Merry Christmas

Because I know I will be away from the computer (rightfully so) for a few days I just wanted to take a moment to say Merry Christmas.  May your family find peace love and comfort this Christmas.  Let's work on getting back to this blogging business next year shall we?!?!?!?

Merry Christmas Friends and God Bless!!!!

Modge Podge of Stuff

It's a Modge Podge of stuff around here...not to be confused with Mod Podge...because I'm totally digging that stuff right now.  Hello Christmas Pinterest Crafts! I'm trying to find anything and everything I can to Mod Podge on to something :) Pic's of those after Christmas. Don't want to ruin the surprise you know!

We are knee deep in wrestling season (our first tournament is Sunday)...getting ready for Christmas (our first celebration is this Saturday) and this momma is tired.  At some point I've got to figure out a birthday party for Dalton who turns 6!! in less than a month! When did this happen...who let him grow up?!?!? I'm trying my hardest to keep him little but he keeps maturing on me day after day.  He reads books to ME at night ugh...stop growing kid stop growing!

Sophie is as onry as ever. Rocky's mom always warned me about paybacks for the naughtiness Rocky got into as a kid and I'm pretty sure the little diva is the payback! She loves her momma though and would rather be on my hip...dragging me around the house...painting her toenails or helping me cook (aka digging out every pot and pan at her level).  She runs to me when I walk in the door and wants my attention until she goes to bed...however this morning when Rocky told her he loved her...she responded "love you".  Not fair he got the first love you.  Oh well such is life.

Hope you're all staying sane this Christmas Season...now back to Mod Podgeing :)

Fall Fun and I'm Super Mom (not)

This past weekend was really kind of a short one.  I had like half a day to get the house clean, get ready for a garage sale and spend some quality time with the kiddos since Sunday involved a long all day trip to the Central part of the state for a family baby shower.  So I got up went to work for a few hours came home and Dalton and I worked on sorting through all of his toys to get ready for the garage sale.  We successfully cut the toy population in half after decided which toys he had outgrown and were ready to pass on and the ones that had broken peices and could be thrown away.  Whew...that took us all afternoon lets just say that kid is LOVED.  So now the toy boxes are ready for Christmas and his birthday 10 days later.  By that time it was late and time for dinner.  Somehow it became 9 o'clock and the promise of a family movie night was pretty distant in my mind.  Sophie was in bed and Rocky was heading that way.  Dalton was begging to carve pumpkins and since Rocky was going to bed I thought it'd be perfect time for some one on one time with my little man. 

I handed him some spoons to clean out the pumpkin while I cleaned the kitchen.  It did a great job, no complaining and very little guts left for me :)

I was pretty impressed with my mad carving skills and even went to bed telling Rocky I bet he was jealous that he didn't get in on that quality time.

 The next morning before Sophie and I hoped in the car Dalton and I painted our toast...I'd seen this on pinterest and thought he might find it fun. 

Just mix a few drops of food coloring into a cup of milk and use paint brushes to paint it on. I've seen people post that they popped these into the broiler, I just put them in the toaster and I forgot to take an after pic but once it's toasted it really enhances the color. Def. will do it again.

After a long day in the car and a fun baby shower Soph and I were suprised when we got home to this

Dalton and Rocky carved 5 pumpkins so pretty much take that mom you thought you were cool...

Hope you all had a fun Halloween weekend.



Happy Anniversary Babe

A couple of weeks ago the hubs and I celebrated 7 years of marriage, I'm happy to report that he still is agreeing to put up with baskets of clean laundry sitting around our house and I still don't mind that he's right most of the time. So what does a couple who's been married for 7 years do on their anniversary? Take their adorable children to the pumpkin patch of course :)

This was the only time she was interested in the pumpkins...she preferred picking her favorite rocks instead.

Such a scary monster

Last weekend we did make time for some "couple" time and hopped on the Harley and rode to West Mineral in South East Kansas to see Big Brutus.  I can say I was not really that excited to see the World's second largest electric coal mining scoop but it ended up being more than I thought it would be.

This guy loved every minute of it.

In the Coal Mining Museum they had some memorabilia of maybe the most famous Coal Miner's Daughter...my hero Loretta Lynn.

All in all it ended up being a great anniversary...spending time with the people that I love. Here's to many more years of him being right (most of the time) and my procrastinating on the house chores and raising to incredibly adorable children.

Are you pinning?

A couple of months ago I found out about Pinterest when Sasha blogged about it. Like any other social networking junkie would do I hoped over to see what all the hype was about. And now I'm HOOKED I've pinned things I'd like to make for Christmas gifts (don't worry family they're really cool I promise), tutu's I'd love to make for Soph, recipes I'd like to try and things I'd like to bake or cook.  So if you're not pinning yet I totally think you should be!  And Follow me...I promise to follow back...because like any other social networking junkie I love to stalk people :)

Who knew School could keep a family so busy!

I'm blaming it on school anyway.  Life just seems to being going at blazing fast speeds these days!

So let's catch up shall we?

This little princess turned 1!!!!

She is my wild child! She has 4 teeth now...weighs 19.6 lbs and is 28 1/2 " tall.  There's not a food this girl has met that she didn't love.  She says "Mommy" "Dadda" "Bubba" "Hi Puppy" "Nice Baby" and "Thank you"  She's taking 5 to 7 steps at a time on her own.  She never wants to be carried anymore just wants me to hold her hand and walk everywhere with her.  I love this little princess...we play with babies and put on 3 different headbands a day.  She is growing up too quickly...I just need time to slow down we have so much to do during her childhood! OK so maybe I'm being a little dramatic...but I know how quickly it goes...

You see this fella right here?

Well he's in Kindergarten and doing great! He loves school except in his words "when mommy has to leave" he'd really like me to stay there all day with him.  But we've been taking baby steps and today I actually dropped him off in the car drop off lane without any tears or hesitation! Isn't it amazing how quickly you start teaching your children to be independent it's sad but I guess part of life right?

This is how everyday after school looked that first week! This no nap business took a while to get used to.  Last week he began the after school program. He got to ride a bus to go to the library.  He liked riding the bus but now way does he want to ride it to school :)

Between school, soccer practice, football practice and life we are just busy! I'm hoping my DVR doesn't catch fire from recording so much once my falls shows start airing because seriously who knows when I'll have time to watch it.

For now I enjoy every minute with these two little sweet hearts that rock my world...I'm sure one day I'll look back and wish I could have just one more crazy morning routine, school drop off line, soccer practice, homework, baby playing, unsteadily walking sort of day!

Extreme Makeover:Home Edition

They're here!!!! In Kansas!!! And just down the road from me!!! I have been enjoying all things Extreme this week. One of my BFF's Katie and I volunteered over night one night. Such a neat and exciting experience. My son is totally impressed that his mom helped build a house.


I haven't had the chance to hang out with Ty but another one of my BFF's Jessica has!
I did get the chance to Interview the Senior Producer of the show Diane Korman before the family was surprised. You can listen to it here.

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I also got a quick chat with Paul DiMeo

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The family is a very deserving family. I do not know them personally...but the dad served in Iraq and know suffers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder...he's spent the last year away from his wife and kids receiving treatment for this disorder. My eyes have been opened so much more on PTSD over the last 5 days. We CANNOT thank our veterans enough for the sacrifices they make for the rest of us!!!! God Bless America!!!

I will be proudly wearing my blue shirt tomorrow yelling "Move That Bus"!!! Look for our episode to air in October!

Let's Take A Tour #1

Does anyone remember that we moved? LOL. I finally got the chance to take a few pictures of the house this weekend. A few of areas that were clean at the time and while the little people in the house took a nap. I didn't get far. So welcome...this is standing at the front door.

Also at the front door looking into the living room. Those pictures on the mantel aren't staying...Eventually there will be some sort of large clock above. I just have to find the perfect one. (The windmill painting Rocky bought at an estate sale because it reminded him of western Kansas and I really have no clue where I'm going to hang it)

The Kitchen...I love it...so much more cabinet space than the old house. That Island Bar...the boys eat there for every single meal. I have to bribe them to join Soph and I at the dining table. They also don't push their chairs back in...but we won't talk about that right now.

Love these windows...I wish you could see the view from out them. I don't think we'll put window coverings on them...they bring so much light into the house.

So that's as far as I got...There's a lot of decorating that needs to take place...but moving has been expensive and unfortunately money doesn't grow on trees. But since we're not going any where any time soon...I'm confident I'll get it done someday :)

Summer Slow Down

Ah Summer...lazy days and fun nights...I wish

However the days this week have been a lot less crazy...thank goodness. This past weekend we were able to relax and enjoy our house it was nice. The kids are getting back into a routine and I'm finally having a little "ME" time in the evenings. I've enjoyed the time pruning my rose bushes (dude we have a lot of plants, know much about all plants come on over I don't know a thing) and reading...finally I'm reading again. Dalton is signed up for the Summer Reading program at our local library and decided that as long as we're there every week I should be reading too!

So I've started this series. So far so good...I love that there are 17 books in this series so far that means I don't have to think about what I'm going to read next which was really a job in itself. If you have any suggestions on what to read next leave me a comment. P.S. Isn't the public library a great addition to any community...I mean really it's great entertainment (reading is) and it can be FREE.

I've also decided (again I know) that I really need to lose some weight...I'm lighter than I was before getting pregnant with Soph but I'd really like to be at least to my Wedding Day weight which is 20 lbs to go. So Saturday morning I tried something new Jazzercise...and I'm immediately hooked! It really is so.much.fun. and my calves were sore for days!!! Right now I can really only make it on Saturday mornings...but you can bet I'm already looking forward to that next class! I've signed up for the FREE website MyFitnessPal and working on watching those calories...It always helps to be accountable to someone this site helps you stay accountable to yourself. Next up Running and this!

My first 5/K in like 2 or 3 years. So that's what's going on with me this summer! Hope your summer's going good too!

Blue Eyed Beauty

We are moved and unpacked and just as soon as tball isn't consuming my life any longer I'll give you a tour...In the mean time Sophie and I had a day to ourselves Saturday...so nice to have the downtime. A few years ago for father's day when Dalton was 2 I believe I made a collage like this for Rocky and he mentioned he'd like something like it from Sophie. So enjoy these shots of my beautiful blue eyed girl. I just can't get enough of her sweetness!!!

It's Just A House...Right?

Friday at 6 p.m. we finally take possession of our new house! Finally I say...but I'm not quite ready to let go of our home. I've been doing really well packing away...getting excited where my decorations will be put at the new house...which closet my stockpile will take over...how I'll decorate the kids rooms and the excitement of my new big bath tub. I said I was doing fine...I was until I looked at this.

The measurements of Dalton's height that we've made sure to mark on every birthday...As I was packing away his room...taking down his wall decals...removing the curtains I made...I sat down and cried for like 10 minutes. I know it's just a room and just a house...but it's also a part of our family. (Remember I'm woman I can be sappy) I can barely tell you what Dalton's room looked like when we bought our home 6 1/2 years ago...but I can tell you I started working on that room to make it a nursery about 2 weeks before I found out I was pregnant. We sanded floors, refinished them...painted the room in neutral colors and awaited the birth of our first child...it was ready about 5 months before he was due. I remember running into his room at every sound, nursing him the creaky rocker, pulling out all of his toys for him to play with before he knew what playing was. I remember keeping his room spotless...I wanted it to look just perfect. Right now it's spotless again and that makes me sad. While I'm excited for the adventures of his new room (and yes I'll probably still be arguing with him to clean it) I'm gonna miss all the memories this room brings. The measurements have now been painted over...but you better believe the first thing I do is find the perfect place in his closet to put them back up!

Ready or Not Here We Come...Kindergarten

And just who's idea was it to let this little boy grow up anyway? Tuesday we took him to Kindergarten roundup KINDERGARTEN PEOPLE!!!! He did fabulous! We walked in one of the teachers asked if he'd go with her while his parents filled out paper work and.he.went.WILLINGLY! He passed his testing that they did with him only forgetting to put the O (his favorite letter) in his name and was confused on his address...I'm pretty sure he gave them his phone number. But letters numbers counting standing on one foot...they say he's ready. I know he is...but am I? Am I really ready to say I have a "big kid"? A kid that wears a backpack to school everyday and can choose to eat a school lunch or take a lunch...a kid that will bring home homework and learn naughty things from his friends. Nope I don't think I'm ready. I mean August it will be kindergarten, then 1st grade, middle school, high school and then he'll be moving away!!! Ok maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself! All I know is that I'm gonna love and cuddle and snuggle with him all I can until he goes to school and realizes his mom isn't cool anymore.

The House That Will Build My Children

As long as we make it through inspections next week on our place and this place this will be the house that builds our children! I'm sooo stinking excited. Like can't sleep at night...day dreaming of where things will go...imagining my children playing in the 1.68 acre yard...I'm just tooo excited! Dalton is too! He told me this morning he can't wait to move...I think it's the promise of the playroom. So please stick around friends. I plan to get back to blogging soon! I have a couple of posts written just need to take and add the photos but things will be getting crazy here over the next few weeks!

Things My Kid Says...

Dalton is rather interesting to listen to. He repeats everything he hears which can be good and not so good. These are just a few from last night...

"Mom wouldn't it be great if I never did anymore sins?"

"Can I pray while I go poop?"

Proud mama moment and then he follows it up with this earlier this morning...

"G's grandpa is weird"

Me "How do you know that have you met him?"

"No but he was in the shower with G's grandma"

Greeeeeeeeeeattttt!

Look Who's Half A Year Old!!!

Interview with Lisa Morrisey from ABC's The Bachelor

I know I've told you guys a million times that I'm not watching The Bachelor any longer BUT there was a girl from my town on this season and of course I had to watch! Unfortunately this past Monday Bachelor Brad Woman sent Lisa home without a rose. I have been chomping at the bit to interview this girl since I heard she was going to be on the show...this morning I got that opportunity!

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Really Lisa was such a sweet heart and I think represented our town well!

Please help me get this baby to sleep!

I don't know if it's the full moon or what but my baby girl has decided she should keep mom up all.night.long. and I'm not exaggerating! She WAS sleeping awesomely...going to bed around 9:30 up at 6 maybe even 6:30 and occasionally 7. Then...last week hit!

You see she currently sleeps in our room in the pack and play...all cuddled up in her swaddler.

(not my baby)

However she's outgrown it therefore we've quit using it...and she starts waking up every two to three hours. Our room is downstairs and it's a little cooler than her room upstairs so I decided last night I'd put her in her crib upstairs and see if that would help. And I'm not lying people it was the worst night of sleep of her whole life!!!

I made sure she was good and asleep and laid her down...20 minutes later she's stirring and then up...I pick her up rock rock rock she's asleep down she goes 30 minutes later hello mama I want you to hold me! I made a little bed on the floor in her room and I was so exhausted I stood there looking at my makeshift bed on the hardwood floor desperately wishing I was laying in it. Really?!?!? You must be really tired and crazy to want to sleep on the floor!

So what are you're tips? Any ideas? Do you think i should buy her a bigger swaddler I mean really she can't be swaddled forever but I can't sleep on the floor for 20 to 30 minutes at a time for very long either.

5 years

How can it be that they've gone by soooo fast. Sleepless nights with you...teething...first words...potty training they're all just a memory. (sniff sniff) You, Dalton Lyle make me so proud to be your mommy! You are no longer a baby, a toddler, even a preschooler, your a little-big kid. You count everything...know your letters...and even ask me how to spell words (mostly girls names...sigh). Your vocabulary amazes me everyday and they questions you ask make me realize you know more about this crazy world than I give you credit for. You love to work on projects with daddy and take things apart to see how they work. If there was a demolition derby for little kids you'd be the first to sign up cause that's one of your favorite things right now. You're all boy kiddo and I love that.

Your teachers tell me all the time that even on a bad day you're smile can make the day a little brighter (and I totally agree). That smile is extremely contagious and I hope you keep your positive outlook forever. You are friends with everyone and that's awesome. I have this feeling you'll get your heart broke a few times over the years...just because you're such a nice kid. Keep it that way...it'll pay off in the long run!

This year when you found out you'd have a little brother or sister you were very excited...asking almost daily how much longer until the baby gets here. Ever since we've brought your sister home you've been a great help and most mornings I don't know how the three of us would get where we needed to be without your help. I know sometimes you probably wish that all of the attention was on you again...but you share it well. I can tell you love your sister so unconditionally and it makes my heart melt that you feel the need to hold her multiple times a day...read her books and just play with her. She loves you too!

Happy Birthday bud! Keep being that same awesome kid you've always been. And please don't mind that I'll probably cry when we sing you Happy Birthday tonight...and at your birthday party this weekend and when you start kindergarten in August...let's just say...get used to my tears