A Girl and A Dog wait for a Boy and a School Bus

Everyday Ashley and Chewie (Boston Terrier/French Bulldog) wait for JJ to come off of the school bus after a day at Kindergarten. 

They wait together in the window hoping to catch a glimpse of the big yellow bus. 

It is so sweet and melts my heart every single time.

And this is Trouble

He uses a sword to follow along in a story lol

My son always finds ways to make me laugh. He has a funny personality and says the wildest things that I have no clue where he came up with it. Last night we were hanging out in the living room and he goes up to my husband and puts up both his fist like he is ready to box. (My son is a little fighter he thinks its awesome to punch, kick and even will dramatically act out a fall as if he has been knocked out lol)

He shows his fist to my husband and holds the right one up to say "This one is Trouble" then shows his left fist "This one is Bueno" I dont think my husband and I have laughed that hard in months!! We had tears in our eyes from laughing so hard. Even today he tells us the names of his fist, I thought it was so funny he said "bueno" too I asked him what it means he said "good" So apparently he has named his fist the bad one and good one. LOL Oh my!!

Oh My Cheese Puffs

The other day when I was at work my husband and son went shopping. This is what they bought when Mom was not around lol. This has to be the biggest container of cheese puffs I have ever seen. My son carries it around like its a stuffed animal. He has claimed he loves it and he wont share with Mommy because its for babies. He is so silly! He wants to take it in the car but I draw the line at having to buckle in a container of cheese puffs!

What other snacks have you seen in this jumbo size?!?

The Then and Now of laundry basket fun!

Then: 1989 - Laura, David Jr and me (Sam).

Now: 2013 - JJ, Liam and Ashley

This afternoon my Mom and I were going through a box of pictures from when my sister Laura and I were kids. There are so many great ones of Laura and I along with our other siblings, so many occasions, vacations, pool parties, and candid moments in life. I love them all but the top picture stood out to me today. When I saw it I was reminded of my how fun childhood can be and of a few pictures I had taken of my own children recently doing the same thing!

Right after Christmas time my kids discovered the greatness of playing in a laundry basket. I put the basket on the floor and the second I did they were all in it, pulling each other around, pushing it, and just hanging out in it. The excitement level was high, and they must have forgotten that two seconds before that they were all fighting!

I loved capturing them and the excitement they had over the basket. I loved it mostly because they were excited to be playing together. Sometimes it feels like all they do is fight. Like I am the referee and they are all on different teams. Them against me. Most of the time there is no winner and someone always ends up crying.

So when I get these moments I am going to take them and remember that my Mom did what I am doing now. She did it with five children (yikes) and she did it with grace and pleasure. I am sure she too felt like the referee, but she too took those good moments and captured them on film. I hope to do the same so that one day, years from now, my children will be looking though old pictures with their children and see the "laundry basket" fun has been in our family for years.

Jump Jump Around or Not

Oh the sweet smiles for the first two jumps

Have you ever seen in the mall those jumping rides with the harness and trampolines? Our mall has one and all Holiday Season my son said he wanted to go on it. I was a worry wart and never let him. I thought oh me might get scared, he might get hurt, all the things a mother might think. But it was my husband's birthday and we were at the mall buying video games. Our son asked pretty please with a cute big blue eyed held tilt and a smile. There was another child already jumping so we watched and I asked him are you sure you want to. He told me yes its fun he wants to. When it was his turn they wanted to weigh him first lol you must be 30 lbs apparently. He was smiling as the lady took him up on the trampoline and strapped him in. He jumped once then twice but then she turned on a machine that was lifting him a little higher to get a big jump and thats when he got scared. Oh the look on his face, he was sad, would not jump and just hung his head down then looked over to his Dad with a sad face.

I asked if he was scared he of course said yes and wanted down. The lady was nice and got him down and gave us our money back. When he got his shoes on he smiled at us and was no longer sad and ready to go. I asked him maybe we will try again another time and he said yes. I am so glad even though I knew my sweet boy might get scared that he tried. It did not work out but we will try again sometime. Maybe next time we can get in a few more bounces!

Scared and not wanting to bounce

Wordless Wednesday

While out shopping the other day I was that Mom.

You know the one with the unruly kids who climb on all of the furniture and who have to touch everything!

Ugh.
 

Wordless Wednesday - 2 pm at our house

JJ doing his homework.

Liam doing his "homework" aka stickers.

Ashley discovering her world.

2013 Resolutions

Finally my 2013 resolutions (for accountability to myself and others)...

I am a fan of creating New Years resolutions. I always have been. They can be big, small, one thing or ten things. I make them because what better time to start fresh then with a New Year. My resolutions are not huge by any means, but they are important to me. So here they are in no particular order:

To exercise more. I know we all say it but I actually started this one in October, two month early!! Go me! It is more than merely exercising, I took up running. My husband was actually the motivating factor on this one, last spring he decided he would start running (for fun, what?) and it has only taken me forever to jump on board. And darn it if I don't like it! There is such a "runner's high" when you are done. I feel so good, on top of sometimes feeling like I want to throw up! Well I did just only start two months ago and conditioning yourself is hard work :) Needless to say I am enjoying it and hope to continue to do so this year.

This is the boys room (and Chewie the dog) right now...Ugh they throw everything under the loft bed.

To be more organized. When we moved into this house we had one child. We now have three and we seem to be outgrowing our house. Since there are no plans to move anytime soon, we need to make do and make room by getting organized. I am working on organizing everything from the kitchen, to the panty, to the boys shared room. I want a nice neat home, oh wait I have three small children, good luck with that!

My money savings starting with this jar!

To spend less. I really do try to be a frugal shopper, but it still seems like I can do better. I know that I can buy less and save more if I really put my mind to it. I also tend to buy things because they are on sale and that is so not a good idea.

Ashley and I just because :)

To be in the now and to appreciate life. Life is short, my children won't be small forever. I need to slow down, take things in and enjoy the moment more. I tend to hurry through things with my kids and in life. I feel like I am always onto the next thing so I won't miss it, when the really great thing is right in front of me.

JJ saying we are going to ROCK 2013!

So there you have it my 2013 resolutions. They are not really life changing (they are to me) but they are mine. Here's to a great 2013!!




















                                                                             ~ Sam

Stuck at Home? Online Shopping!

I have been sick with the flu for almost the whole week of this new year. Not a fun way to start out a new year but I tell myself well heck it should only get better from here then right lol. Well I have been on the computer  a lot to have some retail therapy while all these medicines work their wonders. Over the last week I have found some great companies and cool stuff I wanted to share. I love online window shopping while its too cold outside and I am too sick to go in person.

Have you found any new products or new brands you have not heard of? All the great after Holiday sales I have been seeing all sorts of deals.

UGGS Bailey Bow Toddler Boots

Patricia Green Lola Slippers

Victoria Secret Vanilla Lace (my new scent and I  LOVE it!)

Neff Cat Hat ( My son would adore me if I had this!)

Oilily Tea Pot Bag for Kids

The Heart of Strangers: Saving Our Dog

This last year has been filled with rough times and other times filled with joy. One of the rough parts was finding out the home we had been renting for over 3 years was going into foreclosure and we had 30 days to move. After the shock, tears and anger of why someone we knew as a friend would let this happen that our rent was not going to where it should have been, the bank! (That is another story in it self lol)

We went into survival mode of where are we going to move to and can we find a spot in such short notice that would fit our needs, including our loving dog Dakota. She is a big black lab and many places we found had weight limit restrictions. As the time grew closer to the day we had to leave we started to panic. We found no rentals that would allow us to have a pet of her size. We started to post ads about our dog needing a home and why with no responses. It was about 5 days until we had to move and we cringed to think that our sweet loyal would not hurt a fly dog would have to go to the shelter. All the thoughts of her being in a cage, wondering where her family went, wondering why she was not home. The tears and sadness of wondering what would happen to our dog that was our first baby (she is 7 and our son is 3) was overwhelming on top of where on earth were myself, my husband and son going to live.

Our ads online got even more desperate in our plea for a good home to adopt our sweet dog. I did not want to look back at her many years of photos with sadness and have to explain one day to my son that the sweet pup in all the photos since the day he was born was a dog that was sent to the pound. I wanted to look at those pictures with joy of the fun times we spent with the dog and how much my son loves her and calls her his Kosha and says he loves her.

A few days before Thanksgiving we had a few people interested in meeting her. Many texts, phone calls and pictures passed but nothing ever seemed the right fit for her. When we only had 3 days until moving day we finally had a family that contacted us that seemed perfect for her. I prayed our dog would find a good home, we had found a place to move to but we could not take the dog, it seemed so sadly unfair that we would go to a new home and enjoy the joys of Christmas and she would go to a shelter. Older dogs get over looked in those places, I was so scared for her.

I messaged back and forth to a woman about Dakota how sweet she is, how happy go lucky about life she is, she adores kids, wouldnt hurt a fly, she is papered, she is crate trained, bell trained and they started to fall in love with the idea of helping her too. This family was so generous to take Dakota, they did not really have room for her they have kids and many dogs already but did not see a lab like her go to the shelter. After meeting the woman's husband when he came to meet Dakota I knew this family would treat her right and help her find a loving home. I found out the husband grew up on a farm and hunted with his own Dad with labs. He adores them and his wife knew if he heard Dakota's story and met her that he would have to save her. His wife was right! He made arrangements to come pick Dakota up the next day, only 1 day before we had to pack the moving truck and go.

When he arrived to pick up Dakota we did not let our son see her and all her stuff get packed into his truck for her to leave. I knew my son at 3 years old would be devastated and would never understand why his best friend was leaving. A good friend stayed inside with him while my husband and I walked her out to the truck with all her cute collars, dog toys, favorite bones and her crate to say good bye. When we were telling her bye, we loved her and everything would be ok my voice choked up and tears ran down my cheeks. Dakota whimpered a bit, I am sure she was wondering what on earth was going on, we are all she has know for 7 years, we were her only family she had ever had. When she was ready to go the man put his hand out to shake mine and I pulled him in to hug him and thank him with all my heart. My husband hugged him and thanked him too. He was just a stranger who came into our lives when we needed someone to care enough to help.

This family wasn't rich, they had no room to spare but they had a loving heart and sometimes thats all it takes.

They have even kept us updated over the last month about her condition. She did have a skin irritation that they paid for her to have fixed, found out she has a begin tumor that might need an operation and found her a permanent home with a loving family they selected. They sent us a picture of Dakota in her new home, she looks happy, her tail is a blurr in the picture since she is wagging it so fast. I am over joyed that this family took her in and then found her a permanent home. There are so many sad stories about animals getting left on the side of the road and abused that a good story like this with a happy ending is worth sharing. :)

Now we can look back on all the pics of her in our lives and be happy knowing she found another family that loves her in her journey of her life as a dog. 

Ringing in the New Year

 

Tonight is the last night of 2012.

2012 was a pretty good year for us. Filled with love, laughs and a few tears. All things that we have learned from and grown from. I wouldn't trade them for anything.

But I have to admit, I am pretty excited to see what 2013 brings.

We will be ringing in the New Year with family fondue dinner and dessert night! 

Along with watching the annual fireworks show from the Seattle Space Needle from the comfort of our own home. 

Perfect way to start 2013 if you ask me.

~ Sam

Stay tuned this week for a list (yes list!) of my New Year's resolutions!

Toddler Bowling

We recently went to John's Incredible Pizza where my son has discovered toddler bowling lol. Its the cutest thing ever! They have little kid mini bowling alleys with tiny bowling balls. He is really good at it too! He asks everyday now if we can go bowling. I get the puppy dog look of head tilted,  big blue eyes, a smile and a please Mom. I am hoping we can take him back again soon.

Do you have a John's Incredible Pizza near you? Have your kids tried the mini bowling?

This Little Lady

This little lady of mine will turn one in less than a week. One! 

This year has gone by so fast. I want to freeze time and keep her under a year old just a bit longer. 

She has always been so sweet, gentle and darling but lately I am starting so see a little "spice" in her personality. 

She is smart, determined, cute and even a little bit sassy these days! And getting a picture of her is out of the question, she has better things to do then pose for her mama!

Oh my I am so not ready for my little girl to grow up. 

But on the other hand I can't wait to see the young lady she becomes.

~ Sam

I do it better than Betty

Saw this apron at a local mall and laughed out loud! Kind of lame, but I love cheesy aprons :)

Now that we/I am feeling better I am hoping to get in the kitchen this weekend and start baking up some tasty Christmas treats. I need a cookie fix ASAP!!

Happy weekend to you all!!!!

XOXOXO

- Sam

Under the Weather

We have been fighting a nasty cold around here.

Each and everyone of us has it or has had it.

It is no fun!

But we are over the hump and on the mend....

Reading to Mickey

My son has started to read his books to his stuffed animals. It is normally a mix of words of what he sees in pictures and what he remembers I have read to him. Its very sweet. He has books that are for the car only and he loves to read them as we drive. I am thrilled my son loves books!

We plan to get him a few Mickey Mouse books from Santa this year too.

What books are your kids reading right now or you reading to them? Do you read the classic tales or find new authors?

I am Thankful for...

I am Thankful for this hand print my 2 year old made at his Co-Op Preschool today. I am grateful that we are able to send him to this wonderful preschool. I will post about our school soon. If it fits into your lifestyle, Co-op's are the way to go!

I am Thankful for my family, they make me who I am. My husband and children are my life and I am theirs. Not only am I Thankful for my husband and children but my Mom, Dad, sisters, brothers, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, nephew, and great friends. They all make up my circle of people.

I am Thankful for my home and a roof over my head. The weather has been so rainy and so cold. I am grateful to be in a nice warm home.

I am Thankful for new friends. I met a Mom through JJ's Kindergarten class and it turns out they live in our neighborhood, down the street to be exact. We had a play date today at my house with our little ones and it went great. Here's to new friendships!

I am Thankful for flavored coffee. I love all of the Holiday coffee flavors that come out this time of year. I am actually enjoying a Pumpkin Spice latte as I type this. YUM!

I am Thankful for Thanksgiving. Can't wait to spend the day enjoying family, friends, and food!

There are many things to be Thankful for but wanted to keep the list short. There are things to do to prepare for tomorrow. I must clean the house, cook some food and get some rest for Turkey Day tomorrow!!!

I am Thankful for this blog and all of our readers! Happy Thanksgiving and Thank You!!

~ Sam

Guess Who is Turning 3!

I have to admit I have been dragging my feet on my little guy's bday party. Part of me just does not want him to be 3. Silly I know but he is still my baby and 3 seems so big boy. He talks so much now, has an opinion on everything, is super helpful (got lucky on that, he will pick up toys, even likes to help with the laundry and goes to get stuff) he is funny, sweet and a wild child. He is so full of energy and busy I am shocked he can go all day at that level. He has my big blue eyes, his dad's sense of humor and some quirks about him that I know he gets from other members of our family. I must say he does not like to be woken up and can be a beast if you dont let him wake up on his own (this makes me think of Sam LOL when we were kids she did not like to be woken up) a few times I have looked at my son and I see my Mom's (Patricia) face, I have taken a few pics that capture it and I love that. I love how our kids are a blend of all the people on both side of their family before them. They really are another branch on the family tree.

With my son turning 3, my nephew turning 6 (oh my time flies!) and my niece (Miss Ashley!) turning 1 in a month it has suddenly occurred to me that our kids are the next generation. Yes they are still our babies but they will be the men and women of the future and that is just awesome! I do my best each day to be the greatest Mom I can be and I know some days are rough and others glorious but everyone has days like that. I am blessed each day I wake up and get to be my little boy's Mom. We call him LW it makes me laugh since it reminds me of DW from the Arthur books. Do you know which character I am talking about?

I look forward to his birthday and knowing he is the reason I get to be a Mom and the reason I wake up each day with a smile.

Election Day 2012!

 

I VOTED did you?

                               

The Monday Blues...

The Hubby and Ashley fighting the Monday Blues

Most people dread Mondays. Not me, I love the idea of a fresh week. A new start in my mind!

Here are a few reasons why I like Mondays:

1. BOTH the boys are in school on Mondays!!

2. Every other Monday my hubby (pictured above with Ashley) has the day off of work. He works a schedule that allows him this luxury and we love it! He gets a chance to catch up on any appointments or volunteer at the boys schools.

3. I feel like every Monday I get a fresh start. A chance to stick to that diet I wanted to start, hit the gym like I was going to last week, or get a project or two done. It is like a re-do in my mind, even though I may not do any of the said things above, it is still a possibility with the start of a fresh week.

4. Although I love the weekend, I really rely on a scheduled day. With 3 small children everyday is tough different, I know what to expect on weekdays, for the most part.

5. And when they are airing, The Bachelor and Bachelorette are on TV on Monday nights! I can't wait for the next season to start!


How about you? How do you feel about Mondays?

~ Sam