Bachelor Babies

{Love, Sippy Cups and Drool}

Only 8 roses remain who will be the next to go.....

Do you think this could pass as a new TLC show?

{I kid... I kid...}

 The classier version of toddlers and tiaras? 

{ahem} 

Can you tell I am totally cracking myself up? 

How was your weekend? Mine was full.

I have been {in order}

~ birthdaying

~carboloading

~upward basketball watching

~movie watching

~oh-no-ing

~ photo shooting

~ carboloading

~  planning

~superbowl watching {kinda}

~ saving a birds life {aka bird whispering}

~carboloading

I am sure your weekend was full, as well! Ready for a new week to begin and of course, it's Monday which means two of my favorite things, zumba and the bachelor. 

Happy Monday Friends!

Photo of my little bachelor by Nikki James Photography

The Storm Rages On So Why Not Have Some Fun.

45 minutes of "Work"

27 Pillows

7 Blankets

3 Little Men

1 jumping in his undies

1 gut laughing at his older brothers

1 encouraging the craziness

and

1 happy thankful momma watching

 her three little loves enjoy each other 

and some much needed time off! 

Have you been enjoying the extra time off? How have you been passing the time with your kids? Any fun ideas to help the cabin fever? Do tell...

Top Ten Tuesday: Gifts for a VERY special someone...

ME! As you know it's *almost* my birthday. Believe it or not I am actually not a huge celebrator of my own birthday. I don't do a week birthday spectacular or anything like that. However, yesterday after a GREAT Zumba workout I did ask Coach W for a massage and I did use the .... my birthday is Friday? {works every time} I mean how can you say no to that. I also added I gave birth to your children and I need a massage {that one works too} for non birthday times.

I thought I would let you in on 10 gifts you can buy.... me. HA! Plus, I think you might just find some fabulous new obsessions of your own.

1. Gussy Sews. This is something new I just found. Why am I just finding her? I have no clue but she is adorable and can sew ruffles like no other. I want pretty much everything she makes but here is one of my favorite by Gussy Sew. You should check out her blog. She is adorable one of those blogs you read and you just know you would be friends {kinda like me... I kid, I kid!}

2.  The Vintage Pearl. I LOVE simple and unique, exspecially when it comes to jewelry. Every piece that she creates is made of sterling silver and because it is handmade and personalized the pieces are so meaningful. You have to go their website. Plus, she has a blog that is fabulous.  If I had to chose one of these fabulous creations it would be this one..... Would I not look great with this on! 

or this one... I can't decide.

Are these not to die for?

3. Anthropologie. Need I say more. I just got this adorable apron from my mom so you can mark it off the list of what to get me. Is this not the cutest thing EVER! I don't even cook but let me just say I will cook more because of how cute I will look while doing it ;)  

4.  Anthropologie. I needed something to hang my adorable apron on. So, I wanted this....

Good news... It's on clearance $7.95! Whoot! Even better news a special someone already got this for me and gave it to me as an early present! 

5. Crazy Love {Overwhelmed By A Relentless God}. I read this little snippit and realized I NEED this. I am not a reader but this looks too good to pass up. Here is a little "snippit" of the book. 

"Have you ever wondered if we're missing it?

It's crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe—the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor—loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss.

Whether you've verbalized it yet or not, we all know something's wrong.

Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working harder at a list of do's and don'ts-it's falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same.

Because when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything."

6. Yoga Pants. I have to wear the Victoria Secret ones. Not because I am a label snob but because I have tried a million different pairs and these are the only ones that don't stretch out after I dance {zumba}. I would like them in Black.  You can get me a small. I will stretch them out! 

7. Shoes. This isn't a want. This is a need. I have had the same pair of gym shoes since college. No lie. Part of it is because they are so comfy. The other reason is I can't find a pair I love. So, until then I wear my ratty 'ole shoes. But if you find some cute one I need them! I kinda like these....

8.  Mascara. I ran out of my FAVORITE. So, see I am not high maintenance. I would LOVE this as a tiny gift. A girl has to have her eyes on, right? Carbon Black {in case you were wondering}.

9. Prayer. I know many of you are praying for my friend E. You can check out her blog here. {she is hilarious} She is starting the process of kicking cancer's butt. She needs your prayers. Lots of them! So, more than anything I would ask for you to go check out her blog and let her know you are praying for her.  It would be a great birthday present to me!   

10.  Truly gifts aside one the best present to me is doing exactly what you are doing right now. Reading. There is just something that I LOVE about blogging and reading what you all have to say. So, please continue to read. Yes, I will be one year older on Friday. Yes, that means I will have a little more gray hair. Yes, that means a little more sagging {sigh}. BUT that means I am also one more year wiser {or so they say}. 


Happy Tuesday Friends! 

This post is linked up to Top Ten Tuesday at Oh Amanda

I Dream of the Beach.

As much as I love the 25 degrees here in the good 'ole state of Ohio, the beach calls for me. Sand through my toes, my sweet boys frolicking in the waves, a cocktail {or Diet Coke} at sunset, relaxing and just soaking in the sun.

Yes, it’s true. I heard we are getting another snow/ice storm {sigh}. So, I will continue to dream. Go ahead dream with me. Where would you go if you could go anywhere on vacation?

 

Welcome to the 'Land of Fun'

Who doesn't want a place they can escape to and feel like they can do whatever they want and will not get in trouble? As a kid, I would have loved that. Th one thing I have learned with having all boys is they NEED to play. They NEED to run and jump and do whatever crazy things they do. 


Thankfully when we bought our house the basement was unfinished. At the time, that was one of the million reasons I didn't want the house. With the help of Coach W this castle slowly started to grow on me. The one thing I began to realize is that in finishing a basement we could kinda do what we wanted {as long as it was cheap enough}. It was a piece of art work; a clean canvas so to speak. I knew I wanted a playroom and I knew I wanted it to become 'The Land of Fun' and so here you go, take a look....

We have gotten years of play out of this room. The one thing I will say is that Coach W thought of the half wall which has been simply glorious. Because this little man LOVES the door closed, which in turn means I don't have to worry about him because he is playing in the 'Land of Fun'!

So, tell me do have a 'Land of Fun' at your house? You know just a spot {doesn't matter the size} that lets your kids just be kids. Tell me about it, would ya?


Well, I am off to think of something for dinner and iron Coach W clothes for his basketball game tonight. This life sometimes is just too glamorous for one girl to handle! 

Toddlers Know A Thing Or Two About Strategery

So, here's the deal, I have been a mom for over 6 years. Which automatically means I can certify myself as an expert {or something like that}. On a side note I will be 21 {plus 10} next Friday which means I am even more of an expert at, well, pretty much everything. The one thing I am beginning to realize is someone forgot to tell this almost 14 month old that his momma knows everything and he should REALLY listen.

This kid has totally ROCKED my little world. Granted, my other two boys were somewhat easy. This oh so special little man has not only began to test his boundaries with me lately but he likes for me to get mad. I am convinced he thinks I am HILARIOUS when I am fuming mad at him. Generally he’s really sweet, so happy, wonderfully well-behaved , but I am seeing lots of conscious defiance.


This part of parenting for me is always hard. I have always been so stern with my older two boys. Although the discipline was different for each one. Brady would have to get the occasional good ole butt spankin. Mason, I could just look at the kid and tell him I was upset and it would bring him to tears. So, in our castle we really try to discipline in a way that fits each individual kid. Then you have my sweet and spicy little Cole. He sees his brothers craziness and wants to join in. Can you blame the kid? Here's the thing, 9 out of 10 times he is just trying to be like his brothers but the discipline part for me comes into play when he doesn't realize that he could get hurt. Did I mention I sweep A LOT. Well, Cole will literally pull the plug out of the wall EVERY TIME I flippin start to sweep. He will start laughing so hard I'm pretty sure he pees in his diaper strictly due to how hilarious he thinks he is. 


Yep, six years of being a expert. Hmm.. Maybe I should rethink the whole "expert" thing. I am learning parenting is STILL such an adventure to adjust and adapt to all of the changes it brings and will continue to bring. It’s going to be really interesting to see how his personality continues to blossom in the coming months. I adore this kid. He is walking/running, and communicating with us in surprisingly eloquent ways. He loves to be LOUD, and has an obsession with pushing things across the floor, and will open mouth kiss on command {still working on the pucker situation}, plus he goes to where my i-pod is and starts to dance just so I will turn on the music. So, really he is pretty much the coolest kid EVER.


I know so many of you are moms who read this fabulous blog and some of you don't have kids but are around sweet little loves all the time... So... I would love to hear more about your experience, and how you navigated this phase of your kiddo’s life.

Do you ever get the urge to do this.....

So much to do, so little time

 and I wish for just one second I could stop to do this!

or this...

If you haven't tried this you totally should. Go ahead... try it! A good scream/cry always helps me... What about you?

For more Fabulous Wordless Wednesday photos, visit 5MinutesforMom.com and Wordless Wednesday.