92%

I did it! I passed this self-imposed "test" of participating in NaBloPoMo!  I'm so happy and proud (and a little relieved!) to have made it!

Today is the last day of the month and I successfully managed to post 29 out of 30 days in November, making me 92% successful in this NaBloPoMo endeavor I agreed to take on just one short month ago.  (I'm still kicking myself for forgetting day one, or for not even remembering that November had started, for that matter!)

So, now what?

Good question.

Should I keep up the good (?) work?  Should I take some time off?

I'll be honest.  I really enjoyed the challenge.  It was a LOT easier than I thought it would be.  If anything it forced me to complete and publish some thoughts that had remained unfinished and fragmented.  It gave me an opportunity (good or bad for you, the reader) to share some (more!) photos of my precious boys.  And it allowed me the chance to feel accomplished, having completed (ok, so almost completed...) something that I set out to do.

Finishing something feels good.  But that's not entirely like me, if you will.  For you see, I'm a putterer . I dabble.  I stick my toe in to test the waters, but rarely do I ever actually go in.  I get on random kicks but never see these projects through to completion before my fleeting interests and attentions move on.  I have a basement of half-finished interests to prove it - cross-stitch patterns started and forgotten, scrapbooks neglected half way through the year it was created to memorialize, even exercise equipment I vowed I would use that now holds up a pile of boxes in the basement.

So to have completed this task I set out to accomplish (ok, so ALMOST completed) feels good.  It makes me want to keep going.  It encourages me, even in the smallest way, that I can do it.  I can finish something if I set my mind to it.  It doesn't hurt that it was fun and I got to write about stuff I love (my kids) and things that come easily to mind (my random thoughts).

I thank you for coming a long with me while I participated on this journey.  And thank you for not judging me for only getting a 92%.  At least it's still an 'A'.  I'll take it.     

Inside your head...

Oh, my dear Nathaniel.  I wish I could live inside your head for just 5 minutes.  It must be a fantastic wonderland of fun, great adventure, and daring escapades.

I sit here watching you enveloped in your imagination and it fascinates me.  Dressed as Batman (complete with cape and mask) you have built an intricate roadway using matchbox tracks, your Little Tykes chairs and table, your beloved boo bankie, and our couch.  This roadway surely must lead to grand places.  Along the way there are perilous valleys, treacherous construction sites, and even an armed alien road block.  The town and community being constructed around me is nothing short of amazing.  Race tracks, airports, even a school bus to take visitors and tourists to their destinations.  I believe you have utilized every spare part from every last toy in your bedroom to create this masterpiece.  You have just finished repairing a broken down car and filling it with gas and have moved on to loading the townspeople into an airplane to transport them to the big car races.  I can only imagine where your creativeness will take you next!  

Every day your world entertains me.  The stories you tell, the costumes you invent, the characters you become, and the adventures you animatedly act out are captivating.  It thrills me to watch you as you turn an ordinary paper into a pirate treasure map or a precious ticket aboard the Polar Express.  Our regular, common chair has been known to be the scene of more than one dangerous storm that has thrown captains to danger in the choppy unforgiving sea.  Bumps in the night quickly become big furry monsters or ghosts looking for you to be hiding under cover of darkness.  But these aren't scary monsters and ghosts, for you have no fear of such things.  You find them exciting and love to chase these "gi-gan-tuck (gigantic) monsters" and hide from "pooky (spooky) ghosts".  Even at the ripe, mature age of three-and-a-half, you will lean over to your baby brother when he starts to tear up and whimper during our games and whisper, "Don't be scared, A-yex (Alex), they won't get you!  I'll pwo-teck (protect) you!"

Man, I love this stage and hope it never ends.  I never tire of the adventures we have.  I hope to always be your partner in crime as we ward off fire-breathing dragons, ride our horses into the sunset, rescue fairy princesses, and hide from furry blue tickle monsters.  I take my newly dubbed title of "Captain Mommy" and I wear it proudly.  You make me proud, dear Bug, and I thank you for living so freely, for loving life with the openness and vigor that you do, and for reminding me of the little important things through the innocent eyes of childhood.  


*I apologize for having yet another post with no pictures.  I even took some of Nathaniel's grand village but am having hard drive issues that prevent me from sharing them at this time.  (just in time for Christmas cards, perfect timing, huh?!?)  I promise I will make up for it!

Short on time, long on to-do lists...

I read a lot of blogs and it seems I've stumbled on a not-so-surprising theme lately.  Everyone is short on time and long on to-do lists, expectations, and responsibilities.

On one hand I feel better knowing I'm not alone in being overwhelmed by the never-ending demands of this grown-up life.  But on the other hand it concerns and saddens me.  It's showing an obvious pattern in society that we, as a whole, are over-extending ourselves.  We spend so much time having to be something special and do amazing feats and prove impossible things, that we forget to just be.

I read this email from a friend of mine earlier this week that sums it up:  In today's day and age, we spend more, but have less.  We buy more, but enjoy it less.  We've multiplied our possessions, but decreased our values.  We've learned to rush, but not to wait.  Why is that?  Where have we gone wrong?  Have we "advanced" so much as a society that we've actually gone BACKWARD in our ability to just enjoy life?

There was a comedian I saw on Facebook recently who totally hit the nail on the head by saying we have things better than we ever have before but we fail (or have simply forgotten HOW) to just appreciate what we have.  Stop and think about how far we've come and how lucky and blessed we are to have the opportunities, the advancements, and the freedoms this life brings.  The key here is to STOP and THINK.  Maybe that would help ground us and keep us sane in this chaotic world that has us go, go, going all the time.  I know it's worth a shot.  Stop.  Think.  And breathe.

Honor Roll

While I am out pounding the pavement today in search of hot deals on Little Tykes stuff, Matchbox Cars, or DVDs, I thought I would share with you a list of some of my favorite bloggers and a sampling of their most recent outstanding posts to spread the love.  I read a lot of blogs but there are a few bloggers that consistently write stuff that knocks my socks off!  These are fascinating women, with relatable stories, genuine souls, and an art for telling a story or conveying an emotion that is second to none.  So hop around if you can and enjoy these (my) favorite hits!

Not Perfect 

and

Relay Days 

by

Time Flies When You Waste It

and

Stuff I am not grateful for. (but really I am).

by

Lara at Overstuffed

A Plant Momaphor

and

Dear Mother

by

Four Leaf Clovers

by 

MckMama

These are just a sample of the MANY fantastic bloggers out there and just a taste of the brilliant posts these women above have put out there.  Thanks for letting me share some of my recent favorites!

Small details

In this season of thankfulness, it seems to go without saying that I am grateful for my friends, my family, my job (and the luxuries that it provides me), my home, and especially my children.  I could write an individual post singing the praises of each and every one of these blessings (and in fact, if I had thought of it before writing this just now, I would have done a countdown to Thanksgiving type thing doing just that).  However, today is Thanksgiving and I've missed the boat (the Mayflower, no doubt) and so instead, I'd like to follow the lead of a fellow blogger over at Manic Mother who posted a lighthearted yet sincere list of the little things in life that she was thankful for.  It's good stuff and she's right - there are a lot of little things that get overlooked and taken for granted.

So here is my list of some of the more prominent "little things" that I am deeply thankful for:

1.  my digital camera - it captures precious moments, expressions, and the very personalities of the ones I love most in this world.  It functions as my memory, my scrapbook, and my diary.  It tells stories and helps me to relive good times, forgotten details, and lost innocence.  I would be lost without this thing!

2.  the internet - I'm not sure if this would be considered a little thing, but it's an easy to take for granted thing that I simply could not live without.  In a financial crunch I think cable and heat would go before internet and I'd willingly walk 6 miles to work to be able to afford it if need be.  Ok, so I'm (half) kidding.  But the internet is my portal to the world, it has provided me with a gateway to a community in which I thrive.  It easily provides me with information when I need it most.  And the internet provides me with a means through which to satisfy my occasional need for retail therapy without having to pack up my kids and drag them out into the H1N1 infected world.  I mean really, what would I do without Google, Facebook, Blogger, or Etsy?!?

3. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes - Children are dirty little creatures.  Boys are even dirtier.  Enter in a potty training boy and a toddler and you see why I am thankful for these little gems.

4.  the eyelash curler - One of of the world's best inventions.  Hands down the best thing since sliced bread!  Enough said.

                           

5.  the snack trap - Without a doubt this thing saves my butt when I have a cranky, overtired, hungry, or otherwise miserable child on my hands.  I can put ANYTHING in this cup and it creates an immediate hush.  Raisins, cheerios, fruit snacks...you name it.  It's fabulous.  Self-feeding entertainment and enjoyment at its finest.

 

Are you kidding me?

Today must officially be National "That's Ridiculous!" Day.

Today I heard that it's not unheard of (and in some circles it's even considered normal!) to buy Christmas gifts for your pediatrician!  As if I don't feel enough pressure with societal requirements to tip your mail carrier, garbage collector, and give trinkets to my son's preschool teachers and friends at the holidays (which I currently do not do, by the way!).  Now I should be worried that I am failing my pediatrician, too?!? 

And as if that's not enough to stop me in my tracks and ask "Are you freakin' kidding me?!?"...I read a study today that said 3-year-olds who are classified as "fearless" are now considered to be more likely to grow up to be criminals.  What!?!  Apparently this new study shows that "poor fear conditioning at the tender age of 3 can predispose that person to break the law as an adult".  What is this world coming to that we have over analyzed so much of life that we are now expecting our fearless 3-year-olds to become criminals when they get older?  Are they now going to suggest that we treat these 3-year-olds differently?  Perhaps we should lock them all up NOW and save ourselves the trouble down the road.  Argh!  This really irritates me, can you tell? 

In case you haven't figured it out by my level of frustration, I am the proud mother of one of these fearless 3-year-olds and while I rationally understand they are not saying he WILL become a criminal, the fact that they even spent money to show there is a tendency towards this is annoying to me.  I bet if money was spent anywhere they could show that eating Corn Pops as a child also makes one more likely to be unemployed or that riding a green bike instead of a red one will predispose you to having a thyroid condition in your 30s.  I just don't get it.  I realize I am now the one sounding ridiculous but I made the mistake (?) of venting about this in the heat of the moment instead of thinking about it first and so I'm a little aggravated (and therefore sarcastic - Thanks, Dad!).  It just burns my britches.

Has anyone else noticed/read/heard anything completely ridiculous today?!?  Or is it just me and my corner of the world sounding like it's gone off it's rocker?  

Out of Control

Have you ever had one of those days?

Where you feel like everything is going too fast?

Spinning....

Wildly....

Out of control?

This is how I feel today.

Help Wanted: Inquire Within

I am the complete opposite of technologically gifted.  Whatever that would be, I am.  I assure you, the Geek Squad would NOT be calling on me to join their ranks.  Steve Jobs is definitely NOT knocking on my door to offer me a job.  Radio Shack wouldn't even want me working for them, for that matter.  In fact, I barely know what a hard drive is much less how to spell HTML.  

I have a basic cell phone and still only recently figured out how to save photos and send text messages on it.  In February I bought a new Canon Rebel and still have yet to figure out how to use it beyond the "automatic" and "no flash" settings.  My video camera has capabilities way beyond my limited understanding of its functions.  It's all such a waste.

In a world that is so quickly advancing I feel like I'm being left behind.  It stresses me out and frustrates me beyond belief.  I would love to know what I'm doing so I could keep up.  Technology has the ability to make my life EASIER, but instead my lack of knowledge cripples me and has me struggling at every turn. Surely there is an easier way for people like me, to whom an understanding of technology does not come easily.  All I want is to figure out the basics and not feel like I'm missing something or throwing away the possibilities that are available to me.

I am beginning to feel a new sense of understanding for my Grandma who, at 91 never knew how to use a computer, never owned a cell phone, thought cable television was complicated, and never did figure out how to program her VCR even with explicit written instructions.  I could use some explicit written instructions.

I'm not asking for much.  I'd just like to be able to decipher the error code my hard drive that stores my iPhoto library has been giving me.  I'd like to figure out how to get my printer/scanner/copier to work so I could print mapquest directions or an email from time to time.  I want to figure out an easy way to make my Time Machine back up run automatically without having to think about it too much.  I could use a simpler means through which to upload, edit, store and back up my photos.  Not to mention making my blog pretty or figuring out how to make a header for my page or increase my margins so I can use bigger pictures.  I'm struggling here.  Some people need housekeepers or nannies.  I need a resident computer geek.  Anyone looking for work?

Greetings

Just thought we'd stop in to say hello!

Sunday (after a weekend away) has us running around like mad people but we'll be back with something of more substance tomorrow (oh lucky ones! - ha)!

Overheard

Sometimes communicating with a 3-year-old can be a challenge.  And by "challenge" I mean "impossibly futile".  To demonstrate this, let me talk you through an actual conversation I had with MY 3-year-old recently.  A conversation that no doubt sounded ridiculous to a fly on the wall and left me feeling like a bumbling idiot when all was said and done.

N:  "Um, Mommy, where pain?"
Me: *Pausing*  "Where's the PEN?"
N: "No, where PAIN?"
Me: "Your what?"
N: "My PAIN!"
Me: "Paint?"
N: "No, Mommy, my pain...Where'd pain go?"
Me: "I don't know what you mean, honey...pain?  what does it look like?"
N: "My pain, Mommy...down there" *pointing at floor of car*  (like THAT helps in my car!)
Me: *Thinking quickly to what he had earlier that he could possibly be referring to - his shoe, his matchbox car, the magna doodle, and ultimately coming up blank with anything that sounds remotely like PAIN - so I try anything* "Paper?  Sippy?  Boo Bankie?  Alex?  Daddy?  Dinosaur?" (Don't ask - I was desperate at this point)
N:  *Looks at me like I have three heads and have completely lost it*
Me:  *Talking it out (out loud)*  "Your pain..."  "Pen?" (um, no...tried that) "You have a pain?" (huh?)..."You want to pray?" 
N:  *Looks at me sternly*  "Mommy.  Pain."  *Makes sound of an airplane and mimics flying motion as he points again, to the floor of the car*
Me: *Finally getting it*  "OH!  PLANE!"

Right.  Got it.  (Truth be told, I didn't know we even HAD a plane in the car.)  Now it makes perfect sense.  Of course.  Plane.  Silly me.

Similar conversations have been exchanged with "Dizzy" (which apparently means THIRSTY),  "Saynil" (which is Toddler for NATHANIEL),  "Purses" (which for the record means BUSHES - "as in BLUEBERRY Purses, Mom!"), and "Free" which is what the rest of us actually call a TREE.  It kills me, though.  This kid can say CORNUCOPIA, but for some reason I sound like a three-year-old myself trying to decipher the word PLANE.   Go figure.   

What do a princess, a ballerina, and Judy Blume have in common?

In 5th grade we used to get very general writing assignments such as "use your powers of persuasion to try to bring someone over to your side of an issue", or "tell us about your best friend", or "where did you go on summer vacation?".  It was always fun to write a short story on a specific topic.  

For today's Flashback Friday I've dug out one of my favorite stories from these assignments. Not because of its literary genius, by any means, but because it shows that I had aspirations of wanting to be a writer early on.  I've always enjoyed writing and its come easily to me but it's great to see that even before I consciously knew it, these skills and this love were being honed, developed, and molded.  It's funny because I wasn't able to actually identify this with any assurance until my early 20s.  Read on and I hope you enjoy at some level.

  

If I had the power to be someone else for a day, I would be Judy Blume.  Here is a story of the day I would have if I were her.

One beautiful Monday morning I woke up early.  The sun was brightly shining.  After I ate my english muffin for breakfast, I went for my daily morning jog.  Jogging helps me get ideas for the stories that I write.  While I was jogging down Main Street, I saw how beautiful it was outside.  The birds were singing, the flowers were blooming, and most of the children were outside playing.  That gave me an idea for the perfect children's story.

I ran home and went straight to my writing desk.  I sat down and began jotting down ideas.  I thought it out first and crossed out the ideas I wasn't going to use.  Then I knew what came next, the part I dreaded most, the rough draft.

I wrote it down, but it seemed like I used a ton of paper.  Paper wads were flooding the floor.  After a long while, that felt like an eternity, I got the rough draft done.  My story was called "Spring".  I ran the story over to my editor's office.  He revised it and we talked over a cup of coffee about the things I had to improve.  I took it home, did what he asked, and I took it back to his office.  He revised it and said it was absolutely magnificent.

{The End}

Riveting, stuff, I know.

I have a few comments to make.  First, let me remind you that I was in 5th grade when I wrote this.  That (I believe) would have made me10 years old, people.  (I'm secretly hoping that helps build some sympathy amongst my readers!).  Secondly, I enjoy how I seemed to have a good grasp for the English language, specifically in the appropriate use of the word "wad".  That's impressive stuff.  Also, the detailed description of the writing process is helpful for those who have never, say, done any writing themselves.  I also like that in the end I was able to compliment myself by how magnificent my story was with only a few small edits.  I must be good!  I am, however, quite disappointed in my non-green-friendly practices in this story (referring again to the wads of paper flooding the floor!).  Either way it's fun to look back on this stuff and see where my pre-teen mind was.

Red Skies at night...

I'm desperately trying to get ready to go away for the weekend which involves tons of laundry, packing, cleaning, sorting, organizing, and lots and lots of agonizing.  But in the midst of it all, I decided it was important (for ME!) to join in over at I Should Be Folding Laundry in her weekly photo challenge: You Capture.

This week's theme is Sunrise/Sunset.

The sun has actually been out quite a bit lately until today and it just so happens I was moved enough this morning to dig my camera out of my purse (even WITH my purse, a lunch bag, and another laptop bag in one hand and a travel mug of coffee, my keys, and sunglasses in the other!) to capture the view down the hill from the parking lot where I work.  The fog settles into the "valley" (as it were) and with no leaves on the trees you can seemingly see for miles.  It was gorgeous and even though a few passers by looked at me like I had lost my marbles (for it must have been quite a sight with all that I was juggling), it was worth taking the time and effort to capture.  

The sweet irony was found a short hour or so later when it started POURING and got grey and miserable outside.  I was doubly glad I had taken the time while the opportunity was there!

Wordless Wednesday

Fly on the wall

As I sit here on Tuesday there are many thoughts roaming around my head...some are nonsensical and others are edging on thoughtful if I had the brain power to spin them into word webs.  Either way, here is a collection of random ramblings as heard in my head...

I hate the word "meme".  It's a commonly used word in the blogging world that means "an element of a culture or a system of behavior that may be considered to be passed from one individual to another through nongenetic means, esp. imitation".  I understand the need to use the word, but it drives me nuts.  I don't really know why.  I've also learned to hate the word "vernacular"- again, not sure why except that a friend and I were talking today and she kept using the word (and used it often just to bug me, I think).  And now I decided I don't like it.  So there you have it.  Just two of the many words I find annoying.  In case you cared. 

I can't believe Christmas is coming up so fast...Thanksgiving is next week and I'm so not prepared.  I am very excited for Black Friday shopping though!  I love good deals and getting all my Christmas shopping done in one swoop.  I don't particularly like getting up at 3 AM when there isn't a crying child in the next room necessitating my arousal, but it's still SO worth it!

I have to figure out what I'm going to do for Christmas cards this year.  I mean I always do the photo cards because, let's face it, I have the cutest kids on earth and love to show them off.  (Ok, so I'm an eensy weensy bit biased, but even still, I do like to show them off!)  But getting and choosing the perfect photo is stressful.  Especially with a three-year-old who thinks his name is "Daddy", calls me "Say-nuh" instead of Mommy and screams "No! No, PICK-CHURS!" the second my camera comes out.  Apparently he doesn't like pictures.  (He simply can NOT be my child!  What is wrong with this kid?!?!)  Regardless, it should be challenging.  Feel free to read this post over at Warm Chocolate Milk to hear a fantastic story of Christmas Card stress that I can totally relate to.

Nathaniel has been entertaining us for weeks with his many adventures and when he describes them it is always very animatedly, saying there was a "big, big, REALLY big, GIG-AN-TUCK" {enter relevant word here} - deer, truck, fish, poop, hot dog, pile of stuff, whatever.  It doesn't matter what, where, or for how long, it was always Big.  Big.  (Make that) REALLY big, (and) gigantic!  It makes me laugh!  And then when that's just NOT quite dramatic enough he adds "I EVER did see!" on the end to make sure it was the biggest ever, in the history of the world.  Just so you know.  There was NEVER one bigger.  Not possible.  So don't even try.  :)

I ♥ Faces...Autumn Beauty

Today I'm participating again in the weekly 
I ♥ Faces photo challenge.  

This week's challenge is all about capturing a photo of a person surrounded by the beautiful colors of autumn.

Fall is my favorite season and my boys are outdoor kids.  Combine that last ditch effort to get them outside as often as we can before the snow flies and my obsession with taking pictures and you have a LOT of photos to choose from for this challenge.  I have so many I love but I chose this one to share because of the expression on my son's face.  

Enjoy and be sure to check out I ♥ Faces to see more beautiful submissions!


(And I'm so glad I figured out how to add an actual ♥ this time!! 
Thanks to the tutorial on the I ♥ Faces website!!)

Happiness is...

dancing with my boys....

Specifically to this song:




Whenever this song comes on Noggin (or Nick Jr. or whatever they're calling it these days) Nate and I stop whatever we're doing and jump up to dance together.  It's a fantastic song and puts me in a good mood no matter how cranky, tired, or old I'm feeling!  Nate always requests that I jump (or move, or dance, or swing, or whatever) FASTER!  I might be feeling sluggish or lazy or have my nose buried in something but as soon as I hear Nate say "Let's Dance!" - I drop everything for these fleeting, precious moments!

A picture story...

My sister and I recently took the kids (my boys and my niece, Kensington) to the pumpkin patch for some traditional Fall fun and photo op.  It seemed simple enough.  Stick the kids in a pumpkin patch and take their picture.  I even had the fantastic idea of getting one of all three kids to give our parents for Christmas.  I thought it would be nice for them to have one good picture of all three of their grandkids.

Sounds simple, right?

Sure!  It was anything but simple.

Here's a photo story of how that plan went.

First, choose a place with lots of pumpkins.  This one looks good.

Then sit the children there.  Stay put, guys.

Ok, now one more.

Stay right there, Kensie.

Um, Alex...where are you going?!?

Ok.  New plan.

We'll put them in the middle of pumpkins 
so it's harder for them to get out and roam.

Yeah.  That's good.

Let's try this spot.

Everybody sit.

Good.  
Now look at me!  
Over here!

Oh, ALEX!  Where ya' going?!?

Ok.  Take three.

Yoo hoo!  

Where's Mommy?  

Look at me!

Say "Cheese!"

Nate?  You ok?  What happened?

Oh, Nate!  Get up!  

Kensie:  "I'm outta here!"

Alex:  "Yeah, me, too!"

Nate:  "See you, Mom!"

Well, that went well.

I think that worked out great, right?

Hmm.  Maybe next time.

Back in the day...

For Flashback Friday I was trying to find a poem I had written years ago when my paternal grandfather passed away.  I had just turned 16 at the time and was struggling with these new emotions of loss and grief.  As I've learned is my way, I wrote about it.  I will share that poem another day, but in searching for this poem, I found many other writings I have saved over the years.  Some of them are entertaining merely because of the innocent perspective my young mind had and the things I held dear at the time but others are impressive for the age at which I wrote them.  (Or at least I think so).  So, I provide you with a sample and am considering sharing more on future Flashback Fridays if I don't start losing readers as a result (Ha?) :)

This is an incomplete story I drafted (complete in my 13-year-old scrawl) in 1989:

Standing outside my house practically bursting with anticipation, I stood, waiting for my parents and brother to walk out the front door and say, "Okay, let's go!".  But they didn't.  They still weren't ready.


It was the summer of 1980.  I was a child of 4, my brother of 7, and my sister, a mere baby.


Our parents were packing for a weekend's vacation at Marineland in Canada.


After what seemed like a long time of waiting out by our car and going in and out of the house to check on things, we were finally ready!


On the long trip there my brother and I often got into fights over stupid things like how much of the seat was mine and how much was his.  My parents probably would have freaked had we not fallen asleep!

Like I said...it wasn't complete but it was a good start.  It told a story of an actual event in my life, I assume for one of those "tell us of a vacation you went on when you were little" type assignments.  I wish I would have finished it.  I'm curious as to how it may have ended!

Reality Check...

There's a fun weekly photo challenge over at I Should Be Folding Laundry called You Capture that I have been following for some time.

I've been checking out other people's submissions regularly but decided this week I might like to participate.  I'm feeling a bit like sharing some good old fashioned honesty, (and of course, I'm always looking for inspirational ideas such as this to uphold my NaBloPoMo bargain of blogging every day in November!).

This week's theme is Real Life.

My life isn't glamorous but it's certainly never dull!
Here's some of my reality:

My son, more often than not, does NOT want me to take his photo *gasp* and often yells "Don't take my picture {...or sing, dance, hug, kiss, etc...} Mommy!"

My son (and my husband and I) have not yet mastered the art of cleaning up - especially when it comes to Nate's bedroom.  It's a disaster and I simply can't keep up with it...

Laundry in our house is never ending...it takes a whole week to wash it all and then even longer to fold it and put it all away.  By then it's time to start all over...

Dinner is rarely gourmet or all that particularly healthy (though I make the best choices I can under the circumstances - e.g. TURKEY hot dogs, no sugar added applesauce, fruit, veggies, yogurt, low-fat cheese sticks, etc.).  And I'll be honest...the vegetables are offered but RARELY eaten.  Nathaniel thinks anything green is poison and carrots (literally) make him gag and throw up.  I hope that's just a stage...

We yell/cry/throw temper tantrums a lot around here.

But at the end of the day, I love my boys more than anything!

And catching them sleeping like little angels always makes my day!