New Year, Better Me

It's been months since I've last blogged. Life has definitely been busy. I started this blog two years ago as a way to document our lives in all it's busy, crazy, growing years. I want to remember the best times with my family. I want them to have a place to come and remember when I can no longer tell them the stories.

But, with everything that has good intentions, blogging was often times put on the back burner. Between moves, having another baby, building a business, and, if I'm being honest, not sure my blog was any good when I compared it to the other blogs I love , I just stopped.

During the last few weeks of 2015 I hit the pause button on some areas of my life in a BIG way. Each day was about me spending my time how I saw it. If that meant playing Legos for hours. If it meant watching Netflix instead of being productive. If it meant skipping a workout session. If it meant ordering take out two nights in a row because, eh, who really wants to cook.

You see, I had put all this pressure on myself to map out my days a certain way. I had laid out these goals with these deadlines; buried myself in expectations I had conjured up about what would make me better, be best for our family. And while most of those expectations and goals still ring true, I learned I wanted to go about achieving them in a very DIFFERENT way.

I revised my goals for 2016. Here it is six days in and I am just writing my first blog of the new year. Because one of my goals for myself is

{ G R A C E }
Grace extended to me from me. Grace extended to my kids when they ask (for the 100th time) what we are doing today. Grace extended to my husband when, although he tries his best, he just doesn't understand how I'm so tired when I've just been home all day. Grace to the person in front of me in line at the grocery store who is taking forever to check out her 4 items. Grace.

I'm human. I will have good and bad days. And the bad days don't really matter unless I dwell on them and forget that I'm human because I get so wrapped up in trying to be perfect.

And....

{ B A L A N C E }
I'm claiming balance in 2016. All that stuff I listed: wife, mom, Beachbody coach, school board member, taxi driver, etc... I can be each of those things. I can do those things well. But I can't do them all ALL the time. I will do what must be done first every day. The other tasks I cross of my list--they are bonus. Because I know I can't get it all done every day. But some. I am committing to some each day.


But most of all....

{ J O Y }
I hit pause back in December for the simple fact that, for being the most wonderful time of the year, I wasn't feeling so wonderful. And that is not OK. I love the holiday season and I would be damned if I wasn't going to find a way to be JOYFUL in it.

I looked at what I was doing and asked if it would bring me joy in that moment. If it wasn't going to, and didn't HAVE TO be done, I didn't do it.

And in doing that, I realized quickly the things in my life that do bring me joy.

• my family
• my friends
• working out
• reading
• time in God's word
• blogging
• helping others through my work

I realized I love most of what I already did, just not how I did it.

That is why I'm blogging again. It brings me joy. I love looking back at our babies. I love reading how life was at a point in time. I enjoy sharing my perspective and thoughts. It isn't about anyone else.

This year, when I set goals and go after achieving them, those three words are in my mind. They are the heartbeat of my day-to-day.

Favorite On-screen Dads

Since Father's Day is right around the corner I thought I would do a little post about some of my favorite on-screen dads.

I love TV and movies and I love how great characters can get deep into our hearts. They make us laugh, cry, think.  We find ourselves wanting them to be part of our lives. So below are some of my all time favorites!


I used to watch this sitcom with my brothers in high school.  I would laugh hysterically at the antics of Ray's crazy parents.  But he put up with it all. He was humorous, likeable, and cared about his family, even those that drove him crazy. I always wanted to be at the kitchen table in the middle of one of those conversations where his whole family was constantly chiming in.

Ray Barone

Everybody Loves Raymond

This is one of the first shows I remember watching growing up.  But even before the show, my mom would read the Little House series to my brothers and I.  I loved imagining what it would be like to live back then, in a home without electricity, where going to the store was an event.  I loved the way Pa was in those stories and on the show.  I loved how was strong, firm, loving. I think every house could use someone like that. 

Charles Ingalls

Little House on the Prairie

This movie breaks  my heart and makes me cheer the entire time. The love Will Smith's character possessed for his son. The fuel in his heart to give him better, to show him every day the meaning of not giving up.  Totally pulls on my heartstrings. 

Christ Gardner

The Pursuit of Happyness

I don't think you can have a list of dads without Danny Tanner. I loved watching this show.  I wanted to be a Tanner. Two sisters, a house with two staircases, endless amounts of fun from all the adults in your home?? Sign me up! What I love now is sharing this show with my boys! They love the episodes of younger Michelle. They get her! ;) 

Danny Tanner

Full House

If you can't tell, I am a child of the 90s. As I got older it may have been more of my J.T.T. crush but nonetheless, I loved Home Improvement. I remember Tim always making us laugh yes, but still having the important conversations needed with his kids. I still remember the finale episode.  *tear*

Tim Taylor

Home Improvement

Who didn't grow up on the Cosby's?? Just trying to find an image I was flooded with images of the many "faces" of Cliff Huxtable.  He was funny.  He was fair.  He didn't take any nonsense either.  I loved watching him and Claire interact too. They just seemed to have it all together when they had each other! 

Cliff Huxtable

The Cosby Show

This movie!! If you are a parent, you have to see it. Especially if you are a father! I so believe that the role of a father really sets the tone for a family. Not that a mother doesn't have a presence and an equal impact, but there are so many things my husband can give to my children, teach them, that I simply can't. I love the idea of code, so to speak, a standard to live by and to live up to. What an example! 

The 4 fathers of Courageous

This show is one of my favorites.  Even reruns now.  Yes, they seem a little cheesy but my goodness, the values and lessons the show had are unlike those on TV today.  He always made time for his family.  He always showed work ethic, and love, compassion.  Each of his kids were different, and he parented them accordingly.  So many episodes he stood up for his family. Love that dad!

Alan Matthews

Boy Meets World

When I was little my dream wedding was the wedding from this film.  I thought a wedding in my backyard with swans would be ideal. Who doesn't think that? I loved George. I loved how he envisioned his daughter as his little girl and how that feeling never really went away.  I look at my boys now and get it.  They will always be mine.  Letting them go will never be easy. Hopefully when that time arrives for Andrew and I, we can get through it with a little humor. 

George Banks

Father of the Bride/Father of the Bride II

My all time favorite on screen dad is Eric Taylor. This show made me want to pack up and move to Texas.  It made me want to sit down and soak in an evening with him and Tami.  I love football and I love the South.  Those perks aside, I loved the way Coach Taylor was.  The way he parented his daughters, his players and just loved on the people around him.  I loved his gruffness and sensitivity. This dad takes the cake. 

Eric Taylor

Friday Night Lights

Who would you have on  your list of favorite on screen dads??

Easter

How was Easter already weeks ago??

The days seem to be flying by and I can't keep up with it all. But I want to remember it all. Every day my older two are saying the funniest things.  Their relationship becoming stronger.  Gabe growing and changing each day, still my baby, but getting so big. He watches Hudson and Beau and I know it won't be long before he is in on the action.

This Easter was such a fun time. It was jam packed with family and friends but I am realizing that I love it that way. That I relish the days filled to the brim with because I know my kids will only be little so long; that these activities will only make their eyes light up this way for a period of time.

Andrew had Good Friday off.  That day we headed to a nearby outlet mall to pick up some spring clothes for our boys, some Easter attire for Mom and Dad, and just get out of the  house.  It was a dreary day but we made the best of it.  We stopped to have lunch at an old-fashioned ice cream parlor and candy shop.  The boys thought it was cool and each picked out a goodie before we headed home.

That night I got to meet up with three of my best friends.  Between us we have eleven kids and my sweet friend is expecting twins due September so there will be lucky 13 soon enough! It isn't easy always trying to find a time to get together but a few years ago we started getting pedicures before Easter together.  This year, in the hustle of life and schedules, we carved out some much needed time.  It was so great to catch up, have some wine and laugh while we got cute toes ready for Sunday!

Saturday our crew headed over to my brother-in-law's. He and his family moved at the beginning of the year and we were so excited to see their new home.  And, we were celebrating my niece's 4th birthday! I don't think there is anything better than seeing your kids' faces light up when they see their cousins!! My boys may have been surrounded by girl toys but give them a party and they are in heaven!

Right after the party, my nieces (also 4 and 2) my boys, and my sister-in-law's younger sisters all gathered up to dye about 8 dozen eggs! There were only two minor spills and it wasn't even from the two-year olds!! They were way more into it this year than last!!

Later that night, we had what might be my new favorite Easter tradition.  Our good friends, who live just streets over, came down with their kids.  When it got dark, we had a glow in the dark Easter egg hunt for them and then made peep s'mores.  I wish I would have thought to take pictures but the sound of their laughter and their sweet faces eating s'mores--oh my gosh! Heaven!  It was definitely a late night but completely worth it!

The next morning our boys opened their Easter baskets.  They know they are from Andrew and I.  We have never done the Easter Bunny and don't plan to. It is something we feel like isn't necessary and we love that our boys are really understanding the meaning of Easter.

(That's a basket of clean, folded laundry, y'all. Don't judge!)

We got ready for church after that and headed out.  We had to get to church early.  It was my first week as the preschool leader.  Our church actually was  holding one service at a larger venue.  It was an amazing service (from what I was told) and we filled the place to capacity. Praise Jesus! It was a really amazing day.  I got to share the Resurrection story with 17 sweet hearts and that made my heart want to bust!!

After church we headed to Grandma Martha's for lunch and an egg hunt! My boys got gobs of eggs! Their sweet little outfits picking up eggs was just too cute!!

We headed across town (and got in quick cat naps) to my grandma's house for another egg hunt with my side of the family! (With a dead camera)

To say we were tuckered out as we headed home at six that evening would be an understatement! But like I said, I couldn't imagine a better weekend!

Taking it back to Halloween

So you see--this thing called moving happened the very same weekend that Halloween happened. And then a whole lot of life happened.  What didn't happen? This blog! #bloggerfail

But it's ok.  We are just going to have a little throwback for awhile as I catch up everyone (hi, mom) who reads this.  Because no one likes missing pieces of a story, mmmk?

On Halloween, the boys woke up to a fun little breakfast, their Halloween bags holding a few treats and a house pretty completely packed up.  Writing about it now I feel like it was years ago that this happened.  I can't believe we moved away only a short month ago.

Anyway, back to Halloween..

Do you see that it is still dark out? My kids have  been waking up early ever since! 

The plan was for us to take the boys to our new (well, new again) town so they could trick or treat there that night.  I knew trying to keep them occupied in a house all packed up was not going to be much fun.  Andrew and I decided since he was coming back late that night to pack up the moving vans that I didn't really need to stick around.  Around nine that morning, I packed all three boys up and headed home.  

I can't tell you how surreal that drive was. I crossed the river out of Pike County and I couldn't even believe it.  In a year so much had changed in our lives.  Andrew and I became a stronger couple; we welcomed a new baby; made new friends; and found a peace in who God was calling us to be.  I never expected to be heading home permanently so soon.  My heart was so full.  It was as if the boys could feel my peace too.  Shortly into our drive, all three fell asleep.  It was the most peaceful two hour car ride. 

We made a stop at Andrew's parents when we got to town for a potty break and to unload.  Then we headed to meet my mom and brother's family for lunch.  Lunch with five boys, three and under, is never boring!

After late naps, the boys woke up to their other cousins (Andrew's brother's family) arriving for pizza and to trick or treat.  Hudson and Lila were really excited.  It was like they really understood how  much candy they were about to get!

My superheroes 

All month, all week even, the weather had been beautiful.  Halloween night was COLD! Like 30* cold! We layered our boys underneath their costumes and left Gabe with the grandparents so we could brave a few houses.  We stuck to Andrew's parents street and that was enough for our crew!

Before heading out

Striking a pose

It was such a fun night! I wish my kids could stay these ages forever.  Everything is so magical and special to them. 

Our boys were pretty wiped and fell asleep pretty quickly after settling down and getting into jammies.  Andrew's night was just beginning. 

But that is another story! ;) 

Halloween Fun

I love Halloween.  Which is crazy because my family never really participated in Halloween when I was younger.  But I knew that when I had kids I wanted this little holiday to be full of fun, traditions, and just making memories.  I adore fall and think that Halloween is one of the best parts.  I HATE anything scary so we don't focus on that part..again, just the fun!

We are moving the weekend of Halloween this year so our entire house will be packed up.  But, Andrew and I will still be doing trick or treating and as much festive things that day. We won't be able to do everything but we will sure get in an activity, a treat, and a flick!

Here are some really fun ways to make Halloween special for your little:

{O N E | Themed Lunch}
I love making my kids meals special on holidays.  And thanks to Pinterest the ideas are endless! Here are just a few.

source: mummies/brooms/

{T W O | Craft}

We like to do lots of crafts at our house.  There are so many fun things to do with your kids no matter the age.  A few years ago we did the foot-print craft below.  But you paint pumpkins, make a stained glass pumpkin, create a candy corn man (I did this with my firsties when I taught).  I good craft is a really fun part of our day.

source via

{T H R E E | Activity}

Now that Hudson and Beau are older, I like to do activities with them to facilitate listening and learning.  This can be really simple.  The idea below can be tailored to your kids ages.  For example, I might make a pattern using candy and have Hudson re-create it, or take pieces away in the AB pattern and see if he can fill them in correctly. Then, with Beau, we may just sort the candies into like groups.   

{F O U R | Treat}

Themed treats are some of my favorite things to make.  The boys get so excited to get in the kitchen and bake with me (or really anyone who will have them!). So for the holidays I like to choose something we can make and share throughout the week.  This is a favorite of ours for sure!

{F I V E | Movie}

Every year, ABC plays It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.  I am a sucker for Charlie Brown.  I just love the whole gang! After trick or treating, checking out their loot and choosing a piece, we change the boys into their Halloween pj's and sit down to watch this together.  

What are some ways you make Halloween fun for your little ones?

Weekend Recap: Labor Day

Man it is hard to find time to blog while juggling our new addition and settling into life! I feel a bit disconnected from reading my favorites but such is life! We will find our rhythm and routine again! (Right???)

All last week Andrew took off work to be home with us and it was amazing.  If we could ever find a way for us to both work from home I would do it! I (and the boys) adored having him with us! We knew we wanted to spend the weekend soaking up his last few days off.

On Saturday, we woke up and got everything ready for a quick trip back to Decatur.  My uber-talented friend was squeezing us in for a newborn/family session. I can not even tell you how excited I am to get these photos back.  I had her do some shots of just Gabe of course but I really wanted to capture our family in this new stage.  So she shot some of just the brothers, the boys with Andrew, the boys with me, and some family too! Don't worry, I will post those up as soon as we get them! :)

After pictures we stopped at one of our favorite spots back home to grab some lunch.  My mom met us because she was coming to stay this week with us.  Since I had a section I am technically not allowed to pick up anything heavier than Gabe or drive for two weeks.  I am not so good about that but having an extra set of hands while I try to figure out how to wrangle three kids, three and under is BEYOND helpful! I am so grateful to have her here with is!

By the time we got home on Saturday everyone was pretty tired.  We ate dinner, got baths and watched a bit of Pocahontas. {I taped it for the boys weeks ago and they love the music} Needless to say we all slept hard.  Well, in between feedings.  Which {sidenote} currently, are about every 2-3 hours.  Could be better, could be worse.  But Gabe is such an easy baby.  He goes right back to sleep after his feeding.

On Sunday I woke up to the scent of blueberry muffins and the sounds of my big boys giggling at the kitchen table.  Gammy had them up and ready for the day! It was so sweet! Sunday was hot and muggy but the boys wanted to be outside.  I sat with Gabe in the shade and it wasn't bad at all.  Andrew set up the boys mini pool and put their slide with it.  They had so much fun sliding into the water, playing with water guns and dumping buckets on each other!

After a busy day outside, that evening we took it easy.  We rented The Lego Movie and made a big pile of blankets and pillows on the floor.  We also made brownie sundaes, something that I don't think we've ever made together but they sure were good! Hudson was very into the movie.  Beau, not so much. Gabe pretty much slept through it! ;)

On Monday, we planned to keep the day low-key.  The past week had been extremely busy with multiple trips to Springfield, then a trip to Decatur and a new baby...we just knew we needed to get back on a schedule at our house.  We spent the day watching movies, playing inside, and getting Hudson's things ready for his big first day of preschool on Tuesday.

I hated to see last week end, having everyone at home.  But I am looking ahead to fall and it's glory! I can not wait for all the fun my favorite season brings!

Five on Friday

Did this week just fly by?? Seriously! We have a busy little day planned to get ready for all the fun we are doing this weekend! Linking up again with Darci, April, Christina, and Natasha for Five on Friday! Love this linky party! Always so fun and I find so many new blogs. :)

O N E
Happy Memorial Day! I love the start of summer and our weekend is filled with fun with boys and some fun projects around our house but I always hope I remember the true reason for this holiday.  I have always respected the military, their families and the sacrifice but this past year even more so after getting to know personally so many military wives whose husbands are/have been deployed this year.  They hold a special place in my heart for sure.

T W O

Tomorrow we are taking the boys to the zoo in St. Louis.  The weather is supposed to be perfect.  And Hudson and Beau are obsessed with our small hometown zoo so I know they are going to be really excited to see even larger animals.  We have been talking about our little trip all week, even making a countdown chart for Hudson. {Sometimes we mamas can only hear the same question so many times :) }

T H R E E

We have been sprucing up the outside of our home the past couple of weeks.  While the boys and I were visiting friends, Andrew we did the very front flower bed area.  The boys and I went and got flowers for the window boxes and pots on our porch earlier in the week.  Now we are FINALLY painting the front door and shutters.  Andrew is now a believer that it needs done.  And since I systematically chose coordinating flower colors that would make the new door/shutters pop, he is totally getting my vision.  I wrote about the color ideas I had way back here.  And here is a little before teaser. I am hoping these changes make others love our house so when we are ready to sell, they are ready to BUY! HA!

F O U R

I am planning on getting maternity/family pictures done before the baby arrives.  I have been terrible about getting the boys pictures  but my go to photog friend had triplets so has been pretty busy! I am trying to decide when to get these done.  I am due the third week in August..so end of July? Beginning of August? How close to your due date did you schedule maternity pictures? I love lifestyle and candid.  These are sweet..

F I V E

And, let's just wrap this up with a bump update, shall we?

25 weeks

How far along: I will be 27 weeks this week! Almost third trimester, what!?

Gender: Boy (#3)

Weight Gain: 15 pounds

Maternity clothes: I am still wearing basically all my regular clothes.  A few maxi skirts I have are maternity. I am sure I will need some more as my belly grows these last months!

Movement: ALL the time! Super busy little guy but more so in the evening post after-dinner walk.

Sleep: I am still sleeping just fine. I still sleep on my side.  I just have really weird dreams! Ha!

Miss Anything: My flat tummy! Ha! I am starting to feel HUGE!

Cravings: Ice Cream...but I have been resisting! I think it is more me than the baby!

Labor Signs: None

Wedding Rings: On!

Looking forward to: Getting more things ready for the baby.  This summer will be so busy so I am sure we need to prep a little more. Oh how things change by the time the third baby comes along! ;)

Easter 2014

I just love Easter.  It is the most important holiday in my faith and I am always thankful for the sacrifice God made in sending his Son but I love this holiday that really focuses on it.

We really want our kids to always know the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice so we don't play up the bunny and we try to keep God at the focus of our family always (you can read about that here). That being said, we love all the fun traditions that come along with Easter.

Andrew had Good Friday off so after lunch we headed back to Decatur to spend some time with my parents.  They were traveling on Saturday to see my brother and sister-in-law in Chicago so we wouldn't see them until church on Sunday.  We wanted to get in some special Easter time with them since the rest of our weekend was pretty packed.

The weather this past weekend could not have been more perfect.  So when we got to my parents the boys had their (first) egg hunt of the weekend.  They seriously loved it.

We went inside to empty their eggs.  It was HEAVY on the candy and snacks but the boys got some coins to put in their piggy banks.  I seriously have already started to hide the candy in our house so I am not tempted.  :)

We also got to go dinner with my parents that night.  I so enjoy being able to have time with my parents as a parent now myself.  I truly see the preciousness of that relationship and know that I hope my boys will grow into adults that Andrew and I love in a whole new way.  

The next day we went to have breakfast with Andrew's grandparents.  Don and Jo are so so sweet.  Jo is seriously such a gem.  She is the kind of grandma (and now great-grandma to our boys) that makes them quilts and bunnies for Easter, can sew anything, makes things like jam and biscuits from scratch.  People like that just amaze me and it comes so naturally to her.  She also raised three boys so I feel a bond in that too. :) Our boys are so lucky to have three sets of great-grandparents so involved in their lives.  They can learn so much from them.  Definitely blessed to have family so close. 

Hudson was in serious need of a haircut and this mama was really to the point of being done doing that nonsense.  Not that I mind really, but I feel like it takes me FOREVER and Hudson gets restless and then I get snappy and then don't want to do it so put it off for like ever which results in him looking like a rag muffin. He was such a stink about when he was little that I took it over but I mean, he's three now.  Kid has to start some big boy stuff ;) 

Fortunately there is this barber shop in town that I had seen other people go to and I knew they did kids.  So after breakfast we headed downtown.  And oh my, it was so cute.  Cute probably isn't the term the men that own the establishment want me to use to describe it but I loved it!  It smelled amazing, had such a charm about it.  And you know they did good work because it was walk in only (maybe they take appointments) and our little man had to wait like 45 minutes.  To which I will say this--totally worth it! Hud was done in like 15 minutes, the man that cut his hair was a DOLL and so sweet to Hudson and the boy looked adorable when it was done! That was worth it for this mama to be stress free in the hair cut realm. 

We then went to Andrew's parents' house where we were staying for the weekend.  The boys had lunch and played outside.  Hudson got to with Mimi to the circus later that afternoon.  He was pretty excited even though I don't think he really knew what to expect.  Hudson's cousins went too.  My SIL, Jaci, put this picture of the big two on Instagram.  You can totally tell they are cousins, right??!

After they got home we all had dinner and then we got things ready to dye eggs. Four kids, three and under- it was a hoot! They were all pretty into it really, even the littles! Hudson and Beau used their hands while the girls used the egg-grabbers. Lila was seriously clean when she left the table compared to Hudson's hands that looked like the Hulk! Boys! 

I am so grateful for cousins (on both sides) so close in age to our boys.  It has made holidays, family outings, and traditions so much fun!! 

The next morning our boys woke up to see what they got for Easter. They didn't wake up particularly early.  They still don't know to do that on Christmas and Easter and birthdays.  I'll take it while it lasts.  Then we all got ready and headed off for church.  

** I know that girls seem like so much fun to dress up and such but oh my I absolutely adore dressing up our boys like little men! Seriously- melts my heart!!

Church was amazing.  I get so much out of worshiping with my church family every week but oh how I love Easter.  I love our home church in Decatur so it is always sweet to be there for worship but especially so on Easter Sunday.  If you are in the Decatur, IL area and don't have a home church, I know First Christian Church would welcome you with open arms!!

After service we headed to Andrew's other grandparents.  The boys got to have their second egg hunt but not before pictures with cousins. 

First Cousins

Paisley, Lila, Hudson, Beau, Eli

Family of 4 (and a 1/2) Easter 2014

 Then the hunt was on! There were a ridiculous amount of eggs! Like, our kids all had two buckets! Ha! 

Then it was into play clothes and time for lunch! They opened their Easter baskets from Mimi and Papa and their great-grandparents and played to their  hearts content outside with bubbles.  We hate leaving but our boys were tired and driving home is always less thrilling.  Fortunately both boys napped the WHOLE two hours home.

It was such a wonderful weekend with our families.  Hard to believe next Easter we will have three little boys to share these memories with!