happiness

It really makes me happy when it's clear that my kids & husband are happy and boy oh boy are we a happy bunch lately.  I think life just sorta slipped into place for us, it's been a long haul, but we found our place and it's lovely!

recent happy pics below:

I caught the kids having an impromptu dance party!

K and Paula, do you like my Idaho vintage salt & pepper shakers?

blanket forts are always fun!

helping dad with the Beemer in tie dye jammies, that's seriously fun & silly!

I got these on sale for $4 bucks each at West Elm, they make me smile, big time!

I love my boys!

even if they are both attacking me!

zoo field trip

love this serious face!

Blue from Rio was there!

Tigers!

Thursday : )

Life is pretty much fantastic when you can put a movie on for your 4.5 year old and then go back to bed...it sometimes feels really good to have a lazy morning!  I am now off to Costco and the usual daily grind but the sun is shining and I got an extra hour of sleep this morning, love it!

babies!

feeding Payton

loving on my niece

baby play date Mateo (13 weeks) and Payton (4 weeks)

notice that she is hugging me?  She didn't want to leave : )

I love a baby play date, it's even better when it's at my house and even better yet when it includes my cousin Katie, Mateo, sis in law Jessica, and new niece Payton, my baby cup is overflowing, love, love love, newborns!  (can you tell?)

Happy Tuesday!

Theo and his friend Nathaniel

control freak

Although, my circumstances are slightly different, I can't help but relate to this guest post (just scroll down below the "I am not in charge" picture to get to the good stuff).  It's no secret, not at all, as a matter of fact, perfectly good strangers know that I want a 3rd baby, everyone knows because I talk about it. all. the. time. I am relentless.  I cry.  I pout.  I fight.  I whine. I beg.  I wonder (often) why God loves and blesses others and not me.  It's tough.  It consumes me.  I am sad.  I am 34.  There is no 3rd baby on the horizon and for that matter there may never be and that is a really painful realization, really painful.  But, as I read this post, I was reminded that God has complete control of my life.  He knows what is best, I do not.  It's so hard to give up the control.  It's hard to have so many pregnant friends.  It's hard for me to not complain and whine. It's hard for me to appreciate what I do have.  It's so very hard to let go. I want this 3rd baby so bad, but I need God's will for my life even more and that is why I will be holding onto Proverbs 3:5-6, so I can learn to let go and let God.

mop it!

It turns out that someone likes to mop and is quite good at it too!  Carter was home with a little tummy ache last week, so while Theo was in pre-school, we got our cleaning groove on.  She loved helping and because she has the most cheerful & giving heart it only seemed fair to pay her $3, even though she planned to do it for nothing, it was, however,  the best $3 I ever spent!

craft-less

Nothing annoys me more than a craft...there I said it, I hate crafts!  I really do.  I often get super excited when I read certain blogs (Kelle Hampton's, Linsey's, Femina etc.) and think to myself  "I can totally do that"! I run to the craft store and spend way too much money,  then spend way too much time and energy only to get seriously frustrated and burst into tears.  I then become stressed by the mess, it's not my cup of tea.  Lucky for me, I can make tea, I like to read,  I LOVE to bake and I seriously LOVE LOVE LOVE to clean.  You will not find me on Pinterest, nor at Joann's fabric or Michael's, they just are not my thing.  I admire crafty people and that is why I have decided to leave it all up to you, craft away, even share your talent, I would love it!  My kids get coloring books, sticker books and an easel without paint, I prefer craft books/and or kits that they can figure out themselves and that require minimal mess.  While they craft away without my help,  I will be whipping up fresh bread, chocolate chip cookies or a cake.  I'll take a deep breath and relish in the fact that I have finally freed myself from the crafting conundrum, we can't all be good at everything and with crafting I wave the white flag.

comfy

sound asleep, in a very interesting position!

The Weekend

We had a lovely quiet weekend, our family is a bit notorious for under scheduling and I have to say it suits us just fine...Saturday morning brunch at 13 Coins, hanging out all afternoon inside and out, church on Sunday and evening walks around the neighborhood make for one very fulfilling weekend!

Mateo

look who I got to spend the whole day with yesterday...Mateo, he is cute cute cute and super happy, smiling ALL the time, I love him!

10 weeks old!

hello!

pardon my little absence, we have been having a bit too much fun for me to pause and blog about it...we have been enjoying our fun new(ish) car, who knew I would ever own an American car, but we love it!  We have (obviously) been enjoying our new little family member, new niece/cousin Payton, both my kids are in love, as am I but still no luck convincing Jeremy to have a 3rd, he's pretty happy and content with Carter and Theo and who am I to argue?  They are both quite fabulous as is my husband!  Carter has been dishing out many Girl Scout cookies to various friends and family, since she is hand writing thank-you notes to each and every customer she is getting great cursive practice as well, a serious win win, but I have eaten way too many Somoas and my jiggly belly is suffering greatly, not a win win at all!  But, the best news of all...my brother and his family are moving back this way!!!  We are all super excited and they will be here before we know it, less than a month, whoot!

a little more Payton pics!

hottie husband+little baby=super cuteness!

Theo meets Payton