Sharing My Two Cents

Happy Happy Halloween everyone!! 

I hope everyone is having a fantastic day and enjoying all the festivities of this creative and fun holiday!  May your costumes be epic and your Halloween Candy buckets be plentiful.




As with any holiday, even the ones that require costumes, I believe you should surround yourself with people you love.

So, I have floated myself on over to Tammy’s Two Cents place today to give my two cents about what friendship means to me in her fabulous Blog Hop!! 

So come and visit me over there because I’m talking about you, and you, and you,and even you. 

Because friendship is where it’s at for me! 

Sunday Sweetness ~ A Normal Day

For the last few weeks we’ve been living in chaos.

There have been water damage repair companies, plumbers, insurance adjusters, contractors, contractors, more insurance adjusters, and did I mention contractors? in our house.

There have been fans, dehumidifiers, and plastic containment barriers up in our home.

There is no immediate end to the chaos in the near future.  We need to get used to this being a way of life for the next few months.

But last Friday? 

Friday was the first day in over 2 weeks where we didn’t have some stranger come into our home to look at something, or test something, or do something, or quote something. 

No, Friday we woke up had breakfast, and ran errands just like any normal day.  I got to play with my two younger boys.  Buggy was calm and not scared and clingy like he had been for the last two weeks because of the sheer volume of strangers in our home.

I got to put Buggy down for a nap.  ON TIME!  And he slept so well.

I got to rock with Sweet Pea, read him a few books and then let him have quiet time while I went downstairs and sat in the silence of the house. 

By the time Big T got home from school everyone was up and rested and ready to have some fun. 

It was a typical normal day, and I LOVED every minute of it.

I will think back and remember that day whenever I feel myself feeling antsy because I need to be “doing something” other than they typical normal day-to-day stuff.

Because sometimes a normal day is just what the doctor ordered.

Do you find pleasure in your normal day?

Mommy Mush Brain

People warn you.

Mothers, grandmothers, friends…the warnings come from all over.

They come fast and furious.

They come by way of “enjoy your brain now sweetie because once you’re pregnant it all goes bye-bye.”

Ah yes, pregnancy brain.

For me that meant a certain amount of fogginess that just never went away. Pair the fogginess with hormonal emotions and you’ve got flying blueberry pancakes and a major breakdown over the texture of the nursery walls.

After you give birth, more warnings come.

“If you thought pregnancy brain was tough just wait until mommy brain.”

Ummm yeah….mommy brain?  Mommy brain is tough! 

Early on mommy brain meant not remembering if I showered, brushed my teeth or had a meal that day. 

It meant trying to remember how many ounces of formula my baby had and how long ago he had it. 

It meant trying to remember all the stats and percentages after a well baby visit at the pediatricians’ office.

After getting out of the infant baby stage and you’re starting to sleep through the night you think that you will finally get your normal non-pregnancy, non-mommy brain back. 

Yeah, that doesn’t happen.

Well at least it hasn’t happened for me yet and I’ve been waiting and looking for it.

Mommy brain sticks around well past the baby stage because now what you are trying to remember is not just meals and doctors appointments.

In addition NOW you have to keep school work, activities, field trips, and parties in your brain.  You have to keep soccer practice, games, and snack schedules in your brain.  Don’t forget the pick up and drop off times (for school and sports) You have to keep dentist, and hair appointments in your brain.  Not to mention all the typical household stuff like if everyone has enough clean underwear or not.

Sure an organizer and calendar help, IF you remember to look at it.  But then again, that is one more reminder to keep in your brain.

AND if you have more than one child you have to keep all of it straight and try not to mix it up between the kids. 

This usually results in you calling one child by every other name in the household (including the dogs) before actually getting to his real and actual name. 

So after a long day of remembering everything listed above and then some by the time the evening rolls around I don’t just have Mommy Brain, but Mommy Mush Brain.

It hits about the same time every night, right around 7-8pm.  You ask me a question and I’ve got the “deer caught in headlights” look as a response. 

There is nothing left.  My brain feels like Cinderella after the ball, except I’m not the princess who goes from wearing a gorgeous gown to rags.  My brain is the gorgeous flowing carriage that turns into a pumpkin and then gets trampled on by horses.

And that….that is Mommy Mush Brain!

Do you get Mommy Mush Brain as much as I do?

Embracing Fall

Okay, most of you know that I've seriously been fighting the arrival of Fall, mostly because we didn't really ever HAVE a REAL summer this year.



But I've finally caved.  The crispness in the air, the changing colors, the rain. I simply cannot deny it anymore.



But there is another more compelling reason why I've resigned to the fact that Fall is actually here.



Those of you who aren't on Twitter, first...why the heck not? And second, you may not know that I recently got my very first iPhone.  See if you were on Twitter you would totally known this! 



I’m not going to lie.  I’m having a TON of fun with it since getting it only last week.  One of my favorite parts about it is the camera.  I’m finding myself taking all kinds of pictures I never would have before because of how easy it is to do with my new iPhone.  Which also means I can finally participate in the #iPPP (iPhone Photo Phun) meme that I've been dying to link up to! 



So here I am, finally willing and ready to embrace Fall:

By enjoying my hot coffee on cool brisk mornings while waiting at the bus stop with Big T.

By taking in all the vibrant changing colors of the fall leaves 

And by picking the perfect pumpkin at the patch with my kids.

Bring it Fall!  But please stick around for a little while, because I'm definitely not ready for winter yet!

{Also linking up for Wordy-Wordless Wednesday with the fantastic By Word of Mouth Musings, Live and Love...Outloud,  Angry Julie Monday, and Merry With Children}

Ten Things New Moms Might Want To Know

Becoming a new mom is riddled with questions and self doubt.  Lots of questions are asked in our minds like “am I doing this right?” or “is my baby getting what he/she needs?”

I’m linking up with the fabulous Stasha at Northwest Mommy for her fantastic Monday Listicles again to talk about Ten Tips For New Moms.

As a mom to three boys I’ve been-there-done-that (although I’m no expert by any definition of the word...survivor maybe, but expert?  Absolutely not!) and feel I should share with all the new moms out there some things they might need to know.  FYI, I’m a tell-it-like-it-is kind of gal, you’ve been warned.  So here it goes:

1)      If you’ve never had a hemorrhoid before childbirth, plan on having one afterwards (or several).  It’s just the way it works.  Unless you are extremely lucky and if that’s the case, I don’t think we can be friends.

2)      If you decide to follow your Doctor’s orders and have 1 to 2 hot sits baths a day to help rid you of the hemorrhoids and help you heal your stitches faster (if you have them) DO NOT take these sits baths while being engorged.  Bad, bad, BAD combination.

3)      If you are engorged, I’m so sorry.  I know what it feels like and it’s horrible.  There is nothing worse than feeling like you have two personal-sized watermelons just hanging out on your chest.  The damn cabbage leaves never worked for me.  I had to go to the pain meds prescribed by my doctor.  Just know that if your Doctor knows you plan to breastfeed he will give you a pain med that is okay to take.  Don’t be afraid to ask.  And if you just can’t do it anymore, it’s okay to stop.  You are not hurting your baby by doing so!  Make the decision that is best for you and your child, nobody else.

4)      This is something that everyone EVERYWHERE says, but it is so true.  Sleep when your baby is sleeping.  Doesn’t matter if it is at 9am or noon or 9pm.  You need to sleep when your baby is sleeping because….

5)      You will be up A LOT!  Changing, feeding, or comforting your baby at all hours of the night and day. 

6)      Avoid the visitors.  Seriously, the last thing you really want in your house after giving birth and feeling like you look like crap is people coming over to see you and your new bundle of joy.  Give yourself time to just be.  Be with your baby, be with your family and be in this brand new role of yours.  That being said…

7)      DO accept help from others.  Accept meals that people offer to make and bring over for you.  DO accept the help people offer to do laundry or dishes.  It gets one more thing off your plate and you can do what you are suppose to do which is be the mommy.

8)      If you decide to be brave and entertain the idea of becoming intimate with your husband again, bring a bottle of wine and a sense of humor.  You will absolutely need both of them. 

9)      You can never hold a baby enough.  There is no such thing as spoiling a baby.  Hold him/her as much as you want, or as much as they want.  Besides you get to soak up that sweet intoxicating baby smell. 

10)   Take pictures…lots and lots of pictures and videos because its true what everyone says, they grow up in a blink of an eye and you are left wondering where the time went and realizing that the hemorrhoids, engorgement and tenderness, fatigue, feeling of being overwhelmed, wondering if you will every get your body back, was all so very much worth it.  And for what it's worth.  You ARE doing it right, and your baby IS getting everything he/she needs because he/she has you!

Six Word Sunday: House in Disarray

House torn apart. Everyone’s uptight. Sadness.

Under Construction

Now before you get all excited, I have to tell you that this post isn’t what you think its about.

I’m not redesigning or moving my blog (yet) so my itty bitty space in the blogosphere is not what is under construction.  (Oh how I WISH it was that)

Nope, it’s my actual house that is under construction.  It wasn’t planned, or expected and it has thrown us for a tailspin.

We are currently living in a construction zone.  Sections of carpet are ripped up.  Moldings are off the floors and around the door frames, our walls have been scored with a razor blade marking where they will demolish our walls today.  The hardwood floors?  Say bye bye!  They are being ripped up tomorrow as well.

So what caused all of this to happen if we weren’t planning a remodel?  Why the construction zone?

One word.

Roots.

Roots grew into our sewer pipe which caused a backup into our house.  Which means my friends I had sewage coming up and into my house/floors/walls etc. on our first floor.

Yeah….let me say it for you!

#EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

I’ll admit it.  I’m not coping well…AT ALL!

We (well not WE, the water damage company that our insurance company sent out) are just in the process of demolishing and cleaning it all up and it is a MESS!!  Two rooms will need brand new carpet, about 10 walls are going to be cut out, and they are guessing half of our hardwood floors are going to be ripped up.  Not to mention some cabinets.  HOLY CRAP!

We are most likely going to have to leave the house for a few days (read as 5 friggin days) so that they can dry out the subflooring.  I simply can’t tell you how the thought of all of us in a hotel room for 5 days while trying to work out the logistics of my husband getting up at 4am to go to work (without waking the babies) and getting the kids to school on time when Big T normally take the bus since he starts school so friggin early scares me to DEATH!!  

I do believe we have hit nightmare status. 

So I’m writing this to ask that you hang in there with me.  I might not be able to post next week.  But once we are back in our home and settled again I’m certain I will have stories upon stories to share with you about this whole ordeal!! 

Have you ever had a nightmare situation as a homeowner?  How did you handle it?

I’ve Gone Sailing Again!

I’m so excited to say that I am a Guest Blogger today over at Latorsha’s fantastic space Life is Hard, Laugh Anyway.

Have you ever been over there?  If not you should…and I mean like ASAP!!

Latorsha is honest, funny, and positive which is why I love to read her blog every day.

I’m over there today talking about how Motherhood is Fabulous.  So come and check it out!  You’re going to LOVE IT!!

If you are visiting from Life is hard, Laugh Anyway,

WELCOME!! I'm so glad you're here. May a pour you a cup of Starbucks Coffee? A little wine perhaps (my beverage of choice)??  Sit and stay awhile. 

I’m a mom to three boys….yep I said that right, THREE boys.  So I bet you wonder what I say when people ask are you Gonna Try For A Girl?

Or my thoughts on Murphy's Law now that I'm a mom.

Did you know I have a Superhero living in my house? Yep! I do!

I also have a list of things that would Make My Life Easier!  Care to add yours?

But after all is said and done, I owe my crazy happy life to one very special gift.

 I would love for you to ride the waves with me, so leave a comment so that I may get to know YOU better too!!

Thanks so much for visiting!

Hopes

The Only Girl’s Guilty Pleasures

Okay so my first time linking up to Stasha’s MondayListicles was so fun you know I just had to do it again…right?

This week is all about Guilty Pleasures.  And who doesn’t have those?  And even MORE important, how the heck do you narrow them down? 

I did my very best today!  But if you really must know, I have more than ten.  These are just the things that help to keep my sanity in check!

It’s no secret that I’m totally outnumbered in my household.  I mean, its not even close.  The only girl in the house is me…with the exception of a furry four legged dog that goes outside to use the bathroom.  It is totally hard to relate to an animal that does a move that we call the “pretzel” to clean herself so I have to find other ways to keep my calmness, sanity, and not to mention my femininity. 

So my guilty pleasures are simple things…but they are also the most infrequent things.

1)      Once in a blue moon I like to indulge in a bubble bath with candles and a glass of wine.  A locked bathroom door = perfection.

2)      I have a feminine flowery down comforter cover.  Because really…I have to look at Cars and Star Wars blankets (not to mention underwear) all day long….it’s nice to sleep under something pretty.

3)      Brownies.  Okay, enough said.  You can totally make these soft, chewy morsels of heaven as decadent as you want especially after a long day of dodging Nerf Darts…Just sayin’.

4)      When my husband knows I’ve had a rough day/week/month with the boys he surprises me with a Gift Certificate for a massage.  A MASSAGE people!  I swear they have to kick me out of the room each and every time that damn timer goes off.

5)      Silence.  I know, it’s oh so romantic huh?  But Silence is somewhat an indulgence in my house of boys.  And therefore receives the title of a guilty pleasure.  It’s so very rare, and when it happens the little minions angels are up to something.

6)      Every once in awhile I’ve had enough testosterone to make me think I myself am growing a “third leg” so I call up some of my girlfriends to beg them to go out to dinner with me.  Just me, my girls, dinner and a glass of wine.  What can be better than that?

7)      I can’t forget my Starbucks.  It’s a ridiculous amount of money to spend for a cup of coffee.  But at least 4 times a week I find myself forking over my money ever so happily for that lovely steamy cup of survival.  SO. WORTH. IT!

8)      There is at least one “chick show” I like to watch each week.  Grey’s Anatomy is a perfect example. 

9)      WINE!  I simply cannot forget my wine.  Although I don’t know if it can technically make the list as I don’t feel a single bit guilty about it.  But nonetheless it is a HUGE pleasure of mine.

10)  Here we are at the end of the list and I have only one other guilty pleasure I can think of.  While it doesn’t fall into the category of simply it is totally a guilty pleasure in my book.  It’s my brand spanking not-even-24hours-old-yet new iPhone.  Did I REALLY need it? Nope.  But I REALLY wanted it so I forked over the obscene amount of money for the darn thing and you know what? This mommy….This only girl in the entire house….well, she couldn’t be happier.

 What Little Things Do You Do Just for YOU?

Sunday Sweetness ~ Adventures, Excitement, Love, and Memories

We just returned from our first trip as a family of five that required us going on an airplane.

Let me preface this by telling you this was a BIG DEAL!!

Our last trip on a plane with children was when Big T wasn’t two years old yet.  It was an easy flight, there were two parents for the one child.  We all fit in one row on the airplane nicely.  Easy peasy!

Fast forward to current day and two more boys later and I would be lying if before we left I wasn’t contemplating buying Valium on the streets just to get me through the flight.  Okay not really…but the flight was too early to start drinking wine so the thought crossed my mind only for a fleeting moment.  Can you blame me??

Turns out…it wasn’t needed, at least not for the flight down anyway.

We woke up in plenty of time, got to the airport while lugging around every friggin thing in our house with the exception of maybe a couch or two, with surprising ease.  Everyone was excited, and Buggy was just taking it all in.

We board when they tell us to, we get settled, and then we sit, and we sit, and sit, and sit some more.  Buggy doesn’t like to sit.  He doesn’t even like it when I have to stop at a red light while we are in the car.  So after sitting and not going anywhere or doing anything for 30 minutes he started to get grumpy.  And he wasn’t the only one on the plane that was grumpy. WOOO NELLY people were crabby.  It’s pretty difficult to tell your children to be patient when they are surrounded by adults who don’t have that ability either. 

After the plane started moving it was smooth sailing.  Buggy ate well and actually slept on the plane.  Big T did some of his homework, and Sweet Pea stared out the window for most of the flight just in awe! 

Then we get into San Diego, hauling all our crap once again, going up elevators, down elevators, up again, and down again.  We must have been in 5 elevators before even getting to the Courtesy Van area…it was friggin crazy!!  Oh I should mention that the shuttle rides to car rental pick ups are considered amusement park rides to the boys. 

The first day was all about getting settled into what would be our home for the next 5 days.  First and only stop was the Grocery Store.  And may I just take a moment to thank the good government of California for making hard alcohol available in grocery stores!  Talk about one stop shopping!  This mommy and daddy were extremely pleased!

Second Day the fun begins….SeaWorld!

I don’t know who was more excited, the boys or me.  But there was enough energy bouncing off the walls in our little beach bungalow that we could have flown it over to the park!

First up was Breakfast With Shamu.  We were SO close to the Orcas that the only thing separating us was the glass.  We had some food, watch them do some fantastic tricks, took a bazillion pictures, and got soaking wet!  Totally fun!

After that we explored every inch of the park.  And I do mean, every single inch and it took us 7 hours to do so.  All of us LOVED it!  Although I have to admit, this mommy got a little freaked out while we were in the underwater tunnel of the Shark exhibit and noticed that we were being tracked by a little Great White Shark all…the…way…down…the…tunnel.  That shark wanted my baby for lunch and he made no bones about it.  Gave me the heebie-jeebies!

The highlight for the whole family was the Blue Horizons Show.  Big T left saying he wanted to become a Marine Biologist, Sweet Pea wanted to High Five the divers and Buggy even got to see everything that was happening and he cheered and clapped and just loved it!

The next day was a trip up to LegoLand.  The boys (including my husband) were so excited they almost wet themselves.  I have to admit, it’s pretty darn cool there.  Rides, everything made out of Legos?  What’s not to love?  Buggy even found something to love while we were there.  The little splash park for the kiddos.  It was a hot day and everyone enjoyed getting cooled off in the water. 

Our final day was spent at the beach.  Because how do you go to California and NOT go to a beach?  The boys had a blast.  Big T spent hours pretending he was a surfer.  Sweet Pea just tried to stay up on his feet when the waves would wash upon the shore, and Buggy once again was content to watch everything that was happening.

So even with the exhausted children, the blow out poopy diapers (yeah, by my count there were at least three, two of them on the airplane…fun times), and the fighting between the two older boys.  I wouldn’t change a thing.

Not a second!  Because within all the work, adventures were had, excitement was on the faces of my children for 5 solid days, and the memories that were made will last a lifetime. 

Well worth it and then some!

What are some of your favorite memories that you have made while traveling with your children?

It's My First Boycott!

The fabulous Liz over at BelleBeanChicagoDog has a great linky called:

#BLOGBOYCOTTDAY

Every second Friday of the month is #BLOGBOYCOTTDAY where you don't blog, you tweet instead!   How fan-freaking-tastic is that?

And it totally works out for me this month, because you know #ItsAllAboutMe,  since I'm on vacation soaking up some much needed Vitamin D.

So join us....its a ton of fun!!  Oh and don't worry!  I'll be back to actually writing something on Sunday!! 

But until then....I'm in my first Boycott and having a BALL!!

WTF Wednesday ~ Private Conversations Held in Public

Let me preface this by saying I am not an eaves dropper, I’m not.  I could totally care less about the conversations that are going on around me.  If anything I could be defined as a tunnel-vision-tune-outer.  You seriously have to say my name a few times to get my attention.  Unless it’s mommy, I now respond to that with the knee jerk reaction of “what?” even if it isn’t my child saying “mommy”.  But eaves dropping, yeah it’s not my thing.

Especially when I’m on a mission, like I was this last weekend.

I had to go to the mall to pick up some last minute things.  I tend to always park in the covered parking lot that is connected to Nordstrom on the second level because that puts me right where I need to be to access my favorite departments so I can get what I need and get out.  Mama doesn’t mess around!

When you enter the store from this entrance the first department you run into on your right hand side is the lingerie department. 

Since my business wasn’t in that department I didn’t even glance in that direction.

That is until I heard a couple that was right on the edge of the aisle immersed it what seemed to be a heated debate.

First I heard “It has to be comfortable” from the young lady.  No biggy, I can totally relate, so I was about to tune the whole conversation out,

Until I heard,

Her husband/boyfriend while holding up a scandalous frock says (extremely loudly no less).... “Nooooooo…it has to be SEE-THROUGH!

And it took every ounce of decorum that I had not to shoot that man a dirty look. 

But his wife/girlfriend took care of that for me.  And believe-you-me if looks could kill that man would have been a goner. 

And then the banter began back and forth while the volume escalated louder and louder.

“Noooo, it really does have to be comfortable.”

“NOPE!  See-through.”

“Comfortable!”

“See-through!”

And on and on and on.

And all I’m thinking as I continue walking to my destination is:

A)    Holy smokes, this conversation is LOUD and interesting enough for me to notice it!!

B)    How inappropriate they are to be having this conversation so loudly that everyone on the second floor of Nordstrom is doing the “I’m totally distracted by this couple and their conversation that I can’t continue shopping right now, but I’m going to pretend I’m shopping so they don’t know I’m listening” routine.

C)    Regardless if it is comfortable, AND/OR see-through that man isn’t going to get to see it for a LOOOONGGGG time so WTF does it matter??

Seriously people!  You couldn’t have had this conversation at home?  Or at least at a volume level that isn’t rated at "stadium announcer"!!  WTF???

 

Also linking up with lovlinks #28 which is so much fun!!  Go check it out!

  Have you ever overheard a conversation in public and thought to yourself, WTF?

It’s a Monday Mess-Fest!

So here I am facing Monday again, and just like every single friggin Monday before this one (and lets face it, all that follow) I find myself frazzled and crazy. 

So instead of trying to organize my thoughts into a coherent message….I’m just going to start spilling my thoughts.  You know the ones that come from the bottomless pit of crazy…yeah those.  So hang on!

These thoughts are brought to you by Hopes’ crazy life and are announced in no particular order. 

~ When it comes to fashion I define myself without hesitation as a Fashion-NOT-sta.    But I went to the mall today and realized, it must be a geographical thing because I saw several Fashion-NOT-sta’s walking around. 

First point of crazy…I went to the MALL on the WEEKEND!!!! 

Second point of crazy…is people watching in order to try and get a feel for what’s considered “in” for fashion.  Totally stupid move on my part!

~ I find it hilarious that the people that have the most dings and dents in the back ends of their cars are the ones that have the automatic sensors on their bumpers.  You know the ones that BEEP when you get too close to another car?  Yeah, I would venture to say that most of the ones I’ve seen lately with those fancy-shmancy sensors have scratches, dents, or full blown holes in their trunks/hood/bummers or taillights.  People!  You might want to ask for you money back because that *perk* isn’t working for you!  

~ I seriously wonder what the organizers are thinking when they plan a soccer game on a weekend before 9am.  People, these little ones can’t drive themselves and if you want the players there on time, you have to make sure to start the games at a reasonable time so that the parents can have at LEAST a cup or two of coffee before heading out. 

~ I hate being the enforcer of the rules!  It seriously sucks sometimes.  Over the weekend Big T broke a house rule (a BIG one) and therefore couldn’t watch a movie that we JUST bought and everyone was excited to watch.  But because he broke this rule I had to listen to him blubber, sob and carry on for a good hour or more.  Translation?  It was absolute torture for this mommy.  So the question is…is the consequence worse for the child or the mommy?  I’m sure you know my answer!

~ I’ve realized once again that if given the opportunity and the “go ahead” my children will discover and explore every nook and cranny that their bodies simply should not be in.  Why, oh why can’t they just stay on their feet?

And finally,

~ When a child who is under say…10 years of age orders a glass of juice at a fancy restaurant, all by himself while using his best manners, you would THINK that the server would notice the age/size of the child and give them a smaller glass in which to hold the sweet goodness instead of one that would rival the size of all things in Costco.  Seriously, these glasses were as big as my kids’ heads!  Hello?!?!?!?

What random thoughts are going on in your head this Monday?

The Storms A Brewin’

We’re not talking tornados, hurricanes or flash floods. 

Nope, I’m just talking about a completely different kind of storm.  And it pretty much stinks.

Last week was a typical week.  Big T comes home from school, grabs himself a snack and does his homework.  Right afterwards he usually comes and sits next to me on the couch and does some reading. 

As soon as he walked by me I smelled something funny.

My mind immediately thought he stepped in something so I had him take his shoes off.  Check the bottom and there was nothing *whew* thank goodness.

But the smell was still there. 

So we had to check INSIDE his shoes and while it wasn’t the most pleasant smell in the world…what shoe, or foot for that matter of an 8 year old boy is?....it still wasn’t THE smell I was smelling.

I couldn’t figure it out.  I thought maybe our dog Kona tracked something in.  So there I am on my hands and knees smelling the carpet in our family room.  Nothing.

Then Big T walked by me again and I knew without a doubt that it was something ON HIM.  But what?  And more importantly, WHERE was it!!!

I started smelling his clothes and *DING, DING, DING, DING* we have a winner!!

My 8 year old boy had BO! 

He’s only EIGHT!  But man that kid’s smell under his armpits could rival that of any grown male.

So I thought it was because he played soccer at all three recesses that day made sure he took a good LONG shower that night and brushed it off. 

Until the next day, when the same smell came walking through my door after school.

*sigh*

So my 8 year old boy has started wearing deodorant!  I can’t believe it!  Did I mention he was only 8?  I did?  Well I mean really….he’s only 8!

So here we are.  We are at the beginning of the smelly phase of boyhood.  The smells are only going to get worse from here on out and I’m not ready.  I’m really, really not ready!  Because soon Sweet Pea will start with the smells and Buggy will follow him.

I will be surprised if the paint is still on the walls in 8 years. 

I’m going to have to lock myself in my bedroom with millions of Lilac, Roses and pieces of clean laundry just to keep my nose hairs from burning off.

Time to stock up on deodorant and mouth wash and athletes foot powder and goodness knows what else! 

Costco here I come!

How do you handle the “stinky” parts of motherhood?

Saying Goodbye

I had a post lined up for today.  It involved the discovery of a strange smell.

In a house full of boys I will let your mind wander about all the possibilities.

Scary isn't it??

I promise that I will solve the case of the strange smell tomorrow.

But today?  Today we are remembering a furry family member.

We had to say goodbye to our sweet Sabrina yesterday after having her for 15 years.  She was the most amazing cat imaginable. 

She was loving and caring.  If you were sad she came to comfort you.  She was so very gentle with the boys and let them climb all over her and pull her ears and tail with her only reaction being a gentle purr.

So today, while we still look for her in the morning to say hello, and while we can still hear her purr in our ear.  The boys and I are looking at pictures and talking about how wonderful she was to us and how much love she brought to our family.

Today we are crying tears of sadness, but also tears of joy from all the memories she gave us.

So please bear with me today.  I had Sabrina before I had my husband, or my family and it's just strange that she isn't with us anymore.  She saw me through so many things in my life and was a constant companion especially when things were tough.

So today is about her.

Tomorrow, well tomorrow we will get to what that smell is.

Can I Do This?

If I’m honest, I ask myself this question several times a day.

The topic may vary, but the question is still the same.

Can I Do This?

The majority of the time it is my self doubt about being a good mother creeping in.

Can I be a good mother to THREE boys?

Can I provide them with all they need from me, each and every day?

Daddy knows how to make the right car sounds.  I was schooled in this when Big T was only 18 months old and said “NO mommy a car goes VRRRRRRRRRR….NOT vroom vroom.”

Daddy knows how to make different sounds for a single prop or a dual prop plane, and even a helicopter.  Seriously, did they take boys aside during school and teach them this stuff??

Daddy?  Well, daddy is just a big BOY.  And at certain ages that trumps mommy in the fun department.

Can I Do This?

Can I keep my own volume down when the only thing that gets their attention is when I have to scream OVER their voices (which by the way breaks the sound barrier)?

Can I be a firm hand and a safe place at the same time?

Can I find a common ground with them when they want to play army and all I want to do is color with them (a beautiful unicorn with rainbows would be nice…but it’s not about me)?

Can I relate to and understand them when they are going through “boy things”?

Sure, I play football, and baseball, and soccer (I’ll have you know, I’m known as the soccer master in this house….a very big honor).

I try my best to play Star Wars.  However, I’m always a Battle Droid.  Can’t I at least be Princess Leia?  Just once? 

I wrestle with them and I’m the best Tickle Monster that ever lived.  Not to mention The Belly Button Eater.  Which is a name I had to give myself just so I could kiss their sweet tummies?

But….

Can I Do This?

There are going to be SO many hurdles that they encounter that I won’t be able to relate to.  So many things that they will say “Mom, you just don’t understand” to…and they will be right.  I won’t understand, because I’ve never been there.

There is so much uncertainty that lies ahead.

Can I Do This?

The truth? 

I don’t know.

I don’t know if I will always say or do the right thing.  I don’t know if I will always understand.  I don’t know if what I say gets through to them or not.

But what I DO know?

I love them more than the breath I breathe. 

I love them no matter what they do.

And I love them for all that they are.

Even if that means that all I can do for the day is make sure that they are fed, cleaned, and they know that they are loved beyond measure.

For now, That Is Enough.  And I have time to figure it all out as it comes.

Do you ever ask the question Can I Do This?

Quotes from Moms With Boys

I’m so very excited to be participating in NorthWest Mommy’s fabulous Monday Listicles link up!  My head has been swirling with the quotes I wanted to share with you.  I couldn’t pick one, I just had so many favorites.  Then this morning I woke up and knew EXACTLY the quotes I wanted to share with you.

So here are my 10 Quotes that you will hear ANY mother of all boys (or even just one) saying:

1. No, you may NOT use your brother’s head a soccer ball no matter how much you want to practice.

2. Keep the bugs, worms, birds and rodents OUTSIDE!

3. Watch where you’re swinging that bat.

4. NO you may NOT use the stair railing as a gymnast bar and fly through the air.

5. Don’t forget to point it down, AIM and make it “splash” when you are going to the bathroom.

6. Flush the toilet.

7. Do you have to go to the bathroom?  No?  Then get your hands out of your pants!

8. Is there something going on down there?  No?  Please get your hands out of your pants.

9. Enough with the potty talk.

10. GET. YOUR. HANDS. OUT. OF. YOUR. PANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhhh, such is the life with boys.  It is never dull, always exciting and you can bet your bottom dollar you will spend at least half your day talking about bathroom habits and where NOT to put their hands!

What do you find yourself saying over and OVER again to your children?

Also linking up with the wonderful Ryan at The Woven Moments