Living in the Moment

Yes! That Kind of Woman

2012-02-10T04:44:00.000-08:00

A very dear friend sent me the following picture this morning. I was glad I got it while I was still in the car because I broke into this weird mix of sobbing and laughing at the same time. I simply love this picture and the image that it brings to my mind. This friend and I have said to each other on more than 1 occasion "Ok, let's ruin Satan's day today!"

Butterfly Cupcakes

2012-02-08T15:10:00.000-08:00

So a certain Beauty that I know is turning 4 today. More on that later. :) I decided to tackle a little challenge in the form of these butterfly cupcakes. I kind of wanted to do a trial run for her party that we are throwing for her in March. I have to say that these turned out better than I thought. They were easy but took a little time. Now that I can handle. :) I got the inspiration from Annies Eats website and I got the butterfly template from the Eaternal Bliss website.

We had a little Birthday practice. I have lit a birthday candle no less than 10 times today. :)

Heart 2 Heart Shirts

2012-02-08T14:59:00.000-08:00

So it's no secret that I love making stuff for my kids. Sometimes they love it and sometimes they look at me like I'm crazy. Nevertheless I press on. I think it's safe to say that these Valentine's shirts were a hit. Kate's was easy enough because there are beaucoup ideas on all blogs for girls. I made her a heart doily shirt. Basically just plopped a doily on a pink shirt and painted over it with acrylic paint. Peeled the doily off and voila! Instant Valentines!

Ideas for Carson's shirt were not so easy but I totally hit the jack pot when my very crafty sister in law sent me this link for this CAR LOVE SHIRT . The minute Carson saw it he was going bananas! Asking me if it was done every 2 seconds. I was trying to cut out the little stencils and he was jumping all over me. Here it is when the stencil is ironed on.

And the finished product. Carson wore this shirt TWO days in a row. When he wanted to wear it a 3rd day in a row we had a little disagreement. We compromised with a belly baring 2 sizes too small Buzz light year pajama shirt. But at least he wasn't wearing a dirty shirt 3 days in a row right? The only reason why I got a picture of it was because I promised to wash it today so he could wear it tomorrow. Oh dear!

I just brushed over the stencil with red acrylic paint. So fun to make and even better to see him wear the heck out of this shirt. the boy loves cars, trucks, buses etc:)

Two Three Year Olds

2012-02-04T19:03:00.000-08:00

Yes, I have TWO 3 year olds running around my house right now. It's that magical 10 days out of the year where my kids are the same age. I think it's hilarious.

Just to let you know that until I happened to get that first picture THIS was the best of the bunch. Aren't you glad I got that first picture? Yep TWO 3 year olds for sure!

I Betcha Can't Guess Whose Birthday Is Next?

2012-01-30T09:14:00.000-08:00

Yep, He's 3!

2012-01-30T09:06:00.000-08:00

I knew I was in trouble when I started selecting photos for Carso's slideshow and I was up to 50 something and I was only in March. But I just couldn't get over how much he had changed from looking like a baby to looking like a big boy! So many special pictures in here and I have already cried many tears over this little look back at his year. So precious for so many reasons.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Party Boy

2012-01-29T18:38:00.000-08:00

The Monter Twuck cake. Carson talked about it for weeks!

He watched me make the entire thing.

So much fun to make.

This is his version of a smile right now. Don't ask me!

How many monster trucks can one little boy carry? The answer is 5

A cousin hug!

Nena bought Kate this little cow creation.

The birthday boy almost packed it in when he thought that people were trying to take his monster trucks. We;ve got a ways to go in the sharing lesson.

Hot Wheels! What a surprise!

We were singing Happy Birthday to him. No really he's happy. Everyone was laughing so hard at him. Cause they know him:)

See? He's happy!

No really.

Sister trying to help where help is not needed.

Do I even need a caption here? Carson is saying "It not your cake Kate. It Carson's monster truck cake! !"

Are you seeing this? 2 years later I finally get my "smash cake" picture.:)

I love this boy!

Flash forward 5 hours later. I am laser focused on this post. Getting all the pictures together. I am aware that Carson has gone downstairs to get some more monster trucks. I am also aware that he has come up and started talking to me. I am answering his questions, carrying on a conversation with him about the day. All the while I have my head down focused on this post. And when I look up, this is what I see............................................... Apparently he had not had his fill of Birthday cake!

Before the Party

2012-01-29T18:12:00.000-08:00

It's confirmed. He licks the creams out of the oreo and sticks it back in the package. I learned this the hard way. Nobody taught him this, it's pure oreo instinct.

Love this picture, but brotherly and sisterly love were in short supply that day. It was literally fighting one minute and smiles and playing the next.

Just wanted to capture Carso's reaction when he saw his Monster Truck Cake.

Caught ya! He couldn't keep his hands off this cake. I had to move it far away!

His "3" shirt. Had to add the race car on there. I was going to put it on the back, but what fun is that?

He woke up this morning and put his "3" shirt and played with his cars and watched Cars Toot (Cars 2)

Before the party. Smiles with Daddy

It was a monster truck/hot wheels party.

Of course I had to take some family pics. :)

And we got in a little tee ball time before the guests arrived

Seriously Kate has a solid swing. Then she throws down the bat like she's got a score to settle. Don't get behind her. :)

He loved running the bases!

She went right from her tee ball game to put the baby down for a nap. Verstile girl!

Bumbo Redo

2012-01-29T17:45:00.000-08:00

The other day I was getting some stuff ready to donate to charity. Kate immediately plopped herself down into her old Bumbo seat. Is it me or does she fit better in this seat than she did when she was 6 months old??? It's crazy. I can remember squeezing her fat little legs into that seat. Now? A perfect fit.

Criss Cross Applesauce

2012-01-29T17:42:00.000-08:00

We had just put this puzzle together side by side. I have to say it took me WAY longer than it should have! He helped me out on a lot of the pieces. :) The point is I love when he sits criss cross. His little short legs barely hold on. I love it because sometimes he has to guide those short little legs into position with his hands. It a cute little sight. Yep he turned 3 today and 2T pants fit him perfectly:)

Family Pics

2012-01-14T14:09:00.000-08:00

Need a Make Up Artist?

2012-01-08T15:02:00.000-08:00

Kate is currently taking reservations for prom and spring weddings. I do have to warn you that she goes a little heavy on the lip stick.

Spiderman and Tinkerbell Chaos

2012-01-08T15:01:00.000-08:00

The other night the kids put on their spiderman and tinkerbell costumes and ran rampant through out our house! I think they ran about 100 times around the living room.

Shooting his spider web

Loving that mask

Tinkerbell "flying"

"Mommy I need to run!"

Yup! That 3 headbands in her hair

Running!

Now that's something you don't see everyday, spiderman with purple earrings!

Olivia, smartly sleeping under the chair.

Loving our Livie

2012-01-08T14:51:00.000-08:00

Olivia

2012-01-04T19:45:00.000-08:00

It has been 3 years since we had a dog. 3 years since we said good bye to my beloved Macy. It was time to love another dog again. :) We have owned Macy a lab chow and Hope, a pit bull,so this time we decided to go to the complete other side of the spectrum. Meet Olivia! She is a tea cup Yorkie. She will never be more than 4 lbs. She sheds very little, is portable and as far we can tell VERY low key. The only thing she has done since we've had her is SLEEP. The kids are over the moon! Here are some pics of our newest family member. By the way, we named her Olivia but its not for lack of trying to get name ideas from the kids. Carson suggested Black and White and Presents. So we turned to Kate who suggested Mary. Which is fine but I didn't want my Mom to take offense. So I came up with Olivia. Although Kate keeps saying "Hey where's Mary?"

Flexible Sleep

2012-01-04T19:32:00.000-08:00

Carson has learned the fine art of falling asleep anywhere and in any position:)

How Old?

2012-01-04T19:26:00.000-08:00

Hey Carso, how old will you be this month?

And what about you Kate?

Pictures Before the Pictures

2012-01-04T19:21:00.000-08:00

We had professional pictures taken last Saturday and I happened to snap a few before, during and after.:) Big surprise, I know. I just couldn't resist. I will be posting the pro ones soon, but until then..........

She loves to twirl in her dresses.

Still twirling:)

I really thought Carson saved all of his smiles for his car seat. He seemed like he was doing the classic pouty thing during our photo session. But when I looked at our pro pics I saw that she was able to catch many smiles.

Kate says........

2012-01-04T18:55:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!!!!!!! Hello 2012!!!

Christmas Morning

2012-01-04T18:54:00.000-08:00

Here are some highlights from our Christmas morning. I knew that my kids really didn't understand the whole Santa thing when they were content to lay in their beds until 9 and then wanted to play upstairs for awhile before they went downstairs. Talk about anti climatic! But boy did they have fun when they finally got downstairs:)

The first look

I bought them trikes because they fight over this one Barbie trike that Kate got on 2 years ago. But guess which one Carson wants to ride? I'll give you a hint, its not the Thomas trike.

It's the Dora trike. :)

Kate's little friend. She named her after her cousin Marin:)

What could bring such a smile? The Cars movie of course!

Tearing into the gifts.

Her fairy costume. I bought a little trunk of dress up clothes to build that imagination.

he's a natural!

I bought an activity box full of crayons, markers, water colors, and clay.

This is part of his Cars race track. This is an amazing toy which has since produced countless hours of fun. Both kids love it! Good job Santa!

My Mom gave the kids this play kitchen. It's a big hit! Carso made us a 4 course meal the other day. Very cute!

Surrounded by Toys

I thought this would be the coolest gift. He loves Spiderman. But dressing up like Spiderman? I guess not so much:)

But someone else loved it! She is shooting her spiderweb at me. Yep that's a cherry sucker around her mouth.

Thomas legos with Daddy:)

Every time I pick up the kids they are playing with these Magna Tiles. A little pricey but well worth it.

Well Poop!

2011-12-28T20:08:00.000-08:00

If you've ever had kids you probably have some good poop stories in your Parental Story library. I always laugh at seeing sqeamish parents who gingerly change those first poopy diapers of their new borns. With in weeks they are old pros and probably have a story...or three about poop. Funny kid stories and poop seem to go hand in hand. Tonight as I was putting the kids in the bath tub I proclaimed our two bathtub rules once again # 1. The water stays IN the bath tub and #2. No pooping in the water. Funny that that is rule #2. Get it? Ok well that rule was made for a definite reason as that has happened more times than I care to share. ANYWAY I went in there to check on my crew and they were playing nicely but I smelled poop. I didn't really think anything of it because #1 i've pretty much been smelling poop for the last 4 years (even when there is no poop around) and #2 I didn't see any in the usual place (the water). The 2nd time I went to check on them it was undeniable. I said "man it smells like poop in here!" and that's when Carson piped up "Look Mommy, there's poop!" And there it was. Sitting there in a nice neat pile on the shelf by the tub. Once again I asked the question, "Who's poop is that?" Carson immediately fessed up. I have to give him credit even though I don't even want to think about how he accomplished it, but he was definitely trying to follow rule #2.

These pictures have nothing to do with poop (thank goodness right?) but i am firm believer that any blog post is better with pictures:)

The scene I walked in on the other day. School was in session as teach was in the chair and Carson was dutifully sitting on his designated pillow. Ha! It does do my reader heart good to see them reading books.

I guess Kate believes in the teach yourself while I read this book by myself method.

New Dora slippers from Aunt Stacey, Uncle Burke and Marin.

So cute. I knew they would want to wear them everywhere. And they did. Everywhere.

Reindeer Shirts

2011-12-24T08:44:00.000-08:00

My latest Christmas creation. I got this idea for these reindeer shirts from Noodles and Milk

Reindeer Games

2011-12-24T08:39:00.000-08:00

Game #1Who's Your Taco?

This is a game the kids invented one day. They fold their pillows in half and chase each other around the house shouting "Who's your taco?!!!?!?!" I have no explanation for it but I DO love seeing their imaginations at work and hearing their giggles:)

Who's your taco?!?!!?!

Game #2 How many times can Kate look away from the camera??

#1 But isn't she beautiful? Wearing her grown up outfit.

#2 but I love this Mommy and Me shot:)

#3 She loves her Daddy.

Game #3 Talk on and on about how much you want to see Santa all week, and then step one foot in line and bail out leaving your brother stranded on Santa's lap.

Funny part about this picture is that he wasn't too happy but when I went to lift him off poor Santa's lap he didn't want to leave!

Game #4 Bucket Heads. This is one of their favorites lately. Easter baskets on head and chase each other around. Lifting up occasionally to make sure they aren't running into anything. Although that happens to....A LOT!

He's destined for greatness with that bucket on his head.

The meeting of the minds/bucket heads.

Game #5 Pretty Pretty Princess AKA accessorizing your brother for pictures to be used at a later date

Christmas Tree Deco by Kate and Carso

2011-12-09T19:07:00.000-08:00

I had the day off today so i decided to Christmas up the place

Buddy found his way to the tree which is a good thing because I had been running out of high places to prop him. I mean, last night I put him on the box fan. The kids were not impressed.

So I clicked the Christmas tree together (still a little jaded by the artificial tree) before the kids got home from school. When they walked in they had a Christmas Tree surprise.

Kate went right to work. Didn't even take off her jacket. She hung those ornaments like a pro. Like she had done it all her life.

Carson to. Although I will say that he was still wanting to throw the ornament balls much like his first Christmas when he was 10 months old. Something never change...so glad!

Ahem! This is what happens when a 3 year old decorates your tree. You get 5 ornaments on one branch. My coworker told a story this week of how she would let her son decorate the whole tree and then rearrange it to her liking when he went to bed. He didn't catch on until he was 12! Well I'm telling you this, those 5 ornaments are staying. I'm too tired and frankly way too type B (the opposite of type A?) to mess with a kid decorated tree.

Oh he's still my baby. I love this shot.

Oh and this one to.

And can I just reminesce? This was Carson one year ago! Notice the no pants in 2010 and no shirt in 2011. But look how he's grown in one year!

My precious ones.

A look back.......Be still my heart. :)

What a Week End!

2011-11-27T19:58:00.000-08:00

Word to the Wise. Do NOT try to make Cinnamon Rolls with out Cinnamon. It's not the same.

But DO buy this Williams Sonoma cook book if you can. I made 3 recipes out of it this week end. ~~Cinnamon~~ Nutmeg Rolls, homemade strawberry pop tarts, and.......you'll see. :)

The many moods of my son in (I promise you) the space on ONE minute. First up, Mad Carson.

Content Carson

Extremely Happy Carson

This is Kitty Kat Kate. Kate's favorite thing to be when she is make believing. Here she is giving me her best meow!!

Lately, Carson has taken to drinking out of a coffee cup. It's quite cute.

And he knows it.

We got a new friend this week end. He's our Elf on the Shelf', Buddy. It's been so cute to see the kids looking for him in the morning and then saying "There he is, there's Buddy!" I thought they would have a big problem with the #1 Buddy Rule:You can't touch Buddy. Amazingly Carson has really taken to it. Telling Kate over and OVER "You can't touch Buddy Kate. That's the rules!"

Monster Truck tattoos. :)

Twin Beanie Heads!

Not many people know this, but there is a monster living at out house. he wears a stylish dish cloth mask and rides a pink motorcycle. He likes to follow me around when I'm cooking or when I'm trying to get something done really quick.

I made this delicious and scrumptious yet very ugly looking Carrot Cake this week end. Just for me. Homemade everything. Yum! I plan to have a slice everyday. Tis the season...for getting fat!

I'm in training for quilt making. I made this mini quilt last night. See how those corners match up and come together evenly? That's happiness in the quilting world.

Quilting makes me happy and turns out to be quite therapuetic.

Ordered this amazing gorgeous fabric this week end. Can't wait to get started!!!

I used this power tool a lot this week end on a VERY BIG home improvement project I am working on. I am loving it and hating it all at the same time. Me with a power tool? Who would have thought? Definitely to be continued.......

Who Wants Free Cash???

2011-11-25T20:26:00.000-08:00

So I have been on this kick lately of earning cash back on everything I buy. I ditched Bank of America and signed up with Perkstreet . I earn 2% cash back on everything I buy and (very important here )it is NOT a credit card. 2% cash back on a Debit Card!! Woohoo!! I earn cash back on purchases plus the bills I pay online. I have been with them a month and have already earned $35 cash back and counting. :)

The second way to earn cash back I wish I had found out about sooner.As in before I finished my Christmas Shopping. Ebates.com is simply amazing. You get cash back for shopping online at every store. Tonight I made a purchase at one of my favorite stores Sephora (an early Birthday gift:)) and earned 10% cash back and then if you add in my 2% I am already getting back from my bank account at Perkstreet that's a total of 12% cash back!!!! It's totally free and I figure why not earn cash back for things you were going to buy anyway! Click Here to Start earning cash back:)

The Product That Changed My Life.....I Mean Stairs

2011-11-22T19:23:00.000-08:00

Our house has it's own little quirks like any house. But the one I could not understand from the day we moved in was the different color wood on our stairs. We have dark mahogany cabinets in our kitchen but this blondish looking wood for our stair rail. I remember asking the builder about it and he kind of shrugged at me as if to say "look lady we're not changing it. Do you guys want to buy the house or not." Well, ever since then I have wanted to stain the stair rail dark to match our cabinets but I was always advised I would have to sand first and then stain.Yuck! And then I discovered Polyshades. :) It's a stainer and top coat all in one. It allows you to stain wood over your existing finish. NO sanding required. I was a tad skeptical but even though I am cautious in almost every other area in my life I am a rebel when it comes to DIY. I will try almost anything. So i went to town. No testing a inconspicuous spot first. I went full boar head on into it and I'm so glad I did. What I got was a complete transformation. Blonde wood to a rich dark shiny mahogany finish. See for yourself.

Before: Boring Blonde

After: Rich vibrant mahogany in 2 hours

I'm Thankful for Turkey Pops

2011-11-20T20:46:00.000-08:00

I am so bummed this year because the kids school does not allow homemade treats to be brought in for parties. Poo on them I say! So this year my creative efforts will be enjoyed (hopefully) by my wonderful coworkers. These people are so much fun to work with and are a big reason why I never get the Sunday night blues. They are so hilarious and we have a lot of fun at work. Which is nice, because I spend the majority of my day with them. So it is only fitting to give these to them. I really am thankful for them. Although I do expect some of them to say "Betsy what the $%^$ are these?" Yes some of them curse like sailors, but believe me their hearts are big and are made of gold.

On a total side note from Turkey Pops, tonight Kate was singing a song that we hear a lot on this CD that I play ( I love Gateway's God Be Praised Worship CD). The real words are "Praise Him! Praise Him! Let all the people praise Him." But Kate sang"Taze Him! Taze Him!" I can't help but think of an episode of Cops. Anyway, she cannot be convinced otherwise so if you hear her singing just know that we are not teaching Kate to "Taze" God. And now for the pics.........

I assembled the faces before I dipped the pops. That's an orange M&M, a yellow starburst rolled out and cut into little triangles for the beak (thank you leftover Halloween candy! I only used one for all of the pops) and edible ink for the eyes.

These were probably the easiest pops I've made yet.

Gobble! Gobble!

Peace out Turkey!

Mimi and Kate

2011-11-20T20:30:00.000-08:00

My Mom lives far away and we don't get to see her that often. So it makes capturing moments like these between her and my favorite girl priceless! When they get together they are like peas and carrots. :)

My Favorite

Turkey Shirts.....Gobble Gobble!

2011-11-19T14:01:00.000-08:00

Ever since I saw the Turkey Shirt Tutorial over at the Cottage Home web site, I knew I just had to make them for my little turkeys. :) I loved everything about this project. From using all of my beautiful scraps, sewing on the turkey applique (I'm slightly obsessed with applique recently) to hiding Thomas the Train amongst all of the feathers. I even did a little bit of embroidery to make the faces. I think I've had this project rolling around in my head for awhile and finally made them last week. Just in time for Turkey day. :)

Do you see him? It took Carson forever to find him.

A Blanket for Hollis

2011-11-09T20:01:00.000-08:00

My brother Burke and his amazing wife Stacey are having their 2nd girl in February. Her name will be Hollis Adelaide. I love that name! I decided to make her a little blanket early this time. For her big sis Marin I didn't have her blanket finished until she was about 6 months old! I didn't have as much time with Hollis' blanket as I did with Marin's but I still wanted to do something special for her. Her cousin Kate actually picked out this fabric. It was just this fabric laid over some minky dot fabric and then I bound it around the edges and corners with some blanket binding. With every project I do I try to learn something new. This time I learned how to do a properly mitered corner (as opposed to awkwardly shoving the binding around the corner:))

I loved the fabric on this blanket so much I thought about keeping it. But then I realized that nobody in our house had a name that starts with "H" Just kidding. This blanket was meant for Hollis.

My properly mitered corner. Yes, i am a sewing nerd.

Sister and Brother

2011-11-09T18:58:00.001-08:00

I caught this one right before we went to bed the other night.

Week end Projects

2011-11-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

Here are some things that the kids and I enjoyed doing this week end. So simple and fun!

A little pumpkin redo. Kate spotted these Dora and Diego stickers for $1.00 at the Dollar Tree and the pumpkins were embellished again.

What is Carson so curious about????

Bubble Magnets!!!! So simple and easy to make. The best part is that you can use all of the magazines that are coming in the mail at this time of the year for the images. I used images from the kids Wish book magazine from Target and since I will never be able to afford anything from Pottery Barn Kids I was glad that I could get some use out of their catalog!

Some of the kids favorites. There's Elmo, Buzz, Spiderman, Lightening McQueen and Elmo in there. All you need is Mod Podge, Crazy glue, Glass rocks, and magnets. I learned how to make these bubble magnets HERE

My personal favorite. :)

These are strips from a jelly roll. It is a form of precut fabric strips. It will eventually turn into a Jelly Roll Floor Pillow and I am so excited about it. It will take some work but it will be done. I just love all of the different fabric that I get to use.

This is my beginning. I love it so far!

Play Doh project for the kids.

As always with carso it has to involve cars in one way or another.

These are my future projects.
http://thecottagehome.blogspot.com/2010/11/gobble-gobble-turkey-shirt-tutorial.html

and

http://www.modabakeshop.com/2010/11/just-growing-quilt.html#more

I day dream about making this quilt. And with 3 close friends pregnant and due with in a month of each other I just might get to make it. :)

Happy Howloween 2011

2011-11-02T18:01:00.000-07:00

If you love my kids AND pumpkins you're gonna love these next set of pictures.

And now introducing Carson as Diego!!! I sewed this Diego Rescue vest for him and it only took me 2 Spiderman episodes.....I mean 40 minutes to make it. :)

A close up. I tell you there is nothing better than showing this vest to Carson and his face lighting up saying "Mommy! You made me a Biego vest!!! My Biego vest!!!!!!"

I loved this project. I had to bring some treats to the kids' school and it had to be store bought. I was in a pinch until I found this creative idea from the Disney Family magazine. Store bought and it satisfied my need to be creative. I was up until midnight making 40 of these little critters....I was in heaven!

Who knew pipe cleaners, googly eyes, and a tootsie pop could turn into a spider

Biego spiky hair courtesy of Daddy!

And Miss Dora.

Grumpy Biego

Next year I promised Kate she could be a princess.:)

PUNKin Patch

2011-10-29T14:04:00.000-07:00

I had to emphasize the punk because of a certain 3 year old's behavior. BUT we love her no matter what. Even though she gave me the dirtiest look I've ever been given when I asked her to hug her pumpkin for the picture. Even though she refused to sit on the bale of hay for a pic with her bro. Carso was in fine form even though I was laughing so hard when he insisted on riding in the tractor and then looked like he was forced to do it. You'll see......

Believe me when I tell you that this was the best one by far.

Getting a high five from Carso

The cutest Pumpkin Picker ever

Carson hugged his pumpkin Kate! What a good boy!

Carson and Daddy picking one out for Kate since she was preoccupied.

The tractor ride. This was all he could talk about since we pulled into the farm. Kate however said right away " I DO NOT want to ride in the tractor!" And then proceeded to look behind her shoulder watching for the tractor. I guess to make sure it didn't sneak up on her????

I promise we did not force him to do this. Daddy told him to hold on with that hand and he never let go.

he loved it!

No really. He had a blast.

Yes I asked her to do this. One day......

This is what cropping was made for. Crop out the pouting child while keeping the happy child in the picture.

Once again, the genius of cropping.

Sweet girl. She perked up at the end....of course.

This is what happens when you ask Carson to smile these days.

And this is what happens when you ask him to close his eyes.:)

So happy with his pumpkin pick.

Kate said "Look Carso you have a hat on!"

Two Monkeys, Monkeying Around

2011-10-29T13:40:00.001-07:00

Wrestlemania

2011-10-29T13:38:00.000-07:00

Soccer Anyone???

2011-10-29T13:34:00.000-07:00

He's got a future with soccer I can tell.....

He's more coordinated than any 2 year old I've ever seen....

But I digress....

She's Growing Up So Fast!

2011-10-29T13:29:00.000-07:00

So excited to take a picture, as always.

She loves to spin around when she's wearing her dresses.

She looks like she could be.......FOUR!

Beautiful face!

Catching Up With Pictures

2011-10-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

Homemade marshmellows. Only slightly better than homemade gumdrops.

That was a basketful let me tell ya!

Carson had NINE pairs of "underwears" on in this picture. Believe me, he needed every single pair.

Potty training. And that's all I have to say about that.

We've been growing Kate's bangs out. Sometimes she leaves her clip in and sometimes she doesn't which produces the "sheepdog" look.

She looks like she's doing a commercial for syrup.

I caught this ladylike pose the other night. Too cute!

I bet.......

you can't guess......

what Kate and Carso are going to be......

For Halloween!!!

My Friend Sharon

2011-10-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

I am so blessed to know her. I am so blessed to be a tiny part of her life. I am so blessed that she was my friend. She went to experience her lifelong love with Jesus in person last Tuesday. And I miss her. I miss our text conversations. Early in the morning (please don't text me if you are driving she would say),late at night (God will get us through this night Betsy.) She was so precious to me. I have seen her 3 times since cancer invaded her life again this past February but I feel like we had the richest relationship. She had that amazing gift that very few people have. The ability to make you feel like the most important person in the whole world. When you talked to her, you were her focus. She wasn't looking over your shoulder for the next person to talk to. She really wanted to know what was on your heart. She valued people. She valued me. I remember the night I took her dinner back in the spring. I poured out my heart about my struggle with being a working mom. She told me that God would redeem my lost time with my kids. I think about that everytime a week end rolls around and how much He fills those 2 days with precious moments and seems to make the time stretch out as a gift just for us. The second time I saw her I went to her house for one of the visitation days she hosted. I sat down and just watched her minister to everyone around her. Requesting prayer for a young woman there. Telling everyone how blessed she was. How loved she felt. The third time I saw her was for a Birthday party. She wanted to know about me. She didn't feel good but she asked me to come sit and talk with her. And then the next day a text telling me how she was specifically praying for me. I miss her texts. I wish I had saved them all. A week before she died I texted her "How can I pray for you right now?" She texted me back, "Pray we do this the way God wants us to do it. Just be in total submission to His plan for our lives." That was the last text I received from her and you better believe I saved that one. It encompassed everything Sharon stood for. The day she died I told my coworker about her and she thought she was the most amazing lady. I told my friend how much Sharon loved God and how even though she was not getting the answers she wanted she still loved God and trusted Him. As I walked away from the conversation I thought "She is still ministering to people. God is still using her in mighty ways and will continue to use her." Sharon has created a legacy of loving people and most of all loving God. It will live on for many generations in her family. The last time I saw her she gave me the biggest hug. I cherish that night and will always remember her smile and her all surrounding love. I love her and miss her. Because I knew her, I love God even more. I have a feeling she would have loved to hear that. I can just see her smile.

My Hope is in You

2011-10-15T13:49:00.001-07:00

Jesus Calling

2011-10-09T08:36:00.000-07:00

October 9

You have been on a long, uphill journeyand your energy is almost spent. Thought you have faltered at times, you have not let go of My hand. I am pleased with your desire to stay close to Me. There is one thing however that displeases me:your tendency to complain.You may talk to Me as much as you like about the difficulty of the path we are following. I understand better than anyone else the stresses and strains that have afflicted you. You can ventilate safely to me, because talking with Me tempers your thoughts and helps you see things from My perspective.

Complaining to others is another matter altogether. It opens the door to deadly sins such as self pity and rage. Whenever you are tempted to grumble, come to Me and talk it out. As you open up to Me, I will put My thoughts in your mind and My song in your heart.

Because I don't want to forget

2011-10-08T08:23:00.000-07:00

1. This morning Kate and I were comfy cozy under the blankets and I told her "I wait all week so that I can cuddle with you in bed." And she said, "me to Mommy. Me to."
2. Carso says as I'm leaving his room for the night "i lub you Mommy."
3. I've learned that the kids play better when I'm not in the room supervising. Right now I hear a game that involves monsters and school
4. This morning when Kate saw her brother she said "Carso give me a kiss!" And he did!
5. Carso called out to me after putting him to bed the other night "Mommy! Wock me like a baby!" So glad we haven't sold that rocking chair yet. My 2 year old baby still needs some "wockin'"
6. Carso wants me to sing songs to him at night. after our usual "beautiful boy" which he sings with me word for word. He tilts his head back and looks right at me and says "What about..........yettiday (yesterday)" He's a true Beatle fan:) And I love how he says it like it's a brand new song that we've never sung together instead of one we've sung hundreds of times.
7. Both kids are into being held lately. As in "Mommy I want to hold you." So even though they each weigh 30 lbs (exactly the same!) I will pick them up and say "no! i want to hold you!" Because I know pretty soon I will be trying to hug them and they will try to squirm away.
8. This morning Carso and I made pancakes. just us two.
9. When our kids don't want something instead of saying "I don't want it." they say "i can't want it."

How Will They Know?

2011-10-06T14:32:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday night we were in down town Fort Worth just enjoying a Friday night and cooler weather. Listening to a live band on an outdoor patio. As the night went on there was a group of men that showed up with huge banners. They stood on the sidewalk facing everyone on the patio. Not a friendly face in the bunch. They were carrying Bibles and their signs read things like "Jesus Hates Sin" "There's no party in Hell" Your basic hell fire and damnation words that are condemning to all people. I could not stop looking at them. I locked eyes with one of the guys and he had this look of hate in his eyes. I thought to myself "this is so wrong guys. You're missing the point." By this time people were treating it like a freak show and the police were asking the men to move back to the curb. People were taking pictures with them like tourists. I could tell people thought this was a huge joke. I don't claim to know what God is thinking but I can't help but think He was so sad to see this play out. That this is not the message that He wants to send to lost people.
I just kept thinking about the message that God really wants to send and I kept getting this very strong feeling to go and talk to them. Before in the past I would think about what I would say but not follow through but suddenly I stood up and started walking towards them. I thought maybe these guys weren't as menacing as they looked and we could have a good conversation from one Christian to another. At first I asked "What church are you guys a part of?" He didn't answer just showed me a little flyer that basically read all sinners go to hell. I said "I really wished you guys would have signs that said how much God loved these people and talked about God's heart for them." I said "You guys aren't going to win people over with these kinds of signs. People need to hear that God loves them. They don't need to be judged and condemned." He looked at me and said " That's not what people need to hear. You are a hypocrite. You are right in this with them. You are the reason why I never became a Christian." Ok! So much for talking Christian to Christian.He said "People know that God loves them. I'll prove it" Then he pulled one of the guys that was actually in the band over and said "Do you know God loves you?" The guy looked at him and said "Well I certainly hope so!" "See?" he said. I wanted to tell this guy "I didn't mean "God loves you and so" do I triteness with the little yellow sticker. I was talking about love, the heart of a Father. But I could tell this guy was not going to see anyone's side. I said "If you really did care about these people and were concerned for them and they salvation you wouldn't display signs like this and you wouldn't have this attitude towards me." It became very clear what his mission was. He was there to incite people. they succeeded on many levels as one young guy got in his face as he was walking by shouting at him. Definitely not a way to win lost souls. As I walked away my knees were shaking. Not because of fear, but because I could just feel the sadness coming off of this guy. I felt so sad for him.

It made me sad to think that these guys are out here every week end and are the only reference to God that some people see all week. Sad sad sad. I know that the majority of people saw them as a joke, but some people were probably thinking "yep that's what I thought God was like. Judging, willing to throw me into hell when I mess up. Condemnation." What a difference it would have made if their signs read "God loves you. God cares for you. Come and let me tell you how He loves you!" i just can't help but think that God was shaking his head and saying "No! Tell them about me. Tell them that I love them and that I pursue them with the heart of a Father. Tell them that my love has no limits. Tell them that I love them so much that I sacrificed my Son for them. That I watched him go through so much pain and suffering so that they could be free. Tell them about that Love!"

I just keep thinking about a quote by Ghandi that I heard in church a month ago "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." We have to do better! We have to do better about telling people about God's love for them and His heart for them. How will they know if we don't tell them?

John 17:26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

My Boy

2011-10-02T15:48:00.000-07:00

A Whole Lotta Stuff

2011-10-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

I remember as kid every day after my Dad came in from work he would change clothes before he came down for dinner. Kate has the same ritual except after she comes home from a hard day at school instead of jeans and a t shirt she ops for plaid shorts and cowboy boots. Comfy clothes means different things to different people.

I tried to tell her that it was 90 degrees at 10:00 PM but this girl just knows she loves Dora.

I love gum drops. I tried to make homemade ones. Just let me say one word...Don't! Stick to the store bought ones with all of the un prounouncable (word?) ingredients. They are much better.

I recovered our kitchen chairs. They were white before. In our defense we covered them in white before we had kids. Now they are a beautiful show almost nothing brown.

I made quick and easy blankets for the kids. Just 1 1/4 of a print fabric and 1 1/4 yard of minky or other soft fabric and some store bought binding. Carso had to have a Thomas blanket. Black minky fabric on the back with red binding. I tried to start quilting it and then I remembered I have a full time job and love spending my time with my babies and not hunched over a sewing machine so a quick and easy blanket it was. He was just as happy and so was I. Jared said he cried and cried the next morning when the bad news was broken that he would not be taking it to school. I smiled when I heard that story.

Ok this is hard for me to admit. Kate loves cats. Not real live ones. Thank goodness. But she loves to pretend she is a cat. And on her favorite things worksheet at school she remarked that her favorite thing to do outside was "Play with my cats." Hmmmmmm.....Let's just say this is the closest Kate will get to having a cat wrapped around her. :)

Kitty Kat Kate Blanket

I'm really glad I went with pink minky dot instead of brown (she flipped over the pink!) and I love the torquoise binding.

Satisfied. And comfy cozy. This is the catch phrase at our house.

That's Kate's highest comfy cozy compliment. Thumb in mouth.

I had to catch this little popsicle toast they created one night.

Carson is in training for sugar cookie making for the holiday season.

This is What I Imagine Heaven Will Sound Like

2011-09-15T16:29:00.001-07:00

Nowhere Else I'd Rather Be

2011-09-12T19:43:00.000-07:00

I loved this week end. We had absolutely nothing to do so we just enjoyed each other all week end long. In fact on Saturday the car didn't leave the garage and we still did so much!

The week end started off with this suprising note from school. We will be pursuing this soon. I am declaring 2012 the year of NO Diapers!

Friday night started off with a little Fashion Show. This Silly Monkey shirt was right up Carso's alley. the minute he put it on he said "Oooh oohh Aahhh Aaahhh!!"

We call this the "Carson Pout"

See? That's for real.

And then seconds later.....

And then more seconds later. He's ever changing!

Love this outfit and she did to. Lately when I say "Kate you are beautiful." She says "i not beautiful. I Kate!"

So this was an on cue hug. We're getting closer!

Kate's favorite thing lately is to shut the door. And when I'm not around she slams the door teenager style.

I will never get over those blue eyes!

She was helping me make bread and I caught her singing for all she was worth.

I just had to do some crafts. Carso requested a Thomas pumpkin shirt and I had to deliver.

I of course had to make one for my girl

Carson has deemed this "My puzzle"

He's so good at it. I love to watch him search and then when the light goes on. I just love it.

I started this Bible study 6 weeks ago. Breaking Free with Beth Moore.

I could tell you that this was a truly sweet shot but I have to tell you the truth and say that she was pushing him out of the way to get by him. But I caught it a split second before the rudeness.

It's quite simple. I love this kid.

i love this common scene at our house.

We had popsicles tonight.

And fun with tape!

ABCs With a Big Finish

2011-09-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

He gets off track at the end and then makes up for it with a big finish!:)

Football Season

2011-09-10T10:49:00.000-07:00

My nephew Caden

Kate... You do not Own this Song

2011-09-09T17:40:00.000-07:00

It's Christmas in September!

2011-09-09T17:31:00.000-07:00

John Lennon We Aren't

2011-09-05T20:18:00.000-07:00

I thought this video was hilarious.And it was made even more hilarious as Carso kept hitting his penny on the little video camera I was using. He thought it was hilarious, and he thought it was a 1000 times more hilarious when I played it back for him tonight.He couldn't stop laughing that wonderful little deep belly laugh I love so much. Carson has heard the song "beautiful boy" by John Lennon since he was hours old. I have sung it to him quite frequently over his little life. Here is our own little rendition with my tribute to Yoko Ono (off key singing). Even Kate chimed in from behind the closed closet door "other plans!" when we needed help.

Father and Son

2011-09-05T08:52:00.000-07:00

Mr and Miss Personality

2011-09-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

Lollipop, Lollipop oooh lolli lolli lolli.......

2011-09-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

I haven't sewn in a LONG time but sometimes I see things on craft blogs that are too cute to pass up. This Lollipop shirt was one of those little creations I just had to try. :) Best of all it took me about 30 minutes from start to finish and I learned something new...a reverse applique. So easy and so fun. And all I needed was a scrap of fabric (Kate carefully picked it out:), a tshirt and some thread. She asked me over and over to sing the Lollipop song which I couldn't get out of my head until the end of the day. And when it came time to get dressed for church the next day. Kate asked, "Where's my lollipop shirt?" Just in case you want to make your own...........here is the Lollipop Tutorial. :)

Kicks

2011-09-05T08:31:00.000-07:00

Out of all of the pairs of shoes in the store, Carso picked these. No big surprise. "Beggo" shoes that light up!

Out of all the shoes in the store Miss Kate chose these. I was having coffee with a friend when Jared brought them to me. I saw these shoes from across the parking lot. I can't explain it, but these are just Kate right now.

I told Carso that he needed to show his shoes yesterday at church....His response?

"I need to stomp Mommy!!!"

A Father's Love

2011-09-03T16:38:00.000-07:00

I've read a book called The Help 2 times. I have a love for reading so it is not surprising that I've read it twice, but what surprises me is how much it gripped my heart. When I saw the movie a couple of weeks ago the beginning scene made me cry...hard. Who cries at the beginning of a movie? This movie was so wrapped up in human emotion that it just pierced my heart. The scene opens with the main character Aibeleen holding a little girl named Mae Mobley close to her and telling her "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." The thing is, Aibeleen is not Mae Mobley's Mom. Techinically in the book she is the "maid" but she turns out to be little Mae Mobley's link to unconditional love. Mae Mobley's real Mom is off somewhere else getting her hair done, or sewing something, or playing bridge with her friends I suppose. In fact through the whole book (and movie) she finds ways to avoid her daughter and avoids finding ways to love her. But then there is Aibeleen constantly filling the void by repeating to her, "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." It had me thinking, where would this little girl be with out these words being spoken to her? And although this is just a Hollywood movie and a fictional book it made me wonder how many precious babies grow up with out hearing those words "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." How Aibeleen showed that little girl love when noone else would.
I think of my own sweet babies and how much I love them. How much I enjoy telling them everyday "I love you sooooooo much" And yes I will tell them I still love you. Even when you hit me in the face (Carso), even when you say "Stop talking to me!"(Kate) even when you get so mad you throw yourself on the floor (Both) I still love you. But those are just baby things. Nothing compared to what other parents go through. Yes I will still love you when you reject me,when you say you hate me, when you run away, when you get lost in drugs and alcohol, when you find ways to fill a void that only God can fill.There it is. Did you wonder when I was going to talk about God? Everything that has preceded this sentence has been wrapped up in how much God loves us. And I beg his forgiveness by saying in all of my 36 years I have never really known and accepted how much He loves me. But I am starting to learn. Not that He is just starting to reveal His love to me. It has been there all along and He has wanted to show me all along. The real miracle is that I am accepting this gift. I am choosing to overcome my unbelief. Only God can show me true abiding love. Love that will change everything for me. Love that endures. He wants me to know that in the words of Beth Moore "Christ is never intimidated by the depth of our need or the demonstration of our weakness." His love and comfort is perfect for us. Why do I resist this gift that has been given to me? When everything that I have tried to fill the void in my life has failed me, I come crawling back to him and climb up into His arms and in His goodness and mercy He still loves me, He says "I've missed you" and "come and rest." I want to conclude this post with an excerpt from Beth Moore's Bible study Breaking Free. It is a personal message from the Father to us. As you read it replace my name with your name. I was overcome with emotion by how much He cares for me. How involved He is with my hurting and sadness. He has come to "bind up the brokenhearted." Do you belive it? I'm starting to....

My child Betsy, I loved you before you were born. I knit you in your mother's womb and knew what your first and last words would be. I knew every difficulty you would face Betsy. I suffered each one with you. Even the ones you didn't suffer with me. I had a plan for your life before you were born. The plan has not changed, Betsy, no matter what has happened or what you have done. You see I already knew all things concerning you before I formed you. Betsy I would never allow any hurt to come into your life that I could not use for eternity. Will you let me? Your truth is incomplete unless you view it against the backdrop of my truth. Betsy your story will forever remain incomplete...until you let Me do what only I can do with your hurt. Let Me perfect that which concerns you.

I remain,
Your Faithful Father

Proof that Carson Has a Sister

2011-08-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

She went a little crazy with the pink stamp....but he didn't seem to mind.

These Pictures Mean So Much

2011-08-27T15:17:00.000-07:00

Mimi and her grandchildren

Me and my bros. We are all in our 30s. Can't believe that.

We are never all in one place at the same time so to me, this picture is priceless.

Me and the blue sucker kids. The only thing that made them cooperate that day.

One word for these two........

TROUBLE!!!!

My Mom and her kids.

Me and my Mom

Priceless Pictures

2011-08-27T15:11:00.000-07:00

These are the pictures my sister in law took in Chicago. If not for her I would not have any since my camera battery died on the first day. ;( I love all of these pictures and I had a hard time choosing so there are A LOT! Siblings, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins it's all here in one big happy chaotic adventure. :)

Carso at the water park

Pushing with all her might

Carson's vacation pose

This girl is a Cubs fan and she doesn't even know it

At the Childrens museum they had real fire gear for the kids to dress up in.

Kate slid down the fire pole over and over again!

At the water area. This museum was so cool!

With Carson at the Dino dig

With my girl on the merry go round. She kept saying "I really like this SO much!"

Carso and Uncle Benj. Love this one

The Navy Pier Ferris Wheel

Carso on the swings with Auntie Kelly

These next pictures are hilarious to me. My sister in law and I have always felt that her son Piersen looks like Carson. Everytime either of us sees a picture of one of the boys we will always say that looks exactly like Piersen/Carson. The funny thing is when we get them together side by side they don't look that much alike! Either way I LOVE these next pictures of them. You could say Carso really took to Piersen!

Out of control Cuteness

Care did you tell Carson to smile like that??? :)

The two oldest cousins Caden (11) and Reece (8) became fast friends

My brother Brig riding the big ferris wheel with the boys

My Mom rode the ferris wheel with Reece. I couldn't believe her bravery. I think this pictures captures her feelings about it;)

Uncle Burke with Carson on the merry go round. Carson "kind of" liked it.

Mimi and Reece on the huge ferris wheel! She did it!

The incomparable Chase. I love this kid

Triumphant ferris wheel riders!

My beautiful sister in law Care and her youngest son Hudson

Marin and Kate. These two don't know it but they are going to get into some fun trouble together some day.

Piersen Benjamin

Hudson John

Kate Elizabeth

Saturday Morning Close Ups

2011-08-27T14:43:00.000-07:00

My favorite picture of me and Carson to date.

Cooking Class

2011-08-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you let Carson control the mixer speed

I'm Running to Your Arms

2011-08-22T17:44:00.000-07:00

Those were the words that woke me up this morning. This is the song those words are connected to. This was my song for this morning. Continuing to be amazed everyday.

I Will Not Fear

2011-08-22T17:08:00.000-07:00

Through this season of my life God continually puts songs on my heart and &in my head every single day. He never fails to do this. When I wake up, when I'm working, when I wake up in the middle of the night there is a song in my head. This song has been put on my heart more often than most.A beautiful illustration of God's promises! I will not fear the war, I will not fear the storm my help is on the way! My God will come through always!

Sunday Night

2011-08-14T17:57:00.000-07:00

I always say, Ain't nothin' classier than standin' around in your heels eatin' from a bag of chips! (With no pants of course!)

Cuteness Personified

2011-08-14T17:45:00.000-07:00

This is the same dress that sent Kate into an extreme fit just 3 months ago... Look Mimi she's wearing it!! And loving it by the way!

Just when I don't think he could get any cuter......

He takes this picture!! Aw shucks Mom!!

Kate Girl on a Sunday

2011-08-09T17:49:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Flowers, Two Monkeys, and a "Moomie" Star

2011-08-06T16:29:00.000-07:00

I have been into fresh flowers lately (meaning I've bought them twice in the last month). I especially love these kinds of flowers lately. The name escapes me....hydrangeas?? Maybe. Anyhow they're beautiful to me.

At night before they go to bed I let the kids jump on the bed. I assume this latest obsession is due to our Monkeys book. You know as is Two Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. We all love that book.

You won't see any action shots of this boy. Alas unlike his Daddy he doesn't get much air yet when he jumps. But he sure is cute because he doesn't so much jump as he does gallop. He makes me laugh.... a lot!

Love these action shots of Kate where her hair flies up in the air. We have taken to having a sticker party before we go to bed. Our favorite sticker location is our foreheads. We look like cool dorks and tell each other how beautiful our stickers are.

Falling with grace...name that movie.....

Look at that air!!

Our trademark forehead sticker. Only us cool kids can be in the club.

Falling.....................

Jumping Success!!!

Some self timed shots with me and the kiddos.

See...... Kate's in the cool forehead sticker club to. I am to... but Carso kept taking mine off. ;)

I just had to add this one at the end. My kids love watching their cousin Marin on her blog. Her Mom puts up all of these videos of Marin hitting all of her milestone (lately crawling, pulling up, and cruising). They love Marin's "moomies" movies. I guess that would make her a "Moomie" star!!! We watch them again and again and again.

My Kind of Town

2011-07-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago the kids and I drove to Chicago for a family reunion. This was the first time that my 3 brothers and their families had been together in I don't know how long. This is the place where I grew up. Well not actually in Chicago but in a little suburb about 35 miles west called Naperville. My friends and I used to sarcastically call it "Naperthrill" What a little punk I was. It's been named one of the best places in America to raise kids. This place is amazing and has grown so much. I kind of liked it when it was smaller and the down town was just a simple riverwalk with a local cleaners, post office, library, and YMCA. Like most kids I didn't know how good I had it. I'd like to share some of the tidbits that I learned on this trip. Just some memories.

* 36 hours with your kids by yourself in a car is unconditional love personified. I feared this trip for many reasons. But I can truly say that at every stop I took my kids out and gave them big hugs and kisses. They were really good travelers which was surprising to me since they had never been further than Plano (that's 45 minutes away for outside DFW people). They played with the stuff in their activity bags (gratefulness to Aunt Stacey!!) they fought (no brainer), they laughed, joked around in their own "language"I won't soon forget the time they repeated "Wagons and strollers" back and forth to each other for a solid hour!!! My patience WAS tested many times. Especially with the "No...that one" game that Carson played. It went something like this. He would point to something on the floor board of the car and I would reach my arm around to find the object I couldn't see and I would say "This one?" and he would say "No Mommy! that one!!" Another scramble to pick up an object "This one??" and on and on it went until I got wise to his little game.

*Sometimes revenge is sweet. Even 30 years later. We had these neighbors (the Wassons) that lived next door to us. They were older even back then in the 80s and didn't take too kindly to 4 kids living by them. I mean really how was i supposed to know not to drive my big wheel on his freshly tarred driveway. Anywho. The mother of all Wasson episodes came on one 4th of July when I was about 9. My Dad is the most cautious man on this earth but for some reason every summer he and my brothers would love visiting every firworks stand on our way back from our trips in Louisiana. They would load up and by the time we got back to our house in Naperville (where fireworks were illegal by the way) my Dad and brothers would have a cooler packed full of them. Well this particular 4th of July my Dad was lighting them off and came across one that wouldn't light "a dud" he called it as he tossed it behind him....INTO the cooler full of fireworks. Well as you might have a guessed this particular firework was not a dud but a late bloomer. Pretty soon we were having our own spectacular fireworks show inside of our garage. By the time the last bottle rocket had rocketed my Dad crept close to the garage to survey the damage and the Wassons were standing right behind him. Can you say gulp!!!?!! they threatened to call the police and report my Dad for his fireworking ways. Somehow cooler heads prevailed and my Dad didn't get locked up that night but us kids never forgot the scene the Wassons caused. Fast forward 30 years....Kate has to pee. I explained to Mrs. Wasson that we are potty training and may I use her bathroom. Mrs. W had mellowed out big time and was more than happy to tell up just to walk right in. I couldn't believe it when I stepped inside the 70s had never left that house. Green shag carpet, green tile in the bathroom with a green tub. I look down to Kate to help her get ready to go and well... she already had...in a huge puddle on the Wasson's bathroom floor!!! I kind of panicked and was that 6 year old kid again running back to my house as they called us "little imps" Then I snapped out of it and realized I was 36 and accidents happened even if they did happen in the most pristine house in America. I quickly helped Kate finish ran to their kitchen to get paper towels to clean up the puddle and high tailed it out of there!! I remarked to my brother Brig what had happened and he looked at me and said "Honestly Bets, just consider it pay back." :)

* You can cut way ahead in bathroom lines if you start to talk to the person in front of you and tell them you just started potty training. It really helps to reinforce your story if your little girl is yelling "Mommy I really have to go potty!!" and jumping up and down. We lucked out because there was a nuns convention in town. I bet we cut in front of 15 nuns. Out of the goodness of their own hearts.

* You might think you have a favorite pizza place but it can change. Chicago pizza is amazing. It's by definition deep dish and takes at least 45 minutes to cook. I always thought Giordanos was amazing, and then I really liked Gino's East but then my brother took us to Lou Malati's and I was blown away. Best ever. If you ever go to Chicago you have to go there.

*My kids love water. I thought they hated it but they just needed to be in the right situation it turns out. We went to this little spray park and they had a blast. See the slideshow.

* My Mom can still surprise me. My Mom is a lady who isn't big on amusement parks so I was blown away when she decided to ride the biggest ferris wheel ever with my nephew Reece. I was so proud of her. On another note Kate was dying to ride the Merry go Round. So Uncle Burke obliged. As we were riding she exclaimed "Woo hoo!!! I really so like this!!!"

* Childrens Museums rock!! I don't know what the one in Fort Worth is like but the one in Chicago is amazing. The kids could have spent all day there!! They got to build forts, dress up like firemen, play in water, dig for dinosaur bones, and lots more.

* It does my heart so incredibly good to see my kids loved by a Mimi, 3 Uncles, 3 Aunties, and 6 cousins. They had so much fun playing with all of their cousins. Kate held her own with the boys and Carson enjoyed having other rough and tumble boys to play with.

And I because I have held on to this post for about 2 weeks waiting for my brother to send some family pictures I can wait no more. It will just have to be a 2 parter or 3 parter. And here it is...the slideshow....

Some notable things in this slideshow: The house I grew up in,the fire engine plaque my Dad put up by the garage that has never been taken down, my elementary, junior high and high school, the various places in Naperville that stand out to me, the fire hydrant boundary that I was not allowed to cross, Kate and Carso's first ice cream cone, the kids splashing around in the water park.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Mr Kotter

2011-07-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

Carson put this hat on today, and I knew I had seen it somewhere before..........

Comic Relief

2011-07-16T21:58:00.000-07:00

God knew that on this particular day I needed to come around the corner to find this picture. He knew the smile and laughs that it would bring. I will never tire of seeing the way that God uses my children to bless me again and again.

Empty and Beautiful

2011-07-06T06:42:00.001-07:00

Held

2011-06-28T18:37:00.001-07:00

Pray You Through

2011-06-23T17:34:00.000-07:00

You know who you are. This is for you. I love you.

You Will Never Walk Alone

2011-06-23T17:32:00.000-07:00

Father's Day

2011-06-18T20:15:00.000-07:00

I heard this on the Dave Ramsey show and I loved this story, so I thought I would share it in honor of Father's Day. It was written by Dr. Meg Meeker. She is telling the story of her Dad's last days on earth. It's called, "My Father's Last Gift to Me."

Two days ago, I held my father's hands for the last time. They were the hands that showed me how to use a fly rod, pulled covers over my shoulders while I slept, and picked up the phone to call and tell me not to drop out of medical school when I felt like a failure. I saw them change through the years. They were beefy when he was younger and so calloused during his years running cattle on his ranch that he could barely feel touch. But two days ago, they were soft from age, frequent massages, and Lubriderm. In his right mind, he would have hated their softness.
During his final five days, I held vigil over them because I didn't want him to feel me let go. My thought was irrational because he had dementia. But, somehow, I believed that he knew that the hands that gripped his were mine. But, as his death grew closer, I realized there was a different reason I held them so tightly. It had nothing to do with me comforting him.
Just before he died, his pneumonia caused his temperature to spike to 106.7. Even as a pediatrician, I had never seen such a high fever. I hated the fire that death brought. It hurt my hands. It caused him to suffer, and I couldn't do a thing about it. I tried to hold on through the fire but it hurt. So I sobbed. How could his hands hurt me? Death was ugly.
Suddenly a stream of coolness shot into his hands. As quickly as this happened, he opened his eyes so wide that it startled everyone around his bed. He had been in a coma for five days. The nurse on the side of his bed shouted, "Wally, what do you see?" My sister jumped up from her chair. He took several deep, long breaths. The marbles that rolled in his chest from the pneumonia disappeared. His face quieted, and he exhaled for the last time.
What did he see? Was it God? Was it an angel ... or Jesus? One day I'll know. But, in the meantime, I don't care because there is one thing that I know for sure. Someone poured love over him and embraced him. I saw it all over his face, and I felt it in his hands.
In that moment, I recognized the real reason that I held onto his hands for so long. It wasn't because I wanted him to feel loved. I held on because he didn't want me to miss his final gift. He wanted me to see that God is real. The great mystery is that he couldn't have done this alone. He was collaborating with God; rather, God was collaborating with him.
I will miss you, Daddy. But for now I thank you that, until your last breath, you gave me good gifts. And to the God that loves us more than we can fathom, I give even bigger thanks

Heirloom Quilt for Marin

2011-06-16T18:53:00.000-07:00

About a year ago I set out on a journey to make my sweet neice Marin this quilt.

I carefully sewed each little line.

I carefully cut each row of fleece to make chenille.

And when I was done this is what it looked like. I have to confess I wanted to wrap myself up in this quilt and wear it everyday. That's how bonded I was to this creation. But I knew that it was only meant for Marin.

Now when I started this quilt, Marin looked like this.....

When Marin finally received this quilt she looked like this.......(Did you catch her shirt? Yep that's right! In February! They just found out!)

I love this little girl and I've only met her once. But I love her just the same. And now she really knows it! Quilts take lots of time and lots of love. And if Marin's Mom loves me as much as I think she does she will be chasing Marin's college bound car down the road waving this quilt over her head yelling, "Don't forget Aunt Betsy's quilt!!!!!"

This is my letter to Marin that I included with her quilt:

Dear Marin,

This quilt is for you. Like a lot of things in life this quilt has been quite a journey. When I picked out the fabric we had just found out that you were a girl! At first I started sewing on your quilt every chance I could get. When your cousins went down for their naps I would start sewing those long straight lines that you see. It was very calming for me. I just kept on sewing! And then life happened, and I had to put your quilt aside for several months. I picked your quilt back up this past March and worked on it until it was done. It’s not perfect sweet girl, but you can be sure of one thing, it was made with LOVE. Here’s a truth in life that I have learned: Anyone who makes you a quilt LOVES you a Whole lot! When I first started sewing I thought about you and wondered about what you would look like and what your personality would be, but as I finished up I would think about you and know what you look like and look over at your picture on my fridge of you in your bunny ears! You are just a little over 5 months old now and you are beautiful and happy and such a joy to your Mommy and Daddy. I’ve never seen my brother (that’s your Daddy) smile so much. You are blessed precious girl and I hope that every time you look at this quilt you will know how much I love you. I loved you the minute your Daddy told me you were on the way, and my love for you just keeps growing!

With lots of love,

Auntie Betsy

By Your Side

2011-06-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

A Note to My 60 Year Old Self

2011-06-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

I love this blog and I write on it like no one reads it. I suspect that short of my 2 sister in laws noone really keeps up with it regularly so I write it for me and my kids. Many times in the last 4 years since I started this blog I have gone back to look at the posts. I love the posts of my pregnancies and how crazy our life has been since then. If I counted everytime I clicked on Kate's and Carson's Birthday posts I think it would probably read 500. I love documenting. It's my life. And I always think of myself as a 60 year old sitting in a lonely house and just poring over my blog for hours on end and thinking ....Why in the world did I wish for time alone? So here is a post for my 60 year old self. This is what the kids were doing and saying at 2 and 3.

* I love Carson's teeth. His two front teeth turn inward. I know that braces are in the future, but right now it makes his smiles extra special

* Kate's potty training has been taken to the next step. She is waking up dry from naps and overnight. When she needs to potty she says, "I need to go potty!" and yells, "get out of the way!! Hurry!! Hurry!!" like she has 100 people ahead of her.I have taken to calling her Supergirl.

* When Kate goes poopy in the potty she talks to it. "It's alright poopy you be alright. You go down the tunnel real soon. It will be alright." And as she flushes, "Bye poopy! I love you!"

*lately Carson has been having trouble going to sleep. I try to wait it out, but when he yells "Mommy!" for the 10th time I go into his room and scoop him up in my arms. I don't scold him. I just tell him how much I love him and that "Mommy's right here." We go into the TV room and I sit in the rocking chair that I bought months before he was born and rock him and sing "Beautiful Boy" and "Yesterday" And I hold him long after he goes to sleep because I know that these times are getting to be few and far between. And I as I hold him I marvel at how he used to fit right under my chin and his legs couldn't stretch out past my tummy and now his legs stretch all the way down to my knees.

* Kate has been in the habit lately of taking my hand and pumping it up and down and saying, "I Kate! Nice to meet ya!" I can only suspect that she has picked this up from riding around the truck with her Daddy on business deals and seen this take place between him and his customers.

*The kids have started full time preschool/daycare recently. It seems that all of the 3 year olds are fully potty trained so Kate is in Carson's class until she is good to go in that area. Last week I went to pick them up one day and I guess they saw me as their little class passed the door way,because when I went through the doors Kate and Carson were holding hands facing forward and looking directly at me. Banding together in brother sister solidarity. I could hear her teacher trying to get her to come with them (she didn't know I was there) but Kate didn't listen she stood there hand in hand with Carson ready to go. I bent down and scolded her for not listening to her teacher. I wish I hadn't done that.

*Last week I dropped them off at daycare and Carson was crying for me as I tried to get them situated. Kate was trying not to cry and bravely took a handle on the little rope they use to guide the kids down the hall. All I could think of was "What a little soldier and that she was trying to make things better for me." I also thought that at 3 years old she should not have to be a soldier nor should she try to make things better for me. That's my job.

* Kate has a habit that has melted both our hearts lately. She will wrap her arms around my neck and say, "Mommy I sooooooooo glad you're here." I can't wait to tell her that story when she is a teenager.

*Carson is into shapes lately and has replaced foods with shapes. For example, his trusty sausage and biscuit sandwiches are octagons and his waffles are circles.

* With most kids when they speak their little gibberish language sprinkled with recognizable words you can usually get away with , "Uh huh. That's right sweetie!" Not so with Carson. You must repeat back EXACTLY what he said. This makes for a lot of repeating and long conversations with him. I suspect that is his goal.

What It's All About

2011-06-07T20:52:00.000-07:00

Jared is the salesman in our family. Me? I like to be directed, follow guidelines and then collect my tidy little paycheck every 2 weeks. No risks for me thanks! Or so I thought.
One Saturday night I was turning the pages of my Real Simple magazine. I don't buy that magazine for the articles, although some of them are very well written. I buy it for the eye candy. Clean lines, beautiful colors, design simplicity at its best. I pore over every page and fall in love with the $500 paper weight or the $200 pencil holder. Ridiculous yes. Beautiful? no doubt. I came across this advertisement for a company called Willow House. It had a Mom with her daughter in the kitchen cooking and it read "Working from Home Never Looked Better." Anyone that knows me well knows that working outside of our home and leaving my kids everyday has been a huge struggle for me. As you can imagine this article spoke right to my heart. I immediately hopped on the computer. What I discovered blew me away. Beautiful products!! This is one of the first images I saw.

I identified with the simplicity and beauty of this image. I took a look at their online catalog and I kept thinking, "I would buy that!" The opportunity seemed amazing, but I had doubts that I had what it took. This business is based on direct selling. Hosting parties and asking others to host parties. It was daunting, but over the next few months I kept this business idea in the back of my head. A couple of weeks ago I really researched this business and saw the goodness behind the beauty. This company really cares. Not just about the quality and craftsmanship of their products but also about their commitment to their employees. They also donate to 2 specific charities, Cut It Out which supports women who are victims of domestic abuse and the Junevile Diabetes Research Foundation. I knew that I could get behind a business like this and get excited about all that it had to offer me and the people that I know and love. I want to give my all to this business. I want to wipe out all of the preconceived notions that people have about direct selling businesses. I want people to know that hosting a party or becoming a consultant themselves is truly about fellowshipping with friends and having fun. I won't lie. I want to become successful. My ultimate goal is to build my business so that I can stay home with my babies. Everyday my heart aches and I ask God for my simple wish, "God please make a way for me to stay home with my babies." I believe that He has opened this door for me and I ask Him to bless this business as I start out and begin to grow.

A Song For You

2011-06-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

Life is not a snap shot. It might take awhile, but someday you'll see the bigger picture.

Another Milestone....Now Introducing the Big Girl Bed!!

2011-05-30T19:13:00.000-07:00

We reached 2 milestones with Kate this week end. (By the way potty training days #2 and #3 were frustrating and wonderful respectively.) We believe in big moves around here! The day she started potty training I went upstairs to remove the side rail on her crib (now big girl bed). Yes I did it myself. I am the same woman who went crazy 6 months ago when I was informed by my husband that he had taken the side rail off of Kate's crib for nap time that day. I remember him saying, "Betsy, I think she's ready!" and then I remember saying, "Well she may be ready, but I'm not!" So back on it went. Well I guess this week end I was ready. How has she done?? Wonderful! That first night she pointed to the side rail leaning up against the wall and asked for it to be put back on. (Probably the only 3 year old in the world who wanted it put back ON.) The first night she slept until 9:30 the next morning. She has always loved her bed so we had that working in our favor. Couple that with the fact that she may not have caught on to the fact that she can get up anytime she wants. Shhhhh... please don't tell her. :)

Do you see that pink stuffed worm tied to her bed?? I tied that on the first day we put the crib in her room. Months before she was here. And it has never come off. I love that. :) That little pink worm has seen ALOT in the past 3 years!

Save the Strawberries!

2011-05-30T18:57:00.000-07:00

I've had this little problem with strawberries lately. My 2 silly gooses love them and gobble them up nearly every day, BUT usually not fast enough. There is a point where I open up the carton and they are just teetering on the edge of viability. Translation: I probably need to pitch them tomorrow. Jared bought this great big carton last week which was great but when I went to slice Kate some this morning I realized that they were strawberries on the edge. What to do??? Make homemade fruit leather of course!! I have to say it turned out pretty tasty for the first time. I used THIS fruit leather recipe. VERY easy and a great way to use up fruit. Any fruit!! I think I will use apples next time. :) If you have fruit, sugar, lemon juice, and an oven you are good to go.

Kate's Potty Party

2011-05-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

Warning: The following post is filled with potty talk (REAL potty talk) and is a play by play of the day for my records. If you aren't interested, skip to the pics!

The journey began last summer when I decided I would potty train 2 1/2 year old Kate. She had always passed milestones with out a lot of problems so imagine my surprise when the first morning we tried, she loudly proclaimed, "I no potty Mommy!!" and then proceeded to use our carpet and tile as her personal port o potty. The whole time we tried she did not pee in the potty once! Shortly after this attempt I went back to work and obviously I put it off.... ALOT! I decided that this was our week end. A good long week end. 3 days to be exact. Here was my plan (and there are a lot of plans out there.Just ask ANY Mom and they will give you their personal philosophy on potty training) Ok back to my plan. It was simple. Watch Kate like a hawk, stick to her like glue, and when she started to pee run her to the bathroom. The whole morning this was our routine. She would be standing/sitting there and I would hear "Uh oh!" And then look to see pee running down her leg and then I would pick her up and book it to the bathroom where she would (amazingly) finish in the potty. I was so happy that she was actually finishing in the potty. I was so happy that I was actually hearing the sound of tinkling in the potty. A sound I had never heard before from this little girl. I went crazy the first time and she gave me a look of fright so I toned it down a little. My resolve was weakened a little when she finished on the potty and looked up at me and said, "I want my diaper." But I pushed on. Then I had her pick out a sticker to put on her potty chart. She was as pleased as punch about the stickers and was quite upset when she realized that she had to pee in the potty to get a sticker. Yes I am talking fit. :) The next bridge was crossed when I asked her if she needed to go potty and she said yes and then actually went on the potty. You can imagine how excited I was by this!! I couldn't hold it back and I could tell it was clicking because she smiled and kind of ducked her head all shy like. She knew she was doing something amazing. She said, "I pee pee in the potty and not my panties!" Bingo!!!! Then the most wonderful bridge was crossed when I was sitting there folding laundry and she suddenly gets up and says, "I go pee pee Mommy." I took her hand and we rushed to the potty with her saying "Hurry!" and "Get out of the way!" even though there was no one in her way. And....... my girl!!!! The second she sat down I heard that wonderful tinkling noise and I was jubilant and my overabundance of excitement for her was not lost on her this time. She got it. For the rest of the afternoon and in to the early evening it was the same routine. She would announce it, walk/run to the potty, and then proudly do her business. I was so proud. And of course I documented it in pictures.:)

I made this potty chart 5 minutes before she woke up. Look at all those stickers. We were busy today! I orginally had it divided up into pee pee and poopy and then had to laugh because I had about 20 spaces for poopy. What was I thinking?!!? Thankfully we didn't use 20 spaces.Now that would have been a deal breaker. We didn't even use 1 of the poopy spaces. She just started placing the stickers anywhere.

Normally I complain about the dry hot days in Texas, but not today! It was perfect for drying panties fast!.:)

I know this falls under the category of "someday she will kill me for this" but I am so glad I took this picture. This is the first time that it really clicked with her as to what she was doing. See that smile?? Pure pride baby!

The stickers were her reward today and it was all she needed.

Counting the stickers. She really loved picking out the stickers after every success but the last time she pottied today she didn't seem to care about getting a sticker. Progress???

The Elmo panties. We have 7 more pairs.;)

I never realized how much attention I would have to give Kate. I felt like Carson was kind of left out today. But don't worry, he survived and added a lot of comic relief. Bless his heart.

I think Carson is none too happy about Kate joining him on his "show ottoman" where he was in the middle of putting on an impressive gymnastics routine. He is saying, "Man Kate. You've got that potty thing going on today AND you're stealing my thunder on my ottoman??"

But the show must go on. So the gymnastics continued.

He takes a break to wrestle with Kate.

Back at it. His most impressive move of the day.

After one of our potty sessions Kate and I emerged from the bathroom to find this. Carson had turned his shirt into a strapless little number. (Don't look Mimi!! The neck on this shirt was WAY strecthed out!)

Ok so sue me! We did a lot of this today. (Watching TV if you can't tell.) But it worked because I could keep a very close eye on Kate all day. And no they don't always watch TV that way. I just thought it was funny they were in the same pose.

The potty dance! We danced a lot today and I loved it. Who could resist their little girl saying, "Mommy dance with me!!!" Not I!!