A few pictures from the past week.

Busy little bees

It seems like every time I sit down to blog, something (or someone!) distracts me. It has been 8,047 degrees outside so we have been cooped up inside a little more than we are used to. The boys love being outside no matter how hot it gets, but I can only handle so much of it! They love playing in their small plastic pool so much, so we try and get them out as much as possible.

We are gearing up for our vacation back to Massachusetts. I am not looking forward to 20 hours in the car with the kids. I know they will probably do fine, but John and I can't handle it. We have thought about getting a DVD player for the car, but not really sure if that is necessary. Since John only has a week vacation, he will fly back to SC to work after a week and then fly back to get the kids and I 2 weeks later. It is so hard being alone with the boys but we will have fun. I know we will be so busy seeing everyone, it will fly by! We already have plans to spend 4-5 days at my family's beach house, go boating at John's Aunt Jeanne's house and so many other things. We get to meet our new baby nephew, Owen.

On one of my message boards I vist, we are talking about how 3 is worse than 2. I agree 100%!! I had a hard time when Logan was 3 and now I am having a terrible time with Austin. Terrible twos is a joke! Anyone who says that has never had children! Luckily 4 was much better with Logan and 5 has been even better. The sad part is, as soon as Austin gets past this stage, Garrett will enter it. Ah, fun times!

Anyhow, I know that isn't much of an update, but it is about all I have time for. I will *try* and update later, but we all know what happens when I say that!

Not much going on

I really want to stay on track with blogging so I am forcing myself to write, even though there isn't a whole lot to talk about. John was in North Carolina on a job for the night so it was just another crazy night with the boys. My house is a mess (what else is new?) but for some reason its gets extra messy when John is gone overnight. I had the best intentions to get up after putting the boys to bed and clean but it just didn't happen!

I am not sure whats on the agenda for today, although I know I will spend the next couple hours cleaning (while the boys follow behind me messing as I go..hehe) Hopefully John will get his job done early and can get on the road home soon and possibly be home at a reasonable time today. We are out of milk and I really don't want to drag the kids out just to get milk. Of course, we all know I will do it anyway! I always say I will wait for John, but then I end up taking them out anyhow. I just get so antsy being home and need to get out every day.

I guess I better get to cleaning before I lose what little interest I have to do it. Have a great day!

Happy Mothers Day!

I hope all you moms had a wonderful mothers day. We had a low key kind of day, but that is always nice. We hung around the house and yard and got a few things done like mowing the lawn. Friday night, John and I got a date night. Okay not really, we still had Garrett with us but he is so cute and easy to take along! We went to Applebees for dinner and then I browsed Target for a while before we had to pick up the older boys.

Today was a typical Monday and we didn't do a whole lot. I did take them to Burger King and let them play for 2 hours at the playground indoors there.

*I started this update yesterday and got distracted....imagine that!*

Today has been a great day! The weather is perfect, and we spent all afternoon outside. I filled up the kids small plastic pool and they put their plastic slide in it and had a ton of fun. I did get some pictures but haven't uploaded them yet, so I may add some later. A few times Austin would toss water from a plastic cup right at me. He came very close to my camera more than once.

I have beef stew in the crock pot and it smells delicious. Another hour or so and it will be ready. Logan is telling me he won't eat it. I have never had issues with kids eating so this is new to me. I will not be a short order cook, but at the same time I don't want to force Logan to eat. They are great eaters, all of them. They eat a lot of fruits and veggies so I am not sure if I should just humor him during this phase or force him to eat. Any advice will gladly be accepted!

There isn't much else to blog about so I guess I will get to cleaning the house. Have a great day!

Well bless your heart suga!

I have been in the South for 2.5 years now and I am still learning! Apparently when someone starts or finishes a thought with "bless your heart" it is the equivalent of "no offense" up north! Who knew?! That is just crazy, because I always assumed someone was paying me a compliment or saying something nice to me when they have said that!

"Well bless your heart having 3 boys so close in age!" I have always thought that meant "Isn't that wonderful having 3 boys so close in age!" Apparently it really means WTF were you thinking?? HA!!


I just tackled Wally world with the boys. Not fun. Austin was not happy which made mama not happy. I had told Logan we could go get that new sidewalk chalk that makes your pictures come alive! I have to admit, the commercials for it do look pretty cool. He has been using it ever since we got home. It really is fun! I was out there drawing pictures and fighting Logan for the glasses so I could make my pictures come to life! Amazing the toys they come out with for kids these days! Anyhow, I must get to making some coffee.

Hope y'all are having a nice afternoon. Bless your heart if you aren't!

Crazy!

I can't believe I haven't blogged since January. The day to day stuff seems to keep me so busy, but I do miss sitting down and writing so here I am. The boys are doing well, just as crazy as ever. Logan will be starting private kindergarten in the Fall which I am very excited about. He will be going to a church Kindergarten and they do so much with the children. They keep the classes small and the day ends at 12:30 with an option to let them stay until 2 for lunch. We will probably let him stay once or twice a week for that. I think this will do so much for Logan and allow him to get comfortable with school again as well as give him another year before entering the big elementary school for first grade! I am still in shock I have a child who is going to be 6 the end of August. How did that happen? Why does no one tell you when you have a baby how fast it really goes by? Actually, who am I kidding? EVERYONE tells you how fast it will go by, you just don't realize it! Logan is so inventive (is that a word?) He builds things, especially robots. He loves to do experiments to see what will happen. He is not as interested in sitting down and working on academics. He is much happier building, and learning through play. He really is just like a little John! He is the most giving and loving child and draws us many pictures. He loves his family and can't wait to go back to Massachusetts this summer to see everyone.

Austin is 3.5 and my most stubborn boy. He has his way of doing things and really doesn't allow room for any other options. He loves the color blue and is obsessed with power rangers. Austin is the blue power ranger and he will adamantly tell you this if you try calling him anything except the blue ranger. He also still loves his hot wheels cars and thinks all of them should belong to him. He still insists on getting himself dressed and will only wear certain clothing items. Austin will melt your heart with the things he says. He loves to tell us he loves us and that we are his "best fwends" Austin looks up to Logan and the two of them are definitely the best of friends at this point. They often get into trouble together, but most of the time they have fun together. We love watching the boys interact, they are so full of life!

Garrett, "the sweet baby G" is 2 now. Again, not sure how he is two so quickly but he is! He is a little man now. He went for his check up last week and weighed in at 25 lbs. He is only the 10th percentile in weight and 50th percentile for height. He is just too cute for words really. He plays with his hotwheels cars many hours each day. He lines them up, makes them say "beep beep!!" and puts them in a little bucket to carry them around in. So cute!! Garrett loves to go on car trips with mama by himself. When John comes home and I am running out to get groceries, Garrett is my right hand man. I love one on one time with my boys, so I really enjoy taking him.

I will give a longer update later, but wanted to update on the boys for now:)

It has been a while! Update on the boys

It has been a while since last updating so thought I would do a little catch up. The boys have been amazing me and I will start with an update on each of them.

Logan is almost 5.5 and growing like crazy! He is still a skinny little thing, but he is wearing size 6 boys pants now! Of course, they must be the adjustable waist band or they fall right off! lol He reminds me so much of John, from the way he looks at the world to the expressions he makes. His logic is the same as John's would have been (sometimes still is!) as a child. He would rather do just about anything than schoolwork, however he is so creative! He loves watching Mythbusters and all the science shows with John. We are working hard to prepare him for kindergarten next year. Logan has a lot of trouble paying attention and was not picking up what he should at his new preschool this year so we pulled him out (just this week) and will be homeschooling him and working hard to get him ready for next year! I have found some great sites online to print stuff out and also come up with some neat learning games and we are already seeing progress! Logan is very loving and feels so proud when he cleans his room without being asked. He does such a great job! We just love him and can't believe how big he is getting!

Austin is 3 and is definitely sweet and sour! He will absolutely melt your heart with his constant hugs and kisses but at the flip of a dime he can turn into the most stubborn little man ever! Austin has decided in the past couple of months that only 2 shirts in his whole wardrobe are acceptable to wear and MUST be wearing shoes at all times. This includes bedtime. He will take them off for a bath but that is it!! He also insists on dressing himself and sometimes that means backwards clothes and shoes on the wrong feet but it is precious!! He is such a smart, silly little guy. He absolutely loves cars and enjoys learning. At this point he is the most difficult to take to stores as he has "Austin's way" of doing things and it definitely slows us down! He is learning to play nice with Garrett, but prefers to play with Logan. Both Austin and Garrett absolutely love hot wheels cars and both have at least two in their hands at any given time. This leads to fighting over the best car at any given time! Usually the best car is the one that the other has in their hand! Sometimes though, they will sit down together and play nicely and I love to see that! We just love our Ozzle bozzle!!

Austin has been very ready for potty training since the summer time. He often uses the toilet and does very well. He is still in diapers though, because he is too stubborn to give up his diapers. He refuses to wear "big boy" pants so we still let him wear pull ups for now. We are planning on taking them away cold turkey within the next month or so though.

Garrett! Garrett could have his picture in the dictionary next to "little boy." He fits the description perfectly! He has a little cowlick and dirt on his face most of the time! He charms the ladies with his long eyelashes and is just the sweetest little man! He is most certainly coming into his own and his opinions are starting to show. He is slightly stubborn like Austin, and gets along best with Logan. While the other boys had no more bottle by 15 months, Garrett isn't quite ready to let go yet. We are encouraging the use of sippy cups but they just don't quite offer him the comfort at night like his bubba! Garrett loves to come up to you and put his face right up to yours and give kisses and hugs! He is starting to talk and his little voice is just so cute. He loves to help out by throwing trash away, getting a new diaper or cleaning up his toys. He is a mama's boy for sure and loves snuggling with me. He is my baby, and while he is so much a little boy now-he will always be my baby! We just love him so much!

I am loving being a stay at home mom to these three handsome men. They are such amazing little boys and I learn as much from them as they do from us!

2007 list of things

I have seen this on a couple blogs:)

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?

I really can't think of anything.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I didn't really make any and I probably won't this year. There are things I want to do and hopefully will. We want to get fit and healthy as a family this year and include exercise in daily life.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My SIL Robyn had a son and my other SIL Liz had a son.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Not this year thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit?

Ha! None.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?

More time alone. John is great but with no family here and him working long hours there really isn't much help for me.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

None really.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Standing up for Logan and pulling him out of public school.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Getting too stressed out over the little stuff.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Nothing, but hopefully this year we will get a nice new fancy camera!


12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Logan. He is turning into such a wonderful little man and I am proud to be his mom.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Um....no one really!

14. Where did most of your money go?

BILLS. Blah

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Our surprise visit to Massachusetts over Thanksgiving

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?

Moose on noggins song about wanting a candy cane for Christmas. Sad, I know!!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder?

Happier

b) thinner or fatter?

a little fatter

c) richer or poorer?

We are doing okay financially and moving forward so I would say richer (though we aren't rich!)

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Exercised and tried to make some friends here

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

wasted time on the computer.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Home with my family, quiet and nice.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?

Still in love with my hubby:)

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Desperate Housewives, Greys Anatomy

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No

24. What was the best book you read?

Jenny McCarthy's books. I haven't read much this year though. Add reading to my list of things to do more of in 2008!

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Not sure.

26. What did you want and get?

Hmmm.... not sure.

27. What did you want and not get?

to get organized

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Knocked up!

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I don't remember, I think just quiet dinner with family.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

To have made friends here and gotten out more.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Um, does wearing the same jeans over and over again count?

32. What kept you sane?

My husband.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

none

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Health insurance. definitely.

35. Who did you miss?

Our families back home.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I haven't met anyone new.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.

I don't have to be perfect and can still be a great mom and wife.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

I only want a candy cane this year! LOL