It’s fair season! And not a moment too soon! Lately we have been working like dogs on a ton of side projects and it has been stressful, wonderful and a little crazy. In the past with this blog, I have always turned down opportunities….sometimes out of insecurities….sometimes out of sheer fear of adding anything to my plate…..sometimes just because I got in the habit of saying no. But with Jeremy running the business side of things, he has slowly encouraged me to take on what I can, things I really want to try, and while my number one job is still taking care of the kiddos, my extra time gets eaten up with these side projects….some of which will never be shared publicly. It can be small tasks like reviewing not-out-on-the-market-products for companies or big ones like a site redesign or even completely random things that sound too fun to say no to. I’ve been staying up late. Neglecting my mountains of laundry. Falling asleep with a computer and eye makeup on. It’s been a couple of months that felt like they flew by and I found myself wanting to hit a restart button.
Enter the county fair. I was talking to a friend about it and came to realize that we agreed on one thing….the idea of the fair is SO FUN…but the actual fair isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be with really little ones. It’s way overpriced and the kids end up crying because they are up way past their bedtime. The food makes you feel a little bit queazy but it’s eaten with no abandon. But for me…..for this moment….it was just what I needed.
I needed out of the house. Family time. My camera in hand. A beautiful day. And lots of Tums 🙂
We immediately recognized the fact that we were all together in a place filled with all things different was exciting. This marked Max’s and LJ’s first real fair experience and even though Max was running a low-grade fever, we decided it would be the perfect distraction. Ever since Max had a couple febrile seizures, we have been complete wrecks anytime ANY of the kids get even slightly warm….with four boys, that means we are on high alert pretty much every week. So we monitored him all day, then finally decided to trust the Tylenol and we headed out. (and yes, I still had my ‘laser’ to check his temperature every 30 minutes! #bettersafethansorry)
We really have done very few family outings since going to Disney (which yes, I still have to share with you!). I don’t know how exactly we missed vacation for the end of the summer….but it just went by so stinking fast!
Everybody tells me that the days are slow but the years are fast and this year seemed to go by in a blink. It’s hard to get all serious when looking at a picture of turkey legs (which by the way were TERRIBLE this year. completely flavorless.) but I feel like I need to get it off my chest and maybe you have some advice. WHAT IS THAT THING CALLED BALANCE AND HOW DO I GET IT?
I mean…we have always been busy people. Jeremy with his work. Me with mine. Both of us tag teaming the kids. Figuring out the food situation. Neglecting the cleaning situation. Questioning the personal hygiene situation. Wanting to serve others. Needing to have personal time. Building. Photographing. Editing. Writing. Apple juice. Dirty diapers. Missing trash day. Forgetting shoes. It feels like I have three hundred tabs open on my computer and half of them need my attention immediately and the other half have videos playing simultaneously.
It is a little overwhelming.
Also….cattle competitions for the best looking heifer. Did not know that is what was happening here….but I actually paid attention this year 🙂
I just need a little more balance….because I know before long these three will not want to pose with the 4H poster thing and I will miss them. So tips. All the tips. Give them to me friends.
And now let’s get back to the fair….
So one of the best things is the animals. My kids are not exactly terrified but they aren’t shy either. So it’s actually a really good thing to go to this area first because once we start the rides, it’s ALL ABOUT THE RIDES.
LJ of course loves the animals and squeals whenever he remotely gets close to one. His favorite thing to say is “I DID IT!” and he repeated that anytime he touched anything….
I DID IT!!! I DID IT!
Weston is a little more cautious around the animals. In fact, he really surprised me that he was willing to try this time around.
Look at him with his bravery on! So proud of him!
This animal section did cost $1 per person extra but we felt like it was well worth it because at the end, they got chocolate milk. And as you may know….no drinks in the fair cost $1. They cost $9. Everything costs $9.
Baby goats! All of them were boy goats except one and Will explained to the 4H girl that the goat family was just like our family 🙂
And then there was the mini corn bucket….
Why this is fun, I will never know…..but it is. it really is.
And here is the only horse we have gotten Weston to ride so far 🙂 One day I am gonna get him on a real live breathing horse….and then I will take 1.8 million photos. I don’t care if he’s 34 years old. It’ll happen.
The very first ride we did was the merry go round. Everyone was really excited….
but then we realized that this particular ride was from 1782 and sounded like it was going to explode. The two little ones started crying. I started laughing. Weston hung on for dear life.
My sweet Munchkin was big enough for most of the kid rides and he LOVED the swings. I know. It looks like he was bored. My kids like to do this…..become completely stoic on rides. It’s a thing that we laugh about.
Oh and by accident we were in the right place at the right time and we got to check out the BMX ride show. It was a Bower boy favorite!
Weston describing how the bikes went up and over and landed and went REALLY fast and high.
Of course the kids got hungry and for whatever reason, we did it all wrong. We got the ranch fries….when we should have gotten the regular cheese fries.
I got one ear of corn when apparently ALL MY KIDS LOVE CORN. Even Maxi was excited about it.
We probably should have gotten them all chicken-on-a-stick but we got a turkey leg that nobody liked. And then the little ones fought over the corn dogs. In the end, we all ate and on the way home we got them chicken nuggets. I guess that is the way it rolls. Sometimes you win….sometimes you throw $9 turkey legs in the trash.
Surprisingly one of the favorite things in the fair was this funny house that the kids walked through….even LJ did it and loved it….
And then also the beautiful girl with the body of a snake exhibit. The boys are still trying to figure that one out 🙂
The little rides were perfect for these two dudes….
But for whatever reason, this guy didn’t like them at all. I blame the Merry Go Round. It may have scarred him for life.
Max started feeling adventurous after the corn on the cob but he still didn’t want off of me. I was able to snag a few pictures and here he is hamming it up for the crowds 🙂
I saw an old acquaintance…..its funny where you run into people. I hear he’s a real square now 🙂
And of course, we finished the night off with the treat of champions. I gotta start making these at home. They are just too good not to have weekly.
Overall – it was a really swinging good time. I mean…of course there are things that went wrong and little craziness….but that is to be expected. I think with four really little kids, you have to just do what you can when you can and chalk up the rest to ‘maybe next time’. It’s not a failure if you are trying. That’s what we are trying to teach our kids. But sometimes we as parents need to remember that too.
And if there are no tears, there are probably no real adventures either. I always say that the craziest thing I ever did was swim with a school of wild stingrays in Grand Cayman…..I was covered in conch juice and they were all over me and I was crying hysterically. But I’ll never forget it. And I hope that these little guys remember all the adventures we do together.
Even if it is little kid rides and fair food and staying up way past bedtime.
So what have y’all been doing? Any adventures? Any wild rides or belly aching food?
I think that one day we will have to do a birthday party and make it Fair themed….I could do a bunch of games and make the prize puppies for everyone to take home. It will be a real winner 🙂
p.s. we are thinking of traveling from GA to Pittsburgh soon….it would be up through Asheville and Johnson City….is there anything that you guys recommend? Fun family activities or sites we just need to hit? I’d love to hear em!
Fun time. The boys all look so grown up.
You should look up Christy Wright. She hosts Dave Ramsey’s Business Boutique. It’s geared to moms with businesses (from small to really large), and she talks a lot about work-life balance. There’s no right formula, it’s living your values. You can only manage so much, and you need to say no to things that aren’t part of your values. Intentional living. It’s certainly helped me. We actually squeeze in SO much MORE these days and we’re so much happier, because we stopped taking on things that didn’t really value and since we spend most of our time on things we do find important, sure we get tired, but it’s the “feeling like you’re working towards something great” vs. the just plain exhaustion tired we used to have. My husband and I do a lot of regular “goal” talking. Figuring out priorities, what is “valuable” and ranking things, it’s always changing, especially as our kids and family changes. Hope that helps! It’s a constant struggle, but you can do it, I think you’re doing awesome already.
I should start by saying that I don’t have kids or a husband so I have no right to give advice on how to balance life (what the heck am I balancing?) 🙂 However, I just wanted to drop in and say I’m praying for you. And not just like saying that I am. I really am. Because I think the only “strategy” that will bring any of us rest is to rest in Jesus. Even if your kids do remember the times you were overwhelmed, they will just as likely remember and learn from your transparency and the constant state of repentance and faith we ALL have to be in! I hope that’s freeing for you today. You’re in a battle YOU CAN’T LOSE! 🙂
I have not been able to read your narrative on your posts. Get the pictures ok but that’s it. Am I the only one having this problem?
There is definitely a balance to be had and finding that balance is probably the hardest part. I recently gave up my side photography gig because it was impacting my sleep, which in turn time away from really “being” with my kids as I was tired all the time. It’s hard because you want to constantly grow and learn but at the same time can’t drown yourself. My husband and I have been practicing saying “no” more but there are definitely times I wish I hadn’t. Side note, I love reading about your fair experiences as we have yet to take our kids to one because I don’t know how they will like it. Maybe next year is the year we do.
Carnegie Science Center
http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org/
Fredosaurus Rex: Mr. Rogers Dinosaur
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/14394
In general before trips I always check roadsideamerica.com to see what weird fun things you can find to do
Going to the state fair is so fun! Your boys will always remember that. My hubby & I went to our state fair (TX) several years ago and the next day he had an emergency appendectomy. It was completely unrelated but he’s still scarred by fair food for life. Also, unrelated, but I also swam with the sting rays in Grand Cayman and HATED it. Whoever said that was fun was wrong – it’s terrifying!
Girl, the seizures. Those will wreck your life. My daughter started having them at 13 months whenever she got a fever. It is. So. Scary. We are slowly starting to relax a little more when she gets sick. She is 4 now and seems to have outgrown them. The pediatricians said they usually do by age 5, but she did at about 2 1/2 it seems. I thought I would be on edge for 4 years, but after a few more fevers with no seizing, I learned to relax a little more each time. I actually learned to be thankful in her fevers, because it taught me to be comfortable in my lack of control again. So hard though. My mommy heart totally feels you.
Hi Katie – re: your trip up to PA – if you are headed up I-81 North (which I think you might be if you are coming from GA up through Asheville) then check out the Safari Park http://www.virginiasafaripark.com/ It’s a 180 acre drive through natural zoo located right off the interstate about 10 minutes from my sweet & gorgeous little town of Lexington, VA (home to Washington & Lee and Virginia Military Institute). I think it would be great fun for your boys – my little boys (6 and 4) love it!
Your kids are adorable.
As far as juggling the work-home life balance goes, if you can afford it, maybe hire someone to come help with housework/laundry. Or hire someone to help with anything blog related, picture editing, whatever. We can’t possibly do it all and there is no shame in having help.
The Pittsburg children’s museum has a great Daniel tiger museum if you’re kids are into it. There’s also 2 frank Lloyd Wright houses near Pittsburgh. Falling water and Kentuck knob. Falling water isn’t very family friendly but Kentuck knob has a cool sculpture garden.
For balance in your life… I highly recommend Present Over Perfect, by Shauna Niequist. I’m reading it with a group of friends right now, and it is making all of us rethink how we spend our time, energy, and love. It doesn’t necessarily give answers, but good things to think about the priorities in your life.
Gray Fossil Site and Museum is near Johnson City and it is really interesting. The site was discovered when the Tennessee DOT was digging to build a new road, and they unearthed a huge area of fossils. When I went, there were archeologists actually working in the dig site and we could ask them questions while they were handling fossils. And you can’t miss the Biltmore Estate in Asheville. Safe travels!
I love the stoic ride faces! We took our 2 year old to Disneyland this summer and he looked like that on every ride, so at first we thought he didn’t like it, but then at the end he would say “more!” and we’d have to pry him out. I finally decided he was just concentrating on the ride too much to bother with smiles hahaha!
I think you said it very well at the end of your post. If aren’t failing if you are trying. As long as you take time to try to bring balance to your life, you are succeeding. As for some helpful hints, you could try doing what your YHL buddies did (or said that they did) and not allow their work (computers and such) taken to the second floor of their house.
My husband and I have been running our own business for the last five years, and balance has been a huge thing for us. We started with figuring out our “why” – what’s the end goal? What is it that we are ultimately doing this for? For us, it’s our daughter. Proverbs says a wise man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children, and we never want money to be the single thing standing between her and what she wants to do. Bad choices? Sure. Missing deadlines? Absolutely. But I don’t want her to miss out on the college of her dreams solely because of money. (It should also be noted that we aren’t raising her to be entitled; she doesn’t get everything she wants, she has to earn spending money, she has to save up for the big stuff, she has to save some, and the first 10% goes to our church.) Once we figured out what our ultimate goal is, we decided what we are and are not willing to do to get it. We are willing to work our tails off; we are not willing to work our tails off 100 hours a week. It means our business will grow more slowly than others in our industry, but growth comes at a cost (family time), so we had to figure out how much we were willing to pay. Now it’s a matter of controlling our schedule. Our time is sacred, and it is finite. We say “yes” to things with the understanding that we are simultaneously saying “no” to others. Conversely, we say “no” to some things – even some really fun things – because we understand we are saying “yes” to something more important.
Listen: we pay for everything – everything – in either time or money. Sometimes it’s worth it to spend money in order to have time; sometimes we invest time to save money.
If I pay someone to clean my house or watch my daughter for a few hours, I can use that time on more profitable activities: I can focus 100% on the things that put more money in the bank during that time. I’m paying someone $10-15 an hour so that I can make $100/hour. Does that make sense?
And finally, we work hard…six days a week. Rest is SO important, and these days, we HAVE to be intentional about it. Sunday is our day because that’s what works best for our schedule. I do NOTHING related to work on Sundays. I don’t glance at my email. We don’t even discuss it. Did you know the Biblical penalty for not observing Sabbath is death? There’s a lesson in there! Rest is necessary. Without it, you’ll burn out.
The Western North Carolina Nature Center in Asheville is really, really great. http://www.wncnaturecenter.com
We were just in Pgh with three little boys. Highly recommend the Carnegie science center, but the sports building is a waste. Not worth taking the little ones over to it — just stay in the main center and enjoy all the kid-friendly exhibits. The train room is a highlight, along with the giant water table and ball area.
If you are coming to Pittsburgh……you should totally have a meet up! I would love to meet you!
You can come hang out with us in Pittsburgh! Though I have an all girl house with tons of pink and dolls. I recommend the children’s museum and the natural history museum is great too!
If you stop in Asheville look for a place called 12 bones. It’s the best ribs I’ve ever had in my life! Get there early as they do sell out of some things. And all the trails around there are awesome. Especially to burn off energy!
It might be a little out of your way but we loved the nature around Brevard, NC. Hooker falls is nice and not too far of a walk from the parking lot. Kiwi ice-cream shop – so good. http://www.dupontforest.com/explore/hooker-falls/
We wandered downtown Asheville with the kids a little and had lunch and hung out at Splashville – fountains / splash area in downtown Asheville’s Pack Sq. Park
I recommend the app Headspace to everyone. Getting that daily downtime /reset is so valuable. Also yes to seeing what you can take off your plate – cleaning, household upkeep help, part-time babysitter, etc.
I agree completely!! My kids called this the “drive-through zoo” for years. We love it!!
My brother takes his kids to this place and they absolutely love it! It’s in Johnson City, TN. Have fun! http://www.justjumptn.com/
My best piece of advice to help with balancing life… hire a housekeeper. SO WORTH IT. It’s not too expensive to have someone come help out around the house when life gets busy. I couldn’t imagine things with 4 kids!!! SO MUCH LAUNDRY and DISHES! And playing with your kiddos is way more important than keeping all the laundry folded and put away 🙂
If it were just you and the hubby traveling through Asheville I would tell you can’t pass there without going to the Biltmore…but I honestly don’t know that four little boys would enjoy a walking tour through an old mansion for a few hours, and it’s not a cheap visit. Asheville is full of cultural experiences, but again I don’t know how many are kid friendly. My son is 23 and he is an only child, and it’s not somewhere I would have ever taken him when he was as young as your crew is and expected to enjoy ourselves.
If you want to make a little detour, going into Pigeon Forge, TN would be a great little adventure. Lots to see and do there and it’s not far from I81. Dollywood is also there (in case you’ve never been).
There are the Bristol Caverns, in Bristol, TN (after you pass Johnson City TN still on I81) which again is a little off the I81, but not far. It’s always fun to visit and go down into the caverns.
And if you’re coming down I81 and through Bristol after Nov. 18, and you’re looking for a really cool Christmas lights adventure then you have to hit Bristol Motor Speedway, The Pinnacle Speedway in Lights. We took my then four-year-old nephew two years ago and he was amazed! My 45-year-old self enjoys it too!
I was going to mention the same thing about housecleaning. We hired someone to come clean every other week and it helps so much with my sanity! And helps me not feel like my house is so dirty!
I second this! So fun 🙂
I was going to say the same thing!! It’s a good thinking book…lots to introspect about.
Aww thank you Annie. You are so sweet to remind me of resting in Him 🙂
xo – kb