Painful Loving

Sometimes (like tooo-day) I feel like I am going to loose my friggin' mind!

How in the world could 4 little people drive one momma to the madness? 

Well... Sadly, it's just way to easy peasy...

It started off with a whole mug of coffee being spilt on our new living room rug. And the engine only picked up steam from there. The kiddos saying "mom, mooom, MOM" like every 2.5 seconds didn't help either. 

And then, Hope finding the toilet for the 3rd time in an hour, because one of the miniatures left the bathroom door open AGAIN was a for sure tipping point. 

But then, the play fighting that seems like such a good/fun/occupying idea at the time ended up (like ALWAYS!) with tears streaming down my 2 boys faces and fingers pointing at the other saying: "He hit me!" Which makes me just want to scream: Isn't that the point of play fighting! And for the record play fighting should really be called make-mom-crazy-fighting, which should never take place in our Boda household even if for a few heavenly minutes it seems like the best game on the planet.

But, I think what really had my mind a fumin' was that I just wanted to get stuff done today and no matter how hard I tried the kids needs interrupted that "stuff" from getting anywhere near being done. 

Honestly, most days my stuff can wait and I am happy to do it in between diaper changes, snacks, meltdowns and the like, but today I really wanted to do my thang. Like for instance, get my house totally set up the way that I want it, pictures hung and all. Sit and drink a cup of coffee for 30 minutes. Okay, okay I know not going to happen for the next seven years, but I would have just settled for a brief 5 minutes of sipping in peace. I really wanted to make a phone call to a friend that I have been dying to touch base with. And, shopping for a new pair of skinny jeans that my wardrobe is so in need of was at the top of the list.    

It's days like today that make me stop and think: Man, this mom vocation thing is really tough. I mean HELLO, a mom is always, always giving of herself entirely for her children, even still my mom does this for her 7 grown children (me included). A mom's job never stops. The times that we can just shut off for a day or even an hour are next to none. And most of us, we do this because we love the heck out of our kids and when it's all said and done there is nothing else in the world that we would rather be doing. 

But sometimes, like today, when I am going through the motions of "doing" just because I have to, the joy of being a mother seems to fade away and it all just becomes a chore. 

In my heart I know that God has entrusted me with the best job on the planet. And as silly as it may sound, He does not want me to peel and slice Isaac's apple just exactly exactly so, simply because I have to. Or to watch Hope toddle around and make sure she doesn't put every inedible thing in her mouth, just because it's my job. But God wants me to choose to do those things with love, out of love and for love. Just like He chooses to watch over me every hour of every day, not because He has to, but because He loves to. 

So, in the midst of the tough calling that God has given me and all of us moms, I know that it is only through the loving that I can even begin to really give of myself. And though the days can sometimes be really hard and bedtime doesn't seem to come soon enough, I do love it, because I love my kids and I love my Jesus. 

Yes, today was a hard day for me and none of my stuffing got done, but I made it and so did all of you!

I am just praying that tomorrow I don't simply go through the motions of being a mother because I have to, but that I love and love hard because I want to.

what they said...

Before school one morning...
Isaiah: "Hey Mom, can you put some Jello in my hair?"
I think you mean gel, dear. 

While randomly surfing my phone looking for some good scoop...
Matt: "I have to say looking at your text messages are just so boring. They all say the same thing-- 'I'm so sorry I haven't called you back in 3 weeks.'"
Yes, I am boring... And yes, calling people back is not my strong point to say the least. Both of which I am so glad he discovered after we were married!

Grace: "Mamma, Zah and Doggie (Isaac) are trying to climb on the ruuf (roof)."
Me: *eye squint* "Huh? What?"
Me: *eye squint*
Then I ran out the door to see what the heck was going on. Seriously, how I ever get dinner made is amazing. So yes, I am A-MAZ-ING for making dinner every night (or every other or 3 times a week, same diff).

Matt, being totally serious: "My Facebook page is blowing up. In the past hour I have 6 new friends!"
Totally blowin' up, Babe.

After telling Grace that I had a belly ache...
Grace: Moms, my lipstick will make it all better.
*sigh* If only life were that simple.

While trying to find my way around Tampa, Isaiah says to me:
"Mom, don't you know I am like am like a GPS. Just ask me and I will tell you how to get there."
Sadly, at only 7 years old, he does seem to know his way around better than I do.

Grace every night before bed...
"I want to wear my diaper and belly button to bed."
As you wish, my little one.

As Matt was trying to dress Hope in her pj's for bed...
Matt: "How is it that I have been totally defeated by a 10 month old."
Yea, I have to admit it was great entertainment to sit back and watch Hope destroy her dad in the battle of getting her pajamas on!

Somehow Matt and the boys managed to put these puppies on her though.

Grace: "Momma, I love you as much as I love your makeup."
In her little world this is actually like the greatest compliment that she could give me. So thank you my Gracie girl and I love you more than your makeup! 

Matt: "Babe, don't take this the wrong way... because I am not saying that I don't like your glasses, but don't you think you are due for a new pair...like a new stylish pair... Just saying."

Yea, maybe he is right. I have had these bad boys since 1997. 

What do you think?? Help this 'no sense of real fashion' momma out!

7 Quick Takes: Don't do it

Joining Jen for some 7 Quick Takes: Vacation Style! 1. The past couple of days we were blessed to be able to head north for a little family vacay to sunny Orlando. It was super nice to just be away with de munchkins, Mags (my sister), and Matt.  But really, is it ever truly vacation when young kids (x4) are involved? Maybe not, but it is always vacation when my wonderful husband is around for 3 full days and not answering his phone or making a business call even once in my presence. Now that was lovely, simple lovely. 

Mags with 3 of our littles. 

2. Awhile back when I was like 180 pounds preggo with our sweet baby Hope, we took the kids for an outing to the Bass Pro Shop. For my boys walking through this ginormous store full of everything boy, fishing and gathering is the equivalent to Disney World. (Seriously, why take your kids to Disney, when you can go to Bass Pro for free.)  So, while walking through this haven a super nice lady was selling trips to Orlando. In my mega pregga state her vacation stand was like a big fatty cheeseburger, fries, and oreo milk shake just begging me to eat, eat, eat (or buy, you know what I mean). So, we did and were super excited about our promised 2 nights and 3 days at the awesomest resort with pools galore and food at your service for only $125. (Plain and simple my heaven is a hotel room with room service.) AND on top of that $100 in gift cards. Pshht, no brainer, right? The only thing you had to do was listen to a 2 hour presentation about the resort. No problemo, where do I sign... 

The day we bought our vacation package. 

Their rides at Bass Pro Shop. 
3. Now fast forward to a week ago when I found the package stuffed away in my night gown drawer, that never gets touched because I don't wear night gowns. I look at de folder and realize that we have like uno month until it expires! So now I start dialing the number and praying they can give me the only dates that will work for us, which is like the next day (planning in advance are words that don't breach my everyday life). Well, God was looking out for his little girl (me) and they said we could come! 4. So a day later we arrive at our resort destination, but check in isn't until 4pm. 3days my arse! Since when was a day considered to start at 4pm. Anyways, no biggie, moving on (kind of)... Our "first day" (starting at 4:30) was good. We swam, played splash bball, enjoyed the kiddos, and explored our new little apartment size room. 

5. Day Two: We start the day off by letting the kids have popsicles for breakfast, making us the the most awesome parents around. Then we head out to enjoy the pool once again. At 11:30am, though, we have to rush the kids back to our room, so that we can make it to our 2 hour presentation about the resort. So, Mags watches the kiddos and we speed off with my hair dripping wet. 

Isaiah enjoying his morning popsicle. 

6. Then we enter the pressure cooker/dungeon of regret. This very nice man begins talking us through the why's of why we should invest bucco bucks and thus make vacations our top priority. So an hour into our guilt trip of "the only way we are good parents is if we invest in their vacation resorts for our kids and then pass this investment all the way down to our grandkids," I tell the nice man: "I just want you to know that I have a nursing baby back in our room with my sister, so we really need to stay within the 2 hour time frame that was promised us when we bought this package."  "Okay, no problem," he says.   Well... another hour goes by and we are still there, looking at vacation resort destinations that we will never be taking. The pressure to buy is now beginning to make me a little nauseous. I say again, "I do need to get back to my baby really soon, because she is a nursing baby."  "Ok, no prob," he says again. 

Matt waiting in line for our presentation/meeting/hell. (Don't worry he is giving the fake finger)

Another pointless hour goes by while we are still trying to say NO we are not going to buy into your great deal because we are obviously very, very stupid and don't love our kids and don't want to provide the best vacations possible for them. By this point I begin to discreetly put my hands over my ears, drowning out some of his noise while now feeling like I am listening to Charlie Brown's teacher. Still he keeps talking and talking.  So now going on 3 1/2 hours,  I interrupt once again saying: "My baby only gets her milk through the breasts that are on my body, so I will be leaving now." My standing up helps him to catch my drift, but still he has the nerve to ask before I go if I could give him 5 referrals. Hell no! I would not put anyone in my phone contacts through this 3 hour misery. Then somehow I slither out and leave Matt to deal with the rest of the headache where I speed to my babe, who really does need to eat by this point.  7. So the next day (our 3rd dia), we are ready to vacay it up, but check out time is 10am. So much for 3 days! The first stared at 4pm, the second was interrupted by an infuriating presentation of buy, buy, buy and the 3rd was cut short at 10am.  7.5 So, short cut to the chase: The kids had a blast, we made some great memories, loved swimming and being able to have popsicles in the morning. But, we will never and I mean never sit through another time share presentation again. Just sayin'. 

I look a little stoned in this picture, but I'm not, promise. Just full of kid lovin'.

7 Quick Takes

Joining Jen@ Conversion Diaries and the whole gang for a round of 7 Quick Takes!

1. I just found a 3 week old draft of 7 quick takes in my archive of posts. I thought that I had published this bad boy, but somehow forgot. This "thinking I have done something but not actually doing it" happens to me ALL of dee time. Like take for instance texting. I always think I have texted someone back, because in my head I do and I say things so perfectly there (in mi head). But in reality nothing ever hits my phone in the form of a text. Same goes for emails and calling people back. Literally, I have conversations with people in my head and think that they actually happened. So with that being said, I am doing a group apology right now to all of you who are the victims of my careless and blondish ways. I am sorry and I love you.

Back to quick takes. So, I will be including old and new takes, because I could never let precious pics and captions go to waste.

HereWeGo...

2. We are so blessed here at Team Boda for all of the holy people that we know and who brave a visit with us! Father Isaac, Matt's bestest friend, came to visit us, which is one of our kids (and Matt and I) fav visitors! Father Isaac is a CFR Friar and he is nothing but inspiring with the way in which he lives for God, serves the poor, and is just so "real" while being so holy. Father Isaac writes for the CFR Blog too, so CHECK IT OUT.

I couldn't get Grace to stop sticking her tongue out. 

3. I took these 8 months pics of Hope late and once again I am late with the 9month pics. I am just a little slow with the sticker picture thingy. Better slow than whatever.

She really is the sweetest babe ever. 

4. My mom helped me pack up the rest of our Sailfish home, so I made her be in the shoot too.

I hope that I inherit my mom's "young genes". 

5. I had the best photo idea this morning and stewed on it for over an hour trying to figure out the best moment to present it to the kids. My idea: I wanted to snap a pic of all the kids holding signs telling their age. Fabulous, oh-so original idea, right?! Great in my head, but to get all 4 kids to cooperate-- not so good. To say the least, it was a quantum fail.

Even my dear instagram could not help me out. 

I did manage to snap a cute one of Hopie girl though. And as usual she has been the best behaved all day.

I got this one too. 

6. So, like a month ago our car stalled in the middle of the road (aka: we ran out of gas like a mile from our house). How do you run out of gas this day in age when there is a gas station on each and every corner, I do not know, but embarrassingly enough we did. The only non logical explanation I have for this very stupid stupid mishap is that my name is Kristin Loboda and the 3 bigger kids were with my parents while Matt and I were taking breakfast date/break from packing the house with Hopie girl and we must have been so googly eyed at each other with no whiny kid distractions that we just didn't notice the neon yellow light screaming NO GAS.

I shall continue... so our car stalls and we put our flashers on and cross the street. We begin flagging people as they drive by, so that they know to slow down and go around our car. Like so in the picture below.

Well, one guy was texting and never even saw us on the side of the road or our van stopped dead on the road.

And *Boom* *Crash*

The first word out of my mouth was a looooudd curse word of the worst kind, scandalizing the ears of our innocent lil babe and shocking my dear husband. And thus showing even demonstrating more my desperate need for prayers from friends and strangers alike.

The texting guy was fine, just looking for his phone when he got out of his truck, but our car was totaled.

So, the moral of this story is DO NOT text and drive. EVER. And do not run out of gas in the middle of the road.

7. Jen put a challenge out there to blog every day for the next week and funny enough Matt has been challenging me to do a 30 day in a row blogging run. Would anyone actually want to read everyday for 30 days. Probably not, but I think (still just a think) I am going to try it. Don't worry I will let you know via FB and I will completely understand if you de-friend me during my 30 day blogging fest.

7.5. Does anyone else have a child who insists on looking like Rambo everysingleday??

Sunday Best

Linking up with Grace@ Camppatton!!

I sincerely mean this when I say that my Sunday is not complete until I have seen what she (Grace) has worn and how her kids have behaved, so it is only appropriate that she now has this linkup!

As far as the clothes, this thrown together original (HA!) outfit has been in my closet for so long that I don't even remember where some of the items came from.

But just for the sake of the linkup, here is what I do know:
Skirt: Target, bought 4 years ago. Is it still in style? I don't know. But Matt really liked it, which is all that matters (and probably means that it is now out of style!).
Necklace: Teething necklace given to me from my dear friend Theresa and I wear it EVERYDAY with EVERY outfit, because Hopie girl loves to eat it.

Happy Feast of Corpus Christi! I was made aware of the feast day half way into Mass when Matt pointed out that the sequence singing between the 2nd reading and the Gospel was due to the feast. What a great Feast day in celebration of the Eucharist which is what makes us Catholic! My goal this week is to attend a daily Mass and spend alone time with Jesus every day. Pray for me, as I will for you!!

Funny Mass Happening:
Hope spit up all over Matt, leaving a trail of wet, stickiness covering his polo. Being the oh so nice wife that I am, I helped him by wiping all the goo off with a wipe from the diaper bag. Matt then, without my knowing it, threw the WET wipe onto my seat, where I sat down for a couple of minutes before we all got up to receive our Precious Lord in the communion line. When I stood up my entire bottom was covered in wetness, looking like I completely wet my pants. I may have turned a little pink walking in front of my church peers with the looking of pee running down me, but I went ahead in all humility.

Kids Behavior: I do have to say, THANK THE GOOD, GOOD LORD, that my kids have slightly improved their behavior at Mass.

Isaiah and Isaac: A-, Minus for the fact that Isaac pushed the button on Hopes toy TWICE playing its lullubye for all to hear.
Grace: C+, Because she is just plain too loud for my taste.
Hope: A+, Because she is perfect.

Grampa and Gramma are in town from Cleveland, which is so exciting for us. As you can see, Hope was pretty taken by Papa.

All the cousins from North Port came down for Church and pool party. Nothing makes my kiddos happier. 

Now go and visit Grace, for you will never ever be disappointed that you did.

7 Quickidy Takes

Joining the troops with Jen@ Conversion Diaries for another shot at 7 quick takes.

Before I begin, my typing fingers are insisting that I mention without hopefully sounding too, uh I don't know, weird that I was SO excited that Jen- the superstar blogger, speaker and tv star, made a comment right here at Team Boda. When I saw it in my yahoooo inbox, I nearly squealed that she would take the time to read my blog!!

And really for all you who make comments, there really is nothing better and they make me smile from ear to ear!

1. So, without further ado, I must start this here Quick Takes with one that I THINK ALL SHOULD READ, because I feel as if I have hit some sort of epiphany, which most of you probably hit eons ago, but still I must share.

Matt and I always thought that we would NEVER be one of those parents who would turn on movies every. single. time. we got in our car. Ridiculous, we thought! Our kids will read books, look out the window, talk to us and each other. Well, for the last 3 years we have done the exact opposite of what we thought we would do.

I was out with a group of moms a week ago for dinner and what did we talk about when we were kidless and carefree-- OUR KIDS, of course. So, one mom was sharing that although she has a dvd player in her car she never uses it unless they have been in the car for over an hour. When I heard this the lights went on and the bells started ringing and Mariah Carey's song All I Want for Christmas is Youuuuuuu Baby started playing in this lil' old brain of mine. Why Mariah's All I Want for Christmas? Because it is my favorite song in the whole wide world, of course!

And then I wanted to throw my hands up and scream right there in the restaurant: "Oh my gosh, I am so sick of my kids yelling at me from the back seat to put a movie on, whining for me to change the movie that is currently playing, and fighting over the movie that they want to put in next!" Thankfully, due to my pride, I did contain myself and only screamed this in my head.

So, what did I do the very next morning as soon as the kids woke up? We had a team meeting and I told them no more dvd player unless we were in the car for over an hour. One child immediately started crying and stomping his foot, the other two looked at me dumbfounded.

Verdict after NO tv in the car for a week= Peace!!
And, I am loving it. We listen to music and half the whining that use to take place is gone.

So, I just had to share this gold mine that I have discovered, which again I am sure most of you learned long before going into 7 years of parenting.

2. The other day the boys and I were cleaning out their room and closet, getting rid of toys they no longer used, etc. After we were done they discovered a new secret hide out in upper rungs of their cleaned out closet. They spent the next 3 hours up there reading books, playing and even wanted to be served dinner in their new space. It was the best 3 hours of Matt and my life! (By "best 3 hours"-- I may be exaggerating a little, but not much.)

They let Grace bring her princess (primpress, if using Grace language) and join them.

3. This year I have been cooking and experimenting more than ever, which by most standards simply means cooking dinner every night. I attempted an "easy" strawberry pie, assuming I would post pics and a how to on this blog. But the pie was literally inedible by the kids and I (Matt was out of town, so it was thrown out before he could even try it). How does one mess up a pie with the main ingredients being sugar and strawberries? I really don't know. But I did.

This week Sahmy posted her super simple recipe for pie. And after reading her post, I knew I must take another stab at it, even if it was my final attempt of pie-ing in the kitchen.

Let me just say, it was the best thing EVER and only took me 10 minutes to prepare. As they say, the proof is in the pudding and Matt said: "I can't believe you made this. I will be a happy man if you make this for me on my birthday every year." So, if you like pie, you must GO and try it!

Matt was saying: "This is da bomb."

Am I embarrassed that Matt and I polished off over half of the pie by ourselves? Yes, VERY embarrassed. 

4. Our sweet little Hope has gone from baby to one of the kids in like days and I am really kinda torn up about it. She has become Little Miss Explorer in what seems to be a matter of minutes. She follows the kids on her knees to their rooms and really, really wants to play with them. She is climbing up on anything that is climable and wants to suck on all things not toys.

Look Mom one hand!

Grace and Hope playing together at the Mall playground, real sanitary I bet!

Even though she is super cute discovering all things new, I desperately want to go back to a few months ago to where she was just my little kangaroo and press the pause button.



5. I must show y'all this picture again, even though I posted it on Facebook. My kids have started CrossFitting at my gym.

I signed the boys up for a trial class, expecting Grace to sit with Hope and I, as she (Grace) is too young for the class. Well, what was I thinking! Because of course she wanted to be a part of the action, even though she was dressed in flops and wearing a scarf, pink skirt and big flower headband. The kids LOVED the class and it was so cool to see them learn how to workout.

6. I haven't mentioned this yet on da blog, but we are moving. I can't even believe I am typing those words out. Soon and very soon Naples will be a place that we just visit and Tampa will be our home. It is bitter sweet.

7. Lastly, I shall leave you with the cutest pic of my parents who are still in love after 37 years of marriage. Matt and I have been given such a great example. Love you mom and dad.

Have a great weekend everyone. 

Off to workout, all my love!

Happy Easter and OTI Linkup!

Happy Easter!! He has risen!! Indeed He has risen!! 

Is it too late to link up with Camp Patton and OTI? Probably, but I just haven't had a second since Sunday. I am sure some of you can relate... Maybe.

My peeps

These pics do Hope no justice, because she was an angel throughout the whole mass. I promise!

The second picture is the best pic I have of my outfit. Yeah, I didn't really like it and had 2 minutes to get dressed and out the door, so it had to do. 

The Deets: 

Skirt: Marshall's 3 years ago. 

Shirt: Hand me down from Katrin, my sister in law.

Earring's:  Pier One (the only item I really like from the look, if you can really call it a look!)

Clothes aside, we had a very blessed Easter morning. My brilliant Matt decided that we should go to the 1:15pm Mass, giving us just that much more time at home with Easter baskets, play time, and breakfast. It was fabulous. To start the day this is what I woke up to.

Again, Hope was smiling, but then my flash blinded her. 

Isaac came into our bed around 7am and snuggled with me till 8, where Hope joined us from her co-sleeper somewhere in between there. Love having them both snuggled up together.

Easter baskets, which we hid the night before, were first on the agenda for the morning. 

 Gracie girls hair really does look like this every single morning. 

Breakfast, dads special egg in a hole, came next and then we went outside for a fun family game of baseball. I hit 3 home runs, just saying :).

After all our running around we settled into our Resurrection  Easter eggs. When the different Jesus Resurrection items in the eggs were passed around Isaiah said that they smelled like boogers every single time, which did keep us chuckling. (You had to be there to find this remotely funny, but I am still laughing as I think about it.) 

After Mass we had friends over, which was great (minus the fact that it took us 2 solid hours to frantically clean our home, ugghh not fun on Easter Sunday, but thank God we (I mean he, Matt,) had done most of our cooking the night before. 

We ended the night with a visit from the Easter bunny in our backyard.

May your Easter week be super blessed and full of His grace, peace, and love!

Now go join Camp Patton (best blog ever!) and her friends Kayla and Erika (I am sure their blogs are awesome too and they can count on me looking through all their posts this week :).