Girl's Night Out!

I have this great friend named Tori. She lives about 40 minutes away from me. We both have kids, all boys, and we always have a blast when we get together. It just doesn't happen very often. Somehow, tonight, the husbands offered to watch the boys at Parker University while Tori and I went out to do some shopping. It was a complete blast. And just what I needed.

As we both spend so much time around boys, we don't get to be girly very often. We went to Sam Moon, a complete wonderland for inexpensive jewelry, accessories, etc. I was in heaven. We spent a couple hours browsing and I got a couple watches, necklaces, and pairs of earrings. It felt so good to be pampered for a bit!

Back at Parker, dad was teaching them all about basketball.

As luck would have it, my phone died almost as soon as we got the store. So Cameron couldn't even find me if he wanted to. And he wanted to...

When we got back to Parker, my boys were hungry and needed clean diapers but I was really unprepared for staying out so long! We got them right home and fed, cleaned up, and snuggled into bed. Nash cuddled right up to me. Which he never does. I love that feeling. It reminds me he is still my little boy.

Enjoy Your Happiness

I've been struggling with something a bit lately. I know exactly what I need to do in order to be happy. And I know what I enjoy doing. And those things are not the same. I was talking with my mom on the phone about this and she told me about my dad's goal chart for this year. He had made a column of things he enjoyed and a column of things that make him happy. And his goal is to focus on the happy. That struck a major chord with me. One of the biggest enlightening experiences of my adult life. Enjoy your happiness. Enjoy the things that make you happy. The things that make me happy are having a clean kitchen, getting out of the house, putting my family as first priority, reading my scriptures, being on top of finances, exercising, looking nice, eating healthy and being kind. {among other things.}

The problem is, I enjoy a host of other things. Social media, TV shows, eating poorly or "vegging" as Cam and I call it, being lazy, etc. So it is easy to see where the disconnect is. This idea of Enjoy Your Happiness has completely changed the game recently. I got up and decided to take advantage of the beautiful day we were having. I put my hair up in a ponytail and headed to the park with the boys.

Since we played so hard, I needed to go grocery shopping. I put together a meal plan and shopping list and organized it in the car because the boys had fallen asleep in their carseats. Making do. And not using their sleepiness as an excuse to be lazy myself. This was big.

And then the boys were getting nice and clingy around time to make dinner. Normally, I would stop and use that as an excuse to eat poorly that night. Microwave nachos or bean burros or snacks. Not taking care of me and Cameron. That is a big issue. Instead, I brought them in the kitchen with me and let them "help". And it felt great!

They whined and whined, so I just laid down on the kitchen floor while dinner was cooking and we wrestled.

And it was a blast!

One of the biggest things that makes me happy is having a clean kitchen sink. It makes me feel like I can do anything else in the house I want. It's like making your bed. Everything else isn't as overwhelming if your bed is made. It's a trigger. So I created a vinyl saying to go over the sink and remind me of my focus. I love it. It's also a reminder to me to allow myself to enjoy it and be proud on the days I do the things that make me happy. I am so very far from perfect. The days I do these things aren't even the majority of the time, but the days I do it, I can't beat myself up for the days I don't! I have to celebrate it or changes will never be made. I am here on this earth to progress. And this insight from my wonderful Dad really helped me take two major steps forward. He gets me.

Of Pukes And Poop

First. Someone pooped. Without mom knowing.

Then, Nash found the poop.

Then, Nash ate the poop.

Then, Nash puked the poop on dad's chest.

Dad identified the puke as poop.

Mom promptly ran to the bathroom and puked.

Luckily we are equipped with a sense of humor. And a baby tooth wipe. Which was just waiting for such an occasion.

The real question is, whose poop was it?

Lol.

We're in for it...

Today, we were sitting in the pew at the very beginning church and both boys were standing at our feet trying to maneuver a hymn book out of its holder. I leaned over to Cameron and whispered "I think church is about to get crazy." I thought we had a few weeks to psyche up for the crazy. Boy was I wrong! Not 10 minutes into sacrament meeting, Nash peed through his diaper. Then, Gray started "singing" which is a loud gravely scream. Though he sounds happy and it makes everyone laugh, it's pretty distracting. So Cam took him outside to calm him down. Rowdy boy! Also, Cam is the ward choir pianist and I sing in the choir. We were performing a song for Ward Conference today and seconds before we go up to sing, Nash pukes all down my arm, in my hair, and over the back of the pew! We wiped him up, handed him off to the lady sitting next to us and went to sing. What a nice lady!

Things got much better after the puke though. Gray fell asleep cuddled up on my shoulder. It has been months since I have felt his warm breathing on my neck. He is such a doll baby. Nash was still being crazy, but Cam had to take him because Gray was sleeping. I took Nash to Sunday School and got him to sleep in Young Women's.

Normally, Cam has the magic touch to getting the boys to sleep at church. It made me feel good. I hope it isn't a fluke. After a crazy sacrament meeting, we had good naps at church! That never happens. Maybe we do have a few more weeks to psyche up for the tornado that's heading our way.

For now we're all pretty beat. Well mom and dad are. We put on beauty and the beast in hopes of some down time. Cam and I are laying on the couches. Nash is crawling everywhere and Gray is drumming on the DVD player. Still I wouldn't change a thing.

Bowling Night!

Last night we went out on the town a little bit. It had been months since we had blown off bedtime and had some fun! All of our Chiropractic School friends were getting together at a bowling alley in Grapevine, so we loaded up and headed their way. I was a little apprehensive because at home, bowling alleys are full of smoke and they are dark and have obnoxious loud music. We went to a Main Event bowling alley which was completely family friendly. We had so much fun. The boys loved all the lights and sounds and of course all the balls. I started the game with a strike and a spare and try as he might, Cam couldn't catch up. {He ended the game with a spare, but alas my final frame also had a strike and a spare. I love beating him. :)}

It was so good to see our friend again! We hadn't all been together since before Christmas and in that time my friend Tori had her baby, Channing. I was so excited to meet him! He was so precious and she gets major points for coming out and bringing him! Hand sanitizer was everywhere, but oh we had fun!

Everyone is so good with our boys. It makes it so we get to have a fun time too. Two other families have kids and there are a few couples without kids, so plenty of hands to hold. So great.

I gave up keeping the boys from crawling on the floor early on. They had a bunch of fun patterned lights that blinked and flashed all over the floor and Nash was having a blast trying to catch them.

Since we were all the way out in Grapevine, we decided to see how far away we were from our favorite Bahama Buck's. It has a drive-thru and is ideal for getting the best treat EVER without having to unload the kiddos. We were only about 15 minutes away, so we headed over there on our way home. Gray refused to fall asleep. The boys were pretty high on life after the bowling alley. So we didn't get to park and enjoy, but I have become pretty pro at spoon-feeding people. And we had a full punch card to redeem! $5 for two huge Bahama Buck's? Amazing. I got Cinnamon and Wedding Cake with Chocolate Creme. Tastes like chocolate covered cinnamon bears. Amazing. Cam got a Bahama Rama Mama with Vanilla Blue Bell Ice Cream and Root Beer ice. So so good. We shared and talked all the way home.

The best part was that since the boys were up so late, we all slept in until 8:45! What a great way to start the weekend. 

Blueberries for Breakfast

And so begin my days of cutting EVERYTHING in half...

First Haircuts!

I had been thinking about cutting the boys' hair for a couple months and it finally got to the point where Cam agreed that it was time to cut it. Gray has been affectionately nicknamed the rockstar due to his peacock-like mohawk. It was nearing 3 inches long and had as much body as ever. Nash's just got longer and stringier and was coming down into his eyes. It was time.

I had a bit of a meltdown right before giving them the haircuts. They are so little! And I knew this haircut would make them look like little boys instead of my babies. They're getting bigger whether I like it or not though, and a haircut would make them look so handsome. So we got out the clippers and the bumbo chair and went to work! 

I admit, I burst into tears after cutting Nash's hair. I was worried I had messed it up around his ears. Upon further review I was just being insane. It looked great. But Cam started teasing me. And I lost it. In Cam's defense, any normal person would have been just fine taking the teasing. It was light hearted and done in love. And I was a disaster. After a quick regroup, we tackled Granger's rockstar mane. 

His was much easier to handle. He looked handsome from the get go. I could tell this was going to be such a good thing! And my confidence was up because Nash really did look great. Cam held their little faces and distracted them and played with them while I cut. It worked great. I am absolutely thrilled with how they turned out! But they do look like little boys now. I can't believe how grown up they look. We decided to take a celebratory swing ride. Oh they look so handsome.