And here we are, settled into our new routine. Hunter takes the bus from the end of our driveway each morning, we wave goodbye and then Deacon and Wyatt are off to daycare/ preschool which is practically next door. Unless, of course, it is Wednesday or Friday and then my mom has Wyatt. Hunter then takes the bus straight from his school to daycare at the end of the day and that’s where we pick up everyone.  Hunter is loving kindergarten, his class, teacher and new schedule. But we know a big highlight for him each day is getting to ride the bus.  He feels like such a big kid and Deacon asks every day when he can ride the bus too. ❤

Some days Daddy picks them up, other days I do, depending on who is getting home earlier. Each day, when I pull into our school/ daycare, I walk into Deacon’s classroom first, gather his backpack, lunchbox and artwork from his cubby, I then pick up Wyatt and finally head to the gym to get the bigger boys. I find it easier to get the baby without the older brothers “helping” me. 

So, as I have been gathering Deacon’s art work and worksheets from his cubby, each day this week I have found flowers. Not just any flowers, dandelions. Dandelions that he picked while outside at recess, brought them inside, and placed them in his cubby for me to find. They’re dried up and dead by the time I get to them 5-6 hours later, but it’s the thought. 

Now while Deacon is disappointed because they “easily close” he picks me flowers to “make you happy, Mommy”. 
The fact that he thinks of his Mom when playing outside on the playground during recess melts my heart. I think of my boys all throughout the day as their photos and artwork are decorating my office. I guess I just never think that they are actually thinking of mom and dad too. But you know what? Of course they do. My friends, our sweet little ones think of us during their busy days and look forward to reuniting.

Before Hunter, I (thought I) knew I would be a mom of girls that I would take to ballet class. It’s still a little hard to know I won’t have that. But you know that I wouldn’t trade my 3 boys for the world. I mean, they give their Mama flowers! We have been so incredibly blessed with these sweet three. God had other plans for me. 

So when we are reunited at the end of the day, I really, constantly have to remind myself to not get caught up in the rushing. Rushing to make dinner, do the dishes, clean up, get baths, feed baby, clean bottles, get dressed in PJs, read 2 books… make lunches for tomorrow, pick out outfits, line up shoes… empty the copious amount of mail piling up, empty their backpacks. It goes on. And sometimes I have my own homework. Even for 2 adults, it seems like a lot. But we handle it. We always do. Even though I am always reminded with, “I don’t know how you do it”… we just do. Josh and I are a great team and we wouldn’t have it any other way. 

There is so much that has to be done after 6 PM every single day but our sweet kiddos miss us during the day, they think of us and pick flowers. They make cute art work with their little handprints, draw your family of stick people inside your house and they practice writing their name, the name you gave them. They are so happy to see us at the end of the day.

While I am glad we have all adjusted well to our routine, I am (every day) reminding myself to take a step back, take a deep breath and soak it all in. Believe me, this is a constant reminder for me. I too quickly allow the “to do” list to get on top of me and I stress. I know I am going to miss these days sooner rather than later. They won’t always be this little. And after all, they won’t always be this sweet.