Only 4 Days!

I can't believe Christmas is just 4 days away! I am so not ready... I still have gifts I need to buy and presents to wrap.

This weekend we did manage to finish up the shopping. Matt went with me and we just knocked it all out. That was a long night! I was so proud of my Mattie. He is usually a terrible shopper. I knew we had to get the kids' stuff finished that night. I was afraid that he would get tired, complain and make it hard to finish but he didn't!! He was actually a huge help... It really is the small things :)

The boys are of course super excited. I am afraifd this will be the last year Will believes in Santa. I can tell he is very skepitcal of the whole thing. He asks very specific questions and I am running out of answers. I guess we will just cross that bridge when we get there. I hate to think he is growing up. It has gone by so fast.

I hope to finish what I have left to do (other than the wrapping) today. I absolutely dread going anyhwere near the mall but it is unavoidable. I have set a deadline for myself. If it is not bought by today, I am not buying it. I have a tendency to just buy and buy right up until the last minute. I am not going to do it this year. I WILL STOP! I will enjoy the days before Christmas instead of rushing around.

I hope ya'll are enjoying the season and not stressing, too much :)

Thankful...

I got the idea for this post from Lindsey. Thanks Lindsey!

With Christmas right around the corner, it is so easy to focus on what I want. It is far too easy to look at what everyone else is doing and think "I wish..." I wish I had more money to spend on gifts. I wish my house looked like so and so's. I wish... I wish, I wish. I lose the joy that should be in the season.

After reading Lindsey's post this morning, I was reminded of all that I have to be thankful for in my life and of all the reasons I have to be joyful. (And I do have so many) Some of them are deep and thoughtful; others are just things that make me happy each day.

* 2 healthy children
* a loving husband
* a warm house
* a mess in my living room, that says my kids play happily here
* being able to stay home with my boys
* cooking dinner each night and realizing, I pretty much have the life I imagined growing up
* the time Matt and I have together after the boys go to bed
* the piles of laundry that say we have enough to wear
* dirty dishes that say we have enough to eat
* my entire family (every last one of them)
* a hot shower on a cold morning
* caramel macchiato flavored creamer in my coffee each morning
* pulling up to my house and seeing the Christmas lights on the tree through the blinds
* still rocking Ben to sleep each night
* Will asking me to tuck him into bed
* my king bed, flannel sheets and down comforter
* Will's excitement about the true meaning of Christmas

These are just a few of the things I am thankful for and the bring me joy each day. There are many, many more. I hope that as Christmas draws near, you are able to take just a minute and think about all that you have been blessed with.

Beginning to Look a lot like CHRISTMAS!!!

I can't wait any longer. I am going to put up my Christmas decorations today. I have been ready to get them out since the day after Halloween. I think have been pretty patient based on that fact.


*I must confess, This is not my house. I wish it were...

On another note, duck season opened today. My dear husband is in Arkansas "busting some ducks". Poor little Ben just doesn't understand the idea of hunting. He keeps saying, "When Daddy gets home I'm gonna to have a pet duck." I am trying, as delicately as possible, to explain that the ducks daddy brings home won't be pets. As much as I love my husband, I am always happy to see the start of hunting season. This is a crazy time of year with the holidays and exams. It is nice to have Matt occupied.

I am excited about being home today and hopefully getting somethings done.

I hope ya'll have a great weekend!

A Fresh Start

So, I am officially the worst blogger EVER! It has been over 2 months since my last post. I know ya'll have missed me...

I can tell you right now, NOTHING has been going on here. Just life as usual. Instead trying to fill ya'll in on 2 months worth of nothing, I am just going to start fresh.

Radomness and HELP!

This week has absolutely flown by. I love that the short weeks are always the most busy...

We are all back into our "school" routine. It did not take nearly as long to adjust as I thought it would. My classes are totally going to kick my tail this semester. I have already had three projects due and we are just over a week into class. So much for easing us back into things.

I am afraid we are all beginning to get sick. Nothing serious, just the typical quarterly colds. You know, just sick enough to feel bad but, nothing that requires and antibiotic. My doctors famous words, "It just has to run its course". Gee, thanks doc.

Matt's birthday is coming up and I have no idea what to do for him. We have a routine...
1. I ask him what he wants.
2. He doesn't tell me.
3. I guess and get him something he has mentioned.
4. He opens it, laughs and says, "Thanks dear".
5. He takes it back.
This happens every holiday, birthday and gift giving occasion. For 5 years, it has been like this! I don't know why he can't just tell me what he wants. I mean, I have no problem telling him what I want.

And lastly, I need ya'll's advice. Ben has a "friend". Sometimes she is with us and other times she isn't. Sometimes when we are out she just appears. We set a place for her at the table, buckle her in the car and open her door. This has been going on for about 3 months. I have no problem with the whole imaginary friend situation. I know it is a developmental stage. I don't mind setting a place for her, opening doors, bathing her... My problem is this. Yesterday, I picked him up from school and he tells me we need to pick up his friend. I say, "okay", thinking she will just appear like usual. We pick up Will and head home. Ben again says we need to pick up his friend. That she is by karate (which is no where close to where we are). I try to spin it and say that she is already at home. Of course, he says she isn't. He gets upset. What do I do? I mean, I have my limits but at the same time, if she is real to him, I don't want to leave her stranded. Help!!!

Update...

Oh my! It has been so long since I have posted anything. The absence has been due to technical difficulties. We were having a problem with our aircard. In order for it to work, I had to hold it at a weird angle which only left me with one hand for typing and such. As much as I love ya'll, I was just not willing to type with one hand. I am just not that talented. We now have a new aircard and all is well.

There has not really been too much going on around here. Will is well into second grade and loving it. Ben has started back to "school" too. He goes two days a week. It has been so good for him. He has a great time and his teachers are wonderful. They have been so patient with Ben (and me) as we transition back into a routine.

I also started back to school, again. The end is finally in sight! I am so excited! I am not sure I will know what to do with myself when I am no longer a student. I am really happy with my classes this semester. They should be really fun.

That is really all that has been going on... Oh, I had to get new tires. I hate buying stuff like that. I mean, I know I need them but, I could definitely think of thousands of other ways to spend that much money.

I hope ya'll have a great holiday weekend! In my mind, summer is now officially over. Technically, it's not. But, to me Labor Day has always been the end of summer. This is when the pools close, you put up the all white shoes and clothes and pull down the jackets. I love this time of year!

*Also, in "grow button" news, Ben has gained 4 pounds!!!

Early to bed...

We had a pretty low key weekend. And I do mean low key...

Saturday night Matt and I were both in bed at 8:30!! I know, we are so exciting. As we were getting ready for bed, I reminded him that we had on our first date around this time 5 years ago. I also reminded him that he did not even pick me up for that first date until 10:00! My, my how times have changed. I guess the next step is the early bird dinner special.

5 for Friday

This is my first Friday 5. I am so excited about the topic...

5 Things You Miss About Being a Kid

1. I miss having no stress. No bills to pay, dinner to make, kids to worry about... I couldn't wait to grow up and now I miss the days of my childhood.

2. I miss being sitting in the chair with my daddy each night before bed. There was something so comforting about squeezing myself into the chair with him.

3. I miss having someone to take care of me when I was sick. Someone to comfort me when I was sad and someone to celebrate with me when I was happy. Sometimes you just need your mom. I miss the days when she was right there.

4. I miss the wonder and excitement I had when I was child. Everything was new. Anything was possible.

5. I miss us all eating dinner together. One of my most favorite childhood memories is us all sitting around the table talking and laughing. Then my brother and I in the kitchen doing dishes, complaining the whole time that our younger sister didn't have to help.

When I was child, I would have never guessed that the things I would miss would be so simple.

Voting

Today I needed to go vote. Seeing as how Ben and I are pretty much attached these days, he went with me. As we were walking in, I was explaining voting and why we do it. I gave it to him in very simple terms, obviously. As we were waiting in line, he looked at me and said, "I vote for cupcakes." So, according to Ben, today we fulfilled our civil duty and ignoring all party lines, cast our vote for cupcakes!

In Our World

This post is just a hodge podge of what we have/haven't been up to lately. It is all very random, sorry.

There hasn't been a whole lot going on around here. We are enjoying our last few days of summer vacation. We register Will for school today! He starts 2nd grade next Monday. I know I probably shouldn't say this but... I AM SO READY FOR SCHOOL TO START!!! Our house just seems to run better on a routine. I am very much looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.

My little sister comes home on Saturday. I am really excited to see here. She has been away all summer working at Student Life. When we were little, if you would have told me I would miss her one day, I would have laughed, loudly. I can't wait for her to come home. We have her wedding to plan!

Ben is back 100%. He is finally getting comfortable with his grow button. He doesn't mind us seeing it now and has even shown it to a few people. Best of all, he gained a pound and a half!! That is like 8% of his body weight in two weeks. His little cheeks are getting chunky and he is staring to get little dimples by his elbows. It is so awesome to see him beginning to grow.

And last but not least in the news of our house, Matt finally joined Facebook. After all the comments about it, how it was silly and a waste of time, he set it up for himself. The funniest thing is how he gets an ego boost with each friend request. He called me yesterday just to tell me he was already up to 25 friends. He will be addicted like the rest of us soon.

10 on Tuesday

1. We are finally adjusting to the grow button. We have mastered feeding in public and are on a good schedule. Ben is back to his old self. Will isn't wierded out by it all anymore. And, drumroll please... BEN IS SLEEPING ALL NIGHT!!!!

2. Will started karate class. He thinks he is a regular Jackie Chan now. I am just hoping it will help with discipline. It definitely couldn't hurt. It is a very structured environment, lots of "Yes sir". I see it being a really good thing for him.

3. We finally got some rain! We desperately needed it, not just for the grass but, it cooled things off a bit as well. Can I just say, I am so ready for fall! I am over summer and its heat.

4. School starts in 2 weeks!! I must say I am ready. I am a Type A personality. I thrive on structure and routine. I am looking foward to getting back into a routine. I am still having trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that my Baby Will is going to start 2nd grade! I can't wait to see what this year has in store for us.

5. I have been on a major de-cluttering spree. Yesterday, I went through the boys closets. I cleaned them out and got rid of a lot of things. Today, I am hoping to tackle the toys. This is going to prove to be a bit more of a challenge seeing that they are here. We will see how far I get with this one. This might have to wait until they are back in school.

6. Matt and I discovered yesterday that we have an infestation of army worms. They are these little caterpiller looking things that kill your grass. Our backyard has these big brown patches where these little boogers have helped themselves to our grass. I am now grossed out and while they can't hurt us, I don't want the kids in the backyard until they are gone!

7. I took Will shopping to get a few things for school the other day. You will never guess what he picked out. The child wanted to get skinny jeans and a vest! There just isn't much to say about that. I mean some guys, older than 8, can pull that off. We just aren't there yet.

8. Ben has been dressing himself lately...

9. I have been with Ben all day and all night for 3 weeks straight. As much as I love the kid, I would like just a few hours alone. Maybe soon...

10. I have realized in the past few weeks how very blessed I am. I have a wonderful family and great friends who really care about us. They have all been so helpful. It is just sad that somethimes it takes a struggle or a very difficult time in life to see how blessed we really are.

Have a great Tuesday!

The Grow Button

WOW!!!

We have had an exciting and stressful past few days. Most of you know Ben had his feeding tube placed on Thursday. He did pretty well. The surgery went great. He had a bit of trouble with his first few feedings but, we figured it out. We have gotten the hang of it now. He gets three 133 cc feeds over 30 minutes 3 times a day. At night, he gets a 320 cc feed over an 8 hour period. He is almost back to his old self. There are a few things he has tried to do that he couldn't- like jumping and bending all the way over. Other than that, he has adjusted quite well. He is still very insecure about it though. I had planned on posting pictures but he will not let me take a picture where you can see his button. He doesn't want to show it to anyone. Even in the hospital, he kept the covers pulled up to his chin. Maybe later...

The plan for right now is just to continue what we are doing now. We go back in two weeks so the doctor can look at the sight. In a month we go back to endocrine to see if any progress had been made.

It is definitely an adjustment. We have to plan our outings much more carefully. If we are going to be gone at feeding time, we have to be sure to bring the pump, bag and formula. it is like packing a diaper bag every time we leave. I just thought we were past that stage.



This is what Ben's button looks like. This is not a picture of his but you get the idea from this. And that is it. When it is time for him to "eat", we just lift the little flap up and insert the tube. Not too big a deal! His pump is portable. We can stick it in his backpack and he can play and do normal activities during his feedings. Unless you are looking for it, the only strange thing you will see is a small child wearing a backpack.

I hope ya'll had a past few days. I feel like I have missed so much. I am slowly catching up on what ya'll have been up to. I promise I will get through all eventually.

Mom of the Year

http://thingsicantsay-shell.blogspot.com/2010/07/not-mom-of-year.html

Can I just say that I love this post! I am guilty of wishing I was more "mom of the year". I am so not perfect and this post is such a good reminder that most moms are more like me than I ever imagined. We do what we need to do to make it through each day. Some days are better than others. Some days, we make it out the door all clean and matching. Some days, we stay in our pj's until it is time to put on new pj's for bed. But, at the end of each day, our children are loved and that is all that really matters.

A few thing that knock me out of contention for mom of the year...
My children have had cookies and candy for breakfast on more than one occasion this year. My only requirement, they drink milk with it. Milk makes everything healthy.

Last night, I gave them each Benedryl for "allergies" they had before bedtime. I don't know how the fell asleep so early and so fast. Note the extreme sarcasm.

I did not have a working lighter to light Will's birthday candles.
I had to send my husband next door to get one so that we could sing "Happy Birthday". Picture all the families standing around looking at me... not my finest moment.

Once again, an event has gone by and I have one picture.

Have a great Monday. We finally have much needed rain here and I am loving it!

Happy Birthday Will

Yesterday my baby boy turned 8! I can't believe it. The years have just flown by. I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday.

I clearly remember the day I went into labor. I had gone to work with my dad. I just needed to get out of the house. So, I rode around with him that day. I had a doctor's appointment where my induction was sceduled for the coming Friday. (It was Wednesday.) I came home from the doctor and was making plans for my last day before I became Mommy. I was going to get a mani/pedi, go to lunch with my mom and finish the day with a date with Will's dad. I was home with my dad and pretty excited about the next day. It was the first time in a while I had not minded being pregnant. The end was in sight. I knew I just had to make it one more day. I was hoping the pain I was having was just from the exam I had earlier. Daddy could tell something was wrong. He finally asked and I told him, "I think I am having contractions." After a long pause he said, "Can you wait until your mom gets home? She will be home soon. I am going to call her right now. Just, umm, right down the times and we will wait on your mom." My sweet daddy helped me time the contractions until my mom got home.

21 hours, 2 epidurals and lots of tears later, we welcomed William James into the world.

I am so proud of the boy he has grown into. He is really a great kid. He is definitley still a kid though... there are times when he annoys me to no end but, I would not trade it for the world. I was young when I had him. His raising have definitely been a team effort. Let me tell you I have had a great team. I can't wait to see the man he becomes but, for now, I am enjoying right now.

Randomness

I must confess, I let my children have chocolate chip cookies for breakfast. I did insist that they have milk with them, which makes it sort of healthy, right? I just did not feel like fighting that battle this morning. Ben only ate once yesterday and woke up asking for them. So, of course I caved. Then, I couldn't let Ben have cookies and make Will eat breakfast. Thus, we had cookies for breakfast.

I just feel emotionally drained these days. As we get closer to the 15th, I am facing a huge reality. It is taking much more of a toll on me than I thought it would. I keep telling myself that this is nothing compared to what others deal with but, I am still having a hard time.

On a lighter note, we had a great weekend! We were able to hang out with our family and our friends and have a family day! Three day weekends are wonderful! For this next one, I need a drum roll...

BEN IS COMPLETELY POTTY TRAINED!!!!

I am just a little bit excited about this. No more diapers, not even at night! He is in big boy pants 24/7! Now, we just have to work on the peeing outside thing. I am having a hard time getting him to understand that he can't pee anywhere he wants just because he is outside. To him, any place outdoors is fair game.

I hope ya'll have a lovely day. I can't believe it is already Wednesday, another beautiful thing about a long weekend.

Whew...

Whew... what a week. I am so happy to see a long weekend! I have been through just about every emotion imaginable. We have seen more doctors these past few days than we have seen in a year. The good news is, it is over! Ben's surgery has been scheduled for July 15.

Just to give you a recap...
Ben does not eat. There is no medical explanation for this. He just doesn't eat. On a good day, he will get about 500 calories, which is not enough. He has stopped growing and is now losing weight. The doctors and his therapist decided that he would benefit from a feeding tube. This will get him the calories he needs in addition to helping his body recognize hunger. The goal is for him to gain 10 pounds and begin to eat. In the end, our hope is that he will be able to eat enough to sustain himself. So, feeding him through the tube will eventually help him eat by himself (kinda backwards huh).

We will check in the 15th. The surgery will be preformed and if everything goes well, we should be home the 17th. We met with the surgeon and the GI (love him). I learned the details of the surgery and what we could expect. As far as surgeries go, this one has a low risk of complications. I also spoke with a nurse that told me that most children are not in much pain after this surgery. She said in most cases, Tylenol is all they need to give to control pain. So, now we wait...

I hope ya'll have a great holiday weekend. Be safe and remember those that fight for our freedom.

In Honor of COHEN

To see Cohen's story click here.

Dollars and Sense

Will: Mom, I need a dollar. Can I have a dollar?
Me: I don't have a dollar.
Will: You probably don't have any cents either.
Me: Nope, you and Ben took care of all my sense too.

I Wish I Hadn't Lost

This week's Wishful Wednesday topic is...

'I wish' .... I hadn't lost ______!!

This one really made me think. I have lost so many things over the years.

But, if there was one thing that I wish would show up tomorrow it would be the ring my daddy gave me.

My sophomore year of high school, I was having a terrible morning. I have no idea what was so bad. Whatever it was had me really upset. The rest of the day continued to go down hill. I called Daddy on my break and begged him to come get me. He said there was no way he could. Tearfully, I hung up the phone and finished the day. As always, he picked me up that afternoon. I started to cry as soon as I got in his truck. I tried to hide it. We rode home in silence. When I got home I went straight to my room. A few minutes later, daddy knocked on my door. I opened it and he handed me a little gift and left. I opened it. It was a ring! So pretty and such a sweet gift. The best was when I went downstairs to his office and asked him what it was for he just said, "You are my friend and you were having a bad day."

Link up with Kelsey and find your lost things!

Brotherly Love

I walked into the kitchen yesterday and Ben was on his hands and knees drinking out of the dog bowl. I told Will thinking he would find it funny. He looks at me and said "He does that all the time." So, apparently I have been missing this and Will just lets it happen. That is brotherly love.

Ben

Thank you for all of your sweet comments on my last post. I was really encouraged by them!

We heard from the Dr. today. After consulting with the pediatrician and Ben's OT, he feels like a G-tube is going to be the best option for Ben. I am feeling strangely calm about it. I mean, obviously, I am nervous. It is surgery. But, I feel like this is really the best option. We will meet with the nutritionist to determine the schedule for feeding and the amount. We will then consult with the surgeon to go over the details and schedule the surgery. I am sure I will be a basket case after this appointment. I know it will be hard to hear what will actually be happening. I also know this is what we need to do. For right now, we are just waiting to to schedule the consults. I am guessing some time in July is when it will actually be done.

Where We Are

First of all, I want to apologize. I am sorry my last two posts have been about my child and his pottying. I am sure that most of you do not care about this and probably find it a little strange. In my defense though, a lot of the things I post are simply so that I will remember them. So again, I do apologize for the abundance of quotes from my children and strange stories of their behavior.

Now, I have been debating for some time on posting anything about what we are currently dealing with. In part because, it is just a lot to explain. In part because, I am not sure what the reactions will be and in part because it just makes it more real. But I am to the point now where I am desperate. I need support, advice and prayers.

Ben, my youngest, is 2. He will be 3 in October. When he was about a year old I began to worry about his development. I did not feel he was where he should have been in many areas. I contacted Tennessee's early intervention system (TEIS). They came to the house and tested Ben to find out what services, if any, he needed. While, TEIS was doing their thing, he was diagnosed by our pediatrician as "failure to thrive". This is a blanket diagnose basically means that for some reason he is not thriving. With the onset of this diagnoses, we were sent for lots of tests. He was tested for cystic fibrosis, genetic disorders, heart problems and we saw and endocrinologist. All the tests came back negative and he was cleared by all the doctors except the endocrinologist. We would see him again in 3 months. We also received the results from the TEIS tests. He had delays in his fine and gross motor skills and speech. The delays were significant enough to qualify him for services. Then when I mentioned his diagnoses, I found that this alone would qualify him services from TEIS. He started with them. A teacher started coming to our house one day a week and Ben started going to feeding group once a week. With the help of his wonderful teachers and OT he is now almost completely caught up in all areas. However, he is not growing. We have watched him slide from the tenth percentile down to the third right off the chart.

In November, we saw the endocrinologist. He was put on medication to increase his appetite. It was a fight to get him to take it. It did not work. With the Dr.'s Okay, we stopped using it. He did gain almost a pound from November to his follow up in March. We were all thrilled. We went back for another appointment on Monday. He lost 1.6 pounds. My two year old now ways 20.0 pounds. He weighs less now than he did in November. We have exhausted all options. He just will not take in enough calories. For some reason, he doesn't eat. He never has been a great eater but now it is terrible. So, with all things taken into consideration, we are looking into a feeding tube.

I realize that this is an extreme measure. But, we are to the point we are out of options. He can't continue to lose weight. He has got to grow. It is not healthy for a child to lose weight like this. He is in 12 month clothes, the same 12 month clothes as last summer. I am tired of fighting about eating with him. I am tired of going days where he eats a few crackers and dip. I need help. From what I have researched, in cases like Ben's, once the child catches up they take off and have no further problems. He needs to gain at least 10 pounds and I don't see that happening without outside help. My thought now, is that we just need to do what we have to do. I feel like it will only get harder the older and further behind he gets.

I realize this is a super long post and if you have made it to the end, thank you for reading. I just ask that you pray whatever needs to be done will be done and that it will be successful. Please know that my child is perfectly fine in every other way. He is as funny as he can be. His personality is huge. He plays and laughs. He loves dirt and lawn mowers. He just isn't growing. I am not posting this for sympathy. I know that this is very minor compared to what some people are facing with their children. I realize that many of you will read this and think, is that all. I know that many of have faced, are facing or know someone who has been through much worse. This is just a big part of my life right now and I just really needed to share what is going on in our lives.

More Adventures in Potty Training

Yesterday, I go to pick up my precious Ben from school. As always, I get his sheet and glance at it before I get him. I immediately notice a rather long note. I expect the worst. As I begin to read, I am not sure at all what to do. Do I laugh or run away in embarrassment...

Ben had an accident during nap. Apparently though, he knew it was coming. He managed to move his blanket, sheet and cow off his mat onto the floor before he peed on his mat. Why he would go to all this effort instead of just going to the potty is beyond me. However, he was very proud of himself. When I got into the classroom, I asked about the change of clothes he was wearing. He proudly told me, "My pee-peed on my mat but not my heavy blanket or cow! My put them on the floor." Way to go Ben. Way to go.

Only My Child

Once again, I am amazed by children. Today we went to the sprinkler park. Will had a blast. Ben was not so sure about the water. He liked it for a minute and then he was happy just sitting and watching everything. He finally decided he wanted to go play. As I stand up to accompany him on his journey, he says "You stay here". I think, sure thing buddy. Off he goes. He ends up on the other side of the sprinklers from me. For a while he just stands and observes. I notice him pulling at the draw string of his pants. I start running. I knew what was coming. Before I could get to him, his pants are down around his ankles and he is peeing! Right there for everyone to see. I grab him up and put him behind the nearest bush. In the process of doing this, we lose his shorts completely. So, as he finishes, I go back to get the shorts (Seriously like 10 feet). I then see my child running around with no clothes! He is laughing like it the funniest thing ever. I am just trying to catch him. I finally capture him and get him clothed. During this whole fiasco, there is a crowd of parents dying laughing and waving. Then, they cheer when I catch him. I guess if it weren't me I would be doing the same thing. It is always funny when it isn' your child.

When I Get Older...

The other day Ben comes to me and says, "When I get older I am going to have a tail like Moosie's." (Moose is our Yorkie.) Not sure how this is going work but, he seemed pretty sure about it.

Just Not Feeling It

Me: Will, you need to get in the bath.
Will: I can't.
Me: Why? What is the problem?
Will: I'm just not feeling bathy.


And once again, I am lost for words.

Really, Skulls?

Yesterday I decided that I would take the boys on a few errands with me. We survived Hobby Lobby which lead me to believe Old Navy would be no problem. Wrong! We walked in and were immediately standing in front of a huge bin of balls. Will rushes over and Ben begins frantically trying to escape from the stroller. We some how manage to navigate through this first obstacle and back to the boys clothes where we are faced with an entirely different obstacle... trying to find Will clothes. Here is an example of what I am up against,

Yes, this is the shirt my sweet Will just had to have.

This was my choice. I tried to convince him it was funny and still cool. But, what does a mom know? I then remind him that we are here to find a polo. We move from the tee table only to find, drum roll, more skulls on the polos! Why, why, why? And again, my sweet Will picks this,

At one point, the words, "Will, there are just some places it is not appropriate to wear skulls.", actually came out of my mouth. I may be missing something but I just do not get the appeal of wearing skulls. I mean, if you think about it, you are wearing the remains of a dead body. I find it to be gross and a bit on the scary side. Then again, I wear cardigans...
We finally compromise, one skull tee and one not skull polo. Then, after a quick stop at the mens', we are off to the cash wrap. This is where it really gets ugly. While we are paying Ben grabs the pile of gift cards set by the register. I tell him to put them down. He does. Only, his version of putting them down consists of throwing the entire stack all over the counter and the floor.
I now remember why I don't take them shopping and why I carry the spanking spoon in my purse.

Happiness...

The topic over at Kelly's Korner for this week's Show Us Your Life is Things that Make You Happy. I realize that I am a day late in doing this but, better late than never.

The first would of course be my two wonderful boys, my husband and our families. They can make me happier than anyone or anything else in the world.


Next, would have to be this little guy. I never thought I would ever like a small dog but I am so in love with little Moose.


I also can be quickly put into a good mood by a trip to Starbucks. I just love everything about it. The variety of people you will see there, the ridiculously cheerful employees, the wonderful pastries, the paper cups and top... the list could go on and on.


OPI nail polish can also bring a smile to my face. There are so many colors and the names just make me laugh. I bought one yesterday called, "I'm his coral friend". Maybe I am just easily amused but I laughed when I read it.


I love a clean house. There is nothing better than coming home to a clean house.

I enjoy sitting outside with my dear husband and watching the kids play.

Ice cream cakes from Baskin Robbins are also a favorite of mine.


Naps. I love naps.

Watching my boys play together (instead of fight).

A Hard Life

Joys of Summer

Wow! We made it.

That is really all I can say about this week. Will started summer Monday. So, we have all been home. I have been playing referee all week. I really feel like a need a good whistle and a strong penalty box. The first days of anything new are hard, even if it is something good. Summer break is no exception. We are finally all adjusting to the new routine and I am hoping that it will only get better.

I decided to go hard core on the potty training with Ben. Lately, before he uses his diaper he has been checking with me to make sure he is, in fact, wearing a diaper and not big boy pants. I figure, if he is doing this he is so ready... he just needs to man up. He has been doing really well and so far we haven't had any accidents. Keep your fingers crossed.

We had our first summer stomach bug this week too. That is always fun. The only good thing is, I got my house clean yesterday so we can play today! We are going to go to the park and play, play, play, have a picnic and hopefully come home and take a good nap.

I hope ya'll have a lovely weekend!

In Will's Words

What would a week be without a few words of wisdom from Will...

"Why do people get arrested for cocaine? Isn't that what we grill with?"

"Could you please make Ben keep his pants on? That is disturving me." (No typo, this is how he said it.)

Quotes

A few note worthy quotes from Will this week...

"Love makes a good girlfriend. That and she comes when I call her."
Great. It is obvious I have a few things I need to discuss with Will.

"My favorite part of first grade is being out of it."

Conversation during a walk we took one night...
Will- "You know I am growing right now, as we speak. I am growing."
Me- "Yes you are. Isn't that amazing."
Will- "Yeah, but you aren't. Grown ups stop growing."
Me- "No, grown ups grow out instead of up."
Will- "Oh- is that why we are walking? Because you are weight gaining."

"You know, it is a good thing aligators aren't mammals. That would really hurt the mom if the babies had to drink her milk."

Oh Little Ben

I love cupcakes and apparently this is a love I have passed on to Ben...



It is also apparent that he loves the camera...

YAY!!!

So, I have some super exciting news!

My baby sister is engaged!!! I am so ridiculously happy for her. She has found a great guy and I couldn't be happier that he will be joining our family.

It doesn't seem possible that she is old enough to get married. I can remember when we were little, I thought she was so annoying and I could not stand her. Now, she is my best friend. I am so very proud of the person she has become. I love you little one and I am so very, very happy for you!

Out to Pasture

Tonight Will hit Ben. I asked him why...

"He was pasturing me."

Oh little Will, how I love you so.

Mothers' Day and such

We had a pretty good weekend... all things considered.

Friday night Will had a late game. We went do dinner and "The Cheese Incident" took place. We recovered from that and after a much needed trip to Starbucks to calm my nerves, we headed to the game. Will had a great game, the team not so much. They lost (again) but played better than they ever have. I am hoping they are on their way... Then Will was off to his dad's for the weekend. Matt, Ben and I went home and went to bed!

Saturday was a wonderfully lazy day. Matt got up early to go work. Ben and I had a super laid back morning. We met my mom and sister for an early lunch and came home a took a nice nap. Matt came home and we sat with Ben and just talked for a while. By then, I was getting hungry and still had to run errands. As we were leaving, Matt said he would come with us and that he would take me to eat for an early Mothers' Day. We went to Target and got the boring stuff. On the way out, I stopped at the clothes and this cute little skirt I have been looking at was on sale. So, I bought it. I just wish it had been warm enough to wear it yesterday. Next, it was time to eat. Matt said I could pick. I picked a sandwich shop, Jimmy John's. I am a girl with simple taste. It is my favorite and he normally won't go there. We came home and gave Ben a bath. Then as I was putting him to bed, he decided he was going to climb on the fire place. He fell and now has a HUGE scrape going all the way down his back. Bless his heart, it looks painful. Once he calmed down from the fall, he fell asleep and I painted my nails and got to watch SNL. For any of you that missed it, HILARIOUS. Betty White was too funny!

Yesterday was super busy. Will came home early and we went to Matt's parents for lunch. Then we came home for a while before meeting my parents for dinner. No one had a nap yesterday. By the end of dinner, we were all at the end of our rope and ready to be home. After the boys had the bath, we all watched "19 Kids and Counting". For some reason, I love that show. Then, everyone fell asleep relatively easy and I was able to get to bed early too!

This week, we have Ben's transition meeting. I am anxious to see what they will say and where he will be. If you think about it, say a prayer that it will work out the way it needs to and that Ben will continue to develop on target, whatever the outcome of the meeting.

I hope ya'll have a great week! Summer is almost here!

The Cheese Incident

First of all, I would like to start by saying sorry for the absence. It has been a crazy 2 weeks and I just really haven't had the energy nor the inspiration to blog.

Now that I have that out of the way...

Last night Will had a late baseball game. We decided that we would go out to eat before the game. We let him pick the place. He chose Danver's. It is a fast-ish food place with a huge salad bar. Long story short, Ben has a thing for shredded cheese. He loves it. So, rather than eat the meal we ordered for him, he ate little bowls full of shredded cheese. He had been trying my patience all day and of course dinner was no different. About half way through the meal he says, laughing, "I have cheese in my nose". I thought he meant on his nose and so I told him he didn't and that he needed to eat. He reply. "Yea my do. Look." said as he holds his nose up for me to see. I look and sure enough the child had stuck one strand of shredded cheese right up his nose. All I could do was laugh... I have a feeling we are in for it with this one.

Boys...

Tonight, I was reading Will a story before he went to bed. I noticed he was eating something.

Me: What are you eating.
Will: Cheez-Its. (He says proudly.)
Me: Why are there Cheez-Its in your bed?
Will: They are in my pocket. I get hungry at night and this way I have something to eat.

There is nothing I can say about this. I can tell you, however, that I did make him finsh the Cheez-Its before he fell asleep. No, he is not sleeping with food in his pockets.

How We Met

Show Us Your Life- How you met your husband

I love this topic. I love to hear how couples met! Some of these stories can be really interesting.

I met my husband Matt on a blind date. We were set up by my little sister and her boyfriend at the time (also named Matt).

I had just gotten out of a serious relationship. I really thought that guy was going to be "the one". It was really hard when I realized it just wasn't going to work. At that point, I just decided I was going to focus on Will and myself. I wasn't going to worry about trying to date someone. I was over the whole idea of relationships. I just figured it was going to be and Will and I was alright with that.

When my sister came home one night in early summer and said, "You need to go on a date with Matt." I told her I was good and didn't need to date anyone. She laughed and left it at that (for a minute). She continued on and on all summer about this guy named Matt. She really talked him up. Finally, just to get her to be quiet I told her she could give him my number. (I did this thinking he would not actually call.)

Then, one night in August, hed called. I didn't answer. He left a message. It went something like, "Hey! This is Matt. I got your number from your sister. You can call me back." Then for some reason, I called back. We talked for a minute then being the romantic guy he is, Matt said, "So, do you drink?" I laughed and said, "Sometimes.". "Well, do you want to go get a drink?" I told him that I was fine. I asked him where he wanted to meet. He insisted on picking me up. It was then I started to realize he was going to be different. My most vivid memory of that night is the huge grin he had on his face as I climbed in his truck.

We went out that night. I had a great time. It was so easy to talk with him. We found out we shared mutual friends. I had actually dated one of his best friends in high school. It was amazing we hadn't met before. He told me that night about the relationship he had been in for a while. I told him about Will. We talked about how neither one of us wanted anything serious. His exact words were, "I am going to do what I want. I don't want to have to call everyday..." I had a really good feeling when I got home. Seeing as how we both said we weren't looking for anything serious I really didn't expect him to call the next day. He did and we have been together ever since.

It's a Moose

A few months ago, Matt came home and said "We need a Yorkie".

I laughed at him. I asked him if he wanted me to get him a purse to carry the dog in. I told him there was no way we were getting a dog that little. I said the boys would hurt it. I told him all about how annoying they are and how little dogs just follow you around and nip at your heels. I said if we get a dog it needs to be a real dog not a toy.

Let me introduce the newest member of our family, Moose.




As much as it pains me to say it, I do love this dog. I have always had something against little dogs. I had my reasons. They are yippy. They are annoying. They are mean... the list goes on and on but, Moose has been wonderful. I have really enjoyed having him and he has been a great addition to our family. I guess Mattie was right, this time.

Under 15

This week's Top Two Tuesday topic is Top 2 items under $15!

My first would have to be a venti Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks.



My second would have to be OPI nail polish. I love this polish. They have the best colors.



Neither one of these are major purchase but both have the ability to make my day. I hope ya'll have a great Tuesday!

Cupcakes!!!!

This weeks Favorite Friday topic is

Guilty Pleasure Snack

Let me just say that I love Junk Food. I mean really. I will skip dinner and just have dessert. I have been known to eat an entire box of Girl Scout Cookies in one sitting. I don't start to feel like we are really out of food until there is no dessert in the house. When there is nothing sweet, it is then I worry. So obviously, to pick just one is super hard but if I had to pick one it would be...

CUPCAKES!



I absolutely adore cupcakes. I think that there is nothing better than a little cake (or 2 or 3) just for you. I see cupcakes and I can't help but smile. They just make me happy.

Head in over to Jen's blog and indulge a little.

Wishful Wednesday...

'I wish' .... I had never-ending funds to donate to ______ charity!

I wish I had never ending funds to donate to Life Choices. Life Choices is a non-profit organization that focuses on women facing unplanned pregnancy. They offer prenatal care and counseling as well as parenting classes. In addition to these services, they also help new moms prepare for their up coming arrivals by providing things from diapers to car seats to even maternity clothes. Their main focus is to help women choose life.

This is an organization close to my heart. I feel that this is an invaluable service to our community. It is so hard to face an unplanned pregnancy. Unfortunately, these girls often do not have any parental support which makes an already difficult situation almost unbearable. Life Choices is there to offer support to these new moms. They help reassure them that they have made the right decision by choosing life. It is a very accepting and non judgemental environment. The minute you step foot in the door, you feel wanted and welcome. The volunteers really do want the best for these moms and their babies. It is truly a wonderful organization.

I wish that I had known about Life Choices when I found myself pregnant at 17. While I had the support of my family, it was still an incredibly difficult experience. One that I am still struggling with almost 8 years later. I love my Will more than anything but, I struggle with the guilt of having him so young. I feel like because I was so young that he will suffer in some way. I just hope and pray that when he is old enough to understand the situation that he will realize that I loved him from the very beginning. I hope he knows that from the moment I knew I was going to be his mommy that he was the most important thing in my life.

Not Me...

I have not done a "Not Me" Monday post in a while. I am not sure why it has been so long. I do love telling everyone all the things that I have not and will not ever do.

It was not me who had a panic attack when the power cord to the computer would not work yesterday. I would never be so dependant on technology.

It was not me that told my husband we needed to go get a new computer rather than the simple new power cord solution. I would never over react like this.

It was not me who said I was so worried about the computer problem because of my school work, while secretly trying to figure out how I was going to check facebook and my read my blogs.

It was not me who painted my nails outside, in the front yard, while my child played. I would never do anything like that. I have much more class than that.

It was not me who let little Ben have cookies and milk for breakfast. I am much more concerned about what my children eat.

It was not me who said to my children, "DO NOT EVEN LOOK AT EACH OTHER. If I see you touch, look at, speak to or make a face at your brother, YOU WILL BE IN TIME OUT!" I would never say anything like this. This is something my mother would have said.

It is not me relieved to see Monday. I love spending time with my kids and would never be dancing on the inside as I get them ready for school.

I hope that ya'll have a great week!

No Body's Business

I took Will to the doctor this morning. His allergies have been really bad and I was afraid he had a sinus infection. Turned out there was no infection just really bad allergies. The doctor gave us two sample medications to try. One was an allergy tablet and the other a nose spray. The doctor administered the first does of spray before we left the office to show me how to do it. On the way home, Will randomly says to me, "I know one thing. That nose spray works! I am breathing like no body's business!"

Wishful Wednesday

I wish' .... I had the willpower to
stay on one particular diet,
and it would be ______!

What an appropriate topic for this week, the week after I have eaten nothing but candy. Really, I am pretty sure I had Hershey chocolate eggs for lunch at least twice last week. (They only come out at Easter so I have to get my fill when I can.)

There is not really a name for the diet I want to stick with. I believe it is called "eating a balanced diet and exercising". That is right. No hardcore stuff here. I just wish I could cut back on the sugar, increase the fruits and veggies (ewww) and exercise. But, for some reason, I can't seem to do it. I would love to be able to ride on a Saturday with my daddy's group (50 to 75 miles) or run a marathon with my aunt. Instead, I stay home and eat cinnamon rolls on Saturday mornings and can't run more than a mile.

I have actually been thinking a lot about this lately. The weather has been getting warmer and it looks like we will be making an appearance at the beach this summer. I have been looking at gyms and thinking about what I want to do to get in shape. Have I actually done anything? NO! I am getting really good about talking about it and I have become and authority on local gyms, what they offer, how much, do you have to sign a contract...

I am hoping that I will find the willpower, time and energy to start to workout. Between school, kids and their activities and my husband I am just wiped out. How do you find the time and energy to workout/exercise in all that you have going on?

One picure Easter

So, as I am looking at every one's Easter posts and all the pictures, I realized I only took one picture. Why the one picture I would have has to be this one... who knows?



I guess I can add that to the list of my horrible mommy moments. In spite of the lack of pictures, we had a great weekend. Friday the boys and I went over to my parents house and dyed eggs. The boys had a blast. My wonderful sister in law, Ana, did take a few pictures. You can visit her blog A Nabs Photography, and see them. Saturday, Will got to spend some time with Aunt Jess and Corey. Let me tell you, he felt like he was something else. Corey even bought him a hat just like his! Saturday night, we went to church with my family. Sunday we woke up to find the Easter bunny had come. He left lots of candy and a few little goodies. Then it was off to breakfast and to Matt's parents house. After our rounds of visiting, we came home and played outside the rest of the day. I have to say that was probably the best part of the whole weekend. We don't have a whole lot of time together, just the 4 of us. We had a great time!

My trip to the Principal

As if I was not already feeling like a failure as a mother because I have a rude, disrespectful toddler, who refuses to sleep, we have this. I get a note in the mail yesterday from the school board. The notes states that Will has had 6 unexcused absences and that I need to meet with his principal. If I fail to comply with the letter within 3 days, I will be turned into the juvenile court system for truancy! Great...

I am sure you will be relieved to know that the letter was sent to us by mistake. So, I spent a night worrying about what they would do to me and I didn't even need to. I go to meet the principal and she says that she wasn't sure why we got the letter but that Will was fine! Whew!

Such a punk

I love my child. I love my child. I love my child. This is the phrase that has been going through my head pretty much non stop this week. I don't know if he has hit a new stage, if it is the warmer weather or if he is just destined to be a punk but, whatever it is I have about had it with Ben. He has been so difficult this week. Anytime I ask him to do something, pick up his toys for example, he says, "No. You do it." Anything I say, he says "No, it's not." I am talking concrete facts here, not opinions. It is like he has already figured out how to get under my skin and does it just because he can. Then last night, he was fighting bedtime. I told him it was bedtime and picked him up and started off to his room with him. He starts twisting and turning and yelling, "You mean mommy." Why so soon Ben? Could you not wait to have a bad attitude until you are at least a little older. I have no idea how to handle this... What do ya'll do when your toddler is a punk? How do you handle it? I don't mind him having an opinion. I want him to have an opinion. I want him to be able to state what he thinks but, at the same time I need him to be respectful. I know there is a fine line here and I am not sure how to make sure he stays on the right side of it.

Me from A to Z

I just finished an essay test and rather than do anything productive until lecture starts I am going to do this.


A. AREA CODE : Good old Memphis, 901 baby

B. BED SIZE: King, no way we could sleep on anything smaller. In fact, the first night home from our honeymoon Will, Matt and I were all trying to sleep in a full. No one was sleeping. Matt got up turned on the lights and said, "I am real glad we did this! This is real fun! We got a king bed the next day.

C. CHORE YOU HATE: I don't really hate any of them. I like my house clean so, chores don't bother me.

D. DOG'S NAME: no dog

E. ESSENTIAL "START THE DAY!" ITEM: COFFEE!!!!!

F. FAVORITE COLOR: green

G. GOLD OR SILVER: silver

H. HEIGHT: not tall enough

I. INSTRUMENTS YOU PLAY: none

J. JOB: mommy and a student, mostly just a mommy

K. KIDS: Will 7 and Baby Ben 2

L. LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: a house??

M. MOM'S NAME: Dutchy

N. NICKNAME: Meg, Mommy, Meggie Muffin

O. OVERNIGHT HOSPITAL STAY: Appendectomy and babies

P. PET PEEVE: so, so many... a few are dirty car interiors, hearing people blow their noses, messes, poor grammar, automated phone systems

Q. QUOTE FROM A MOVIE: Really? There is no way I could just have one. My family can have an entire conversation made up of only movie quotes! I love quoting movies. Some of the best have to be Steel Magnolias, Napolean Dynamite and The Hangover

R. RIGHTY OR LEFTY?: Right

S. SIBLINGS: 2- one brother and one sister

T. TIME YOU WAKE UP: when Ben yells "Mommy, Come mere!" usually around 7.

U. UNDERWEAR: always

V. VEGGIE YOU DISLIKE: pretty much all of them

W. WAYS/REASONS YOU ARE LATE: me, my kids, my husband. I am usually late and always have a reason :)

X. XRAYS YOU'VE HAD: foot and hand

Y. YUMMY FOOD YOU MAKE: I make pretty good mashed potatoes and desserts

Z. ZOO ANIMALS YOU LIKE: I love the sea lions and the elephants!

Cozy

Last night, I was getting ready to put Will to bed. I turned down his bed and turned around to put some clothes up. I turned back around to find Ben in Will's bed covered up with his head on the pillow...

Me: "Get out of brother's bed. He needs to go ni-night."
Ben: "No. I cozy in here."

At least the child likes to be comfortable.

Sleepy, Sleepy Monday

Good morning! I hope ya'll had a great weekend. Mine was pretty good.

Friday night, Ben and I hung out with my dad. We just sat in their kitchen, ate junk food and colored with Ben. It was so much fun! I haven't spent time with just my dad in a long time.

Saturday, Will had his first baseball practice. It was a beautiful day. I just enjoyed sitting outside. I also really enjoyed watching Will play. This is the first year he has played where everyone has played before and knows what they are doing. It is almost like watching real baseball. I do have to admit that I will miss the cute moments from t-ball. I don't think we will have anybody sitting in the dirt making castles or running the wrong way around the bases this year. Nope. I am afraid this year they are all "hard core", as Will would say.

Sunday, we picked up Will and went as a family to Bass Pro. For those of you who don't know, Bass Pro is a hunting and fishing super store. It is the mecca of all things hunting and fishing. Needless to say, my boys love it there. Even little Ben loves Bass Pro. We didn't know it when we were going but they were having a Easter egg hunt and pictures with the Easter bunny there yesterday. So, while Matt shopped the boys and I found eggs and did Easter crafts. No picture with the Easter bunny though. Ben was scared to death and Will is way too cool to have his picture made with the Easter bunny (by himself). Last night we had dinner as a family, which was nice. Then it was bath and bed. Everyone went to bed wonderfully!!! This is a huge deal at our house. Bedtime is usually a battle but, last night it was great. I think everyone was worn out.

I hope that ya'll have a great week. Hopefully, for most of you, it will be a short week followed with a great Easter weekend. I am hoping to get the ground ready for my garden this week so, I will be able to have it all in and planted by the 15th. We are supposed to have nice weather and I am planning on taking advantage of it. We will see.

The Office

Favorite TV Comedy Show:

Hands down, "The Office"

In my opinion, this might be the funniest TV show ever!! If you have never watched it, you have got to. It just reminds me of places that I have actually worked. They manage to take all the stereo types of working in an office and combine them into one office!

It is one of those shows you can quote and each time you do you laugh a little.

"Change is a bad thing, just ask the climate." -Michael Scott



You should go to Jen's page and play along. There are a few shows that others have posted, I just might have to watch!

Better Late Than Never

I am participating in this weeks I "heart"... at You and Me Plus Three. Go there now to add yours and read others!!

I have to say that the "I Heart" posts are definitely my favorite posts. I love to read what others are thankful for and I love to share what means the most to me.

Here are this weeks...

I "heart" my husband! He is such a great father and a wonderful provider. He gives and does so much more than is required of him. I am truly blessed.

I "heart" hearing Ben talk and talk and talk.

I "heart" Will's heart. He is so kind and so thoughtful. He just has a way about him. He is so special and I love being able to watch him grow.

I "heart" the thunderstorm we had this morning.

I "heart" that it is almost time for flip flops! A few more weeks and my feet won't see socks or real shoes (as Matt calls them) until October!

I "heart" my parents. They are truly the smartest people I know. I hope that I will be like them when I grow up.

Joys of First grade

I picked Will up from school yesterday and this is what I get...

Will: "I might puke but don't worry if I do."
Me: "Do you feel bad? What's wrong? Let me feel your head."
Will: "No! I am fine but, a boy in my group threw up all over all the desks in our group. It even got on one girl! It was so gross!!" (He says this with total excitement)

Now I am worried about him getting a stomach bug and I am worried because he was so excited about it.

Two Things I Can't Live Without

Two things I can't live without...

My Vacuum Cleaner
I can be a bit of a freak about my floors. I like them to
be clean. I vacuum at least once a day and sadly sometimes
more.

My Washer and Dryer
This pretty much explains itself. I love clean clothes. I can't stand dirty clothes. I don't like them on my kids and I hate them in the laundry baskets. I don't know what I would do without my washer and dryer.


And just so you know these are the vacuum and washer and dryer I wish I used each day. The ones I actually use are not this cool.

The Weekend

I hope that ya'll had a lovely weekend. Our's had its moments. We had Will's basketball banquet Saturday. It was fun and he got a trophy, which we all know is the only reason to play any sport. Then, I left the boys with my mom so that I could go with Matt to the doctor. He has been sick for a while and waited until Saturday afternoon to decide he needed to be seen. Of course by then, the doctor's office was closed and he had to go to the minor med*. Three hours and a shot later, we came home. It rained yesterday and we were all able to get some much needed rest.

I am looking foward to this week. Everyone is done with spring break. I am ready to get back into some sort of routine. We just all seem to function better that way.


*Side Note- Matt has been sick since last Wednesday. I told him Thursday that he needed to go to the doctor. He didn't. He said he was fine. Saturday rolled around and he was still not feeling well. I told him he should go ahead and go to the doctor before they closed at 12. Again, he said he was fine. So what happened? He calls me at 1 and says he needs to go to the doctor! Why does he do this? Do any of ya'll's husbands do things like this or is it just mine?

Hearts and more

I am participating in this weeks I "heart"... at You and Me Plus Three. Go there now to add yours and read others!!

It is Thursday. We have made it through another week. I don't know about ya'll but this has been a hard week at our house. Will is on spring break and so we are out of our routine. Add to that the time change and we are just a mess!

My hearts this week are:

I heart that spring break is almost over. (Does this make me a bad mom?)

I heart my new straightener. No more holding it at an angle for it to get hot.

I heart the pictures hanging on my fridge made by my boys.

I heart the dinner my mom brought tonight. Sometimes you just need your mom.

I heart the Sunday school class I have recently joined.

I heart that my big project is done for the semester.

I heart our new remote.

I heart that it will be 70 and sunny tomorrow.

Oh- and one more thing...
Will was playing a game on the computer.
Will: "MOM! I own this game."
Me: "What do you mean own it? It is a computer game."
Will: "No, like they gave me the whole thing, the whole website!"
Me: "What? Why do you think that?"
Will: "Every time I win it says, 'You have won Funbrain' "

I love his logic!

Good Bye

Yesterday was a sad day in our house. We finally said good bye to Will's infamous Under Armour shirt. It had a long and happy life. I am sure that it will be missed.

Not I

It was not me who fed my child pizza almost every meal this weekend. I am always sure to offer only the most nutritionally sound meals to my children.

It was not me who broke my toe trying to step over toys instead of picking them up. I would never be so lazy.

It was not me who took all the hot water knowing my husband had to shower too. I could never be so selfish.

It was not me who ate an entire box of girl scout cookies in one day. I am way more health conscious than that.

It was not me who ran out of my deodorant and had to use my husband's.

It was not me who cleaned out the fridge and threw away the leftovers, containers and all. I am not wasteful and would never do such a thing. That is just throwing money away.

It was not me who washed the potty in the dishwasher*. That is just disgusting.


*There were no dishes present in the potty washing session of the dishwasher. Give me some credit.

Head on over to MckMama's page and play along, not that any of you would have anything you might want to confess! Have a great Monday. I hope that ya'll are having an easier time adjusting to the time change than I am. It seems to get harder every year.

Friday is my Favorite Day!

It is finally Friday! I feel like this week has flown by. I guess it seems like that because we have been so busy. Matt's yard business is in full swing. So, I have been in single mommy mode. I did not realize how much my Matty had started to help over the winter until this week when he wasn't here. Isn't that how it goes though?

Last night was Family Literacy Night at Will's school. We had a great time. The boys got free books and we heard a lot of good stories and met some really interesting people. There was a bit of an awkward moment when we went in one of the rooms. The presenter was a vet. Will walked in and recognized her. He said, "Aren't you the one that put my dog to sleep?". It was a classic Will moment. How he remembers her, I have no idea.

We don't have a whole lot planned for this weekend. Tonight is girls' night. I am really excited to have the chance to get away for a minute. Then tomorrow, my sister in law and I are going to get a mani/pedi and taking the kids! I will let you know how that turns out. I am sure it will be interesting. After that, NOTHING and I can't wait! I hope ya'll have a great weekend. Remember, we spring forward Saturday night (boo).

Favorite Friday

The topic for this week's "Favorite Fridays" is Favorite home Decor Shop.
Mine would have to be Pottery Barn. While I can't actually afford much from there now, I can dream! I love the way their stuff looks like you can actually use it. It all looks so inviting yet still pulled together and nice. One day, (I hope) my house will look like this...



What is your dream house decorated like?

Hearts

It Thursday and you know what that means... "I Heart Thursday"

I heart that my windows are open.

I heart my quiet house, even if it is for just a few more minutes.

I heart Easter candy, been eating waaay too much of it.

I heart my full pantry, even though I don't heart going to the grocery store.

I heart the invention of hi-lights. My hair looks so much better.

I heart my husband and all that he does for our family.

I heart the notes Will wrote on my grocery list.

I hope ya'll are having a great day. One more day 'til the weekend. YAY!