These should make you laugh

At the ripe age of 19 and 20. Why didn't someone tell me to get out of the tanning booth?
I love this picture because somehow I am the tallest. Clearly in real life I am not.
Please note our fab attire!
Please note my necklace. Uhhhh didn't I have any friends to tell me to take that off?
See if you can find the family rebel.
Clearly we didn't like Brianne enough to bring her along. But we'll bring Spencer and Doug.
At 19 in NYC! Look at the sideburns, love them. I hope they make a comeback.
We are a bunch of clowns.

I found these on our old computer. I'm so glad I did. Today was a rough day so seeing all these fun pics made me laugh and smile.

I love family.

Disney on Ice!

This past Saturday (after Joseph returned from his business trip) we took the kids to Disney on Ice. The kids were so excited. I'll admit I was excited too. It featured Cars, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and Fairies. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald were the hosts. It was so cute and it was great entertainment. Before the performance you could go into the Princess Alley and see all the Princess dresses. So fun. We ate lots of trash food at 10:30am. Cottoncandy, pizza, popcorn, etc. The kids were in heaven.

Mothers

This photo has NOTHING to do with this post. I just think my kids are really cute.

I had been pondering Motherhood and what it means to "be a mother". I came across the article on one of my favorite blogs. This article is by Patricia Holland Oct, 1987, Ensign.

"....Yet it seemed to me that the young mothers had easily as many concerns. They described to me the struggles of trying to raise children in an increasingly difficult world, of never having enough time or means or freedom to feel like a person of value because they were always stretched to the ragged edge of survival. And there were so few tangible evidences that what they were doing was really going to be successful. There was no one to give them a raise in pay; and beyond their husbands (who may or may not remember to do it), no one to compliment them on a job well done. And they were always tired! The one thing I remember so vividly with these young mothers was that they were always so tired.If I were Satan and wanted to destroy a society, I think I would stage a full-blown blitz on women. I would keep them so distraught and distracted that they would never find the calming strength and serenity for which their sex has always been known.I believe we can find our steady footing and stilling of the soul by turning away from physical preoccupations, superwoman accomplishments, and endless popularity contests, and returning instead to the wholeness of our soul, that unity in our very being that balances the demanding and inevitable diversity of life.I have only three children and have wept that I could not have more. And I know that some of you without any have wept, too. And sometimes too many have simply been angry over the very subject itself. For the sake of our eternal motherhood, I plead that this not be so. Some women give birth and raise children but never “mother” them. Others, whom I love with all my heart, “mother” all their lives but have never given birth. And all of us are Eve’s daughters, whether we are married or single, maternal or barren. We are created in the image of the Gods to become gods and goddesses. And we can provide something of that divine pattern, that maternal prototype, for each other and for those who come after us. Whatever our circumstance, we can reach out, touch, hold, lift, and nurture—but we cannot do it in isolation. We need a community of sisters stilling the soul and binding the wounds of fragmentation.

These words are so profound to me. Just the swift kick I need to keep pushing along. All of our circumstances are so different but we are all so much the same. We are children of God and we are in this together.

School days

Well here we all are on the 1st day of school. Abbey LOVES going to school. And Mom LOVES that she goes to school. Her little mind is so ready to learn and she loves to make new friends. I often feel like her being at home with me is impairing her ability to learn. It's not like I can teach her much when her brother is pushing chairs all over the kitchen, trying to get into cabinets, knocking over trashcans, pulling all the shoes out of the coat closet, etc. And I love having the time to be alone with Jack. So Abbey loves school, she begs to go everyday. Next year I think I'll sign her up for 5 day. kidding, well maybe not.

I am...

I am: a fun Mom.
I think: taking time for yourself is mucho importante.
I know: that 3yr olds are crazy.
I want: a new mattress.
I have: a happy family.
I dislike: mayo. Dis-gust.
I miss: sleeping in.
I fear: not being able to see my children grow up.
I feel: tired. I go to bed wayyy to late.
I hear: Project Runway.
I smell: laundry soap. story of my life.
I crave: alone time.
I cry: when I have to speak in public. I have MASSIVE anxiety issues when speaking in public.
I usually: nap when my kids nap. It's my 2nd favorite time of day.
I search: the internet for everything
I wonder: how Abbey acts at school.
I regret: lots of things but I hope I've learned from my mistakes.
I love: Joseph. He makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. And he makes me laugh.
I care: about politics.
I always: eat too much.
I worry: about everything.
I am not: quiet. ever. I even talk in my sleep.
I believe: that I deserve a raise. ;)
I sing: all the time. Abbey thinks it's really funny.
I don't always: put the laundry away.
I argue: till I win.
I write: everything down.
I win: when I go bowling. It really makes Joseph mad.
I lose: my mind b/c I've got kids.
I wish: Joseph didn't have to work.
I listen: to my kids giggle. It makes me so happy.
I can usually be found: baking or cooking or eating or talking or shopping.
I am scared: of my children dying.
I forget: nothing. That's why I'm known as "The Rolodex".

what are you?!

Desires

The leaves are starting to change here and on occassion (well not for the last day or 2) you can feel the crisp air rolling in. I'm so excited to start shopping for fall and winter.

Current loves:

LOVE ballet flats

LOVE patent leather and heels.

My current bag obsession. I will only be waving at this bag though. 400$ for a bag is ridic. (especially since I cart around diapers, sippys and wipes all day)

William Rast jeans. I have always been a 7 for all mankind, Hudson, Citizen, TR kinda gal. But my most recent love is William Rast. His jeans have a wonderful (and perfect) amount of stretch to them. The washes are perfect and the denim is soft. I don't wear anything but flare jeans (which means I usually have heels on) and his jeans are all FLARE! well except for the skinny jeans and lets be honest NO ONE should wear skinny jeans.

This look is perfection. I love the cardigan and the strands of necklaces.
LOVE it.

So tell me what are your current faves?

Happy Days

Yesterday was Abigail's preschool orientation. She was so excited to go and meet her teachers and see the kids in her class. It was such a fun day. She got to pick where/what we had for lunch and we had a picnic. Then she and Jack played so nicely until naptime.

love them.

Near da beach.....

This is what Jack thinks of the museum.

Abbey thinks it's pretty awesome too.

On our way to the beach we stopped in Richmond and went to the Childrens Museum to burn off some energy before the next 2.5hrs of our trip to OBX.

Our first day on the beach. Obviously someone didn't want his picture taken. boo-hoo.

Yes I'm aware they look "special"

Eating some junk that I would never let them eat at home. I think this picture says it all. Your kids will go crazy and enter a diabetic coma from eating "water ice".

My boys at Jockeys Ridge.

Here we are. Windblown and all.

Yep. He's a stud.

"This is how my Dad rolls." A quote from Abigail.

Tidbits of information. The kids loved the beach, loved the pool, loved eating junk all day, loved playing in our beach house, loved driving on the beach, loved getting the car stuck on the beach... yeah that's right. I said "stuck" on the beach. As the ocean washed up on our car Abbey says "Mom this is awesome, the beach is washing our car". Oh and we didn't get stuck once, make it twice for good measure. Awesome. The car ride went wonderful, much to my surprise.