Betrothed

Addie and Grayson-January 16, 2011

Fast forward 20 years and we will be hosting their marriage. Between her mother and I (Auntie KT) it will be the BEST wedding ever (besides our own)!

Some Smiles

Even though it was a crabby couple of weekends, I did manage to get a few smiles out of him.

Steroid cheek smile

Leave me alone ma!

I'm ignoring you!

More ignoring!

Pouting

Gave up trying and bust out laughing!

I'll try and pout again.

Ah, the victory!

BOY TIME FUN

ROOT BEER FLOATS!

WITH STEROIDS COMES G ACTUALLY LIKING ICE CREAM!

Cuteness all wrapped up into one...

pretty little bundle.

Maybe we should have called him Catie!

Just gotta remember

I get tons of Christmas cards every year. We all do it to update our family and friends w a recent pic and wish them the best. I look forward to all the photo cards of my fellow kiddos. It's my favorite part of the mail. But my absolute favs of this year KNOCKED em outta the park! I mean, I loved these cards so much that when I think back to Christmas I remember these two cards SPECIFICALLY! They are not only filled with beautiful kiddos but amazing parents rearing those awesome kids! Even though I toss all the season's cards at the end (who really has space for a collection every year?), I HAD to keep these in my cyber scrapbook. They are adorable and so creative. Each depicts the personality of these wonderful families to a T!!

Meet my adopted niece Addie and Triston's friends Jack and Alice! Tell me these kids aren't perfect?! I love you all!

Look at those mini baker hats! They have their names embroidered on them!! Too cute!

Isn't she just precious! She is gonna be a big sister soon, too!

Next year I better have just as adorable a Christmas card as these two families!! I have cute kiddos, too ya know!

The faces.....

I LOVE!

Kinda reminds me of that oldie,

The Faces of Eve,

Our life is that kinda crazy sometimes

And now with 6 days of work under my belt---these are the faces I cannot wait to come home to. There are times during the day that my body actually aches to see them. I have to focus on some "troublemaker" student to bring me back to reality. I pray w/ gratitude every night for the good days my boys have had since my return to work. We have had so many different babysitters thru the weeks, adding to the drama, and they have done well. I am so unbelievably grateful for the great days G has had. His good mood continues and even better-an awesome appetite (and this week he has been off the steroids). I dare not mention what could have gone wrong! I love my boys. I can't believe they have put up w/ me.

Guiltily ( is that even a word? I dont care- I have admitted before I tend to make up words! I even texted Charito one day about the spelling of a word and his response was, "If it's a Sara word does it even matter?!" I guess not!) I have to admit it has not been the most exciting past two weeks. I haven't been the most exciting mom.I dont like the mom I have been the past few weeks. I am exhausted. I awaited that first day when I would feel my head spinning. The award went to YESTERDAY. I just cant hold it all together. I know I have my cheerleading support team at work reminding me I dont have to get it all in or perfected NOW, but I cant help it. I hate being this disorganized. I thought my mind was a million places before-what a joke! I hate the way I feel. Stuck. Like we are going nowhere, stagnant. Moldy, mucky water.

There is so little time in my work day that I am gonna have to bring work home. I hate it. I have every second devoted to some kid or adult that the paperwork aspect or class prep tasks dont get done. And atop that I am still trying LEARN the kids. All in a few two more weeks before I have to write up 2 different report cards and whatever else is expected of me that I dont even know of bc I havent even opened up an email. I am drowning in every part of my life right now. The house is a MESS. Work is well. sux. Even though I am surrounded by so many amazing people I still find myself alone. I know I do it to myself but even tougher to get out of once I am there.

So, today when I came home, and after I got the lowdown from the babysitter and knew my boys were aok I took pics. I had to see my boys. From every angle. Surround myself with them. Old pics and new pics and more to come. I needed their faces. My go to immediate fix. Even though I wasnt the best mommy just now at bedtime. I yelled and screamed and cried to myself. I HATE bedtime at this house now. But I love my yelled-at-boys (even Caden gotta talking to bc he was too focused on silly-not-listening T to drink his bottle!).

Maybe tomro I will need the same fix. That or more food. Don't even get me started on my POOR out of control diet! Pop, pop n more pop.

Family Time

Whether we are on lockdown or not we still have fun...and plenty of lazy days. I miss our grand adventures out on the town but I'll take what we can get. Luckily my kids find enjoyment in the simplest of things. I have learned to find the grandeur in the simplest things. And sometime it finds me.

To me that IS family time. Being together.Lovin his exersaucer!

And someone uses this as his recliner!

Triston's drawing-mommy as a snowman

Gingerbread fun

Choices, choices, choices

"These marshmallows on top are the saints looking down on us"-Triston

The kid has more religious beliefs in him than I did at his age! I appreciate that about him.

Chilling

Trains galore

Pirate Antics

Solo time

Expeditions

I think they've been watching too much Gold Rush!

It's Chia Time

Grandma's bday

My mom's bday is two days after Christmas. I remember my brothers and I intentionally making all efforts to not let it pass us by as kids. It was too easy for others to do and we didn't want that for her (that is not to say we missed a few). I recall when she told us how growing up people would just give her a xmas present and tell her it was her bday present, too. Jipped!
Most bdays were full of cards and flowers from us. But ever since she moved away it is always spent with her grandkids. A cake that either the kiddos make or most definitely help her blow out the candles for is the only centerpiece we need. And this year we made her a calendar depicting all the moments of 2010. It is byfar our most fav of the past few years. It really turned out fantastic this year!

Her bday has meant two things for me in recent years-an end to Christmas and at least one bday we are all together for. We try to make the best of it!

Watching the preparations (in Auntie Amy's lap while holding Grampa's hand)


His first taste of frosting. This the place to plant it in our family!



Huh?

He loved it by the way!

Luv his smile!

Are you surprised there are trains involved? All 4 of em now. Wait til Jack or Charly arrives! If a Jack he will immediately join the train club and if a Charly she will have no choice!

Ready Grandma?!


She OBVIOUSLY needed help!

I love my mommy!