chaos & i

i tend to function better in chaos.

{i'm social working myself i think here!}

but this summer i craved routine and structure... and a little something for me!

i love being a stay at home mom. but it is harder than anything i have ever done before! and i have really been looking for a balance... 

my word is 

balance!

when it rains it pours!

not so much of a balance. but it feels good!

i decided to sign on to be a Stella & Dot stylist!

i adore the baubles! so fun and trendy but classic and timeless too!

something for everyone!

at the same time, i decided to pick up some per diem hours working again!

it is crazy... but i can not wait to sit down and do some therapy again!

i can't wait to do documenation!

write reports!

get yelled at by parents...

and cursed at by defiant little kids!

i think i'll be better at my job now.

now that i AM a parent.

i get it.

i used to think i got it... but i didn't.

now i do.

i get how kids push you to your breaking point.

i get how without support and coping skills... the unthinkable CAN happen.

i get how you make choices to survive on a day to day basis, without understanding the long term impact these choices will have and how these choices become... bad habits!

i am really excited!

and really nervous!

{and looking forward to shopping for some back to work clothes... to wear with my new stella & dot goodies that should be arriving any day now!}

and in the meantime... life as usual marches on!

i heard giggles from the laundry area... i looked and saw nothing at first.

then i saw THIS!

see this guy? you know, the back of him? running in the other direction?

i see it ALL the time! and sometimes, i don't SEE him sneaking away!

he snuck off while we visited family in NY. it was scary!

he is sneaky and slick! 

and is currently aging me rapidly!

a good attempt at a family photo! 

we also attempted at getting a photo of all the cousins with nonna!

it always looks something like this!

organized chaos! it makes me laugh really hard... out loud!

it is almost impossible! some day {hopefully} they will all be old enough to sit nicely and smile normally with their nonna to get the picture she really wants! in the meantime... its a riot!

he thinks he is big! 

can't you just see the mischief in his eyes??

i recently discovered i don't take many photos of my kids just smiling. 

i love to capture the moments... not the pose.

so i am going to try and get a few of their beautiful pearly whites that make my heart skip a beat!

after our trip to visit cousins... my little man fell asleep on the car ride home.

he was like a drunken commuter on the train... head bobbin forward and unable to keep his eyes open!

sometimes... even the tough guys are still little babes at heart needing a snooze!

and while the little man was snoozing in the back seat... the one that should have been sleeping... yapping away!!!!

hope your all having a great week!!!