Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SweepTheMess #CollectiveBias
Last weekend we spent most of our free time out in the sun in our backyard playing in the sandbox, running in the yard and cleaning the garden for spring. What a fun time for everyone! As the kids get older I find myself grasping to these times with Jude and Teagan. I can literally see them growing up right in front of my eyes – it goes too fast! I would never consider myself an expert mother but I do find myself being way more relaxed and carefree since the first summer with Jude and because of that I am really caught in our Beautiful Mess.
While we were outside we started cleaning out the garden and Jude spotted some Strawberry plants turning green. Instantly, he turned into a gardener and started caring for his strawberries by digging up weeds and finding worms. Oh the messy hands!! It was priceless to see Jude teaching Teagan about worms and why we want them in the garden. Such a good big brother – he even let her hold a worm! YUCK!! Seeing them water and care for their garden made me even more excited for summertime with these kiddos.
Often us adults forget how important it really is to forget about the dirty clothes, mud piles and sticky hands. This summer I am ready to step back and truly focus on the Beautiful Mess our family creates. The memories that are made when we as a family have some messy fun is way more important than the sweeping those memories may create!
During our time outside we did a lot of sandbox playing. One of the best moments was seeing Teagan take out all of the toys from the sandbox and lay down in the sand. Honestly, my first reaction was to gently ask Teagan to get up! But when she responded to me her response brought be back to the moment – the moment that allowed my daughter to enjoy life and be free to have some fun in the messy sand! “Mommy, I am making sand angels!” Oh goodness! A Beautiful Mess made full of memories.
This weekend was so good for our family. One of my goals for 2015 is to be more present and enjoy the moments I have with Jude and Teagan and this weekend was one of those reminders. The kids can play and run all by themselves now. Sure they want us to play sometimes but mostly we are seeing these little ones grow up and while it is exciting it is also really important that we enjoy these moments. Jude is so excited for those Strawberries!! Yummy!!
So when nap time came around we knew that our Beautiful Mess would be following us into the house. Both kids had sand in places that should never see sand and goodness knows the dirt, worms and grass found their way in too. Instead of making a fuss I simply had the kids Shake It Off right onto our kitchen floor. Once we got the kids in bed I used my favorite O-Cedar Angler broom to sweep up that Beautiful Mess. Our worm fun, sun soaking, and sandbox sand angel making was easily cleaned up but never forgotten.
Once nap time was complete we started on our next Beautiful Mess! Oh life – I love it! Full of fun, messes and memories. Having a 4 year old and a 2 year old is just plain FUN!!
This video pretty much makes me cry. The Goldfish crackers and hair ties found in the mess makes the moments we have with Jude and Teagan a great reminder to the big picture! A Beautiful Mess can be found in our home every day! This is a must watch!!
Make sure you enter the O-Cedar “A Beautiful Mess” Giveaway for your chance to win some cash prizes and Angler Brooms! Time to make more messes!
Now that I’ve shared how I found beauty in our mess. I’d love to hear about yours! Where do you find beauty in mess?
We live on a dirt road, so my house is always filthy! The kids never take off their shoes, either 🙁
I love the simple pleasures in life like playing in the backyard and just soaking up the sun. I think we miss many of these moments looking for the bigger and better in life.
Since my daughter is older I am more comfortable making a mess. When she was younger I was always worried about messes. I think I want to work on my garden, make it a little more zen this year.
What a wonderful weekend! We are just waiting for warmer weather so we can begin the outside projects. Our strawberry fields are also turning green. It is such a fun outward sign of good times to come this Summer. #client
I can't wait until it gets nice enough to work outside. I have cabin fever bad!! It is suppose to be up in the 50s tomorrow so maybe I will get out and clean the yard a little.
I love messes. Means everyone had fun.
what a beautiful video. We love playing in the sandbox.
I remember making mud pies with my brother when we were little… my mom would hose us off in the back yard before allowing us inside!
Jude is a great Big Brother. Little Teagan is so cute.
That is such a cool video! The sandbox can definitely make a mess but it's worth it!
I absolutely love this video. Even though I have allergies it makes me get all excited to see how creative this woman was using dust & trash.
Sounds like a wonderful weekend! I wish It was nice enough here for the kids to go outside in play but we are still dealing with the cold. I don't know what I would do without my O-Cedar Angler Broom. It's my go-to broom for my little one's beautiful messes 😉
What sweet photo's. Sometimes the messes are well worth it though aren't they?
Messes do not bother me anymore, My kids are teens and their rooms are a mess. I just close their doors and ignore it.
Your pictures are adorable! I think messiness is just a sign of a life well lived!
So sweet! I think messiness just means that there is lots of fun and memories being made 😉
I try to remember that messes can be cleaned up and not to let them stand in the way of making great memories
I think I find beauty in my mess by being grateful for the people and the things that led to that mess. I get tire of laundry, but then realize I am lucky to have clothes to wash and a washer and dryer to get them clean and dry.
So many memories can be made in the backyard! Great photos!
Some of my most memorable memories comes from my toddler making a big mess. I don't worry about her getting dirty (unless we're on our way out the door to somewhere special), I just let her get down and dirty and throw them in the wash. 🙂
My girls recently have started doing science experiments which always ends in a complete mess. But they are learning and being creative and having fun, so as I clean up the mess I am still smiling.