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.

Four boys on a couch

Nothing like my 4 boys on a couch.

One trying to take a break.

R2D2 striped socks & all.

One climbing up in his lap with the coveted screen.

Asking for help.

One constantly wanting to wrestle.

Especially when you're trying to take it easy.

And one always trying to get away.

And then back up. And then back down again.

Life swirls around me everyday.

Sometimes it's nice to notice it.

In this picture I see the mess behind these 4 guys & wish I could do a better job at keeping up with it all.

But in this picture, I also see 4 people I dearly love, 3 of which are growing & changing, sometimes it seems, daily.

I'm learning to stop. And see. Really see.

And seeing the ordinary? Makes my mundane, ordinary life seem really, really extraordinary.

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!

"Thomas is my friend."

Truett has loved "choo-choos" for as long as I can remember.

Especially Thomas.

He loves to sing, "Thomas is my friend." (it should be Thomas & his friends)

I love him. 

 We found a set of several Thomas trains/boat/bus/tractor he didn't have & gave them to him for his birthday.

 Every day for several days after, he lined them all up & marched around, wearing a happy little grin on his face.

 It's one of my favorite things to do, to win at gift giving.

*side note- he also loves yogurt & wiping his face on his sleeve. Mmm. 

That's real special.

  Just counting, to make sure no one rolled away during his happy dance.

 "Thooooo-mas is my fw-iend!"

 Then he piles them up & carries them around in a bucket, or a dump truck, or a bag.

 And yells at you if you move said bucket/dump truck/bag from the exact spot he put it in. 

You know, like when mom wants to clean up & it's sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor.

Being 3 is rough if people don't follow your rules for life…or choo-choos.

Truett is 3!

Truett also had a birthday in May.

May 4, 2012 is his day.

And we celebrated on that day at home with just us.

That weekend he had a family & one friend party.

Hey, when you're 3, it's really all just about cake anyway.

That he was determined would be a "Thomas cake."

I do cupcakes. With white frosting. Have you noticed that?

A dear friend heard my worries over this sweet child's request & blessed us greatly with the sweet cake you'll see below.

It was such a special birthday. 3 year old's get so genuinely excited, it is a pure joy to celebrate them…

Truett's birthday in photos:

 

 

 

 

 

And Captain America made an appearance just in time to blow out the candles.
Then just like that, my baby was 3.
Can you tell we have a Thomas the Train enthusiast in the fam?
More to come on that crazy kid soon... 

A "bwown" marker story

"Hey Truett…why is there brown marker on your belly?"

 "Um."

 "It's bwown."

 "I know. Why is it on your belly?"

"Um." 

"I yike it!"

"Well, next time, keep it on the paper. Let's go take a bath."

"Awight. Swo-wee mama."

"You're cute Truett."

"Shanks."

The End

Truett loves being big

I've been wanting to post about my little, spunky 2 1/2 year old for a little while now, but haven't taken the time to do it!

So for now, here's a peek inside life as Mr. Truett.

His Aunt Sha & Uncle Billy gave all their great nieces (now that I type that, I'm realizing there's only one! Poor Miss P.) & nephews markers & giant coloring sheets for Christmas.

A hit all the way around, but especially for this guy.

 You see, Truett loves being big.

 If his "guys" (the big kids)- especially Tuck- are doing something, Truett is insistent on doing it, too.

Insistent I tell you.

This boy has some determination.

He knows what he wants & goes after it.

A really great quality, except when you're 2 & have to clear those bright ideas with your parents, who often say no.

*Disclaimer: When your ideas consist of candy for breakfast or using those markers on the walls or climbing the bathroom cabinet to make a giant mess play in the water or run out the front door when no one asked you to or to step on your baby brother, you will hear no, often loudly.*

 But the drawing & coloring are things he asks for all on his own.

Markers are big people stuff.

And he relishes that fact.

"Look mom! Me do mah-kuhs! Me do it."

 B-wack (black) is his favorite.

It makes nice, bold lines.

He likes bold.

 He also loves to draw on himself, followed by a loud "sw-o-wee mama!"

Then some laughing, because I don't really think he's all that sorry.

 Did I mention he's in love with his paci still?

 My little, big boy.

You are the cutest, silliest, craziest, sweetest, loudest little mischief maker, marker lover I know!

Oh. And, he also has a money obsession.

Only coins.

From the US, Spain, Mexico, Chuck E Cheese…the more the better.

His sister, who's hand is pictured above, most likely lived to regret touching his money.

Even though some of it was probably hers.

He's cute, but don't cross him.

He can be found most days carrying his money cup around, stopping every few minutes to wail over the fact he just spilled his cup. Every few minutes.

And, oh man, I couldn't love him & all his shenanigans more if I tried!