What a Difference a Mountain Range Makes

So last year summer in the Pacific Northwest was crap!

I mean it seriously sucked!

We MIGHT have got two weeks of okay weather in August, but that could be a stretch.  I was losing my mind with all the “when will summer get here mommy?” questions. 

Us Pacific Northwesterners tolerate the rainy fall, winter, and mostly spring seasons to get to what we all think is the most glorious weather in the world during the summer months.  Yeah…last year it didn’t happen.

So when it looked like we were heading down the path of another rainy horribly cold summer.  When most of the days in June so far looked like this:

 

We are fortunate to live in a state where a short 3 hour drive over the mountains can land you in almost a completely different world.  Dry and warm, but still beautiful.  And our favorite place to go on the other side of the state is at a lake!  WIN…WIN…WIN…WIN!!

So that’s where we are now.  So we can get this

And see the gorgeous blue sky like this

And okay, have some more of this

What???  It IS summer after all!! 

Three boys around each other, all day...every single flipping day?  Yeah....wine is a necessity for summer!

How have you been enjoying your summer so far?  How has the weather been in your neck of the woods?

Project Chickville

Have you been to one of those wall to wall trampoline places with your children yet?  If not you should!  It’s a ton of fun and wears the heck out of your children.  Lots of exercise and lots of smiles equals a win-win in my book. 

Now, that I have you thinking about a big warehouse with trampolines on the floor and the walls, add some on the ceiling.

Then add a bunch of boys jumping all over the place.

Then add Legos, lots and LOTS of Legos all over the trampolines.

And Superhero action figures.  You can’t forget those.

And Hot Wheels.

Throw in dirty clothes with emphasis on the stinky socks and that right there my friends is my house. 

All boy! All. The. Time. 

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a ton of fun at the same time.  I mean who DOESN’T like jumping on wall to wall trampolines! 

But there are times during the day, week, month where I would like a little something that screams GIRLY!!! 

Or a room in the house you could walk into and say to yourself, OHHHH a girl lovingly decorated this room and it looks like her personal space.

There is a TON of talk on the internet and within the media about men having a “mancave” or a “manland” in their home.  But my whole house IS in fact the definition of “manland”. 

What I need??  What I really really need is some small place girly that I can go to to get some “me” time.  What?  It could happen….someday right?

I’ve recently decided that that place, lovingly named as Chickville is going to be our Master Bedroom.  The décor of which up until now could only be described as a clean modern day frat house. 

I’ve started with small steps.  Small steps like an actual bed frame with a headboard, and nightstands to match.  Whhhhaoooo!!!

Then, just recently I purchase honest-to-goodness grown up, pretty bedding to go with the furniture!! It’s the little things, you know!

See!  Pretty right?  And dare I say sort of girly even!

It’s currently a work in progress, but it’s a FUN project and I’m excited!

But I would love your help.

Are you game?

Would you mind sharing your secrets with me?

Here’s what I’d like to know…

What would you do to a space in your home to make it your very own Chickville?

Sunday Sweetness ~ That Smile

This last week Buggy turned two.  TWO!  I only wish that was a typo!

I don’t know where the time has gone. 

Well I do.  It’s gone to diapers, and bottles, and spit-ups and ear infections.

But it’s also gone to snuggles, and kisses, and endless hours rocking him to sleep. 

It’s gone to trying to figure out how the world works.

It’s gone from cooing, to babbling, to talking and actually being understood.

It’s gone from trying to focus on his brothers, to watching them intently, to actually keeping up with them….well, at least half of the time.

It’s gone to little giggles in the beginning, to full on make-me-laugh-so-hard-I-cry belly laughs. 

It’s gone from grinning because of gas to a full on smile because he’s happy or finds something funny. 

And that smile….that precious amazing, light-up-the-world-smile.  Well it keeps this mommy searching each day to give him something else to smile about just so I can see it.  Just so I can see those eyes light up and his face exude happiness. 

Because this smile…

I’m convinced could very easily conquer the world and cure whatever ails it!

Happy, Happy Birthday dear sweet Buggy.  You were the biggest surprise of my life, and the best gift anyone could ever ask for.  I am humbled and honored each and every day to hear you call me Mama.  That role is my biggest joy in life. 



One Moment at a Time

I’ve heard about it.

I knew it existed.

I swore I wouldn’t be affected by it.

I was wrong.

That thing that everyone who has a blog inevitably talks about…..BALANCE.

And that one word?  Yeah, it beat me to a pulp.

When the little eyes of my children peered over the top of my laptop followed by a little voice asking “why are you on the computer so much?”  I knew I had failed at finding that balance. 

So I did what I had to do. 

I unplugged.  Completely unplugged from all things social media related.

And I plugged back into motherhood. 

I paid attention, played more, snuggled more, and even slept more. 

But more importantly I thought more.

More about how to find that balance, and I’m not sure I have the answer. 

But I do know this.  I promise to write when I can; when it doesn’t interfere with family life and motherhood life.  Because that to me is what life is all about.  This space is where I share all the craziness of a life outnumbered by boys, but I cannot share those little tidbits of life if I’m not living that life. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m here; I’m more focused than ever before.  But I also have a little bit more…dare I say, balance then I did when I started this blog almost a year ago. 

And I can’t think of a better comeback than to be over at one of my favorite places in the whole wide world.  I’m over at The Kir Corner today talking about one of my Proud Mommy Moments.  Kir is amazing.  I mean, A-MAZ-ING!  Everything she writes is liquid gold.  She oozes talent with every stroke of her keyboard and her personal strength is something that has me in awe every single time I read the stories of what she went through trying to conceive her adorable twin boys.  Besides, she loves cupcakes…and shoes!  I told you she was amazing!!  I’m absolutely honored beyond belief to be over at her place and I’d love for you to join me.