Date after date after date

If you remember just a couple weeks ago, I was at my wits end with day-to-day life. It was hard.

And then, just like parents are supposed to do, they swept in right at the perfect time and saved me. They are renting a house just a couple miles away for the full month of February and it has been awesome. It had been planned for a long time, but it sure was perfect timing.

In addition to the cute grandparents things the girls have been doing: heart-shaped pancakes, home-made Valentines, making cookies together. My parents have been watching the kids while Juan and I get to escape on some fun dates.

First date: San Antonio Temple and Buc-ee's
We finally got to go to the temple together after 2 years of trading off. We were away for 8 hours. Chuy's for lunch, then a temple session, then Buc-ee's on the way back. Not to mention 3+ hours in the car without kids to entertain. Is that a dream? Buc-ee's is this giant gas station that Juan has become obsessed with. And I guess he got me pulled in too because we have to stop there now.

Buc-ee himself.

Date #2: Valentine's Date

We went out on Thursday for Valentine's Day. We went to Pei Wei for dinner, Maggie Moo's for dessert, and Old Navy for shopping. We were only gone a couple hours, but it was the perfect Valentine's date. I love chill. It was so low key and I could have almost worn sweats the whole date, which really would have been ideal. Juan is one lucky guy I tell ya, I'm super glam.

Date #3: Birthday Date with friends!

My birthday was yesterday, so we went out on Saturday to celebrate. We doubled with Kasee and Jason. Kasee picked the restaurant Cover 3 and it was amazing. The reuben sandwhich was the most delicious thing ever. It is calling me back already. And this free birthday dessert they got us, huge! With candied pecans and caramel and hello, what else is there in life? Delicious. We followed dinner with dancing! I wanted to go country dancing. Juan and I went once like 8 years ago and it was fun! We didn't quite make it for the instruction part, so we really had no idea what we were doing, but that's part of the fun! I really loved it. Thanks friends for such a fun date!

I am re-energized. I am a better mom! My parents are really great for wanting to come spend so much time with us and I am so happy that I get to have all these adventures out and about with Juan. We are kind of great together.

And in case you missed seeing the kids, we did celebrate Valentine's and my birthday with them too. Along with other fun things:

 A dance party.

 In which Amelia and I spent way too much time trying to capture her on camera mid-jump.

 My 3 month old Valentine.

For my birthday, Juan got me a new camera! It takes such good pictures and I love it. Maya was a good sport for me as I was snapping pictures constantly all day, and how can I resist her gorgeous eyes:

I love my family. 29th Birthday was my best yet, because of them.

Oscar's blessing day and a visit from family

My brother, his wife, and his 18 year old daughter came in town to visit! Along with my mom and dad, they began their month-long visit (they rented a cute, furnished home a few miles away). So it was the perfect time to bless our Oscar babe. 

 We had a couple 80 degree days, followed by a couple 40 degree days. So our visitors got a perfect taste of Texas summer.

 My mom and dad watched the kids while we went down to San Antonio to see the Alamo and the Riverwalk. 7 hours away from the kids, it was wonderful and I terribly missed them at the same time. I didn't miss lugging a stroller up and down the stairs along the Riverwalk.

And on Sunday, we blessed Oscar in church. Juan gave him a beautiful blessing. Oscar is growing so very fast, I don't want him to grow anymore.

 Love this picture.

 Does he look like me?

 Rachelle was the best with the kids. Bringing play dough and fun treats for them She also would change diapers, load them up in their carseats, be there to hold the hand of one of the girls as I unloaded the car, not to mention sweeping, dishes, picking up. Best house guest ever. She really remembers how exhausting it is to have 3 tiny kids. Thank you dearly Rachelle!

 We saw downtown Austin, there is a tiny skyline of Austin in the background of this pic.

 Thank you visitors! We had fun playing games, late nights with Sadie, and just enjoying each other's company.

 (Amber, is that Veda I see? She was super excited to get in the pictures when we all said good bye, you taught her well.)

 Oscar in his blessing outfit cap that we did not use. Ha! I love it.

 Maya gashed her head open Saturday night. Thank goodness to my friend and neighbor Sara who saved the day and came to steri-strip it closed. It's a tiny line now and almost healed!

 Amelia got to come out with us downtown by herself while the other kids napped. It was such a fun date with her and she felt so special. And when she got home she said, I missed you Maya, give me a hug. And they ran to each other and hugged. Those are the moments that make this mom life pretty darn good.

 And this little guy. He's pretty great.

Mommy Meltdown + pictures from Grandma Rose's visit

Being a mom is really hard. Did anybody ever tell me that? Seriously I don't think anyone ever adequately explained that to me. Maya is 2. And she is having unexplained tantrums. Anything will set her off. And I am so patient, so patient, for the first 10 min. And then I can't handle the screaming. And I become a bear. And then I feel so guilty.

Today is a hard day. And there have been a lot of hard days lately. Three kids, it is tough. I wouldn't ever trade what I am doing for anything else, I love being at home with my kids. But this is reality. It's no piece of cake.

I read an excerpt from one of those articles floating around facebook:
How was my day? Today has been a lifetime. It was the best of times and the worst of times. There were moments when my heart was so full I thought I might explode, and there were other moments when my senses were under such intense assault that I was CERTAIN I'd explode. I was both lonely and absolutely desperate to be alone. I was saturated -- just BOMBARDED with touch and then the second I put down this baby Iyearned to smell her sweet skin again. I was simultaneously bored out of my skull and completely overwhelmed with so much to do. Today was too much and not enough. It was loud and silent. It was brutal and beautiful. I was at my very best today and then, just a moment later, at my very worst. At 3:30 today I decided that we should adopt four more children, and then at 3:35 I decided that we should give up the kids we already have for adoption. When your day is completely and totally dependent upon the moods and needs and schedules of tiny, messy, beautiful rug rats your day is ALL OF THE THINGS and NONE OF THE THINGS, sometimes within the same three minute period. But I'm not complaining. I wouldn't have my day Any.Other.Way. I'm just saying -- it's a hell of a hard thing to explain -- an entire day with lots of babies.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glennon-melton/the-questions-that-will-save-your-relationships_b_4618254.html

That pretty much sums it up.

I do have pictures to share! Of fun times. Be very glad I don't have pictures of the hard times. It would include Maya on the floor screaming, Amelia running up to her room declaring "I'm going to my room. I'm going to go to sleep. And that's it!" (Why doesn't she ever really go to sleep?!) And me, hiding in my room with Oscar, with any type of brownie, cookie, ice cream that I can find.

 We had a visit from Rose, Juan's mom! It was really so great to see her with the kids. She is so good with them. She plays with the girls and loves to snuggle them.

 We went to Torchy's and Rose sat and played with Amelia and her toys Woody and Jessie while we were waiting for our food. What a sweet memory. And she carried my bags and really is just so mindful of the handful our little family makes up right now.

 Oscar loves Grandma Rose! He smiled at her and they shared some really sweet moments together.

 We mostly stayed at home. But Juan did take Rose and the girls to Zilker park to fly kites one afternoon, and a small tour of downtown Austin, not forgetting Gourdough's. 

 It was a memorable visit.

Maya- middle of a meltdown.

 I can't get enough of these pictures of Oscar being so strong. He can hold his head like this for a minute or two before he starts bobbing slowly slowly down, and then gives up entirely. How cute is a baby head bob?

 And now I'm officially cheered up.