Accepting the season of life you're in...

...I think I am struggling with this...maybe I always have.

I have a busy toddler.

I take him everywhere. 

He has no choice. 

I do have a choice. 

I said when he was born that I'd spend every moment I could enjoying him.

I feel I have failed at that b/c I could not let myself let go of other things. 

There are many instances of this.  The biggest one is that I just don't stay home enough.

I could skip school functions for the other kids.

Yet, I don't.

I think in my head, I don't do this b/c I don't want them holding those things against their baby brother (for keeping mom away) or maybe they would hold this against me.  Who knows if this is true or not.

But, I have definitely let myself and my baby boy down and I want to change.

I get upset with him b/c he's not "easy" in public.  He never sits, he's always extremely loud, and sometimes he just unruly and unmanageable.  But I cannot blame him (and I don't).  He's 17 months and rarely gets to nap in his crib and rarely gets mommy all to himself. 

Today he stood by the front door and held onto the door nob and yelled "out" at me over and over again until I let him out. We walked outside in our pj's for awhile....his toddler hand in my mommy hand.  I loved it.  He loved it.  I said to myself after "why have I not done more of that?".  Why do I feel so pulled to be the super mom in other areas that I don't enjoy the simple things more...that I don't just let life be simple sometimes.

I think that's what I really want this summer to be about.  Not so full of "stuff" like camps and busyness (b/c honestly who cares about that stuff!)...but why not enjoy the little things like going out for walks whenever you want, stay in pj's all day b/c you can and just have no plans all day b/c you can!  Tonight Logan played in the rain at the ball field...everyone was running to their cars and we stayed behind and let him play in the muddy water...he loved every second...pure glee in his eyes).  I forget sometimes that amidst the older kids, I have a toddler who needs to be a toddler and nothing more. 

I love you, little loud crazy Logan.  You are such a good boy and I hope you know your mama loves you and loves your busy ways even though they are exhausting.  Watching you walk and run and scream and laugh is such a gift.  I cherish this season of life I'm in with you b/c it's my last one like this.  I don't want to forget any of it.  Sometimes I think I almost wish it away for "easier times" when you're more independent...but then I will miss you holding your arms up for me and wanting to be held only by me.  I need to immerse myself more in this season of lie and not wish for "easier times".

On a side note...what were we thinking when we thought "taking a 5 hour train to Chicago with a toddler" would be fun.  Pray for us this weekend.  6am on a train with a busy boy might be slightly interesting. :)

Summer is nice :)

Today officially started summer vacation for us....no more parties to plan, no big projects hanging over our heads (school-wise, that is)....tomorrow will be even better. I have absolutely NOTHING to do all day!  Sounds heavenly to me!  I could definitely get used to summer! 

Nothing real exiting to say except that we are down to three kiddos tonight...both Ash and Shelb are at a double sleepover.  It's Ashley's first one so I hope she does ok!  Shelb will be there to comfort her (hopefully she'll step up to the task if she needs to!).  So it's just the biggest sis and the boys home with us tonight.  Weird.  I love having nothing on the sched after today.  We did have a very full day of church and grad parties, but we actually sat at little, talked about our upcoming vacations and summer activities, and ate a real home-cooked meal and are now on our way to bed before 9?!  This is the life I often dream about! :)  Bliss!

Ooh La La/Eiffel Tower Spa Party is Complete!

It is finally time for REST in the Steg household. And summer can now officially begin!  The ooh-la-la Parisian Spa Party was a super success this morning. Shelb and her 7 friends had a grand ol' time getting pampered.  Dylan was our "ticket" taker at the "gate" as the friends arrived on the "plane" to Paris.   Hailey was on spa staff with mama.  Daddy was on cheese fondue duty.  And Logan was on nap duty (thank goodness!).  Ash was also a big helper. :)  It was a good ol' time of foot soaking, pedicures, banana-avacodo-yogurt face masks (with cucumbers eyes!), lots of special goodies and drinks, and then Mary Kay make-up fun!  But, never was I so happy to see noon come along and have the party be over.  Unfortunately we were running errands and running kids to games and friends' houses and grad parties so we are just getting settled.  But, boy-oh-boy will bed feel good!  Yay for summer!

Just what every "1st day of summer" should involve...

...making a big ol' cake, of course! haha :)

We are gluttons for "party punishment" in the Steg house, but I can happily say that I am DONE making cakes til September!  Whohoo!  The Paris/Eiffel Tower cake is ready to go for the big oh-la-la-spa party on Saturday morning!

So, yes, we were partying in the kitchen here on the first day of summer.  I think I actually heard the word "bored!" uttered by Dylan. And he actually happily jumped at the chance to clean the bathroom and vacuum the stairs.  Wow...I could get used to more "bored" days! haha :)  I think there was actually a fight over who could get the mail!  That was the excitement of the day! :)  The best part of the day was Dylan coming downstairs wearing Logan's shorts.  I won't make fun of him, b/c he cried a lot once he realized they weren't his.  He was pretty embarrassed. I was just impressed a size 10 kid could wear a size 2 shorts!  He should get an award for that!  But, it was a good day just b/c we didn't have to leave the house at all.  Kev did violin duty and now we are even on a break from that til mid-June.  Breaks are nice!  Tomorrow will be clean-the-house and party prep day...wish us luck b/c we'll need it with Hailey (my babysitter) gone at Holiday World for the whole day!  Special "don't get into trouble" prayers needed for Logan who has now decided the fridge is his best friend and he likes to get stuff out and hide and eat/drink it.  He is such a busy guy! :) 

Goodbye School...Hello Summer!

Hallelujah...that day has finally come!  The LAST day of school!  If I had more energy I'd be doing a happy dance right now.  Instead I'm planning a bday party. Who does that on the last week of school.  No one should, but apparently I didn't know that!  Dumb. 

At any rate...one thing checked off the list...no more school til August 4th...no more homework til August 4th...no more running around like chickens with our heads cut off til August 4th.  Oh wait...that part might not change. :)  But it was a full day of last day of school fun...Hays pretty much loafed off at school.  I think they played games most of the day.  Best part of the day was the cheese truck arriving (a Batchelor Middle School last-day tradition). Any truck that can house cheese sounds like a good idea to me. She got mac and cheese type sandwich.  Yummers!  And D and S...it was field day for them.  Lots of outside/water fun.  I still remember track and field day for me back in the FLCS days.  I think my specialty was the long jump. I got lots of blue ribbons for that.  Those were the days!  I saw part of field day today and it looked like my Shelb and Dyl were having fun!  I was crazy enough to get out our old pool and set it up in the front yard for the kids when they got off the bus. It was a HOT day so well worth the nice cold water to jump in. All Loggy wanted to do was eat popcycles. I think he ate 5 of them.  He's such a busy boy. We were all smiles at 4:15 when we knew it was all officially over.  The celebration was short-lived only b/c we had to race off to violin and baseball!  

So....IT is done!  Hurrah for another school year checked off the list.  I really didn't think this day would come back in January when we were snowed in.  But yay for the last 4 months going by quickly!  Now it's on to a fun summer...and then Kindergarten, 3rd and 5th grade and high school!

A Day of Graduation and Growing...

My oldest and my youngest...one graduated middle school today (well, yesterday since I am posting late)...one turned 17 months.  Time is flying at warp speed...it-must-slow-down!

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day from the Steg Fab. Five!  We had a wonderful day on the lake/boat with Nina and Poppy Stegs.  Just perfect weather and lots of relaxation, wonderful food cooked by Nina and Poppy...and fun times on the lake.  Wish we didn't have 2 more days of school left to think about, but could be worse...at least we didn't have more snow days than this and are done before June!  The end is in sight! :)