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that my kids have an uncle…he’s only 10 but he is their uncle….
we love Uncle Z
He got to spend the night last night and I think my boys were in heaven….he was too though. It’s a win win situation when Uncle Z is around.
Pretty sure JJ feels even more outnumbered but she’ll appreciate all these boys when she has to move 
This sums up our day thus far….will be back with more..later…maybe.
I failed today….I tried to get a quick photo of the kids all together….didn’t happen.
It was like it was 4 years ago and I didn’t know how to use my camera. Seriously?
Then when I did get it right I got a lot of shots like this
Nobody looking at the camera, eyes closed, arms up,neighbors dogs, crazy faces…..whatever…..I gave up…Big read F for this mama!!!
So I cheated…and made this.
Don’t worry…we will try again when we have more time and can drive to my favorite location. Will I get cards out this? This is doubtful.
This is it…it is where it all happens…the homework, the tears, the conversations, the laughter, the art projects,the spilled milk, lego building, painting, coloring….It is the life of the house….it has history written all over it, literally. I have red, purple and black sharpie markings, the ones that soaked through the paper while making Grandma a thank you letter…we have hearts, dots and peace signs. We have blue and pink paint dried on from two girls painting frames….All of this makes me smile.
I look at my kitchen table and see life…..memories….love….relationships….
This table is always a mess and you know what? I don’t care…it’s life..the good life.
Yep…That is right! I got my chin up and that is where it’s going to stay. The next month is going to be the last stressful month I allow myself to experience. Will I still have stressful moments? YES! that is part of life. But this next month is the last that I will constantly feel stress weighing on my shoulders. I can already feel the weight getting lighter, it’s still there but my chin is up. When that weight is lifted completely there will be a party post…my own personal party. I will have photos of shiny happy people(who doesn’t like a good R.E.M reference?).
Now onto television….I watch too much TV. I am aware of this. It’s my entertainment so be it.
The Duggars….I can’t get over what those kids eat? Half cooked ramen noodles for breakfast? Really? First that is gross and second for breakfast? How does that give her brain power? And that baby, not even a year old, eating a lollipop? ACK! I about fell over. I wonder if they have ever had fresh fruit or veggies…everything I see comes out of a can(my kids don’t like anything out of a can). Then they show Joy trying to do her homework and there is chaos all around her, don’t they have a school room where they all do school together and then another room the little ones can play in? The more I see of this family the less impressed I am with them. I do love the love they have but……
I am sad that Jon and Kate plus 8 is ending. I really like that show. I am also sad that they never made it to Korea..boo to Jon…I think that would have been such an awesome adventure for them(okay for me to get to watch) . I would love to see Kate in a foreign country…she would be a big ball of stress the whole time…I just know it.
Biggest Loser…how inspiring is this show? 10 weeks and they are looking so awesome…doing it the right way and kicking butt. I am on the get in shape train again..oh yeah..no more muffin top and thighs touching (we need a name for this…drumsticks??)…NO MORE!! I am going to do this. Thank you biggest loser!!! I am also hoping to get Mr. Fun on the healthy train as well….it’s hard with his schedule but I am going to try.
Have I mentioned I LOVE swings? Everything about swings…
I do…Swings make the world a better place. If you put two people that were mad at each other and made them swing next to each other…..the outcome would be positive….I am sure of it. I just know it. You cant swing and not feel happy. You just can’t. You can multitask while swinging too. That is always a plus, right?
T insisted on wearing his preschool shirt today….do you blame him? I don’t. His preschool is not only cool it rocks the free world.
doesn’t he look older here..like a 6 year old or something..what is that about?
I bought myself a purse today….I did…I bought myself something I didn’t need…it cost all of $4.00. Yep, four dollars!!!
And it’s the perfect Vegas purse!!! if only I was going to Vegas….
Now look at these two….
They make me smile…they are both super smart…super adventurous….
They both make me smile daily….they both drive me crazy…daily….in different ways
This is the time we all come together. It isn’t always easy and there is for sure to be whining and complaining about at least one thing on the menu. As they get older it is getting better. The other night it was lasagna…..something that none of the kids would eat 18 months ago. This night they ate it, they may have not enjoyed it as much as shake-n-bake pork chops but they ate it. This to me says SCREAMS to me “YOUR KIDS ARE GROWING UP”.
T still doesn’t like any veggies or fruit enough to eat anymore than his “no thank you” bite. There are still certain foods he absolutely refuses to even try, actually some he refuses to even take a second look at. Which is fine, I respect that. After all his puking incidents at home and at EVERY restaurant we have learned to trust him and his words. His reactions and facial expressions also let us know when and if he is going to spew. I am an expert puke catcher….not something you can put on a resume but still…..something I do well.
We went out to a sit down dinner, something we haven’t done in months, and we made it through without any threats, fighting, crying OR PUKING…not even a near puking. Although we still had the knee up, the sliding under the table, the spilled ketchup, the torn in half styrofoam cup (not sure who had the brilliant idea that styrofoam was better than plastic for the kids meal cups??? they obviously have never met Wy), one bathroom break as I was inhaling my dinner because it was actually warm, and the kicking of siblings under the table ……BUT it was a quiet and enjoyable dinner. I was happy, I was calm, I wasn’t stressed.
I think the dinner table is becoming my favorite place…….
It is becoming something I enjoy almost as much as walking on the beach with my kids. We laugh, we share stories about our days, we tell jokes and enjoy each other.
Today was a good day….
A very good day…
I felt pretty today..
I had a great day with friends and finished it up with a great evening with my family.
The End!
Today we slept in…we enjoyed a lazy morning of movies. I got to sip 3…yes, THREE still warm cups of coffee. It is still Wednesday though..this mid week day off has thrown me for a loop.
I tried to work and soon realized it wasn’t a day for work. I packed up 3 boys, 2 scooters, 1 trike and off we went to our favorite park. As we pulled in they were disappointed at the sight of the crowds. It’s usually not a crowded park so I will admit I was disappointed too. There is always a positive though….this time it was that three of T’s friends from school were there. None of us together or meeting up, totally random. T had a lot of fun playing with his friends outside of school. Of course I looked like hell froze over and probably smelled worse. Like I said the park is usually empty so I didn’t care about my appearance or smell factor. I was going to the park to roll in the sand with my kids.
I don’t recommend rolling in the sand and taking photos though….
So not only did we all leave needing baths my camera sensor did too…boo hoo!
The shoes always come home needing a bath too….it just means we all had a lot of fun
One girl was jumping and rolling in the sand with Wy and T and her dad says very loudly “Vanessa, don’t roll around in the sand, that’s yucko. you can play just stay out of the sand” as he’s staring at me encouraging their jumps and rolling…this made me laugh. Laugh so hard that I decided to say even louder T and Wy if you are going to roll in the sand just make sure you keep your mouth closed. He politely walked over and picked up his daughter and left. Uptight parents just make me laugh……
I am also glad that I am not part of this crazy group that are classified as the world’s strictest parents. I watched an episode today and WOW!!! so glad I let my kids express themselves and have opinions….yes, we have rules and boundaries BUT my kids also get to have freedoms that will teach them to choose right from wrong. They get to wear tank tops and funky clothing if they choose to, this does not include saggy pants that show your boxers or low rise jeans that show your underwear. What? I said with boundaries. They get to have a messy room and watch cartoons and listen to ALL KINDS of music. They have friends of all religions and will get to have their first kiss in their early teen years that they will want to share with me. I am hoping they won’t/don’t feel they have to hide such things. I am proud of our happy medium we got going on. We respect everyone and everything, we use our manners, we don’t say bad or hurtful things(well at least not to the persons face..oh shut it…we can’t like everyone). We do however listen to all music but hymns and opera, watch television and play video games daily…yes, daily. We also haven’t attended church since moving to Phoenix 5 years ago…can you believe it? A non organized religion family….Do we believe in God? I can’t speak for all of us…you would have to ask all of them. As for me, if you read regularly you can take an educated guess.
Look at these eyes..wow..today they were super blue. They took me by surprise every time I caught sight of them.
They aren’t always this brilliant. They are always beautiful but today they were brilliantly beautiful.
For the photographers…SOOC..sharpened in LR and a slight curves adjustment in PS.
It’s been quiet around here. Not much going on. G is fighting a cold which causes him to snore which wakes up T. So T has been in bed with us for too many nights in a row. Shortly after T gets settled and everyone is comfortable Wy can be heard walking down the hall. Then nobody is comfortable for the rest of the night.
The boys are really into Harry Potter right now. The light sabers are now being used as flying broomsticks and magic wands. JJ is still not a fan.
I saw a commercial the other day. I forget what it was about or what it was advertising. What I do remember is seeing the lady standing in the snow with a smile and it looking so pretty. I had a moment…..a brief moment but still a moment. In this moment I had a thought…a scary thought. I thought…..It wouldn’t be so bad to live where it snows.
I know I have bored you all so I am going now….tomorrow is park day with the boys. It was supposed to be holiday photo day but JJ made plans with a friend and Mr. Fun is going to work. So BOO to the two of them.
me wishing i had a fisheye lens…
