What's Goin' On.

Seriously, not a lot going on here to post about.

Those changes on the horizon are perhaps a little further off than I thought. Strangely, I am more than at peace with this.

Adam has taken to doing a serious air drum solo when Zachary goes on the potty. He just may be my secret weapon this time around. I hope to have a video soon to do it justice.

Zachary has been managing his anger by beating the floor with his fist when told "no". Hard not to laugh at this, and I am also hoping that he does not sprain his hand.

Halloween costumes have been decided. Although I am not a huge Halloween person, I am also not a fan of making my kids sit out and not be able to participate with all their friends. They are cute, and Zachary would be so excited if he was aware that in about a week he will get a ton of candy AND most likely get most of his brothers', who needs to be bribed to eat most sweets. (If he had not been the only child born in the hospital that day AND be the spitting image of his father I would be concerned here).

I took a walk down memory lane on some of my old Facebook photo albums. Geesh, what a difference a year makes. My babies are growing up and there are days where I wish I could freeze frame them... I have just loved the last year. Does anyone know how to do this? E-mail me.

I am hoping that if we continue to watch this video, which is all the rage at the moment, that Zachary might start to sing it so we can laugh at him.


That's about it! Book review to come soon. Some pics too.

Happy Father's Day To The Best One...

“A man’s children and his garden both reflect the amount of weeding done during the growing season”. – Unknown (click link)

5 Steps or Less!

To handling a "terrible two's" tantrum!

Disclaimer: This opinion is not coming from an expert. Just a highly imperfect mom who has a strong willed child doing this- all the time.

1. Try not to get angry. Stay calm. If possible, ignore the beginning of a tantrum and it might stop once they realize you are not watching.

2. Recognize and acknowledge the frustration your child is having. Even if it is over wanting "I-CEAM" and throwing oneself on the floor if there isn't any, or their desire to play in their tomato soup rather than eat it. They still have a limited ability to express themselves with words.

3. Remove child from situation (yes, it hurts to leave that full grocery cart, I know.) Paul and I had to scoop Zachary up off the floor 3/4 of the way though Sesame Street Live last week and leave. It was not ideal, but necessary.

4. Provide a safe, calm time away spot (we use the stairs at home, or at times just a hug/hold to help the calming process) and teach another skill. Ours lately has been "show me how you wait" then model sitting down, folding hands etc...

5. Laugh later with someone. "Did you see how he stomped away then threw himself on the ground? Man that's some will..... Did you see that fake crying? Where would he have learned that? "

(Un)Romantic at Heart

Before you read:
I love my husband and children.
I am not dead inside
Occasionally, I cry
I am sentimental, in about two minute increments




Today, Adam states: " It's February. I no like Valentine's Day. I want to stay home".

I could not agree more.

Ugh, that's right. Over that last few years I have come to realize that I am just not a romantic person. I used to make a stink about it because it seemed like it should be acknowledged. So my great hubby would comply and go all out. Then, I would think "This is cheesy. Can I go to bed now? Was this card REALLY $4.99??" .

Flowers, candles, gifts, sweet nothings... I could take them or leave them. (Paul, if you are reading, you are not off the hook, I like candy). I guess my "love languages" are more of the quality time/ acts of service/words of affirmation varieties. Luckily, this meshes well for my marriage.


I hated Twilight... The Kite Runner, on the other hand, sucked me in.

Nicholas Sparks- not my thing... John Grisham might suit me better.

Jerry McGuire or Message in a Bottle.... I'll take Tommy Boy or Wayne's World.

Valentine's Day... How about a Christmas do-over?

A Hairdo Only a Mother Could Love

My kids' hair, at times, can look a little crazy. These are the moments I think they look the cutest!






So this morning, during the kids bath, I caught a scary glance of myself in the mirror. I then realized that perhaps crazy hair is hereditary.

And this confirmed my suspicion.

No Sleep

Pinkeye

Sick Kids

Corneal abrasion
Trust me, you don't want an image.

Bad work week (a couple, actually)


=An exhausted, discouraged me, and explains my lack of inspired blogging this week.

Thankfully, I have these two faces



And this man

Sealed with this promise


To know this is just a season.

Weeeeee Wish You a Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful and beautiful Christmas surrounded by family and friends.
This year the sparkle in Adam's eye let us know he "gets it". Zachary followed suit, when asked what Santa says he says an enthusiastic "ho ho hoooo".

Of course, Adam knows the real reason for the season, "Jeshusths' birthday", spoken with the perfect lisp.
Paul bought a last minute surprise gift for the boys (mostly Adam) which he kept quiet even from me until almost Christmas day. Watch below... this video show so much how my firstborn is. No jumping up and down, no squealing, just down to business doing what he loves to do. Let's just say our Christmas was filled with, er, beautiful music?


Here are some photos documenting our great day:
Santa came!

Mr. Mischeif

A real drum!!

Lots of "Icky" (aka Mickey) for Zachary!

"These are a few of my favorite things!" Einstein's and The Seven Dwarves!!


We are blessed! Happy Birthday Jesus, the real reason for the season!

Remember When....

...30 seemed so old? Now looking back, it's just a stepping stone (Alan Jackson)

Me, then




Today marks my last day as a 20-something. Wow. I mean, I can remember starting to date Paul at 20, marrying him at 23, buying our home and adopting our "fur child" at 24, having our first baby at 26, second at 28... The twenties were good to me. Very good. Truthfully, by the grace of God, I am right where I wanted to be at 30. And, they say the 30's are the best years... well if that is true then I have a lot to look forward to.


Me, now

I Heart Thanksgiving

So thankful for:
The "what did you do in school today" conversation that lead to this song:

And a moment of sort-of-stillness that allowed this to be captured:

Look alike/act alike father and son:

A no makeup and sweatpants kind of love:

Giant dogs:

Family who loves my kids like they are their own:

Cutie patooties:

Goofy tall uncles who are not afraid to have fun!

Looks of anticipation:

Being able to celebrate a new home

And more...

The "I heart fall' series... volume one.

It seems like every Autumn, we have a little warm pop that results in an abundance of lady bugs. This year is no exception! The only difference is that the boys noticed. I wish I had the camera handy when Zachary was bent over staring intently at the ground at a little red spotted friend. I wonder if he made the connection to one of our favorite stories 'Five Little Ladybugs"...
I was able to catch these wonder filled moments, though! Enjoy....

Green Thumb Hubby

He's got the knack to turn this


Into this...


And these...


I can take no credit for this mere sampling of beauties, but you can better believe I am going to put them to good use!!

Boo Boo's and Combover's

Puffy lip after tripping on the sidewalk... he was so brave!


They comb his hair like this at school, his curls don't like to cooperate! So cute!

IT'S A BIG ONE!

That is the expression that has rang gleefully through my yard this summer, along with the awed look of a 17 month old who is smaller than the bubbles created... I am sort of obesessed with this bubble wand myself... fun for children and adults alike!
(click to enlarge)

 

Best $6.98 I've spent in a while!

No Caption Necessary

Fathers

"My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." - Clarence Kelland

I have had the pleasure of watching my husband as a father for (almost!) the last three years. One thing I remember clearly when Adam was born was how Paul just jumped right in. He changed the diaper like it was his personal mission. He bounced him when he fussed without prompting, and even discovered different ways to hold him to calm his colic. With Zachary, as I was recovering from my cesarean Paul tells me he talked to him at the nursery window and watched him respond eagerly to the familiar voice. To this day, Zachary falls asleep best in Daddy's arms. I have been blessed time and again to witness the connection between father and child, right in front of my eyes. And, at times, been sad for the many, many children who never get to experience a faithful daddy, or even a daddy at all.

Where to Draw the Line

Tonight we went car shopping. This is not my favorite form of shopping by any means. But, we've been toying with the idea of a new vehicle for a while now. Our van has been a "bad experience" for us. So, off we drove to test drive and decide...we liked what we saw, but it looks like the decision is to keep what we have and make it work.

That leaves us with a feeling mixed with relief and discontent.

So, here I am wondering how to stay in a content way. How to look at what we have with a feeling of satisfaction and pride, not one of frustration and disproportionate entitlement.

We are blessed, I know it... but why will it take a shiny new vehicle or new house to make me feel it truly?

I know I am not alone in this web of materialism, always wanting more, the next best thing, or what The Jones' just got.

Guess we'll keep working on it, all while we're driving our base model Ford van (that's kinda stinky)!!

We Had a Blast!

 

We had such a nice time! Despite the crazy busy parks and insane travel expierence, we were again blessed to have the opportunity to enjoy time with family at the Happiest Place On Earth!

My World...

Busy, busy, busy....

I am trying not to fall off the wagon here with my blogging.

I will have to keep it short, but the new job is going well. Like anything else that's new, it takes time to get used to it and adjust. But, I think it's going to keep me busy and surely challenge me. I do love that at 3:10, I can walk out the door and have the rest of the night as my own. While this might come out wrong, this week has felt like going from shift one to shift two... picking up the kids, getting dinner, laying out clothes, making lunches, setting the coffee pot... and of course squeezing in a few rounds of "toes", some tickle time, and toddler and baby fun.

I know I will have to use my time more efficiently, but I'd be lying if I said I did not miss those stay-in-your-jammies-till-noon days with the boys at home. But, if you'd have asked me on those days I might have jumped at the chance for a change... I am such a waffler!

I guess that constant feeling of being torn is going to be a part of my life that I will have to manage and focus on quality, not quantity. I know in my heart where my priorities lie, without question.

A Summer Lesson

My little stinkers

We support the arts.

Baby kisses
Fun time with daddy
TV time!

So, here goes another. At this point, I have not even made my blog known, I am more using it as a journal because it's much easier to grab the computer and type than get a notebook and a pen... those of you with toddlers are well aware of what I am talking about. Well, something has been made clear to me this summer through various circumstances that I have been told about...

I will be the first to admit that I have a great life- a generous, warm husband who is devoted to me and our boys, two of the cutest kids on the planet, a nice doggy, and an overall blessed existence. So, it's important that you know I am NOT complaining at all, just being real, being me..

Like many people do, I more than occasionally find myself envying the lives of others, people I don't know and some I do... for instance the carefree life of a city person, the good looking couple who moved to an awesome, warm location on a whim, the wife of a VIP who is in the center of it all, the perfectly organized mom who would never let her house get so messy that she would be embarrassed to have company...
Ok, so I don't sit around and think about this daily ( I have an infant and a toddler), but it crosses my mind from time to time... what might it be like to be there, to be this, or that...
This summer, time and again, I learned facts about some lives I might have viewed as desirable and appealing... facts like unfaithful husbands, controlling and abusive marriages, facades that cover insecurities, and loneliness in the lives of people who seem to constantly be surrounded by people who want to serve them... And again, I am reminded that God talks about this , instructs us, and reminds us of just this...

And don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God defines your life. 1 Corinthians 7:17 (The Message)

But godliness with contentment is great gain.1 Timothy 6:6 (New International Version)

See above photos for proof.