Our Grandparents went to Mexico and all we got were these AWESOME Nacho Libre masks!

Happy birthday Cha cha cha...

We finally had Tate's birthday party. I love that my boys still "like" girls and usually want them at their parties. Tate is a sweet boy with a unique set of friends. We had his party at a pottery painting studio and it was completely run by the staff there. I was able to sit around and listen to the kids talk while they painted. The conversations were hilarious and it made me happy that Tate chooses to surround himself with creative, fun, nice boys and girls. It also makes me happy that Tate likes to hang around the children of MY friends as well. Since we don't live by any cousins that are his age, this is definitely a great substitute. Friends are the spice of life and I don't want my children to miss out on this. The whole "friends business" causes me a lot of stress so spending time with some of Tate's friends was very nice and puts my mind and heart at ease.

Here are a few of the day. I love the pic of Tate in the dark waiting to blow out his candles. Every now and then I really can take a great pic. If I ever learned how to really use my camera it could be ALL THE TIME... but until then I will relish in the few.

Happy birthday sweet Tate. You make our hearts happy.

Apparently I am doing something right....

Notice anything similar? I am liking this!

hee hee hee! (o;

(Happily stolen from my gal Meredith!XO)

Wise words

The Devil Car

Eric got a remote car from a family of a murdered boy.... Strange enough huh?!? Long story, short... a young man was murdered and his friends and family started a charity for him. Eric and I put some money into the cause and all the people who donated were also put into a drawing..... and we got this. It was unexpected and is a very nice, expensive remote control car.... BUT it will chase you, knock you down and I am sure break a foot, ankle or a toe if the person being chased is not careful. Between you and me, I am a little scared of that car, hence the name, "The Devil Car". I told Eric I would drop kick it if it came at me again..... and it did, but it is fast... too fast for a drop kick. Darn... but I don't really want to spoil everyone's fun, now do I?!

Last week we had a couple sunny, happy days. On one of those days Eric and the boys decided to play with the Devil Car. Needless to say, they all had fun. Everyone loves having a turn controlling the car or running away from it, fearing for their lives. Luckily the batteries wear out quickly. I guess it is hard on the ole battery for the little car to be constantly speeding away at 100 miles per hour. (This is not an exaggeration!) I am sure we will have many more days of Devil Car fun. Boys are great that way. Lately I have been enjoying my boys so much. They are changing and growing up so fast.... their personalities are becoming more defined and the future looks bright. Hopefully the Devil Car will not cut our lives short and we can enjoy this calm from the storm together.

Life is good!

Reflexology 101

I am feeling more and more like an old lady cripple. My heel hurts and it hurts BAD. I hobble around trying to get everything done and keep everyone happy. I can't complain much because lying next to me is a cute guy with a broken neck....Today after spinning (thank goodness I can still do that!) I stopped by a new reflexology place in the Kentlands. I have dabbled in reflexology, but never had a session for just my feet alone. It was a very pleasant and painful experience. To begin, the Chinese gentleman worked on my neck and back with some basic acupressure points and I swear it hurt so bad I wanted to run away. I began to wonder what I had gotten myself into..... I hope this wasn't just an expensive mistake. However, patience is a virtue and health has many faces...

The reflexology portion of the session was wonderful but when he worked on my heel I almost kicked him in his face. I am sure it was as close to torture as I hope to ever get. Ouchie!! The entire time he was working on my feet I felt my body feeling better. It was strange, but I loved it. It is not relaxing like a massage, but peaceful and "harmonious". The last 10 minutes (I did an hour session) he had me lay on a table and continued with some acupressure on my back, legs and neck. Once again, shear torture!! He didn't speak much English, but managed to ask me if I was alright. I am NOT a wimp so I said everything was great and he should continue. I know that later it would hurt so good!

I walked out of there dazed and confused, but better in so many ways. I made an appointment for next Friday. Maybe I will have a regular torture session on Fridays (until Julie leaves.....). The benefits are numerous and my heel is much better this evening. I am still a cripple but I am not nearly as miserable as I was even yesterday. I am happy with my experience and look forward to adding this into my life as an added health benefit.

Finny J

Finn says the funniest things. He is also my child that has been the easiest to change diapers. He will lay down anywhere and let you change him. He even likes to hold up his own legs and will remind you on a consistent basis that he needs powder. For as long as I can recall, if you ask him if he has poop in his pants, he will say (if he has none), "No. It is all clean." That cracks Eric and I up every time.

Sometimes he just toots, but he will either let you by excusing himself (he has such good manners!) or that he is "all clean". What a cutie. I do think it is getting time to attempt to potty train him. When he does want to poop, he hides under the table or goes into the pantry and shuts the door. He is a healthy pooper so it would be nice to FINALLY get rid of diapers for good. But for now it is okay. He is still our baby and if changing diapers keeps him our baby for a little longer, I am up for it!!

Wise words

Bravo!! With God, all things are possible!!

Smile!!

Happy Valentines Day.

I love many and am loved by many as well.

To love is bliss.

Life is good.

Good things

A very happy birthday boy!

Learning new things and growing to new heights.... (please STOP!)

Attempts at ice skating fun... (o;

Our daily harvest from the unnamed chickens (we need to work on that...)

A Derby well done!! And most "Aarow"-dynamic!!!

Basketball Saturdays

Another great smoothie mustache!

Lost and found memories

(Well hello Great-Grandpa Paul and Great-Great Grandpa Paul!! and....)

our handsome Grandpops Paul!!

"Good things"...I like this coined phrase from Martha Stewart. It sums things up without long, detailed explanations. These are a few of our "good things" from the last couple of weeks or so. Good things are great things indeed!

On a "good things" note, Eric got rid of his hard collar (with permission from the doc) and graduated to a soft one. He went back to work, started to drive and his sense of humor resurfaced this very weekend. I am so happy with his recovery and look forward to better and better days.

Life is good.

Oh.... the winter wind!

Blow, blow, thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind
As man's ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.

Heigh-ho! sing heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho! the holly!
This life is most jolly.

Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
Thou dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As friend remember'd not.

Heigh-ho! sing heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho! the holly!
This life is most jolly.

~William Shakespeare

Today it is 27 degrees. Too cold... Too cold. Last winter we had massive snow although I wasn't really affected by it as I was in my bed, warm and neglectful of any winter weather. This winter has been really, really cold... and the wind.... Horrible! Shakespeare knew what he was talking about blowing winter winds and bitter skies. Ick!

Still, we have had one decent snow and managed to play outside until it was eventually covered on top with a blanket of ice. Ice is no fun to play in. This year the boys are all fully outfitted (why did it take 12 years....?) for outdoor play. We have thankfully missed many bad winter storms. With Eric on the blink, it is hard for me to try to dig us out and keep everyone happy and entertained. The boys like Eric. He is a lot more fun... usually!

I wish I would have taken them sledding more, but Saturdays are busy and Sundays I turn into a lazy log of a mom. I am secretly hoping for one more good snow so we can hit the sledding hills a couple more times. Coleman and Tate have been going skiing most Fridays so at least there is that. Thanks Brother Nick btw!

And so, I count down the months or maybe even days til warmer weather. Next year we are going somewhere warm to break up the cold, colder and coldest months. Bermuda? St. Thomas? Florida? Costa Rica? I don't know, but I am sure as heck going to plan it and execute it!!

Until then I will fire up some hot chocolate, dream of sandy beaches and be thankful that we all have warm gloves and a self starter for my car. Just peachy!!

Uh oh!

Someone learned how to use Mommy's iPhone camera.....

I better put it up a little higher.

We love you Finny J!!

Snicker snicker!

Wise words/wiser babysitters

We are blessed with many good, responsible, sweet babysitters. On Saturday, Allison was babysitting. She is 25, fun, and liked by all the boys. Coleman is reading a book where a girl smokes a "fag". Instead of looking the word up, which I guess would have been ok.... he searches out Allison for a substitute verbal dictionary.... She did not tell me about this which makes it even funnier. Coleman told me and still questions my laughing response. I think this is seriously funny!

Coleman: Allison, what is a fag? (not specifying how it was used in the book)

Allison: Ummmm... I don't know.

Coleman: (always confused when an older person cannot answer a question...), You don't know?

Allison: No, but I think it might be a dead cat!!

Coleman: Okay (and probably wondering why the girl was smoking a dead cat....)

Eric and I laughed our bums off at this one. Wise words indeed. Way to evade a potentially awkward response. I will remember that one for a long time!

P.S. That is a cute, sleeping cat NOT a dead one. I looked at the dead cats and..... .that's all I can say. Google has a little bit of everything now don't they?!