Well my year of being just a mommy has come to a close as of today. Tomorrow I will be up and at it getting my two babies out the door so I can help teach and train a class full of five year olds. Oh how I loved my year "off". The morning walks with Addie in the fall. Eating breakfast at the table and not having to look at the clock. If we wanted homemade pancakes well we made them. Getting to drop off Addie at school this could be considered the ugly part of staying home. Play dates and coffee with friends @ 10am. Library trips, recycling drop offs, and trips to the park. Morning workouts. Going to the store on Tuesday mornings when nobody was there. I will never forget the sweet times I was able to share with Addie during this time off. The potty training, the breakfast chats, walks in the neighborhood. The tempertatums and tears were ugly but were well worth it. This "year off" was all part of a plan... a plan I thought I made but now I know the God was the one making it for me. It is the little things that make a person happy as they grow... like having the opportunity to be "sick" during my pregnancy and not having to worry about what the kindergarteners are doing in the classroom while I dry heave in the bathroom. Not having to worry about lesson plans for a maternity leave or what the sub is going to do to the children That I am paid to teach but always grow to love. Then my world was filled with yet other reason to love staying at home. My little boy is such a joy. Nothing is better than snuggle time with Drew after he has nursed at 5 in the morning. The glow of the tv and the smell of coffee flowing through the house.
These are a few of my favorite things.
Oh how I wish I could cut myself in half and be at two places at the same time. I really love teaching. Seeing the spark of a child learn the sounds of ABCs, reading to a crowd of children from my "cheetah" chair, getting through the first weeks of tears and getting to the hugs. But I love being at home with my children too. I guess this is the debate that goes through every mother's head. But nothing is better than the moment you see your child after a day of being away... the smirk of a four month old.... the running feet of a three year old.
Quality over quantity is what I hope matters.
This is what I have learned in a year.
All I can say... Drew is going to make up for Addie.
Addie is not impressed with our rendition of Happy Birthday for Poppy's wish.
Addie's other passion this year at the beach... finding seashells. She would carry her red bucket up and down the beach trying to find seashells. The only thing is that at Seaside there are not any big seashells just little ones the size of a fingernail. So we were a little scared when Addie told us, "I am going to fill up my bucket to the top with shells." 
