Ohhh Holy Moly

When a mother fills the bath tub twice before 10:30 this is like a crystal ball view of the day. It can only mean that we are going to have one wild and wooly day!

We began our day at 8:00 which is very late for this crew. (Maybe they needed extra sleep for crystal clear mental focus to execute Mission Torture Mom. I am o.k. with this really, really I am. I only carried you both in my belly for many months, threw up most days, and was in labor for more than 24 combined hours. So whatever you want to dish out is fine. Really!)

We started the day with breakfast of blueberry scones and yogurt parfaits. (not bad if I do say so myself). Then Cole began to fuss, then cry followed by wailing. I tried all of my normal tricks which only infuriated him more. It was as if he was saying, "this is what you got?, well I will see your silly attempt at distraction and raise you three octaves and a thrashing fit in the floor. "

Ok. Since we have all had a cold, (I feel like my head is in a vice and I am swimming the depths of the ocean) maybe he is just really tired and ready for an early nap. I put him to bed without much fuss.

"Muhaahaaha", you say " You fell for that one. I bet right when you got Jack settled into playing quietly and you laid down for a few minute rest, he began "Mommmmmmmmmaaaaaaa GeTTTTTT Yooooouuuuu!" This is what I hear every morning interchanged with Mommmmmaaa Kamereeeee (momma come here). Well then you would be right!

So I go to get him and immediately chaos and ninnyness rule! It is raining outside, we have had a lot of inside time so I had a brilliant idea to paint in the garage. This was Cole's first painting experience and much more was on him than on any paper. Then they found the umbrellas and begged to play in the rain. I let them. Experts say this is o.k. Just know that if you are thinking of calling the authorities on me. However, on this day I might have welcomed any authority and a trip to wherever they might have wanted to take me!

We then came inside for a tub. I filled the tub and once again thought, "I can rest for a few minutes. The tub is right beside my bed. So I can hear everything like,when they decide to play "timmmberrrrrr (which means a standing free fall in the tub and their is water two feet out of the tub and four feet up the walls.)

So I lay down and what do I hear," Ohhh nooo Moooooommmmm, Cole has pooped in the tub AGAIN! " I say, "please Lord, let it just be a poop shaped toy!" The prayers I have prayed with children! Such as, " Lord please help me to not hurt them if I trip over another ball while I cook! or "Dear Lord, please let me sleep past 7:00 just this once, or please let that absolute eerie silence mean that they are playing sweetly and not unconscious! Ohh, we know Our God has a big sense of humor!

So, I get the kids out of the tub and grab two plastic bags (you don't want directions on how to best get poop out of a tub while two naked cold children wait with out one ounce of patience... too bad) and grab the Lysol spray cleaner with bleach. All contaminated toys go to the sink with hot water and good spray of bleach cleaner. The children sit on a towel with uncontaminated toys. Take first sack and wrap around your hand, pick up poop and put it bag into the other plastic bag and tie up the mess. Drain tub and begin spraying bleach over every surface that stands still. I start singing songs because this seems to keep the wild beasts temporarily entertained. I refill the tub and let them play until there is not any unwrinkled parts or they begin to complain of hypothermia.

I get them out of the tub and dress them both in pajamas. Yes, it is only noon but with the way this day is going, it is good for the mind to see them ready for bed- even if it is only a mere 8 hours away. After pajamas, there was more crying, a lot of wrestling, more crying, incesent talk of football, scores, teams, injury reports, players,yards, positions,unanswerable questions,plenty of complaints and the general spirit of a postal worker at christmas time! We filled the day with eating, movies, a much needed nap and a lot of playroom time! It is good to remember that even if a day starts off this bad it will always at least still end with everyone asleep!

What I learned after two weeks at the beach....

• vacations are very necessary


• my children sleep like they have been drugged after a day in the sun


• Cole is afraid of the ocean so he will contentedly play beside me on the beach for hours ( Pack it up boys! We are moving to the beach!)


• Cole can jump into the pool at a rate of 5 times per minute so I must always be ready! And anyone who comes along needs a bottle of Valium ready!


• chocolate pudding with cool whip is the best!


• Cole really loves to be in the sling and I truly love it too!


• Cole could trip over his pouty lip!


• Jack is very creative and even though we left his football men back at home, the pirate men could line up and run plays just the same!


• Jack really wants to take care of Cole- Jack spotted a live crab in the pool and while waiting on me to get to them he bodily kept Cole from even sticking a toe in the water!


• keep your eyes open at all times you may just see a shark and lobster fighting each other! (We truly did see this on the side of the road- a mascot lobster and mascot shark fighting each other! It was wild!) Jack has not stopped talking about that one!


• reading five books that were purely fun beach reads is good for my soul!


• Halloween at the beach can still be really fun: trick or treating in Pensacola, making carmel apples, listening to our Halloween itunes mix, reading our favorite Halloween books and eating plenty of candy!
• having your mom with you makes everything easier and better! We laughed so much, ate great food, watched movies and just had a great time! Thanks mom!
• Brad is the most amazing dad! He truly loves every moment and makes the most of every second with the kids!
• watching my boys grow even closer is the sweetest part!

I am SOOO not ready for this! Part 2

In the last few weeks my five year old, (did I say five year old- yes ok- I just wanted to make sure that we are clear that you know I am not talking about a teenager!) has said a few very interesting things like:

• "Mom, you really just do NOT understand my life. AT. ALL. (then a huge eye roll- I wasn't even quite sure that they were going to come back down!)This was followed by: "My behavior would be so much better if you did understand!"


• "Mom, I am sooo embarrassed! (He did not want to put on his soccer cleats and socks on at practice, they needed to be on when he got to practice!)


• "Mom, that sound you are making is sooooooooo annoying! You MUST stop!" (This was while I was reading a goodnight book and using a voice for a character)


• "Mom, there is noooo way I can wear this to school! It is sooo not cool!"

I have always heard that the teenage years helped parents and children begin the seperation process for college and adulthood. I had no idea that there was a need for this before Kindergarten! And I am sooo not ready for that!

The Naked Pirate

Yesterday, I posted that I was not ready for how Jack has become a love sick 5 year old. Today, I was also met with a quite a surprise. I heard Cole over the monitor but I had just laid down to steal a few precious moments of sleep when I heard him. (I swear Murphy's Law is alive and well in motherhood!) I let him talk and I kept laying. After about 10 minutes, I heard "Mommmaaaa Commerrreeeee" (Momma Come here). That is always my cue that he is really ready. I walked up the stairs and opened the door. This is what greeted me:
A baby who had shimmied out of his sleep bag, jumped from his crib, took off his diaper and put on a pirates hat! All I could do was laugh and run for the camera.

This is my Cole. He is always surprising me. I have always delighted in surprises and that is something God knew when he gave Cole to me. The surprises sometimes have stopped my heart. I could definitely do with a few less of that type. However, for the most part there is a constant gleam in his eyes. He knows how to always find adventure, extremely quick with a hearty giggle, and a level of curiosity that boggles the mind all the while keeping me on my toes. I am so grateful for every precious part of him. I know our days will be full of many adventures and I could not be more grateful!

I am SOOO not ready for this!

My "Little" Man

Since Jack was a baby my best friend's little girl Sophie has always been a part of his life. They had a mock wedding at 3 and Carrie and I always joke that we can not be dueling mother-in-laws. They have the sweetest bond but it has been going for so long that it seems more like a brother/sister relationship. We know that many years and many other girlfriends/boyfriends will come before it could ever really be serious. So I get to keep 1st place in his heart.

I have cherished this position because I am very aware how short lived it is. However, I was not prepared to move out of this place so soon!But, just like every other phase of motherhood my children have dragged me out of the last phase and into the next one!

So this is how I was dragged out of this phase:

Tonight, Jack was typing on the computer and I looked over his shoulder and saw that he had typed "Ava, Ava, Ava,Ava" I said, "hey buddy why are you writing Ava's name over and over?" He sheepishly grinned at me. I sucked in deeply and said, " Is she your girl?" He said, "Mom, I just watch her all day and she never really watches me back. And then in a whisper, she is just so beautiful!" (ohh myy- BE STILL MY HEART!) "I am writing to her to tell her that I will miss her when I go to the beach." (We are going for two weeks and he has told me many times that he is not upset about missing soccer practice, soccer games or preschool.This is a BIG deal) He had written her name in the email "TO" box and then in the message section he wrote:

" Ava. I. will. miss. you. "

I am not sure what all of the periods are about but I know I do not like any of it one bit!

If you were a fly.....

If you were a fly on the wall at my house here are a few things that have been said:



Me: "Ok here is the new rule: If we are at home without guests underwear is optional. However, every time we leave the house or have guests underwear is MANDATORY!"



Me:"Please stop teaching your brother to say "Noooooooooooooo Waaaaaaaaaaay!!!!"



Me:"Daddy is the one with the peepee, if you have a questions concerning peepees you should talk to him!"



Me:"Briiinng Briing! Hi you have reached the complaint department. We are unable to take your complaint at this time because we are now CLOSED! Do not leave a message! Goodbye Beeeeep!"



Me:"Please make sure that your brother knows you are coming before you tackle him!"



Me:"Electricity comes from the wires outside to the wires within the walls that are connected to the outlet. So when we plug things in the electricity comes through the wires and turns what has been plugged in on. Oh you already knew all of that. Ok so what was it you want to know? Oh I do not know what forms the actual electricity!"



Me:"I am not sure what is after the atmosphere, the planets and the rest of space."



Conversation with Jack:



Jack: Momma Momma, Cole is asleep and he has his arm on me !!!


Me: Ohh Buddy that is so sweet!



Jack: You know momma, it really makes me feel special when Cole has his arm on me like this. He thinks that I am the most special!!!!



Me: He really does buddy!



Jack: (with his fingers cupped around his mouth to whisper) Momma he will think I am the most special until he knows about God and then he will know God is the most special!

Me- With tears"Absolutely Buddy, absolutely!!"





Me:"Ohhh Cole you took the wet sheets out of the washing machine and put in your favorite shirt and started the washing machine. "



Me: "I have lost 30 pounds!!!!! Hip Hip Hooray!" (Thanks to all of you that called and emailed me! I can not describe how wonderful it feels to be so amazingly supported!)



The following is a conversation that Jack and I had after he lost to me playing Crazy Eights. (Remember my child is CRAZY competitive so I have been working with him by playing card games most days.At first I did not even let him know who won. Then I let him win most and then I began to win some.This was one of those times!)



Me: "Jack you know that you need to say to me, ' Congratulations momma on your win."



Jack: Death Glare



Me: "Well then you need to go to your room until you can tell me."



Jack: (with a lot of passion) Wellllll you will be crying and crying because I am going to stay in my room for 234 years.



Me: (trying not to giggle and staying completely calm)" I guess then I will see you in Heaven.



Jack :(SEETHING ) SEE. YOU. IN. HEAVEN!!!!!!!

mamas

http://There is a Momma who picks up her baby from the crib after each sleep and smells his wonderful baby smell, feels the warmth that remains after a cuddly sleep and grins with foolish abandon at the sweetness of the moment and there is a momma who no longer can!

There is a momma who fixes a cup of "Meeeillk" and cuddles some more and gets in a few quick tickles just to hear that deep hearty laugh and there is a momma who no longer can!

There is a momma who holds her baby a few seconds longer even as he demands "dowwwnnnn" because there is a momma who no longer can!

The aunt of a friend of the sister of my best friend lost her baby a few weeks ago but have remained in the forefront of my mind not just because of their loss but mostly because of their courage, hope, and amazing ability to find a rainbow (or Banebow as they call it) in the clouds!

This family has asked all of us in the name of their precious boy Bane to find something, anything that we can do for another. They are calling it the Bane Bane game! I am still praying for something that seems worthy for this sweet sweet baby but I also want the family to know that my family stands with them!

Tonight, was just r o u g h period! Brad was going to be late, I knew without him telling me. It is a short week since the Titans play on Thursday. Jack has a cold and is crabby. Cole was way past hungry! I am working so hard on preparing meals that are healthy and good for our family that I just keep trying new things! I asked the boys to sit at the table and I pulled out several activities. The dinner I had chosen looked great and quick was even in the title but it was hard, time intensive and not crabby 5 year old and past hungry 19mo old friendly. Cole screamed through most of the preparation as I rushed from the stove to the table alternating snacks and activities. I was becoming more and more frazzled. I finally got it finished and gave the kids their plates. Before I was able to sit down they had both tried it and both spit it out and decided that they hated it! I really wanted to cry! I was a.l.l d.o.n.e. Then I asked that we hold hands for prayer. "Dear Lord, Please give me peace through dinner and the night. Lord, will you also please show us who we can help in the Bane Bane game. Amen. Cole said "Mamen" and Jack my forever competitor asked how he could win the Bane Bane game and I replied, "we all win if we just play!" Cole began chanting Bane Bane Bane! Peace washed over me and the direction of the night completely shifted! I felt better and was renewed with patience yo pull out the turkey and cheese and enjoy my babes. In that moment, I was profoundly reminded only the Lord knows how long they will be with me!
Will you play along as well?

Vote for Ashley

Since June 21, 2010 I have finally gotten around to my new years resolution of taking better care of my body. I have started doing a lot to try to make healthy decisions. A lot of what I have done is normally referred to as a lifestyle change.

However, when I heard that phrase I really did not like it. I love my life! I truly have everything that I have ever dreamed of having. God has blessed our family beyond measure and beyond my ability to be grateful enough! I thought if I made a lifestyle change that my family would suffer because of it. My days are already pretty busy how could I possibly add another thing? Would I be so mean because I felt so deprived and just plain hungry? Would I have to become a short order cook because no one could possibly eat what I eat. How could I fit exercise into my day? I am usually going from 6:30a.m. to 8:30p.m. each and every day! Also all of this would cost a lot to accomplish. How was our budget going to handle that?
Well instead of a lifestyle change I am re-naming it to a vast lifestyle improvement! I can get excited about that! Most everything I have worried about has not been the case at all! I feel so much better that preparing healthy food and exercising has been pretty easy to fit into my days. My family loves the food and it truly tastes better than what I fixed before. I am so rewarded that I am doing better by them! It is expensive! There is no way around that! However, we eat out way less and so that does help!

After watching a documentary called Food Inc. a lot became clear as well. Healthy food is more expensive but is so worth it! "Food Inc" and another documentary "Silent Killer" changed the way I look at food completely! I highly recommend them both! I am sure there are parts of both of them that people would not agree with, however I am taking it all as gospel because it keeps me from eating some really unhealthy things.

Here are the things that I am trying: I have significantly reduced sugar and white flour. I eat on a salad plate and use a salad fork. I cook from cooking light. I buy as much organic as possible especially meat and dairy. I have reduced processed foods and increased fresh fruits and vegetables. I also exercises for an hour every day. I have given up soft drinks and try to drink 72 oz. of water daily. I rarely eat fast food and I have so much energy! I have lost 20lbs.

I am writing this to ask for your support! I know that this sounds like a politician! Vote for Ashley for Lifestyle Improvement! However, I do mean it. If you can pray for me pray for me. If you can write me a note of encouragement write me! If you have something kind to say say it! There is still a battle for me. If I slip up I beat myself up about it rather than focus on the things that I am doing right! I look at how far I have to go and I am discouraged! I worry that the fall will be so busy that I will have a hard time keeping up! So vote for me!

lovin' summer in pictures