A constant balancing act

****Stickers courtesy of Sofia****** 

 Today I wanted to give up. The stress of my day to day life was swallowing me whole. I had had enough of yelling at my children. I was done with their allergic reaction towards listening. My hose looks like it threw up on itself and no matter how many deep breaths I took, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was failing in every aspect of my life. The job of motherhood was taking it toll on my ability to be a good wife, a friend, a daughter. My children have run me ragged and they were winning. I called my mom in tears, begging for her to turn my naughty,apparently deaf children, into darling little angels, or I was going to jump off a building. Tears of exhaustion poured down my face. After reassuring words I hung up, washed my red puffy eyes, sent the children outside and I sat in the sun with my eyes closed and prayed.

 Here is what I came up with. I am Not a perfect mother and my children are not perfect children but no one is and that's ok. I don't respond to people screaming at me, so I should probably stop screaming at my children. I complain about how my days are long and all I do is yell, and I am quick to blame it on my my kids crazy behavior, but I have some blame in the attitude of my house. Our whole family is on a different page. The balance in our house is off and we are all fighting against each other instead of together. We're running ourselves in circles, and I am exhausted quite honestly.

 Parenting is hard, and somedays just plain ole sucks, but you don't give up or give in on the hard days. That's not fair to anyone. I teach my kids to keep trying no matter what, and it's about time to listen to my own advice. 

 And Son, instead of yelling you are going to have a permanent time out spot in the corner of your room so don't think you're off the hook kid-o - 

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Merry Christmas Friends

Merry Christmas from Us. Hope the next couple of days is full of family, laughter, wrapping paper, happy babes, and yummy food. 

Good Behavior with Sprinkles on Top

Today started out rough, as you can clearly see from the look on the Boys face. We barreled thru the crusty mood and went to Target where I didn't have to yell at anyone. 

Not even one time.

 See Virginia there is a Santa Clause!

I treated my well behaved babes to a batch of cake batter rice crispy treats. YUM. I've seen these floating around on Pinterest and decided today was the day. Super good, def worth trying.

I've been in a bit of a slump lately. Just a lot of things, decisions, weighing on my mind. I decided to move around all of our furniture to take my mind off of it. It always makes me feel better. The husband is home a little early tonight so I think we'll go look at Christmas lights.

Happy Thursday

Sincerely, Your Exhausted Mother

Dear Babes, 

I am two seconds away from taking you to the Dr to have your ears checked because you are the WORST listeners right now. You don't walk, you run, you scream instead of talk. You think its funny to hide my stuff and watch me freak out trying to find it. You can't leave each other alone for five seconds. If I hear "MOOOOMMMMM, Gavin/Sofia hit me" one more time it might just be the end of me. Sofias latest favorite phrase is "Thats Not FAIR". Tough cookies kid, you better get used to it. I say the same four things all flippin day...... Use kind words, don't touch each other, LISTEN, and unless someone is bleeding or unconscious STOP TATTLE TAILING! 

Sigh

Sofia is the sneakiest sassiest girl I know, and Gavin is mostly guilty by association. That may not be fair, but whatever, they pretty much even out in naughtiness by the end of the day. I would like one family outing where I don't have to threaten someone to get in the stroller, pull someone out of a clothes rack, leave someone crying on the floor in the cereal aisle because I won't open up a box of Lucky Charms. Just once I want to go out and not look like the crazy family with the Dragon Mom with monkeys for children. Sometimes I want to stop and throw a fit myself..... what do you think my kids would do if I freaked out crying  because I couldn't put my seat belt on the right way. 

His teacher says he is one of the best behaved in the class. She loves Gavin. Is it weird that when she told me he was such a good listener I wanted to punch her? I mean I LOVE his teacher so much but I am jealous some days that she gets all the good behavior and I am left with a tired whining boy that likes to fake burp his words and shoot his sister with Nerf darts. 

Bigger Sigh 

Oh parenthood, sometimes you are a big fat B word. Some days I just want to hang my hat and run away to a place with no Dora the Explorer or Chicken Nuggets or those stupid little Lego pieces that I step on every freggin day. 

But then I wouldn't have the sweet kisses and the " I love you mamas" or the babes that sneak in my bed in the mornings and wrap their arms around my neck and say "Good morning best friend". I would miss story time and our dance parties. I would miss being your mama. 

I love you to your bones babes, but lets try playing on the same team K.

****** SIDE NOTE***** 

In the middle of writing this post The Girl walked up and turned off my computer. Yup, she's a little butt head

Peace On Earth And Good Will Towards Men

The Boy had his first Christmas Performance at school and it was ADORABLE! He was an angel, which is kind of funny considering he has been anything but lately, and wasn't super excited about his costume because it looked like a "dress". I thought he looked darling. 

 They sang songs and they all looked so CUTE! 

I can add this to one more thing I love about the Holidays 

A New Guilty Pleasure

I am a sucker for Design Blogs, LifeStyle Blogs, Food Blogs. I just can't get enough! Well I have a new one for you. One of my high school friends has started a new blog and it's fantastic! She is so talented and fun, and she is having a GIVE-A-WAY a day till Christmas! Go check her out now, I'm sure you'll be as hooked as I am !

                         Mindy Gayer.com

Moms Survival Tip #127

When my kids are about to be banished to live outside forever because they are driving so crazy I could cry I make them take a bath. Its a guaranteed twenty minutes of calm, quiet, stress free time of my day. Invest in some cheap $4.00 tub crayons and you've just added another ten minutes. BLISS 

They have been in the bath twice already today. Little monsters

Whatcha Been Up To?

December is crazy busy so far. I have been neglecting this little
blog and I have A TON of pictures that need to be uploaded from my big camera. Not to mention an entire post about the Sullivan Wedding and a super fun Wedding Dress Shopping day. As soon as I have five seconds to actually sit at my computer I'm on it. For now, here are pics from the last two weeks from my phone.

****Side note*** tomorrow we're taking the babes to get our first real Christmas tree! I'm pretty excited about this!

My mama's 50th Birthday!


Gavin's amazing teacher had a birthday right before Thanksgiving so we made her a little something to let her know we love her.


The Hubs and I had a late night date night Christmas shopping


Gavin's soccer season ended and we partied it up at Chuck E Cheese and I've decided that place is the most disgusting germ infested place ever. Blah!


I scored this amazing entertainment console from Ikea marked down to $39 from $199! Just need to re paint it.


Had some pretty sweet Goodwill finds!


Played with our new glow in the dark light sabers


My mama passed the first level of tests to become a salmonier. Woop woop


Had a much needed Moms night out


A little his and hers hot chocolate action



There you have it. There was also a splinter in the foot incident that has left Gavin crippled as far as he is concerned. Agghh. This was such an over dramatic nightmare, and you better believe he went to school limping. Give that boy an Academy Award!

So here's to a crazy schedule for the rest of the month!







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My New Little Buddy

 SO much happened this weekend.... like one of my best friends wedding:) I have a lot to catch up on but here are just a few pics I took with my new lens! Thats right, the Hubs surprised me with a lens this weekend and I LOVE IT! This pictures are all unedited straight out of the camera. Man oh man I'm gonna have fun playing with this lens. Next on the wish list is photoshop :) hint hint 

Hope the holiday weekend was as fun for you as it was to me!

Thankful for the Crazy

Ten seconds after I took this picture this morning, Sofia kicked her brother off the couch and he  landed mouth first onto the hardwood floor. Bruised gums and bloody teeth but luckily nothing is loose and nothing fell out. Needless to say, not the most amazing way to start our morning. 

I am so thankful for these babes, but man oh man is being a mama a tough job. I am  so thankful for my husband for giving me much needed alone time and for being such a hands on Daddy. I am thankful for my circle of friends that make me feel like less of a crazy pants, and my family for being my constant  supply of love. 

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. 

Gotta run, someone is screaming and I just saw nerf dart fly down the hall. 

Yes, I live in a war zone/circus

But I am so thankful 

My Lil Pilgrim

Friday was the Thanksgiving Feast at Gavins school. There was SO much food and the kids all made either Pilgrim or Indian hats to wear. They sang a song and said a prayer and then dug in! It was such a fun morning. I have so much to be thankful for but I have to say that we are so so thankful for Gavins wonderful teacher Mrs. Alvarez. She is so kind and loves my boy so much.

This wek is going to jam packed with Thanksgiving and Wedding preparations.  Thats right folks, Chelsea and Bobby are FINALLY getting hitched on Saturday. I can't freggin wait!!!!!!!!!! I'll try and post updates of the big day.

Here We Go Again

I love this time of year. 

Its chilly out, the leaves are turning, you can wear socks to bed and not sweat your brains out. Holidays are right around the corner and baking cookies three times a week is considered an acceptable thing to do. 

I am a big fan of FALL and everything that comes with it.......

almost

My least favorite thing is that this Boy gets sick this time every year. Not just runny nose sick, we're talking the cough till he pukes sick. Yup, remember all of my tired desperate posts about this last year. Welp, my little man has fallen victim once again.

 He was up ALL night last night hacking. 

I have that horrible anxious feeling every time he coughs that throw up is close to follow. 

It all pretty much sucks. 

I hope you feel better soon little bug. 

I love you to your bones 

Nothin about Nothin

Happy Friday!!!!

This week has gotten away from
Me. Some pretty fun stuff has happened And maybe this weekend I'll catch this little
Blog up.

Hope this weekend is filled with rain drops an lots of baked goodies. I'm in that kind of mood


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Its Raining Its Pouring, and Mamas Taking a Break

It's rainy and cold out, an the babes are watching

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for the hundredth time and drinking hot cocoa, while this mama packs for a girls trip to Vegas to celebrate one of my BESTEST getting married! 

It's Daddy Daycare this weekend and I am so ready for a little break.

Happy Weekend Friends!
 Cross your fingers I fit in  amongst all the cute hip girls in Sin City that wear shirts for dresses.
I swear I'm gonna have a neon sign above my head that flashes "MOM" 

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Halloween

Hope you all had a great Halloween!!!! 

We're all in a sugar coma. 

October, it was swell, but I'm ready for November. 

Not gonna lie, I'm actually pretty ready for it to be Christmas 

Boo

Happy Halloween Weekend
Friends!



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Weekend wishes

Happy Weekend Friends

I hope it stays chilly so I can drink cocoa with my babes and snuggle in and watch movies

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Soccer.... Also known as Anxiety Wednesday

Gavin has a soccer game tomorrow. I haven't really talked about this soccer season because he pretty much hates it. Actually, that's not true. He has super bad anxiety all of a sudden and playing on a team has been hard for him. Which leads to loads of tears, fighting, and huge stress for the Mama and Daddy.
Anyways, Wed at practice he played for the first time all by himself. Usually Daddy has to be right next to him the entire time, but this week he couldn't make it. I was sure this would cause huge melt downs, but after just a couple nervous tears, my boy practiced all by himself with the team! And he was good, and he was having FUN! He even went as far to tell me and his coach he is going to play in tomorrows game. I'm not sure that will prove to be true once it comes down to game time, but I am so proud that he's trying.
Yesterday we were out to breakfast and he was talking about how much fun he had at practice and he looked at Sofia and said
"We never give up in the family"

That's right son. We don't. So even though this has been way more stressful than any of us ever anticipated, we show up as a family every week and we never give up.

I love you to your bones Son


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Brought To You By The Good Will

I may be addicted to the Good Will. I seriously get a high when I find awesome deals! I usually go just looking for treasure for my home, but lately I've been scoping out the clothing. It's a good thing too because I SCORED these super cute Dresses and one of my new favorite skirts. 

Just goes to show you don't have to break the bank to look good. As much as I would LOVE to shop the dress racks at Anthropolgie, you can't beat a $6.00 bargain! 

*******Disclaimer******* 

I am SUPER awkward and uncomfortable in al of these pictures. Sorry Charlie, I'm not much of a model. 

 skirt: Good Will $6.99    Blouse: Old Navy    Belt: Forever 21    Shoes: Kohls 

 Dress: Good Will $4.99 Shoes: Target   Chubby Legs: Too much baking :) 

 Dress: Good Will $6.99      Belt: Forever 21       Shoes: Go Jane 

Dress: Good Will             Shoes: Forever 21 and hurt like a B-Word