Happy Anniversary...to me

So, for whatever reason I couldn't find my digital pictures from our wedding day, and my scanner is possessed, so this is the best I could find.  It's a little far away and my dress is taking over the world, but hey, you get what you get.

In short, here's my summary.

7 years.

3 states.

3 kids.

1 house. 

2 dogs.

1 minivan.

I think all I am missing is a partridge in a pear tree.

Could life get any better?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving

from our Turkeys

(and Pilgrims) to yours!

We are on our way to Idaho to spend the weekend with the fam.

Pray that we don't freeze.

And pray that I return with all 3 children.  I'll be flying home with all of them...by myself.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you take the time to count your blessings.

Pink Curlers

I have 4 or 5 posts started, but not finished.  Why do I do that?  Whatever.
But for tonight, I thought I would share a little funny.
Just for fun I put curlers in Brooklyn's hair tonight.  The pink spongy ones. 
The boys were running around like boys do and I was listening to Brooklyn practice reading while I put in her curlers.  During the curler process Bradley kept looking at Brooklyn and cracking up.  Then he'd walk over, poke the curler and just laugh.  Like the super awesome belly jiggling baby laugh.  Is there a better sound in this world? 

I guess there is something funny about a bunch of pink fluffies in your hair. 

Alien Abduction

It seems that we've been invaded.

I am guessing that some alien ship landed on my roof a couple of weeks ago, climbed into Jack's room, stole Jack, and replaced him with a new version.

I like it.

About a month ago I was feeling at the end of my rope with my 2nd born.  He's as cute as can be, but his behavior was making me nutty.  Potty training nightmares, not listening, purposely making bad choices just for the sake of making them, STUBBORNESS etc.  Not fun.  So, I decided that things couldn't continue like this.  I mean, I know that he is 3, and it kind of comes with the territory, but something had to change.  I consulted a few parenting books, focused all my energies, physical and psychological and changed my approach with the boy.

Amazingly, it worked almost immediately....either that or the whole alien thing is true...

I am so proud of him - he actually WANTS to be agreeable, he's proud of himself for making good choices, and isn't nearly as stubborn as before.  Ahhh...sweet relief.  Hopefully this isn't just a phase - that would be a cruel, cruel joke.

Naughty or nice - this boy brings lots of laughs and fun to our family...but it sure is nice when he's nice.  :)

(P.S.  Just in case Jack reads this as an adult or any of you are inclined to think that he is perfect 100% of the time, think again...)

P.S.S.  Does anyone know where the spellchecker is on this new version?  I am mortified to think of the typos I have published...

Is there a baby in the house?

I am seriously starting to wonder where time goes...

I am thinking that each child just grows up quicker - like someone hits the FF button after each kid.  I mean look at him - does he look like a baby standing up on that step stool?  Nope, he sure doesn't.  He looks more like a small child who thinks he can do anything his siblings can do, like brush his teeth, comb his hair, splash water everywhere, make toothpaste drawings on the mirror, unroll the toilet paper, and drop EVERYTHING into the toilet.

He's cute.

Or at least he was before he proceeded to empty all of the surrounding drawers into the sink.

Which Jack filled with water.

I sure can't wait until he gets even taller.

World Peace

Someday I think my daughter should be a world leader.  She has it all figured out.  Tonight I listened as she said her night time prayer and she said,

"Please bless all the people who kill other people to listen to their Mom's."


That should take care of it. 

This is not for the eyes of my friend Lindsey - the Dietician

I don't know about anyone else, but my kids don't like to eat anything.  Particularly Brooklyn.  I slave away making a fabulous dinner (or at least fabulous according to my standards) and the minute I set it on the table she says, "I don't like that."  Almost without fail.  We then go through the infamous dialogue...
Brooklyn:  "I don't like that."
Me:  You haven't even tried it yet.
Brooklyn:  But I don't like it.
Me:  At least try it
Brooklyn:  But I won't like it
Me:  You won't know until you taste it...

I think you are familiar with this routine as I would venture to say that all who are reading this have been on one end or the other of this conversation.
Well, as many desperate mothers do, I evaluated my list of options:
*  bribery
*  force
*  negotiation
*  threats
OR my favorite choice:
*  disguise

How do you make yucky chicken enchiladas look and taste irresistable?


SPRINKLES, of course

I mean, tell me you don't want to eat that!  ^

On second thought - don't tell me because don't you think I hear enough of that already?

Look at this girl - and let me give you a direct quote, "Mom, I LOVE this dinner."

So, as a result, I have decided to reformulate my food storage to include at least a year's supply of sprinkles.