Beautiful Mom: Jessie

“My mother... she is beautiful, softened at the edges and tempered with a spine of steel. I want to grow old and be like her.” 
― Jodi Picoult

This is Part 6 of my Beautiful Mom Project.  Read my explanation and thoughts here.

Jessie
Mother of Two
Piano Teacher
Runner
Leader
Optimist
Photographer
Friend

What is your favorite motherhood moment?

My favorite moments are when I'm having a bad day and then my kids do something so sweet that it makes my heart melt.  I love getting hugs, I love yous, artwork and cuddles.  I feel like sometimes my kids slow me down and remind me of what is really important, and I love that!  I also love seeing such joy in their eyes when they are discovering something new.  We took my daughter on a hay ride last year and she was so excited and laughing and told me how happy she was with the biggest smile on her face.  I love moments like that!! 

What is your favorite time spent with your kids?

My favorite activity with my kids is just being home and playing.  I love running through sprinklers, doing puzzles, reading, playing cars and princesses.  I love not having a schedule and just enjoying each other, because I know they will grow up before I know it and I want them to know that their mom loves to be with them.

What is your least favorite chore?

My least favorite chore is laundry.  I hate that I feel that it is never done and just when I think I've caught up, there is more to do.  I always procrastinate it and luckily I married a great man who knows how much I hate it and helps me with it when he can!

What inspires you/makes you happy?

What makes me happy is not being busy.  I like to be a steady busy but not run-around-crazy busy. I am also happy spending time with family and friends and everyone is getting along.  It seems like those days are fewer and fewer the older I get and the more kids I have, so I cherish moments like that.  Also chocolate makes me happy, it's just so good!! 

What is your go-to dinner?

My favorite go to dinner is Mexican food.  My husband and Kids love beans, rice, tostadas, burritos, taco salad-anything Mexican   It seems like we eat it a lot because I don't have to fight anyone to eat it and it's easy!  I don't have any great secret recipe but I do use allrecipes.com a lot and they have some fun new ideas for recipes.  

Do you have any cleaning/organizational/motherhood tips?

My favorite cleaning tip is something that my mom taught me (she is a mother of 9 kids so she knows what she's doing!).  She told me to never go to bed with a dirty house because then you wake up behind and you feel behind all day.  I've tried to incorporate this into my life.  I always try to do the dishes and have a somewhat organized home before we go to bed for the night, that way I can start fresh the next day and don't have yesterdays mess to clean up.