labor of pride

I spent a good part of my weekend washing windows.  It's a time consuming, tedious, labor intensive job that is totally and utterly worth it to me.  It always starts here...

Always.  I love this room in my house.  It's a three season porch and we spend a lot of time out here in the spring and fall.  Yesterday I started the task of sweeping and de-ladybugging which led me window washing.  Once I start in there, I cannot stop!  The colors outside become so vivid, the view so clear, it's like a drug...on I go throughout the house, cleaning windows.  About 3 hours in I always think, "Why the heck did I start this?"

I know the answer.

It's pride.  Many of you know, well let's be honest, all of you know {I doubt I've picked up any new readers} that we've been working on our house for a ba-gillion years.  Our initial timeline for home improvements fell by the wayside a LONG time ago.  Let's just say that our house needed new paint, a new front porch floor, and a new roof about 5 years ago.  Roof....check.  Paint....1/2 check.  New front porch floor....ummmm....scheduled for this spring?  So, basically, our house looks pretty dumpy from the outside.  Most people, who know us, know that we're working on it.  For those who don't know us....I just want them to see how freakin' clean my windows are!  Because how many scurveballs do you know who take the time to wash their windows?

Right?   Right.

So that's my motivation.  That, and it's so much easier to see Spring's beautiful show through spotless glass.

a first {and probably last} attempt...

...for a while anyway!

style baby!

random

I've decided that once a month I'm going to write a random post.

Just some thrown together stuff.

Deep thoughts maybe.

Maybe not.

And, today's the day...lucky you!


On my bookshelf right now.....

10 Conversations You Need To Have With Your Child by Schmuley Boteach
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

My new favorite chocolaty snack...

This is yummy!  First introduced to me by my sister Karen {thank you very much} several months ago and then re-introduced to me by Super Target who started carrying it and placed it in a location where I saw it and was reminded of it's goodness!

My most recent Rescued Junk purchase...

An old drawer makes a perfect trophy shelf!  And only $16!  I love it....Chris thinks I'm crazy but puts up with me anyway.

My most recent children's book purchase....

An oldie but a goodie!  Miss Suzy and her house in the "tip, tip, top of a tall oak tree" is an old favorite I couldn't wait to share with Eden!  Loved the story and the pictures then...love them even more today!

My FAVORITE Disney purchase....

These silhouettes were only $8 per child and it was AMAZING how talented this little old woman was who cut these.  If you've been to Disney I'm sure you've seen these, but I'm still so impressed with the talent these people possess.  The kids sat in a chair across from this woman who eyeballed them and snipped away simultaneously while she created each silhouette.  And they look like my children!  I love them and will cherish them till the day I die!  I'm still trying to find the perfect spot for them...

How's that for random?  Happy Friday!

nine

The final birthday of 2012 {well, for the kids anyway}.  We obviously had poor family planning!  Three birthdays starting Feb. 5th and ending March 7th....every year.  My first born bringing up the rear....every year.  How unfair is that?

He was quick to point out to me that I was "on top of it" for Eden and Ty's birthdays, but seem to have lost interest in his.  Ouch.  True, I'm a bit worn out come March 7th but I have not lost interest!  Not in this sweet boy!

Being the oldest, his baby, baby pics were taken on a film camera.  So, I have zero little baby pics to share.  {except his 9 mos. picture because I have the disc from that shoot}  Even his 1st birthday was shot on film.  Oh well, he is the only one with an actual album, so he should feel special about that!

9 mos.

I honestly don't know where the time has gone.  A total cliche statement, but really he was this little dragon yesterday....

2

2

2

I couldn't wait to meet Colin.  We knew he was a "he" before he came.  He had a name.  He just wouldn't come, and so I made him come...we induced...and boy does this child have a birth story!  

My first lesson in the life of a Mom...you cannot control everything!  And, my second lesson...your heart just grows and grows and expands... to sizes that you never dreamed possible!

big moments!  {2...but 3 in a few weeks!}             

3

4

                                                                                     

the force is strong with  this one!

5

                                                                                 

kindergarten t-ball

6

another BIG moment!

7

a BIG mess after LHF daycamp

L.O.V.E this kid!

8

And now... with a heart three times bigger than I ever knew was possible {and still stretching}.

9!  a whole new year!

For each year these kids tack on, I can still see this one's brand new, little eyes searching my face.  I cannot believe 9 years has passed.  How he's grown...how I've grown.  And I know that very first night I met him won't be the last time he keeps me up into the wee hours of the morning {like tonight, for instance}.  He's still teaching me how to be a Mom...the good, the bad, and the ugly...and I'm so grateful.

Happy Birthday, Colin!  I love you!

{just a little side note...he was actually born on the 7th, but so late it was almost the 8th so this post is still technically on time :) }







                                                                               

                                                                             

beautiful ride

Parenting is hard.  Sometimes I want to pack my bags and run away to Australia. {it's warm there most of the time, right?}  Sometimes I think,  "I'm not mature enough to handle this crap".  Silly, since I'm close to a year away from the big 4-0...but still, that's how I feel.  I feel that way mostly when my kids are hurting from something someone said or did...when I fight with my own hurt feelings over it.  When I have to restrain myself from accosting some child {or teacher, or coach} at school.

I'm sounding crazy, I know.  I'm really not.

Bottom line: I want to protect my children from hurt.  I want the world to see how truly amazing and wonderful they are.  I want everyone to see them as I do, imperfect but perfect.  But, that's not real life.  In real life everyone doesn't like everyone else.  People hurt other people's feelings.  People are unfair to each other.  It happens.  All.  the.  time.

We had an incident like that the other day.  I thought Colin was treated unfairly.  I wanted to whip out an e-mail and let it rip {anyone up for a game of Bey Blades?}.  Thankfully I have a husband and a best friend to talk me down.  It's life.  Sometimes you just have to grin and bear it.  Turn the other cheek.  Be the bigger person.  {add another cliche here}

But, I digress.  The whole point of this post was to share one of my new favorite songs.  It's appropriate for occasions like those mentioned above...and many others.  It's kinda been my anthem lately...although the video itself isn't my favorite, I'm loving the song...

It's my 3 year blogging anniversary!  Back then Ty looked like this....

and Colin looked like this....

It's true...those are two of the first pictures that I posted on this blog! 

Initially, I started my blog as a kind of therapy after losing Clementine...it became a way for me to focus on things other than her loss.  {Thank you, Sarah, for encouraging me to start one!}  It gave me a way to be able to write about things that I considered important, funny, and interesting...about my blessings and the things that are going well in my life.  It was, and still is, therapeutic for me.  Sometimes I've posted something that should have remained in draft form forever.  I'm human.  Those entries are a real part of my life, and although it may have been better to have left it publicly unsaid, they remain there as proof of my imperfection.

The goal remains to make this a place where I record our family history.  To focus on the good and the fun things, but not to be too "Pollyanna"-ish.  This is, after all, real life.  :)

Thanks for reading my blog.  Thanks for commenting {for those of you who comment} because I do L.O.V.E. comments! :)  Until next time...

and the 6-year-old speaks...a birthday interview

6 Things About Ty

              by Ty

1. I'm smart.

2. I have a good imagination.

3. I build Lego's.

4. I have manners.

5. I clean the bathrooms and do chores.

6. That you {Mom} love me.

• favorite color: Blue
• favorite book : Diary of a Wimpy Kid
• favorite game: Pokemon {ugh!}
• favorite friend{s}: Payton and Claire
• favorite sport: soccer
• favorite food: tacos

Q:What makes you happy?  

A: Birthdays.

Q: What makes you sad?

A: When my brother got stitches.

Q: What makes you mad?

A: When I talk and no one's listening to me.

Q: What makes you scared?

A: The dark.

Q: What makes you excited?

A: Going to Build-A-Bear.  {which is where we are headed tomorrow morning with 1 school friend                                          {Claire},  cousins Jaxson and Cally, and Colin and Eden for his Birthday party!}

Happy Friday!

6

  My middlest is six...SIX...ugh, it chokes me up!

days

weeks

months {3}

almost year

year

more days

more weeks

more months

years {2}

years {3}

major moments

years {4}

years {5}

        

a whole new year {6}

This child has brought me so much joy.  He has made me very, very frustrated.  I love him.  I am proud of him.  He wears me out, but I love him anyway!  I pray for the strength and patience it will take to raise him.  I am blessed to be his Mom...

Happy Birthday Ty-ty!

adjusting

So we've been back for 5 days, and may I just say that reality sucks?

Not really, but I would much rather live in a world where I was on permanent vacation.  Fun things planned everyday.  I could leave the house with my bed unmade and towels on the floor and come home to a tidy room.  I wouldn't have to meal plan or even cook and yet I could go months without having to eat the same thing twice.

Wake up!

So reality is that we've been back to work and school.  We've had to cook and clean and do laundry.  And, probably the worst part, there is snow on the ground and the temps have been bitterly cold.  Our noses have been bleeding, our skin itchy and dry, our lips chapped and sore.

Let's look at some vacation pictures, shall we?  I'm starting to get depressed.

"the only way out is down!"...5 stories!  SO MUCH FUN!

best brothers

my "sugar- hound"

Epcot Illuminations...beautiful!

my loves {in front of Rockin' Rollercoaster}

Ty's very favorite moment!  We had to pry him away from Lightning!

Elvis!

Colin...my boy...this picture makes my heart hurt {in a good way!}

Eden's 2nd Birthday...the whole place sang to her

joy

8 scoops of ice cream+every topping in the place+1 whole can of whipped cream =the "kitchen sink"
A whole lot of YUM and a little bit of tummy ache...

look at the crowd!  And this is the "off season"...

magic!

I am already planning a return visit.  Seriously.  It cannot come soon enough!  We had such a great time with just a few minor mishaps involving poo and stitches.  Not at the same time, mind you.  Colin has a permanent reminder of our trip to Disney on his face.  I'll never forget his excitement this trip...Ty's either.  They couldn't wait to get anywhere...constant motion!  And, I'll always feel a bit embarrassed to show my face in Canada after what Eden did there.  And may I just offer a bit of advice?  Never leave home without PLENTY of wipes {if you have a diaper wearing child}.  You never know when and where you're going to really, really need some.  And also, be very careful when putting a diaper on...don't leave any cheeks hagin' out!  Just sayin...

We'll continue to adjust to our real lives and hopefully I can get around to blogging more regularly and maybe even change my header to one that doesn't look so generic!  Till next time...