Shutters & Brin's bed

I started painting and hanging shutters...this is how far I've gotten LOL...they are a tan color instead of blue...although the 2 higher windows aren't painted yet haha...hey it's a good thing I can take my time because we live in the country!!! I dropped the left window shutters a 1/2 inch when I hung them...so now I have to rip them off and re-hang them...not too bad though huh?!!

My crazy kiddos...seriously...CRAZY!

I bought Brinley a new bed because well...I just wanted to LOL...I wanted a full-size for her but that will have to wait until I can buy her a nice bed and dresser set in a couple years. For now...it's just a bed...I got a good deal on this cute Karina quilt set from PBK...I wish it was the pink one and not blue...but it's okay...it's still cute and I can deal with it! SO her room will now be pink, green and BLUE ;)

My Loves

So my post isn't really meant to go with my pictures this time...but I wanted to share them anyhow!

I wake up every morning to Brinley yacking in her crib. Some mornings it's to Tristan or Easton walking down the stairs on a direct root to my bedroom! The first thing I have to do is feed them. I'm talking immediately. For some reason they all wake up and act like I haven't fed them in weeks and then eat like it's their last meal. They always ask where Daddy is and I have to repeat every time...he's at work. I'm not one to sit around and waste my life away in my house as you know. I usually get them all ready after they watch some cartoons. They like to go to Target to look at toys and to eat at their little snack bar. For $3 you can get a slushy, hotdog and apples with caramel dip. They think it's the BEST thing in the whole world! Some days we go to route 31, others we just stay in Fulton and go to Walmart or KMart. As much of a pain it is to load everyone and fight them to behave in the store...I just do it. It's just a part of my life now. Lots of mom's say they never take their kids shopping. Well if I COULD shop alone, trust me, I WOULD! But I've done it so much, it's just second-hand. When we get home, if they aren't sleeping in the car, Easton and Brinley will take a nap. Then comes the cleaning or relaxing with Tristan or computer time lol. They eat all day long...I'm talking ALL DAY! I can't count the times I hear mom, I'm hungry or Brinley screaming when she hears the fridge open or a wrapper crinkle. They are snacky kids, but they like their meals too. They fight all day long over toys, blankets, food you name it. I feel like a referee hehe. Tristan has been very mouthy and talks back a LOT. Easton is starting to talk back too. I'm in for it. The best is when they argue and Easton says...brotha, you go in the corner and Tristan says....you're stupid Easton....then Easton says....no, you stupid brotha...and it goes on and on. When they get in trouble it's like a game. They make me chase them down. Literally. Tristan will run and scream and hide from me if he know's he's in trouble. The best is when he screams don't hit me, don't hit me and acts like I'm the most cruel mom ever. Now let's add Brinley in the mix. She has to have my attention at all times! She wants to be talked to, picked up, the center of attention. She's very fiesty and is starting to throw fits, be bratty, yells, screams and now hits. They love to play outside. I'm always fighting to keep them inside because they can unlock and open anything! One minute I'll be guarding the front door and then I'll see Easton out in the driveway...he sneaks out the back door. It's crazy. Thank gosh we live out in the country and not on a busy city street. They love to dig in the dirt, ride bikes, swim, ride the 4-wheeler and their little gator. If they could be outside morning until night they would be. Bed time is always a challenge. Brinley is easy because she's in a crib. She goes to bed around 7pm. The boys refuse to stay in bed. I'm constantly chasing them back upstairs. Most nights I get tired after yelling at them and putting them back in bed that I let them fall asleep in my family room on the couch while I watch TV. Last night I rented "Cop Out" on demand and the language and violence wasn't appropriate for kids...but Easton so nicely would NOT sleep and watched the entire thing...ugh. Then I have to wait for Jimmy to come home to carry them upstairs and put them in bed. Some nights they sleep in their Grandma's room. They act like they won the lottery when they do. Those are the nights it's easy to get them to sleep.

Easton is now trying to wear underwear. He's been peeing on the potty and doing good! Although a little obsessive. Brinley too wants to be like her brother and refuses to keep her clothes and her diaper on. I really think she may be potty trained by time she's 2. She's very bright and a quick learner. Probably because she has two big brothers to learn from. Now the funniest part...her FIRST word....she's 17 months old now and the first word I can make out is....you guessed it...."NAYNAY".....really Brinley....really!!! This is the name the boys call my mom....now kid three is following suit loving no one but Grandma. haha!

There are so many things I want to write. These are the moments that I will miss as they grow up and get older. My days will be so much different 5 years from now. Everyone in school all day. Life seems to be flying by these days. I can't imagine my life without my family. I love every one of my kids more than they will ever know or think they know. They are the reason I am the person I am today. I love all the little things...even as stressful as they can be. They are all so different...Tristan big, dramatic, mouthy, LOUD, smart, grandma's boy...Easton sneaky, quiet, cuddly, copycat...Brinley fiesty, screamer, look at me, give me attention hehe. I'm blessed to have 3 beautiful, healthy kids. I hope that I can continue to be as close to them in 10-20 years as I am today. I hope they realize how much I do for them and love them and take care of them.

Darien Lake

We went to Darien Lake last Fri.-Sun. It was quite the trip! When we got there, we started setting up our tents and it started to down poor....I'm taking down poor! So we were all drenched, kids were a mess, tents soaked and everything was a disaster! After we set up, the rain lightened up a bit and we decided to drive to the closest Red Lobster and have a nice DRY dinner! When we got back..like 7pm we were able to hit some roller coasters. Tristan was able to sneak on the Viper...which is a big roller coaster that goes upside-down and does loops! He was only 2 inches too short to do most of the coasters, but for some reason they didn't check his height for this one! It was his first big coaster and I guess he liked it because he went back for a second ride! Fri. night we went back to our site and seen we had company...a new group of campers right across from us. They were drinking all night! They had the worst language I've ever heard....blaired their radio and were just aweful! We were hoping that since 11pm was quiet time they would settle down. Well, we were WRONG! They were crazy until 3am! I tried to call security to come take care of them, but I couldn't get through on the phone line. Anyhow, I called the office the next morning and told her of our problems. Night #2 came around and needless to say, they were worse because another group joined them! I finally got so mad I got in my car and flagged down a security vehicle at 2am! Nice huh? That about sums it up! I complained to the head of accomodations and now we are getting 1/2 our money back and a free stay for 2 nights :)

Sat. we spent most of the day in the park in the wave pool because it was so dang HOT! The kids loved riding the kiddie rides and going in the Hook's Lagoon...which was a kiddie water area. Sun. was our highlight when Jimmy, Ryan and Tristan went on the SKYCOASTER....I can't believe Tristan was tall enough to do it and actually wanted to! If it wasn't $25 a person to ride it he would have done it again! I told him he had to save his pennies and next time he could pay! We did buy the video of his ride! It was too good to pass up! We had a good trip other than our sleepless nights there LOL...here are some pictures :)

Slacker yet again!

I love the idea of blogging, but it seems like it's never at the top of my priority list! It's not like it's the most difficult thing to do! :) Someday I will get better and update more often!

Summer has begun! I'm excited as always to have the entire summer off to spend with my kids. It's such an awesome perk of being a teacher! This is my second official entire week off. It's so strange to wake up and be ready to walk out the door by 8:30 every morning...maybe as the weeks go on I will be more lazy. We have been going somewhere every day, the mall, target, playground, walmart...you name it. I am not one to just sit at home and do nothing. I have to at least take a trip to get out of the house. I think I get that from my Dad. Even if I just run to get gas and drive-thru Wendy's..it's SOMETHING! Sad I know. We are gearing up for a 3-day trip to Darien Lake this Fri.-Sun. I'm excited to get away for a bit. My mom and Ryan and Amanda are going too so it should be fun. Growing up my parents always took us on this trip. It's always hard to go places without my Dad. I am grateful that I have my Mom to still share things with. I can't imagine losing both parents and how hard it must be to just function. It's hard enough having one gone. I'm so happy that I have my own little family to start new traditions with and to make new memories.

I am still the current Primary President in my church. I am excited to have new...well sort of new ;) counselors. I totally thought a release was coming my way...but I was wrong. I guess it'll come when I least expect it...right?!! Jimmy is now second counselor in the Elders Quorum...I pray for the day he takes over as President...that means my release is NEAR :) I'm probably dreaming though LOL.

Jimmy has been studying hard to take his first CPA exam which is coming up next week. I'm so proud of him and all of the hard work and dedication he puts in to his job and taking care of us.....well financially because everything else is SO ALL ME...but ya know...I'm grateful that he's motivated to succeed lol. We love him so much and love spending some extra time with him when it's not tax season!

I've decided that I'm over the short brown boring hair that I've had for the past 2 years....so the blonde process has started. I had my first highlight yesterday and it's already pretty blonde seeing how it was sooo dark! I'm trying to grow it out long...we'll see how it goes. This is not the best pic of me...but it's the first one I snapped after I walked in from the salon haha!

It's bedtime for my boys soon...so I have to say goodbye for now. I'm so blessed to have this beautiful little family of mine. I couldn't imagine my life without my husband, my kids, my mom, my brother and his wife, my friends and family. I always see people on facebook say how lucky they are and how grateful they are for their loved ones. I wonder how many of those people truly mean what they say and how many of those people just take everything for granted. I know that at any moment my life could change, be taken away or I could lose someone close to me. I don't want to lose a memory, miss a moment or think that there is always tomorrow.

XOXO