Catching Up and stuff...

It has been a VERY, VERY long time since I've written on here.  I apologize to any of my readers.  Life with three boys has been especially busy.  In addition to my "job" as mom, I also work three other part time jobs.  This makes things even crazier around here, but for now it works for us.  I just can't justify working to put my children in daycare.   So until they are all in school or until I find a job that pays enough, or maybe when we win the lottery - HA- I will be continually busy. 

Even though I work THREE part time jobs, 1 is only 1 night a week for 3 hours and the other 2 I put in about 15-20 hours together total so it sounds crazy, and it is busy, but not like 50 hours a week busy.  I am just blessed that I have jobs to go to and to help our family out financially.  I too am blessed that it gives me an outlet away from the kids.  I love being a mom, but let's be honest - sometimes I want to get away for awhile.  During this time, I still have my dream of starting my own business of my mommy & me fitness classes.  I really want to be successful with them and have everything lined up to do them, except marketing.  So please pray for me that I can get my tail in order and 'Just Do IT'!  I would really like to lighten my load and work ONE job vs. THREE FOUR if you count me staying at home as a job.

Not working is out of the question for now.  My husband and I are going to start trying the Dave Ramsey Money Makeover so we can pay off our debt.  We both have 2 degrees and you guessed it lots of student loans.  Unfortunately, we aren't even using our degrees.  Aside from my husband and children, my degree is my biggest accomplishment in life right now.  And no one can take that away from me so even though, I'm not using it at the moment, I'm proud that I went to college and earned my Bachelor's degree.

I'm sorry if I'm blabbing, this was supposed to be a catching up post, but instead is turning out to be a whiny post.  I'm not asking for a pity party.  Just right now at this stage in my life, I honestly don't know what to do next.  I have been doing A LOT of praying.  And like I said earlier, I desperately want my mommy & me class to kick off.   I honestly feel that once you find a job you love, you'll never work another day in your life.  And I am longing for that, I want to have meaning in what I do and to have a career, not just a J-O-B.

I hope this is making sense. 

So now that I have all that off my chest here is what is happening around here:

My husband is still pretty awesome.  He always helps around the house, mops the floor every morning before I even wake up (our dogs get gated in the kitchen at night), and the other day he brought me coffee in bed and a flower from the garden.  He is so SWEET :)

My oldest son finished school last week and has begun a Greek Mythology camp that will go on for two weeks.  This is totally up his alley.  And its fun to learn all about Greek Mythology myself.  We started reading the Percy Jackson book series last summer.  If you haven't read any of them, they are worth the read.  And he will be a pre-teen in a few short weeks.  The big double digits - the BIG - ONE OH!  How did this happen, WHEN did this happen that my baby boy will be a TEN year old?  Wait a minute, am I equipped for a 10 year old?  When did I get so OLD?
That's a lot of when's.  If you know how to stop him from growing up, please share.  :)

The middle boy is my sweet, adventurous, and limit tester as well as lover of the outdoors.   He can't wait to turn three in a few short months and start school in the fall.  Which reminds me, I STILL have to register him for school.  We are of course still working on potty training.  It doesn't help that he is afraid of the big toilet in public restrooms, and honestly they are pretty scary and gross, but when you have to go, you have to go.  We do big boy undies the majority time at home for now and pull-ups and naps and bedtime and when we go out.  I can't remember how we did it so many years ago with his brother, but I'm pretty sure he wont be in pull-ups forever.  However, we have been explaining that he has to use the potty as school, no more pull-ups.  Even though the first couple weeks, I'm sure we will still send him to school in pull-ups.  I don't even care, and I'm sure the teachers will thank us later.  He has been home with me since the day he was born, things are going to be rough on him the way it is, I don't need potty issues to go with leaving mom issues as well.

Our youngest just turned ONE a few weeks ago.  WHAT?!?!?!  This year has flown by.  I think each child you have the faster time goes.  This is yet another reason I want to simplify things and just take a step back.  I want to cherish these moments, not have them fly by.   It is hard to believe that our baby boy is one.  It saddens me, but its also always fun to watch them grow.  He is so independent which is wonderful at times so I can get some things done, like vacuum, or write a blog.

Well there you have it, 8 months-ish smooshed into several word vomiting paragraphs.  Hope you're still here to the end.  I hope to continue this along more frequently.

Until next time... 

You're gonna miss this

Our baby turned 2 months old this week and today Holden turns 2 years old.  Where has time gone? And can I slow it down for just a little bit?!?  I love my boys and its a bittersweet feeling watching the grow up.  I remember when Caden was younger he promised me he would stay 4 forever.  I still bring this up to him seeing as he is now 9, and his response is quite literal, "mom, I can't not grow up". 

Yes, my boys can grow up, but please promise me not to grow up too fast!  I miss that Caden doesn't ask to snuggle at bedtime anymore and he is now putting himself to bed.  I know that this has to happen, but I feel like I could kiss him goodnight until he is 18 years old and I will as long as he will let me. 

It seems like just yesterday was Holden's 1st birthday, in which his favorite thing and word was 'ball'.  Now, he has many words and his favorite things are 'Caillou', 'Nemo', and balloons.  I miss when he would just willingly snuggle before nap-time and now its more of a game of  catch me if you can. 

And how can my baby boy be 2 months old!  It makes me tear up a little.  Although, I do enjoy the on-purpose smiles I get everyday.  I know that the newborn phase is slowly fading away and the newborn snuggles will turn into quick hugs as he wants to explore his environment and figure out the toys. 

There is a wonderful book by Karen Kingsbury titled, Let Me Hold You Longer, I cry every time I read the book.  It's a great book about a mom experiencing the 'lasts' of her child.  The last time he asked to snuggle, etc.  It makes you think a little bit about not rushing things and staying in the present.  Sometimes I have a difficult time with this, especially with Mr. Wonderful as two can be a challenging age and not to mention he is an active boy, that sometimes I want him to grow up to communicate better so there aren't as many frustrating moments.  But this book grounds me and brings me back.  Along with the song by Darius Rucker - You're gonna miss this. 

In these growing moments and days, I have to remember to stay in the present, because indeed I will miss this. 

I hope you all enjoyed your Fourth of July and the long weekend that followed!  We had a pretty low-key fourth as my hubby had to work the next day.  However, we had people over on the third and lit a few fireworks of our own.  On the actual 4th we spent the day at our in-laws pool and went home to grill for supper.  At about 10pm that night, I took Caden and we drove around the town to look for the best spot to watch fireworks.  We found a perfect spot in a school parking lot and got a great seat for a bug free fireworks show!

For the weekend after the 4th of July, we were headed off to my grandparents.  While packing my two older boys were downstairs playing and my oldest comes up saying, "Holden knocked my tooth out".  My thoughts were "yeah right"!  But then he convinced me and then my next though was, "oh my goodness, its probably an adult front tooth"  and panic ensued.  After realizing it was a baby tooth and giving Caden some ibuprofen for a headache Holden comes up the stairs without a diaper!  Then Caden runs down exclaiming "Holden peed on my bed"!  Oh my word!  I could only laugh.  It seemed like my near 2 year old was saying "take that!"

My grandparents live in a little town called New Effington and they were having their 100 year Centennial celebration the weekend of the 6th and 7th.  It was full of small town activities in which the entire weekend Friday-Sunday the whole main street was blocked off.  They had a children's run followed by a 5k, inflatables for the kids, souvenirs, dj's and a band playing both Friday and Saturday night. It was a great time and great to see family.  We had the opportunity to have a free babysitter both nights and what did we do?  We were in bed by 11:00 pm - that's right folks, we are getting old.  My own grandmother stayed up later!  This having an 8 week old baby and having a near 2 year old is really making me want to sleep when I can get it!

Things I've Learned While Having 3 Boys

1. I will always hear 'My Three Sons', as I understand, this is a television show from the 60's.  I have not seen this, however, now I'm a little curious.  I think its a good thing. I'm going to watch the first episode My Three Sons - Episode 1

2.  People will forever be asking if we are going to try for a girl.  Or I will always hear comments about having boys, such as: "wow, you're busy" or "wow, three boys!"  Yes, I have three boys.  Yes, I am busy.  Yes, I LOVE it!

3.  Until my boys are out of the house, farts will be funny, there will be dirt, a lot of it, and messy faces.  There will be cars and Legos scattered around the house.  And until they are moved out, the bathroom will also will be a mess.

4. I will no longer enjoy wearing white for the fear of dirt and messy faces getting on the white attire.  Actually, I did wear a white top the other day for church when I knew everyone was clean.  And as soon as we came home the shirt was off and changed into another one for fear of getting a stain.  I have come to terms with this as well. 

5.  I am learning that we may need two fridges when the kids are teenagers.  Heck!  I think we might need two refrigerators now!  They will eat us out of house and home!

Wow, this week has flown by!

Wow, this week has flown by!  Tuesday was haircut day for the two older boys. Caden complained the entire time, if he could have it his way his hair would be down to his shoulders.  Strange, for a 9 year old boy, but I think it has more to do with the fact that once his grandpa told him that his ears could get cut off while getting a haircut.  This child is very literal so ever since he has not enjoyed getting his hair cut.  But it was time!  Holden's haircut went surprising well even though he had to sit on my lap the entire time and watch PBS videos on my phone and have M & M's during the haircut.  And Sweet baby Camden slept through all the complaints and commotion - thank goodness!

Wednesday, I had a doctor appointment so the boys got to hang out with their uncle for a few hours.  The boys seemed to enjoy themselves and were full of hot dogs when I retrieved them :)  Holden actually napped during the afternoon as well which allowed me to get a few things done and take a quick snooze myself.  I don't think I've "slept when baby sleeps" since my husband was home with us after Camden was born.  That has been 4 weeks my friends of no naps for me during the day.

Today, I had very good intentions of taking a walk with the boys and walking to the park, but my tired and sluggish body just wasn't getting there.  Camden, Holden, and I woke up at nearly 9 am, this was a great change from our normal 6-7 am.  Instead we chased each other around the house after breakfast.  And then I had such a great idea to finger paint. Except it was less finger painting and more eating finger paint.  If someone else has a near 2 year old and still puts everything in his or her mouth please let me know I'm not alone.  For now, I'm convinced its just a boy thing.  He must taste everything - good thing this was home made edible finger paint.  The afternoon consisted of hanging out in the backyard by the pool, while Camden napped.  This resulted in me having a bucket of water poured directly on my lap.  BRRRR, I had only filled the pool a few hours earlier.  Ahhh BOYS, they are so much fun and keep me on my toes!

Hello from a noisy house

Good afternoon!  As I sit here writing on a blog about a noisy house and my adventures with boys, it is actually quiet for once.  I better relish this as it does not happen often.  My oldest, Mr. Phenomenal is 9 years old and is down in his room playing with Legos.  My middle child, Mr. Wonderful, will be terrific 2 next month, is supposed to be napping, but I do hear him playing whining in his room.  And my sweet 6 week old is napping happily on my chest.  The dogs are brought in from outside as it rained this morning, you'll hear much more of them later. And my sweet hubby is away at work. 

I'll let you in on the adventures in a few moments or so when chaos ensues.