Flirting at 5, am I in trouble?

A couple days ago my little Trey, who just turned five, completely showed off for a girl. Am I wrong to think this is a bit to soon for this behavior? You be the judge.... We are at the grocery store getting a few essentials, while I'm standing at the deli counter getting cheese (which is an essential in our household) my kids were fumbling through the little clearance rack full of random items for extremely cheap. They brought me over a “All About Police” video for a reduced price of $2.00 so of course I said sure. Moving to the bread isle we are on to essential #2 when Trey picks up the police video out of the cart and with a loud deep voice says, “Mom, we have a predicament”. With his strange 15 year old demeanor I look up at him with a perplexed, “huuuh??”. He starts, “Yes we have a real problem, Taylor (his younger sister) is much to young to watch this adult movie.” Still saying this very loud with a deep mature voice, so I start to look around. Sure enough there is a little girl with her mom, around six years old standing right behind me and he was looking right at her as she said all this. My jaw drops and I completely pretend not to notice what was going on. I said, “ok we need one more thing and we are out done, lets go”. He goes over to his little sister and gently bends down, holds her hand and yells loudly over his shoulder, “come on Taylor it's time to go to the next isle”.

I thought our flirtation was over until I was checking out and Trey runs to help me bag groceries, he puts the bread in the bag then picks the bag up, places it in my cart and looks to the isle next to us and waves and says “Hi” to the same little girl. Oh my word, you have got to be kidding, I didn't know he could bag groceries?? It was time for us to go and he turns to this little girl and says “Nice to meet you!!” and waves good bye. I was speechless, shocked, and a little proud that he was actually pretty good at flirting, I'm still wondering where he learned it.

Getting a tattoo with frosting and sprinkles

I tried, and did good until the tractor cake, illness, and birthday, birthday, and anniversary. What was I thinking trying to be all healthy in the month of October. My boys turned 4 and 5 and we had a little birthday party for them and their friends at a farm. I was determined to make a tractor cake. A week before the party I did a dry run with the boys to get an idea of how to do it and with donuts, cake, and delicious butter cream frosting I was happy with my results. Then the torture set in of the tractor cake calling my name so loudly from the refrigerator. I probably ate the whole trailer, the grill and a large tire (also known as a chocolate donut). Diet....what diet???







A week later time for the party and I busted out my cake again with one difference, I made a frosting using Crisco instead of butter. It tasted the same but for me, knowing what a stick of Crisco looks like I couldn't eat it. So instead I put the tractor on a sheet of brownies, nothing repulsive about those, so after the party of course, what was left? Brownies....did I eat them? Did you really need to read this reply, of course I did, remember NO self control. Here was my finished product with a little family shot on the tractor at the farm. (I don't have four kids, the one all the way to the right is Trey's buddy, Tucker!
















Once I got all this out of my house it was actually their birthdays and I bought them each a slice of cake instead of torturing myself.

On October 19th after all of these festivities was our seven year wedding anniversary. I really can't believe it has been seven years but I also can't believe I have three kids either. I must say that over the seven years having a newborn is by far the hardest thing on a marriage, or the hardest thing I've had to go through so far. Last night I watched Marley & Me for the first time only because it was on HBO and I taped it on my DVR (oh how I love my DVR). Anyway, it made me see the experience from a man's side which I never really thought about to be perfectly honest. When I was in it, I could only see him waking up and going to work like nothing changed and my whole world was turned upside down. Now I realize how hard it is on them as well. I'm thankful we made it through and it made us stronger, and we still love each other!! Good reason to celebrate, so out to dinner we went. We went to Arielle's Country Inn in Sellersville, PA or kind of out in the middle of nowhere but the BEST meal I ever ate!!! I don't think it had anything do with having no children, although I must say that was a real treat, but the food was amazing. I was truly licking my plate!!!! Again, diet out the window!

Then illness, we have all been fighting this nasty cough which has travelled through each one of us and is lingering. The idea of exercising could have made me cough out a pile of flem just thinking about it.

Ending on a good note I am feeling better, ran this morning, haven eaten pretty good today and all I can say is I won't give up, just give in every once in a while!

So a little history on me and my food issue, I love food, I love bread, butter, anything with chocolate and peanut butter combined, and my list could go on and on. I also NEED to be healthy, which to me is to feel good and be strong not just for me but for my kids. Unfortunately finding the right balance is a daily/ hourly challenge. For example we had a play date this morning and I made some healthy cookies but I proceeded to eat FIVE of them. Yes they are healthy but not 5!!! I just can’t stop myself!!
Do to this food problem I have to exercise a lot to be able to eat, but again it is a daily struggle to push myself. I have been running and proud that I just did my first race, a 10k with my kids and husband cheering me on! (By the grace of God I finished it in 54min.!!) It felt good but I can’t seem to budge the muffin top that I’ve discussed in a previous post.
So I’m going to get really serious and see if I can budge it. I will be doing two things, I’m going to write down everything that goes in my mouth and I’m going to do my Insanity tapes by Shaun T that I do love, but also hate because they kill me. I am going to chart my progress for myself to look back on and if nothing changes in one month, I’m done. I will except my muffin top and maybe just tattoo it with some frosting and sprinkles!

Our summer started at the beach in California for my sisters wedding and it ended at the beach in Ocean City, Maryland with a million wonderful memories in between! I am so terrible at this blogging thing but to be honest I need to do this for my kids. Reading back over my old posts makes me smile even if I only sign in once ever six months, something is better then nothing. I am going to take the time to write a little letter to each of my babies!

Dear Trey,
How quickly you have grown from my sweet little baby to the coolest little boy! Your little brother looks up to you so much and when you’re not looking he watches everything you do and is taking mental notes. (Both the good and the bad things, by the way) Your little sister loves you so much that ever time she wakes up from her nap she says, “Where’s Trey?”, shrugging her shoulders with hands in the air and a curious look on her face. You started the summer on a real soccer team and it wasn’t your favorite sport but you stuck it out and got a medal at the end and I promise I won’t make you play soccer. The best activity we did every Tuesday was swimming lessons. You are such a fish that they didn’t have to teach you anything because you let them know that you “already know how to swim”. I’m a little embarrassed that my 4 year old swims better then me, maybe they have some adult swim classes. I think you have finally given up your thumb: your friend, your comfort, my enemy. I’m sorry that I gave you such a hard time about sucking your thumb; you are so tall and look so big until you sucked your thumb (all day long). I will forever miss the baby in you but I won’t miss your thumb, let’s pray that your sister won’t keep this terrible habit.
You are amazingly smart! I can’t teach you, show you, Google you enough information. You’re favorite TV shows are the history and the science channel and you love going to the library to check out hundreds of books about space, science experiments, and dinosaurs. I love watching you grow and learn, and seeing you teach your brother and sister so much. You are full of energy, love life, and are the best big brother in the world, I love you!!

Dear Evan,
My little artist and musician that I adore!! You have such a gift and passion already that is shocking! Today as you were coloring me a beautiful picture you said “Mommy, I am going to be an artist when I grow up” and I have no doubt that you will be. You also asked for a “real electric guitar for your birthday with a speaker (it must have strings and no buttons). Amazing!! You are so sweet that I’m not sure you have a mean bone in your body. You love making your sister laugh and love wrestling with your big brother. Trey might be bigger then you but when you guys wrestle you would never know it. You took piano lessons and loved it, you took swim lessons and just liked it but you are ready to be on a real soccer team as soon as you turn 4! You are the best helper and a great listener, if I need something you are the first one I ask, I love you!

Dear Taylor,
I still can’t believe you are a girl, and such a girl at that. Having two older brothers and playing with trucks since birth has not stopped you from caring for all your baby dolls as if you gave birth to them yourself. Today you took toilet paper and were wiping your one babies behind and saying “good job” like they just went on the potty. You have taught our family how to love someone more then we ever knew possible. You are sweet beyond words, you make us laugh all day long, and if we are honest you definitely run the house. Some of your highlights this summer was the knock knock joke your brothers taught you in the back seat of the car “knock knock”, “who’s there?” “Pizza”, “pizza who?”, “pizza butt” LOLOL…. I know you don’t get it but if you could hear your delivery it makes us all laugh every time even after the tenth time you’ve said it. You are also potty trained and when you have to go to the bathroom you come running saying, “I have to go potty, soooooooo bad!!!!“ You should hear the drama in your voice. We all adore you and love you so much!!

XOXOXO
Mommy

Looking my best

So I've been sick, sooo sick so the past week I really haven't left the house. Except for the one night I had to go to the grocery store because we had no food and one diaper. I thought I would run in and run out in my sick clothes (sweatshirt, sweatpants, no make up, a fire-engine red nose, and tissues in hand.) As I'm heading to the diaper aisle don't I see a friend from high school that I haven't seen in 16 years (I can't be that old). Of course I give my excuses for looking the way I do but isn't that always the case. When you actually have 5 minutes to look good you see no one, but when you look terrible, everyone you ever knew comes out of the woodwork.

I know it's almost June.....

My life has been so busy and I hate that I haven't documented all the wonderful moments over the past months. Let me TRY to recap with some of the lessons I've learned in the past two months.
Lesson #1 I hate the winter. Now that the weather is warm and the kids can be outside 24/7 it makes me realize how much I hate the winter. The only thing the winter is good for is making me appreciate how wonderful the rest of the seasons are!
Lesson #2 My sister is complete! She got married on the beach in Malibu, CA to a wonderful man that I know God put on this earth just for her! The person you marry should make you a better person and these two together are perfect!
Lesson #3 I can do anything!!! If I can fly on an airplane for five and a half hours with three kids 4 and under, I can do anything! The stress and the packing leading up to the flight were a thousand times worse then the actual adventure.
Lesson #4 Never to limit my kids capabilities! I don’t know about anyone else but for me it is easy to avoid situations that you think your kids might not handle well. In actuality you never will know until you try. Over the past two months I have done so many things with my kids that I will never limit their capabilities again!
Lesson #5 Three and four year old boys are obsessed with potty talk! It could just be my 4 and 3 year old but the past couple months it has gotten worse. Everything ends with poop and they have my one year old little girl saying it too. I hope it is just a phase.
Lesson #6 I’m getting older no matter what. I can’t stop it, I turned 31 and I need to suck it up and be thankful that I made it another year and hopefully I have many more to go. I’m not sure why I dread getting older, I just do.
Lesson #7 There is only 24 hours in a day. I’m realizing I can’t do it all; I’m getting better at delegating rather then putting it all on myself. So my gift to myself was a cleaning lady from heaven named Renee. I love being a mom but Lord how I hate cleaning!! A clean house that I didn’t clean is better then ANYTHING!!!!
Lesson #8 Good health is so valuable. As I’m typing this my head is so jam packed that it is affecting my vision, my throat, and my brain function. Hopefully in a week or so I will be able to breathe again and oh how I will thank God!!! Until then it is honey, lemon, hot water, and a prayer!

Mom, I have POOP!

I can not believe how the time flies, everyone says it but it’s still so hard to believe. When my little girl walked up to me this morning and said, “Mom, I have poop!” as clear as it sounds, I thought to myself, “That’s my baby who just informed me that she either has a poop or has to.” Where did the time go? How could I already be potty training for the last time?
Turns out she didn’t poop yet and as I type she is walking around naked waiting for the poop to come. Say a little prayer that it comes on the potty instead of my Oriental rug. A;ldghoWHRWIGNOOSDNL
AHHHH…That was so close…I heard the grunting, I ran, picked her up suspended in mid air, and went running to sit her on the potty. She did it!!! She pooped on the potty, or should we say, mommy did it. Don’t worry; I don’t think she will be potty trained this month but maybe in the next couple. To be continued.
Again, where did the time go? Trey, my oldest, is signed up for REAL soccer. He is on a team and they play another team, so to me that is real soccer. I’m sure it will look more like swarms of bee’s huddling around a soccer ball, but we all have to start somewhere, right.
Evan, my middle man, is taking piano lessons only because he begged for the past six months. He says he wants to be a “rock star.” He also wants to take drum, guitar, and cello lessons I‘m not sure I even spelled that right. His love of music is amazing and I can’t wait to see what he does with it.
Well, I must go play Hullabaloo now, and hopefully it won’t be a month before I post again.

Is it almost March??

Where did February go? I know there is only 28 days but it felt like 10! Here are my top 10 February highlights!
#1 Kids singing in winter musical (I’m still so proud)
#2 A couple good snow storms which made for some great sledding moments in the backyard!
#3 The sale of some eggs. We have 10 chickens if you didn’t know, which means we get 10 eggs a day. We had eggs coming out our ears but we put a little sign out front of our home and we now have happy neighbors getting brown organic eggs for their families!
#4 My sister came home with her soon to be husband! It is crazy to think of my little sister getting married, although I still can’t believe I have three kids.
#5 I’m getting organized, one room at a time. I started with my over cluttered laundry room and I’m feeling good!
#6 Everyone stayed healthy!! Thank God, there is nothing worse then 3 sick kids!
#7Evan started Piano lessons. He is only 3 but he begged and begged so he is doing it and loving it!
#8 Taylor is fully walking, and sometimes running when she pretends to act like her brothers.
#9 Trey has started golf again. It’s freezing but he doesn’t seem to care, he loves it!
#10 The greatest highlight is my husband is working. Things were looking a little dark for a while but thankfully business is picking up and hopefully now we can pay our mortgage….YEAHHH!!!

So Proud...

Last night was the Winter Musical for the pre-school classes. This was a big night, the kids performed in the auditorium of the elementary school. For me it was a scary night because my 4 year olds track record with public performances was 0-2. The first big performance was in the pre-school gym for thanksgiving. He was dressed like and Indian and instead of singing with the class he stood beside his teacher hiding instead. His second debut was the Christmas play in his little classroom for 20 parents. He stood like a statue staring at me while all the other kids rang bells and participated. I was just happy he didn‘t run and sit with the teacher again. So last night I prayed, “Dear God, please be with Trey so he isn’t scared!” Evan’s class went first and my little peanut stood in the front and sang his little heart out, and Trey was waving and yelling, “Hi Evan!!!” One other group went and then it was Trey’s class. He marched confidently up the steps to the stage and stood directly in the center, right in front of the microphone that he seamed extremely excited about. He sang, he did movements, he even said “Thank You” to the crowd loudly in the microphone in between songs. I thought to myself, who is this child? It couldn’t be my Trey that has severe stage fright. I was so proud, relieved, and thankful that he made it through the entire performance and did great. When he came off the stage I met him with a huge hug and said how proud I was of him and the smile on his face was from ear to ear. You could see he was proud of himself.
Here is were grumpy mom comes in. So we get home, and tuck the babies into bed. Anthony and I go downstairs to watch the video to see how it turned out and you will never believe it. I could just cry writing this, it is in fast forward? I didn’t know that was even an option on the camera but for some reason the entire video has no sound and is in hyper speed. That is so my luck, all the other performances I have on video and you either can’t see him because he is hiding on the teacher lap or he is just staring at the camera. Maybe next time!L

This was a dumb thing on facebook that I felt obligated to do so here is it. 25 Random Facts about me.


1. The only reason I am doing this is peer pressure!
2. I have three babies (4, 3, and 1) and prior to having them I never changed a diaper.
3. The Lord is my strength and my purpose for all that I do.
4. I have ADD (not clinically diagnosed but I know that I do).
5. I own a store called Planet Smoothie and despite some of the stress, I love it. I adore my staff and it is the most fun job in the world!
6. I started a website called Grumpymoms.com because being a mom is the greatest and most rewarding job but it is also the most humbling, stressful, and frustrating job in the world!
7. I have 10 chickens, I know surprise to me too, but we get fresh organic eggs daily for us and all our friends and family!
8. I LOVE exercise! There is nothing greater then putting on my I-pod and getting one hour of “ME TIME” unfortunately with three kids I don’t get it often.
9. I am constantly hungry; I could eat all day long!
10. Interior Design is my joy, and my gift but it quickly becomes a full time job so until my kids go to school it will stay as my part time fun!
11. I am a terrible writer, my grammar and spelling is that of a 6th grader and I still question when to use the right “there, or their”.
12. It is still a miracle to me that I graduated high school and I am praying that my kids won’t follow in my footsteps. Trey’s pre-school teacher said he is wonderful BUT he likes to be social rather then doing his school work, God help me.
13. After having two boys that I adore, I prayed that I would have a little girl and I thank God every day for her!
14. My husband and I have been together for 13 years, he is my best friend, the greatest dad, and insanely talented.
15. I talk to my sister almost everyday, I love her and miss her and dream of being able to have play dates with our kids someday!
16. I wish I didn’t need sleep; I would be able to get so much more done!
17. We just got Verizon Fios and I’ve become a TV junkie because for the first time in 4 years I am getting to tape shows and watch them when my babies are in bed…I love it!
18. I have amazing parents; they have supported who I am and all my dreams no matter how crazy! I pray that I can give my kids that same gift.
19. I renovated 2 homes with my husband prior to kids. He says I am his best employee; I’ve done roofing, siding, tile, hardwood, painting, demolition, and carpentry.
20. I hate cleaning; I find it pointless because every time I turn around it is a mess again.
21. I love music and dancing, especially with my kids!
22. My whole family loves going out to dinner, probably because we don’t do it often.
23. I feel a vacation is the best part of life; I would like to live on vacation someday!
24. I am a terrible driver; I’ve had way too many accidents.
25. I want to do this again in 10 years when my babies are 14, 13, and 11 and I will be 40, that will be interesting!

I got an e-mail from my oldest son’s pre-school teacher, Ms. Lisa.

“I have to tell you about Trey's prayer request today. It was so funny and very sweet and cute. He prayed to God for him to find the money for his dad to buy a new coffee maker because his old one broke and if his dad doesn't get his coffee in the morning he'll be sick. I tried very hard not to laugh. He is way too much. I love him!! Lisa”
My husband accidentally broke his coffee pot a couple weeks ago and has been using a little steam espresso pot instead;

(Just in case you don't know what I am talking about.)

he gets the same caffeine intake in just a cup of espresso as he did drinking 5 cups of coffee. I’m not sure which is better?

Trey confessing this to his whole class has me wondering, what else is he telling his class?

About a year ago when Taylor was an infant the whole family needed to desperately get out of the house so we packed up and went to one of those indoor jungle gym places. As my husband and I were sitting with Taylor in her infant carrier this sweet little girl approached us, she had a big toothless smile, red curly hair pointing in every direction, shoes untied, and stains on her shirt but you had to immediately love her. She came over to us to see who was hiding in the little car seat and she started. “Hi I’m Sarah, my mom and dad want another baby” Oh really, Anthony and I looked at each other and smiled. “I really want a brother” she said. Then she says “Yeah, my mom says she’s getting to old though”, I said “Oh?” thinking to myself, do I stop her? She kept going, “Yeah, she turns 36 on Friday and my dad is 38, and she is not happy about it.” “Wow, that’s interesting”, I say to the little girl as I see her mother notice that her daughter is talking to strangers. If only she knew what she was telling us. The little girl said, “She’s really cute” about Taylor in the car seat “I wish my parents would just go to the hospital and get one!” We both started to laugh and with that her mother comes over and says “Sarah, I hope you aren’t bothering these people” We laughed and said “No, she’s funny!” I thought to myself, I hope my kids don’t do that but sure enough it looks like we are on our way!

I am Choosing Happiness

Happiness is a choice we make every morning. You can wake up and say “Ugggg, it’s snowing” or you can say, “look at that beautiful snow”. The greatest challenge is to find happiness right where you are. Don’t look over the fence. Stay planted in your own back yard and be grateful for every morning you wake up and you can make a choice. We can be negative or strive to see the positive. Life is what you make of it.

It is so easy for me to think of all the things I would love to have. I would love a finished basement, closets organized with labeled bins, a laundry room that would somehow make me love laundry, a kitchen so big that I would never have a stack of tupperware come flying out at me when I open the door. I would love to never worry about money, saving enough, having enough, making enough. I could go on and on with my dreams but what I really need to do is focus on what I do have.

I have a husband who adores me, and God bless him, still finds me sexy after having 3 kids. My children; they are the greatest gift in the world. They are healthy, smart, charming, loving, and so funny and I can't imagine my life without them. Our old farmhouse that drives me crazy but is loaded with character, and was completely refurbished by my husband's bare hands. God has blessed my family with more then I could have ever dreamed and none of which I could have ever bought in a store.

I'm adding this to my New Year's Resolutions: CHOOSE HAPPINESS!

New Years Resolutions Already in the Toilet

#1 Eat healthy, and exercise……I’ve eaten ok until I made a huge lasagna this weekend and consumed at least 5 servings of a healthy cake which is still cake and eaten in large quantities is completely unhealthy. I try to exercise for 30 minutes, that is nothing yet I find it so hard to fit it into my day when I am drowning in dishes and laundry, but I’m still trying.
#2 Play more with my kids….I play and then I poop out. I have such good intentions when I start activities but I don’t know what happens. My body is playing but my mind is checking off my “to do list“. I wish I could throw the “to do list” out the window.
#3 Be a Better, More loving Wife… I was really good for about a week. I focused on the positives instead of harping on the negatives. I tried to be extra affectionate and he looked at me like I was an alien from Mars because that isn‘t my style. But I could still use some work.
Those are my top 3, I have many more areas in my life that need polishing but I am a work in progress. A new years resolution needs to be a daily dedication because each day brings it’s new challenges. I’m going to keep trying to be good but right now I really want more of that delicious, healthy cake!

My Little Flower Girl

I haven’t been this excited since my wedding day. My baby girl is going to be a flower girl twice! Both brides loved this dress, what do you think?

When I got the dress in the mail I was so excited get it on my little princess. As I pulled it over her head she was not happy but once I got the dress on her and stood her on the floor she was transformed. She was no longer my little baby; she was now my little girl. She put her hands down to her sides to feel the puffiness of the dress and let out this giggle of excitement. She started pointing and smiling as she looked over her very first party dress. Her older brothers wanted her to dance in but I was lucky she could walk.
What is it about little girls and that instant affection for baby dolls, dresses, and anything pink? After having two boys I couldn’t imagine how different a little girl could be but it is night and day. I feel so lucky and I have to thank God for my amazing baby girl!

Beware - Evil Mom Ahead!!

I went to sleep last night with my house looking nothing short of a garage sale. Everything out, toys, jackets, books, dishes, shoes, clothes, for all to see. The problem is no one came last night to buy it. When I walked down the stairs to the disaster this evil woman comes stirs inside of me. She is really ugly! I hate my husband for still sleeping upstairs, I would rather throw all the dishes in the trash rather then the dish washer, and start yelling at my children when they want to play with toys because, “Doesn’t anyone notice MOMMY just cleaned up!!!” My feet are cold but my maid is so far behind on laundry that I am wearing one of my husbands sock and one of my own because I couldn’t find a matching pair. As soon as I finish my venting rampage I will go scrub this disgusting house, make everyone breakfast, do a thousand loads of laundry, and start all over again in the afternoon…..Happy New Year:(