so far since she has been the only one in school but I hope that I will be able to keep this up for all of them.  Memories are so wonderful and having things around that can help jostle those memories to life is vital in a digital world.  I am also really excited to have tons of pictures and videos to refer back to as well but having something tangible to hold to remind you of a place in time is priceless!

So what do you/would you put in your child's memory box?

Thanks for reading!

Busy Mommy Blogger

What do I do by myself?

I went to church today BY MYSELF!  This might not sound like a big deal but in our family it's pretty rare.  My husband was going to church with his mom for a mass being offered for his father and since the baby would be napping at that time, I went on my own before he left.  Ummm....I am so used to having a kiddo with me that I really don't know what to do when I don't have one with me!  Lol.  I found myself rocking side to side when it was time to stand.  Like my body is so used to rocking a baby that it is just trained to continue to do so even if I don't have a baby! 

When it was time to sit, I didn't quite know how to sit still, I'm so used to having someone on my lap, off my lap, under my arm, in my hands.  So when I'm by myself do I cross my legs?  Where do my hands go?  I feel so awkward without a little one to futz with!  I must not be the only one either because after church several people came up and asked where all the kiddos where!  The lady behind me laughed because she could see me moving all through church.  Oh man, good thing kids slowly grow up so we can get used to them not needing us as much rather than having to go cold turkey like I did today!

What do you find yourself doing when you are not with your kids?

Thanks for reading!

Busy Mommy Blogger

He's so CUTE!!

I just can't handle how adorable my two year old is right now!  He is just so precious and has this amazing little twinkle in his eye.  It's funny, but when I am around him, he just immediately puts me in a good mood.  He's absolutely hilarious.  He is really into football right now so his favorite game is to run around the basement while I throw a football to him and if he catches it, I get to tackle him. 

I love that he has figured out that he has language and words and that his words are powerful, that when he uses his words he can communicate.  It has opened up a whole new world to him and because of that, he never stops talking.  He literally talks from the moment he wakes up till the moment he goes to sleep.  I love all his little catch phrases.  "I no see it."  "Wha you doeen momma?"  "I no do it, it to hah (hard)."  "Fah, Sah, Ha Spa, men (Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Amen)."

I really could go on and on but you can't really get the full effect without hearing it anyway.  I'm just so thankful to have this little light in my life.  My two year old has this special gift and I have people come up to me on an almost daily basis to comment on his gift.  I am so excited to see how his gift serves him in the future. 

It's so neat too, to see the older kids melt when they are around my two year old.  At night after we tuck the big kids in bed, he always has to go potty one last time.  When he is done, he goes back into the big kid's room to give kisses, hugs, say I love you, and say goodnight.  When the kids get out of school they are so excited to see him and tell him all about their day.  I love the mischievous little grin my two year old has or the twinkle in his eye that lets you know he is up to something.  I just love the innocence and preciousness of a two year old.  I am really thankful for him, as well as all of my children.  They all have special and unique qualities that make our family so beautiful.  I love how different they all are, it's like having an amazing fruit salad.  Alone all the fruit is great but together they make an incredible combination.  I love my fruit salad!

Thanks for reading!

Busy Mommy Blogger

Hooray for my four year old!

I am so proud of my four year old today!  He had a great day!  I know this really shouldn't be news but if you were in MY house 24/7, you would understand why it is.  My husband and I are working so hard to praise my four year old, which sounds easier than it often is.  I should really clarify here, and anyone who has a little boy can probably empathize.  My son is a typical little boy.  I used to think that was a cliché, to talk about how wild and crazy and energetic boys are, but now I know it's the TRUTH! 

My four year old isn't naughty (I hate that word anyway), he is just incredibly impulsive and active.  There is no contemplation about behavior and consequences.  You can tell him "no" while he is doing something and he will continue to do it until your voice is either resonating from the rafters or you physically remove him from the area he is in.  Neither of which I prefer to do.  I would prefer to say "no" less than a dozen times and have him listen but I suppose that would be like living in a utopia....

Anyway, he just started 4K so we are working really hard with him to calm down and consider the consequences of his behavior.  We are trying to find the good things he does as often as possible and making sure that he has a consequence when his behavior is disruptive or mean.  My son really responds to positive reinforcement (what kid doesn't!) so I don't care what it is that he does, if it is something I can praise him for, I will.  Things are so hit or miss with him too, you never know which way his behavior will go!

The wonderful thing about him is that he is really so sweet.  He is incredibly helpful and the first one to volunteer when there is a job to be done.  I love seeing him help his little brother too, it makes my heart swell!  Some days are so exhausting trying to keep up with my four year old.  Some days are so frustrating too, like when you feel you can't have him play with anyone because he is just being too rough.  But today, I felt like Goldilocks because everything was "just right".  What a nice feeling to sit down at the end of the day and know that you got to have an awesome night with a little boy who is trying to figure out how to make more good choices than bad choices.

Thanks for reading!

Busy Mommy Blogger

I'm right where I am supposed to be!

I love staying at home with my two little ones.  It is busy having the big kids in school but I am so thankful that my four year old has adjusted well to starting school and I think my oldest enjoys that he shares that part of her life now too.  It makes it easy for me to just relish my job as a SAHM.  I LOVE my job.  I literally feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be.  I love getting up and seeing the huge smile on my two year old's face and when he asks me every morning if the dog is in his room, it makes me laugh.  I love knowing my kids so well because I am the one who sees their needs and meets them. 

My husband is so wonderful and always gushes about what a great mom I am, which is great because I mostly see the areas that I need to improve!  Besides, being a SAHM is not a job that gets rewards or accolades and most people think I just stay at home.  I will never get a raise and there will never be a banquet acknowledging my hard work and dedication.  I will never get an advanced degree or be able to be a role model for co workers.  If staying at home is not satisfying for you because you feel it is not your calling, you will not be content staying at home.  I believe that with whatever vocation someone chooses though.  So anyway, as my husband is asking me how I do it every day, I stopped and thought and finally responded, "It's easy.  It just....flows.  Things just feel right and I can feel a force guiding me as I go through my day.  It works because this is what I was born to do, this is what I was destined for." 

Ok, I know this is deep and highly philosophical, but haven't you ever had a time in your life where things just weren't working out?  Where you put in the work and it was so hard and maybe you got the right results but it felt more like being in the wave pool than the lazy river?  I don't feel like I'm swimming upstream everyday.  Like I said, things just sort of flow, I do feel like I'm floating along down the lazy river.  That certainly doesn't mean that I'm laying around doing nothing, it just means that while I may look like a chicken running around with it's head cut off, inside I feel like a cool, calm, collected mommy doing what needs to be done for my little ones, around the house, etc.  It's a nice feeling.  There's nothing I would change, except maybe another little one to look after........

Thanks for reading!

Busy Mommy Blogger

P.S.  I'm trying to build a community of other mommies from Wisconsin so if you are one, please check out and join my community Wisconsin Mommies!