"Girl" picture

We were getting ready to go take someone a birthday present when Talan asked if he could give give her a picture that he had colored. Of course, how cute will that be? He announced very excitedly that he had the perfect "girl" picture for her that he had colored. Imagine my utter shock when my sweet little 4 yr old produced the following picture with pride:

Oh my gosh!!!!!! Does anyone else find it totally disturbing that whoever made this children's coloring book thought it appropriate to include this?

Needless to say, we settled on a coloring of spiderman instead. Now I get to "screen" all coloring books. That is great because I have actually been trying to find stuff to do in all of my "spare time."

Imperfectly Perfect

I know I spend most of my time on this site focusing on the not-so-fun aspects of being a mom of these boys, but this is my designated space to do that! That said, there is so much fun and good that we experience everyday that will soon be highlighted on my other blog (that is currently under construction).

I was starting to feel frustrated with all the things that I was facing on a daily basis. (It is hard being a mom to 2 very active boys). I want whoever reads this to know that this is part of my life, this is reality, and that's ok. I look at so many "this-is-my-perfect-life" blogs and that is fine, but I want to share my challenges here. I am probably too transparent and honest, but maybe if you've ever experienced some of the things I do it will help to know that someone else has been through it too. No, my life isn't "perfect" because everything goes right for me all the time. My life is "perfect" for me because what I experience on a daily basis adds to the person that I am. My life feels perfect when my husband hugs me, or when my children get me up in the morning by climbing on me and giving me kisses on my cheeks until I am awake. I am an imperfect person....as clearly evidenced on this blog! I am clumsy, uncoordinated, grumpy in the morning, airheaded, always 5-10 minutes late, a procrastinator.....just to name a few of my many flaws! I love that my husband, family, and friends know all of these things about me and accept me anyway. What could be more perfect than that?

Potty Time Update

Except for one episode of peeing down the heat vent this week (yeah, not the easiest place to clean), Tyce has resorted to going in his diaper again. (Thank you!). I'm not ready to potty-train another kid yet!

Talan went all week with no accidents and as a reward got to pick out the same power ranger toy that he gave his friend Tanner for his birthday. We are very, very proud of him.

I've decided that if I can survive potty-training, I can survive anything. It has honestly been one of my biggest challenges, but it has taught me patience on a whole new level, being prepared (the time you forget the extra diaper at the store is the time you are going to need it), and it has made me realize that as a mother I don't really have a clue sometimes and that it is ok to ask for help (from my family, friend's going through the same thing, and my Heavenly Father). Thanks for all the support!

Talan's Broken Heart

It was about an hour before Talan was going to go to his friend Tanner's birthday party when I asked him if he would like to help me wrap the present I had for him to take. He was really excited to help until he saw the gift.....a totally awesome red power ranger. Excitement quickly turned to tears as he declared that he didn't even have a power ranger and that he just wanted to keep this one and give his friend something different. Although it would have been much easier to just give in I thought I would let this be a teaching moment about how to be a good friend and that we don't always get what we want. Let me tell ya, that was a looooong hour as we waited for the party to start. My constant reply of "No" was repeatedly met with despaired sobs of how that was the only toy that he has every wanted. I finally gave him the option to go to the party with the present or stay home and I would take the present to Tanner by myself. Luckily he chose the first option and I think actually had a great time.

The next day Talan was happily ancipating the arrival of his friend Luke who was coming over to play. At the time he was supposed to get there Talan took his post at the front window to watch for him. About every 30 seconds he would ask "Mom, where is he? Why isn't he here yet? Why is he taking forever?, etc....After 1/2 an hour of this we found out that Luke wasn't going to be able to come and play that day after all. The tears and sobs began and I watched him go from being so excited to totally devastated. (It amazing how HUGE such little things are to kids). :.(
As the crying continued to excalate I asked Talan if he wanted to come sit on my lap and give me a hug. He climbed on and melted into my arms. As I began rocking him, I suggested that he stay here until he didn't feel sad anymore. He looked up at me with his big blue tear-filled eyes and whispered, "Mom, can I stay here forever?" Yeah, that was pretty much the sweetest moment ever. Unfortunately for me, "forever" to him meant until 3 minutes later when we had arranged for him to play with another friend.

Escape of the Baby

Why do I take Tyce shopping with me? I have asked myself this many times and yet continue to hope for the best on the next trip. I took him to Roberts with me because all I had to buy was some ribbon. The moment we walked into the store he started trying to run away from me. Each time I would pick him up and hold him as he kicked and screamed until my arms got too tired and then the whole thing would start again with him trying to run off. Had he stayed with me all along the shopping would have lasted all of 5 minutes.

When I finally had my ribbon selection in my arms (and began to wonder why I didn't get a cart), Tyce took off toward the back of the store. I happened to have about 10 spools of ribbon in my arms (one falling with each step and then another falling each time I would reach down to grab the first one that fell). I decided to go up the next isle over and cut him off. Well, at some point he decided to change course and headed to the front of the store instead. As I approached the back wall I realized that he had outsmarted me. As I quickened my pace to the front of the store, I tried to fight off the sick feeling that he had run out the front doors of the store into the parking lot. I began the embarrassing but necessary task of yelling out Tyce's name in all directions as I scanned each isle on my way to the store's entrance. At the front of the store was a lovely store clerk holding my little Tyce and giving him a balloon. (Because he is sooo cute and innocent and his bad mommy can't even keep track of her barely-2-year-old little darling while she shops).

"I'll take that little boy off your hands," I said nearly out-of-breath. Just then an eruption of laughter and chuckles erupted from behind me. I turned around to see a line of at least 15 people watching all the events unfold. Another great humiliating mommy moment for me.

The Curse of the Garage Door

No, I didn't run into the garage door with my car again. (Thank goodness!). I was hurriedly (is that a word?) putting my kiddos in the car so I could make it to my aerobics class on time (for once), and then I pushed the wall button that opens the garage (since my remote opener has been suspended from my possession indefinitely). I closed the car door to the back seat only to have the emergency release string for the garage door get slammed into the top of the car door as the garage door was almost to the top. As I realized what I had done I quickly opened the door but was a milisecond too late. The emergency release had disengaged the garage door and it went slamming to the ground with a bang.

I tried for awhile to get the garage door hooked back up to the chain, but after what seemed like forever, I let my squealing kids go back inside and realized the gym was not going to happen today. I called Ryan and even consulted the unhelpful garage-door-owners-manual to see if I could figure this out on my own so we wouldn't be trapped at the house all day. If you know me at all you know that I am clumsy and uncoordinated to begin with, but it is magnified when I try to do anything of a "handyman" nature. Despite this unfortunate characteristic of mine, I was able to get the dang-stupid-dumb-cursed thing working in less than an hour. Gym back on baby.

Well, maybe not. When I went inside to collect the boys Talan was running down the hall with poop all over his legs. "I tried to call for you mom but you didn't hear me!" Talan cried. That's because I was fixing the garage door that is trying to kill me. After cleaning him up I began to find poop smears scattered throughtout the house.....on the shower wall, the bathroom counter, his dresser, in Tyce's room and on the outside of at least four other diapers. Poop is my life.

Outhouse

Does my house look like a toilet to you? I guess it does to my children. Tyce has out-smarted the onsie technique and has resorted to unsnapping, undiapering, and undoing all my best efforts to keep my carpets clean by peeing in about 5 different places today. I think I am officially sick of scrubbing my carpets!!!! I just had them steam cleaned a month ago and I think I will invest in it again. What am I supposed to do with him???? He is so naughty and he knows he is not supposed to do it because when he realizes he has been busted he starts smiling, laughing, and running away from me. What a turkey. I just wish he would point out the puddles to me first before my sock finds it for me.

Talan decided to undo being completely potty-trained by "skidding" in multiple pairs of underwear today, hiding them in various garbages, and attempting to wipe all by his little own self. I can handle that. It is when I find streaks of brown poop painted on different walls throughout the house that I sort of start to lose it. I just don't get it. He also left a lovely yellow trail of pee down the hall and across the bathroom floor because running with your pants down when you have to go isn't always the best option. At least it wasn't as bad as finding poop chunks down the hall like last week when he decided to go commando in his spiderman costume and didn't quite make it to the toilet in time. I am probably going to get sick from all the chlorox and cleaners I have been inadvertently inhaling as I attempt to sterilize my house and consider getting sterilized myself. (Just kidding mom....sort of)...

Just a Mom

Last night at work I was asked by my boss why I didn't work fulltime. "Are you just a mom?" Wow. While some moms may be offended by that, I actually was not. I wanted to say "Being a mom is my REAL job; here I'm just a nurse." I know that to some people being a mom isn't recognized as being as important as careers and professions, but to me striving to be the best mom and wife is the most important work that I do. Even when it's tough. Even when I feel like my efforts go unrewarded and unnoticed. Even when I feel like I am failing completely.

Found this quote today and thought I'd share....

"Motherhood brings as much joy as ever, but it still brings boredom, exhaustion, and sorrow too. Nothing else ever will make you as happy or as sad, as proud or as tired, for nothing is quite as hard as helping a person develop his own individuality especially while you struggle to keep your own." -Marguerite Kelly and Elia Parsons

Not the Onsie!

Since Tyce has made it a sport of removing his pants and diaper at every opportunity and then peeing on the carpet, I have started putting a onsie on him to make it harder for him to undress and to prevent our house from becoming condemned due to urinary contamination. The other day he tried to protest this new strategy of mine by saying, "NO, not the baby costume!!!"

Potty-word Fest

In the last couple of weeks my cute little innocent not-even-2-year-old Tyce has mastered a few of the following words: (mind you his vocabulary only consists of about 50 distinguishible words to begin with).....

1. "Stupid"
2. "Dumb" (Those are usually said when he is yelling and pointing at someone that is bugging him.
3. "Kill"
4. "Spank ya bum, spank ya bum" and....
5. "Shake ya bum, shake ya bum" ( while sticking his bottom out and shakin' it).

Thank you soooo much big brother for teaching him all of these choice words and accompanying actions.

Pumpkin Carving Gag Fest

I was downstairs the other night when Ryan and Talan began carving pumpkins. All the sudden I hear "Bri, Talan needs your help." I run upstairs to find Talan hunched over in full-body wretching. Each time he stood up he would look at the slimy-pumpkinseeded goo all over his hands and start gagging again. It wasn't until I could stop laughing and wash his arms off that the dry-heaving stopped. I guess carving pumpkings wasn't what he expected so he resorted to coloring the other pumpkins with markers.

"Puffy Girl Things"

The other day Talan brought his spiderman costume to Ryan and announced that he would no longer wear it. When asked why he simple stated "It has puffy girl things." Huh? "What puffy girl things?" Ryan asked. "You know, with the 'ipples." (He thinks nipples are called 'ipples and I haven't corrected him yet). Apparently the spiderman costume muscles were a little to "puffy" and girl-like in the bust area for him.

Top Ten Miserable Moments (this month)

I wasn't going to post again until I had something positive and uplifting to write. However, too many lousy things have happened since my last post and I thought I would share it all with you. As a warning you should probably know that you will think I am not very bright at the end of this. I am thinking that I might have early-onset ahlzheimers or that I suffered permanent brain damage in my last car accident. Here goes:

10. BACKING INTO THE GARAGE DOOR AGAIN! (Read previous post before reading this). After backing into my garage door a second time, I realized that it was my fault the first time too! Out of habit I will push the garage door button and then put the car in reverse. I then look in my rearview mirror until the garage door is out of sight before I back up. Well, since my garage door was already up when we loaded into the car, the garage door started going down as I got ready to reverse. Looking into the mirror, I didn't see the garage door because it was just starting to go down, so (working in auto pilot) I started to reverse. Same crashing noise as before and then it hit me. I was the one to blame!!! (Sorry Talan and Tanner for blaming you last time). (and Ry, sorry for being an idiot). Needless to say, I had trapped the car in the garage again.

9. MESSING UP ROLLS AND JELLO (you didn't think that was possible, did you?). My mom invited us to dinner and I was going to bring rolls and jello. Simple enough. After watching the rolls sit on the cookie sheet for an hour without rising, I realized that I had gotten the yeast out of the fridge, but had failed to actually put it into the dough. I even put the yeast back into the fridge without realizing that I had failed to use it. While the rolls weren't rising, I made jello and put it in the fridge to cool. Later when I realized I had to make more dough, I went to get the yeast out of the fridge and saw very tiny handprints on my jello and chunks missing from the middle. Thank you Tyce. When we started making more jello, I realized that I needed 2 more cups of water in the first batch anyways. Honestly, who messes up JELLO?

8. BACKING INTO THE GARAGE DOOR.... AGAIN. If you think it wouldn't be possible to make this mistage yet again, you are wrong. Yes, I did it again. However, the car was not so lucky this time, Instead of the bike rack saving the car from true damage, the garage door hit the top of the car and left some beautiful scratches. Then the garage door wouldn't go up or down. I put the car in park and tried to push the garage back up but it wouldn't stay up. There I am standing on the back of my car holding up the garage door and looking around to make sure none of my neighbors see what I have done (yet again). Then I realize that if I let go of the garage door it will scratch and possible dent the car again. I started calling my nearest neighbors to see if they would come rescue me. No luck there. Then (thank goodness) my neighbor happened to be walking across the street and quickly came to my rescue. She held up the garage while I backed the car out. On the bright side, at least I hadn't trapped us in the garage again. Not so bright side, I have to tell Ryan he gets to fix the garage door again. It is amazing the with all the dents and parts hanging off the bottom of the garage door that it still works. My garage door opener has been confiscated and I get to use the wall button or the keypad. Good job Bri.

7. FALLING ASLEEP WITH COOKIES IN THE OVEN. Thank goodness I didn't burn the house down and kill us all. It was the last batch (which I often briefly forget about and burn) but it was late and I was a little tired. I decided to lay on my bed and watch TV until the cookies finished. Next thing I know Ryan is waking me up over an hour later! He had just come home from a meeting and noticed the smell. I am suprised (and very grateful) that there wasn't more smoke. My sweet boys were sleeping in their rooms and I hate to think what could've happened had Ryan not come home when he did.

6. TYCE FALLING OUT OF THE SHOPPING CART. My cute boy wanted to help dad put stuff from Home Depot into the back of the car and over-reached. He fell and landed on his head and back. He just cried for a minute and thankfully was just fine.

5. LEAVING TUPPERWARE LIDS ON A HOT OVEN BURNER. (That's right....LIDS. There was more than one). After making macaroni for the kids I started on some spagetti for Ryan. I took the sauce out of the fridge and put it in the microwave. The lid was a little to close to the burner that I cooked the macaroni on and it started to melt. After throwing the lid outside and turning on the fan, I thought we were in the clear. I finished making the spagetti and then began the kitchen cleanup. I don't even know how, but at some point I put another lid on the burner that the noodles had been cooking on. I started to wonder why the burnt plastic smell seemed to be getting worse. Now I have 2 tupperware containers without matching lids and I need to get 2 new oven burners. And we will probably get lung cancer from inhaling all the burnt plastic. (I know, housewife of the year).

4. TYCE TAKING OFF HIS DIAPER AND PANTS 20 TIMES A DAY. I don't know why he does it, but he seems to think it is REALLY funny when he takes off the diaper and then pees on the carpet. Masking tape doesn't work because he just slides the diaper off. I am considered permanent overalls.

3. FINDING AN ENTIRE PITCHER OF JUICE SPILLED OUT ON MY HALL CARPET. I had just emerged from the bathroom to find Tyce in my room trying to open a bottle of ketchup. Wow, that was a close call. Disaster averted. His hair looked a little wet but I just figured he had been splashing in the toilet again. On my way to the kitchen I see a huge puddle of orange juice soaking into my recently steam-cleaned carpet. Apparently Tyce was thirsty and decided to walk onto the carpet before attempting to drink straight from the pitcher.

2. WAKING UP SOAKING WET AND WREAKING OF URINE. I'm 30 years old. I thought I was past this. Wait, my pants aren't wet, just my shirt is. TALANNNNNNN! He thought he would sneak into my bed during the night to snuggle and get warm. Then he wet the bed (and me) and went back to his bed. Thanks buddy.

1. WATCHING TYCE FALL OUT THE 2ND STORY WINDOW. This was definitely the worst moment of my whole entire life. I was laying out the pieces of a blanket in Tyce's room and it was so hot. I opened the window to let in some air. A few minutes later, Tyce ran in (without a diaper, of course) so I put a new diaper on him. He climbed up on the window sill and started talking and yelling at some kids playing outside. The screen was on so I didn't even think anything of it. It was kinda cute watching him dance and laugh and talk to the kids outside. Next thing I know I hear him cry out and I look up to see him going head first out the bottom of the window. The screen had popped out and he had tumbled forward. I was sure I was going to find my baby boy's lifeless body on the driveway below. I was to the window in 1/2 a second and with more relief than you can imagine, I saw his body clutching to the roof that extends out from his window at a downward slant. His precious little face was looking up at me. "It boke (broke) mama." I pulled him up and hugged that sweet boy all night. My crying and guilt has continued for days, but I have never been more thankful for a miracle in my life.

Garage Door Disaster

Last week I was getting ready to go to the chiropracter. I had to take Talan's friend home first, so I had Talan and Tanner climb into the car and I buckled Tyce in his car seat. I ran back in the house to get my keys and then came and started the car. As I began backing up the car I felt the car hit something and heard a loud crashing sound. I stopped the car and looked behind the car to find that the garage door was down about 2 feet. I guess the kids had pushed the garage door button and as it started to close, they pushed it again which made it stop. It was up high enough that I didn't notice it when I got in the car. The bike rack on the car had hit the garage door and now the garage door would not go up. I pulled the car forward and watchedthe garage door slam to the ground with a BANG. Oh crap!
I got out to survey the damage, which to my suprise the car was unharmed. The garage door was not so lucky. It was now bent outward in the center and off of the rollers on the edges. After pushing, banging, and hammering on the dang thing for almost an hour I had it back on track except for one last roller. Despite my best efforts I could not get it back in. I cancelled my appointment and ended up walking Tanner home since my car was now officially trapped in the garage. I'm glad we didn't have anywhere important that we had to be!

"Mommy, I have to go poo."

So it has been awhile since my last post, but I have been overwhelmed on a daily basis of what I could write on here and had to take a break to spare everyone the details of our daily mishaps. But I am back for now.....so here is the latest.
The other day I was running errands and thought I could squeeze in one trip to Costco's photo counter before my doctor appointment. Of course there were no parking spots near the entrance, so we hauled all the way from the end of the lot into the store. It was freezing, the wind was blowing, and my kids were getting restless. We got to the the photo counter and as I waited for the person in line ahead of me to finish, my kids started being silly and running away from me. Why didn't I have a cart for my unruly children you ask? Why would I need one....we are just going to be in-and-out to pick up pictures from the counter right near the entrance. Of course Tyce takes off full-speed into the store. By the time I caught up with him and returned to the photo counter I had lost my place in line and had to start again at the back. Tyce was ticked-off that I would prevent him from exploring the store and he decided to scream and kick and hit me. But I am strong and he was no match for my grasp. It was a LONG few minutes as I stood there and waited my turn with him freaking out, but we made it.
After a long and freezing cold walk back to the car I began the struggle to buckle Tyce in his carseat (he hates being restrained in any way so each car ride, stroller ride, and cart ride are a battle to get him seatbelted). Finally he was in. I asked Talan to sit down and buckle up when he informed me "Mommy, I have to go poo." "Can you hold it?" I asked. "No mommy." Seriously?? You've been holding it for 4 days and you can't wait 10 more minutes??? We haul back down the parking lot in the freezing wind and back into Costco. Of course the bathroom is at the other end of the store, but we made it. As Talan sat down to do his business, Tyce decided it would be fun to run into all the empty stalls and try to splash in the toilets. I was trying to hold Talan's door shut to give him privacy, but I'm not ok with Tyce covered in toilet water. I kept pulling him out of stalls and then going back to close Talan's stall so he would stop screaming that everyone would be able to see his private parts. Tyce was so mad that I wouldn't let him play in the toilets that he just flung himself onto the floor and started rolling around on the bathroom floor. I'm not sure what is worse....toilet water or an icky bathroom floor. Whatever. Then Talan emerges and announces he didn't need to go anymore. You've got to be kidding me. Back to the car boys!

Thieves: Scum of the Earth!!!

A week ago my hubby called me from the gym where he goes on his lunch break to work-out. Some stupid freak broke into his locked locker and stole his wallet, cellphone/palm, watch, keys and wedding ring. I was furious to say the least. After cancelling our credt cards, changing our locks and finding a new set of car keys we thought we were back in business and moving on. Late last night a sheriff called Ryan to tell him the guy had been pulled-over and arrested and that he was a "professional" and had been in Mesquite gambling and spending like crazy with Ryan's identity. Sweet vindication turned into a feeling of "oh crap!!!" Hopefully we will be able to figure out what this guy has been up to with Ryan's info and get it all straightened out. How do I refrain from driving down to that jail and punching this loser in the face????

Broken Door

I won't even bother describing the day I had at Wallmart and Jiffy Lube. Let's just say "NEVER AGAIN" will I take them to the store. This time I really mean it. :.)
When I got home I decided to clean and vacuum the car in the garage while Tyce took a nap. Talan was out there with his little toy vacuum helping me and being pretty darn cute. Then, he found a spare key to the house hidden in some crevice in the garage. He started messing around with the key and the lock to the door that goes from the garage into the house. Before long I hear "Mom, I locked the door!" Fantastic. No problem. We have a key. I will just unlock it with the key that was just used to lock it. Well, the key won't turn the lock anymore. I struggled for several minutes. Then I thought "Maybe I left the back door open." No such luck. Of course my key to the house was inside in my purse. Then I thought, "I'll just open the front door with the key." Hmmm, why can't I get the key to come out of the lock? I contemplate my alternatives.....break a window, call a locksmith, go get a key from Ryan, but Tyce is napping and I don't want to leave him. After several minutes of an intense struggle with the stuck key it finally came free. I opened the front door and entered my house with a sigh of relief.

Rolly-Pollies

Today I was doing yardwork and Talan discovered the "Rollypollies" (potatoe bugs). He could not have been more delighted watching them crawl over his hand and roll into a little ball. He even built them a new "home" of dirt in his wheelbarrel. Then he drew about 10 pictures of them on the sidewalk. It is fun to watch him get so excited over a bug.

Office Depot Disaster

The other morning I was on my way home from the gym when I realized my printer was out of ink. We were driving right by Office Depot so I thought we could just run right in-and-out and get the ink. The ink isle is, after all, right at the front of the store. The store had just opened so I figured my chances were pretty good that we wouldn't have to wait in line.
As me and the boys approached the ink, Talan yells (so any other customers or employees could hear) "MOM, I HAVE TO GO POTT-Y!" Oh course you do Talan. As I scan the store I see the bathroom at the very back. As expected, Talan threw a fit whe I tried to make him use the girl bathroom. I decided to let him use the Men's room ("Big BOY potty")as he calls it. The door was too heavy for him to open, so I pushed it open for him. As I did this, Tyce decided to start running full speed towards the front of the store. He was near the front entrance when I finally caught up with him and threw him over my shoulder (of course he was kicking, hitting, and screaming to get away).
By the time I got back to the bathroom, Talan was screaming and banging on the door because he couldn't get it open. Finally we could go purchase the ink. There was a lady checking out at the register and we were next. As I held Tyce (still kicking and trying to get down) Talan was approaching me with all varieties of candy and treats that are conveniently located at the checkout. "Mom, PLEEEAAASE can I have this? Just one mom, PLEEEAAASE?" No, no, no...put it back....etc. He kept putting them back in the wrong spot, so I set Tyce down and started putting the candy back where it was supposed to go. Tyce stole this opportunity to run full speed towards the copy center and made 3 full circles around the copy machines before I could cut him off and grab the little stinker. Back to the line. Come on lady....how long does it take to swipe a credit card and put in your password. After what felt like an eternity, the transaction was made, I had my ink, and we were off. Another shopping trip, although ungraceful as ever, was infact survived.

Sunscreen anyone?

Incase you were wondering, it takes less than 2 minutes to completely empty 2 full cans of spray-on sunscreen. It makes your house smell really...uh...sunscreeny....and leaves a shiny shimmer on all the walls that it was sprayed on. Thanks, Talan! Now we know.

What diaper?

Tyce just decided to top off the day by taking off his diaper, running into the corner, and peeing all over the carpet. I wish I were making this up.

Adventure of the Day

Should I tell you about how Tyce ran right out into the road right in front of an incoming truck? No, that one will make me look like a bad mom. Too late....I was weeding in my back yard when both boys made a beeline for the front yard through the partially cracked-open gate. As I followed them through the gate I realized Tyce hadn't stopped running and was going straight into the road. Luckily the huge truck coming around the corner had seen him and stopped. I ran to get him out of the way, but I guess that just further encouraged him to run faster. Let me tell ya, those little legs of his can move! When I finally caught up with him he was laughing so hard...I guess he thought it was funny. I flipflopped on whether I should yell, spank or hug him and opted for the hug that was a little to tight and a little too long. It felt nice to have him safe in my arms, but did little to relieve the sick ache that remained in my gut.

Laundry Fiasco

It was a beautiful Father's Day until....

Family Picture

Honestly, is it too much to ask for ONE family picture where everyone is actually looking at the camera and NOT acting like a turkey???

Road Trip Fun

We just got home from a trip to Zion National Park for a family reunion and I thought I would give you a little taste of what we got to listen to in the car...

Welcome to my new blog

Today I had the sweet experience of hauling my kids through Costco and Home Depot. Usually one store is more than they can handle, but I thought, hey, it's morning, they have full tummys, no one is tired, we will just be in and out. Bad idea. Tyce (1 1/2 years old) screamed and cried through home depot because he didn't want to be in the the shopping cart, and Tyce and Talan (3 years old) screamed, cried, and kicked their way through Costco. Why do I take them shopping with me???? You would think I would learn my lesson. Maybe I secretly enjoy people staring at me, wondering, "What is WRONG with THOSE kids?" or "My children would NEVER act like that!" or "What is WRONG with THAT mother? Doesn't she know how to discipline??" Good times, my friends.