enjoy my family

Recently my and my younger sister have been getting on really well. There’s a 5 year age difference which is getting “smaller” the older we get. So this is something I’d really like to cultivate.

Also my dad is coming to visit next week from the UK for 2 weeks. First time he’s been out to see me on his own, and my hubby is working while he’s here so we’ll have a lot of time, just us. I tend to stress a bit when the family visits and stays with us because I end up running after everyone making sure they are OK. I don’t want to do that this time – I just want to enjoy the time with him.

Work is not the end all, be all. When you get down to it, in your old age, you won’t be lamenting on your death bed about how you should’ve worked more; rather you’ll be wishing you spent more time with family and friends.

I am committing to leaving work by 5 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. so I can actually eat dinner with my family. I will turn the TV off and read a book to the kids or play a board or card game with them. I will visit my family and friends more and let them know how much I love and appreciate them. I will be a person who is proud of the fact that my priorities are in order and aside from God, my family is my biggest priority.

I get so caught up in the day to day that I forget what is important. My family is wonderful. I have a wonderful husband and five beautiful children. I need to find ways to appreciate them more every day.

I would love to really learn how to truly enjoy my family and make the most of our limited time together.

kids dogs noise happiness

How could I not enjoy my family? They’re all so cute!

But really, the reason I added this goal was to remind myself that I have a wonderful family that needs attention every day.

Sure, I still spend plenty of time on the computer and in front of the TV, but not as much as before. Now, I spend just as much time horsing around with my sons and playing games with my family. My wife and I like playing Set and my 5-year-old loves playing War and Jonah Go Fish

Not only has my increased involvement been beneficial to my family, but it has made life seem more fulfilling to me, too.

and take lots of deep breaths. It’s so much easier to relax and enjoy your family and your life when you’re having fun instead of stressing about how family life “should be.”

We’re having a blast together.

Not to toot my own horn, but even though she’s a frustrating handful, she does the most adorable stuff! “Mommy? You push this button and you get happy music! Be happy, ok? Push button!”

melts How can you not be happy at that point? At least smile a bit – even though a midi version of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star is the last thing you might wanna hear, it’s still cute.

Cute cute cute cute.

Jase was on leave last week and he spent tons of time with Jay. She’s missing him already – she asks for him when she heads down for naps and wants him to help her with projects.

With all that’s been going on in our lives – moving, retiling, a new daycare provider, different jobs for me, and a new pet, I think things in the family are going really, really well.

It’s always easy to overlook the little things, but when you take the time to see the smiles, give extra snuzzles, and relax without seeing the extras on the “to-do” lists… you can really see how awesome things are.

I have an amazing family. I’m a lucky girl. :)

/sappy gooeyness

Enjoying my family is getting easier and easier. My daughter says the funniest things! Her perspective is totally refreshing, but sometimes she catches on way too fast.

Our family continually changes, be it a four legged addition or an extended seperation that wreaks havoc with the family dynamic, it’s inevitable.

The love and laughter keeps us strong, and sometimes laughing about past reconcilliations is what keeps us going. “Remember last time I got back from deployment when….”

See? It’s not just soldiers that have “war stories.” ;)

Watching Jase with our daughter is amazing. Seeing the two of them interact and react to each other is a truly bizarre mix of hilarity and horror. It’s hard to say who is actually in charge sometimes, but it’s never boring!