I can run but I can't hide

I will be the first to admit, my children drive me CRAZY!! The fighting, tattling, whining, crying, on and on ALL day long. Crazy!!! Do I often want to put my head in a hot oven and SLAM the door? ABSOLUTELY!!! I would be lying if I said I didn't!

BUT... (there's always a but isn't there??!!)

I would not have it any other way. I truly LOVE the time I have with them.... Even during those awful moments that make me want to fling my self across a major interstate, at the height of rush hour, to be run over repeatedly for HOURS, deep down, I really do enjoy it.  Each day has been a gift and one that I cherish.

I secretly, love the MOM come wipe my butts, the MOOOM he's touchin mes, the Mooooooooooom!!!! She won't give me the privacy's, the Mooom I'm hungry even though I just finished a meal... You get the idea. I love it all, every aspect, the good, the bad, the fabulous, and the ugly. All of it and I would never trade a single day...

A new page is turning.  One that I have been DREADING all YEAR! I can run, but I CANNOT hide. In a few short months, my first baby is going to Kindergarten! How did this happen??!! It seems like yesterday, we were snoozing on the couch because we spent the wee hours, bouncin, shhh-ing, walking, and feeding. It all just seems like a BLUR.

I don't want my baby to go to school ALL DAY LONG! 8:15-3:30 is WAY too long!

Reading, Money, Time, Addition, Subtraction??!! What happened to noodle necklaces, milk and cookies, and if we were really lucky finger painting?

Did I mention the all day thing??!!!

Seriously, I am FREAKING! I know he'll do great, he'll have fun, and he will THRIVE, BUT I just can't fathom only seeing him a few hours each day, which will be spent doing homework, dinner, and baths.... If I'm lucky, I may be able to squeeze in SOMETHING fun if he is somehow still awake....

him taking a picture of me as I take a picture of him <3

 Monday this page hit me in the face. Kindergarten registration. D-day or as I like to refer to it, K-DAY!! As we parked the car, and rounded the corner, I won't lie, I got choked up and tears started to fill my eyes, but I refrained... I don't want to totally freak him out. His pre-k teacher has already done enough damage... She has the poor kids TERRIFIED of the big kids school. Ant thinks all you do is get into trouble at big kid school.... Oh how I CANNOT wait to get out of HER sandbox, but as usual, I regress....

So, I had tears, but I dried them up... Anthony was on edge. I could tell. He was not his "normal" self. He was shy, grumpy, and stand offish... I could tell he was nervous.

"I am smiling mom... Ok ok yes its fun..." LIAR LIAR pants on fire lol

 However, the school did a FANTASTIC job. I just wish he would have been more enthusiastic. As we come to the front of the building we walked a red carpet, and were treated like A list celebs. They made a HUGE ordeal over each child! LOVE. The school was set up like Hollywood and we traveled from station to station completing the necessary registration things while having fun. They had props, decorations, camera's, prizes, and keepsakes. He even scored a free movie pass :) Once our travels were complete, we left the building, and there sat a uber cool limo, which Ant totally DUG! Of course he snapped a few pics with his snazzy new camera :) It was really nice and the school did a great job getting the kids excited for Kindy. I only wish, I bought into the whole excitement thing... lol

look at that hand raiser :)

After it was all said and done, I asked him if he was excited to go to the big school to which he replied: "yeah! It will be fun. I was just kidding you. I do like Bindergarten!!! hahahah!!" Whatever am I gonna do with him? Do you see why I go crazy!!

my future director needs a bit more pep, but if I know him he will find it after a few days <3

Side bar... CANNOT wait to get his camera developed. It will be neat to see it all through his eyes, plus a few peeps took pictures of us together so I hope at least ONE turns out!!

Wordless Wednesday: A Man on a Mission!

For more WW: A Beautiful Mess, Look at What Mom found... and Dad too,  Momspective,  Wordless Wednesday ,

Hoppy Easter!

We had a most wonderful Easter weekend. Full of fun family togetherness... Jason was actually HOME for a holiday!!! Unheard of!

Saturday we spent the day playing in our lego land and the weather cleared up and allowed us to... wait for it... EAT OUTSIDE! This is one of the minis most favorite things... We ate outside and played all kinds of games as a fam. It really is the simple things, as the kids have taught me...

As the sun began to fade, we came inside to dye, paint, and decorate all of our Easter eggs. The kids really got into it this year. Selecting the just right colors, painting oh so perfect pictures, and enjoying every second. Just as we were finishing up the chimes of the ice cream man sounded and we all ran outside for a special treat to end our awesome day!

Sunday morning I woke to the amazed "Oh my GOSH!!! The Easter bunny got me BAKUGANS AND A NANO BUG!!!" I peeled myself from bed and enjoyed every ounce of Anthony's excitement as he dug through his basket. He immediately wanted to put together his lego sets and he and I worked together building them, chatting, and enjoying each others company.

As the last lego was being snapped into place, my little miss sass a frass tippy toed down stairs... Her eyes popped WIDE as she saw her basket! She ran over and almost DIED when she saw an Ariel dolly and all the art stuff! It was so awesome to watch her excitement! Anthony wandered down to lego land and Mad and I sewed an absolutely ADORABLE frog pillow.

We all got cleaned up and headed out to breakfast, which was SOOO good! When we came back, the kids cleaned up with our egg hunt. I think Ant raked in the most cash, but Madison was not far behind.

The day quickly came to a close, but we enjoyed every second playing outside and just being together. I hope all of you had as wonderful  an Easter as we did!

Keep Calm and Carry On

This is my new mantra... As I strolled through Target, my new normal, I saw this printed on a picture and it totally "spoke" to me. I LOVED it and it inspired me to makeover a room I spend WAY too much time in:The Laundry Room!

A while ago, my dryer tanked (Finally, I hated the POS and was almost ready to snip a random wire and cry broken so Jason would FINALLY buy me my coveted Samsungs). I LOVE them, dearly... Anyway, I was planning on having the hubs build me awesome pedestals, but alas he was not in the mood (I am continuing to work on him) so we bought the matching ones. They are FAB, but the ones I want him to build are so much prettier... Anyway, I hated the ugly builder standard wire rack above and REALLY wanted some black cabinets. Sadly, all the ones I found were much more then I wanted to spend... I got to thinking though... I can hardly reach my detergent on the rack now, with cabinets it would be even more difficult to reach! (and BTW, why the heck does a standard size bottle of laundry detergent NOT fit in the pedestals? I would say that is a MAJOR fail! Hello is that not their point?!?!)

So, I have these beautiful machines yet this junked up laundry room and I HAD to do something about it!! I decided to organize, clean out, and redo... Jason painted it a BEAUTIFUL gray, urban sunrise, (pics do not do it justice), he spray painted the wire shelf thing black (LOVE), I bought some cute canvas bins from Target to store hardly used items (mittens, craft paints, etc), I reused the stacking gray recycle bins I had in the basement to store the kids rain boots, bubbles, and my detergents, I bought a black shag throw rug, my oh so fab picture, and I picked up a new stainless steel trashcan... I LOVE it! It is just as I envisioned, was super inexpensive, and the picture TOTALLY makes me smile!

Now for the pics... Don't judge... I warned you it was JUNKED up!

How EMBARRASSING!!! Yes, it is GROSS!

I love the black shelf against the gray and red :) You can see the recycle bins in the corner...



are they not 2 beautiful red beasts?!?! LOVE and I am digging the canvas bins <3

 

The start of it all... Makes my heart happy... Calm is KEY!

Thoughts?!?

Wordless Wednesday

My Baby LOVES Ribs!

For more WW: A Beautiful Mess, Look at What Mom found... and Dad too,  Momspective,  Wordless Wednesday ,

Restaurants, Boobies, and Zumba oh my!

I hope everyone enjoys their Sunday! We are going to be grocery shopping... Such fun with two kids in tow... NOT! Hopefully, it will warm up some and we can have a fun afternoon OUTSIDE, but first a few q's and a's so you can all get to know me :)

The Questions:


1. what's something you've eaten and liked, but didn't think you would?

Stuffed Peppers... I LOVE the filling, but do not touch the pepper!
2. plastic surgery..yay or nay?

Oh TOTALLY Yay! If I was sure I was done popping out minis, I would be signed up for a complete "mommy makeover". Boob lift and implants, mini tummy tuck, and while their at it.... erase those fine lines please :)

3. 2 things you love about spring are.....?

Flowers and Sunshine

4. when's the last time you went on a picnic?

About a 3 weeks ago, my parents were in town, the sun was shining, and we picnic-ed at the park!

5. what's your favorite app?

Currently? Words with friends
Previously? Cover Orange

6. who does the grocery shopping in your house?

sadly, me! Oh how I miss the land of online grocery ordering and delivery.... The nominal fee was OH SO WORTH IT!

7. would you rather take a spin class or zumba?

Well, I used to be a spin fanatic, but I became BORED. I really like Zumba, but it depends on the instructor and their music choices... My choice would be Zumba... I do like to shake the boo-tay!

8. how often do you go out to dinner?

This is so embarrassing to admit... At least 4 nights a week... Usually 6! I hate to cook. No one likes the same thing so a restaurant is easier because everyone gets what they want and I don't have to clean up... Each day my children ask if we can go to "The brown bread restaurant" (aka Outback), "The peanut restaurant" (aka Logan's), "The pizza restaurant" (aka Olive Garden), "The fire restaurant" (aka Kobe) or "The pancake restaurant" (aka Bob Evans)...I just wish we had more restaurant choices :)

Happy Sunday!

April 14, 1995

Sixteen years ago, my knees were knocking, my heart was pounding, and my mind was racing. As I glanced around at my parents, my grandparents, my friends I couldn't help but wonder was I doing the right thing?!? I mean I was just SEVENTEEN years old! Then, my attention became focused back on Jason and I knew the answer: ABSOLUTELY!

Yes, I was seventeen, yes I was leaving everything I ever had known, to travel 2,000+ miles away, but I was doing it with my best friend :)

what a hot mess we were hahaha!

I can remember when Jason came back from his tech school (he had joined the air force) to pick me up and bring me to our new home in Colorado like it was yesterday. As we pulled away from the only house I had ever known,  I couldn't help but cry. I mean I was a Jersey girl; born and raised. What the heck was I gonna do out west? I mean would they even have decent music?!?! Oh the naivety of a teenager playing house (see that tag line has identified me for more then half my life, I still feel like I am just "playing" grown up!  :)

As we crossed into Pennsylvania, the tears still fell as I quietly looked out the window pondering what this "new life" had in store for me... Once we hit the Ohio border, Jason began to worry. He kept assuring me that he would take me home if I wanted and that just made me cry even more...

When we stopped for gas, I called my mom collect (she got A LOT of collect calls over the years, I mean I WAS crazy poor and it was the time before cell phone :: gasp ::) just to check in and hear her voice... Which really was odd, because at the time my mother and I could not exchange more then 10 words before we were at each others jugular fighting for death. As I hung up the phone, I felt SO MUCH better. I just knew it was going to be a great adventure and I could not wait for it to start... I skipped back to the car, the way only a giddy teen can do, hopped in, cranked the music, Wu-Tang, if I recall correctly, and I never looked back! (Ok, maybe once when we had been driving for 20 hours and had to drive to the next state because NO ONE would give us a hotel room since Jason was not yet 21 and we were literally falling asleep. I did call the 'rents for that one because we had NO idea what to do! Damn Indiana!!!)

still a hot mess, just much older hahaha

Not once have I ever regretted the choice we made to get married so young. Has it been smooth sailing always? Cha right! I can't tell you how many times I packed my car and drove almost to the Kansas border before turning around, and that was only in the first 3 years! hahaha! We have had so many good times, so many bad, so many laughs, so many fights, so many adventures and even more catastrophes; yet it really has been an awesome adventure and I would not change a second of it. It has been such a fantastic experience to grow up together and become who we are today;together. We have known each other for more than half our lives, we are truly best friends, and I am so glad to have him by my side in the trenches of parenthood! Here's to hoping for many many more adventures, catastrophes, and most importantly memories!

Wordless Wednesday

Casa de Crazy at 7:30 a.m. on a BEAUTIFUL Spring Morning

For more WW: A Beautiful Mess, Look at What Mom found... and Dad too,  Momspective,  Wordless Wednesday ,

I think I may be psychic!

My parents came up to visit for a long weekend for Madison's birthday and we were SO lucky in that the weather was BEAUTIFUL! Madison's first 3 birthdays were FREEZING, so it was nice to have some outside time in the sunshine...

My parents and I loaded the kids up with a picnic lunch and were park bound. We ate, ran, jumped, climbed, and played squish the lemon. It was FAB: fresh air + the minis = a happy mama! As the playground grew old, we drifted to the creek as we ALWAYS do, and had stick races and skipped rocks.

My mom was sitting with the kids on a rock, letting them dip their feet in and splash in the cool water. They loved it, but all I envisioned was the typical Casa de Crazy debacle. As I cautioned my mom to be careful, all I could see was my children slipping into the FREEZING ankle deep water, SCREAMING as they sunk in the muddy creek floor, their big browns pleading for me to rescue them... Yeah, so NOT on my agenda. I don't do creeks lol... So I continued to hawk my mother and remind her to hold them: TIGHT!

Anthony brought me his cup once it was empty and wanted to catch water bugs, remember the vision?!?, so I told him I would catch them... I sat perched on the edge of a HUGE STURDY rock totally still waiting. There were 4 or 5 bugs just out of my reach, so I crept down a bit further and waited for them to swim a smidgen closer... They so TOTALLY did. I was BEAMING as I knew I was just getting ready to make Ant's day and catch these little buggers... I shifted ever so slightly, crouched down, and BAM!

The rock shifted and in the muddy creek I fell! SWEAR IT! Thankfully, its not deep but my pants were soaked and the best part? I was wearing BRAND NEW flip flops!

So my vision was just a bit skewed. Instead of the minis sinking into the bottom, it was me and the big browns I saw were NOT pleading but laughing at their HORRIFIED mama who does NOT like to get dirty stuck in the freezing cold mucky water! Let's just say our park adventure was quickly over!

Oh No She Dit-ent: An Almost Wordless Wednesday

One of my besties was horrified She couldn't believe it. Her daughter blew out Madison's candles. Me? I thought it was hilarious! Madison's reaction was way too funny, and I mean really, they are KIDS. This is the silly stuff they do that down the road we will always remember with a smile.
 I can't blame the girl, I always want to blow out the candles too. I mean really, its exciting stuff! The best part BY FAR was when I loaded the pics onto the computer and I saw the progression of the whole thing. I am still giggling 2 weeks later :) Excuse the pics, they were majorly cropped, but you will get the idea!

yay! Cake time!!

I'm watching you :)

Oh NO she dit-ent!!!!

Stay back!!!!

These girls are the best of buds and I love them both dearly. They torture each other to death, protect each other to the fullest, and love each other entirely. (and they TOTALLY crack me up!!) They should be sisters!

For more WW: A Beautiful Mess, Look at What Mom found... and Dad too,  Momspective,  Wordless Wednesday ,

Getting To Know Me!

the q's.

1. do you weigh yourself?

Yes. Daily. OK multiple times per day. Its a sick sick SICK obsession! :(

2. what's the nastiest thing you've ever eaten?

hmmmm... no clue as I am NOT an adventurous eater and RARELY try anything new.... I wonder where my kids get it from?!
3. snail mail or email?

This is tricky because it depends. I LOVE to get mail. Totally makes my day, BUT I am a HUGE email fan... I send, you respond instantaneously, and the world is perfect. Now if I have to wait forever for a response.... UGH!

4. do you have any irrational fears...what are they?

yes. SPIDERS! ewwww shudder!
5. do you play an instrument?

That would be a negative. I did play the clarinet in middle school, but the only thing I got from that was repeat strep throat infections. How was I supposed to know to change my reed? I mean geesh I was like 11!
6. would you rather be bitten by a snake or attacked by a bear?

Attacked by a bear. If a snake attacked me I would die BEFORE I was bitten because I would go into heart failure IMMEDIATELY!
7. do you ever go braless in public?

yes. Pre-Kids? ALL. THE. TIME! However, I have bee stings, if you can call them that. I mean nada, nothing, zilch... One day I will take care of my bee stings, but not until I decide the zipper in my lower abdomen is closed for good!

8. today i am thankful for........................?

the sunshine, antibiotics*, my minis, and that my husband is off for four days as of tomorrow!


* strep has hit casa de crazy FUN TIMES!