Maddox's Spiderman Party

My baby goobley turns 3

To my baby boy Maddox... You have captured my heart from the day you were born. Late in the night, hours after you arrived, I finally got the chance to be amazed at the creation that God had blessed me with. Your curly dark hair and brilliant blue eyes studied mine in the quiet hours that daddy lay asleep on a very uncomfortable roll out sofa in our room. I made countless promises as your mommy, praying that you would always be happy and healthy to fulfill all the dreams and plans God had already selected for you.

Little did I know you were the orneriest little toot that I had been blessed with...

How could I be so angry at you one second and then gather you up in my arms the next, kissing and loving your sweet irresistible face?? You have grown into such a smart little boy, rambling through the house with such energy one minute then crashed in my lap the next telling me a slew of little stories all strung together to make a very interesting novel. I could listen to you play and imagine for hours with countless characters scattered around your sweet toe toes. I love that you are so cautious to those around you, slow to share your sweet thoughts.

We have come so far this past year my sweet goo. You excitedly walk alone into bible class and preschool classes where before you cried to go in the welcoming door; You now speak so clearly and intently where a year ago I could barely understand 1 word or phrase that you spoke; You now play with other children instead of wanting to sit in the corner, content to play alone.

I am so proud of you beautiful boy and I cannot wait to experience your amazing and undoubtedly exciting life as your mommy.

Happy birthday, sweet goobley. Mommy loves you so, so much.

Old Favs

I swore that I would not be the mommy that would let the kids watch videos from place to place in the car. It was only for longer journeys, i.e. the east side of Wichita or Oklahoma. But, after much whining, I decided that it wasn't worth the fight, I had to choose my battles, thus we watch a video for the 2 minute ride to the grocery store, the 5 minute drive to Jackson's school, the 7 minute drive to church, and the list goes on...

We seem to watch the same thing over and over and over because there is a very small collection I keep in the car. From my kids new favorite classic, one that I know I would NEVER have gotten them to watch if it were up against all the choices at home, is Bed knobs and Broomsticks. We also throw Monsters, Inc. and Tinkerbell into the rotation. After the 50th time listening to Tinkerbell, I don't actually think that I have viewed the movie, it sounds pretty cute though, I realized I needed to throw some princess movies into the mix that so desperately needed to be adjusted.

Ava demands to watch Elmo at home, but I felt that she needed to be introduced to the realm of princesses and their fairy tale endings versus furry red monsters and her brother's super heros favorites. This week I popped in The Little Mermaid. Do you realize this movie has been out for 20 years?? I remember going with my little nephew, who is now almost 22, to the theater and bawling at the end when Arial became human. I had forgotten how much I loved Les Poissons, and how hysterical the charcter of Ursela is. My goodness, I have been singing Part of Your World since Tuesday, I must be enjoying the change of pace.

I love the new found wonder in sis's eyes as she watches a beautiful red head mermaid swim underwater with a crab, and Maddox's attempt to sing along with every song. It is absolutly adorable and I cannot wait to add to the princess car movies next week...hmmmm....I think my kids are in dire need to see Beauty and the Beast. It is Monday and mommy is needed to be swept away in a fairytale as I am leaving my prince tomorrow for a little road trip.

The Angels Sang and I Swear the Heavens Parted

I know I usually reserve the blogspot for cute lil quips about something cute or sweet my angels have said or how much I love my amazing husband, but today, I have to break the rules.
Isn't she so pretty??? This picture truly does not do her justice. I could just cuddle with it on the couch for a few short moments and take in all of her wonderful smells. I have wanted a red shiny bag for over a year now and have waited because the heavens didn't part when I saw one.
A few weeks ago I heard the angels sing and I swear it was glowing on the shelf at Dillards during their year end clearance sale. I was with my mom and it's beauty was so hard to resist. I did resist, amongst all of the angels trumpets and all of her radiating warmth that I knew I felt. I had, the day before, decided that I was going to save more and spend less. To buy the bag would've been like cheating on a diet the day after I had started, right? I told myself, if it is still here when I come back, it is meant to be. If she's gone, I would remember her and kick myself, but move on.
I went to see a friend the next day and told them of the beautiful bag and how I decided not to buy her. I got a phone call later from my friend who works at the store, and said she was still on the shelf, did I want her to get it? I couldn't help myself. "Yes!!"
My sweet friend Tammy came by today at 8:00 this morning to drop off the bag so I could wear it to MAPS. I had my checkbook ready to pay her and she insisted that it be a gift. Seriously too much, but she wouldn't let me.
So this is my Tammy bag and each time I carry her I will think about my sweet girl and our treasured friendship. I knew there was a reason the heavens parted and the angels sang...

Also an added surprise that I didn't even know until I started filling Tam before we rushed out the door; Zebra lining. So perfect and so fun! Love you Tami-kins! So thankful that I can call you my girl.

Hangin in the tent

My sweet goobley came and dragged me into his toy room this afternoon saying, "Mom, come 'ere, come 'ere". After he was almost screaming at me, I came to see what he was dragging me to play with, thinking it was some boy toy that he wanted to fight me with as I made an attempt to make my girlie version of gun and fighting noises. Instead I found that he wanted me to get the collapsible Sesame Street tent out to set up in the toy room. We set it in the middle of the floor and I climbed inside with him. He sat in my lap and we looked from the inside and talked about all of the Sesame Street characters. What were their names, what were they doing and such. Ernie was holding rubber duckie and Maddox said, " Aww, they hold hands. That's friendly." I couldn't help but giggle at his use of a BIG word and his sweet frankness about the relationship between rubber duckie and Ernie. He then says, "this is my hiding place mommy. I love you". Could I just cry??

I am so glad that I got up and went into the cramped tent with my Maddox today, leaving behind whatever meaningless task it was I was doing. He is standing next to me now, making his cars drive on the computer desk, and making sounds as they race and crash into each other.

How sweet and incocent he is at this very moment. Why do I feel that if I blink it will be gone??

Lil Miss Princess

Lil Miss has become quite the diva princess of late. Carrying around mommy's purse, forever into mommy's make-up, mommy's nail polish strewn everywhere, carrying around a baby constantly, and beginning to play dress-up seem to be the norm for sis. The boys never did any of those things!! Except the dress-up. Super heroes costumes are a daily thing with masked twosome.
The pic to the right is a frequent new look for miss Ava. In some sort of shoe that is not hers and carrying mommy's bag and waving goodbye to her adoring admirers...her brothers and any one else who gives her the least bit of attention. She usually has a baby slung over her shoulder saying how nice it is when she kisses baby's forehead or pats baby's back. It is really, really adorable, I must say. Although the gut hanging below the shirt may call for a little Stacy and Clinton rescue from "What Not to Wear" for a style fix if she gets caught. I'm sure I could possibly find some way to spend the 5 grand they'd give us on the Visa check card!! They make designer bags for toddlers and I have seen heels for babies!!
The make-up thing is enough to drive me crazy in the mornings when a eye liner or blush brush cannot be found. I spend more time looking for my make-up than time it takes to put it all on. Zipping the make-up bag does help, but I know that is only a short term fix before she figures out how to get into the beauty products. She's my daughter....can't go anywhere without lipstick of course!!

The sweet tu-tu to the left was made by Nana for the lil princess for Christmas. She loves it!! She does not want to take it off unless it falls off her mid run and she doesn't realize that it fell off her tiny little behind. She's already for Meggan to come and teach her how to twirl and leap with the best of them!! Is 18 months old to young???

So my sweet lil princess is beginning to sprout into the baby girl that I always wanted. I had to pinch myself the other day as we sat in the middle of the living room combing Darby's synthetic red locks and talking about her shoes. I cannot wait for Barbie's and doll houses and sweet little clunky plastic shoes as we go into Dillons.

How could I be so lucky to find 3 handsome heroes and 1 lil princess?? Maybe I'm the evil queen....

Big brother

I need to tell all about how sweet I have caught my sweet lil goobley being.

Sis was throwing one of her dramatic fits over not getting juice or a cracker or some little thing that I did not drop all to get for her. Since Jackson was at school that morning, Maddox had to step into the comforting big brother role. He chased her all over the room until he finally caught her and embraced her with loving pats on the back and words that everything was going to be alright. I got this pic just before the drama queen pushed him away saying, "no, top it!". He then began to chase her again...

When did he decide to get so big?? Usually he is my ornery little mess that I cannot resist. But this morning, he was sissy's comfort.

His speech has begun to improve by leaps and bounds and suddenly he has shown interest in being a big boy and wondering about the potty. Wondering is something, right???? Ahhh, to only have one child in diapers again... I can only dream.