My girl

In the car ride to pick up Chinese food for dinner...

Dev: I'm hungry

Me: I know, sweetie. We are going to go pick up dinner right now!

Dev: What we getting for dinner?

Me: Chicken and rice. 

Dev: Oh, I don't like chicken rice. I like tacos and pupcakes!

Me: Tacos and cupcakes, together?

Dev: I like tacos and pupcakes*, both of 'em in my pummy!

Me: So yummy, so yummy in my  tummy!

Dev: I eat tacos and pupcakes in my tummy make me Superman!

Me: I bet tacos and pupcakes make you strong like Superman! 

Dev: Because I'm awesome! 

Me: You are awesome! **laughing so much at the crazy cuteness of this convo** I love you!

Dev: .....tacos and pupcakes in my  pummy make me awesome. I'm Superman!

*Translation Guide:

Pupcakes = cupcakes

Pummy = tummy

'Em = them, they

And some pics of her enjoying her fave activities: park & pupcakes!

We have been bribing potty training with the promise of pupcakes for going #2 in the potty. She had 4 successes in a row so I took them to The Original Cupcakery in Uptown. I had strawberry, Cade had carrot cake, and Dev had lemon with pink strawberry frosting. They were all beyond amazing and the best cupcakes I have ever had, but Dev's stole the show. It was amazing!

This child is beyond.... Love her and all her awesome Superman glory!

Show Us Your Life - My friend Amy

This post is linked up to  Kelly's Korner for her "Show Us Your Life " special Friday edition featuring single friends.  In the previous Singles Edition there were 375 bloggers who posted about a single friend or friends, and 9 marriages so far from this link up!  I love the idea of matchmaking, so if you have come across this blog and think Amy would be perfect for a friend, please share her email address or link, or leave their email address in the comments. It's good karma, right?!

Introducing.... my good friend Amy.

 

Amy and I met in high school working as hostesses at Island's.  In our Hawaiian shirts, singing to Salt N Peppa, busing and wiping down tables, and crushing on the waiters that's how we bonded.  Amy has always had the best laugh, quick sense of humor, and just always been an all around cool girl.  She left for college a year before me and soon we found ourselves in Aggieland.  But what happens in college stays in college, right?

 

After college we bonded over both having babies with helmets and our blogs.  We bonded over both being mommies who "keep it real".  We roll our eyes at the mommas who wear high heels to Klyde Warren Park, we laugh at our mommy fails, and we are brutally honest with each other about the reality of raising kids (the good, the bad, and the ugly).  The gorgeous little girl pictured with her is Audrey, a brilliant & beautiful soul in a 5 year old's body. 

 

Lets get down to it. Who is Amy?

 

The classified ad: 33/F/North Dallas/Christian

 

The High Fidelity Top 5:

1. Favorite restaurants: Gloria's & Chuy's

2.  Favorite music: Texas country (Pat Green, Robert Earl Keene, Roger Creager)

3. Favorite movie:  The Fugitive

4.  Favorite football team: Texas Aggies

5. Favorite hobbies: Working out, Reading, Yoga, Watching football

 

 

 

The Interview:

What are your favorite simple, random things?a beautiful sunrise, an unprompted hug from my daughter, a good cup of coffee, sharing a laugh with a friend, and catching a green light :)

What's important to you in a relationship?
LAUGHTER. I love being around others who share my sense of humor and love to laugh. I laugh easily and love others who also look for the humor in things. I also value honesty, a strong work ethic, and the ability to be grateful for what you have. Authenticity is also important to me and I look for others who value the relationships that they have in their lives. My faith in God is paramount in my life and I am looking to share my life with someone who has that same belief.

What kind of new things would you like to do or learn?
I love learning new ways to be active. I recently took up yoga and long distance running (not quite long distance yet, but getting there!). I love working out and finding new ways to challenge myself. I also love learning new recipes to cook.

What do you think about...
Drinking: I drink socially or sometimes at home after a long day… usually at least once a week. I have a good time, but keep it under control now that I’m older.

Smoking: Yuck. Smoking of any kind and snuff/dip is a deal-breaker for me.

Dancing: I like to dance, but I’m not great at it, and I know that!! But that doesn't stop me from dancing around the house with my daughter. I love to two step and dance to good music.

Hunting: I’ve never been hunting, but I’m not opposed to it….just opposed to the hanging it in the house!

Working out: I try to work out as much as possible. It may be hard to get there, but I feel great afterwards. I’m currently training for a 5K.

Spending time outdoors: If it’s nice out I want to be outside. Whether it’s running, walking, eating, drinking, seeing a concert, floating the river, on a boat, whatever!

Education and Career: I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Texas A&M. I currently teach 1st Grade and truly love my job. I look forward to going to work and teaching my precious kiddos every day.

How important is religion to you?
Very important. I have a very strong faith and go to church regularly. I was raised a Catholic, but am now a member of a Methodist church.

 

  

If you're interested in getting to know Amy or setting her up with a great guy in your life, please leave a comment with your email address or get it touch with her at her blog:  http://theadamsfamily-amy.blogspot.com/

#100happydays

Can you live 100 happy days?

2014 is all about accepting challenges and living my best life. So far I've started the transition to a Paleo diet (clean, healthy, gluten-free foods---- not hunting boars and cooking over fire), started the Couch to 5K program with fellow mommies who want to cross off Run a 5K from the Bucket List, and now live 100 happy days. In a row. Or at least find one happy moment and give it a little recognition once a day for 100 days.

Here is the site if you want to learn more about the challenge:

http://100happydays.com/

The creators of this site state that 71% of people failed this challenge, quoting lack of time as the reason. Really? Lack of time to snap an iPhone pic, pop an Instagram filter on it, and hashtag it?  I sort of believe it. Even though it's kind of sad. Maybe you don't agree, maybe you think social media posting for 100 days is kind of sad.  I like making connections with people. I don't like scrooges and fun-ruiners.  I like a challenge.  And I like a reward. At the end of 100 days they will send you a book of all 100 pics.  Will they really? I'm not sure, and neither are 71% of people who tried this challenge.

Here are my first three happy days:

Baby girl looking fabulous at the tank park.

Making Batman pancakes late at night to surprise little man in the  morning.

(Daddy forgot to pack them, so he got them the next day, when I showed them to him, all I got was an "uhhh....") 

Tiny painted fingernails.

 

 

Crazy Beautiful

Today....wow. Super busy working mama day, then leaving work right away to pick up the kids and take them to the doctor to get Devyn's cough checked out. I knew our 4:00 appt followed by 5:00 Target run for meds & juice & training panties would make our otherwise normal night über busy. 

When the dr came in I expected the tears to start, but Dev just laid back on the table like "Legs get his over with". She seriously was beyond just cooperative, she was charming. This wild child was all smiles and giggles and she kept looking at me and squinching up her nose & giving me high fives. Our pediatrician said this was the most awesome two year old check up ever. I almost felt bad telling herI  was equally surprised she didn't  bring the drama. Turns out baby girl has a mild case of bronchitis. So off to Target for meds. 

The kids got Icees so we could tolerate a wait at the pharmacy and shopping for essentials.  We were in the lingerie department and I was doing my mama-zone-out-high-on-Targét thang. All of the sudden I hear my four year old son say," Mommy I like all those boobies!" Uh-whaaaa?   He pointed at all the bras. Oh. "Yep, they're nice. Daddy will be proud." And he says, "No, we won't tell Daddy." Oh. So I get sucked back into the zone. At that point the kids can fend for themselves, Mama's shopping. As we leave the lingerie he points to a super cute black and white polka dot bra and says "These things are awesome, they look really cool. Look at this one Mommy!"  For a second I almost bought it. He was absolutely right. That bra is adorable. I've never had a polka for bra. I love polka dots! I need that! Then wait. Sanity bitch-slapped me. I do NOT buy a bra at my son's recommendation. NO. In order to maintain any last shred of sexy I do NOT do that. (Forget the time he was 6 months old and I had him by me for a bikini wax...)

So overall their behavior in Targét was awesome. They smiled at all the ladies who told them they were cute. They were okay when I said no to popcorn. They helped me unload the cart. 

On the way home sick baby girl was done. She needed to be home, on the couch, wrapped in a blanket and in our arms. She was crying for cuddles. Cade didn't hesitate, he just started singing our song "It's Your Love" by Tim McGraw. I pulled out my phone at the stoplight and put the music video on YouTube. Both kids were mesmerized. When it was over Cade said "I love that cowboy guy. He's so awesome."   Love him. (Cade, not Tim. Well I love him too.)

Home was a nightmare of busyness. Cooking a new paleo dinner was out. Cooking macaroni for my babies was in. Unloading Target goods. In. Making a paper doll community helper with the boy. Oh wth. How did I forget to do this over the two week holiday break? Seriously? What's my deal? Last night Cade didn't want to do it. neither did i so i didn't fight that battle. So tonight we cranked it out. His first homework assignment special project! Eek!

Here he is cutting out a hose for his fireman. So diligent.

The finished project. Yep, he's a real boy! With school. Homework. Scissors and glue time. Countdown to kindergarten ticking away. Siiighh.... (And notice the vein popping out of my forehead. It wasn't the most whimsical fun ever to juggle sick toddler, homework boy, dinner for kids and me, thoughts of what to cook next on the diet to stay on top of it, thoughts of who will stay home tomorrow with our sick girl, texting my sick mom, texting my diet partners...yep. Vein time.). This is my life. Crazy but beautiful. 

The Christmas Series, part 3

For my mom's birthday my brother and I planned a day of fun family activities. In the morning we drove out to Grapevine to see the Ice! exhibit at the Gaylord.  We ended up having a blast checking out how every nook and cranny was decorated. It was truly a wonderland.

The nativity scene at the end was breathtaking.

However, Cade has this thing. He thinks that baby Jesus was special because he was made of gold. Like his skin was gold.  Despite my best intentions to teach him that actually the three wise men brought gifts to the baby of gold, francinsense and muhr... He didn't quite get it.

He told me that when he was in my tummy he was deciding if he wanted to be gold or silver. Because every baby is special and we all have birthdays, just like Jesus.  I wasn't sure if it was my place to tell him, no sweetie, you're not as special as Jesus- wise men brough him GIFTS. No, that's not what you tell your child to explain the difference between the whole entire world being joyful and celebrating Jesus' birth and the entire world being joyful when he (my son) was born. Maybe next year, he'll get it?

The best part of the day was spending time with my family.

Seeing the kids continue their infatuation with my brother.

Is Uncle coming? Where did Uncle go?  Uncle, come with me!

God bless my brother. Young fun bachelor from California sucked into preschool world.

 

The kids loved every single bit of it!

The best part was the ice slide.

I was so excited to ride down with baby girl, but they workers told us we had to go alone. I momentarily panicked-- my baby alone?! What?! Thank God my mom was in line behind us so she helped Devyn. The child who was terrified to sit on Santa's lap had zero fear on the ice slide.

She took forever scootching her way down the slide, looking completely adorably joyful the entire time.  Sweet Dev, I hope you remember this Christmas magic forever!

 

The Christmas Series, part 2

 

Facts about decorating gingerbread houses with kids:
1. Don't expect a beauty.
2. Do expect a giant Rudolph turd.
3. Do expect the kids to eat most of the decorations before they make it on the house.
4. Don't expect their attention span to last long enough to finish.
5. Do expect to be the one saddled with the task of finishing off the house and having to turn their utter garbage hard work into a whimsical Christmas masterpiece.

So, this one.
When we first got started I put one house in front of each family to decorate.
Devs took one look at it, lifted the whole house on it's cardboard tray up and took a big ol' bite out of the roof.  I couldn't even speak. Seriously. Who does that?! 
God, I love her.
Freaking amazing.

The other fun part of our party was when hubs came home with a party  box of party tacos from Le Taco Bell.   Cade and Dev were so excited.  The other kids were like "Uhh....tacos?"
Cade convinced them tacos are indeed delicious. And in that moment, my son decided tacos were his new favorite thing in the world.  Days later, when driving around town he spotted a Taco Bell and begged me to stop. I promised I would take him on a very special Taco Bell date over the holiday break. Don't be jealous. I know we are uber-posh with our greasy taco bell love. Not sure how this fits into Mommy's plans to go Paleo....but we'll figure it out. For my little love.

The Christmas Series, part 1

 

I have so many memories and pictures from the Christmas season this year, that I have decided to blog them in a series. This Christmas marks the first one where both of our children were old enough to appreciate the magic and wonder of it all.  You think the moment you have a baby that the Christmas magic will be instant.  Year one they're just your super cute accesory, but they mostly sleep and eat through it all. Year two they are one year old. Not old enough to tell you what they want or understand the Christmas stories, but you go through the motions of it all.   The third year, that's when they are two years old, and the magic begins between two and three years old.

You  might be wondering about the magic of Cade's outfit above. He decided Santa wanted to see something "really awesome". So after I picked out his outfit and he got dressed, he went back to his room and re-emerged in cowboy boots, cowboy hat, his plastic bronze Batman buckle and his lime green Chuy's cape.  Awesome indeed.

While Daddy held our spot in line for Santa, I took the littles to go see the ginormous Christmas tree and hope to score some sweet snaps for our Christmas card.  Not exactly what I hoped for, but.... this is four and two for you.

 

 

I was hoping by some stroke of luck a friendly passerby would offer to take some pictures of all of us and let me jump in. No luck. So we got this pic of the boys. Guess who was tired of smiling?

 

And if you've ever tried getting a two year old to smile for the camera, you'll appreciate this gem.
And if you've taken that same child to go see Santa maybe in line you'd notice her tell you, with all the conviction she can muster, "I NOT sit on Santa's lap!" 

Sure enough, she was calm until it was our turn. We weren't planning on getting a family group shot....But when Devyn turned and ran to the friendly momma in line behind us for comfort as she cried and said "No no no!", I just about died. I grabbed my trashing, terrified, unconsollable child and had a huge internal debate. Do I make her sit on Santa's lap? I'd so hate to not have a Santa picture for every year of her childhood. Or do I reject Santa and make Cade sit up there by himself? Ugh, split second decision. I looked at hubs and made the judgement call "Lets all get in together".

The sheer terror didn't end. But I didn't look half bad.
Winning? hm...

 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Four days of ice fell in Texas two weeks ago.
This is our story.
 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Decorate with a Toddler

This Saturday, I did it. I decorated my house for the holidays with a 2 and a half and 4 and a half year old running around.  It was a total joyous breeze. Here is the breakdown of how you too can accomplish decorating with children.

7:15am  Children wake you up. Cuddle in bed. Get kicked in the face and stomach a few times but cuddle them anyways. Notice that kids don't have cute morning breath. Puppies, yes. Children, no.
7:45am Take 2 year old to bathroom. She doesn't pee. Put her in underpants. Pray. Set the timer to remind her (and you) to do another potty check in 15 min.
7:50am Turn on cartoons for the littles. Make breakfast. Since you want to set the tone for the Christmas spirit make some fresh eggs and bacon. The kids want more pumpkin bread. You don't want to give them the final piece, so you break it into small chunks. Pray they don't mind.
8:00am Timer dings. Go try potty. She pees. (Or "peeps" as she calls it). Call Miss Rachel on the Potty Training app. God bless the iPhone. Set the timer for 30 min.
8:05am Remember to let the dog out and give her breakfast. Shush kids so Daddy can sleep in.
8:15am   Eat your own breakfast, drink coffee. Change the channel so you get E! News. You can't decorate if you don't have celeb gossip.
8:30am Timer. Potty train. Nothing. Pray.
8:45am Finish coffee. Clean up dishes. Have kids try to bring you their plates. Clean up spilled cold eggs. Why didn't they eat their eggs? They only ate bacon and their bit of pumpkin bread. Oh well.
8:46am Turn on Christmas music on the tv.
8:55am Take down fall and Thanksgiving decorations. Yes, you should have those. No, you don't need Christmas before Thanksgiving. That's a separate rant post.
8:57am Potty accident.
8:57am Turn off Christmas music. Go clean up Potty accident.
9:15am Finish gathering Fall decor. Find a tub. It's full of old Christmas photos and crappy decor and lame children's art. (Trust, I save the good stuff.) Recyle. Save photos. Put in fall decor.
9:30am Dust the room. You need a clean slate. Windex the mirror. Husband is awake and grabs your butt as you clean the mirror. Kids weren't looking. Or were they? Pray.
9:40am Remember to potty with the little girl. Peeps! Yay! Potty app. Virtual sticker. Yay! Set the timer.
9:50am Kids are hungry for a snack. Punks didn't eat breakfast. Try to get them to eat something healthy. They eat crackers and M&Ms instead. Oh well. At least the Halloween Stash is going strong.
9:53am Refill cups for kids.
9:55am Get down Christmas boxes. Beg husband to break away from College Gameday during the commercial break to help you get boxes down. Keep begging. Beg again. Pray.
10:15am Boxes are down. Start to unpack. Baby girl wants to be close to you. Bring highchair over. Put her in it. Unpack and try to remember where you actually put all this stuff.
10:19am Potty accident. In the highchair. Arghsdkjsajfakl! Pray.
10:35am Encourage kids to play together. Turn on a movie in the other room for them.
10:40am Go take a potty break yourself. Read some US Weekly. Check Facebook. Check instagram.
10:50am Your butt is numb. Go lay on the bed. The kids are quiet but not too quiet. Check Facebook again. Check Zulily.
11:00am Play with kids.
11:15am Potty timer dings. Yay! Success. Potty app.
11:20am Kids want lunch. Make Thanksgiving leftovers.
11:30am Decorate.
11:45am. Beg husband to find some Diet Dr Pepper. Go with sweet tea instead. Take a sip. Have three Fritos. 
12:00pm Potty timer dings. Nothing. Oh well, nap time. Put on a pull up. Put her in bed. Convince the boy he needs a nap.
12:10pm Decorate.
12:35pm Eat lunch.
12:50pm Decorate.
1:20pm Exhaustion. The decorations are done. Go to bed and try to nap while the kids nap.
1:35pm Wow, wtf was the author of the Book Thief smoking in the first ten pages?? Keep reading. zzzzzzzz
1:55pm 4 year climbs into bed to cuddle with you. Convince him to nap.
2:15 He's done napping. Give him your iPhone so he can play Minion Rush. On silent. Try to nap.....

And still.... all that and my decorations look half ass. We got our tree today - fresh cut from the Home Depot parking lot "farm". I always forget the tree has to live outside in a bucket of water for a few days so it doesn't dry out. Arggh. So I've moved the furniture for the tree and now it feels almost like something Christmas-ish. A little. Why does the tree make all the difference? Why is such an ordeal? Why oh why does sap get so damn sticky? Anyways....

Hoping your decorating was a success! Or that you had your cocktail handy. Or even better, a babysitter to remove children from the premises so you can enjoy your Christmas music, bev, and decor. There's always next year...

Wordless Wednesday