I am a doer by nature, making lists, making a list for my lists. My mind always racing to the next thing that needs to get done or next place to go. I am a Martha always busying myself with something to do. When it comes to entertaining I am in the kitchen rather than enjoying my guests. When it comes to motherhood I always seem to be busy with a task while watching my children play.

Being a stay at home mom one would think I have so much time to just be, more often than not I manage to fill it with something leaving very little time for being. I go through the day and base my success on how many items I cross off my to-do list or what was accomplished rather than if time was spent just loving on those placed in my life.

This weekend some of our plans fell through leaving almost the entirety of Saturday and all of Sunday completely open. I had cleaned the house earlier in the week and was comfortably caught up on the laundry. The fridge was filled with leftovers, so I wasn’t stressing about dinner.

The older boys were gone Saturday morning and Caden’s teething had me up all night, so I decided to lay down with the little ones for their nap and ended falling asleep for a good two hours! I woke up to Aaron and the boys playing outside. The weather was gorgeous so I decided to take Caden and Grace out as well and my to-do list became history (until Monday).

It ended up being a weekend of carefree timelessness. Spending time together as a family without anywhere to go or any agenda to follow. Halfway through the weekend I admitted to Aaron that I was struggling a little to let myself continue to just be. He laughed and said he was a bit surprised himself and was wondering how I was handling it.

To be present to my family without needless interruptions. Interruptions and tasks that I create on my own behalf. Stress that I place on my shoulders as I strive to live up to a false ideal of perfection. Feeling the pressure of our fast paced society to constantly be doing while neglecting the just being.

As I reflect back on the last few days I need to remind myself that my children aren’t going to remember whether the floors were vacuumed or all of the laundry put away. Rather it will be the time spent and the memories made that will stay with them.

With summer approaching I hope to fill our days with carefree timelessness, simply being together. I am going to strive to fight the false notion that I battle which says that our summer will only be successful if we are constantly doing. Here is to focusing on being.

They always manage to keep it light-hearted around here and me laughing out loud from their cuteness. Grace is now verbal enough to join the ranks and also things she is older than her brothers, two going on ten. She is a little mother hen, picking up after everyone and keeping all of her brothers in line.

Clapping her hands
Grace: Come here Caden!
And attempts to pick up all 21 pounds of him with her 26 pound frame.

Hearing Caden fussing in his crib.
G: I will get him Mom.

Seeing some of Aaron’s clothes lying on the floor in a pile, Grace picks it up and looks at it.
G: Did daddy pee?

Lying on the floor next to Caden and touching his hand.
G: Tag, your it!

Digging through my makeup drawer and putting on some lipstick and then proceeding to hand me a red one.
G: Here mom, try this one.

G: Oh Kolbe, he is a boss baby.

Playing Church and Ethan was really getting into his homily.
E: Jesus wants you to say yes. He doesn’t want you to say no. He wants you to say yes. If you say no, don’t worry Jesus will come with his Shepherd’s staff and wring your neck and bring you right back with the other sheep.

E: Mom, I have a surprise for you!!
Me: Oh, what is it?
E: I am praying for twin sisters!

Kolbe: Mom, we need to have more babies. Everyone at school is having babies and we need to catch up to them so we can drive one of those really big vans.

Aaron: Uh-oh mom just gave you the look.
K: Yeah, that’s her stern look.

K: We have a new virtue this week.
Me: Oh really, what is it?
K: Magnanimity.
Me: What does it mean?
K: I have no idea, but it is a reeeally big word!

Gazing at himself in the mirror.
K: I look pretty fancy in this suit. It looks like I should be getting married or something!

This past weekend was a whirlwind and I am needing some major sleep therapy and a way to get rid of this cold-allergy combo plaguing me, but I am incredibly grateful for the joy and love of Jesus that we experienced.

The most important, Kolbe received Jesus for the first time in the Holy Eucharist. He was beyond excited about the day and couldn’t sleep the night before having been thinking about it all night. Right before Communion he leaned over to me, Mom I have the hiccups, He then told me that as soon as he received Jesus they were gone. I could not be more proud of this young man and look forward to what God is going to do in his life.

As I mentioned previously he had specific orders about his cake and while I thought it turned out beautifully, he was not pleased with it being a silver chalice instead of gold. The disappointment must have not lasted too long as he didn’t want any of the chalice cut into, but preserved for all eternity.

First haircut for my little man. I was in denial of the fact that he was in need of a trim, but his bangs kept falling in his face everytime he was on the ground crawling around. My Grandma did my first bang trim at six months, so since my Mom was in town she gave Caden a little trim. Rat tail is forever gone and my baby is so grown up.

And just for fun, first time feeding a giraffe. The new favorite animal at the zoo.

(source)

It seems Easter is creeping up on us this year, for me in part due to the cold non-spring, non-Easter like weather. Feels like I should be getting ready to stuff Christmas stockings rather than fill Easter baskets. I finalized the purchases last week, complete with copious amounts of candy.

In case you are in need of some last minute ideas I thought I would share what will be filling our kiddos baskets this year.

In addition to candy the kids’ Easter baskets are usually filled with typical spring outdoor items for everyone that they all can use (well not Caden yet, although he may try eating it) chalk, bubbles and a kite.

They also each get a small individual item, this year it’s baseball gloves for 2 out of the 4. A small musical ball for Caden and a pretty pink watering can for Grace.

We also like to include a religious item of some sort, usually a book. Here are a list of ones I found this year.

This will be a great activity book to help pass the hours on the road.

A step above a board book, easy to read to a toddler yet interesting enough for school aged.

A board book for Caden. I tried my hardest to find a chew book, but to no avail.

A friend recently mentioned to me about making Easter Resurrection cookies, such a cool idea to share the story of Easter. I may have to add that to our Easter traditions.

We had Church pictures this weekend, so he was dressed for the occasion.

How is my baby six months old already?! You know what that means, in no time he will be walking and turning one…make the time slow down! I realize I have said that with every child’s birthday, but it continues to hold true. I just want to press pause and stay in these moments and savor each memory.

Caden is our calm, content, easy going number four. Lots of dark hair, big brown eyes and topping the growth charts. Only six pounds to go until he catches up to Grace. Gone are the nights of sleeping through and the days are now filled with lots of moving, rolling and sitting.

He is now getting at the age where he shows preference to mom and is a little hesitant of new people. He is always smiling and loves to laugh at all the crazy ridiculous things his brothers and sister do, which only encourages them all the more. They dote on him and love him dearly, with a sister who tries to squeeze him to pieces with her loving bear hugs.

I have been asked several times how we came to the name Caden. Going into labor we didn’t have a specific boy name picked out just a few in our top three. It wasn’t until a few hours after he was born that Caden was the name. When looking at boy names we kept circling around a few leaning towards the non-traditional.

Caden sounded strong and we also liked how it fit with the other children’s names. We knew the middle name was going to be Joseph, so we also liked how it flowed with that. My hang up was finding a saint connection, since all of our kids have first names that are tied to a saint or are biblical. So I consulted with Sancta Nomina to see if Kate would have any knowledge of a saint connection, because if there was one surely she would know.

We discovered St. Cathan of Bute, also referred to as Cadan. He was a sixth-century Irish monk and said to be one of the first Irish missionaries to the Isle of Bute. He is usually mentioned in connection with his nephew St. Blane.

This little man is a Caden through and through, it fits him perfectly. Here’s to hoping the next six months don’t race by so quickly.