Valentine's Day 2014

With all the snow we had last week, we ended up being stranded in for Valentine's Day.  The kids unfortunately both had school cancelled, therefore missed out on their parties.  We made the best of it however spending the day at home showering love on each other.  I think both Matthew and Lillian made me at least 10 valentines throughout the day.

Lilly never misses an opportunity to to dress the part.  Wearing a heart skirt from crazy 8 (last year) a heart bracelet from Gymboree  (very old) and a big ol' red bow on her head.

We decorated the house for Daddy, and ate all things heart shaped.  We ended up going out to dinner, which was a good thing, because I was all out of red foods to feed my children. 

We managed to get home and put the kids to bed pretty much on time, and enjoy some QT with my man.  We played Mario Cart while watching The Hangover.... we obviously go all out around here!

                                                     

 Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and Valentine's Day!!

Life As A Mom Of Three

So it has been a year as me being a mom of three.  I have learned so much in the past year.  I somehow come across so many people with 2 kids debating whether to try for a third or not.  For us there was such a big time period where we weren't sure whether to have another baby or be done after Lilly.  When Lilly was almost 3 we decided to try and  see how it goes.  We have never had problems getting pregnant.  And sure enough about a month after making the decision, we found out we were pregnant.

I never in a million years would have imagined the difference between having 2 kids to having 3.  While I know if we wouldn't of had Joshua my heart would have always ached for 1 more baby, the transition has made me a bit frazzled.  I no longer have it all together.  I actually am now late for things, I forget things, I say no to helping with things, because I am simply too busy.  Is Joshua worth it, absolutely 100%, that question is so laughable.  Would my life be different with just two kids, easier, less hectic.... well, yes.  I would have 9 hours a week right now to myself without any kids.  In the fall I would have both children in school all day.  I would have no bottles in the house, diapers would be a thing of the past, there would be no nighttime wake-ups.

Every season of life is a just that, a season, it will come and before I know it, it will be gone.  I would do anything to go back and relive the newborn days with all three of my babies.  Those are some of my happiest times in my life.

When people ask my opinion on having a third or sticking with two, I usually tell them that with three there is never a moment where someone other than yourself needs something.  Attention, food, cleaning, driven somewhere, you name it.  But seeing all three of my kids snuggled together, playing, or reading just melts my heart.  You will always wonder if you don't have another, but if you have another, you will never regret it.

I may never be 15 minutes early for every appointment again, supreme room mom, or be able to workout at the gym 5 mornings a week, but I have a full house.  Full of love, laughter, and....well, kids!

10 Things I Learned During My Latest Blog Break

So it's been a few weeks.  Normally when I unintentionally take a blogging break I feel so guilty and beat myself up over it.  This time, it while not intentional, it was needed, and honestly I don't think I could have found the time or energy to write over the past few weeks.

A Lot has been going on.   A Lot isn't a big enough word.  Major life choices, grown up headaches over life.  

Now, things have slowed down, things are back to normal, I am actually closing my eyes and sleeping at night.

For today, the things I have learned in the past few weeks.  Some I already knew, but was reminded.

 

 1.  My in-laws are amazing.  They took on the role of caring for all 3 kids for 4 days.  The kids had a fantastic time. 

 2. Guys, I can't even begin to explain Matthew's obsession with sports.  This is a list of "his" football games for week 7.  Not only does he watch and know who is playing / winning / the final scores of the real games, he also makes up his own and plays them out in the playroom.  It is the cutest thing ever.

 

3.  Nothing beats a Friday Night Jenga game night.

4.  While I still HATE surprises, my husband sure knows the right way to go about it.  Hello beautiful iPad baby.  Now I am just impatiently waiting for it's home, which is an Erin Condren case!

5.  Chuck E Cheese sketch pictures are always a wonderful addition to my refrigerator. 

6.  Wearing real clothes, and going out with adults sans kids, is so fun.  

7.  I met my husband and got to know him as we worked side by side, and man did I miss it.  I wouldn't change anything, and was happy to be home and back to mommy duty, but being behind a switcher, with him directing to my left, was incredible.

8. Fall in Pennsylvania is the most beautiful.  Amazing.  Also my in-laws home is probably on my top 5 list of favorite places.

9. Life can be so unpredictable, confusing, tiring, unbelievable, and absolutely amazing all at the same time.  Sometimes you don't realize it in the moment.  It just takes a bit to understand it all.

10. I LOVE television.  I watch a lot of tv in the evenings when the kids are in bed.  WE never have it on during the day (except during nap) but once they go to bed, it is on until we go to sleep.  I have learned, I don't miss most of it when I go a few weeks without watching it.  I ended up going through my DVR and just deleting a lot that was on there, which in turn somehow de-stressed me. 

As far as where I have been/ what's been going on..... it really isn't important.  I will say it wasn't any of the gossipy juicy stuff like relationship, pregnancy, fighting.  

**Just so y'all know, this post does include a referral link!

Trips to Grandma's Just Got SO Much More Fun!

Saying goodbye to my childhood home a few months ago wasn't easy.  The trade off, well one, my parents love their new home, and two, we love visiting them there!  This past week we took one last trip of the summer and headed south.  The kids had tons of questions about Grandma and Papa's new home.  As soon as we arrived, they realized how much more fun it would be.  

Instead of wooded trail, snow, and more snow this is the new life for them.  My parents now live on a golf course in SC that is about 5 minutes from the beach.  They have 2 pools to chose from, a screened in porch, and warm sunny weather!

My kids are no stranger to the beach, and were so excited so share the time with my parents.  It is there new favorite place in the world, and I have been asked countless times if we could move there.

It was a very relaxing end of summer trip, and we can't wait to go back. So while we won't be making trips to Clarion, PA my hometown very often (or ever) we all think that their new home is pretty great too!

This is my husband "on vacation" not working.  At least he was out of the office!

A Day In The Life - Summer 2013

It's crazy how quickly the phases of life with kids pass so quickly.  Sometimes the most memorable days are just the normal ordinary ones, at the same time, those are the ones that, I feel, fade from my long-term memory.  I want to remember this crazy, chaotic, hectic time, and look back on it seeing how wonderful it was.  It is also JD's schedule as a 6 month old.  A time where one week can change so much from the next.

So here it is a day in our life!

6am - I roll over completely asleep, say goodbye to my husband for the day, with a quick smooch, which I am sure to forget, no important conversations are permitted during this time....I never remember saying goodbye in the mornings.

7am - It's summer that means sleeping in, late breakfast, pj's till noon, right?  Isn't that why everyone becomes a SAHM?  WRONG!  I start to get little visitors into my room, those who have been told time and time again that they are not to wake up till  7:30, being the stubborn person that I am, I send them back to bed.  I know mean Mommy.

7:30am - (on the dot) Doors swing open and the kids are wide awake ready to get dressed.  Luckily they both can pick out their clothes and dress themselves, buying me a few more minutes.

{Sometimes camp outs in the hallway are the only way mama can get a shower}

7:30ish - This is when I start hearing JD in the crib, he wakes up happy everyday.  The big kids head into the room to talk to him, I drag my butt out of bed to make a bottle.  Oh and did I mention, my littlest child sleeps through the night, so don't feel too bad for me having to wake up so early!

8:00am - (on a good day)  After feeding JD in my bed, I then change him, and head downstairs to make breakfast, JD get put in the highchair to munch on toast or fruit, I make the big kids something, and then feed them all.  Joshua has either a fruit puree or oatmeal in the mornings.

9:00am - JD goes down for his nap.  I am telling you he is an excellent sleeper!   I then shower (if I'm lucky) get dressed, and start chores.  Dishes, Laundry, Cleaning....you know what ever has been neglected the longest.  My husband would say that would be dusting, however it NEVER gets done!

10:30ish - Depending on what we have planned for the day, we head out.  Library, Play Date, Park, Pool.... you get it.  JD sometimes has to be woken to leave....

{The day your baby can ride in the cart at the grocery store and your other two older children can walk and be behaved, game changer, right there!}

12:30pm - Lunch Time.  If we are out it is usually picnic style, JD has a veggie and a fruit puree.  After, while I clean up, the kids get to play.

1:30ish - JD gets a bottle, Lilly gets ready for nap.  We read and heads to bed.  Matthew reads for about a half hour.  This is quiet time.  JD and Lilly have been on a good stretch of napping at the same time which is AWESOME!  Matthew either plays quietly in the play room, gets some time for video games/TV, or does math/reading worksheets.  Me, I either, do housework (HA, ok that rarely happens) I blog, catch up on email, meal plan, watch trashy tv, cuddle Matthew to "watch" aka nap while he watches a show.

 

{An Organization project I actually had some time to finish}

4pm - the house comes back to life.  Lilly is up, JD is up and has another bottle, kids get snack, either play outside (if it is really hot we stick to indoors) and the countdown to Daddy begins!

6pm - 3 days a week Matthew has baseball, so that makes our evenings hectic.  On a non baseball night, Matt gets home, Dinner is ready, we eat.  JD has a veggie puree, and some soft fruit chunks (peaches, banana, steamed apple) for dinner.  Then it's Daddy play time, easiest part of my day!

7:30ish - clean up time, kids get bathed/ showered, hair/teeth brushed, JD has his last bottle of the day, we read books, say prayers, drink water, go pee, and head to bed!

 {Lately we have had some company past the 8pm bedtime, this habit will be broken before Sept!}

8pm - lights out.  kids are asleep.  Matt does any leftover dishes/cleans table, counters, floors, and garbage (he's a keeper, I know!) while I finish up laundry, clean up the living room.... I really hate going to bed with a cluttered living room or kitchen.

11pmish - Bedtime.  From 8-11 we watch tv, I work on the computer or planner, I make the next day's to-do list..... just relax. 

 

{A Normal daily to-do list.  They never get done....never.}

52 Weeks Of Blogging With A Purpose : If I Could Turn Back Time

 Today I am once again linking up with Becky, for 52 weeks of blogging with a purpose, I love this series, the topics are great!  Anyway, this weeks topic is "If I Could Turn Back Time (And Do Something Over)".

 At first I wasn't going to participate this week.  Looking back and wanting to change things....it isn't really my thing.  Anyone's life could be so different based on 1 decision.  DO I sometimes think how different things would be if we had gotten married, saved up a ton of money, bought our dream house, then had kids.... yea, I do.  But I wouldn't trade our life, our kids, or situation for anything....a bigger nicer house, and a stocked up bank account would be nice though!

So Anyway, yea, what were we talking about?!?  Turning back time and changing things.  I wouldn't change anything major, or drastic.  But I would capture my life differently.  

I love my blog, I have a record written out since March 2007.  That is a long time.  My first few years of blogging my platform was different.  It was a live journal, documenting the first months of marriage, the weeks leading up to the arrival of our son, living in a new place.  I love looking back and just reading for hours.  I have millions of photos.  I have scrapbooks, photo albums, them stored on disks, online, on computers.  One thing I wish I had.  Video.  I wish we would have recorded moments, to watch back when our kids are older.  Sit around on a rainy day and laugh for hours.

The irony of this entire thing.... Videography is part of my husband's job.  Working at our college tv station is actually how we met.  We have access to the best camera's available.  Yet, we have ZERO minutes of our life on tape.  

I wish we would have taped more, but then I guess there is always someone behind the camera, not living in that moment, but instead recording it....so I guess it has it's trade offs. 

If I could Turn Back Time {And Do Something Over}

If I could Turn Back Time {And Do Something Over}

Looking at the few short clips of things I do have make me want to start recording more....because they grow so quick and sometimes pictures don't even capture their cuteness enough.

JD's First 4th of July

 

This year like every other, we headed into our main part of town for food and fireworks to celebrate the 4th of July.  There are a TON of people there, it is very hot, lots of sitting and waiting, LOTS of traffic......

BUT, seeing the kids smiles, it is all so worth it.  JD was awake for the fireworks, but didn't really pay attention to them at all.  He didn't scream though, so it's a win in my book!

This weekend we also celebrate JD's half birthday! 

 6 Months. 

 And such a joy everyday!

Behind The Perfect Photos.

I love taking portrait style photos of the kids while we are at the beach.  I do it every year, and it is always a big chore and hassle.  I take probably 150 photos, and usually get only a handful of good ones, if I am lucky.  

So ALWAYS remember, when you  see great photos of kids.....

There are JUST AS MANY of these too......

Yep, that's my 6 Month old, eating A LOT of sand.  He's my third, so it's ok ;)

Keys to a Great Family Vacation

1.  A FANTASTIC view.

{A View of the Pier}

{A View of the Sea}

{The Ocean View from our house}

2.  A porch with rocking chairs to sit and watch the sunset.

3. Relaxing afternoons by the pool.

4. Throwing water balloons at Daddy, obviously!

5.  More fun by the pool.

6. Lots of Naps

7.  Great Food

8. Even Better drinks!

 

 9. A Happy baby who was SOOO good all week long.

10.  A week full of family time without anything else getting in the way!

This was our second year staying in the same house in the Outer Banks.  We had a wonderful week.  Of course now we are back home and I feel like I have to much to unpack and accomplish this week.  Oh how I wish we had like a million extra dollars laying around so we could buy a home there.  It is so relaxing and amazing.