You Are Doing Better Than You Think You Are

As mothers, we have a lot of responsibility placed on our shoulders.  At times, it is a burden we gladly carry.  Other times, the weight of it is heavy and it's all we can do to put one foot in front of the other.  I've laughed with my children and I've cried with them and over them and for them.  They are some of my greatest joys and present some of my greatest challenges.  Motherhood, it seems, is full of contradictions.  So it's understandable that as a mother, it can feel at times that we are stuck in this middle ground, where we're not sure if what we're doing is making a difference.  Mom guilt is real and it can cause us to question our methods, our abilities, our strength and endurance.  But I'm here to tell you that you are doing better than you think you are.

14

First Annual Gingerbread House Competition

Christmas is in full swing here at my house.  We started our countdown to Christmas with the kids unwrapping a book each night for us to read before bedtime, as well as our 25 Days of Christ.  We all look forward to the time spent together each night sharing in the fun and excitement of the holiday, while also remembering the reason for the season.

I've always been a huge advocate for traditions.  In college, I did a semester project on traditions where I had to put together a class and then teach it, complete with feedback from the people who attended.  It hardly even felt like a project because it is something I love so much!  Creating traditions in connection with a holiday is a great way to help family bond together over shared experiences.  It gives meaning and enhances our enjoyment of the holiday.  I've teamed up with At Home (who has also gracious sponsored this post) to talk about Christmas traditions and #MyReason for incorporating them into our holiday.

34

Halloween Mantle Inspiration and Dec-O-Ween Blog Hop

Can you believe that Halloween is only a little over 2 weeks away?  This month is flying by!  Since I can only use my Halloween decorations for a limited amount of time each year, I tried to get them up quickly so we could enjoy them all month long.

26

Fall Flowers and Berries Wreath

While fall might not officially be here for another three days, I think it's pretty safe to say that fall is here.  I've been pulling out my fall decor and even made some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and spiced apple cider last week.  The air is cooler, which makes it much more enjoyable for my kids to go and play outside and inside we haven't had the air conditioner on more than a few times this week.  Yes, fall is here whether you want it to be or not.

29

Summer Mantle Inspiration

Summer is in full swing here in Utah, complete with 100+ degree days.  So. Hot.  My poor kids, who love being outside, come in by 10am with red cheeks and requests for popsicles to try and beat the heat.  Crazy stuff.

Since summer got here, we've been busy enjoying the nice weather and playing as much as possible.  As a result, my spring decorations never really got put away and my only summer decoration was the cute pallet art I made a couple months ago.

20