Crossroads

I've been a SAHM for almost three full years now.  When I left work, my decision was rooted in the fact that I felt strongly that I only had one chance to be "mom" to my boys, while my career would be there if/when I wanted to come back to it.  And three years later, I still feel very strongly about that.  It is so cliche, but also so true that time with our little ones goes by so quickly, and I am so grateful that I have gotten the chance to witness first-hand so many moments of my boys' lives.
However, for the bulk of the three years I have also constantly battled the the guilt of not working outside of the home. Primarily, I hate that I don't contribute any real income.  I also feel like I need/want an additional purpose in life; I don't want to be that mom who is just mom and lose myself in it.  And lately, I have begun to wonder if having an outside outlet might be a bit of a relief when it comes to dealing with my boys. I know all jobs are stressful, but most people get to leave work stresses behind. You may come home to additional stresses, but at least they're different stresses.  While, for me (and other SAHM), if the boys are being particularly difficult one day, I get no relief from that.
So, I arrive at the same conundrum I have faced for the last three years...what can I possibly do?
When I get down to it, I have three main priorities (listed in their order of importance with 1 and 2 being pretty close, and 3 being a little more distant).

1. Time.  I still believe very strongly in being a SAHM in that I don't want to sacrifice too much of my time with my boys. And I also hate the idea of sacrificing our very coveted family time when Josh is home with us.  Obviously, that doesn't leave many options...work from home possibly being the only, so I have begun to accept that I probably will need to sacrifice some sort of time!
2. Money. As I have said, I really hate that I do not contribute to our income.  Josh and I have some high goals for the coming years, and I would like to play a part financially in getting us there.
3. Passion. No one wants to work...no matter how little...at something they don't enjoy.  If I'm going to work, obviously I want it to be at something I enjoy/am good at.

So with those in mind, these are the options I have been throwing around lately:

• Party planning.  If you have been a reader here for awhile, you probably know that I do have a party planning business. But as my business picked up, I quickly realized that for that business to be successful I would have to sacrifice a lot of my weekends with my family...no bueno! Plus, to be honest, the money was completely unreliable.  Sure, I would make a good amount when I did a party (and if I wanted to really push it, I'm sure I could make enough to not only contribute but really make a sizable income), but I'm not as aggressive with it as I should be and therefore still have very spotty bookings.  On the major plus side, I do definitely enjoy it (or at least the planning and decorating).  Moving forward, I could continue to use it as a side business/hobby, but I don't think considering it my "job" or expecting to make a reasonable income is realistic.
• Subbing/Preschool Teacher. I have recently begun to substitute at Colton's preschool.  Honestly, this was kind of always my back up plan in my head...to one day teach (part-time) at the boys' preschool.  But Levi is still only in school two days a week which creates two problems: 1. I only have two days to sub (and considering the pay is pretty measly, it's definitely not going to be a big money-maker), 2. I give up my super, super treasured time alone when I usually get errands done, clean the house, etc. Really, though, I realize that working moms never get alone time, so the pay, or lack thereof, is definitely more of the concern.  Again, on the plus side, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed being back in a classroom.  Plus, if I want to get a regular position at the school, I have to start with subbing, so I'm thinking it's something I should continue to do.
• Stella and Dot. So this is where the money starts speaking. From what I've read/discussed, an average SD show brings in about $250 in commission.  To put it in perspective, that's about 8 days worth of subbing (told you the pay was measly!)!  So I would really only have to do a couple shows a month to make an income that I would consider contributing (obviously, over the years we have worked within Josh's income, so an extra $500 a month would actually be pretty big to us at this point!). As another benefit, a lot of the shows are on weeknights.  As much as I hate sacrificing my family time, I must admit that weeknights are much easier to do...and sometimes even a welcome change of pace after spending the whole day with the boys by myself.  As for enjoying it, I can definitely say that hanging out with a bunch of girls and having a few drinks is among my favorite things to do.  So what's the problem?  Well, there's the whole sales thing.  I'm not a salesperson.  I hate pushy sales. And I am certainly not aggressive.  Which leads me to question (and Josh to flat out doubt) whether or not I would be successful (even by my relatively low standards).  Sure, I have a few close friends and family members that I know would help me out by hosting shows initially, but what about after that?  Plus, you do have to make an investment of about $200 to get started, so I don't want to feel like I've wasted that away.

And in all the times I've gone through this in my head, I keep feeling like there's gotta be another option that I haven't yet thought of.  What do you think blogland?  I'm open to it all...any opinions, advice, suggestions, etc. are not only welcomed, but really hoped for!!! What should I do with my life (at least for the next couple of years when both boys will be in school full-time and then I have more options!!!)?!?!

Old Friends are the Best Friends

I met my friend Claire in elementary school...4th grade to be exact.  We went to different middle schools, but then reunited again in high school.  We had the same group of good friends (about 5 of us girls).  At the time, I was probably technically closer to some of the other girls. But over the years and the trials and tribulations of friendships, Claire and I have always remained tight despite the fact that I have lost touch with pretty much all of the other girls (and she too).  She has been there for me whenever I needed it (and vice versa), she was a bridesmaid in my wedding (and vice versa), and now we are facing motherhood together.
Well, kind of!  Claire and her husband live in San Francisco, but luckily her mom is still here in VB, so we get to see them at least a couple of times a year when they come to visit.  And this trip was exceptionally exciting because since the last time we saw them, Claire and Jerry have welcomed two adorable baby girls into their family (in addition to their son, Waid, who is just 5 days younger than Levi!).
We had the whole family over for dinner and play time last night.  It was so nice to watch the boys become fast friends as Claire and I sat and chatted.

And then there was Levi and the babies.  My boy was totally in love, particularly with baby Elle whom he doted with kisses and attention all evening.  I've said it before and I'll probably say it a million more times: Levi can be such a pain in my rear, but the boy has the biggest heart on the planet and is such a lover!

                           

                          

As we all caught up, it dawned on us that five years ago, we had no children between us, but now there are five!

While Claire and Jerry are currently west coasters, they do have plans to make their way back to Virginia in coming years.  So who knows...maybe those five cuties will be able to celebrate two decades plus of friendship as well!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yep, today is my day! I look forward to my birthday every year, but this year, the countdown to it was especially prevalent. Back at the start of the year, I decided I was going to do anything and everything in my power to lose my final pounds of baby weight I hadn't been able to kick since having Levi.  I have tried and tried over the past couple years, but this weight is stubborn, and I knew it would take perfection, discipline, and perseverance to shed some of it!   I know myself well enough to know that if I felt like I was giving up and/or adding certain things forever, I would quickly get discouraged, but if I knew it was a temporary thing, I could probably keep it up! With 10 weeks in between the first of the year (well, January 6th to be exact because that's when I started), and my birthday, I decided my birthday would be a good benchmark.
So here we are.  I set out to lose 10-15 pounds.  I lost 7.
But I'm done...at least for the foreseeable future. For one, the changes I made over the past 10 weeks were intense (for me, at least), and I need the break! To lose the weight, I:

• changed my diet to high protein with touches of "clean" eating.  My dietician friend told me 30% of my calories each day should come from protein (and of those, most of those should be animal-products and lean, so grilled chicken, eggs, etc).  I have always focused solely on calories when trying to lose weight and generally would eat a lot of carbs in the process, so this was a big switch!  But it was probably the most significant.  Not only did I feel fuller than I ever did when dieting before, but I actually lost weight!
• stuck very strictly to 1200-1300 calories a day.  I used MyFitnesspal to track each and everything I ate, including taking the time to calculate each new dinner we made.  To stay within that calorie count, I was very good about only eating my meals and designated snack (no sneaking handfuls or bites of the kids' stuff!)
• cut out my nightly ice cream...except for a treat once a week!  I usually manage to stick to a half cup anyway, but I tried to use my 150 calories on something more beneficial!
•  I stayed strong when eating out (something we do pretty frequently, especially on weekends when my previous diets would go out the window). I made sure to order things that were healthy, as opposed to what I wanted.  Sounds obvious, but it's something I generally have a hard time with when dieting, especially when we go somewhere we don't go to as frequently and I feel like I'm going to miss out on the amazing dish!
• increased my workouts from 5 a week to 6 a week. 
• changed up my workouts to have more variety and high-intensity intervals. I kept up my Muscle Blast classes and running routine (up to 4.5 miles...not straight running, but still!), but added in tabata (love it by the way!), swimming, and even boxing.

Really, I probably didn't have to do all of those, and I really don't even know which was the most beneficial.  All I know is that after trying many different things over the past year and a half or so to get these final 10-15 pounds off, I finally saw the scale go down (for the record, the first 50ish came off with the same dieting tricks I have used my whole life before I completely stalled out!).  Which brings me to my second and probably more important point:

I'm still not at my pre-pregnancy weight...by about 7 pounds. But, I really think I'm ok with that! When I look in the mirror, I like what I see (at least in clothes!).  I am arguably in the best shape of my life, or at least since I swam 10 times a week as a teenager.  I am healthy. My body is toned and fit.  Sure, there are some trouble spots there (a muffin top, no thigh gap for sure, etc), BUT my body has gone through two pregnancies and I'm content with how I fared! I still don't love the number on the scale, but if I'm being honest with myself, I think I generally look the same as I did pre-children.  And for that I'm happy!
So I'm moving on the next phase of my life with no dieting.  Sure, I'm still going to work out at least five times a week and continue to make healthy eating choices most of the time. But the painful truth is that I like foods that are bad for me.  And I like to have a few drinks.  And I like to be able to meet my friends for coffee some mornings instead of going to the gym.  And so on and so on.  I sincerely believe that at this point part of being a "healthy" me means occasionally giving in to life's little indulgences and just enjoying. So, that's what I intend to do.  Happy birthday to me!

Seasonal Affect Disorder

The weather has been amazingly pleasant around here this week. Temps in the 60s, sunny, and just perfect for a lot of outside time. Every year I get excited to see and feel Spring come around, but this year may be exceptional. I knew it had been cold this winter, but I didn't realize until this week's improvements, just how much this winter has affected my mood/state of well being!
Winter is grueling.  First, I am stuck inside way too frequently with the kiddos. And then when we do try to make it outside, it is amazing how much harder it is to buckle them in those darn car seats, or get them out, or walk them in somewhere when it is bitter cold outside. It's so frustrating that I don't even want to go anywhere or do anything. And that just puts me in an all around bad and lazy mod.

Usually when the kids go down for their naps, I am busy knocking things off my to-do list.  I haven't even made a to-do list in weeks!
I have always enjoyed blogging and will easily knock out five posts a week. I haven't even wanted to take the time to write a basic post recently (also probably due to the fact that I'm not really getting anything done to write about!).
And to top it off, I battled a nasty virus last week that completely knocked me on my arse and drove the final nail in the proverbial coffin.  I was exhausted, cranky, and just plain fed up with everything!
But this week, with the sun shining and the temps warmer (and thanks to the miraculous neti pot...seriously can't sing that thing's praises enough!), all feels right with the world again! I have been happy, productive, and not only patient, but actually enjoying, my kids! Hallelujah!
 There's a guy I follow on Facebook that is somewhat of a weather forecasting phenom.  He pretty much has nailed every storm...and starts predicting them over a week in advance. Well, he's at it again and is already alerting that there is the potential for a major East Coast blizzard (including us) next weekend....um, seriously, I may lose it if this comes to fruition!
 I think I'm just going to ignore him and revel in the beautiful, mild weekend on tap.  Ignorance is bliss, right?
 

Snow Day: Past and Present

As I think anyone who has young kids can attest to, my life sure has changed in just about every aspect possible over the last five years or so!  Obviously, it's only natural, right?  But one place that this change is particularly striking, at least currently, is how I feel about and approach a snow day.
As we speak, it has begun to snow in Virginia Beach.  That is remarkable enough, but forecasters keep bumping up our projected totals to numbers like 10 inches or more.  That is unheard of around here.  This city shuts down for an inch, so I can only imagine how long we will be snowed in for 10 inches!
Pre-children I would have looked forward to this snow-vacation eagerly.  As many of you know, I was a teacher, and snow days were the ultimate in excitement!  I would probably have stocked up with a few good magazines, some craft supplies for a long-neglected project, some baking supplies in case I got around to whipping something up, and wine....definitely lots of wine!  I would have absolutely relished the fact that I could lounge around the house all day (a treat I didn't usually allow myself, even then).  I would have laid in bed to watch the Today show, and then gradually attacked whatever project...or DVR show...I wanted.  I remember those days.  They were glorious.

Fast forward to my anticipation of our next few days worth of snow days.  I am absolutely dreading them!  I have stocked up, but I was not so naive to even consider the fact that I may get something done.  Instead, I have craft supplies aplenty for the boys, along with games, fort building ideas, and a promise that they can play iPad as much as they want!  I did still get some wine, but I'm thinking it will be needed more for stress relief than the savoring of a perfect day as before.  I am painfully aware that there will absolutely be no lounging around the house.  We will be here, but it won't be leisurely.  These boys are GO from the moment they wake up and without being able to get out of the house and relieve some of that energy, I know I will be putting out fires all day long.  I'm sure we will go outside some, but honestly, this snow happens to be accompanied by that bitter cold Polar Vortex air, making it very difficult for us Southerners to handle it for long!
I'm sure we will make some wonderful memories to cherish for years to come, but I am also pretty certain that I will want to pull my hair out by the time this experience is all over!  So wish us luck, keep your fingers crossed, and feel free to send wine...lots of wine!

Weekend Beautification

Admittedly, I don't take really great care of my skin.  I'm not dirty or anything, but it's just never been a priority for me.  Examples: I generally work out in the morning and then don't shower until the afternoon (unless we're going somewhere in between, but usually it's just errands or play time...why shower for that, right?).  Also, I frequently...as in always...go to sleep without first removing my makeup/washing my face (in fairness, I only wear makeup a couple or few times a week, but still...).  I think that adequately states my point.
Even with my lack of effort, I am pretty fortunate to not have crazy breakouts or anything.  Instead, I just have pores...noticeable, large pores!  When I asked my hair/makeup girl about this, she basically said I needed to take better care of my skin.  Point taken.  And I tried.  But it lasted about a day before I tired of the extra effort (pathetic I know!).
I like quick fixes...and guess what?!?  Pinterest, of course, delivered!  A friend pinned this little recipe and when it promised to totally diminish pores, I knew I had to give it a try.  And it totally worked!!!  My pores weren't totally gone after one use, but they were much, much smaller!  And I'm thinking if I can repeat it with any consistency, I could get them to nearly nonexistent!
When I find something good, I like to share the goods, so here it is the amazingly easy pore-refinining/minimizing/disappearing mask!!!

1.  Mix 1 tbsp. orange juice with 1 tbsp. baking soda.  If you need to add more baking soda to thicken it, do so!

2.  Apply a thin layer all over your face and/or neck.  You'll probably have enough for 2 masks if you just do your face!

3.  Leave on for 20 minutes.  Be sure to keep your fingers busy during this time because the mask can itch a bit and you don't want to touch it!

4.  Wet fingers and massage mask off.

5.  Rinse.

I promise you won't believe how clear and pretty your skin looks.  Such an easy treatment just in time for some weekend fun!  You're welcome!

End of Year Checkup

As 2013 concludes tonight and we prepare to usher in a brand new year, I wanted to look back at all that I have accomplished (or not!) over the past 365 days.  A few years ago, I switched from making resolutions...which are always so broad, and thus never accomplished...to making goals, or a to-do list of sorts, for the year.  So far, it has produced much greater success, so let's check out this year's and how I did!
In case you're curious, original goals are in regular font, and my progress/comments are in bold.
1.  SLOW DOWN!  Ever since I became a mom almost three years ago, I feel like my life has been go, go, go!  Part of it is most definitely my fault, though, as I hold myself to pretty high, if not darn right unrealistic, expectations...work out at least five days a week, make homemade dinner nightly for the family, complete daily cleaning tasks, take on ridiculous projects during nap time, take the boys to every activity imaginable, etc.  Don't get me wrong...I enjoy doing a lot of that stuff (not so much the cleaning), but by doing ALL of it ALL the time, I have burnt myself out some.  So in the coming year, I'm going to skip some of it...if and when the need arises.
This one is kind of subjective, so it's hard to tell.  I feel like I have a little, but certainly not as much as I probably should have, so we'll leave that as questionable!
2.  Redo house door knobs.  When we first moved into our house almost three years ago (!), Josh began switching out the door knobs.  Well, he got about halfway through the process and gave up, so we have tons of mismatched door knobs throughout the house.  At this point, I really don't want to deal with the whole switch them out process, especially because it would mean getting new keys for us and family members and stuff, so I'm going to spray paint them.  I've seen tons of tutorials online about doing this, and the general consensus is it holds up, so we'll see!
Done!
                                             
3.  Front makeover: mailbox, porch, landscaping.  We've already planned to use some of our holiday money to purchase a new storm door for the house which I think will help its aesthetic immensely!  But why stop there, right?  Our curb appeal could use a real boost, so I'm getting on it!
Accomplished!  And when I wrote it, I honestly didn't think I could get Josh to do the landscaping part, so we'll consider this a major win!  I didn't buy a door, but painted our old one instead.  And that lovely texting-while-driving incident helped with the mailbox!  Next up: shutters!
                                    
4.  Launch Etsy shop.  Last year, I started my party planning business, Dream Bashes, and have had a lot of fun planning various parties.  In doing those parties, I designed a lot of printables, came up with lots of party plans, and created lots of theme-appropriate decor that may be (*hopefully*) desirable to some party-people out there.  I plan to get on this really soon, so I'll share more details with you when I do:)
Done!  And happily fulfilling orders ever since, although I do need to get around to updating my inventory with some of the stuff from more recent parties...
5.  Lose the rest of the baby weight...once and for all!  No, seriously this time.  I lost MOST of my baby weight, and then October or so came around.  And after a few weeks of not being able to keep myself in check, I finally figured I may as well abandon efforts through the holiday season, but resume in 2013.  The good news is I only have about 10-15 pounds to go (I haven't actually weighed myself in weeks and refuse to do so until tomorrow when my plan starts, so I'm not sure exactly where I'm at)...much less than the 60ish I was dealing with last year, so I wholeheartedly believe I will be able to do this once and for all
Still stuck at that 10-15 pound mark, and very frustrated by it!!!  Some of it's from lack of effort, and some of it is from stuff just not working like it used to!   So in 2014, I guess I either need to figure it out or just deal with my new normal! 
6.  Accessorize. Considering there are many days my definition of "dressed" means yoga pants and a workout shirt, I tend to no longer spend a lot of money in the clothes department.  I have found that most of which I tend to purchase these days is simple and basic, but I have also seen several examples (a la Pinterest, of course) where people dress up these basic options with accessories.  I've never been one to accessorize, but this seems like the perfet solution for transitioning my daytime basics into nighttime appropriate (dare we say, even stylish) attire.
I've actually been so much better at this and really enjoyed doing it.  
7.  Potty train Colton.  I've been lazy with this big time, but as Colton quickly approaches 3 and all his friends are already potty trained, I'm thinking it's time to get this party started.
Done...in 3 days nonetheless!  
8. Date night.  We did better in 2012 about getting out, but still did not get out nearly as often as I would have liked.  One problem seemed to be that we were relying on family members who oftentimes had the same busy schedules we did, and we didn't want to burden them.  So, this year, we're going to put on our big girl/guy panties and actually pay for childcare...once a month at least.
Again, definite improvement (namely because we discovered the monthly JCC Parent's Night Out for $10 per kid!!!), but we're still not getting out monthly.  That's mainly because of our own scheduling conflicts, though, so I think this is about as good as it's going to get!
9. Levi's big boy room:(  My baby is a mere few days away from his first birthday, which means by this time next year, he will almost be 2 (AAAHHH!).  Colton was in his big boy bed at about 20 months  (mainly because of Levi's impending arrival), and the transition was a super easy one, presumably because he was so young!  So, I'm thinking it would be safe to say Levi will make his transition sometime around the end of next year.
Accomplished!
                                    
10. Improve some of our lighting issues.  We have hideous nipple lights throughout the house.  My budget probably does not allow for replacing all of them, but I hope to get some of them out of here in favor of more attractive options.
None of the nipple lights were replaced, but we did do the fan in Levi's room (can see it above) and got some new lamps for the living room, so some progress.
11.  Plan a family trip.  We actually have another big trip with my entire family on our agenda for August, but I want to make sure we also get in a little vacay...even if it's just one night...for the four of us. 
We made it to Florida twice, including a really nice stay at the Boca Resort.  
12.  Maintain some basic grooming.  As pathetic or stereotypical as it may be, as a stay-at-home mom, I often neglect some of the basics of my own upkeep: haircuts, eyebrows, painted nails, even regular shaving of my legs(!).  But I'm not just a mom, and I think it's really important for me (and for my husband) that I stay on top of those things!  TMI?
This one was just stupid.  I've done better, but really...who cares?!?  I think I was reaching for a 13th!
13.  Redo guest bathroom.  This one was on 2012's list, but I never got to it.  Therefore, it still remains as the only room in this house I have yet to get my paws on.  Now's the time!
Done!  
                                         
I guess overall that puts me at 10 1/2 out of 13 with one questionable...not too shabby.  Bring it on 2014!  Ready to accomplish some new stuff!

Breathe, Just Breathe

This post really serves no other purpose than to allow me to vent.  You've been fair warned.
As any parent would probably attest to, there are few things more miserable than having a sick child.  Watching them in pain/discomfort without being able to solve it is a horrible feeling.  And I probably handle it a little worse than other people.  For one, I tend to completely stress myself out about what may be causing it, how to solve it, why it's not getting better when I think it should be getting better, etc.  I have a very hard time just letting things take their course.  Plus, I also have a very hard time being out of our routine. I like our routine.  I need our routine.  And when one of the boys are sick and I can't go to the gym, or we can't play with friends, or go out to dinner, or they miss school, or any number of other things, I get really, really frustrated.  I know this is minor in the big scheme of things, but I can't help it.  I'm a brat.  I want things back to normal.
Well, things haven't been "normal" for about a month and a half around here.  The long and short of it is this: Colton had croop/a virus around the beginning of November.  That turned into a nasty ear infection.  We thought ear infection had cleared up, but in the meantime he (and I) got the stomach bug.  This past weekend, his fever returned and we took him back to the doctor to determine his ear infection had indeed not cleared up...or come back...whatever!  Now, the antibiotic they have given him for the ear infection is causing him major diarrhea.  Oh, and I casually mentioned to the nurse on call (when discussing his antibiotic) that his cheeks are super red and she believes he also has Fifths Disease, a childhood virus that will go away on its own but still just one more tally on our list.
If you combine all that with Levi's little emergency room trip and some pretty nasty eczema flare-ups that have also landed us at the doctor's office, I honestly feel like I wake up each day just waiting to see what our issue du jour will be.  I am so over it.
I am trying to stay positive.  And I am trying to remind myself that things could be so much worse.  I keep reminding myself that this too shall pass and how fortunate we are to have things that will pass (I have a few friends going through some issues with their kiddos that will not pass, so it certainly puts it into perspective).  And I am trying really, really hard to focus on the positive moments we have managed to have in the meantime (like this super adorable video of my "star" at his winter program)

But mainly I keep telling myself that at some point we are going to have to wake up and have a good, illness-free day, week,and even month!  I feel like we certainly deserve it at this point.

Weekend Recap

I don't usually do weekend recap posts, but this one was a bit eventful...some good, some bad...so I figured I'd share.
On Friday, I picked Levi and I picked Colton up from school and I decided it would be a fun special treat to take the boys out to lunch.  I allowed Colton to pick our location.  His favorite place to eat is Chik-Fil-A (more for the play area than the food), so, of course, we ended up there.  Well, about 5 minutes into the meal, he told me he had to go to the bathroom.  I was in the process of getting up, gathering him, our belongings, Levi, etc when all of a sudden, he threw up.  Everywhere.  Y'all it was awful.  For one thing, he's never really thrown up before.  So I was kind of in shock and pretty much froze as to how to help him/Levi/the clean up/the poor other Chik-Fil-A diners who had just witnessed it/had their lunches ruined!  Luckily, a very kind couple who was sitting next to us came to my rescue.  The man went to get a bucket, while the lady offered to watch Levi so I could take Colton to the bathroom.  Obviously I didn't take a complete stranger up on the offer to watch my baby (although I did leave my purse with her), but it did kind of jog the thought that I should probably get him to the bathroom!  Thank goodness he didn't have any more issues while we were in there (except for the fact that he freaked out that we couldn't go in the play area any more), and I got him nice and cleaned up.  When we got back out, some poor Chik-Fil-A worker was busy cleaning up our mess.  I asked him multiple times to let me do it, but he politely refused each time (while having to hold his breath to clean it up!).  As I told Josh when I called him on the way home, I was totally embarrassed to have had such a public disaster, but at the same time, I was secretly grateful I didn't have to clean it up!  I just wish I had thought to buy the couple some gift cards or something and tip the man because they really were very helpful.  So now not only can we cross emergency room off our parenting to-do list, we can also add throwing up in a public place.  Super!
Needless to say, we took it pretty easy the rest of the day, although Colton claimed to have immediately felt better and really showed no further signs of being sick!
On Saturday, then, Josh and I dropped the boys off at his mom and dad's house so we could head to Williamsburg.  His company holiday party was there that night, and we (and every other employee for that matter) had a hotel room compliments of the company (thanks dad!) for the night.  Williamsburg is only about 45 minutes away from us, but we only make the trip about once a year or so.  We went up early enough to hit the outlets for a little bit and then stopped to get a nice lunch out.  Once we checked into the hotel, we hung out downstairs at the bar with my parents and sister (in case you're new here, Josh works for my dad as does my brother...so company events are pretty much family events as well which makes it fun) before getting all dressed up for the party.  I didn't manage to take any pictures except one selfie (although I do have some interesting videos of people dancing...and a man in a neon orange tux), but we had a blast, especially once my abundance of drinks kicked in and I hit the dance floor (something I only do if I've had a few drinks!).  It's always nice to have some quality adult time with my hubby...and even nicer when it lasts for 24 straight hours!

On Sunday, we trekked home in the nasty weather (thank goodness ours was just rain though instead of the crazy snow a few hours north!) and happily reunited with our boys.  We joined my family for Steeler Sunday (where the Steelers lost a heartbreaker) and then headed home for the night.  I wish this little story would have ended there, but unfortunately, as I was typing this, poor Colty got sick again!  UH!  What I was writing off as an isolated incident Friday is clearly some bug or something...or maybe he just ate too much junk today...or some combo.  Now I just have my fingers crossed that it was our last clean up for quite some time!
Anybody else have an eventful weekend?!?

No Shame

It's amazing how much time I can waste sucked into Facebook.  Usually I am busy stalking checking out other people's pages, reading through past posts and checking out past pictures. And yes, some of these people I literally don't even know...just end up there from a friend of a friend  or something..amazing time sucker I tell you!  Please tell me I'm not the only one?!?
But the other day I took my Facebook patrolling somewhere new: to my own page.  Somehow I ended up looking back at my own old pictures and things.  I joined Facebook sometime close to when Josh and I got married.  Since then, I have updated my albums pretty regularly.  With about 6 years or so worth of pictures to comb through, then, I was left with some observations: some painful and some not so painful.  But hey, I'm an open book, so why not share them with you guys, right?  Enjoy a good laugh at my expense...
1.  French Maid Costume was a very bad idea...
                       
2.  Josh and I have the same general pose in just about every picture ever taken of us...and we took a whole lot before we had children, but now rarely take one of just the two of us (btw: I could show you more, but I think you get the idea)
                      
                      
3.  Chipper was just about the cutest puppy EVER!
                     
4.  I should never, ever, ever again wear a hat (this was taken at a Kentucky Derby party years ago...)
                    
5. Chipper had a really good life before the boys came along.
                    
6.  I gained a lot, a lot, a lot of weight when pregnant.  I knew this, of course, but for some reason, I convinced myself it wasn't visible on my face.  Um: wrong!
                    
7.  My kids are freaking adorable (sorry I just had to!).
                   
8.  I am a lucky, lucky girl...

Happy weekend:)

Thankful 2013

Every year that I have blogged, I have done a little Thankful post on Thanskgiving Day.  One year I did my ABC's, one year I did one thing for each day of the month, and last year I did a photo challenge.  I wracked my brain this year to come up with some creative way to express my gratitude this year, but in the end, I really couldn't come up with anything great.  I figured what was more important was that I actually document the things I am thankful for this year.
So here they are...the Baker's Dozen of things I am thankful for this year in no particular order

1.  My Boys.  Oh these two.  They bring me so much joy and make my heart swell with pride (and also bring a bit of frustration, but we won't dwell on that right now!).  They are truly my greatest gifts in the world, and I am absolutely enamored with both of them.  Colton and Levi have very distinct personalities which leads to different things I appreciate in each of them.
Colton is sweet, smart, and mellow (usually!).  He is a rule follower and generally does exactly as he is told. He talks a lot these days, and usually amuses me...or impresses me...with the things that come out of his mouth!  Colton really is a "good kid"...one of those that make you look like a parenting genius (when really it's just dumb luck).
Levi, on the other hand, is a bit feistier than his older brother.  While that spunk has led to an increase in our disciplining, it has also brought a bunch of rewards.  Levi is funny, and makes life fun.  He's constantly into something and kind of reminds you that sometimes you just have to just smile and enjoy life!   He's a lover in every sense of the word and gives the best big squeezes and kisses around.  When he's happy, he's really happy...and when he's not, well, it's pretty obvious too!
Both my boys are very much momma's boys, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  I am 1000% grateful for every kiss, hug, laugh, tickle, "wuv you," and snuggle I share with these two.

2.  My husband.  Josh works very hard to provide me and the boys with a certain life, and while I am thankful for that of course, I think I am more thankful that after 6 years of marriage (plus another few of dating), 2 kids, a crazy cockapoo, and all the stressors that come with that I can still say my husband is my very best friend.  He makes me laugh, is there to support me when I have something to vent about, and we truly have a really good time together.  I have come to realize recently that not everyone is that fortunate.  Sure, Josh and I have our issues, but we are both all in...all in for each other and all in for our family.  I am thankful to have a life partner who I enjoy living life with.

3.  Chipper.  My first child.  Chipper has always been a bit of a handful, but he's also one of the sweetest pups you'll ever meet.   He's an integral member of our family and gives the best, slobbery kisses just when I need them most.  He is an amazing brother, and our family just wouldn't be the same without him!

4.  My family.  I feel so fortunate to have family members who not only give us unyielding support, but are also people we genuinely enjoy being around.  My family has given me so much throughout my life, and now continue to do the same for Josh, Colton, and Levi.  We are pretty close (like talk to my mom and sister at least once a day close) and really do have a good time whenever we are together (not that the above picture shows that...plus I just realized Josh somehow blocks my mom out of it!).
As much as I am thankful for the support, love, and friendship my family gives me, I think I am even more grateful (or at least equally) for what they have given to my boys.  My parents have given my boys countless opportunities that Josh and I may not have been able to provide ourselves (at least not yet!).  My sister is hands down the best aunt in the world and would do absolutely anything for my kiddos (chipper included).  And even though I sometimes question why, my boys absolutely adore their Uncle Ryan!
I'm also really thankful that my boys now have their cousin Riley to grow up with.  I didn't really have cousins I grew up with...the ones we were closest to were in Florida, and we didn't see the ones that were local very often, but I was always envious of families that did have close cousins.
Basically, my family is our support system and our best friends...a combo I am extremely grateful to have!
5.  The business.  My dad started a business 34 years ago.  He worked really hard to build it into the success that it is today.  Josh now works there, so the business is directly responsible for our livelihood and thus provides us with many of the opportunities and luxuries we have.  I guess more appropriately I am thankful my dad worked so hard to have such a phenomenal opportunity to hand down to us.
6.  Being a SAHM.  Sure, there are rough minutes and even rough days, but I am so thankful that I am fortunate enough to be able to stay home with my children, watching them grow up and being there to share in their experiences.  I know there are a lot of people who would love to be able to stay at home, but can't afford to, so I really don't take it for granted.  Plus, being able to go to the gym every morning or meet some friends for coffee while my kids are in school are pretty nice perks!

7.  My friends.  I've always been the kind of person who would rather have a handful of really good friends than a whole bunch of acquaintances.  And over the years, I have maintained a few very close friendships with girls from various stages of my life...girls who I can talk to once in a blue moon but still be as close, girls who would be there for me at the drop of a hat, and girls who I have a blast with whenever (no matter how rare) we see each other.  I am so thankful to have these life-long friends that know me through and through.
But this year, I also became close with another group of girls that I met through Colton's former preschool.  There are about six of them that the boys and I spend our Tuesdays and Thursdays with, that I do girls nights out with, and that even Josh has hung out with (with the other husbands).  Basically, they're my little clique right now (in a totally non-snobby way), and it's really nice to feel like I have a group!

8.  The boys' friends.  As I just said, I made a really nice group of friends this year (well we technically met them at the end of last year, but got close over this year).  But the best part about this group is that every single one of them also happens to have two boys around the ages of my boys...crazy, huh!?!  So now, Colton and Levi have official "friends."  While Levi doesn't quite realize it yet (although he does seem to recognize his buddy Leo who is only one month younger than him and the only other one right around his age), Colton is very much aware of his new buddies and gets very excited about seeing them and doing things with them...as they seem to do with him.  Colton has always been a bit shy and reserved, but not around these guys!  It is so nice to see Colton come out of his shell and have a really good time.
9.  Naptime.  The key to my sanity.  I already said I love being a stay-at-home mom, but let me tell you, these boys are utter chaos these days, and I cherish those two hours of so of peace and quiet.  Plus, it gives me time to craft, bake, check Facebook, and catch up on my reality tv.  It's my special two hours of each day, and I don't know what I would do without it!
10.  DVR.  Speaking of naptime, my guiltiest pleasure during the boys' naps is catching up on my shows.  Most of my shows come on way too late for me to watch "live," so DVR has become my best friend.  Every day I have something exciting to look forward to watching, so thank you DVR...and Bravo for that matter!
11.  Kerry.  She's my Muscle Blast instructor.  I've never before enjoyed doing group exercise classes, but ever since I took Kerry's class for the first time over a year ago, I have been hooked and have missed only a handful of classes!   Even though the workout is a tough one and has made me more toned than I have ever been (we do 200 push ups every Wednesday just to give you an idea), she makes exercise fun and keeps me motivated to be there.
12.  Edy's Chocolate Peanut Butter Loaded.  This stuff is the absolute best, and it's technically frozen yogurt so it's better for you.  I think I've sung it praises a few times before, so I won't bore you with the details but it's my nightly sweet treat.  Oh and a big thank you to Food Lion for actually stocking it after the Harris Teeter had stopped!
13.  Health.  Health issues scare the absolute bejeezus out of me.  I feel so thankful to have my health and that of all my loved ones because I know how quickly that can change!  My parents have both (mainly my dad) had a few issues over the past few years and my grandfather had a really rough year, but things for everyone are looking up, and I am so grateful.

I could also probably give an honorable mention to Pinterest, Kids Nights Out at the JCC ($20 for four hours of babysitting for both boys once a month!!!), and Target!  But mainly, I am just thankful to have so many things to be thankful for!  I am so blessed in so many ways and while I try to remind myself of that daily, it is nice to take the time out to think about that once a year with all my favorite people surrounding me.  I hope you and yours enjoy a fantastic Thanksgiving.

A Few Random Thoughts

Sometimes I have things to share with you guys that really don't necessitate an entire post.  And sometimes I have enough of those little blurbs to share that I can combine them and give you one big, random, all over the place post.  Today is one of those days.  Buckle up!
                                             

1.  Colton was getting dressed the other day and putting on some jeans...Levi's to be exact!  He wears these about once a week, but on this particular day, I guess he noticed the "Levi's" on it because he absolutely insisted that these were not his jeans, but were instead his brothers...for obvious reasons, I think!  I did finally talk him into wearing them (he pretty much had to because they were the last clean pair!) in case you are concerned.  But I guess that's an inevitable consequence when you name your child Levi!
                                    

2.  The other day, I was flipping through my radio stations and stumbled across Christmas music.  I know I'm supposed to be annoyed by this, but honestly I kind of liked it (especially because temperatures that day had suddenly dipped as well, so it just seemed appropriate!).  I still had the music on when I got to Colton's school to pick him up, and now he is obsessed with it!  He asks to have it on every time we are in the car.  I'm telling you this child certainly takes after me in holiday loving!
                                  
3.  My DVR is crazy full these days!  With the return of Real Housewives of Atlanta and Beverly Hills, Shahs of Sunset, and Vanderpump Rules, I am jam-packed!  Plus, I probably shouldn't admit it, but I still DVR Teen Mom and Awkward off of MTV.  Needless to say, I can hardly keep up, but I like it!  Anyone else?!?
                               
4.  I'm very proud of myself.  I've always hated running...HATED it!  But I do it because it feels like the best exercise.  For years, I compromised with myself by running for eight minutes and walking for 10 (and then repeating that for 30  minutes total).  Well, about a month ago, I had some friends who were running a 5K and wanted me to join.  I didn't, but it did get me to thinking that if they can all run 3.1 miles straight, then I should be able to.  So I did!  For the last month or so, I have been running straight...no walking, no breaks...for 3.1 miles.  I get that 3.1 miles isn't very far to some, but for me, it's impressive! And  I'm even thinking about trying to increase it by a tenth of a mile or so every few weeks to see if I can eventually get to 6 miles!  C.R.A.Z.Y!
                                                
5.  And finally, I need your advice on an awkward Facebook situation.  A few weeks back, one of my boys somehow friend requested my ex-boyfriend's mother.  Honestly, I'm not positive they did it, but it pretty much has to be one of them because I know I didn't do it...and I didn't even know about it until I got the "your friend request has been accepted" message.  I was debating whether to delete the friendship, send her a little explanation message, or just ignore it when she commented on a picture of the boys (about how cute they were or something)...and then another.  So now, I'm thinking I just ignore it!  But I still feel a little embarrassed that she (or her son) might read more into my request...or is that just lame to even think about?!?