As I was editing these pictures I just assumed that this was just like any other week with the normal ups and downs everyday: silly, sweet, crazy, grumpy, and eventually sleeping kids. However, when I started posting them on the blog I suddenly remembered:
This was that week.
The most difficult, exhausting, hair-pulling, patience growing week I've had in a long, long time. We had just returned from a long vacation so I had laundry up to my eyeballs, my tired, cranky kids were readjusting to normal sleep schedules, Will gave up his nap entirely (I'm still sad about that) and to top it all off Taylor was gone for a whole week on a business trip.
I really struggled. I kept trying new ways to entertain the kids (especially Will) and with the absence of a nap I usually ran out of ideas around 4pm. Will would lose it right around when Emma started screaming for dinner and getting clingy (I can't make every dinner with one hand, Emma!), bedtime was a fight, after bedtime was a fight (No, I won't read another bedtime story, please go back to bed.), and every time Will got in trouble or got "no" for an answer he'd burst into tears and sob, "I want my dad!"
It wasn't a fun week.
But we made it. And you'd never tell from the lovely, happy, occupied children in these pictures. I guess I don't often take pictures of the hard part of parenthood. (It's a potential danger zone for my camera.) But this just proves that even in the midst of the craziness, tantrums, and ridiculous toddler messes that fill up my day, there are still sweet, funny moments like this.
July 17, 2015
July 18, 2015
July 19, 2015
Bizarre rainstorm (with thunder and lightning!) in the middle of California summer.
July 20, 2015
Way after bedtime.
July 21, 2015
I got to take newborn photos of my sweet new cousin Kate.
July 22, 2015
Emma kept smacking Will on the arm and moving his plate so I had to separate them for dinner.
Isn't that supposed to be the brother's job?
July 23, 2015
