You know you are going to have a good birthday when....

The mailman delivered a package to me today.

I became a little frantic because I couldn't

remember what I had ordered.

I carefully examined the label....

It was a package from

a dear friend

Alana Marie

over at....

Fractured Fairy Tales

I had sent her my first sling

which was a pouch style

for her to try with her dogs.

Check out her photos HERE

She had told me she was going to send me

a "thank you" gift in return.

I was expecting one of her beautiful knitted hats

for the boys or perhaps a scarf.

Little did I know...

She had something else in mind!

(Please excuse my filthy carpet--that'll get fixed tomorrow)

Alana Maria has fueled my obsession....

My obsession with Pyrex

Alana....

You sure do know

 the way to a girls' heart!

I can't wait to bake

something in these beauties!

I don't know if Alana knew

my birthday is this Tuesday

(I'll be 32)

but man-o-man what a great

way to start the

celebrations.

This set will have a happy home

with these guys....

Thank you SO very much Alana! 

 You sure did make my day!

One of those days.

It was one of those days around here.

It felt like we were all unraveling at the seams.

The tension was high.

The tears were flowing.

My biggest complaint about

 myself, as a mother,

is letting my

10 hour per week job

get in the way of me being

a mother to my kids

when they need me.

Yesterday was one of those days. 

I finally said enough.

I put fresh diapers on the boys

and fled the house as fast as I could.

I didn't even waste time calling Daddy.

We arrived at what I like to call

The Happiest Place on Earth...

When you live no where near Disney Land

and you don't have the finances

for a trip there...

You go to the 2nd best!

I consider Target to be our indoor play ground.

With the temp's hanging around the 100's

going outside isn't ideal.

So why not go some place

that is air conditioned

with toys.

I love this Target.

It's minutes from my house.

Newly remodeled.

Clean.

And best of all....

Starbucks has set up a small shop there.

I can knock out to birds with one stone.

His: Strawberry Milk with Ice and Whip

Hers:  Iced Green Tea Unsweetened

I am always beating myself up about this little love-affair with Starbucks.

I justify our love by telling myself...

" All I drink is water and orange juice."

I think I deserve to treat myself here and there.

 Once Bug and I chilled out

and hit a "reset"

of sorts we were on our way.

Where was Squish you ask...

Where he always is....



 Target is where we come to learn things...

Like organization and clean up.

I handed Bug this toy.  It's a baby Scout and that is intented to be snuggled with at night to help a young child fall asleep.  I asked Bug to give me his best sleeping face.

 He is a natural model. 

To help finish off the rough week
we are headed to the Zoo in the morning.
More Mama and kid time is needed
to bring the focus back to us, my little family,
and less about work!

Each others Brother

I always tell my husband that the best gift he has ever given me

has been my two boys.

I considered for sometime after I had Bug to never have anymore children.

I just loved him so much and felt so fulfilled that I didn't feel the need to want more.

In fact, I was a bit worried during my pregnancy with Squishy

 if I could ever love him the same.

Well folks.  The verdict is in. 

(Actually, it's been in.  It's just taking me a long time to write this post.)

Squish was the best thing we've brought into this family.

I can't believe I ever doubted wanting more.

Making Bug a brother is the best gift I could ever give him. 

I know he may disagree from time to time on that but Mama is always right!

I've been asked a lot lately how was Bug doing with being a big brother now

and I thought I would share my answer with the world.

Bug is an AWESOME big brother.

He's not perfect and sometime he makes mistakes with Squish.

But together they are surviving.

Just in the last two weeks Bug has really come alive with Squish. 

Maybe it's because Squish is getting more active

and becoming more of a person

and less of a baby.

It's the coolest thing for me to be able to sit

back and watch a bond developing and growing between the two.

 From the beginning....

To now...

 I love my kids and the family we have built so much that I couldn't ask for more

Well, unless that "more" were chickens but

I'll save this

 topic request demand begging pleading

for another day.

=Dear husband...I think you know what I am talking about!=

Why I want to be two again....

BECAUSE OF THIS....

Being a two year old is awesome!

~

You can dress however you want...

 

...and you won't be judged for it. 

In fact, most people will smile and say "ahh, how cute."

~

You can walk around in cowboy boots

that are three sizes too big....  

...and make even the sourest of people smile and chuckle

because they remember those days.

~

You can eat your ice cream in every way

that will make the biggest mess....

...and that is to be expected

and we are okay with that. 

~

When you throw a fit because you

want your ice cream back....

...and that is okay because it's the "terrible two's"

and that is to be expected.

~

You can do some 

downright silly things...

 ...and not be made fun of 

because you are learning through play.

~

Wanna know what the coolest thing

about being two is.... 

 ...never being too big or too old

to need your Daddy!

Seriously though, I've been spending a lot of time lately thinking about the life of a two year old.  Not only because I currently have a two year old and I have no choice but too, but because being two is so wonderful for this world.

Just think about what is so wrong with this world...

Turn on CNN or Fox News if you need reminders.

Or heck, just open up your mailbox like we did this afternoon as we were notified that a sex offender (involving kids) has moved in down the street. 

When you are two life is easy. 

You are unable to judge.

You don't know when you are being judged.

You can be yourself--100 PERCENT OF THE TIME!

Lollipops and kisses fix EVERYTHING!

Naps are a must have.

Crankiness is to be expected and you aren't penalized for it by being called names. 

And the list can go on. 

I wonder how this world might be if we had the heart and eyes of a two year old. 

Our 4th of July

Thought I'd share with you our 4th of July festivities. 

It was really rather simple....

Went to Grandma and Papa's for a BBQ. 

I gorged myself on hot dogs, chips and dip, dessert and lemonade.

The kiddos and I went swimming with Papa and the cousins.

Watched a storm blow in.

Came home.

Took a shower.

Watched Toy Story 3 in bed for the 3rd weekend in a row.

Our Drive to Papa's:

 Mister So Serious

 Squish and I

 Daddy snoozing

Ain't it cute? 

 I had to take this picture because it won't stay this tiny forever

 Action shots of the swimming

Bug with his cousins

Look.  I do exist.   

 Squishy loved being in the water with me

 I often tell Daddy that the only reason the kids will ever know I existed was because there are pictures of them.  It's not often Daddy will spontaneously grab the camera and take pictures of me with them.

 This was the wonderful storm that fell down upon us.

Sorry for it being short and sweet but I have a quilt that I need to finish up before next weekend.