Random Cuteness

Some random photos of our summer days:

These are the shirts the kids made at VBS. They were so proud of the shirts and the whole experience. Emma Grace was mistakenly placed in the four year old class and asked me to leave it that way so she could be in the same class as Isaac. They had a blast.

A girl and her frog clogs are not easily separated.

And this is Owen's classic "what?! I didn't do it" face.
(Which usually means he has done something and I get to figure out what it was....)

Guest Blogger

How to Have a Fun Saturday When Your Siblings are at VBS:

Step 1: Let Daddy dress you in the tackiest outfit ever. Tackiness makes Saturdays much more enjoyable.

Step 2: When nobody is looking, crawl upstairs and grab your mother's hairbrush off the bathroom counter top that you can now reach.

Step 3: When you get busted, make sure you hold on to said brush while throwing your temper tantrum at being forced to return downstairs.

Step 4: Carry the brush around for a very long time. It may look like a simple brush but it can provide hours of endless entertainment when being used as a drum, hitting device, broom, chew toy, or missile.

Step 5: Once you have exhausted all other uses for the brush, settle yourself down by the back door where you can see Daddy and the dog and continue brushing your hair. After all, the seriously lacking outfit that was beyond your control needn't set the tone for the rest of you.

Step 6: Once you are completely satisfied with your hair, move on to teeth. If your toothbrush is upstairs (which has now been gated off due to the hairbrush experience), simply climb the footstool you have been asked repeatedly not to climb and borrow your brother's.

Step 7: If there is no toothpaste available, do not fear. Dipping the tooth brush in dog water is another great way to keep your pearly whites clean.

Step 8: Please do not fret if your mother removes your brother's toothbrush. Your sister has one too. Even though it is pink, it also works very well with the dog water.

Step 9: Upon hearing the words "diaper change," go quickly into the office, shut the door behind you, and spend some time catching up on your correspondence. Hopefully when she is hit by the fumes on her way in, she will pass out and you will avoid the diaper change.

Step 10: If she insists upon ignoring your obvious gestures and changing your diaper anyways, make sure to rub both hands in your poop while tantruming on the changing table. Do not go down without a fight. I repeat, do NOT go down without a fight!

Step 11: Last but not least - actually this is probably the most important step of all: make sure to intersperse extreme cuteness with your naughty behavior. Cuteness goes a long way when you're dealing with a mother of three small children.

Hope you found this guide both informative and helpful.

Coming Soon:
How to Resist Each and Every Diaper Change
and
How To Give Your Mother Heart Attacks By Climbing on Every Surface in the House When She's Not Looking.

-Owen Zachary
17 months

Slacker

I have been so busy eating bon-bons and watching soap operas that I forgot to blog this week. Here is a short recap of our week:

Saturday I went to this wedding. Back before I stayed home with babies and watched soap operas all day, these three girls made my teaching and coaching career a delight. They were hard working, smart, and also hilariously funny. They were the type of girls you pray your own daughter will one day grow up to be.

And now they're old enough to support each other in marriage.
And I feel ancient.

On Monday, we had our weekly helicopter lessons. We feel the kids need to learn to fly their own helicopters for our family vacations to the Hamptons. Lessons are going well so far.

Okay, really we were at the zoo and the helicopter never left the ground.

While at the zoo helicopter lessons, we hung out with this guy. I was joking around and asked Emma Grace if he reminds her of Daddy? She said very seriously: "yes, he kind of does." That made me laugh out loud until we got home and she told Daddy that the male gorilla reminded us of him. Oops.

And we were so tired after walking around in the heat that we all fell asleep while doing some of this. Love it.

We've also been swimming. Swimming was fun but reminded me that I still need a decent swimsuit. Target suits are great, but I've found they only last one season before they stretch and tear. So, while the big kids were at VBS last night, Owen and I went to the mall (yet again) in search of one. I mean, I don't see why it is so hard to find a decent swimsuit. All I'm looking for is one that will make my cellulite and muffin top disappear while making me look more muscular, thinner, and tanner all at the same time. What is so difficult about that?

The search continues.

What else?
Oh yeah - still trying to sell the house. Keeping it super clean is really fun and not time consuming at all.

Hmmmmm......
Oh yeah - Owen's having a good week. That's awesome to witness.

............
And Todd and I are trying to decide where to go for our tenth anniversary trip.
10 years?! Time flies.

Okay, I'm done.
Hopefully that was an adequate blog update.
Right now the laundry, cooking, and cleaning soap operas are calling my name.

That's just silly.

What makes Isaac so happy and excited that he makes this face?

Yup, I caved.
They've been asking for awhile now.
Apparently all their friends at school and church have them.
I thought we were too young for that argument.
Apparently, I was wrong.

This is how I found them:
Perched atop their bunk beds, comparing silly bands.
Now that is just silly.
(but also kind of cute)

The sign in front of the store said
"We sell silly bands here!"

I wasn't sure if I was going in to buy bracelets
or a silly group of people with musical instruments.

Kudos to the person who invented silly bands.
Enjoy your millions of dollars for creating something so brilliantly stupid silly.

Ice Cream and a Bikini

Catchy title, huh?

So today was another rough day but in a very different way.
Owen's having a tough time. Since Todd's out of town, I'll just use the blog to vent. It is hard for me to describe my frustrations. I hurt for my baby. He's come a long way in the past few months and just when I thought we were turning the corner, this week has been very rough. In the grand scheme of things, I'm sure it is a small step backwards, but I don't want any more backwards steps. I want huge gigantic leaps forward.

We stayed home this morning and did some crying.
Then, I went for a run and put my "we can do this" attitude back on and decided we all needed to get out of our pj's and out of the house.

So after naps, we loaded up.
The sky was stormy, so I needed somewhere we wouldn't get soaked.
I also needed somewhere that would tolerate a screaming toddler.
Aha - the mall with a parking deck.
That will do.

I brought the camera because I promised the kids ice cream, and last time they had ice cream, I really wished I had a picture of Isaac's face covered in ice cream, so the camera came along for the ice cream. By the time we got to the ice cream, Owen was screaming again, so there are no pictures of the ice cream and I'm wondering how many times I can type the words ice cream before they truly become annoying.

Anyway - before dinner and ice cream, we had some time to kill.
So, we shopped for bathing suits.
For me.
Not fun.
Didn't find one.
Emma Grace wanted me to buy this one. She said I would look fabulous in it.
Me: "I'm flattered, but I'm not sure our neighborhood would agree."

I tried on this shirt because the kids liked it. All the beading was real and we couldn't believe it was only $30.
HA! Upon closer inspection...
The pink tank top underneath it was $30. The shirt with all the neat, real beading on it was $138. Maybe I can go back and get it when it's discounted to 90% off.
We were oohing and aaahing over the shirt.
Hence the very weird face I'm making.

Isaac and Chewbacca jumped off of houses.
You know, because that's what jedis do.

And yes, I know this picture is blurry.
But I had to get this shot and I had to post this shot.
This smile has been missing for the past few days.
It's a beautiful smile and I was so very glad to see it.

What made Owen smile in such a way?
His brother goofing off, of course.
Because evidently that's another thing jedi knights do -
they make their siblings feel better.

We all four came home in high spirits with high levels of energy (from said ice cream).

We'll be back at UNC on Friday, seeing specialists and tinkering with meds, and hopefully my littlest guy will be feeling much better soon.

But until then, I'm going to try to keep on my "we can do this" attitude.
Because you know what?
We totally can.

I'll MISS this?!

So, one of my favorite things that I oft hear is "Awe...I remember when my kids were that age; I really miss it." Now depending on the day, when hearing this, one of two things goes through my mind:

1. How sad for this sweet woman. Her kids are grown and she misses having 3 adorable little cherubs like mine.

OR

2. Right. You miss this? THAT'S BECAUSE YOU DON'T REMEMBER THIS!! It's like child birth - quickly forgotten until the next time you're laying on the table thinking "oh crap." Because believe me, if you just lived through the day I had, you would not miss this....

Now, I'm seriously not lying when I say that most days my response is scenario 1. I am a stay at home mom because I love being a mom. This is the life I chose and most days I wouldn't trade it for the world.

But today....my response would definitely fall under category 2.
And here is why:

6:02 am: Isaac wakes up
6:03am: I ask Isaac to lay back down and read a book.
6:03 and 15 seconds: Isaac cries uncontrollably because he's not tired anymore.
6:03 and 30 seconds: Emma Grace is now awake too.
6:10am: Owen wakes up too.
7:00am: Breakfast.
7:02am: Owen has thrown his breakfast on the floor.
7:05am: Owen screams uncontrollably while I try to give him the first dose of his meds for the day. Medicine time goes down hill from there.
9:45 am: Owen starts crying and rubbing his eyes.
9:50 am: I lay Owen down for a morning nap.
9:51am: Owen's new meds kick in and he is WIRED.
9:52 am: I start rushing around trying to get everything ready for pool and picnic time with friends.
10:53 am: Owen actually falls asleep.
11:15am: friends show up and I wake Owen up. He's pissed.
11:30am: finally make it to the pool.
11:40 am: time out #1 for Isaac who hit his sister.
11:55 am: time out #2 for Isaac who hit his sister.
12:15 pm: Spanking, time out, and no more pool toys for Isaac who hit his sister.
12:15pm: also got the major stink eye from an observer while spanking Isaac.
12:16pm: Wait for social services to arrive.
12:45pm: Lunch time. Owen screams and throws his food.
1:30pm: Time out #1 for Emma Grace who hit her brother.
2:45pm: Showers and getting all three dressed before we leave the pool.
3:15pm: Owen sleeps finally.
3:25pm: Time out #2 for EG for extreme bossiness.
4:50pm: Spanking for EG for throwing a major fit when asked to clean her room.
5:18pm: arrive at Chic-Fil-A for dinner with friends.
6:15pm: While trying to throw my drink away for me, Isaac chucks it over the trash can onto the table of people eating there. It spills. Get some more stink eye.
6:35pm: Stop by Target to grab a few things we need. Owen screams.
6:48pm: Evidently Target could also be known as a laxative.
6:48-7:10pm: wipe three different butts - four different times. None of which were my own.
7:30pm: Owen's in bed.
7:45pm: Big kids are all cute in the jammies, cuddled up on the couch, reading. Reminds me of why I wanted to have kids in the first place.
8:00pm: Everybody is in bed.

I may be ready to tackle tomorrow, but I'm afraid this is what I'll look like in the morning:


Good night.

Ssshhhhhhh.....don't tell

Dear Emma Grace She Who Shall Not Be Named,

I see and delight in your very secret transformation: your covert operation to slowly but surely resign your status as reigning diva in our home.

You have made it clear that this is not something to be discussed, so your father and I just sit back and watch, amused by your tactics. I can see that you are embarrassed and not ready for the world to see the new you, so I won't tell the world - just the few people who read this blog. And I'll tell my few readers what your Popeye always says: "Don't tell anybody, but if you do, tell them not to tell anybody." (Clearly your grandfather is very wise).

For example, I won't tell anyone about your secret obsession with Star Wars.
I won't tell them that I've seen you (when you think nobody is looking) grab your brother's tag and sticker books and read all about jedi knights. I won't tell them how you've even chosen wars with light sabers during quiet time over tea parties and polly pockets. GASP! I won't tell them that when you're with just me and the boys, you quiz me on which movies I've seen, who my favorite characters are, and what happens in each one. I especially won't tell them that I oft overhear you trying to convince Isaac to bring his Transformers book out for me to read to both of you. That is just embarrassing, right?

Seriously, your secret is safe with me.

I won't tell them how you've become quite the daredevil. You used to enjoy the playground as long as you weren't getting dirty, but now you rule the playground. I won't tell them how you make me nervous jumping from swings and climbing the highest heights. I won't tell them how you got in trouble the other day for trying to catch critters in the creek out back in a pair of your best shoes.

I won't tell them about our battle the night of your graduation. A battle I never thought I would have with you and a battle that you won. I won't tell them that while I wanted you to wear your pretty pink sandals with your smocked dress, you insisted on wearing your chuck taylors.

Nope, my lips are sealed.

I won't tell them that even though you sometimes publicly claim you really wish you had a sister, privately you relish your time with your brothers, and quite simply, adore them.

Nope. I'm not going to tell, but please know that whenever you're ready to come out of the "tomboy closet," the world will still welcome you with open arms. Because (not to label, but...) whether you're a tomboy, diva, or some combination of the two, you are still quite delightful.

PS - I also won't tell them that I was wrong. Clearly, the chuck taylors were the way to go.

Just pics

I'm not a great photographer.
But, I do have a nice camera and cheap, free editing software.

And seeing my kids in black and white pictures melts me.

Every time.

Dancing Fools

Stupid blogger.
So many cute, fun pictures, yet I can still only choose four.

Oh well.

Here's four fun ones of my family and in-laws getting jiggy with it.
We were some dancing fools.
We were celebrating somebody's 60th birthday.
This somebody built a dance floor in his back yard for the party.
(Somebody else me spilled salad on it and found out he was planning on returning it....ooops) But, I digress....

Here are two cute cousins shaking their booty. Literally.
I'll totally claim the one on the left. She used to be shy. She's not anymore. She danced and danced and danced until she could dance no more (because I made her go to bed).

Here's the guest of honor and one of his grandsons. I love this picture. I love the look on Isaac's face. He was having a blast. His grandfather looks serious here....most unlike him....he was probably telling Isaac why one should not spill salad on a dance floor or chili on a pool table.

Here are the hosts having a good time. And remember when I said the dance floor was built in their backyard. Yes, this is their backyard. Yes, it is gorgeous. No, they're not dancing on water - it just looks that way. How cool would it be if they could do that though? Hmmmmm - a floating dance floor for next year - now there's an idea. We could even set up a salad bar on it.....

And last but not least, here's Uncle Kevin teaching Owen a few of his best moves.

Love it!

Stay tuned.
More pics to come.
This party was last weekend.

What did we do this weekend?
Well, we kept our house super clean for two showings. Yay.
And today I took all three kids to the pool by myself. And now I need a stiff drink.