My little marching ants

1. My little man, David. Gosh, could I love him any more?! He is hysterical and is starting to say the sweetest things, he's gonna be a charmer like his daddy.

For David's 3rd birthday, Chef and Mo mo (what dave calls them), gave him and ant farm!!

You have to mail off for the ants so we just recently got them in the mail. I know, I know.... this probably isn't going to end well. I am sure they are all going to get out and be everywhere.....
but, David is happy. And right now, he is an angry, crazy, wild little 3 year old.... and the ants make him happy. I still am learning how to deal with the little boy behavior of being so physical, angry, and independent. I am trying to teach him how to use his activeness is good ways and express his anger correctly, it is very hard. So, in the midst of these trials..... the ants are my comic relief.
It's a constructive thing for him. So, we spend lots of time talking about the ants, watching the ants, and going over the rules about why we can't take them out or pet them.

He is becoming such a sweet kid though. He loves having fun and being crazy.
I am just praying not one little ant goes missing. I do head counts before bed just to be safe....

2. Mackenzie, 11 Months



Happy 11 months, baby girl!

Okay, mathematically I know this baby is 11 months.... but, I can't quite convince myself that she actually is. No way. No WAY. Well, the only thing that helps this, is that everyone tells me how TINY she is, and she is.... 30 % for her ranks. People ask if she is 6 months old.... I love that, I smile and say..... "ohh. you're close." And I love that. She is super babyish too. Still rolls up like a newborn, holds her feet, and just acts like, well.... a baby.
She is cruising a little though, but I am not sure if she is going to walk by 12 months, we shall see.
It has been so neat to see all the differences of a baby girl and baby boy. Man, are these 2 polar opposites.... but, they do both have feisty personalities, good common ground.

3. Me and my main squeeze

This has been a rough month for us..... As of today, I officially have bronchitis. No worries, if you've been around me. I was only contagious the first few days.... which was 4 weeks ago... no lie. I guess I am prideful and thought I could win this cold. I also don't love going to the doctor with 2 babies, not a fun time. I am good at taking care of everyone else and making sure they don't get sick, except myself!!!! Oh well, praise the Lord it was me and no one else in the fam though.... I'd rather be sick than them! Anyway, I was a couple days away from it being pneumonia, had to get chest xrays, steroid shot, breathing treatments, i had lost 8 lbs, and my body felt like I had been thrown off a motorcycle. It hurt to breathe, especially cough. I know, I'm stupid. I let it go too far. Tim literally put me in the car and took me there today. (Did I mention that I did go after Thanksgiving Day sale shopping all night though??! That didn't help it!)
However, my cold got out of control because when the time change happened.... Lord.
My kids went haywire. It took about 2 1/2 weeks to get everyone sleeping normal again. There seriously must have been some kind of gravitational pull, new moon, something creepy. Because, these kids acted like insomniacs. Thus, my cold hung around.
And then there is my better half. Poor Tim's job is having it's slowest time of the year... and that's awesome when it's sales... not. So, he has been pulling super hours at work trying to make up for it.... not going so well. Good news is busy time hits January. I couldn't ask for a more hard working husband... he works hard at work and and at home, and I'm thankful.

All that to say, November has come and gone in the blink of an eye. Sickness, no sleep, long hours with little ones at home = tough times.
Even that said, we've never been so thankful. For each other. For our children. For the Lord providing for us continually. For our family which is our support system. For our friends who are the greatest on Earth.

We are thankful for you and the Lord put you in our life. I still pray this blog will let the truth be seen about struggling to raise children and deepen marriage while we are young. I.t. i.s. h.a.r.d.
One of the hardest things I've ever done. But, the joy, love, and thankfulness from the Lord really does overflow. I have never been more blessed, and thankful.

And, thank you Pottery Barn for clearancing your stockings I have wanted for 2 years.... I love them.

I don't even have a title for this one...

Halloween was fun! It was a blast with both kids this year. Fall has been so fun! The weather was pretty awful, but David was so proud of himself and all the candy he collected!

He would go up to most doors by himself while we waited on the sidewalk, so cute!

David was a fireman and Mackenzie was a cow.....

Here is our pumpkin. I have nothing to do with this.... Tim is the creator, carver, and pumpkin carving master!



Now, before you think my kids have turned innocent, i have David's Top Seven list of the mischief he has been into recently. Thank God we didn't make it to 10 this week. I don't want anyone thinking we have it all together over here.... hopefully, this will put you at ease.
It goes from bad to worse.

7. I bought him gum at the store and let him hold it on the way home, only to realize he ate the entire 12 sticks. He was a sticky mess.

6. We use a spanking stick over here and when I was taking the trash out, low and behold, I found that darn thing in the trash. I asked David about it and he said, "I don't like it, I throw it away!!"

5. Went grocery shopping with them, we go every Monday morning so I thought I had it down. I turn around for one second to grab something off the shelf and turn around to find David had dug out my coupon scissors and chopped off a lock of Mackenzie's hair!! She's got a lot, so luckily it's not too noticeable.

4. He fed Holly half a stick of butter this morning. Gross, gross, and gross.

3. Went on a graffiti spree in my closet and garage. Thank the Lord I kept that paint so I can repaint it all.


2. Used the tape player in my new van as a coin dispenser. When I said, "DAVID! WHAT are you doing?!" He says, "Coins go in THERE mommy!" "NO, DAVID, NO!" Luckily, my handyman is handy enough to get all them out.


1. We had our first small house fire today that started in the toaster oven. This morning, he told me he was cooking his Halloween candy for breakfast. I made it to the kitchen before he turned it on and I took it all out (so I thought) When I turned it on for lunch..... it caught on fire. I must have missed a piece in the back....
Our house smells like burnt Snickers.


mental note: Always check ovens before you turn them on.

Anywho. I'm embracing the chaos over here. I will update more when I am not putting out fires, literally. Too bad he was a fire fighter for Halloween, he's like a pyro.

Happy Monday!

Pumpkin is 10 months

MACKENZIE IS 10 MONTHS OLD!! Photo shoot below.
She says "mama, da da, ba-ba (bottle & bye bye), D-D (David)" D-D is my favorite.
She smiles and laughs at everything.
She LOVES her daddy.
She is super tiny and petite. But, still has some baby rolls. Her checkup is soon.
She has enough hair for pig tails now which is my favorite.
She sleeps 8p to 8a with 2 naps.




David:
He is becoming such a good boy and a big help to mommy! (He is still a big time Mamas Boy.... which i love!!)
My friend and I are teaching preschool with him and her little girl. We rotate days/ houses on Tuesdays & Thursdays while our other babies nap. It is going great and I am amazed at how much they are learning! The best part is.... it's free!
He is also becoming very independent. He will just disappear and go potty & wash hands by himself.
I have to clean the potty and floor every day though b/c he gets distracted while he goes.
Loves riding his bike, his toy trucks and trailers, hotwheels, and will sit in the floor and do puzzles now.
He sleeps 8a to 8p, no naps. whew.
Say's some of the cutest and awful-est things I've ever heard. ie:
When he needs your attention and I'm busy, he'll say, "excuse me. I need something please."
He says, "I love mama. I love dinner. I love holly. I love daddy. I love my friend Kenzie. (It still hasn't sunk in she's his sister)

Not so cute things he says. ie:
Just to preface.... these are the things David hates : thunder (funder). shots from the doctor.
"I wanna hit Kenzie! She don't touch my trucks!"
I say, "No David, you can share. And we don't hit."
He'll say, "I want Kenzie go bye bye and get a shot and go in the funder!!"
He wishes all the things he hates the most upon whomever he is mad at. If I take a toy from him, he'll tell me to go in the funder.
Oh, boy. Sometimes it is hard not to laugh. Why are little kids so angry sometimes? What do they have to be so angry about?
I just don't get it!
Anyway, I often tell him that he has a good life and is lucky to have toys. I also tell him he is lucky to have a sister. That some children don't have siblings.

I mean.....can you really rationalize with a 3 year old? Not really.
He loves his friends. He talks about them every day. Today was his playgroup Halloween party and he is a firefighter for Halloween! (His choice, of course!)

Here is also another regular scenario around here. David will fall asleep some days on the couch and Tim loves to wake him up when he comes home!

Tim:
He started a job doing sales for Crystal Springs water a couple of months ago. He loves the company and is doing well there. They had a huge party this weekend and rented out Dave and Busters. They are big donors for the "Susan G. Komen, Race for the Cure" program. We had a great time and it is fun because my brother in law has worked there a long time and now we get to go to all the parties together!
Me:
There is not one day that goes by that I don't regret my mini-van. I love it. Tim has named it, "La Leche Grande". It means, The Big Milk. He just thinks he is so funny. I haven't decided if I am going to fight it. I just really don't care because people can call it whatever they want. I am happy. My days are still pretty spontaneous with both of the kids, but I am still writing as the Atlanta Frugal Living Examiner, and I just recently decided to become an independent jewelry seller for Stella and Dot. I am going to try and make a little extra money for the holidays.... and for fun! Both are 2 things I'm passionate about, writing and jewelry...haha!! Both are super part time (i do them at home during nap/quiet time) as my full time job is being a mommy. I just have to have a few outlets for sanity, fun, and adult time. I love staying busy, but also have big down time! It's a hard balance, something I work at continually. I think that is super important.

We went to a spectacular wedding this weekend in the north Ga. mountains. Brittany is a wedding planner, so of course everything was just jaw dropping. This song was their first dance, so fun. Her mother made all the guests hand made pottery! Beautiful was an understatement. It was cold, but leaves were falling, mountains surrounded us, and the food was incredible. We also had a blast on the dance floor with some old college friends ;)
Congrats, Brittany and Vince! We had an amazing night.





So, this has been our October so far.... more pumpkin festivities to come!!!

Pumpkins Part One

If you haven't picked up, I am a little over the top with holidays. It's not my fault though...... it's my mothers. I grew up celebrating even St. Patty's Day with green eggs and pancakes, hairbows, shirts, shamrocks, and the house completely decorated. It looked like a leprechaun threw up in our house. Anway, it was always a fun part of my childhood, so I have done the same for my kids so far! Blame her, not me.

We made it a tradition to go to Burt's Pumpkin Patch every year near Dahlonega and find the most obnoxious big pumpkin we can find. (But, shhhh, let me tell you a secret. Some of their pumpkins cost up to $200 +, but if you find one that has a "pretty front side" and a flat, ugly back side......ours was only $14!!!) Thats my free tip.

Anyway, here are a few of our first pics of the season! It's so dang hard to get pics when I'm chasing these 2, but here are some! I wish I was as awesome at it as my friend, Rachel, but maybe someday! We went with our awesome small group and had a blast!

Also, this song has no significance..... i just like it. I kept hearing it during all the flood victim move ins we did and I keep listening to it!


okay, and i totally just noticed the creepy people of walmart lady in the background above.

okay, I knew this wasn't going to happen, but thought it was worth a shot!

WHAT am i doing?!!!

Disclaimer: Feel free to judge me, call me names, whatever you like. But, when you have lots of babies, you too will have a similar life.

So, this is the car I have driven for the last 12 years of my life. Many know her as "blueberry." This car is like almost a part of me, so I am very sad to see her go. Any last comments to Blueberry will be appreciated in the end. Blueberry has helped a lot of people out there. Sniff. Well, after having this Toyota 4 Runner with almost 200k miles, it was time for a new(er) car!!
And yes, I was one of those people who always said, "I will never, NEVER, drive a mini-van!"
Well, last night I ate my words. After being married almost 6 years, 2 babies, and a dog, we knew it was coming....especially if there are more babies to come. We caved. We bought a Dodge Caravan. And let me tell you, I am in love.
I know that I am a loser, I had many honest friends tell me ahead of time, but I chose it. Thank you to my honest friends. For the friends that lied to me and told me mini vans are cool, its okay you lied. I have prepared myself mentally to drive an un-cool car. I chose practicality over style. This car was totally made for a mom, I mean completely. You can get away with an SUV with one baby completely, maybe even 2 for while, but with them growing, and all their stuff, and if a # 3 is in the future, you too will cave. Just let me justify it, okay?

I understand if you are not in my life stage and you think I have lost my mind. But, I am telling you, if you were me, this amazing van has already made my life so much easier to get out. All the space, the sliding doors in parking lots with car seats, and enough space between children so they don't fight...... I couldn't be happier.

I am still in shock. It's kind of an identity to embrace. It was hard to give up my 4 Runner for a soccer mom van, but...... that's what I am now so I am embracing it :) And if it makes my life easier, why not???

So, I am in need of names. I am a big car namer....... Let's hear them!!

So, here she is.....Dodge Caravan SE, that's right. Its a sport edition. That means it has a roof rack and fog lights. Watch out. And yes Dave Ramsey, it is a used car, paid in full. We didn't betray your ways....






So, if you need a ride. Just call me. This baby holds 7 comfortably, 8 or 9 if you squeeze. I kinda feel like I have a portable motel. Someone please tell me it's going to be okay. I am 27 and shouldn't be driving a mini van. My mom said she is the one that feels old, her baby (me) is driving a van with babies!!! But, my mom did drive a mini van and now this is her ride......


A white convertible Pontiac Solstice. She says in the end, you win. Thanks, mama! Save that for me! And sorry, I just had to play some JT, we are going to make this van as sexy as possible.