Busted

1. Ballet was easy this week...and all surrounding activities.

When I picked up Eloise for ballet on Tuesday Sawyer picked a flower from their yard for me.  I didn't have Jack so the 45 minutes of class so it seemed to fly by.  We also got her dress for the recital and I was able to volunteer for the night of the event.  Overall it was a successful evening.

2. Dinner with Hollis
After ballet I met with Holli for dinner.  It was great to sit and catch up.  Once I got home all the kids were in bed and I was able to chill for the remaining bits of the evening.

3. The playhouse is looking AMAZING.
Mike has done an amazing job so far with the playhouse.  This building is huge and the boys love it. Yesterday Mike sent me a picture of the boys just laying in the middle of the floor chatting with each other.  He has been working everyday after work and as I type they are picking up more 12ft boards with Luke's truck.  I am getting excited for the finished product.  It is going to be awesome.

4. Beautiful weather
It has been nice out all week.  A tad chilly at times but at least the sun is shinning.  We have been able to go on bike rides and long walks.  As you know...those things make me happy.  Here is a picture of Cameron riding in front of me -- he was hot and needed to take his shirt off.  Once it was off his smile was HUGE.  Last night on the walk with Nash he was skipping and ran straight into the mirror of a parked car.

5. Swim lesson update
I am not sure if I noted this down at all but it is something that I want to brag about.  Owen had a rave review from his swim instructor.  He told Mike that during the following session Owen will be in the next level AND he felt that we should sign Owen up for a swim team.  He said that Owen works really hard and has a lot of potential.  ...thanks for listening to me brag about my child....

We are spoiled.

6. Mike is a winner

Every year we make a bet on the brackets.  It started when we first started dating.  I have lost every year and though it is only 3 hours into the second day of March Madness...my bracket is BUSTED.  So this year...these are the bets.  (I will note--they are much tamer than the first time around).

If Mike wins: I have to do the dishes for a full week.  Mike does most of the dishes in the house on a day to day basis.

If I win: I get to sleep in two weekends in a row. Usually we split the weekend.  He sleeps in on Saturday and I sleep in on Sunday.  And don't get too excited for me....sleeping in usually lasts until about 8am in our house. 

Yes -- so this year our bets revolve around real-life things. wha wha wha.

Shell OUT

1. The cake is baking.

For Mike's birthday every year I make a carrot cake from scratch.  Every year I realize how much I enjoy baking.  Sadly, the mixer doesn't get pulled out until the following year.  Well today was the day that I baked his cake.  I had a tad mishap BUT cake is cake and I am sure that the whole thing will be devoured in the next few days.  And yes, I enjoyed a glass of champaign will I cooked.  After I am finished with the blog I will start on the frosting.

2. Alternating slumber parties
Our family wins on this deal.  Every other month we do a slumber party with the Abel kids so their parents can have a break.  This month was our month.  These kids are well behaved and pretty funny. Next month they take all three of our boys.  I must say -- this is a pretty sweet gig we have going on.

3. Birthday date day
Instead of presents (because we have SO MUCH SHIT) we do dates together.  We do something that we haven't done together and that one of us wants to try.  Last year we went to a shooting range.  This year we planned to go to a float thing.....it was closed today..... So we will still be making that adventure during the month of March BUT we had the entire day off together.  It has been wonderful.  While I was baking early and Mike was working on the computer I said, "the sunshine and days like today fill me with hope.  Hope that I can make it to the end.  And I am happy."  We went to breakfast at a new place, ran errands, and spent the afternoon together.  The boys will be off the bus shortly and we will conquer the night refreshed and happy.  ...um....can I win the lottery soon.

4. Smart Baby
I know that all people think that their babies are SOOOOOO smart.  I am not different.  So here is a story.  We let Jack play with Lego's (don't judge).  On Saturday I pulled the lego ironman guy out and let him play with it in his Batman house (it is sort of like a barbie house).  The following day that iron man was back in the HUGE box of legos under the bunk-bed.  Jack found him and proceeded to leave the twin's room and crawl to the batman house and play with his iron man lego guy.  HELLO -- he is ONE.  ***I hope that this story makes sense...it makes sense in my head.***  And another side note --he is walking more and more.  Any day now my crawling little one will not be crawling anymore.  Sad.

5.
I wasn't sure what to title this one so I just left it blank but here is what I want to say....

I feel like we are ALWAYS being hit up for money from school.  Ok, Ok...I get it AND I agree -- I want the boys to go to a top notch school that has supplies and resources BUT holy moly it feels like it is every single week.  Shelby challenged my stance and felt that I was being cheap and over reacting but I disagree.  Last week we had a random spirit week to help pay for the robotics team to go to Lousiville.  Every day we had to send in a dollar to participate for each day.  This week there is a book fair.  In April there is ANOTHER book fair but we had to donate books from our home to sell. We also just donated money for an event in April that we will attend and pay MORE money.  Sorry...I will get off my soap box.  I will say that if I didn't have the money....the school wouldn't force or shame me.  I just wanted to say we shell out more than I expected.

And I wanted you to be able to enjoy this picture from "crazy hair day" last week.  Can someone please ask Cameron to stop turing into a teenager.

Squares

1. I get paid hourly
I have another boring day at work.  This is something that I am struggling with.  I have a posh job that is rewarding and I actually enjoy BUT I often find myself bored.  And today....it is starting out boring.  I have to remind myself that I get paid hourly.


2. The sickies are getting better
I think that this would probably be Mike's #1 of the day.  Everyone in the house has been sick for the past few days.  I even started an antibiotic.  YIKES!! I haven't been on an antibiotic for YEARS.  Anyways, I have a feeling we are all starting to feel better and that is pretty wonderful.


3. Squares
Last night we all sat down and played a game of "squares."  This is a game is when you take turns drawing a line and then the last person to complete the box wins the square.  I used to play this game with my dad and sister and now it is starting to pop up in the boys' activity books.  Cameron is not the best at the game but Owen usually gives us a run for his money.  Last night Jack was starting to melt down so I ended up watching them finish the game while I was feeding Jack a bottle.  Regardless -- it was a fun bit of action last night.


4. Pajama Day
This week has been spirit week at school and today was pajama day.  It made the morning significantly easier and I wish that they had pajama day every day.  My favorite part of the morning was the joy on Cameron's face.  When I told him that it was pajama day he was so excited.  He said, "This is my first one!"  He was right -- he has always been sick on pajama day and has been disappointed on those mornings.  Today he was able to show off his Spiderman, zip up pajamas.


5.  My wedding band
I absolutely love my wedding band.  I love the actual piece of jewelry and I love what it represents.

Hungover

As I mentioned in the last post....I won during our family competition on the Wii.  Here is proof. 

1. Date night
The uber picked us up around 515 and we were officially on our date.  We had so much fun eating sushi, stopping at Broad Ripple Tavern, and then hitting up Crackers Comedy Club.  Holy hell did I pay for it on Sunday but I am officially recovered and we had nothing planned that day so it all worked out.  We both had a ton of fun.

Here is Mike getting ready for date night.  Supervising JackJack while ironing his shirt.

2. Jack never changed all weekend
haha-- yes -- you read that correctly.  Don't worry...we did change frequent diapers BUT he stayed in his pajamas for a solid few days.  As you can see in all the pictures he is in the exact same outfit.

Even when the outfit got SUPER messy -- we continued wearing it.

He even played outside in the dirt and continued to wear the outfit.  

Even after all of that we skipped baths last night AND he slept in this same outfit.  It was so nice to finally put him in something different.  Yes -- I am the absolute worst.

3. Jack is walking

Yesterday he took 11 steps at once.  (Owen and I were counting).  He still crawls a ton but I think that he actually wants to walk. 

4. The way of life

I think that part of my "conflictedness" (yes -- I know that is not a word) is because over the past few months I have changed the way I do life.  I have not wanted to make a ton of money, buy a bigger house, have a lot of things ......I have figured out a way to pay our bills, travel a little bit, go out to eat every now and then AND not work all hours of the day.  I have slowed down and not made my "TO-DO" list 8 pages long.  I have been working on just enjoying where I am today and I think that sometimes it makes me feel conflicted.  Sometimes I crave the goal -- the next step -- the next big purchase.  But then if I reflect I would much rather spend my moments with my littles, my husband, and my family.  ...random thought I know...just needed to write it out....

5.  Nap time

Yesterday Mike and I shared nap time.  I woke up with Jack at 515 and then at 745 he got up and I went back down.  We continued this routine until about 145.  I finally got up and made a quick trip to Starbucks.  Clearly....it was a rough day.

The struggle

My purpose tonight is to be a little bit more open and a little bit more revealing.  I easily write 5 things a day that make me happy but I struggle to post my inner most struggles.  Don't get too excited -- most of those will never be written down for fear of vulnerability BUT there is something that has been laying heavy in our household this week.

It's the struggle.  It's common knowledge between Mike and I that I have some serious hormones.  The good part is that we are both aware and we both adjust pretty quickly.  ....I just realized....for most readers this will be TOO MUCH INFORMATION.  Just pass this post up now and don't be all worked up at the end if you dismiss the warning and keep reading.

Anyways, my hormones are serious.  A few days a month I get really intense.  Really intense.  I feel it in my blood.  Many times (usually) my husband figures it out before I can even notice that it is working up in my system.  After a solid 48 hours I will start my period and IMMEDIATELY return to normal.  (sorry--I told you it was too much).  Regardless -- it's the truth.

So this past.........month.......it has been a struggle.  I have felt intense.  It's a feeling that I have in my blood BUT nothing is happening so I can't place a trigger.  I can't figure out how to resolve it.  I don't know why I feel the way that I feel.  Trust me -- I search.  I pick apart my job, my free time, my relationships.  And yes, there are things that I would like to change....I miss Erin, I spend too much time dicking around on Facebook, and though my job is ultra rewarding I am SO. FREAKING. BORED. I have thought about it and thought about it. To be perfectly honest, the grass right now is pretty freaking green.  It's pretty green and I was still in a funk.  It's a struggle.  And though it's a first world struggle -- it was still a rough few days for my intensity. ....or more than a few days.

As I was saying -- I picked at my life. I tried to investigate and get to every angle.  I think that a few simple things are missing.  In no particular order -- I need to work out. Shelby told me at LEAST 5 times today that I need to move, workout, and essentially stop being lazy.  She tried to help me think of a goal.............. ugh.  No desire.

I needed to document this because in the past few years I have GROWN.  I think that it is safe to say that even three or four years ago I was in denial that I even had hormones.  I would say, "I am who I am."  And though that is true -- now I can recognize (usually with help) when I am feeling intense.  Mike and I have created a system of safety where he gently calls me out...I agree...and then I try to keep my mouth shut for 48 hours.  Four years ago I am sure I would just cause havoc and terror and then be unapologetic and not understanding that I was actually being bat shit crazy.

Here I am -- February 2016 -- and I was intense for a month.  Or at least it felt like a month. And it was hard on my soul.  I am sure it was hard on Mike's soul.  To be honest...I still can't place or pinpoint.  I still can't touch the emptiness -- the part that is missing.  I am still trying to figure it out.

So on that note-- let's begin.  First -- thank you to my husband.  He steps up when needed and steps back when I need to work things out for myself.  He is there to guide or there to walk beside.  He has let me grow, helped me to figure things out for myself AND also pushed me into the directions that I need.  Grateful for Rouzer.

Here we go......

1. Geniuses
This week both kids were asked to join the academically talented school in the district. I am not going to lie this made me SUPER proud and SUPER happy.  I know I know... I should celebrate other things like my kids being happy and whatnot BUT this makes me happy and I want to tell someone so I need to write it out.  Though they will not be leaving Forest Glen to go to the school I am still pretty proud that they BOTH got asked.  (And yes-- I know that they are not actually geniuses...but they are my kids and I think that they are)

2.  Growlers
Tonight Mike picked up two growlers from Sunking.  Yum.  They are both gone.  We had family game night that continued once the boys were in bed.  If my post doesn't make any sense please blame it on the beer.

3. Family Game Night
I won.

4. Toilet paper
Twice today I ran out of toilet paper in the bathroom.  (Two different bathrooms)  Clearly I need to stock all rooms.  Grateful that I was able to figure it out quickly without a major accident on my hands.

5.  Tomorrow
I am looking forward to tomorrow. I am going to breakfast with Ashley in the morning and then Mike and I have a date in the evening which includes a comedy club.  

the life

The every. single. day. ..... every. single. day.

Our days are pretty routine.  Today was one of them.  My alarm is set for 530. I roll out of bed at 550.  Jack is usually stirring.  The boys are woken up at 610.  Nash goes out side to pee and the morning starts to roll...... 

1. Jack using his fork
As I have mentioned multiple times in the past and I am sure that will come up multiple times in the future...Jack's only interest is doing what the twins do.  Today...that meant mastering the fork.  He was serious about this task and only wanted to eat pieces of his dinner if they were first on his fork.  He just continued to work as the craziness of dinner developed around him.

2. The blood bank guy
Today I had to get platelets for a patient who was REALLY sick.  Really sick.  And as I was waiting for her platelets I was talking to the blood bank guy who works in the afternoon.  I asked how is afternoon was going and he said, "You know, it's going better now.  I am actually helping someone who is really sick.  It makes all of this worth it.  There are so many people who come through the ER who are fake.  And she is sick. And I get to help her."  I agree.  I am also lucky that I only deal with people who are actually sick.  I don't have to deal with all of the shenanigans of the ED or whatnot.  And for that I am grateful.

3.  Erin
I am grateful that Erin is my sister.  I miss her TREMENDOUSLY.  I know that I am not able to accurately put into words the emptiness that I have without Erin.  She was my best friend.  And honestly, it is hard to do this life without her.

4.  San Diego
After much consultation we are going to San Diego in less than a 100 days!  We are staying at a beautiful, historic hotel and I am excited to have another visit to the ocean.

5.  Wine.
Um, I don't think that wine, prosecco, or champaign has made the list in recent months.  Clearly that was a mistake.

Trying to control his craziness at ballet.  

I snapped a picture this morning of my every day routine.  I bet the twins get as bored as I do.  Maybe I can be one of the pinterest moms and change it up a bit.

Dentist Appointments

I have 30 minutes before the twins come off the bus.  Today I had a the day off so I could go to a dentist appointment.  I did some errands and cleaning in the morning and then baskets of laundry in the afternoon.  Next time I will have Mike take the day off and we can do lunch with afternoon drinks. 

Here is a quick five things that I am grateful for in the past few days....

1. Monday hit hard...

....but that is because we had a great weekend.  Nothing extra fabulous happened this weekend but it was sunny, we were busy, and we had lots of time to enjoy each other.  Mike started the playhouse, we had a fire on Sunday, the boys painted, Jack took GREAT naps, we grilled both nights, we ate lots of sweets, I worked on my garden boxes..... the list goes on and on.  

Monday morning was a slap back into reality.  It seemed worse than normal.  I don't like to be "that" person but goodness, I am looking forward to the weekend.

2. Swim Lessons
The boys started lessons again after having a week off. I tried to sign them up on day at the YMCA for the same Wednesday evening class but the lady who was working the computer was not lining up with my patience level.  I decided to put it off.  When I finally got around to it yesterday at work the class was full.  I was irritated.  They had two openings in the Monday class.  I was able to go last night because of our busy ass schedule AND I actually like these two teachers MORE.  I must say -- I don't love the YMCA in general but I am impressed with their swim classes.  ALSO -- Cameron and Owen were the youngest in their class.  It made me a bit proud.

3. Luke

I think that it is time that I officially put Luke on the list.  There are multiple reasons why I love Luke but the number one reason is that he keeps Mike happy.  They shoot in their free time, they work on cars together AND they do updates to our house.  This weekend Luke and Mike worked on the playhouse and it's going to turn out awesome.  Grateful that he is our neighbor and such a good friend.

4.  Jack has a voice
And he found it.  Many times the younger sibling sits back and watches (or at least that is what I hear) well not Jack.  Don't get me wrong, Jack sits back and watches but he also talks really loudly and wants to be in the middle and a part of EVERYTHING.  holy moly-- please slow down time.

5.  The Amazing Race
Has this made the list...probably.  Mike and I don't sit and watch a lot of TV.  I have my normal trash TV that I watch when folding clothes and I think he watches Mike and Mike in the morning...I am not even sure... Anyways, we don't watch a lot of TV...BUT we do watch the Amazing Race together.