Cool, Brisk "Summer" Day

Rylee and Hudson are lucky to have so many good friends. Really it's just Rylee because Hudson's interaction with others is more like... let me eat your hair or let me drool and slobber all over you. Most people wouldn't call that friendship. It's cute to call it that though so we will.

There are just a few lovely family that we tend to get together with a little more. Mostly because they are stay at home moms, or live closer to us, and well, convenience is a big thing.  Today we just happen to have two really cute girls over for a while. These two are active and rambunctious just like Rylee so we love having them over.  Rylee and Hudson get worn out (literally as you see in a photo below) and I in return get a long nap time.

We had so much fun taking in the cool, brisk, "summer" day.  (I'm still holding on to summer unlike many.)   It was perfect for picking flowers, playing wiffle ball, legos, cars, babies, wrestling and even "ring-around-the-rosie.

Seriously just passed out while the girls played around him.

I find many amusing things in this video but two stand out the most.  One - How Rylee tries so hard to keep up with these two older friends and Two - How they can just jump and land straight on their butts!!  

Thanks you two sweeties for being such a light in my two children's world.

And to their wonderful mommy and daddy.

They Left Us

They left us.

One of our favorite families left us.

Supposedly he had this "great" opportunity down in Atlanta for his fellowship in becoming a world-famous podiatrist.  He's going to save one foot and ankle after another and rise to be an award winning surgeon... maybe even win the Nobel Peace prize.  That's the only big award I know but if there is a top podiatrist award, I'm sure he'll win that instead.

But before they deserted us to head down south to save the world, we did get one last play date in and then one later that night as we packed them on their way.  It was such a bitter sweet moment as I walked their little 2 year old home that night, I started to tear as I realized how truly special they were.  They are one of those couples that are beyond hilarious.  Always stories to hear.  They give of their hearts and put love into action.  And they love God and show His love always.  And their kids are amazingly sweet and fun. Rylee still asks for their little boy and it breaks my heart.  And when Hudson drools I pretend it's over their sweet little girl.

So to you my dear Abbens.  I miss you already.  I pray for success and pray even more for you to be blessed with happiness and pure joy.

Go Wild

We needed an activity today.

An activity to keep Rylee busy.  

An activity where it distracts her from realizing how tired she is.

An activity to keep her from hanging all over me, running in to me, following me, whining... "I'm huuuunngryyyyy." "Hooooold meeee."  "MomIeeeEeeeEeeeEeee."

So I put her in an older swimsuit, grabbed some paint and paper,  and said... "go wild." 

Hudson even got in on the fun.  

But he'd rather lay and eat grass than do art... typical boy.

 And now these might be my favorite pieces hanging out our artboard.

And I have yet to clean up. :)

Thank goodness for paint!  Or I might have cried a little today.  

No lie.

I guess with a 2 year old, I'm expected to have these days.

Moments Like These

These two have been just a joy together lately.  They are loving each other, pestering each other, laughing with each other. 

I love it

Rylee even asks to hold him all the time and take a photo.  So I took her up on it.  Well, Hudson was super giggly so I could never get a good picture of both of them looking and smiling.  

Well.... I got something better.  

Then she started tickling him...

and petting him...

and kissing...

and hugging...

and just smiling.

Then we had to feed him...

and concentrate...

and then enjoy.

I'm going to be way bias here 

and say that I have some of the cutest kids.

Don't worry yours are 

or yours will be too.

Promise.

"Those" Neighbors

We were "those" neighbors.

And what's worse is that we were "those" neighbors for a long time.

I hate being "those" neighbors!

But we did it....

We finally mowed our lawn.

Rylee had to take the machete out to hack her way to the swing set so we figured it was about time to dust off the ol' lawn mower and gas her up to welcome in summer.

And since we waited so long, we figured we'd make it a family event. Rylee grabbed her mower and lip gloss and Hudson supervised from the sidelines.  I of course sat with the camera and enjoyed watching Steve work.

Thank you summer for finally coming so we could enjoy nights like this.

Good Morning Song

" A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse!"  Proverbs 27:14

Did any of you have that annoying Dad, or even mom, but it seems like it's always the dads, that woke you up with the way too cheerful song of  "Good Morning!!"  

The real annoying one.

You know, like this one.

Dad may not have been tap dancing (at least I hope not),  but there was still a whole bunch of falsetto and vibrato going that made you groan and pull the blankets over your head in pain and agony of too much cheer and noise going on.  Especially for a school morning.

Well...  according to my Proverbs study... he was foolish and in the wrong.  

So I told him.

In fact this is exactly what I said. 

"Dad, According to Proverbs 27:14 your "Good Morning" song was not the appropriate way to wake us up.  My annoyed behavior back then is feeling justified."

He writes back,

"My intentions were to look up the Bible verse and come back  with some clever remark, but after reading it, it's making it difficult."  

Apology accepted.  Thanks Dad.

Top 10 - What You Really Need To Know Before Having Kids

Most people warn you about the basics before you have kids.  Like, no sleep or how you better get used to poop and spit up.  But there is so much more you need to be warned on or given a heads-up on.  Warning may be a little harsh.  For example, I just read a friend's post on Facebook about how her 3 year old will never let her enjoy her cup of coffee.  She has to keep reheating it in the microwave before her one cup is finished.

And it's true.  I wake up at 5:30 just so I can get that quiet time with my glorious cup of coffee.  Some say it's weird or I'm crazy but I say it's preparation.

So that post got me to thinking.  There are so many things that people "should" be warned or made of aware of before embarking on the journey of having kids.  The real important changes that take hold of your life, your body, your thoughts, journey... basically everything.

So here are my top 10.  I realized I could go on and on and on about this so I limited myself.  And to be honest, Steve and I thought of some really good ones on a long road trip but my brain lost it with all the madness which takes me to my first one.

# 1.  No brain.  People warn you of the pregnancy brain.  Yes... I lost it then too but I lost it even more after the babies came.  Especially on #2.  I have piles of post its and to-do lists.  I have  a to-do list for what I need to do at night before go to bed.  Yes that list includes making coffee.  And I realize my brain may never come back.  It's on a permanent vacation.

# 2. Sexy to you becomes yoga pants.  The sexies and scandies you get at your bachelorette party get moved to the back of the closet, better yet just throw them out.  Instead you get to enjoy all the unflattering and ugly nursing and pregnancy stuff out.  So I beg you retail people... will someone please start making nursing tanks and bras somewhat attractive.  I got excited when I saw one had lace on it!  That was sad.

# 3. You say you never will but you will.  You will talk in high pitched voices and you will talk about poop.  It's inevitable.  I'm sorry.

# 4. You will some day walk out of the house and find poop under your finger nail.  The sad part is... it really won't bother you. And you'll forget to even wash your hands.  You'll forget until you are out to eat and just shoved a french fry in your mouth and licked off the salt.

# 5. You will never pee alone. You start out paranoid and bring your infant to the bathroom with you.  Then they become mobile so you have no choice but to bring them otherwise your house becomes a disaster even if you are in there for only a minute. Then you are teaching them so you have to bring them in there to watch and learn... then they get a little older and can't live without you.  Or they can until they realize you went missing to the bathroom and then they stand and knock on the door... "mom... mommy... mom... MOM... MOMMY!!!"

# 6. Lop sided biceps.  You'll feel really cool and buff on one arm. It's my right arm.  Shirts even get tight around that one bicep.  Then you look at the other... the other with the chicken flap.  So you switch to always holding your baby on that arm but you realize you are way to uncoordinated and your arm is going to die so you switch back and just keep adding to the lop-sidedness.  My philosophy - turn sideways on pics with the strong arm facing the camera... then slightly flex.

# 7. You can't eat.  It's like kids, especially babies, have a 6th sense.  It's like they know you are finally taking time to make a good meal during the day and not just eating a PB&J or a granola bar.  They watch you get all the ingredients out. They watch your mouth start to water. They watch you put it all together, they even admire the meal but as soon as you start to clean up and get ready to take a bite... they decide to cry and fuss. All the while on the inside you know they are laughing..." Ha-ha mom!  No food for you"

# 8. No daily showers. You are lucky if you get a shower every other day.  I will say this was a two kid thing for me.  One child... just take them in with you.  Two... no can do.  They have secret plans that on days you want to shower they work out opposite schedules. Or you think you can take a shower so you hop in only to hear the baby crying right as you put the shampoo in.

# 9. You get excited for new Disney movies.  Your regular movie night of Blood and Guts or a Shoot 'Em Up or even a comedy are not child appropriate so say good bye James Bond.  Instead you are stuck to watching Disney movies. And there are some great ones out there.  And when one does come out, you go and buy it, and watch it 20 million times until the next good one comes out.  You also realize if it's passed 7, there is no way you can watch a movie.  And the thought of watching a movie after you put the kids down is tiring.

# 10 .Impossible to finish a task - hence it taking me weeks to finish this post.  It goes with the 6th sense thing these kids have going on.  And it's those times when you think you better not start another task b/c nap time will soon be over that those are the days they actually sleep longer so you end up sitting on the couch or wondering aimlessly.

But children are awesome and worth it.  Maybe not the licking poop thing but I'd give up showers, productivity, food, privacy and even a brain.

Christmas Cookie Joy

Who knew life could be so busy.  The two kid thing has really stepped up the pace and to-do list and most days we just stay home!

We did find time to decorate Christmas cookies with a couple friends.  To be honest, we thought it would go a little better.  The attention spans of these adorable children lasted all but maybe 10 minutes. It took 10 times as long to set up and clean up then actually decorate.  But at least we got some cute photos out of it!  And some short lived memories.

Rylee got half a cookie done and she ate most of the frosting. I kept the cookie but really it was only edible to Rylee herself as slobber added an extra sheen to it.

But Hudson did great.  He rocked and never complained one bit!

But what really made the day for these four beautiful little girls and the strapping young boy was cuddling on the couch and watching Polar Express.  And us Moms didn't mind one bit having a little down time to chat it up and drink our coffees.

So now I just wish it was Christmas all year round.  I love this time of year and the emphasis it puts on family, friends, faith and activities.