Thankfulness...the abridged version

I didn't jump on the Facebook bandwagon of listing the things I am thankful for every day. Who has time for that? So, here is the condensed version:

1. For my kids. They are crazy and sweet and cuddly and hilarious. All at the same time. Every day is different with those three in it.
2. For my husband. He has been there through everything with me over the years: the good, the bad, and the ugly. And he still sticks around despite all that!
3. For my sister who knows everything about me and who I can call 24/7, 365, even if it is for the dumbest thing.
4. For my parents. I see bad parents every day in my profession, which reminds me how blessed I am to have/had great ones.
5. For the rest of my family. Extended family, you know who you are!
6. For my job. I love my job and can honestly say I wake up every day looking forward to going to work.
7. For my education. My parents instilled in me the importance of that.  Regardless of what happens to me in life, my degrees are the one thing no one can take away.
8. For my crabby dog, Abby (frivolous I realize). That dog was like my first born! Love her! Can't hardly sleep without her big hairy butt noozled up next to me.
9. For my University of Kentucky Wildcats. If you don't understand this one, then you are probably a hater!
10. For my house, car, and all the other frivolous things I have. They may be material, but I am thankful nonetheless that God has provided a means for me to obtain the things that I want.
11. For my friends. I don't see them often enough, but you hookers know who you are! Love ya!
12. For my health. I don't really need to elaborate on this one.
13. BLACK FRIDAY! I love you Black Friday!
14. The memories I have of my childhood, all happy.

My kids be cray cray!

Let me start by saying I love my kids.  I really do. However, I have spawned three completely CUHRAZY offspring. Case in point:

Helping wrap presents

Who doesn't love Skyline?

Spaghettios anyone?

Walk tall, carry big stick

I'm not sure this even needs an explanation

The living room after the Terrible Tornadic Twos hit it

Cause fake kitchens are made for tipping over and climbing on

Naked arts and crafts

Watching TV together


 

Observations

This last weekend we headed down to Gatlinburg for a family reunion/vacation. Observations from the weekend:

1. Dramamine is safe for children and that shit works like a charm. 3 kids and a total of 12ish hours in the car and not one tear was shed! Not one!

2. Do not promise your kid a mermaid show without asking first of the mermaid show is seasonal....it was!

 

 

3. A bear sighting will unite people young and old. One came up to our cabin, my aunt shouts "BEAR!!" and 27 Pigmans came running!!

Can't wait to do it again next year! We all had a blast, thanks to our new best friend, the makers of Dramamine!

Roid rage!

Two of my three angels are currently on steroids. For those of you without children or who have never personally witnessed anyone on steroids, let me break it down for you: Day one = Grouchy kids, Day two = Whiny kids, Day three = Hyper kids. Oh did I mention it was a three day weekend and it rained the entire time!! That means this Momma was ready for the nut house by the end of the weekend!

I tried to occupy their time with art projects. Saturday we painted pine cones, had a pretend car wash with shaving cream, did art with stamps, colored on a shower curtain with dry erase markers, and played Playdoh at least 3 times. When parents pin this shit on Pinterest it looks way cooler (and their kids seem waaayyyy more chillaxed) than when my kids partake. Case in point:

Shaving cream head

You mean you don't paint your body with finger paint?!?!

I finally decide to venture outdoors on Sunday and then the Roid rage culminates with Maddy crashing out in a Meijer shopping cart.

Oy! What does all this mean you ask?? 6pm bedtime two nights in a row!

A Weaving loom = a night of doom

Anyone remember these from their childhood? I spent the better part of third or fourth grade making everyone I knew a potholder.


I got the genius idea to buy one for Maddy while browsing at Hobby Lobby. My plan had two fatal flaws:

1. My child has the attention span of a flea.
2. A 32 year old Stephanie has much larger fingers and poorer eye sight than 8 year old Stephanie had. Also 32 year old self has a much shorter fuse and is easily frustrated!!

*Fail* I gave up after about an hour and I only finished half of the damn potholder!

I'm a shy lion

This weekend was Maddy's ballet recital.  Although I have been threatening to not do ballet again after this season (it's expensive, time consuming, and the kid acts disinterested), how can we not do it when they look this cute:

I mean, seriously. How cute is she? Her class were little shy lions.......so adorable. Here's the after shot (she was not a fan of the headpiece):

She actually did really well this year and had most of the steps memorized for her dance.

I think one reason I put her in ballet is because I wanted to take dance as a kid and never got the opportunity.  I grew up in a rural area and dance classes were just not available.  Plus, we was po (too poor for the other O-R).  I keep telling myself it's that old adage about giving your kid everything you never had.  Is that wrong that I am living vicariously through my 4 year old? :) 

A day in the life

Yesterday Maddy and I made cookies. She was in charge of putting on the powdered sugar:

Even the dog was covered in powdered sugar. But at least she's helpful in cleaning up the mess on the floor.

This is what the twins did while we made cookies:

That pretty much sums up a day in my life! These kids are crazy!

Baby Jaguar

For those of you who don't know, Baby Jaguar is Diego's sidekick (SEE PIC BELOW---isn't he cute?)

The almost four year old loves Go Diego (*barf*). For weeks, my kid has been saying she wants a baby jaguar birthday party. I came up with the idea to do all leopard print decorations (same thing as a jaguar, right?!). Run around all day today buying stuff.....get home pumped to show it to her. She tells me she wants a camouflage porcupine party!!!!! What the hell? I don't even know what that means?!

She's still getting a Baby Jaguar party, but would be interested if any moms out there know what a camouflage porcupine is and where I can find one!

My almost 3 year old

M's birthday party was this past weekend. Although I am worn out, I am proud to report it was a huge success. The clown was fantastic and boggled my feeble mind.........I have never understood how magician's do it! He was a regular David Blaine.

I can't believe my little girl will be 3 in just two days.  She makes me so proud!  I know everyone is proud of their kid, but I swear this kid is something special.  She is so intelligent. She is working 24 piece jigsaw puzzles by herself. Her language skills are amazing! She knows more words than most 5 or 6 year olds.

M is following right in my footsteps.......and not just on the intelligence part! :) She continues to get in trouble at the sitter for talking during nap time. Just like Mommy did in kindergarten!  She is also Chatty Cathy, just like Mommy! Some days I can't wait for the boys to get old enough to talk back to her.  Her stories are hilarious though. Here is an excerpt of a letter she made me write to her dad tonight:

"A little girl was walking down the street and she got runned over. The little girl stinks because poop stinks in the toilet. Then she fell down and she got runned over. Then she peed. THE END"

I was crying I was laughing so hard!