Toothless

James has lost his 5th tooth and couldn't be more proud!

Smart little boys

Instead of working on my yard, I am laying on a bench in my front room listening to two "ninjas" play. They have developed a new language that chomper says he's not very good at...Cohen told him to just do his best. Very good advice.

I suppose that is what I'm doing also...looking at my lovely piano and planning what I will do when I finally get up ;) Am I the only one who stresses out when summer comes? Haha!

Move over...

I was taking a nap this afternoon and I got kicked out of bed, one child at a time. Good thing they are so stinking cute!

The boy's got skillz

This is what happens when you feel sick and spend a lot of time in bed...your two-year-old developes a serious understanding of physics via angry birds. I have mixed emotions of pride and shame :)

Oh my...

Watch "The Hunger Games Official Trailer 2012 HD" on YouTube

I'm thinking Hollywood learned from their epic mistake of taking a good book and making a horrible, low-budget film. Thank you Twilight...now the Hunger Games can be awesome :)

PS... Yes, I am still SUPER excited for Thursday. Groupie for life!

One day...

...This is what my yard is going to look like.

Prepare yourself. It's going to be awesome.

Halloween Time

Fall break = boys in underwear all day and decorating for Halloween :)



























(I decided not to post the "boys in underwear" photos.
Happy Halloween!!

I'm getting better...

Today I managed to bathe the boys (ironman excluded), exercise, get James to school then take the other two to Thanksgiving Point. (TPoint if you are cool.) Ponies, baby chickens, ice cream, searing hot...you get the idea, but fun! Btw those gardens are in my future.

The boys fell asleep after and I had my sweet babysitter come over so that I could spend the next 3 hours of my life at Lowes perusing and gathering supplies. That red chest of drawers is also in my future.

Later, we had dinner, roasted marshmallows (James lit his first fire and he "just can't believe it!"), and picked from our garden. Quite the day...I should file this under "look how awesome of a mom I am" or "look how annoyingly I can blog". Both favorites. :) {that's for you Cathy}

PS My phone doesn't let me write by my pics. Stupid. Sorry!

Long days

We have a lot of time on our hands now that James is at school ALL DAY LONG. Yesterday we commandeered a friends whole morning, today it was 11:00 McDonalds and a visit to Grandpa and Grandma. (yes, I did eat a big mac. Don't judge, I'm emotional.) Any suggestions for tomorrow? :)

It's official

My life is practically over...I have a first grader.

Outside

It seems like I never liked going outside at my old house...too overwhelming. But here...I just love it! I wanted to share a picture of my beautiful peony that just bloomed. It makes me happy. (as does the homemade boxwood wreath on my door and the Ironman boy in the window) :-)

Below: James and Tommy enjoying a little netflix. (Yes, we watch tv. No, we don't have our swingset or tramp or sandbox here yet.) Tommy is going up a little too fast for my liking. It made me and Jake sincerely think about having another baby...

...Then I got super sick...and that was our answer...No way, no how. All I can say is I hope I have really awesome daughters-in-law, because apparently, that's as close as I'm going to get!

Out with the family

In typical Player/Grace fashion on a Saturday...garage sale-ing.

Too cute

Watch "Tommy and the cows" on YouTube

For all those who care to watch my adorable child say moo :)

Comings and Goings

I feel a little bored today...
My thoughts:

I don't have almost an acre of weeds to pull.

I don't have any mouse holes to track down and plug.

There aren't any birds making nests in my attic that need my attention.

I've already planted my garden because it was practically handed to me on a silver platter.

I don't have any (or three) garages to organize...

You get the idea. Now the coveted nap time is like a "how long does he really need to nap?" time. Life is weird...I just need to get used to it, I guess.

We have had some fun visitors today: our new cute neighbors (conveniently almost the exact ages of my boys, and three of them too!) and the adorable Danny and Cate. My kids are really happy here! Now I just need something to keep me busy besides my Twilight books :)

(PS: gotta love Tommy's pose for the camera.)

The garden

This is what gardening looks like when you have little boys helping...my new, clean bathroom doesn't look so clean now either.

Changes

I'm spending a very quiet, early morning with Will in our new home. It's a little bitter-sweet. But I'm finally coming to terms with the fact that it doesn't matter where you are...it's about who you are with :)

(This is a very happy picture, with a very happy Andrea and Candis...as a blonde.)

Life is funny...just when you think that you can't take any more, you start to see the beauty of it. People can be weird, people can be selfish, people can be stupid...but that doesn't mean that I have to be. I do not pretend to have it all put together, but I am happy. I am happy with myself and what I can do. This is kind of a big deal because it has taken about, oh, 28 years to get to this place!

About people being weird...SERIOUSLY? Stop. Don't make other people feel uncomfortable. Don't push your opinion at the sake of the relationship. Don't stand on a soapbox (this will be my last one, promise.) Don't think that you have something to prove. Believe me, YOU DON'T. We all are just pushing along together, doing the best we can. Cut everyone some slack. Make someone happy instead. Smile even if you feel fake. Compliment someone. Take your mind off of yourself. Candis Ellis--self help expert. ha!

My friend looks forward to 30. I personally dread it, but she has a very valid point. When you are 30, it's like you can be a real-live adult. I agree. I look forward to the real-live-adult me. I want to be that person who is always kind and forgiving. That person who knows how to have fun and be responsible at the same time. Pretty much just want to be awesome--and it's possible.

Sorry for the weird post...I just needed to say that life is short and that we are here to be happy.

That's all, the end.

Today is a "light a match and walk away" kind of day. Seriously, who needs all this STUFF! I am so sick of so many things. Here's a list:

• All of the THINGS that I keep around because they are "nice" or "expensive".
  
• My fat face. (and don't tell me it's not fat...I've seen pictures.)
• My fat body, for that matter.
• The fact that even though I am STARVING, I am not loosing very much weight
• My un-manicured yard
• My non-existent garden
• My kid's messy room that has been messy for about 5 years now
• My sweats that I have worn for 2 days straight
• My super-short-people-over-compliment-because-deep down they feel bad for me-hair.
• My whining children
• The fact that no matter how much I clean, the house looks the same...like sh**. Sorry, it's true
• That I can help anyone else make something pretty, just not my own stuff.
• That I have so many ideas and inspirations, but after about 45 minutes of taking care of everything else, I loose steam and give up.

Yes, there are more things, but I am trying not to cause all of you to quickly delete me from your reader. :) SMILEY FACE! EVERYTHING IS OK! haha

Here are some things that I am not sick of:

• My sweet children--even as hellions, they are still pretty cute
• My Husband--who loves me even though I am a big, fat, ugly hairdo, meanie
• My blessings...I know I have more than most, and I really am grateful. Promise.

It just feels good to air the dirty laundry. Speaking of laundry.......FREAK!

Ella and I have shared several "almost-pee-your-pants" moments...below is the latest.

Enjoy!

I look just like one of my neighbors!! So funny!

Ella Osmond

"parasite. alien."

And our personal faves. Ella as Elizabeth Reaser as seen on Grey's Anatomy.