Lowering Expectations

For me, I have found that having expectations and kids are not a good mix.  Kids throw you surprises around every corner and if your not careful you can end up cranky, upset, and disappointed really fast.  We often blame failed attempts on the kids saying they were "too noisy" "too cranky" too... whatever" when in reality is probably just our expectations that were set too high.

Going into this summer I had some pretty high expectations.  I really wanted to try a few new goals and do some fun adventures.  But life got in the way and I have now learned that this is not the season of life for lofty ambitions and major personal goals.  Today I should not attempt a heavily involved diet program.  I may not get to run 10 miles by the end of the summer.  The grand canyon is REALLY big and not my speed these days with 3 little cuties.  I may not even get to hike at all this summer.  Our garden will probably look more like a pile of weeds then carefully planned boxes.  Camping trips attended with kids will last 2 days tops and it will take me 3 weeks to recover from each one.  Heavens don't even go swimming because 1 vs 3 is just plain unsafe.

But it is OK.  I knew all along that babies #3 and probably #4  would be a really big challenge for me.  That there would be no "extra" time for crafts and hobbies, but eventually life WILL settle down and the kids WILL grow up.  Someday I will have a child that can buckle and unbuckle their own carseat.  Someday Adalyn will be able to babysit and our $70 date nights will be cut in half (counting down the days on that one).  These are the physically demanding years (don't even want to think about the emotionally demanding ones... I hope my heart can handle those years).  

So after rethinking my life a bit and lowering my expectations I think we have had a great end to this fun summer.  Even if we didn't get to everything we had planned. ;)  

Last Saturday we went to the splash pad as a family.  Splash pads are definitely our speed these days and the kids loved it.  

The bottom of the slide was Declin's favorite spot

I left for a little bit and went to the temple down the street (we were in Rexburg).  Then when I got back we had a picnic lunch and went on the carousel.  

  The older two kids were done in the water by the time I came back so no water pictures of them.

 They always love the carousel and it is so fun to ride it with them and see the excitement in their eyes.

Family time in the summer is the best no matter what you are doing!