Super Bowl Baby Watch

Ok......, so now that we have 3 rambunctious boys, Super Bowl games are not quite the same. In years past, we have (Well.......Will has) sat with a few guy friends, watched the game, laughed at the commercials, and cheered loudly at coaches and players through the television.

Super Bowl is becoming quite different at our house. Now that our family has taken "be fruitful and multiply" literally, we have had quite a few additions to our family this year. This year, we decided to have a family Super Bowl Bash - complete with lots of yummy snacks! Football snacks were complete with homemade chili, hot wings, potato skins, veggies/dip, chips, salsas, chocolate chip cheeseball and chocolate cheesecake for desserts! Now, that's a true Super Bowl party!

I have to say, I wouldn't have it any other way! You will notice that we are all wearing football jerseys in these pictures - Will believes that you should wear football attire, even if your team is NOT playing in the Super Bowl! So..........we just went with it!


Daddy and Gray - complete with Titans jerseys (and Gray's football baby legs!)





Aunt Lauren and Adalyn (yes, she is wearing one of Gray's outfits - she had an accident earlier in the day!)



Mommy and Gray in matching Titans jerseys



Clayton and Hudson watching Scooby-Doo instead of football......Probably not for many more years!



Aunt Lauren and Kylee

Friday's (Oops, it's Saturday) 5 Fabulous Childen's Books

Ok, so I know it's Saturday. Somehow, I got caught up yesterday in my time management post and forgot all about my Top 5 Friday lists. Today's Top 5 include some of my all-time favorite children's books. Since I am a kindergarten teacher and a mom, I have seen tons of books come through my classroom and into my home. Included are just four of my treasures:



1) The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle - Truth be told, I love all Eric Carle books, but this is probably my favorite and his most popular. I use this book every year as my Kindergartners study the life cycle of a butterfly and my boys enjoy it just as much!

2) Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey - I love this sweet story! This story is about a Mama bear and her little cub and a Mom and her child as they are picking and eating blueberries on Blueberry Hill. This is a great read-aloud for young children of all ages!



3) The Little Engine that Could - a true classic! This is one of my favorite stories from my own childhood. I can remember my mom reading me this very story. And, since my big boys are obsessed with trains, I picked this book up at Christmas for Little H. This book's permanent home is on our coffee table, where I read this story several times a week!



4) Elmer the Elephant by David McKee - Elmer is definitely my favorite elephant! I love this story about individuality and being the person "or elephant" that you are. In this story, Elmer tries to disguise himself as an ordinary elephant and then comes to terms with being different and loves who he is!

5) Baby Trinket of the Week - "My Personalized Family Book" from www.toystogrowon.com
This has been one of Little H's and Baby's G's first books. Right now, it's merely a chew toy for Gray, but soon he will able to look through the pages of his family book and begin pointing to and naming members of our little family! We love it!

"Mommy" and her many hats

Ok guys, this was a post request from earlier this week (Kristen) ....so, here it goes.

Like all Mommies, I am a wearer of many hats - first, I am a wife, a mother of 3 precious boys, a kindergarten teacher (to only 15 little 5-6 year-olds) , and a DI (developmental interventionist to 6 precious little ones, ages 9 months to 2.5). And, now that my sister and Adalyn are back in town, I am a full-time sister and aunt. So........., how do I manage to get anything done? Well, I honestly have no idea. I do have three very special people in my "back pocket" who help me out tons - my husband, Will and my parents (more on them later). I, for sure don't have all of the answers, but I might just have some tips that could be helpful.

1) I have a fantastic husband! He will do anything - run errands, clean bathrooms, pack lunches, unload the dishwasher, you name it and Will has done it! His job is somewhat flexible; he is able to go into work early and get off early, which helps tons! He usually uses his break to run errands (the bank, quick stops at Kroger, just whatever). Did I mention that he was wonderful? Because he sure is!

2) My parents are a huge help! Ok - so how many moms would show up at your house at 6:10 am to watch your little kiddos during the day? Mine does! Luckily for her (most of the time), all of the kiddos are still sound asleep. I do compensate Mom some, but sometimes I'm not sure if it's quite enough. When the little ones are napping or happily playing, she does all of the things I hate - laundry, dusting, making beds.........the list goes on. Dad is able to take and pick up Big C from kindergarten, which is a huge help! Dad is more of a rough-and-tumbler than Mom, so I'm sure Little H enjoys seeing him some during the day!

3) For those of you who know me well, you know that I live by my calendar. I don't use my IPhone, I have to write it down, with pencil and paper. After it's done, it's then crossed off. I love crossing things off of my list! It makes me feel like I've accomplished something.

4) We do many of our tasks as a family - Family Bath Time and Family Haircuts are my favorites! Two of the kiddos will bathe in the big jacuzzi tub, while Big C or Little H will take a shower. When it's done at the same time, it goes 3x as fast! All boys get haircuts on the same day, and many times, I get thrown into the mix too. Tomorrow, I'm getting a cut/color and Big C is going with me and getting a cut.

5) A lot happens after 8:00. Big C and Little H go to bed around 8, and this is usually when the baby is taking his last nap before being down for the night. This is a chance for Will and I to just relax together, for me to do my nightly quiet time, Will goes to the gym twice a week at 9pm, clothes are laid out for the next day, lunches are packed, blogs are written, and mindless TV is watched.

5) Chores during the night - The dishwasher runs through the night, every night. Many times, clothes are being washed or dried during the night and finished the next morning. So, I don't have the "right out of the dryer" warmness. Oh well, I have three kids under 6.

6) Plan ahead - I plan birthday parties, showers, etc. for several months, planning details, and organizing specifics. I have little checklists of the things I need, so it doesn't hit me all at once.

7) Set 1 big weekly goal - I try to accomplish one big thing per week. This week's big task is to wrap 15 valentine boxes for my school kiddos. Maybe next week, order the 400+ pictures off of my camera and organize those? Who knows.....

I sure don't have all of the answers, and would welcome any tips. But, these are a few things that help me keep my sanity!

The Simple Pleasures of Life

I love the simple pleasures of life! Things easy, minimal details, quick fill-ins, that my family loves!

One perk of being a teacher, is that I get to plan fun activities at school for my kiddos there, and then come home and do the same cool activities with my own little kiddos. Last week, my little boys got to enjoy making homemade bird feeders (courtesy of my migration unit) to put outside on our tree. - My kind of craft (pinecones, peanut butter, bird seed and string). Easy, simple, fun!
Clayton thought this was "really neat", while Hudson spent more time tasting the peanut butter.

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Aunt Shannie tries to spend one night a week with us (we're the fun house)! Clayton voted for Family Game Night and won! Our night included Candyland, Toy Story 3 Operation and Boxers and Briefs (an adult game that we filter for a 6-year old, who is still learning to read). I know - terrible! I have to say, these weekend Family Movie and Game Nights are getting to be some of my favorite family times.

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Last month, our family starting going to Family Worship at our church (a church I've been a member of all my life). I have to admit - I've fallen in love! We haul all 3 boys to church, sit in the 2nd row, and worship together. And, best of all, no complaining from Clayton that the "service is boring!" Kid-friendly songs, a mission lesson, Bible story, and even a kid-friendly follow-along sheet sum up the night. Clayton has been asking about the next Family Worship Night for weeks now. And.....guess what???? Family Worship is tomorrow night - and we'll be there!

I love the simple pleasures!

Growing up, way to fast!

Clayton is our 6-year-old kindergartner, and he is growing up way to fast!



Here he is tonight with his reading assignment.

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Big C is truly our "Big C" and he has become quite the little helper. My sister says, "he could raise himself."

Clayton: Mom, I can make my own chocolate milk.
C: Mom, I can make my own ham/mustard sandwich.
C: Mom, I can get the mail.
C: Mom, I can pick out my own clothes for school.
C: Mom, I can tie my own shoes.
C: Mom, I can watch Hudson while you take a shower.
C: Mom, I can reach that game.

See what I mean???? I am proud of the big boy he is becoming; but, I must admit it does sadden me a little.

In the same regards, I ask tons of him too......
Me: C, will you get Gray a diaper?
Me: C, will you get Hudson a glass of chocolate milk?
Me: C, will you make your bed?
Me: C, will you pray for our meal?
Me: C, will you play with Gray for a bit?

I guess I should be glad he is such a big helper. Though sometimes, he is extremely head-strong (he gets that from Will) and could drive us a bit nuts, he has a huge heart and is truly an awesome "big brother!"

It's Tough Being 2! - through the eyes of Hudson

Hudson is our fun-loving, mischievous, sneaky, 2.5-year-old. He brings us so much laughter and excitement! "I wanna be Spiderman!" "I caaaaaay-nt (can't)" "Is Gray sleeping?" "Is Gray awake?" "What's that noise?"

However, he has zero interest in potty training. Zero! He will proudly announce, "I'm poopy!" "I poop in my diaper." "I poop in my pants." "I poop in the floor (more on that in a minute)" You name it.....Hudson says it! I have tried everything - bribing, praising, scolding, shaming, use of Big C and Daddy as examples, going naked, wearing big boy Elmo underwear, setting a timer,.......the list goes on.

Last week during our tons of snow days....I had decided to let Hudson go around the house naked to see if this tactic would work. He did great for 2 days, then on the third day.........

Clayton: Mom, there's some poop on the floor!
Me: What? What do you mean?
Clayton: Hudson has pooped in the floor.
Me: Oh my gosh! Like how much?
Clayton: Ummmmmm. One big piece and lots of little pieces.
Me: Oh my gosh!!! (and I go running upstairs)

Poop is everywhere! I'm talking a huge pile of cow poop and droppings coming across the floor and down the stairs! And there he was, covered in poop from his butt to his feet! Well, needless to say, we're back in Pull-ups!

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Hudson also hates church! I mean hates! My parents even had to start teaching his Sunday School class, just so he would stay in the room. He just hates being left. Getting ready for church on Sundays sounds a big like this.

Me: Hudson do you want to go to your big boy class at church?
Hudson: No! I go to the service!
Me: No, Hudson. Mommy and Daddy go to their class, Clayton goes to his class, and you have to go to your class.
Hudson: No, I go to the service with Poppy and Grandma. (and that he does)

Until the last two weeks, when he was promoted into a different classroom. He is able to complete a craft, hear a story, and have a snack! His teachers say he's doing great! So far, so good.


Hudson. We love him, but it's rough being 2.

You might be a mom of boys if..............

You might be a mom of boys if.............

... you haven't watched a fairy tale movie, since you were a little girl.

...you can build a mean Lego battleship.

...you have dinosaurs, cars, and toy trucks randomly scattered throughout your house (in your jewelry box, purse, kitchen counter, bathroom sink)

... you communicate through growling.

...you are constantly wiping pee off of the toilet seat before you sit down.

...you prefer bugs and dirt to tea parties.

...you can name 10 superheroes in 1 minute or less (Spiderman, Batman and Robin, Superman, Hulk, Green Lantern, Ironman, Captain America, War Machine, Thor)

... you spend Saturdays on the sidelines.

...you find yourself rearranging your work schedules because of sports practices and ball games.

... you become extremely frustrated with department stores (Gymboree, Dillards, Crazy8) because the girl sections are 3x as big as the boy sections!

...you find yourself at the emergency room more often than you'd like.



(this picture was taken when Gray was about 2 weeks old)

I love my boys!