the girl who misses Texas

My mom and dad have taken to driving around the Texas countryside on the weekends. Dad has been sending me pictures of the wildflowers. I'll admit it, I miss Texas! Check out the beauty of my homestate.

the girl who asks...ARRRR you ready for some pictures?

Despite Zachary being on restriction until further notice and Daddy and I deciding to "cancel" his birthday, I just couldn't do it! So we did end up celebrating a little bit (although not nearly as elaborate as we had originally planned) I went with a Pirate theme this year and the original plan was to go hit the Pirate's Cove mini-golf, then hop over to the Pirates Dinner Show and end it with watching Pirates of the Carribbean 3.

What we ended up doing was, well, none of that.



We had ice cream cake (which Mommy improvised a Pirate theme on)...

and presents and we did go watch a movie but the birthday boy decided he would rather see Shrek 3 instead, so we did. His presents were Pirate themed though...






and I did get some pics of him with the POC3 display at Downtown Disney (so I get to use my Pirate themed patterned paper after all, lol!) So, while the day may not have been Pirate themed, the birthday boy did have fun and I do have some new favorite pictures.

and I even got some pictures of Ian too (since he came along)

the girl who is quoting

Conversation with Matthew today:

M: "Mommy, I go stinky!"

(me): "Good for you, baby. Now go wash your butt."

M: "No thanks, Mommy."

(me): "Matthew, go wash your butt!"

M: "No Mommy. I can't wash my butt. My finger hurts."



I just thought this was hilarious!

the girl who is happy

Here we go with the requisite "Things that make me Happy" Post.

This man makes me happy (when he isn't driving me crazy with his phone-a-phobia. You know, he thought he caught someone breaking into the condo and then calls me at the Dr.'s office to have ME call 911? Seriously.) But most of the time he makes me happy.

My kids being goofy and mugging for the camera makes me happy. I love that I have them TRAINED to be aware of the camera! lol!

This is the wall of my kids' art that I have next to my computer. Looking at this definately makes me HAPPY! (Hey Jen, note your b'day tag hanging there! lol!)

I found Izze grapefruit soda at my Publix. This definitely makes me happy! Love this stuff, and not just because of the cool flower stamped bottle cap!

Blue makes me happy and this is what is on top of my scrappy cabinet. I love everything here. My head in a cage, my tahitian vanilla reed diffuser, my big ass potpourri balls, the incense (black tubes) beside it--can you tell I like smelly good stuff?--and that picture of Aramis and I when we first started dating. We were definitely pretty darn cute! (this is pre-kids, of course! lol!)

My kitty home safe and sound after his adventure a few months ago. I love this animal. He is my "furry son."


Things that definately DO NOT make me happy, in fact, they make me decidedly UNhappy!

Kid one sick with fever, bronchitis, ear infection and throat infection.

Kid two sick with fever and vomiting.

Really, don't you two communicate? You need to coordinate your sickness so you have the same thing at the same time! And could you possible try to get over it quickly? I hate having to take off from work. At least the two sickies felt bad enough they slept a good portion of the day. (poor babies) Ian is just like his Daddy when he's sick. Set him up and leave him alone. Check in on him every hour or so to dispense juice or medicine, but seriously, just let me be miserable by myself!

Matthew is more like me. When he's sick he wants his miserableness acknowledged. He wants cuddles and love, and--if possible--he'd like to infect you two through sloppy, slimy kisses so you know how miserable he is!

the girl who is drowning

For the love of all things good in this world...someone please surprise me with a maid and/or cook soon before I crack. What is the deal with the laundry never being done? Why is my kitchen always a mess? And why does the bathroom always smell like pee?

Oh yeah.

I have three (and a half) kids. Boys at that!

and a dog.

and a cat.

and a husband.

and only two arms and about three hours in the day to do housework during the week before and after work.

I cannot wait to win the lotto and hire a full-time maid!

the girl who is raising a Chippendale

Check out my little future Chippendale dancer! Whoo Hoo, does he have moves or what?

This is Matthew (and Zack) having waaaaay too much fun, bouncing on the bed and dancing to Mika's "Lollipop" on endless repeat.

Notice the "Standard Cuban Boy" physique: big round belly with protuding belly button, cute little butt, and square shoulders.

Notice how the drips from the Kool-Aid Ice Pop accentuate the happy little mouth and afore-mentioned big, round belly.

Notice how happy he is to shake his groove thang!

Boy is he going to be dangerous to the ladies!

the girl who is a mother

Thought I'd share this video...I thought it was kinda cute considering the day, lol!

Yes, It's Mother's Day and I am a Mother. That, of course, is an understatement, but it *is* my day after all.

For Mother's Day, I got to sleep in until 4:00 am when the dog woke me up by vomiting all over my feet. (Note to DH: do not feed your dog leftover sub sandwiches--they don't agree with him!) After I finished cleaning up that mess, walking the dog in my robe and putting him in the crate for the remainder of the night, I got to sleep some more until about 6-ish, when I was awakened by DH to help him track down a missing shoe. After going back to sleep I was awakened by DS#3 wanting to cuddle and then the whole troupe came into my room a little later with a bowl of Cocoa Krispies and a banana. Happy Mother's Day! The cutest thing was Matthew insisting on spoon feeding me the cereal and shoving bites of banana in my mouth. Adorable! They have been very kind in letting me cat nap since but it really is time to get up and get going.

My plans for the rest of the day involve laundry--lots of it. And spraying the boys' bathroom down with bleach, lol. Three boys with various standards of cleanliness really can abuse a toilet. I know, glamorous. I have a sneaking suspicion that DH is going to present me with Tori's latest cd as my pressie when I get home, so I know what I will be listening too over and over tomorrow at work!

Mother's Day gives me a chance to reflect upon my kiddos. I really am proud of them. Such distinct personalities and oh, so loving. Each of them!

There's Zachary who is my comedian. He loves to make people laugh and involve people in what he's thinking. I worry about his tendency to want to be liked so much that he forgets his rules, but I know he has a good heart. He's finding his way, he just needs confidence. But he is so smart! Now I understand why potential is such a scary word. I know he has potential in spades, but I wonder if he really is motivated to use it. I don't want to be *that* mom that pushes her kid to the point he doesn't enjoy things that once brought him joy. So I'll let him find his own way, he is only 8. I'll wait until he's in jr. high at least before I start the insane academic pressure!

Then, there's Ian. He's Mr. Shy and Sensitive. The calmest and quietest of the three, he really is content to sort of stay in the background and not create a fuss. We call him our "OCD boy" because he is so particular about so many things. He has to drink form *this* cup, make his bed *this* way, follow *this* routine. He is the only one of the boys who sees a messy room and cleans it WITHOUT BEING ASKED! And all he wants as a reward is a sticker! He is very competitive with his younger brother though. Perhaps because they are so close in age, and perhaps because Matthew tends to bulldoze his way through everything and try to take over. Ian is my cuddle-bug and totally willing to just sit in my lap and tell me a story (even if I can't understand it.) He's my artist and will take crayons and paper over an action figure any day of the week. And as much as he is normally quiet and reserved, when competing with his brother's he turns into a drama queen. Push him while reaching for a toy and he will fall to the floor screaming piteously. When it isn't annoying it's comical.

Matthew is my BOY. He is Trouble on Two Feet. He is my Charmer. He wraps people around his finger. And he does it on purpose so he can get away with stuff. He charges headfirst into life. If he wants something he takes it. If he doesn't want something, he just says "no thanks" and refuses. "Matthew, time for bed!" "No thanks, Mommy. No thanks." He not only keeps up with his older brothers, he gives them a run for their money. And he is so irresistibly cute he gets away with way too much! He goes through life just assuming everyone loves him and I really hope he never loses that. One thing I hope he does lose is his total lack of fear of consequence. This is why he's the only kid to have had stitches, have had DCF called on us for his "escape" and who is always covered with bruises. Let's hope he learns restraint as he grows older.

Eli is my jumping bean at the moment. I hit 6 months this week and am started to get excited about meeting him. This pregnancy is bittersweet. On one hand, it was a complete and total surprise so there was a little bit of shock and a getting used to the idea period. On the other hand, I *know* this is the last time, so I am embracing some of the thrills and discomforts of pregnancy as the last time I will feel this way. Those kicks and jabs in my tummy? After 3 and a half years since my last, I realized I kind of missed that really intimate little thrill. Especially the first time you feel them, before anyone else can. It's like a little secret, "I've got a LIFE inside me!" So my firsts with this pregnancy are also my lasts.

Well, the kids have been generous, but I can hear a pile of laundry calling me, so it's off to work I go. I'm going to make a teeny plea here. If you read my blog and are not one of the Jens, please leave a comment so I know! I go so long between posts sometimes because I figure the Jens are the only one reading and I talk to them daily. Then I'll hear form someone that they saw such and such on my blog, so then I feel kind of guilty for letting ot go so long. Anyway. I'll leave you with the fabulous Tori Amos' new single "Big Wheel." Pay attention to my favorite part, completely appropriate for today...

"I am a M. I. L. F. Don't you forget!"