{my buddy boys}

I kept watching the boys out the window as they played in the backyard. I became more curious about their little adventures when I noticed that they kept going over to one specific place by the fence. Upon closer inspection and to my surprise they had been hard at work collecting potato bugs...poor little guys (as in the bugs). They had rigged up quite the system with a bucket and a radio flyer tricycle.

Yesterday I took the boys to the zoo and became very nervous when I decided to take my three sons into the monkey village. I could not keep them on the right side of the roped off space and there were times that I was sure I was going to loose them to the monkeys. Want to know how the zookeepers kept the monkeys away from us..they sprayed them with water bottles. As I finally got the boys to exit I overheard the zoo workers commenting on how the monkeys were extra active today. I felt like saying, "you're tellin' me". Seriously though yesterday was a great "buddy boy" day.

Inspiration from Sweet Paul and the weekend

This weekend I read through the latest online Fall issue of Sweet Paul. I was really inspired to try a new recipe when I saw the above submitted by one of Paul's readers. I also feel the need to tell anybody out there interested in making a delicious stew to give butternut squash and white beans a shot..SO GOOD! Also why pursuing Sweet Paul's latest issue I came across the styling for the below table setting. Loved the concept and many of the simple ideas that went into creating this little set-up.

Then in between church, sick kids and painting I was most inspired by my little girl who got up in front of our church congregation and stated the following by heart:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I don't know about you...but sometimes the whole everlasting life thing scares me..haha. Lets be honest though, doesn't everlasting life sound well just that..EVER LASTINGGG at times..and there are just some things should not last longer than a shake of a lambs tail. Good thing I am not basing everlasting life on kids who are puking for a living. Bless their hearts.

As for the boysie's room, we painted it and I picked up some handsome fabric for $1.00 a yrd to make duvet covers. I really love the concept of built in beds or three single beds but we either do not have the space or the budget. Funny thing about that bunk bed....we bought one from IKEA and got it all put together & painted only to find a warning sticker saying it was not recommended for kids under 6, nice. Anyway I think we might be able pull this room together if I can get over mixing navy blue with black because I really want to use that sweet trim. Anybody else have issues with mixing navy and black?

P.S. Just a side note but Modern Manor in Phoenix is awesome. I almost bought the above desk there a few weeks ago.

Californye-A

What happens when 2 year sisters get triplet brothers? Some refer to it as getting the short end of the stick? I really have good intentions to divide all of my attention equally but you see the boys have just required a tid bit more these last few years. In order to remedy this I thought it would be a great idea to go on just a momma/daughter bonding trip. We packed up and set our GPS for destination Californye-A. You know what I thought about while I was driving....swatch watches. I really wished I had saved all of mine. I know that is kind of random but the thought may have been triggered by the 80s channel on satelite radio. You know what else I may have thought about while I was driving...nothing...and it was nice.

I really like my girls. I hope they like me too.

{investments, change and smoothies}

This weekend the kids & I were on our own. Husband was on a fishing trip to Costa Rica. Why is it that when the husband is gone I am more efficient. It is the weirdest thing. Anyway the kids & I stayed up late every night reading & watching movies. Sunday rolled around and I would be bluffing if I said that the thought of not going to church crossed my mind. We went and you better believe that the first thing I did when we got home was kick off those green fluffy shoes, sat on the couch and stared at the wall while rocking back and forth, mom-ma:-). Well when we were at church Steve Shiflet approached me asking, "Didin't you use to work for one of those really big investment banking companies?" Of course I answered by telling him that I used to work for Goldman Sachs. With a smirk I then said, "Guess what I work for an even bigger investment banking company now." He looked a little puzzled until I said that the company I worked for now was my family. Steve then got the whole investment comparison thing even though he probably thought I was silly. I decided that what I had said was a good one because afterall I am investing way more into these kids hoping for an even greater return than any fund could ever produce. For the rest of the Sabbath Day I wondered if I should be fired from my Mom job. Either which way it didn't really matter because it is what it is and I can only do better (which I am glad for church because I usually always want to be better after I depart those chapel doors and I was just kidding about the rocking back and forth part when I got home). Well I am extra sensitive to my mothering rearing skills because my girls are entering into the school of big girls. It is for real now and there is no turning back. back................

I went into the guest bedroom and watched my girl as her back was turned to me. Today we were going to cut all of those long beautiful locks. Change is in air. It is part of life and natural progression but sometimes so dang hard. Perhaps in the next couple of days when I drop the girls off for Kindergarten I will think of those beautiful locks of hair on the ground and the chance for growth as I try to embrace change.

Man I have a lot to learn.

P.S. - I love how smoothies make myself feel better about being a Mom. My kids have no idea there are veggies mixed into all of that goodness.

Mother's Most Recent Smoothie of Love:

big heaping handful of spinach

fresh berries

banana

cold milled golden flax seed

kefir or yogurt

vanilla

water mixed with a bit of apple juice

soymilk

ice

BLEND

summertime discoveries

(To Grandma: Here is the latest)

Discoveries:

*I can take every single one of the kids to swim all by myself. Before doing such I was shaking in my boots thinking of doing this task. Of course they were all in floaties and life vests.

*Don't just bring sunblock and not use any.

*When you say "kids you have 5 minutes left to play in the pool", that really translates to it will take 1 hour to get everybody out and in the car.

*Sometimes I only have control over one thing in life and that is how I choose to react. I was trying so hard to not get mad about something so instead I busted out in crazy song (this is a frequent occurrence). This time it was to a Vanilla Ice tune.

"Stop collaborate and listen, Mom is back with a brand new invention..

Pick up all of your junk and stop spilling juices"

The kids just stared at me. I felt glad that I was not being video taped.

*Perfect Food Bars are my friends. The kids love them and just look below @ the ingredients. In my opinion they are also one of the best before work-out or mom on the go bars..especially because they are made from whole foods. Sometimes they go on sale @ Sprouts and are found with the yogurts in the refrigeration section just in case you were wondering. They also have a website here.

chores halted

Any good excuse to not do clean-up around the house. With front row seats to todays performance all chores were halted. The show was really good...how could it not be with a rabbit outfit and an old zoo hat meant to fit an 18 month old.

P.S. - The mess that you see on the floor is a true story;-)

{wide bottomed pants and averages}

Why is it so easy to go from liking this...

to liking this....

Probably because they both look so good. I do have to admit though that for years I have been a HUGE fan of wide bottomed pants..

Also I was thinking the other day that Motherhood is kind of crazy because one day you are on cloud nine and then the very next day you want to run away. Weird how that happens...good thing for averages.

{here, here, here}

wild engines (AKA: Bridge-gee Baby, Wellsinator & Choaney)

Lately have felt a little more outnumbered so we simplified and our little boys 3rd birthday consisted of:

slushies before lunch

cupcakes out of a box (shame on me)

making indian headbands

a teepee & boom box from my parents

cars from husbands parents

new shoes from us

singing happy birthday 3 individual times

lots of smiles

lots of love

Because of the birth of my boys I have benefited greatly. They have helped to learn me a lesson or two...like do not have any expectations when it comes to trying to get their pictures taken. I guess either which way it really didn't matter because Michelle is a miracle worker. I left the photo shoot thinking there is no way she got a decent picture...not for a lack of skills but because my boys WORKED us. I think I love the pictures because not only are they cute but it shows real life. I have three wild "engines" for petes sake so why wouldn't one have a black eye that just happened in nursery two days before pictures and why would they only NOT wear their indian bands and hats for pictures and why wouldn't they feel the need to cry and have only their Momma carry them when usually they want to walk all by themselves and why would one want to keep biting his toy snake and why would we have to try and bribe them to take pictures by throwing suckers in the teepee and telling them to get in.

To say I am so happy to have the above pictures is an understatement...thanks Michelle.

{Photos via Michelle Herrick @ Sweet Moments Design}

stickiness

I am not so sure I am the potty trainer type (who is really, now that I'm thinking about it).

Now painting rainbows with my girls I can handle...

I just treasure artwork done by children. I especially love the bright happy yellow background on the above painted rainbow by my little girl.

That's all for now, except I am wishing that everybody can find a happy spot today like in clouds or on top of rainbows. Actually, I think I am a realist that almost completely understands that happiness is a choice....and I'm stickin to it...just like everything else in the house....you see we are having a sticky problem with pretty much all surfaces the children touch.

Sticky everywhere!

St. Patricks Day

The kids scored some serious green loot when I took them to the store today to play a

St. Patrick's Day game (at least that's what we called it). I love it when one can make up

games that really benefit the Mother...let's just say I got my mint pie Rice Dream frozen

goodness that I've been craving...good thing the packaging has green on it.

Here are a few things that I know for sure today:

My kids know the color green.

My kids know how to play in the park.

They love mud piles.

My kids are happy.

Other than that I claim to not know very much more because I'm tired and want to sit

in the corner as a deaf mute reading a book...if you know what I mean.

When kids do not have naps they go to sleep @ seven...heaven.

All is good.

Did I mention that I am glad that I got out of making corned beef with cabbage this year.