Wordless Wednesday - Spring Cuties

Spring has Sprung...

I have been so bad about getting my camera out and actually using it to take pictures of my children. But how beautiful is this. These gorgeous tulips are what I see when I look outside of my front door. Kendyll is sharing my love for tulips as well. Before this pictures she was sitting on her tummy just staring at them. Spring is here! The beauty everywhere is just awe inspiring. I just want to get my hands in everything that is outside. Thank you God for creating such beauty. Thank you for giving me the eyes to see. I am so blessed!

Wordless Wednesday - He's Back and Sweet

Multiple Personalities

Okay, I do now know children can have multiple personalities! I left to go to Vegas with an AJ who was sweet and loving, I've returned to his evil twin that is hateful, mean and aggresive - a down-right spawn of satan himself. I actually holy watered him and just prayed the water wasn't going to burn him :) He informed me at bedtime last night that he is going to grow to be a mean person. Please tell me this is just a phase. Please tell me there is some kind of drug for multiple personality disorder I can give my child. I sure want my old AJ back!

This was taken yesterday while he was sleeping. Thank you Jesus for naptime. It reminds you how sweet and innocent they can be. Note, this was after he told me he didn't like me, didn't love me, he wasn't going to sleep and demolished his room. Like I said, thank you Jesus for naptime, so I can get a break from AJ's evil twin. I wish I could tell you he woke up a new person - nope not so much!

The Center of My World

Jesse, this is for you. I know we were talking the other day about the one piece in my house that everything was center around. Here it is...

I think it is so beautiful. I love the red and gold and I got it just to go on the sage mountain walls.

I am still recouping from moving in expenses and Christmas, but one day soon I will make it to buy something extravagant to place on it.

What Have I Been Up To...

...Sinning! "Sin City" that is! Yes, at 33 I finally have made my way westward to Las Vegas. Jeremy and I had a fabulous time without the kiddos just walking and people watching and walking and people watching and OH, did I mention walking and people watching? I have to say for people who don't gamble, go out clubbing or want to pay big bucks for shows, we were out of our element. However we did take advantage of all the food and free stuff we could take in!

I was in awe of the mere beauty of the surrounding mountains. I guess because I live in flat Oklahoma I never expected the dessert to be so amazing. Up in the Stratosphere you could see that for sure.

We didn't go in all, but we did visit 90 percent of the casinos just to see what they had inside. Most were unbelievable!! The grand scale of these creations are hard to grasp unless you see them for yourself. It is hard to say which were my favorites, however New York, New York, Paris and the Venetian would all have to be in my top favorites for different reasons.

And of course the the most important thing on my list to see were the fountains outside the Bellagio (like the ones at the end of Ocean's Eleven)...Breathtaking! Just by chance we stumbled upon a show at the Palazzo. These women, dressed as statues, that did beautiful movements in a fountain to music with water coming out of their fingers. It was call the Living Garden.

I am feeling I have had my fill of the Vegas Strip. But I would like to go back someday to see the Hoover Dam, climb one of those mountains, and see old Vegas. That was one more thing to check off my list!

What Will This Room Become!

I'm stuck!

This room was SUPPOSE to be a theater room. And yes, while one day soon it will have all the components of a theater room - projection, projection screen and theater seating, my darling husband has decided it is now going to be an OU Sooners room!

So in the mist of compromise, we've decided to make it a "tasteful" sports room! Is that an oxymoron?

I NEED HELP!

Jesse, this is where I hope you can come in and guide me.

Do a coat of crimson paint on the bottom section of the wall. (the walls right now are Latte.)?

-The stadium seat are going to stay.

-This is a huge room with as you can see walls full of OU pictures that I need an idea of how that can be more tasteful!

-Is there some way it can be both without looking funny - one side OU/the other side theater?

Here is one more!

I'm Back From the Dark Place

Winter, I curse you!
January, I curse you more!

Yes, I'm SADD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)! They say it isn't a real disorder, but it is, I promise! It is the dark place! So I am back...I'm out of bed, my bad mood and weight gain - back to life, back to blogging, back to taking pictures and spending time with friends. Screw winter. I'm not going to let it win!

New Tradition - The Elf on the Shelf

This Christmas the Thomas family added a little member to our Christmas tradition - A little Elf on the Shelf who Andrew named November.

The story behind the Elf on the Shelf is that he comes to your house around Christmas time from the North Pole and sits and watches you the whole Christmas season. He does leave however when you're sleeping to return to the NP to report his sightings to Santa himself. He returns to your home each morning only he finds a new perch to sit on while watching. So every morning it is important you find him.

I had no idea that Andrew and even Kendyll would have so much fun with this little guy. He was one of the hightlights of our holiday season. As soon as AJ jumped out of bed the elf was the first thing he tried to spot. We had to be very creative as you can imagine. If you mentioned the elf Kendyll would always look to the place the it was the day before. However once she found the elf it was pure excitement and joy with a loud shreek "eeeeek," "eeeeeek." The elf brought to our house the just what an adult needs seeing the innocence and excitement of what Christmas is throught a child's eyes. And even better, all I had to say when AJ wouldn't mind was "Elf, did you write that down!" and AJ jumped to get it done. Now, I'm just not sure what I'm going to do for the next 11 months to get him to obey?



One of my other favorite traditions is lining up in my mom and dad's hallway waiting to see what Santa brought. I have been doing for as long as I can remember and the tradition still holds even with my children.



One last great thing that happened this holiday season. On New Year's Eve we came home early from our party just to be home together as a family. Jeremy, AJ and I stayed up until midnight and toasted together. Before the toast we practiced with AJ by counting down 10 to 1 then saying Happy New Year then toasting. After we practiced and said "then we toast" he asked us "where is the bread!" Don't you love what goes through the minds of children?

My Life Will Never Be That Way...Eat Those Words!

It is so weird, but Jeremy and I are in this season of life where I feel I have to write down everything I want to say to him. It is like a "to do" list but a "to talk about" list. And even though I may begin going down my list when we get a minute, most the time the topic doesn't finish and then it remains on my list for three more days. Kids, kids, kids are so demanding (I need more water, I need help with my shoes, Stop messing with your sister) I am finding we can't finish a topic of conversation. What ever happened to my life won't be that way?

The other day I find myself getting upset over the littlest things Andrew is doing. Why am I so upset over this? I never was going to yell or use phrases like "because I said so" or "I don't care, you do what I say."

Since I became an adult around my friends who had kids (you know when you are the only one who hasn't begun that season) I use to wonder why aren't they taking care of themselves? Why can't they just throw on a little make up, why haven't they washed their hair, or why are they gaining weight - they're just letting themselves go! It is straight up work to maintain yourself as well as your house and your kids. I find myself on a daily basis wondering if it would be easier to just go back to work. I am now in that season of understanding and I want to apologize to all those moms who I had bad thoughts about. I drag my getting bigger butt (because I am always running with my kids and eatting fast food) out of bed at 6:30 in the morning just to look presentable. I am gaining weight like crazy and now at 33 it is not coming off as easy (went back to the gym this week and began dieting - I gained 3.5 pounds!)

Since I am a control freak. I am trying not to loose my mind! That I don't have the perfect house with everything in its place, my car looks like I live in it, and my Christmas tree is only half done because I am too exhausted to put more ornaments on it because I keep finding the ones already on it around the house. I am busting out of my clothes because I am not buying new ones. All things that I was going to be in control of, but I am too tired.

I am getting close to freaking out! But I have to keep perspective - one day my house will have everything in its place and my car won't have snacks and car seats in it, and my Christmas tree will dazzle with color and I will be thin! And last but not least, Jeremy and I will be able to have a full conversation at dinner or when he walks in the door. But that will be a sad day because that will mean my babies are gone and all grown up! So lets live in the moment and enjoy all those little annoying uncontrolable things that are so bittersweet!

My First Award

Okay, I am new to this blogging thing, and I just found out I won an award. What excitement! My blog is Fabulous! I never knew!

I am suppose to pass on five additions of mine! Only five?

Well my newest addition is...

1. I dislike coffee, however weirdly enough I love the smell. I love to walk down the coffee aisle at the grocery store and take a wiff. Needless to say with such a dilema I'm sad about Starbucks! I want to go in there so bad, but can't find anything I like unless it is hot cocoa. That is until just recently when my little sis introduced me to the "Double Chocolate Chip Frappacino!!!" No coffee, just lots of delious goodness that isn't very good to the figure if you know what I mean.

2 & 3. Which leads to my second and third addictions. As a gift to myself when I get to go shop by myself (which is not very often) I get my Starbucks indulgence while shopping at my two favorite stores...

4. Nicolas Sparks...what a fabulous author. I love all his books and sometimes read them then read them again. I have always wanted to go or live close the coast in North Carolina. In my mind it would be amazing. If you've never read any of his books the first one to try is The Notebook (a very easy read), then Dear John was incredible.

5. Then last but not least...Rachel McAdams. I guess you could say she is my celebrity girl crush. I love all her movies and she is just beautiful. She is always so sassy!

My Favorite Stage? Maybe Until Next Week...

I'm the worst mom ever! OK, maybe not the worst, but the kid's birthdays were back in June and July and now in the month of November I have managed to get their year pictures taken. (Not like this is going to scar them for life or anything :) I think they have turned out wonderfully, if I do say so myself! Look at their cute little faces. If someone comes up with a way to bottle them up and keep them small, please let me know. I know that every hour, day, week, month and year just keeps getting better - but I like them now!

Right now at this stage of four AJ thinks he is a little man! He loves to tickle, joke around to make people he loves smile. He can be a real ham. He does have a mean streak and can be sneaky and bossy (his way is the only way). His other personality has become very polite saying yes ma'm, yes sir, please, thank you and may I. He is scared of being places by himself such as upstairs. He has begun to come in our room at night and sleep with us. He still loves Jeeps, trains (and knows the names of every Thomas train figure), and right now he is very into building towers and houses with blocks, Legos and Lincoln Logs. He loves to tell me and Kendyll that we are beautiful, and his dad that he is handsome. He loves to tell everyone he loves that he loves them multiple times a day. He craves words of affirmation. He is developing some friends and told me that Logan and Ethan are his best friends. He loves school and learning new things. He especially gets very excited when he learns a new word to read. He is into playing Leapster, watching Toy Story and the VeggieTales. He loves his Chunky Monkey and we have to kiss it goodnight as well as him. My most favorite lines out of his mouth are "mom don't say right now, say please," "Are you happy?" "Mom are you OK or fine, pick one!" "Mom the sun is out, Jesus' light came out again today." He will ask a question and then say "yes or no mom yes or no?" And one I always want to remember - the other night he didn't feel good and we didn't know at the time but he was on his way to throwing up soon. He came in our room and said that his tummy didn't feel well and he needed a band-aid to make it feel well! AWE! How sweet! Jeremy got up and put a band-aid on his belly. Unfortunetly it didn't work.

Miss Kendyll, what a little DIVA! At sixteen months she is quite the daddy's girl! She has Jeremy wrapped around her finger and right behind is Bompa and Pappa. She can do no wrong in their eyes. Kendyll loves balloons, balls, blocks, dancing to music, and her pink piggy bank. She has recently developed a love for books (thanks to AJ). She will pick out a book at night, we will read in the rocking chair, she will put the book away and get another book to take to bed with her. She goes to her crib and says "UP" then sits in her crib and talks to herself and the book until she falls asleep. She wakes up in the morning and can't go anywhere without her "B" blanket. She carries it around like Linus on Charlie Brown. Her hair is beginning to thinken up. Although most the time she looks like she has been struck by lightning since it sticks up on the top of her head. She loves to be outside and will sit in AJ's Jeep and just take in the sun. She is very beautiful. She loves, loves, loves Andrew. She will stop whatever she is doing and run to the television when she hears the Backyardigan's theme song. Her favorite place to be is inside of the pantry and she always has to be carrying around a snack - not eating it, just carrying it unopened. When she doesn't get her way she knows how to turn on the tears, when tears do not work it goes to dropping on the floor. If you ask her if it is bedtime she will stop crying instantly and start talking and pleading her case in babble. She has no problem ignoring you if you are asking her not to do something. She acts like if she can't see you then you can't see her. She is a true blessing.

An Attitude of Graditude

This month in school AJ's word of the month has been GRADITUDE. We were sitting eating lunch one day and he told me that he had an "ATTITUDE OF GRADITUDE." I asked him, what does that mean? Surprisingly he says back to me "that I need to be grateful for everything I have!" Oh, what a wonderful lady, Mrs. T, is for teaching him about graditude. I try everyday and maybe with the help of Mrs. T it may finally sink in.

With this being the week of blessings and thankfulness, I thought I would take a moment to show my attitude of graditude. I am thankful for sunrises and sunsets, my two major blessings, my family, the pond outside my window, my camera, Thursday evening television, car washes (so I don't always have to do it myself), my friends, all the new friends I am making and the ones that are still to come, strawberry limeades at Sonic, my bedroom, the playroom upstairs, rainy days so you have an excuse to snuggle and read under a blanket, my wonderful husband, inspirational sayings, happy people, a good pair of jeans, candles, men's cologne, Christmas lights, when AJ tells me I'm beautiful, a good chic flick (one that makes you cry), girl's night out, waking up the kids in morning, Jesus' light, a clean house, a beautiful picture, hearing AJ say "I wuv you" and positive attitudes.

My Sweet Girl

Well here we go again, TUBES! This time with Kendyll. Oh my sweet girl. Even though I know she is in excellent hands and I've done this twice with AJ. It is never easy to watch a stranger take your child out of your arms and know they are going into surgery. Kendyll, at only 15 months, was taken from me, swaddled like an infant, screaming and taken through the double doors. It breaks your heart to hear her crying and knowing how bitter/sweet the situation is - she is scared, however the surgery is going to make her feel so much better.



Dad always saves the day with his fun glove balloon! It works everytime to stop the crying.


The surgery was successful and my sweet girl is perfect as of today. Her runny nose and congestion has already cleared up and she is happy and feeling so much better. Thank God for tubes! They are a life saver in this family.

My Little Monsters - Halloween '09

Okay, I know I am a little late in getting to my Halloween pictures, but I'm in catch up mode right now! I didn't go all out this year -- I was a little busy moving in, then I didn't have any Internet for a while. So I didn't get the costumes ordered I wanted which were Pablo and Uniqua from the Backyardigans. In AJ's heart of hearts he really wanted to be Woody from Toy Story. So I did take him to the Disney Store and they only had Buzz. Buzz was good, he said I'll just be Buzz again this year! Perfect! Even better though as I was unpacking I found AJ's Eeyore costume from his first Halloween - Perfect! Kendyll has a costume and Halloween is covered. We went over to my friend Teri's house and the kids gave out candy to tons of little Power Rangers, Iron Men and Indiana Jones'. My favorite however was a little six month old flapper girl.

The day of Halloween was AJ's Fall Party at school. This year I signed up to be homeroom mom and I had a blast planning this party. Before the party all the Pre-K and kindergarden students had a parade around the school. Parents came and followed and were able to get many photo opps! In the picture are AJ's friends Logan and Zander or Batman and blue Power Ranger. All the kids in his class were so cute. And the party, if I do say so myself was a HUGE success!

Wordless Wednesday - Kendyll with Pumpkins

Pumpkins Everywhere

OK, more than dressing up for the 31st, more than the beautiful leaves, I love pumpkin patches in October! I love the crisp greens, browns, and the vibrant orange. Kids always photograph well at pumpkin patches because they are having so much fun. Kendyll can walk this year and she just wondered around in amazement. She picked her own pumpkin and carried it around, dropped it and then picked it up and carried it some more. Jeremy and I figured we should do the right thing and buy the pumpkin since it had been dropped so many times. There was a maze and Andrew had a blast going through it, then getting lost. I would say "where's AJ" and he would pop up and say "here I am!" I'm already for next year's pumpkin pictures.

This VOTE - History in the Making

It's the day that we have been waiting for since we saw the first campaigning begin I believe back in the beginning of 2007 (if not sooner). Today we do our American duty and go to the polls to choose our next President for the next four years. I have to say that I am in awe of the fact that we live in such a great county and we have the power to decide. Today will mark a new chapter in the history books. We could possibly have the first black president or the first female vice president. It is so exciting. This could also be the biggest voter turnout in history EVER! My sister at age 30 even registered to vote for the first time this year - amazing!

So I have gone in today as a strong, intelligent, voting woman and marked my ballot with who I believe will make this a safe, secure, and well-respected country I want to raise my children in. I know that I am only human and I don't know everything so I made sure to pray to God that he choose the best leader for this country. And I can only hope that whomever it may be, McCain or Obama, that they believe in Him and lead our country the way that it was created to be lead.

Innocence

I went to Kansas this weekend to celebrate my grandma's (Memaw) 87th birthday. It was so touching to see how the kids are drawn to her. I captured a moment that I want to remember forever. Right now AJ and I speak on a regular basis about "kind touches." I happened to look over and see AJ leaning over my grandmother rubbing her arm - giving kind touches. She was explaining to him those were wrinkles, what happens when you get old. It made me tear up to see such a special, innocent moment.

Who Needs Toys?

Okay, I have to admit my whole family is on countdown (8 days) until closing day. So I'm sure my next few post will be entirely house related. We are so elated to finally see this whole big blessing (mess) come to an end. Now instead of hearing AJ say "mom our house is still broken." Now I get to hear "Mom our house isn't broken anymore," "we have a driveway!" "Mommy, we have carpet!" It is music to my ears.

The best part is that AJ and KC are absolutely in love with the house. AJ will ask daily to go see it, just so he can either run around on the driveway, through the house or show us where he put his hand print in the cement.

So the question is - why do I buy toys? All they need is a driveway to run on or a roll of carpet to crawl on and play. So cheap, and it doesn't clutter!

Okay in the time it has taken to write this we are now:

7 days, 5 hours, 9 minutes, 2 seconds! Just joking!