September 30, 2010

So I am off to a rocky start with this blog. I haven't written in a week. To my credit, it has been one crazy week! The 26th of every month I am owned by CCS until I get the billing done. Usually I have the help of my sister-in-law, Felicia. But she is newly pregnant and is currently using all of her extra energy to grow a baby. Between that, personal training, and Shelby's crazy work hours (not to mention our three small children) life has been mildly hectic.

But to catch up...The girls started swim lessons. They are in the same class and they love it! Carson finds it incredibly unfair that they get all the fun, and spent most of the lesson trying to figure out a way to get into the pool. He will be two in February, and is starting to act like a kid more than a baby. He still doesn't say much, but he is no dummy. He has no problem communicating his needs and getting what he wants. I am surprised at how affectionate he is. He loves to be held, and cuddled, and he gives great hugs, and he isn't super particular with who he loves on either. I think it makes people feel good.

Yesterday was Karate day, and one of those days that as a mother I felt a little off. Karate starts at 10, so it shouldn't be any huge fete to get the kids there on time, but we pretty much struggle every week. My biggest difficulty as a mother is keeping shoes on my kids' feet. We are always missing one or both shoes for either Rachel or Lilly, and sometimes I can't find shoes for either of them. And forget Carson. I NEVER put shoes on that kid. These mothers who always have shoes to match every outfit for their children make me feel slightly inadequate. The shoes were the big issue yesterday, so we went without. I figure they take them off at Karate anyway. What I didn't count on were the unexpected errands we had to run after Karate. With no time to run home, and in a slight panic, I searched through the car with my fingers crossed and...tada! Not one but two pairs of shoes, one for each kid (still not counting Carson in the need for shoes department). OK, they hadn't been worn in so long I had to squeeze their feet in, but they worked! And all of my unexpected responsibilities for the day were accomplished. Yay me!

September 23, 2010

So this is day one of the Rayl Family Blog. Let's hope it is a habit that takes. Yesterday I took the kids to the library for the first time since Carson was born. Up until now the size of my children has made it too inconvenient for a trip to the library. Rachel and Lilly are now old enough to follow basic instructions (halleluja) such as "stay close" and "don't tear the books". And Carson is still little enough he does not mind being in the stroller too much. Rachel and Lilly did not do too much book shopping, they just picked the first 4 books they found and were ready to go. Rachel LOVES books. She wants me to read to her all the time, and she doesn't care what it is I read. Lilly is growing into a love for books as well. Carson...he is still in the color-in-the-books phase. Reading to him is like reading to a puppy. They want the attention at first, but eventually they just get squirmy and want to chew on things.

Rachel and Lilly are "doing art" right now. I was just given a few pieces of their work. I thought it was because they love me, but just now Rachel brought my wallet to me and demanded payment for the art work. For the rest of the day we will be canning salsa, much to Rachel's chagrin. She likes going places, and spending the day at home isn't as exciting for her as it is for me.