A Typical Sunday

Want a peak into a typical Sunday for us? Let me re-cap this week's for you.

5am--baby wanted to nurse.

530am--I got up to exercise (wanted to make sure I got it in...but I was yawning a lot during the first service, so I may forego the early workout on Sundays)

630am--girls woke as I was getting ready, interacted some with them--but Bean got up to dress them.

See, I need to be at church at 7:30am on Sundays. Miss Rose likes to come with me to get a donut and go to her early Sunday School class. Gracie is old enough to not want to be left out, so she usually comes too

7am--baby wakes again--I decide to do a quick nursing and save the bottle for Bean to feed her later

7:07--Bean decides he might as well come early with us and just take care of the baby at church

We scramble to finish gathering everything and get out of the door

7:21--finally leaving, about 5min late

7:22--I get 1/2 block down the street and realize I left the coffee pot on in the mayhem to leave (I'm a creature of habit and throw off my routine and everything gets messed up!)

7:37--get to church, I am late, but make it in for the closing prayer of our brief staff meeting

7:45am--I have a few tasks to complete prior to the first service. Bean buys the girls donuts, which they eat after their applesauce

8:00am--girls just want to be with me, but I'm working.

8:05am--Lily is fussing, she's still in her jammies which are now spit-up and drool soaked. I pick her up out of the carseat to find she's exploded all over her jammies and the carseat. I think all the poop shot out of the diaper.

8:06am--there are no wipes in the diaper bag. Bean runs over to the nursery to borrow some.

8:10am--Lily is finally changed. Gracie now stinks. Bean takes big girls to Sunday School where he changes Gracie.

8:30-9:30--we fight with Lily to keep her asleep during service. It's naptime, but she's fidgety. Finally she conks out

10am--Bean is teaching a little girl guitar, Miss Rose and her cousin are telling me of their plan for cousin to stay with us and come over for the day, Gracie is tired and clingy, Lily is ready to eat--I am running the Information Booth at church.

10:10am--a friend is feeding Lily her bottle, Miss Rose and cousin are off to SS and Gracie is with me

10:30am--Bean takes Gracie to her class, he leaves with Lily to go grocery shopping

11am--our number pops up...Gracie is poopy again...they don't change diapers in the 2yr old class

12:20--I'm done praying with people at the alter (great service and message!) and getting the girls. They are all the last ones in their class (always the pastor's kids)

12:30--I bribe the girls (my 2 and their cousin) with Breathsavers to sit calmly while I finish up my duties.

12:40--leaving church, Bean calls with a screaming Lily in the background

1pm--home, feeding Lily, Bean's feeding the girls

2pm--Bean leaves to go back to church for his custodial gig

3:30pm--Gracie wakes, is pretty out of it

4:30pm--Gracie pukes all over and has a slight fever (teething related most likely)

There is a bit more, but it's pretty mundane.

THAT is my crazy Sunday!! It's pretty much always like that with a few variables. It's a unique situation since I'm working on Sundays but my family gets to be with me. And because Bean is pretty involved with worship on Sundays, it's just an entire family affair. We were spoiled the year we lived next to the church because I would have babysitters come over and help with the kids when we had early mornings.

My kids do love going to church and being there (even if Miss Rose won't dress up!) and I am so thankful for that. As they get older, they may not want to be there so much "extra" but that's okay. Right now it's great that they feel safe and comfortable and enjoy being there and going to their classes.

This is why though, it's a bit crazy at times, to be a pastor and the mother of small children! (Oh and I forgot to mention the short break I had to take during the 2nd service to go pump...that too comes with the territory right now)

No more Supermom

I definately have a "do it yourself" complex. I always have. It's just part of my independant nature. Being the oldest of 4 kids, I seemed to naturally take charge of stuff and get things done (yes, I know, sometimes I was called bossy). When I went away to college I did everything--from college applications to financial aid to living arrangements all on my own. I enjoy taking care of things.

Fast forward to being a mom. I thrive on being a mom. But, living in So Cal means that I also have to work. I'm thankful to have a schedule that allows me a few weekdays at home with my kids. I really try to give my kids as much of the "stay at home mom" experience that I had growing up. Baking together, park, playdates, etc. It can get exhausting though. Most days I'm home with them, their naptime is my rest time!

For almost a year my husband has worked a second job just to help pay down some debt. He doesn't get home until about 7:30 four nights a week. And his "day job" requires him leaving the house before the girls are awake. So, most of the weekly kid stuff falls to me--which I'm fine with. I love it and I'm appreciative that he's working extra (although he admits my "job" sometimes is harder!).

But here's the deal. The circumstances of our life right now requires an element of "supermom-dom." There are many errands that won't get done unless I do them with 2 kids along. My hubby wouldn't even dream of bathing the 2 kids together--which I do all the time. The list could go on.

I realized this week thought, that I can take my supermom-dom too far. Case in point. I had a 3-day minister's conference to go to out of town this week. There was childcare provided during the main sessions and meeting. So I figured, why not bring the kids. That way I don't lose time with them. Hubby isn't trying to balance kids with his jobs etc.

What was I thinking??? Now--the kids did great. They didn't have normal naps or bedtime, but they didn't really lose it, until the last day. But, it was a chance I could have had some time to myself. In reality, since I'm still nursing, the baby would have come with me--but I could have left Miss Rose at home. Hubby even offered and said he'd work it out--but I refused.

I was so exhausted by the end. Most of the meals we eat at restaurants--which required me getting my vehicle (praise God for valet parking) getting the kids in, putting the stroller in, driving, entertaining kids while we waited for food, finding food they would eat etc. Instead of hopping in a van with my co-workers and enjoying adult conversation.

So, I've learned a lesson. I am a working mom. And sometimes, it's actually better for my kids if I don't try to include them in everything I do. It's something I need to accept. Maybe I'll get to be a stay at home grandma someday!!

What's a girl to do?

Every day I think of a creative way to make money, but be home more with my children. You'd think with all these ideas, I'd figure something out. But, the fact is--nothing is easy money and everything takes work. I guess I just haven't found the right thing that is worth the work and will actually make money. I'm not sure that I ever will.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy what I do. But for me there will always be the lure of being home more, or working from home. I'm sure if money were absolutely no concern--I could find plenty to fill each day with as a mom, caring for the house and the children--oh yeah, and the husband of course. But I have always enjoyed being productive and using my brain. So perhaps the perfect blend for me would be a job I could do mostly at home--naps, nights, maybe only several hours of childcare required.

So, here's what's been on my mind.

Child resale store--I would LOVE this job. Owning one that is. But there's the start-up and the lease cost etc etc. Maybe one day though!

Photography-I love good photos. I don't necessarily know how to take good photos. But I could learn, really I could. photographers make so much money! A few weddings a month or maybe specializing in family/pregnancy/babies would be neat. And could make $$!

Homemade baby food-this has been one of my newer ideas. Moms seem to be more and more into healthy stuff for their babies and with the new Magic Bullet I got for Christmas--it seems like it would be fun to make up big batches of baby food and sell it locally. But, I have a feeling that I would have to get permits and have a special kitchen to do it legitimately.

Sewing-I like sewing. I'm okay at it. I could get better. But there is a whole slew of people online who sell homemade baby stuff. I'm not sure that what I have to offer would be that much better.

Fitness for moms-I've really enjoyed the journey of getting back into shape after my 2nd baby. I'm proud to say I've lost 10lbs extra after each baby--which puts me at 20lbs lighter than when I got pregnant with my first daughter! I guess I would need to get some actual training for this though.

Whoops. Naptime is over I guess. Back to real life.