some potty talk...

I SO need to be straightening my hair, so I can be a part of it

NEW YORK, NEW YORK!
In one quick hour, I am headed with my sisters to have a fun (much needed and deserved) weekend away! But, I will leave you with one of the reasons I need a vacation:
my bathroom remodel!
We have sad little bathroom's in our house (except for Cameron, his bathroom is perfect) - MY bathroom is the smallest and sadest...until now!!
Here is the before and after of the boys bathroom...
we had linolium and boys who splashed a LOT, which isn't a good combo and was causing some water damage under the floor! That was the whole reason we started the remodel - but I kinda got carried away! The sinks are much taller now, so I made a little stool (now hopefully the boys will start washing their hands again!)! Now for the pathetic little bathroom...I pointed some things out for you guys (just incase you are doing a quick glance and not feeling sorry enough for me)!
1. my 1980 movie star lights that have a thick coat of dust baked on to the top of them
2. my once upon a time towel holder, that was turned into a blowdryer holder because there is nowhere else to put it
3. our his and hers styling center - the trick is to try and not let the lotions all fall in the toilet when you need the one in the back
4. my make-up station - easy access for Chase and more than one blush brush as taken a swim in the toilet!
Now, close your eyes - get ready - open...ahhhhh, isn't it so clean and pretty! It is still the smallest, but it is now my FAVORITE bathroom! I bought this handy little cupboard that fits behind the door and now holds all my junk (most of my junk is still downstairs in a box and I am not sure if I will ever allow it back in)! It is skinny, but it is about 5 feet tall so it holds quite a bit! I love the floor - I could do my whole house in slate (and beadboard) - maybe I will surprise Bill next time he leaves town!
I had a awesome handy man help me with everything! He was quick and efficient and was willing to listen and change ideas with me. He also enjoys a good sandwich and girly talk (and is willing to pretend he doesn't see all the tampons on the floor that a certain someone threw out of my purse while looking for gum)! AND, he told me not to tell anyone, but he will totally work for THIN MINTS (shhhh)! If you are looking for a handyman, let me know and I will give you his #!
OK - I really have to go! See you Monday!!

strong vs. stubborn...

Wesley has a very strong personality
(Bill, who thinks Wesley is like me, calls it stubborn).
I love his personality - he makes me smile daily! Last week we went to a church dinner. We let Cameron stay home with the boys, but brought Wesley (who thinks he is the boss) with us. They were having a nursery there and he was excited to go. When we got there, he didn't recognize any of the kids and didn't want to go into the nursery. I needed to help get things ready, so I left him by the door and told him he would have fun. When Bill arrived about 15 minutes later I asked him to go check on Wesley. He came back and told me that they hadn't seen Wes. My heart sunk. We quickly looked throughout the church - no luck. I remembered another guy (who happened to be a police officer) dropped his kids off right after I left Wesley, so I went and asked him if he had seen Wesley. He hadn't. We only live about 5-10 walking minutes away from our church, so we thought he might of tried walking home. Bill went one way, while another friend went another to try and find him. I, with others, continued searching. After about another 10 minutes (which felt like forever) I found him. He was hiding under a pew, right across from the nursery door. It was one of those moments where my emotions were going crazy, I didn't know whether to cry, laugh, scream, sleep...
so, I said, "Wesley, I have been looking everywhere for you, everyone has been looking for you - even the police" (and by police, I meant the nice policeman/neighbor that was attending the dinner). He quickly ran into my arms, started crying, and said he didn't want to go to the nursery. I was able to hold him for awhile, explain how important it is to NEVER EVER HIDE FROM YOUR PARENTS!! When Bill came back, he took Wesley home. He got extra hugs from me that night.
The next day was Sunday. When we drove into the church parking lot, he asked me if the police were still there. Realizing he was nervous, I told him that the police were there to help him, that they were trying to bring him back to me. He let out a deep breath and said, "Oh, I thought the were going to "under rest me"!
Man, I love this kid! He is the reason I know, it is possible to have a smile on your face and tear rolling down your cheek at the same time! I was reminded of his strong, stubborn, stupid DETERMINED personality, when he was outside, in the cold, yesterday (in a tank top and shorts) trying to roller skate in the snow...he eventually was content, just eating it!another smile!

spring WAS in the air...

Last week, before we were covered in a blanket of white, we went to the zoo.
It was a GORGEOUS day (I would even venture to say HOT - oh, the memories!!!)!We went with some good friends of ours
(and convinced them that they NEEDED a annual pass too - yea, more zoo trips)!I LOVE SPRING! I love summer more, but spring is here to tell me summer's almost here!
Everything is prettier and happier in Spring!
The kids get their rosy cheeks back as well as their energy out !I love a little boys red face with accompanying sweaty head - I also love that you can roll down the windows in your car so you don't have to smell said boys!
Spring was in the air! The kids could feel it...the birds could feel it...the rodents could really feel it... now, I am off to go make a snowman with my kids
(actually, I will throw snowballs at them while they attempt a snowman!)

party time...

tonight we went to my niece Ashley's b-day party!
they had quite the set up...

wii on the projector screen yummy food! sweet babies!
and most importantly, a whole SEPARATE room for the kids to play!! They would come out occasionally (dripping in sweat) to get a drink and then run back in and shut the door! Eventually, I decided I should go take a few pictures of them SO I ventured into the (now boy smelly) room, to find them bouncing off the walls (literally)

I would say they couldn't quit talking about it, but in truth, they all passed out on the drive home!

Happy Birthday Ashley - we love you!

go fly a kite...

We had a blast, enjoying the AWESOME weather, at Wheeler Farm today!
We brought a picnic lunch (which, surprisingly, was SO exciting for the boys) and then went to see all the animals. After we were done smelling seeing all the animals, we went on a wagon/tractor/hay ride! then it was time for the main event...
bubbles, frisbees and kites (oh my)

we pay exactly $1 for our kites, and not a penny more
(except the tax - and not a PENNY after that)not because I am cheap - it's because I am smart!
it's because when it gets tangled in an impossible knot, I say "throw it away!" it's because when I say, "you are getting too close to the tree!""run the other way!!!!" and they don't listen, I just laugh and say "no big deal"I don't think he agrees!

represented...

It was a blazing 52 degrees on Sunday and spring was in the air.
The kids all ended up with shorts on (which might have something to do with me being a little behind on the laundry) and they were out on the tramp with a box of popsicles! Which means we are that much closer to summer -
which makes me happy - so happy!! They just seem like better kids when they are outside they are nicer and more united - you could even say brotherlythe dirty mismatched outfits are more accepted outside,
it just looks like a fun day and not a neglected child oh, he is sweet!!
(he is practising his ballerina moves here - I think these girls are rubbing off on him)
and speaking of favorite sweet kids - I was noticing my labels don't quite add up - a certain child has quite a few more posts under his belt than say another middle child. To even things out, I need to make sure ALL kids are represented, so they can ALL be tagged - So...here is Cameron enjoying his popsicle Reagan with his best smile and Wesley in the center of it all, AGAIN!
Now I feel better!

happy birthday seth...

b.c.c. 3/1/09
My sister in law Becky lives far far away - but lucky for us, she always visits around her kids 1st birthday! We have been able to celebrate all 3 kids here!

Seth looks so cute here with his frosted lips -
we were starting to wonder if he was going to dig in...

it only took a minute, and he was ready to party!
(I love his little hands - I couldn't quit looking at them the whole time they were here!!)

he REALLY got into it!!

can you imagine what the tub looked like after this?

Here he is before turning into Elmo

we miss you guys already!!

tree sap...

I feel like my blog has been uncharacteristically sweet and sentimental lately - maybe it's because I was without my computer for SO long, not knowing if my pictures would be saved or not. Once I got it back, EVERY picture made me smile - even the ones I hated before!!
OR maybe it is Carin's March challenge, which really has me thinking (deep thinking)!
So, sorry for all the sap but, I have yet another picture w/accompanying saying to add...
b.c.c. 3/5/09
We woke up the other morning to find the whole world white once again. It was one of those storms that made it look as if the snow was giving all of the trees a big hug. It immediately reminded me of one of my favorite quotes (one of the few I have memorized)...Winter is nature’s way of saying, ‘Up yours.’” ~Robert Byrne

the price you pay...

b.c.c. 3/4/09
Wesley was SO excited to babysit Mariana!he got to hold her then he wanted to play with her, so we put her on the ground
(on his special blanket, that he carefully laid out) she started tipping a little, so Wesley thought of an idea he went to get a pillow for a little support and then another and another
once her pillow dungeon castle was complete, she was ready for a bottle - Wesley carefully fed her and burped her!
The minute Renata came to get her sweet baby, Wesley said, "I'm done!" - while I was taking Mariana from him, he whispered in my ear, "don't let Renata have her yet" and he ran to find a ball and a book and proceeded to demand Renata's full attention, in which she happily obliged! We love having Mariana come over and play, but her mom sure has to pay the price!