Punkin' Pies!!

What a Wonder-FOUR Day!!

Happy Birthday, Hayes!!

Dear Brother Bear, 

Look at you...the big 4!! Wow!! So big and still so little. You have changed so much over this past year...you've gained such confidence and somehow blossomed into an even awesomer version of your awesome self. Let me tell you just a bit about the 4 year old you...um, let me think...oh yeah, I can sum it up real quick...the 4 year old you is puuuuure cuteness. : )

You are cute when you are holding strong during negotiations with your smooth talking brother. You are cute when you call your sister "sweet baby girl" and tell her that she looks beautiful. You are cute when you're mad as a snake, telling me how "you are never going to eat dinner or take a nap again EVER". You are cute when you fall flat on your face...or knee...or elbow. You are cute when you ask me if God has lots of toys up there. You are cute when you use your very loud pretend voices. You are cute when you think new shoes make you run even faster and insist on showing me just how fast. You are cute when you tell us all about your many girlfriends. You are cute when you answer the what did you do at school today question with a cocky "oh, just big boy stuff".  You are cute when you get a running start to tackle daddy. You are cute when you are sacked out and mouth breathing away. You are cute when you tell me that "I smell like the best mom ever." You are cute when you put your underwear, shirt, and/or shorts on backwards.You are cute when you do your big smile for my millions of pictures. You are cute when you dump out the ice so you can really get to the heart of your snow cone. You are cute when you see an "H" and assume it has to be your name. You are cute when you are waving at us from the carousal or your spot up on stage. You are cute when you are cracking up during a tickle fest. You are cute when you make your bed in the midst of a complete mess of a room. You are cute when you are playing 'Candyland' by yourself and then proceed to tell me all about how you just won. You are cute. Pure and simple.

But as you can see, the amazing thing is you aren't just cute....you are also kind, funny, loving, silly, and sweet (just to name a few)! And I for one, cannot wait to see what this 4th year brings for our kind, funny, loving, silly, sweet, and cute (just to name a few) little guy! I am in awe of you on a daily basis and could not love you more...

Happy, happy birthday sweet pea.
Love,
Your proud, happy, and grateful (just to name a few) Mom

Bears' Turn on the 'Birthday Date' Train!!

Bear had his big birthday date with Gigi and Grandad on Thursday!! And I think it's safe to say, he was PUMPED UP about it!! Gigi and Grandad said that he started talking as soon as they got in the car and DID NOT STOP!! : ) By all accounts, they had an awesome time searching for Bears' elusive train stuff, chowing down at Cracker Barrel, and of course...playing hard!! And if amount of candy corn ingested = amount of fun then I am pretty sure that they squeezed every bit of fun out of Hayesees' special night!!
Thanks again Gigi and Grandad...you're batting 1000!! : )

My Dream Maker

Today is our 7 year anniversary!! It's a little hard to believe we are already here, but then again we have  packed a whole lot of living into these past 7 years so a little part of me is like that's it?? Just 7?? We've both changed so much from the kids who said 'I do' such a short/long time ago...we used to live for the weekends, stress about nothing more than which movie to watch, and spend hours marveling about how our hands fit just right together. : ) And what about now?? Now...we moisturize, we discuss the pros and cons of discipline tactics, and we spend hours marveling about just how early is too early to go to sleep on a Saturday night. : ) Some people might hear this and say they've lost it...lost their edge...lost the spark, but to them I say nope, no can do.  You see, many things have changed. We have gone from an easygoing 2 to an overwhelming 5. We now have these sweet little people who look up to us and call us those two wonderfully scary names of Mom and Dad. We have gained a greater understanding of this world and the sadness that losing someone irreplaceable can bring. We have learned more about the burden of budgets and the pain of disappointing relationships. We have fought dirty and loved deeply. Yes, there have been many changes but...there has also been so much that has stayed exactly the same. Jason can still make me feel like the only girl in the room. He is still the man who hears my concerns and makes them his own. He still looks so cute when he's out working in the yard. He is still that dad...the involved one, the fun one, the affectionate one, the present one. He is still the thoughtful man who brings me home dresses just because. He is my dream chaser and my dream maker. And if that wasn't enough...guess what? Our hands still fit just right together and I'm willing to bet that they always will. : )

Happy Anniversary Eve!!

Jason and I decided to celebrate our 7th anniversary eve with a fancy dinner right here at home...the food was good, the company was great, and the waitstaff?? 

Cute as a Bug in a Tuxedo Shirt!! 

So, so worth that 3 dollar tip...: )

When You Have 3 Kiddos...

Don't be surprised when you grab your wallet out of your bag and a tampon goes flying across the table landing smack dab in the middle of the 'Kids Club' sign in sheet.

Don't be surprised to hear your son, who is supposed to be happily napping, bellow from his room..."Mom, I have snot on my binger (finger)"...over and over AND over again.

Don't be surprised when your daughter decides to take her poop filled diaper completely off front and center in the Cool Cuts waiting room.

Don't be surprised if it takes 3 big squirts on each of your kiddos' hair before you realize it is the baby lotion not the baby shampoo that is refusing to lather. (I'm quick, I know)

Don't be surprised when the son who has been waking you up in the pre-dawn hours since his birth, starts  kindergarten and suddenly decides that sleeping in is the way to go.

Don't be surprised when you find three day old toothpaste caked on the back of your daughters neck.

Don't be surprised when you dust off the old video camera, push record, and step outside...if you are met with your middle son standing there, pants down, screaming "He stepped on my weanie!!"

Don't be surprised when your tough demeanor on the first day of school crumbles on the second day of school and you find yourself ugly crying in the gym parking lot.

Don't be surprised when you lose your cool and make some unusual demands from a store clerk, like meeting you at the front door with your very late Fathers Day gift because you have 3 kids in the car...if the entire staff knows exactly who you are the next time you saunter in for some scrapbook paper.

 Don't be surprised when you have to referee an argument that begins and ends with "Stop recognizing me!"

Don't be surprised when your oldest son comes home from kindergarten with two large holes in his shirt..."Mom, making holes with scissors is FUN!"

Don't be surprised if it is extremely hard to find a toilet in the house WITHOUT some sort of pee on the seat.

Don't be surprised when your 20 month old daughter's favorite sayings are "Be Nice" and "Stop It"

Don't be surprised if a trip to church (or any other place for that matter) involves returning home for at least one pair of shoes!

Don't be surprised if your sweet lil' daughter poops not 1, not 2, but 3 times in an extremely crowded bathtub. (And FYI if your son ever utters the phrase "What is this peanut butter?"...that is your clue to abort the bathtub mission and abort the bathtub mission QUICK) : )

Man, I love this crazy life. : )