Snuggles and Blueberry

Today, after a few morning dramatics (ie. David helping a neighbor fix their fascia board that he mistakenly knocked off while trimming their tree, and Haleah knocking Kaelah's head into the corner nub of the coffee table), we ventured off to Build-A-Bear Workshop at the mall. It was cousin Lilly's 7th Birthday, and we were invited right at naptime, 12 noon. I fed the kids an early lunch and prayed for the best. We picked up Grandmama on the way, for reinforcements, and headed to the party.

My kids were the youngest ones there at Build-A-Bear, but they seemed to have fun for what it was worth. It was nice to be included. The girls each got to pick a bear to have stuffed, fluffed and certified. They got to each pick out an outfit for their bear and name them too. Haleah named her bear Blueberry (with the help of her cousin, Gracyn), and Kaelah named hers Snuggles, with help from me, as she immediately started to cuddle the bear when she picked it out.

The older kids played some games in the workshop then eventually meandered over to the food court for cake and drinks. I spent this entire time taking each of my children, one by one, to the family restroom to either nurse, change a diaper, or go potty. I started to feel hot and overwhelmed by the crowds that were there for the tax free holiday weekend.

All in all, my kids were very well behaved. David took them up and down the escalator towards the end of the outing, and this was very exciting for them. When we finally got home in the later afternoon, things were a little chaotic due to their tired moods, but we managed to get them fed, bathed and into bed. Then I made an delicious new recipe, a chili egg bake, for the church hospitality table tomorrow. I tried a piece and I seriously could eat the whole thing up right now, but I will contain myself.

This leads me to my final point: My diet isn't going too well this week. With all of these parties and stressful times (like I had yesterday, where I felt entirely defeated and run down by my kids), I just have to eat. I will try and get back on the bandwagon next week. I have got to drop these last 13-15 lbs.

Below are some sweet pics of the girls on the couch yesterday morning. It's moments like those that I cherish the most....