Love so much it hurts

I don’t know if it’s the weather, or hormones, or sleep deprivation or a combo of all 3 that have made me so emotional today but today I have had three of those “Hurts So Good” moments.

 

The moment your baby wakes in her crib and says “Ma-Ma-Ma” as you walk in to greet her.

 

The moment when your wiry 2 year old climbs on you lap and snuggles in her blanket “nest” as she lists all the people she loves. (Grandma Barnes, Auntie Sadie and Dora rounded out the LONG list)

 

The moment when your (almost) 4 year old say “Mommy, I know what B-A-T spells.  Bat!” and is so proud of his new found reading skills that you can physically FEEL him beaming.

 

The moment when your heart feels so full that it feels it might just burst.

 

The moment when you are nearly moved to tears because of pride, awe, love and thankfulness.

The moment that cancels out all the moments of doubt, regret and self-consciousness.

 

The moment when you feel with every single part of your being that you are doing this right, that your children are thriving and loving and growing.

 

The moment you know what it means to love so much it hurts.

 

It’s amazing and humbling to feel this.

 

And then it passes and you are back to setting “sharing timers,” and cleaning up spills, and breaking up spats, and changing diapers, and worrying about their futures and chugging enough coffee to get through it all. All the while hoping the memory of these moments will keep you fueled through all the muck.  That they will keep you full until the next time their purity, sweetness, and love shines through brighter than anything else. 

These moments are just enough to reassure you to carry on and continue your work as a teacher and a mom because these rewards of a full heart are better than any job could ever pay.

 

So keep calm and carry on.  Your moments of heart-bursting bliss might be just around the corner, waiting to fill you up.

Happy Valentine’s Week

Love is in the air around here.  Valentine’s Day means its mid-February…Which for us Northerners means one month closer to “warmer” weather.  I drove Tanner to school today in –30 degree temps.  Frigid.

But that is neither here nor there. Even sub-zero temps cannot dampen my LOVE-ly spirit this week.

 

For the first time EVER, my kids get to participate in a classroom Valentine party.  I am so excited.  I have been scouring Pinterest for over a month looking for cute printable valentines and decided on these two cute ideas from Happy Clippings.

She’s got tons of cute free printable valentines.

Add some treats, dollar store bags and ribbon and voilà !!

I have these cute treat bags for Tanner and Emmy Lu’s ECFE class.  Don’t you just LOVE them?

Head on over to Happy Clippings to print some Valentine’s for your little loves.

Bursting With Happiness Valentine Link

School of Fish Valentine Link

First Day- February 2014

OK, so I have been a little MIA in January.  But I’m back!!  Here’s our first day!

We had a our first sleepover @ Nana and Grandpa’s house next door.  BIG ADVENTURES.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

I’m always SOOO curious to see what people’s houses look like so I thought I’d share a panoramic of our cozy Northwoods home. So here you go.  This is where our lives take place.

 

 

 

 

Silly me for thinking I could put my feet up and have more than 3.5 minutes of alone time.

 

 

 

 

Paul was out of town this weekend so we headed to DQ for supper. My dad decided to join us and even buy!!  We are so lucky.

 

 

 

Someone snuck out of bed…

 

My exciting night.  I am an HGTV junkie!

 

 

Thanks for taking a peek at our day.

 

Go ahead and head on over to Nicole’s blog to spy into other people’s first day.