Boring. But still grateful.

1. Clean bathrooms

Yup.  It's pretty wonderful to have clean bathrooms.  We are so super gross.  Growing up I never imagined that my house could be so disgusting and holy moly it's gross.  I judged all of those people who had the "lived in" house.  That's how our house is ......lived in.  Though I feel like we try to be outside most of the time but wowzers.  Grateful grateful grateful for a clean bathroom.  

Oh I must thank Mike -- clearly he is the one who does all of the work around here.

2. Race Party

On Sunday we headed over to the Stahley's for a race party.  We even played beer pong!!  Jack slept for 15 hours that night.  It was heavenly. 

3.  Jack and Owen are awake (6:19am)

The hugs, kisses and morning snuggles make me so happy.  I actually feel myself stand a little taller and my stress slowly (very slowly) melt away.  Jack usually requests everything at once but we have the morning down to a routine and overall it goes pretty smoothly.

4. Greg living in Indianapolis

This is a HUGE change for our family but I know that it is so so so important to the twins.  They absolutely love having him in town and being able to spend so much time with them.  The transition has been a bit hard for me personally but right now it seems to be working out well for the most part so I am grateful.

5.  Beautiful weather

It has been sunny and wonderful the past few days.  We are also having a little bit of rain which helps my newly moved plants.  It's pretty fabulous. 

6. Visiting baby Oliver

I was able to sit and hold tiny baby Oliver on Monday evening while SBJ played with the girls.  As always it was great to catch up with Ashley and John. I wish we lived closer and we could have more playdates.  He was so stinking sweet and perfect.  He also reminded me that I want no more babies!

7. Once Upon a Child

Before I headed to Ashley's I stopped at Once Upon a Child to sell some of our stuff.  It worked! They gave me $60!!! That was the most that I have ever made at Once Upon a Child.  The rest we gave to baby Oliver.  I need to get some of this stuff OUT OF MY HOUSE!!

Last day of FIRST grade

Added edit:  I do not have a hierarchy within the family.  All my boys are different and excel and do different things.  I am trying to document that while highlighting the quirks of life and how I appreciate and love each one of them.  Every blog post is not going to be 100% fair to each of the 4 men in my life.  .....Life isn't fair......  So if you, the reader, need to have each person represented appropriately I would stop reading.  I don't play favorites and I work hard so that each of my children feel 100% loved, supported and get the love & attention that they personally need to feel successful. 

This month it has been hard to sit down and write out about how I feel.  Though I find myself more grateful for the moments that I can spend with my family it is still filled with sadness and anger.  Hopefully I will get back to the routine of posting every few days and then Rouzer won't have to ask.

1. Dance parties

One of my absolute favorite thing to do with my family is to have long dance parities.  They usually happen in the kitchen because that is where the bulk of life happens at home -- at the dishwasher or at the stove.  On May 23rd I was having an exceptionally long day this year but the 4 men in my life successfully turned it around.   

 2. Jack was sitting down eating
Oh it's the small things in life that bring us joy and on this particular night it was the fact that JACK was sitting down AND eating dinner.  As you can see the other boys were off playing but he ate 3 helpings that evening!!  Cameron was trying to race back to the table because I was snapping evidence that JACK was actually following the rules and no one else was.

3. Mulch
We finally purchased mulch and slowly VERY SLOWLY it is being put down.  This year I have also split some hostas in order to fill the space without having to purchase new plants.

I wish there was a mulch fairy to finish the rest of the yard.

3. Last day of school
We made it to the last day of school.  This week Owen had a ceremony at school were everyone won an award and then the class voted on awards.  He won the "story teller" award from the teacher and then his class voted him "contagious laughter" award.  He is also doing amazing at school and scoring well in both English and Spanish.

Cameron didn't have an official ceremony but last week he won the "jokester" award and he also won the "reader" award.  He is also doing great in school with no issues but doesn't seem to be the book worm that Owen tries to achieve.  He is more balanced with books and silliness and as the year ends up I have a feeling he is talking more in class and speaking less Spanish.

 4. Visit to Kelly & Andy
At the last minute this week we decided to go visit Kelly and Andy.  With my strange work schedule this week we left 5 minutes after I walked into the door.  As always it was great to see Kelly at catch up.  We stayed up until 1 am ---WHAT???!!! and the kids were up until 11am.  The morning wake up call at 6 with SBJ was rough.  Good thing I have Rouzer around.  He got all the kids situated and left me to get a few extra moments of sleep.  We were all exhausted and on Saturday night we were home and in bed by 8pm.

Dylan and Jack look more like twins than Cameron and Owen.   **Yes -- I know that they need haircuts ---desperately.**

5.   3 day weekends

I have successfully figured out how to have three day weekends...every weekend (Well except next weekend).  Let me tell you -- it is pretty fabulous.  If I ever change jobs I think that this will be what I miss the most.  Cheers to another three day weekend!!

A week in review

Sorry to disappoint but I am just going to add captions to the pictures....no list of 5 today.  

Mother's day breakfast in bed.  It was amazing.  I also loved staying in bed with sunlight pouring in.  Can every Sunday start this way?

Jack relaxing and fully getting into breakfast in BED.  

Last minute finger painting gifts for grandma

Most people look at Jack in this picture but I can't get over the picture of Cameron.  He looks just like my dad did at that age.  

Mother's Day fishing.  No one even had a bite.

This is what happens when we turn off "Go Go"  That is code name for Super Mario Brothers.  Hence why we don't play video games too often.

FaceTime from work.  This was in the morning since  I started going in at 3am.

Dinner, in my lap, at a FULL 5pm meeting.  WTF?  And to top it off... the meeting made me angry. 

Some members of Team Erin 2017

It was freezing in the morning.  

I ran with Owen this year.  This was our "before" picture.

He was a beast and shaved 7 minutes off his time!!!  He ran 9:47/miles

Rainy afternoons, Mickey Mouse & a bit of school work.  I passed my third class!!!! On to the next.  This is sort of kicking my butt.

Jack's absolute favorite thing to do.  "jump in puddle"

Driving over to play with the neighbors

Afternoon sunshine and playing with friends.  Weekends are the best.

Joy.

In bed

The start of the weekend.

While I am patiently waiting for breakfast in bed, I thought that I would update a quick 5.  I have a feeling it's going to be another wonderful day.

1. Stahly's came over for dinner

On Friday night we had the Stahly's over for dinner.  It was a blast. The kids all being relatively the same age is incredibly helpful.  They all love to play with each other which makes it a great night for the parents.  Before they left we played a quick hand of Euchre.  I was laughing so hard that I was crying.  To top it all off -- it was a beautiful night so our house was clean once everyone left.  Success!!

I just needed to add a picture of the Kroger line on Friday afternoon.  A bit insane!

 2. Nash
We have dramatically picked up the amount of walks we are taking and Nash has been in heaven.  He is still my faithful follow and likes to be at my feet wherever I go.  He was cuddling in all of the blankets yesterday morning and I wanted to grab a quick picture but he lifted his head and was skeptical as to what I was doing so close to his personal space.

3. Water ballon fights
Yesterday afternoon we had an hour long water ballon fight session.  I haven't been able to check yet but I am sure that I have bruises all over my body.  It was a blast and we all had so much fun, kids AND adults.  I can't even begin to imagine how many packs of water balloons we used.

4. Hallelujah

Jack's OCD comes naturally from his dad.  Mike easily gets fixated on something and can't easily drop it OR easily drop it when he becomes fixated on something else.  It's very mild....so mild it is something that we can joke about.  Hallelujah is currently his favorite song.  Oh man he listens to this song what feels like a 100 times a day.  Somehow he has Pandora programmed to only play this song but multiple versions.  It's hilarious, is obsession is deep.  On Friday night when we were playing Euchre and laughing and having fun he turned it on....he is always thinking about or listening to this song.  It used to remind me of my first home video of the twins..........not anymore.

5.  My earrings
Ok last time I will add this for awhile.....

So grateful for a husband who goes above and beyond to make me feel special.  I am beaming from ear to ear.......   see what I did there?!!!

Thank you.

I am not going to do an entire list tonight because I need to just quickly add one thing.  Today has been fabulous.  It is mother's day weekend and I can't imagine how we could of spent the day any better.  To top it off....Mike gave me my gift.

Two years ago in May we were on a family trip to San Diego.  We had been at the hotel for a few short hours when I lost my most prized possession (second to my wedding ring).  With my littles staring at me for guidance and watching my actions I realized I needed to stay calm so they learned how to stay calm in times of distress instead of falling on the floor in a heap, sobbing for my missing earring.  It's a bit dramatic-- I get it -- and don't worry -- I kept my head high though my heart stayed at the pit of my stomach for most of the trip.  For the past two years Mike and I have kept our eyes open for similar earrings ....I guess to help soften the blow.

This year for Mother's Day Mike had custom diamond earrings made to match the one that I lost.  This thoughtful thoughtful gift left me absolutely speechless.  I know that there are no words to express my gratitude for him and his love that surrounds me.  

I know that these earring are just things.  Trust me, I had to tell myself that over and over so I would not fret over their loss.  Things are not people and experiences and memories.  Things are things.

BUT these new earrings, they make me feel close to my sister.  During this weekend, and the month of May, the times that I can't get her out of my head -- they make me feel so close to her.

Thank you Mike for such a beautiful, thoughtful gift.  My sister was my favorite mom to do this motherhood thing with and now these earrings will remind me that she is always here with me.

Thank you.

Happy Friday

It has been an interesting few weeks since Greg has moved to Indy.  It's a huge huge adjustment on all parties involved.  I just hope that as a parent I can gracefully raise these boys with a strong foundation of kindness, hard work, empathy, compassion, ambition, happiness .....just to name a few. These past few weeks with this enormous change have been a challenge -- especially holding my tongue -- hoping that one day it gets easier.

1. The brothers

One of the hardest parts of the twins being gone --- is the twins being gone.  Jack is really struggling to figure out where they go and wanting them around all the time.  I feel the same.

2. Baseball practice
Owen has been struggling a bit with baseball this year.  He strikes out more often than not.  On Wednesday night Rouzer took them over to practice hitting at the fields for an hour.  On Thursday's game he finally had a hit AND scored a run.  He was in heaven.

 3. Nurses week
Last night the management team went to dinner at District Tap.  It was wonderful to leave work early AND be home before 8pm on a Thursday night.  I feel super refreshed this morning (yet always a little bit tired).  I am starting to find a flow with my new schedule and enjoying my job a little bit more.

4. Home videos
The obsession with home videos runs deep.  This morning the boys wanted to go to the bus stop early so we could watch our newest addition to the collection.  Seeing myself HUGE and pregnant and my mom with no hair --- holy -- it's a completely different world that I think I blocked out.  Grateful for technology.

5. Third paper COMPLETE

Somehow I have managed to complete my third paper for my masters.  These things kill me.  With that paper being complete, it means that almost finished with my third class and meeting my goal of completing the program within a year!!!  It's been less than 2 months -- hopefully I can keep up this momentum. 

bed friends, sunshine, gogurt ......can life get any better than this?

Every weekend is a long weekend

A weekend without Mike.  Ehh....I don't really like weekends without Mike.  I have been trying to not do work OR school during the weekends so this weekend without Mike AND without the twins has been pretty ehh.  I will say.... Glad that usually I have all of my men surrounding me and making my life extra crazy and extra wonderful.

Mike usually sends me pictures at work when it's just the boys during dinner.  I decided to repay him and send him this fabulous picture of the 4 of us on Friday night.  Yes, I am drinking prosecco and eating Costco mac and cheese.  Are you judging me?

 1. I backed into a parking space.
I believe that this was the first time in my life that I backed into a parking space.  I clearly needed to give myself LOTS of room in order to have the courage.  I was successful and will probably never do that again!

 3. Curly Hair
Oh I can not express his cuteness when his hair is fully curly.  I think it's going to win him a lot of lovin' when he grows up.......

The face you make when your brothers keep mysteriously disappearing, your mom made you take a bath and your dad didn't shoot a turkey.  It's almost bedtime so it's time to dig your heels in and get ready for a fight.

 4. Success
Yup -- this is what success looked like tonight.  Let's get it straight though -- Jack was first successful by the fact that I didn't even TRY bedtime tonight.  I went straight to the easy way out....a long walk.  And when the first go round didn't cut it, I made a second loop.

The real success is that Nash only pooped ONCE on all three of our walks today.  That's a complete win in my book.

5. Owen's dedication to Prodigy
This oldest child of mine owed me another 9 dollars last night since his game is automatically renewed.  I have absolutely no idea how he is able to save so much money but I think it's safe to say that he MUST be out soon.  Anyway -- this is how he gave me the $9 yesterday.  It made me chuckle.  I think my favorite is the bill all folded up into a perfect square.  This 7 year old has goals.  #prodigyforlife