"A Good Mom"???

Why I constantly rate myself as "good" or "bad" is beyond me. I feel like I have these unspoken standards in my head of who I want to be on a day to day basis. I think through every action I do, and rate myself either "lazy... or ......motivated". What did I accomplish today? Did I give my all? was I the best mom, wife, daughter, friend, neighbor.. I could be? Then I sit back and either feel down b/c I was unmotivated, tired, and feeling lazy... or I feel good b/c I had energy, motivation, creativity.. ect... Some days I am able to speak truth to myself and remind myself that I'm pregnant... I have reason to be tired...for example maybe I spent "yesterday at the beach" so I SHOULD be tired... and I'm NOT a bad mom b/c we are home just getting laundry, cleaning, and rest accomplished." I think the devil works his way in to my thoughts and gets me where he can. It's a day to day battle that I fight.
So today was a "good day". The children were well behaved at the store. VERY WELL BEHAVED! I had creativity and energy... I gave to my children like I wanted to w/out easily losing my temper. We played and learned together. I thought before I spoke. I remembered to praise them and point out the positives. So my "Mom" tank is feeling rather full... but my "wife" tank is feeling like she's only 1/2 way there b/c my house is a horrible mess as a result of all the fun we had today! As I sit and work on this blog, I only hope that my day will unfold w/ enough energy left to finish the job. And to get there w/out too much TV, too many fights w/ the kids, too many tears, or complaints, too many snacks to keep them just happy!!...

So those are my thoughts.. not that they are "Right" but it's my daily battle and challenge I place upon myself to be the best I can be.

I found some great ideas in my family fun magazine this month... first I have photos of the kids playing in the homemade PVC pipe water center. This was perfect for us b/c I already had the PVC pipes, I just had to get some attachments for the hose.
Family Fun also had a messy lil' craft where you spread shaving cream all over a pan, then drip food coloring on top, stir it around a bit w/ a craft stick, lay paper on top of the art.. and peel up. You have a fun little print to hang and dry. The kids had a blast making a mess.. and it only cost me for the Shaving cream and a few sheets of paper.

this is the shaving cream before we placed the paper on top of it.
Rich got a lot accomplished on the playset yesterday. He built this whole tower in one day w/ one arm. Then late at night a friend stopped over to help him stand it up. The kids were so excited to see the progress when they woke up this morning! :)