iphone Friday

I catch so much more of the "real life" moments with my camera phone than with my big camera.
Here is Superbud climbing up in the big boy chair. 

At the zoo looking for the penguins swimming. 

Isn't my sis so pretty? 

Lucy Mills and I enjoyed a girls night with Tutu in Greenville last month. Here they are making up some scrumptious oatmeal together for a breakfast picnic. 

I am truly blessed with some pretty cool friends.  And what is great is that while us mama's have close friendships, our kiddos are all around the same age and have a ball together.  One Friday night we let all the daddies get together for a guys night out while the mama's and the children had a pizza and pj party.  Here are the little ones snuggled up for the big show.
PS - guys - next time yall get the children. :) 

Lucy Mills went through my dresser one day and started "gettin' ready for exacize." Oh dear.  Before I knew it she had some of my sports bras and all of my undies around her torso.  Yeah that was fun getting off of her and organized again. 

Superstar! 

Typical.  Aren't his red shoes adorable? 

Hollywood is ready for the beach! 

Jamming out in daddy's hat. 

It's been a very unfun week at our casa.  First McClain came down with hand, foot, & mouth disease (which just sounds like the grossest thing ever).  Then I was in the bed sick for 3 days, and then he passed on the germs to big sister.  The only thing worse than having sick babies is being sick yourself.  I mean I could barely function. 

Thank the good Lord in Heaven for this man. 

He came to the rescue, big time! He took care of all three of us sickies, did the cooking, cleaning, grocery store runs, you name it - he did it and he did it with a happy heart at that. Love him.  Love him so much. Once our fevers broke and we were feeling slightly better I had the brilliant among brilliant ideas to do some potty training with LM.  My thinking was "well, we are stuck at home anyway, lets take the diaper off and see how it goes.
Even though I let her wear her princess crown she was not amused.  

I made up for the lapse in judgment and took the children on several milkshake runs.
Sugary cold drinks + sore throats, fever, and blisters = content babes. 

I am happy to report that we are healthy again, and even happier to report that I am on my way to a girls weekend in Florida to get my tan on.  I haven't done anything like this since I became a mama. I know, poor me. ;) 

Tea Time

When she woke up from her nap today I told her that a special surprise awaited her.  Angelina wanted to have tea and cookies with my sweet girl.  She was thrilled. 

My parenting got a big, fat fail earlier in the day.  I allowed my fustration, my weariness, my sinfulness to cloud what my expectations of my children should be. 

When I was a teenager and used to babysit other people's children, motherhood didn't look so hard.  Dare I say it even looked e-a-s-y.  Well sure, Lil, when you show up at the end of the day, serve a meal someone else prepared, slap some clean pj's on the kiddos, read a book or two to put them to sleep all before retiring on the couch to enjoy their flat screen, it is! 

In fact, this gig takes constant training along with a dose of humble pie to realize that I don't have it all figured out.

By His grace though, I know the One who does.  I know the One who knit these babies together from the beginning.  I know that He calls this duty a privilege, not a waste. 

On my refrigerator are these wise and encouraging words...
Today, I will pray to speak words that are only strong words, words that make these children feel strong.  Grace words.  Grace is the only non-toxic air.  All other words I breathe are death words.

Today I will pray to be consistently consistent.  I will create safe rhythms that our children find security in.

Today, when I feel most repelled by a child's behavior, that is the sign I need to draw the very closest to that child. 

Today, my priorities will be all Things Unseen.  

Today, I will laugh!  And I will let the little children laugh!  I will create a culture of joy! - Ann Voskamp

The Days of March

Along with the territory of having a 2 1/2 year old, comes the fear of never knowing what is going to come out of her mouth around others.  She has become quite the chatter box these days! Ms. Pat, the dear lady who keeps the nursery at the gym I go to, said oh Mom! I know all kinds of deep, dark family secrets now.  I cringed.  What had my first born spilled? 

Lucy Mills told her that she had been in time out 3 times {all before 8:30am mind you!} for being disobedient {the exact word she used} that she takes baths, but Mommy takes showers, and that Tutu painted her toenails blue.  Phew! I can handle those "secrets." 

I'm slightly concerned that Lucy Mills has some OCD tendencies .  When I was cleaning up after bath time one night, I found all of the rubber ducks lined up perfectly.  Not one was out of place.  Perhaps I can use this to my advantage and get her to organize the pantry while she's at it.  Do anyone elses kids do this? 

I am relieved to say that {fingers crossed} we are climbing out of the pit that was the terrible two's. While we still have meltdowns here and there, the sweetness in my Sweet Girl is back.  A friend mentioned that when these little ones go through significant growth spurts {yes!} and also have a big development in language {yes, again!} that often they are reacting to the surge in hormones.  Whew! I'm relieved that we weren't facing the preteen years quite so soon.
Lucy Mills, you are an absolute delight my love. I adore the little conversations that we have throughout the day. 

We were in the car and I was chowing down on my bag of trail mix.  Like starving.  Lucy Mills looked at me and said Mama, you don't need to eat the whole thing. Thanks jr holy spirit in the back seat.  I put the bag down. 

Have you ever washed a load of laundry to realize that somehow or another a diaper {albeit a clean one} got thrown in the mix? Yeah.  I have been cleaning teeny, tiny diaper crystals out of that dern machine for two days. 

So I haven't cut his curls yet.  They truly fit his personality so I will enjoy them for now and hope that they don't fall straight when I take scissors to them. 

I can't believe my babies are 2 1/2 and 15 months old already.  I remember after I had Lucy Mills someone told me that when it comes to caring for little ones the days are long but the years are short.  I get it now.  I'm reminding myself to treasure the little rituals that make up these days with my best two little buddies. 

A Sign of Spring

One afternoon following the children's naps, we heard the music.  You know, the music that summons all kids to high-tail it outside, quarters in hand, salivating over what flavor to purchase.  

The ice cream truck hit our cul-de-sac and we couldn't pass it up. 

It was a warm 84 degrees outside which made an orange push-pop a great afternoon treat. 

I felt like we were living in the 1960's with the ice cream man playing his tunes, cruising through the neighborhood.  I kept waiting for Wally and the Beav to come out and join us. 

Next time I am just going to strip the kids down to their diapers in the front yard. The clean up will just be easier that way, and I can hose them down when they are finished.  They had orange stickiness on every surface area and crevice possible. 

I mean, does life get any better than this? 

Thanks ice cream man. 

My Buddy

The conversation continues...who does he look like? 

I claim me, or at least my side of the family.  His daddy disagrees.  He's all Mason he says. 

When we ask his sister, she ponders for a quick minute before answering he looks like McClain.  Truth. 

I can't figure out what to do with boys hair.  Especially sweet brown baby curls.  Do I cut the curls or continue to go with the wild man/frat boy look?  Or as my daughter says the piggytails. 

Suggestions welcome.

But what a little dream boat, right? 

snapshots from my phone

Nothing beats Saturday morning in our pj's, lounging in our little chairs with juice cups in hand, watching our reading video's.  The life! 

CBS wears him slap out! 

My new best friend arrived last month.  :) Hopefully this means better pictures of my two favorite subjects. 

Lucy Mills' sweet friend Ava had a princess themed birthday party in January.  She loved prancing around in her pink boa, making a magic wand, and of course eating pink cupcakes. 

She was a pro at kissing the frog prince. 

Having a fun night with her friends.  Yes, McClain is playing with a babydoll...he is confident in his masculinity I assume. 

I used to babysit for these sweet girls when they were Lucy Mills and McClain's ages.  They recently had our family over for dinner and we had the best time.  I sat looking on from a distance as they girls I used to love on, enjoyed playing with my children.  I love how God brings unexpected things full circle. 

I have such a pretty little boy.  Lucy Mills thought he needed a bow in his piggytails. 

I remember doing my college applications on a typewriter {back in the dark ages!}.  Now my two year old can maneuver an ipad better than me! 

Yep, we are still obsessed with chapstick.  Note to self: do not leave the red one in the unsupervised hands of a toddler unless you want this result...

Learning, learning. 

The view heading up to my dad's cabin.  Can you see the house at the tip top? 

How much can we accessorize? 

Into Mommy's shoes! 

She loves me to roll down the car window and feel the breeze! 

 Peek-a-boo McClain! 

The four of us went to the USC baseball game season opener and had a blast chasing after the children together. Superbuddy had the best view! 

More real  pictures to come!