My lunch bunch

My lunch crew since 2007.

Mealtime at our house is messy.

And loud.

And busy.

Sometimes a dog sneaks in there & steals something out of a little boy's hand- Parker is smarter than the dog, the boys are working on it.

I made a joke the other day to someone- who was going out to lunch with friends- not to be jealous of me, because I got to go home & make lunch "for all these people."

We laughed. They knew I was kidding.

But as I drove home, I remembered how much fun I used to have making my toddler peeps food throughout the day. Like I'm pretty sure I loved it. And all the little things that came along with being a new stay at home mama.

It was such a sweet flood of memories.

And I really missed those days.

And then I realized, one day, I'll miss this too.

The chaos of 4 kids at mealtime.

This used to feel like such a privilege, but now seems just so ordinary. And sometimes maddening- if I'm being completely honest.

So I snapped a photo. And I'm determined to look past the loud, the mess & the dog…& find complete joy in my "sort of" simple days again.

Here's to this fabulous lunch bunch & the awesome lunches I make for them!

(just ignore the cereal bowl, corny dogs, & bottle of ketchup)

P.S.- this photo is in black & white because I'm fancy or because my floors were dirty…whatever sounds better.

Christmas 2015 {Gingerbread}

Growing up, my mom, my sister & I always made cute little gingerbread cookies.

In a fun, little, wonky way.

The recipe is as simple as it gets, kids can have all hands on deck & the tradition continues with my family.

They're made from a box mix, you roll each little body part out of the dough, no cookie cutters are involved, & plenty of m&ms are used.

Especially when you're 3 years old.

Here's to gingerbread "baking" 2015…thanks mom for being so fun & helping me want to be the same with my kids!

Did I mention they taste awesome?
I can eat my weight's worth in these babies.
Thankfully my kids like them just as much as I do, so they force me to share.
Parker made her little guy perfect. She's very much like her dad (who's was also perfect) & is in to those details.
Tucker was determined to make his, his way. While baking in his undies.
Truett wanted all the m&ms. ALL the m&ms.
Lincoln was just happy to be there. And may or may not have eaten a few tiny m&ms himself.
And as fast as we made those cookies, we ate them.
Such a fun time of year!

Parker is 8!

May 23, 2007

One of the days my life was forever changed.

And it was 8 years ago.

This is the day we celebrate our first.

Some of Parker's 8th birthday in pictures:

Can you tell she had an awesome birthday?

Really great friends (one that we hadn't seen in wayyyy too long), cupcakes, our first slumber party, cake, grandparents, special packages in the mail, donuts, a shopping date, & Annie.

More to come about our favorite 8 year old.

Christmas tree 2014

Here's a look into our 2014 Christmas tree day.

Yes, I realize it's January 21st.

Just doing my part…spreading holiday cheer into the new year!

One of our favorite Christmas traditions is cutting down our Christmas tree.

Tucker made a friend.

A donkey who loved him for feeding him.

And there it was…

kind of a Griswold family moment.

That man.

My greatest friend, my most favorite person.

He's the best, for real.

Just a couple years ago, that boy with the pom-pom on his head was running me ragged around the tree farm, trying to keep up with his crazy toddler self.

Now he excitedly watches.

In just a few more years, he could be cutting down our tree.

Time is crazy fast. A little mean. But, really exciting.

Everyone got a turn to "cut down the tree."

Except Lincoln & I.

Talk about growing up.

Sheesh.

That little guy was so giddy with excitement over our "ho-ho tree."

2 year old excitement is so fun to be a part of.

Victorious!

He tries more & more each day to be like his dad.

I love watching it.

I still look at all those faces & can't believe I get to be their mom.

And sweat a little.

Ha.

Everyone had a turn holding baby Lincoln.
We all had a really great day.
Came home with our giant tree.
And my heart was full.
I really love these guys.