Happy New Year!

No pictures for this post. Again. I'm so slacking on my photographing duties - poor d3 is going to have no idea what he looked like as a child. I may just have to throw some of d1's gazillion pictures away just so the younger two don't feel less-special. After reading some of my other fav blogs in the last few days, I decided to join them in making some of my very own resolutions for 2010. Beware, the list is lengthy but my reasoning is this - if I make MANY goals, I'm sure to hit at least a couple, right? And these are by no means prioritized - that would take more time and I'm doing good to have a few spare minutes to get this up.

* Get current with my scrapbooks - my fav hobby, of which I don't devote near enough time to. I'm sure I'll get their individual books done by the time they each graduate so what's the rush. I just better start snapping some pics or they will just be journals.....

*Increase our monthly savings in couponing - I started off strong and feel like I've kept the momentum up pretty well, even during the crazy busy holiday season. I would say my average savings right now is in the 30% or a tad more but my goal is to get up closer to 50%. It's still exciting to me to walk out of Publix with $40 worth of groceries for $20 (which is not the norm but does happen quite frequently). Have I mentioned how much I <3 Publix? I know, shut up already.

*Memorize one scripture per week - ideally, I would like this to be a family goal and maybe d1 could be a part of this but in any case, this could just be a personal goal. I know that hard times are always ahead and the only sure-fire way to push through is by faith and hope. And to do this leads me to my next resolution of....

*Getting in the WORD - D1 is so much better at this than me. He begins each morning with his quiet time (in our closet, on the floor) and has made it through the Bible entirely and is starting all over. He knows it makes all the difference in how his day goes and that his Walk is so much stronger because of it. I love him. He is such a Godly man and the spirtual leader of our home and I am so thankful for him. I just have a hard time reading anything before coffee. And if I make coffee, I wake the boys. And if I wake the boys, there is no hope of quiet time. Does anyone do theirs at night?

*Tone up - as noted in previous posts, I hit my weight loss goal but, most of you know, just because the scale gets to where you want it to be does NOT mean certain areas of your body get there, too. If only I could wave a wand and say, 'Abra cadabra, yummy gummy, next 5 lbs please exit the tummy.' How come that doesn't work? So if toning doesn't do the trick, maybe my 2011 resolution will be for a tummy tuck. Just kidding. Maybe. If only you could see what my 3 angels have done to my abdominal skin, you might just change your opinion. It's just gross. Nuf said.

*Simplify life - this might be more like a 3-year plan but I really think we need to explore the areas where our life could be less chaotic. With our boys getting older and going into extracirricular activities, that may be a lot easier said than done but I still think we can whittle away here and there. We just need to say 'NO' a lot more. OK, so this one may be the hardest....

*Build bonds with my boys - this one is really important to me to achieve this goal, and to continue every year. I started thinking about just how fast the last 5 years have gone and how fast the next 5 and 10 will go and I will never get this back. I find myself 'hushing' my children much too often if I can't hear the weatherman speaking or if I have a headache or if I just had a bad day. None of that matters a bit in the grand scheme of things. Who care if it’s going to rain or if someone cut me off on the interstate? At that ‘hushing’ moment, maybe my lil’ guy wanted to tell me he loved me or how he tied his shoe by himself or how his friend hurt his feelings. These ages are precious, their laughs priceless and I aspire this year to just truly listen to them, to be patient with them, to play with them and to just be their Mommy.


Got any resolutions you would like to share?

In This Busy Season....

Stop and take a minute to realize that everything happens for a reason and that God is not in the business of coincidences. He has a perfect plan for all of us and, though sometimes it might be a struggle to see the potential blessings, it will all be laid out in front of us in His time. This has happened countless times in my life and looking back, it's amazing to see how things have unfolded for my family when we put our trust in Him. This devotional I received this morning reminded me of it once again, how a simple change of plans may have impacted someone's life immensely - and how we should all 'look' for these opportunities to SHINE.

(From Proverbs 31 Ministries) -

My schedule was tight and I was out of make-up, so I planned to pick up my favorite foundation at the local mall, leaving room to still arrive on time for my friend's annual Christmas tea. As I prepared to leave, the Lord whispered to my heart, Don't go to the mall; go to the make-up store near your home.

But Lord, I argued, I have my friend's Christmas tea and the mall is on the way. What You're asking me to do isn't convenient. I will have to go out of my way and I will be late for the tea. And You know how important punctuality is to me!

After more mental arguing, I reluctantly obeyed and went into the corner make-up store.

I knew the young woman working. She's not only pleasant, but quick and efficient with her customers. Lord, maybe this inconvenience won't interrupt my schedule too much after all. As I entered the store, the familiar woman greeted me and offered to help with my purchase. I told her what I needed and added that I was in quite a hurry to be on time for my Christmas tea.

Quickly and efficiently she found the needed product and walked me to the register to check out.

This was easier than I thought, I said to myself as she handed me my purchase. Then it happened ... the reason I had been led to go out of my way.

"I know you're in a hurry, and I will only keep you one more moment." The young woman shared. "I'd like to ask that you pray for me and my struggling marriage as you drive to your Christmas tea. I don't think my marriage can be saved."

In that moment I sensed the Lord, This is why I wanted to interrupt your busy schedule.

I placed my purchase on the counter, held her hands and prayed. As the Lord guided my words, the young woman began to sob, her tears landing softly on my hands. When I said "Amen," she hugged me tightly and whispered, "Of all the people I've asked to pray for me, you're the first one to stop and do so. Thank you. I've been very discouraged, and had thought no one would ever respond to my request. In fact, I had given up all hope that God even heard my cries for help."

I reminded her of Psalm 145:18-19, "The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them" (NIV).

She thanked me for my time, adding that she would begin to dig into God's Word for more strength and encouragement. The store began to fill with customers. There was one more hug and an exchange of phone numbers as I left for the tea.

Since that day we have talked and prayed together on several occasions and we plan to continue into the New Year. Each time she and I talk, it's a reminder that when I listen and obey the Lord's promptings, I experience the joy of His presence in a powerful way.

God's divine delay taught me that being used by the Lord for His glory in the life of others far outweighs arriving on time.

So Sick of the Sickness

I just have to vent. Yes. Again. Seems I do a lot of that on here but hey - it's my blog and I'll whine if I want to.

This cold/flu season will not leave us alone. Particulary d3. I remember the struggles of the other two in their first year with all the common issues but it just seems way worse this time. And I accept the fact that my kids will probably contract more viruses than others since they are in F/T childcare but COME ON! He has had (what seems like) a three-month cough and he's too young to really give him anything to suppress so we just listen to the cough.....and deal with the looks we get from outsiders when he goes into a coughing fit. Always makes you feel great when that happens. I feel like making him a shirt that says, 'Yes, I've been to the doctor. It's just a cough. Don't judge!' And the cost of all this? Sheesh. I made a comment to our pediatrician recently that we should just cut out the middle man (insurance) and let me set up a direct transfer from my checking account to his. It's essentially what I'm doing - working to pay my doctor bills. Good thing we work together or he might be offended.

And then there's little d2 who had an ongoing ear infection that we finally got rid of. Who knows how long he had it - he hardly complains when he's in pain so it's difficult to know when he really does need a doc visit. I do love seeing d2 with our pediatrician. He just loves him. Last time we were there, it was the sweetest thing I've ever seen. He saw Dr. Y in the hallway so he broke away from me, sprinted to Dr. Y, leaped into his arms and planted a big ole' smooch on his cheek. I almost cried. And the best part? Dr. Y didn't miss a beat and said, 'I love you buddy, be good!' So, anyone in need of a good pediatrician? I have just the guy for you!

D1 is home, again, with d3 today. Second time this week. Fever and cough. Same story, different day. And d3 is cutting his top two teeth so we're praying it has a little to do with all the other symptoms. I'll look at the bright side of things - my kids pick up all the germs and grimeys when they are little. When they are in school, they should have perfect attendance from lack of sickness. Their attendance (or mine) is taking the hit now.

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Here's another 'Kids Say the Darndest Things - Darnell style' that goes along with the title of this post:

Ms. M (d2's teacher at preschool) told me last week that d2 spilled his milk at lunch that day and since they teach the kids to clean up after themselves (which I actively support), she gave d2 some paper towels. She said that when he was under the table, wiping the mess, he said, 'Ms. M, I am sick and tired of spilling my milk.' Oops. Guess he had to hear it from somewhere, huh?

Weight Watchers WORKS!

A quick post on my weight loss. I 'officially' started Weight Watchers mid-May when I returned to work after having d3. I had always planned to use the WW program once I was ready to start my journey and I knew I wouldn't be able to fit into many of my work clothes so it was definitely a good time. I had success after d1 and d2 on losing my baby weight so I was determined that being 3 years older wouldn't hinder me this time.

The day before I delivered d3, I weighed myself. Yikes. 205 lbs? That can't be right. I'm sure I'm just all fluid. I felt a little better about the 50 lb gain when d3 popped (ok, popped sounds WAY easier than it was) out at 9+ lbs. So the other 41 lbs should just fall off, right?

Fast forward 6 weeks. We had d3's baby dedication. Here is a picture of my large self -

Luckily I wasn't dumb enough to wear tight clothes because it wasn't a pretty sight. Here I weighed 173 lbs. This is probably the day I decided it was time to put down the brownies and cut off my Dr. Pepper consumption and get serious. Which is really hard to do when you have great friends bringing you dinner and dessert so often AND when your newborn is up 2 times a night AND you have to go back to work (and try to use what brain cells you have left) but it can be done.

It is now December, just about 7 months later, and I feel SO much better. I set my goal to lose 30 lbs and I actually reached it over a month ago. I thought I would push myself a little further to lose 35 lbs before vacation to Missouri and I'm almost there. Let me just say that it is next to impossible to diet during the holidays. You have Thanksgiving, leftovers from Thanksgiving, Christmas parties (with Vicki's awesome cooking!), chocolate overload (my weakness).....so I'm just thrilled I haven't gained. So here's the 'after' picture.
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So this is me at 140 lbs. I am thrilled to be able to wear my cherished Silver jeans again and was ecstatic to be able to put on the pair of size 8's my sweet friend Livy brought me this summer. They are almost loose!! Not sure why I have my hand on my hip in this picture - I'm really not trying to do the model look, not my thing. Truth be told, I actually wanted D1 to climb up in the attic at 6:30 this morning and dig out my capris I wore in the first picture and pull off 'The Biggest Loser' shot with me holding the 'big' pants. He just gave me a look. I think it meant no, among other things.

Now the challenge - to keep it off. Spending a week with my MIL who doesn't know anything other than cooking fatty foods (yes, it's really good but artery-clogging at best) is going to be tough but vacation isn't supposed to be about counting points. Unless, of course, you want to see how many points you can get in one day.......

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ETA: My apologies for the quality of photo #2. It comes from my phone. I love my iPhone but the photo function is less than stellar. You would think it would be better but it's not. And I really didn't need any help with my pasty, pale skin that the phone enhanced so THANKS APPLE.

A Day in the Life

Somedays I wonder how I maintain my sanity, especially lately with D1 going back to his passion of coaching. Maybe this is a whiney post but I don’t care. Sometimes Momma needs to have a meltdown, too.

5:40 – alarm goes off
5:49 – alarm goes off again…..and I get up
5:55 – d3 awakens thanks to a coughing frenzy (courtesy of the 3-month cough) that leaves his beautiful eyes red-rimmed. I put him on the floor while we finish getting ready for work
6:05 – d2 comes into our room, and ‘loves’ on d3 but in turn, knocks him over and d3 begins to cry
6:10 – d1 stumbles out of bed and immediately asks if he’s taking a lunch to school. When I say yes, he throws himself on the floor and cries……even before I tell him I’ve packed his fav – a drinkable yogurt
6:12 – we all head downstairs, where the boys’ clothes are laid out on the couch. ‘d2 sees that his shirt has nothing on it (i.e. tractor, basketball or drums) and he starts crying. Keep in mind, the other two haven’t stopped crying
6:13 – dreaming of that first cup of coffee
6:14 – I jog back upstairs to get d3’s extra change of clothes for school since he’s been termed the ‘spitter’ in his class
6:15 – pack d3’s bottles and ask d2 to please put the plain blue shirt on and stop crying…AGAIN. Meanwhile, d1 has moved on to tantrum #2 of the morning when he is given Cocoa Puffs for breakfast. Because he doesn’t like that kind of cereal. Really? Even if you asked for it yesterday?
6:20 – put d2 and d3 in the car, double check that I have all diaper bags, jackets and hats
6:22 – jog back upstairs for my wedding rings I left on the bathroom counter
6:23 - We begin our 40-minute morning commute.
6:28 – I realize I forgot my laptop at home. Turn around.
6:29 - what flavor shall I drink today? Pumpkin spice? Cinnamon roll? White chocolate macadamia nut?
6:34 – We begin our 40-minute morning commute. Again.
7:15 – both boys are in their classroom and have begun their day
7:20 – arrive at my office. Immediately go to the break room to start the coffee. Recall those slight chest pains I had yesterday after the 3 cups of coffee I had. Push the ‘brew’ button anyway.
7:27 – coffee cup out, Cinnamon Roll creamer out. Pour, stir and enjoy.
7:30 – let my work day officially begin
11:00 – pick up d2 for his pediatrician appointment. During the car ride, remind him that we do not pick our nose, and no, Dr. Y does not laugh at his farts like Daddy does so DON’T DO IT.
11:45 – still in the waiting room for the appointment. ‘d2 asks me, rather loudly, what is taking them so long to call his name? I tell him it will just be another few minutes. Hopefully.
12:00 – into the exam room. While Dr. Y is talking with me, d2 is opening multiple tongue depressors, spinning the stethoscope around like a lasso and repeatedly triggering the electric hand sanitizer to dispense. Thankfully, Dr. Y has the patience of a saint and doesn’t seem to mind a bit.
12:15 - appointment is over. Swing through McD’s drive thru (hey, don’t judge – at least I got him apples instead of fries) and head back to the CDC.
12:45 – returned to my desk…..with 30 new emails…..and 3 new voicemails. Seriously? It’s only been 2 hours, people.
4:00 – leave work to pick up d2 and d3. While signing d3 out, he burps and ‘overflows’ onto my sweater. Sigh. I’ve only worn this sweater twice.
5:00 – drive to d1’s school to pick him up for basketball practice.
5:15 – drive thru Chick-Fil-A and toss some nuggets-and fries- back to the ones with teeth. (ok, so I’m not June Cleaver with the healthy lunch packed in the picnic basket; some days we’re in survival mode)
5:35 – dash through the door of TFBC for practice. ‘d1 has meltdown #284 of the day when I make him wear pants instead of shorts. Even though 3 of the 6 other players have pants on. We frequent the ladies room a few times for some ‘reinforcement of authority.’
6:30 – load em’ up in the van after practice, with everyone crying because I’m tired/I didn’t get another snack/Joe wouldn’t pass the ball to me. I simply turn the volume up on ‘Madagascar.’
7:00 – home. Everyone to bed. I will spare the details here – it’s far too traumatic to write down. Let’s just say it’s all done by 7:45 and I collapse on the couch.
8:00 – D1 home from practice. I try to smile.

But…..my night is not over…….

2:00 AM – d3 wakes up – you know, in that coughing frenzy again. He can’t stop coughing so, in an effort to keep the other boys asleep, I take him downstairs to the couch and we fall asleep around 3:00.
5:40 – D1 shakes me awake on the couch. I can’t straighten my neck out. AND…..I get to do it all over again.


All this sounds like I’m complaining and maybe I am just a tiny bit but, despite all of this madness, I am BLESSED and I do love my life. Maybe some days more than others. I just never knew how crazy a life with little ones can be. And maybe I’ll look back and laugh at these wild times. Maybe. For now, I'll use my blog as therapy. And maybe my local Target.

Hello Again

So, I’ve been out of the blogging world the last few months. Not by choice and I know it’s cliché but I really cannot find the time. If you want to know what’s going on with us more regularly, join Facebook and watch for status updates because that’s about all I can manage at this point. Life has just gotten exponentially crazier in the past few months and I don’t really know how to slow it down. Between D1 gearing up for his basketball season, keeping up with all the activities of a kindergartener (yes, there really are more than one might expect) and both Mommy and Daddy trying to enhance their spiritual lives with individual bible studies during the week, it seems all extra time is spent on the couch in a vegetative state. Oh, and did I mention the craziness of my job these days? I seriously find it difficult some days to leave for lunch and wind up taking work home a few nights a week. I truly LOVE what I do but with my co-worker/partner recently relocating to Little Rock and working remotely, I have recently felt the strain. No worries, though – anyone who knows me well can say that I’ve never been one to hold my thoughts back and I’m not planning on trying anytime soon so when it gets to be too much, my good ole’ boss will hear from me. Until then, I’ll push through and be a team player!

So, in a nutshell, here are some quick, happy tidbits about the Family of D’s:

*d1 is writing full sentences (and obviously inherited my writing skills as opposed to his fathers) and has mastered some ‘popcorn’ words. He has recently taken a liking to old re-runs of 'Full House.' Seriously, you can only take so much Danny Tanner before you want to scream.

*d2 can spell his name outloud, count to 18 (skips 13 and 16 but are they really that important?), and can swing a left-handed golf club quite nicely.

*d3 weighs in around 21lbs (94th%), is on the verge of crawling and loves his solid foods and first two fingers to eat. He is such a HAPPY baby.

*We visited Nivens Apple Farm in 45 degree temps and drizzle so not much pickin’ occurred. More of the grab-a-bag-of-apples-from-the-cooler, snap a few pictures and call it good. We’ll try again next year.

*I hit my Weight Watchers goal and am now down 30lbs since my journey began in May. Now I can begin to enjoy food a little more…..and I could even more if I would motivate myself to get to the gym at lunch. Oh wait, I don’t always get a lunch. Pffft….

*I have begun mastering the art of couponing and have found some friends to join in. We even attended a short seminar. In the last month, I have reduced our monthly grocery budget by approximately 15% but think I can get it down to at least 25 or 30%. My goal is 50% but I’ll give myself time to get there. Hey, I have three growing boys so I better figure something out now or we’ll all be living on beanie weenies and cup 'o noodles until they are out of college.

*D1 and I redecorated our living room last weekend and are very pleased. It’s pretty subtle but we found a way to do it without having to paint which was GREAT, especially since we did not agree on the color choices. And on a budget, of course.

*We met Phil & Amy from Biggest Loser, season 7.

And some not-so-happy facts:

*Averaged 2 trips/week to the pediatrician in the month of October alone, yet (so far) have managed to avoid the hiney (H1N1 – look at it; can’t you see ‘hiney?’) flu. Instead, we’re battling ear infections and coughs/colds. At one point, I felt it more efficient to just hand my paycheck to the Walgreens pharmacist than to have it direct deposited.

*Learned that the head pastor of our church was leaving to pursue an opportunity in Missions. We’re happy for him but it’s also a little frightening for a church our size.

And some random, yet funny, notables:

*(riding home in the car last week) –

d2 - ‘Mommy, I need to brush my teeth. There’s something stuck in there’

Me – ‘OK, we’ll brush them tonight before bed. What did you eat that is stuck?’

d2 – ‘A booger.’

*(first day of music class for d1) –

Mrs. C – ‘Amanda Jones?’

Amanda – ‘Here.’

Mrs. C – ‘Jaden Foster?’

Jaden – ‘Here.’

d1 – ‘Hey, why are we doing all this talking? Aren’t you supposed to teach us a song or something?’

*(d1 staying with our good friend, SS for the day; SS feeding him lunch) –

SS – ‘Would you like some pretzels with your lunch?’

d1 – ‘Nah, but I’ll take some chips and dip if you’ve got it?’

d1 – ‘Hey Maya, you gonna eat your pizza rolls?’

Gotta love the brutal honesty of a child. Here are some recent random pictures – clearly I’ve been slacking on my photographing as well. It’s that issue of time again. It’s just easier to snap a less quality picture with my phone than figure out where I hid the real thing from the little people.

Farmer Day

Growing, Growing, Growing

d3 is 5 1/2 months old already.....seems insane at how time flies. He is approx. 20 lbs (and according to an intoxicated elderly woman at the Drive game, 'that there baby is obese!') and has the most beautiful eyes. He has a love for sweet potatoes and Daddy's tickles. He has just been such an easy baby and we are so thankful for that!

First attempt at cereal at 4 months - he caught on rather quickly....

Pure Silliness

d2 has developed a silly side lately and loves to make everyone laugh....and for some reason, it usually comes out when he's in his undies and ONLY his undies. Here are some recents -

In his boots

Wearing his 'work goggles'

Off to K-5

A month has now passed since we sent our oldest son to his first day of kindergarten. And yes, I am a slacker when it comes to posting pictures but no one told me that your life REALLY would get beyond crazy when baby #3 arrives so that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it. Although, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that I haven’t posted the story behind this eventful day yet because I’m still coming down from my maddening rage but who has time to dwell? I know I don’t so maybe after I write this, I’ll be able to laugh about it. Yeah. We’ll see

To set the mood, let me just say, for those who don’t know me really well, that I am a planner. Some (my husband) might even say it’s borderline-OCD but nonetheless, I am one who needs to be on time, on budget and in order. To me, it’s essential in a world with small children. This was SO not the case for this big day. And I will try not to point fingers as to WHY this day didn’t go as planned but I’m sure you smart people will figure it out.

The night before, I had muffins made, clothes laid out, backpack ready, camera charged….all that was left for the next morning was to wake, feed and load up all three d’s for the trip to school. So, next morning comes and is seemingly smooth. While they are eating, I load the backpack, camera, and my purse into the van so that all we have to do is get in and go. D1 has to leave early to get his class ready for the kids to arrive so we tell him good-bye, that we will meet him there to walk d1 in together. We were even ahead of schedule enough to sit down and enjoy some good ole’ Tom & Jerry before departing. Everything is going just as planned, right? Five minutes before we were set to leave, d1 comes in and asks me to come unlock the van. I turn to get my keys and realize….yep, they are already in the van. LOCKED in the van. Apparently, ‘someone’ needed to get something out of the van before ‘someone’ left and ‘accidentally’ locked the doors when finished. It had to have been an accident, right? Because how many people lock their vehicles when they are in the GARAGE!!!!

So, I literally scream, ‘NO!!!!’ loud enough for all neighbors within a mile radius to hear and pick up the phone to call D1 at school. He explains that he can’t leave yet, maybe in 20 minutes. I am hysterical, crying that ‘my baby cannot be late on his first day of school’ and asking what I should do. And no, we had no spare key (we do now!) and there were no windows even cracked to try and reach in. The only solution I could come up with in my state of panic was to bust out a window. Yes, I know – a bit rash but what else could I do? I actually got to the point of tapping the hammer on the window and realized that I would probably end up severing an artery and that would probably scar d1 permanently AND ruin his first day so I decided against it. As I’m crying in the driveway and trying to figure out what to do (do taxis come all the way out here?), I look over at my neighbor’s house and realize they have three vehicles outside. They don’t need all of those, right? I run over, tell my story, and they tell me to take their van. They are AWESOME people and I was speechless….until I said, ‘Great, where are your keys? I gotta go!’ Keep in mind, EVERYTHING is locked in the van – drivers license, cell phone, backpack, CAR SEATS. d3 is the only one who had a real car seat (but fortunately their van had built in 5-point harnesses so I wasn’t completely breaking the law). We throw them in and I am feeling like Mark Martin on a NASCAR track with the turns I was taking and the speed I was hitting. Obviously, I know I’m not winning Mother of the Year award for this but we were not going to be late. I was not going to be that mom.

So we get to school, unload and head in. I am almost jogging into the school (in heels, no less – with a bit of streaked mascara and a 4-month-old, head-bobbling baby in arms), pulling d2 along and nudging d1 to hurry until we see D1 at the school entrance. He joins in on our little ‘race to the finish,’ unbeknownst to him on how we got there and we make it to d1’s class with about 30 seconds to spare. Other parents were crying tears of sadness/joy and I might have been one of those parents, had I had TIME. Fortunately, my tear-streaked eyes didn’t draw attention since every other mother was doing the same – although I can bet their mornings went a little smoother. And funny thing is, probably half of the kids were sad that their parents were leaving them. Not mine. Nope. He was probably thinking, ‘Get me away from this lunatic!’ I was so proud of him.

In the end, we made it in time, even if we had no backpack or camera (because, you know, I’ve only been planning this scrapbook page for 5 years now). So, the pictures you see below are from his second day of school – D1 was ‘encouraged’ to re-create the first day since the real one didn’t go as ‘planned.’

To those who have heard the story, sorry for the repeat but I need to document this for d1 to read some day because I’m certain there will be two sides to the story and he needs to know the truth. ;)

Fun Family Pictures

Recently, we met some friends in downtown Greenville on a Saturday morning and had some random pictures of our family taken, mainly for a project I've been wanting for our master bedroom wall (which I hope to post soon). We had a lot of fun taking them, met up with some other friends in the process and just goofed off. Here are some of the pictures PP snagged of my kiddos -

Funny thing about this picture - it's the 'before' shot. The 'after' is a soaking wet little boy - yup, he fell in the water. After 85 warnings that it would happen. Guess he had to make sure....

I just love his ornery grin.

Such a cute pose - isn't this girl just made for the cameras? Both of my boys are crazy about her - d2 even tried to push her into Reedy River. That's true love.

What a Deal!

So I am new to the 'game' of couponing and how amazing it can be. I have used coupons in the past but not to this degree and I can't believe how exciting it is to walk out of a store after spending only $18 with the amount and quality of food I got today over my lunch break. I LOVE www.moneysavingmom.com and that site is where I learn of most of my 'deals' so I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to save some $$ on their grocery bill. Having 3 boys with very hearty appetites, I have no choice but to start learning the ropes now on how to stockpile, bargain shop, and save. Here's what I got today for $18.29 at my local Food Lion:

*Healthy Choice Chicken Fettucine meal- $2.50 less $1.00 coupon = $1.50
*Lean Cuisine Panini - $3.49 less $1.00 coupon = $2.49
*Healthy Choice Lemon Pepper Fish meal - $3.49 less 40% = $2.09
*Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers - #2 - $3.49 less 40% = $2.09 x 2 = $4.18
*Food Lion Instant Oatmeal - $2.32 less $1.00 coupon = $1.32
*Food Lion Kookies Cereal - $1.89 less $1.00 coupon = $0.89
*Food Lion Raisin Bran - $2.49 less $1.00 coupon = $1.49
*Kelloggs Corn Pops - $1.99 less $1.00 coupon = $0.99
*Starbucks Mocha Frappucino - $1.89 less $2.00 coupon = $0.11 overage!!
*Ragu Spaghetti Sauce - #2 - 2/$4 less $2.00 coupon less $1.00 coupon less $0.55 coupon = $0.45 (yep, that's $0.23 EACH!)
*Hi-C 10-ct juice boxes - 2/$4 less $1.00 coupon = $1.00
*12-pk Diet Cherry Dr. Pepper - $3.00 less $1.00 in-store coupon = $2.00

You just can't beat these deals. I mean, seriously - if I can go shopping and make money just by purchasing a Starbucks Frappucino, it's a good day!! I could probably spend a little less on my lunches instead of spending $2 on my Healthy Choice meals but I buy them on sale and they really satisfy me, are quite tasty and are low in WW points so I'll splurge a bit now while I whittle away my waist line......hopefully sooner than later.....

Clumsy or Blind?

We're not quite sure but at this point, I'm looking for any reason to explain why d2 had his 3rd trip to the ER, on the SAME EYE. What can I say? Seems the kid leads with that side of his face. It's a good thing the last 2 incidents have had witnesses present or I'm certain we might not have left the hospital without a 'visit' from Social Services....the poor boy is either clumsy or blind and we'll find out soon if it's the latter.

So the story goes like this (and honestly feels a bit like de ja vu)- D1 called me on my way home from work and said that d2 had fallen on the stairs and he thought he would need stitches. I told him to meet me at the ER and I turned back around and headed back to the hospital. I first called the aunt & uncle who have helped on the other 2 occasions and they met us at the hospital and took d1 and d3 so that we could focus on the wounded soldier. My next call was to my co-worker, who is an M.D. and has ties with a plastic surgeon in our hospital. Typically, this wouldn't be the case to have a plastics doc sew up a simple laceration but in our case, it was the THIRD TIME and we were already concerned with how the other two scars were healing so it was warranted. Thankfully, he was willing to come in and handle it himself, even though he was not on call. And talk about feeling important - the surgeon was waiting on us when we got there.

They initially numbed d2 with a topical cream and were hoping to just sew him up while he layed there and watched. Yeah, that wasn't gonna happen. He remembered what this process entailed and the last 2 times, it involved a large needle. So, all we could do was mildly sedate him so that the doc could do a perfect job. That was FREAKY! They hooked him up with the monitors and gave him a shot in the hiney that literally knocked him out within 2 minutes. I was holding him when they gave him the shot and shortly after, he started to slowly lay back onto the bed. Eyes started glazing over and he was out. As a parent, that was probably one of the hardest things to watch.

It took no time at all and then we just had to wait for him to come out of it. Eventually he responded and was talking (albeit very slurred) about what kind of ice cream he was going to have. We had to wait in the ER while he fully came to and could walk and show the docs that he was progressing nicely.

Instructions were that he not eat heavily but could have an ice cream sundae. Soooo, after 3 1/2 hours in the ER, I took d2 to McD's at 9:00 PM and gave him the choice of hot fudge or a blueberry/strawberry sundae (a.k.a. Fruit-n-Yogurt Parfait). My health dude picked the parfait!! Maybe it was a bit of a trick on my part, maybe I might have talked the parfait up a bit but nonetheless, he loved it and thought it was a sundae. Who am I to argue with the precious patient? And I might have tossed some french fries back to him on the drive home....

While we had the plastic surgeon's time (and to save a consult co-pay), we asked about the other scars and what would be the very best way to heal them and he only suggested sunscreen on the scar. He said that no creams/lotions have been proven to help and that time will heal as children produce excess amounts of collagen and that his scars will look better as he gets older. We always use sunscreen on the boys but we're going to take it a step further. D1 is taking the older boys to Lids for Kids today to get d2 his very own baseball hat, personalized, in hopes that everytime he goes outside, we don't have to battle him to wear the hat. When asked what color hat he would like to have, d2 thought for a minute and answered 'WHITE.' Great...white hat on a boy? That will be brown in no time. I asked D1 to use my persuasion tactics (see above at McD's) and see if maybe d2 might like another color better....maybe blue or red?

All in all, the night went better than expected, considering our good fortune of connections and getting 'royal' treatment in the ER. That's almost an oxymoron, isn't it? I mean, c'mon. I feel dirty just stepping foot in the ER, like I want to sanitize head to toe when I leave. Oh well. Here's praying that the next set of stitches is in a less obvious place....

Starting 'Em Young

Since D1 has been playing Mr. Mom this summer and staying home with d1 and d2, he has been trying to keep it exciting for all of them (including himself) and has, twice now, taken them to the local country club for a round of golf. Golf is not a foreign concept to these boys. They play alongside their daddy most nights in the backyard and are getting pretty good. d1 got his very own set for his 5th birthday and has definitely put them to good use already. d2 has been using d1's old clubs that he had outgrown from Papa Murphy and has really done well. Especially given the fact that, in most things, d2 seems to favor using his left hand and he's using a right-handed club. We're in the market for a left-handed little-boy club for him but, for now, it's doing the trick. Last night when he was playing, he hit the ball really well and turned to me and said, 'Mommy, I'm a little Tiger Woods!' I was so proud of him, the way he just lit up with excitement. And hey, I could get used to the idea of having a son become the world's best golfer! Momma likes nice things....

Notice the club....

Where d2 doesn't care what club he uses, d1 seems to enjoy using his driver the most and he can get some power behind his swing and has, on occasion, hit his ball into the wooded area behind our house.

When he hits it really hard, he'll say, 'Best one ever!' and will give us a big fist pump.

And this is probably their favorite part of the outing....and I'm a little nervous seeing that the key is in the ignition and not in D1's pocket. Those boys are sneaky and like to hold the key and d1 has no reservations about going for a spin when Daddy turns his back.

Myrtle Beach 2009

We recently returned from a week at Myrtle Beach and I'm just getting around to writing about it. It was definitely an experience with 3 young children in tow - D1 and I were both ready for a real 'vacation' when we got back. Since when did time away from home in a beautiful place become more stressful than being at home in the everyday grind?




We really didn't plan this trip very far in advance so the fact that we got a nice condo at a low price a month before we went was amazing in itself. It was about 5 miles from the beach but turns out the boys really don't care much about the beach and the ocean just yet. And it didn't help that when we went, it was extremely hot and humid so I didn't really blame them for not being fans of heat exhaustion - I mean, there was NO breeze. Fortunately, I was able to take some pictures of them during our first few visits, when they did enjoy it. D1's aunt and uncle were down on the beach at Pirateland so we visited them quite a bit and spent some time in the lazy river and the pool, which was much more appealing to the boys than the ocean. Once d1's toes got nipped by a crab, he was D-O-N-E. It was just hard to spend time together outdoors because it was too hot for d3 to be outdoors for a long period so D1 and I were always tag-teaming with him.




I love this picture below because they are actually working AS A TEAM to dig sand and toss it back into the ocean rather than beating each other in the head with the shovels....yes, it really happens and lately has been happening more frequently. I dread their fighting as they get older - I've heard BAD stories of when D1 and his brother were younger and I would have had a coronary if I were D1's mother during those spats.

This is a funny picture but, believe it or not, D1 volunteered to be buried. And this was Father's Day - what a champ! We later discovered that d2's flip-flop was lost at sea and we believe it probably got re-buried in this hole after D1 emerged. Oh well!

At some point in the week, we decided to take a break from the heat and head to Ripley's Aqarium. This was a total waste of $$. At least for our family at this age. We spent approx. $50 and were in there about 30-40 minutes. It was disappointing, although the boys did get to pet the sting rays. And get this - you have to exit the aquarium thru the GIFT SHOP. Great marketing plan but what a crock....fortunately, we made it out of there only spending $2 on some little toys that are already lost somewhere in our van or house. Such is life....





Here is where we truly got our money's worth - Family Kingdom Park. We should have just went here everyday. The boys LOVED it here. We got the wristbands and they rode for about 4 hours (with a quick break for dinner at Friendly's - yum!). This park is truly made for the little crowd and they had a blast.

d2 was so patient, sitting with his hands in his lap while d1 drove him around. Definitely a key difference in their personalities - d1 would have never allowed that.....

While at the beach, we celebrated d2's 3rd birthday. He has just grown up so much this past year and yet he still wants me to hold him and cuddle him every now and then, which I absolutely LOVE. I love the feel of his skin and the way his little body just clings to me when I carry him (when he's feeling the need to be 'the baby' for a minute)...just hard to believe he's turning into a little man. Happy Birthday buddy!! We love you!!

Happy Happy Birthday

d1 turned 5 years old last week and it just seems so surreal that 5 years have passed since he entered our lives. It has gone by so quickly and that scares me at how fast the next 5,10 and 15 years will go. Now I think I can fully appreciate the song ‘Don’t Blink’ (thanks Kenny!)

To my firstborn - You came into this world on June 8, 2004 and captured my heart from the moment I first held you in my arms. You are such an amazing boy with a thirst for knowledge and a love for sports. You have big, beautiful, blue eyes and a smile that melts my heart. You light up at the idea of dessert and there isn’t anything in the world you would rather do more than to have ‘monster time’ with your daddy. It’s still hard for me to accept that you are going to begin kindergarten this fall but I am so excited for you. You are such a smart little guy and I know you will continue to amaze me with the things you learn every day as you begin this next phase in your life.

My constant prayer for you is that you will grow strong in the Lord and follow His examples in life. One day, when you are grown and gone away, I pray that we will have raised a well-rounded, confident, respectable young man who knows just how much we love him. We are truly blessed to have you in our lives and we will never take that for granted!

Children are a gift from the Lord; a child is a reward from Him. (Psalm 127:3)

Some Highlights

First let me begin with this - right now, D1 and d1 are boarding a plane bound for St. Louis. d1 is ringbearer (his 2nd gig - he's got this role down) in D1's cousin's wedding this weekend. I'm holding down the fort back home with d2 and d3 - I just couldn't see anything but stress and chaos if we all had traveled back. Anyway, I'm a tad nervous since this is d1's first flight (that he remembers - we flew with him at age 1). He is so excited and hasn't stopped talking, literally, since he's known about it a couple of days ago. I know they will be just fine but I, by nature, am a worrier and can't help but think about Air France right now. I will just be glad to hear that they have landed!!

On to happier topics -

*When picking d2 up from school earlier this week, he came running in from outside with a big smile on his face, yelling 'Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!' When he got to me, he leaped into my arms, put his hands around my neck, planted a juicy one on my lips and said, 'I sure missed you today' in his cute munchkin voice. So melts my heart.

*For the past two nights, d3 has SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!! Here's hoping we're on to something semi-permanent. I am loving the uninterrupted sleep.

*d1 turns 5 on Monday. He is growing up so fast, as they all are, and everyday he says or does something to amaze me (and, at times, infuriate) but I am just so thankful that he is a healthy, happy little boy who has a thirst for knowledge (I know by all the questions he asks). I know it's cliche but it really does feel like just yesterday, he was learning to walk or shooting his first basketball into his Little Tykes goal. Now he's riding his bike (without training wheels) up and down the subdivision and showing his little brother how to hit a golf ball and catch a football.

*We leave for the beach in 2 weeks!! I can't wait!! I desperately need a vacation!!!

Crazy Week!!!!

So this past week - WHEW is all I can say!! (I started this post last week, just now finding time to finish)

*Monday - my first day back to work, D1 leaves without d1 and d2's car seats. Had to pull out very old car seats and 'squeeze' them in, quite comical. Helped take my mind off leaving d3 for the first time with our sitter.

*Wednesday - d3 wakes with a slight fever at midnight, on-call nurse says take him to ER. End result - virus, maybe? They really didn't know.....fever never returned. But 3 hours later and who knows how much $$$, we were back home....

*Thursday night - HAPPY TIMES! Kenny Chesney at the Bi-Lo Center and we had awesome seats! He always puts on such a great show! Thanks to SS for watching d3, older boys were with other sitter.

*Friday - one of my bff's from home and her husband arrive for the weekend. We had a good visit. Unfortunately, d2 took yet another tumble and roughed up his 'bad eye' at Frankie's Fun Park on the giant slide. Another shiner!! Not sure what to do about this child and his injuries. I fear what lies ahead if he's not even 3 yet.

Here are some more recent pictures of d3 and then of all 3 of my lil' guys...

So content in his tub, underneath his fish towel

Sleeping soundly

On our way to church - check out roly poly in the middle!

Another Accurate Cartoon of Our Life

The cartoon says it all! It's been awhile but I'm back to the blogging world (now that I'm back to work with high-speed). Life has been pretty hectic for our family but we're starting to get everyone on schedule, including d3. He will be 6 weeks old tomorrow and it's just flown right by. I'm trying to cherish everything with him and soak it all in. He's a very good baby and is starting to sleep longer stretches at night, which makes Mommy and Daddy happy! Big brothers are adjusting to the latest addition and love to love him - almost to the point of suffocating him but it's all good. I will post more pics soon!!

Little Man Has Arrived

After a long 40+ weeks of pregnancy and a not-so-fun labor, baby d3 has finally arrived. Dayne Josiah Darnell (aka 'd3') was born on Tuesday, April 7th at 12:35pm. He weighed 9lbs 3oz and was 21 inches long. He is our biggest boy out of the three and has quite the appetite already. Kinda like a mini-d1. Here are some pictures of the baby boy and his big brothers....

Preparing for Baby Brother's Arrival....

Yesterday, we took d1 and d2 to a 'Sibling Class' at SRHS to learn all about how to be a big brother. They watched a video about being 'Super Siblings' and then were invited to do some hands-on training with a baby doll. They learned how to hold the baby, feed the baby, change the baby's diaper and swaddle the baby. Then we took a tour of the labor & delivery wing as well as the nursery (although we won't be delivering at this particular location). They were so well behaved and so patient - we were VERY proud of them!! After we were through, they asked why they couldn't take their baby with us and we explained that it was the hospital's baby doll but I thought it would be a good idea for them to have their own babies to care for at home. I emphasize how I thought it was a good idea - D1 wasn't really on board but he went with it (he's a man, of course!).

So, after the class, we go to Wal-Mart and pick out the 'manliest' babies we can find - two of the same, of course, to avoid fighting - and head out. (Side note: while in Wal-Mart, d1 started goofing off and I leaned out to grab him before he walked backwards into a ladies shopping cart and my heels give out and I just about wiped out for all of Wal-Mart to see. Close one! But wow, did it hurt my enormous abdomen! I was pretty embarrrassed but whatever. )

When we get home, we gave the boys a newborn diaper and a receiving blanket so that they could practice what they learned in their class with their own babies. They were very kind and careful and we just kept explaining how we would need to treat the 'real' baby that would come soon and how we never handle that baby without Mommy or Daddy around. They seem to get it but we know it will take some time. Off to bed they went last night - with their babies beside them. It was very sweet - d2 especially likes to kiss his baby....over and over and over.

So, this morning, as soon as the boys get up, what do they want to play with right away? That's right, their baby boys. Much to D1's chagrin, the boys are still enjoying playing 'Daddy' to their babies and I think that's okay. This is going to be a big adjustment for them and this is good practice for d3's arrival (which should be any day now!). I'm sure D1 is just hoping that these babies don't replace their love for basketball, football, and body slamming that occurs daily in our house. I would be okay if it did for awhile....I could use some peace from the constant injuries they sustain while trying to 'take Daddy down.'

D1 and I both know that this is going to be a transition for both boys but we are particularly worried about d2 the most right now. He seems to already be having some jealousy issues, possible regression (when he talks to me like a baby, which he has not done in a very long time). One morning this week, after I disciplined him for a naughty act, he asked me if I still loved him. He's never asked me that and it broke my heart. Maybe it has nothing to do with the new baby but maybe it does and I think I cried off and on all day long when I thought about it. He is a sensitive little guy and I can't stand the thought of him feeling like we don't love him. Soooo, this weekend, D1 and I are going to take d2 out for a 'big brother' afternoon that is all about him and give him 100% attention that he typically does not get much of (such is the life of a sibling). D1's aunt and uncle will take d1 while we do this and give him his own attention but d2 needs a little extra TLC right now from Mommy and Daddy and we're going to give it to him while we still can. We both understand that after d3 arrives, how important it is to block out time for each child individually but we are also realistic in knowing that it's much more easier said than done. We've read the books, articles, etc. and 'know' some ways to help this transition but if anyone would like to offer advice or experience for what worked for them, I'm all ears.....

Blizzards, Baby Showers, Beautiful Boys & Burns

I'm borrowing the post title from M because I found it very catchy and cute for a random post so thanks.

This weekend was great, much better than last weekend (temperature wise) as we were able to enjoy upper 70's and low 80's temps all weekend long. Absolutely gorgeous!! Definitely better than the 'blizzard' we dealt with this time last week:

Now, D1 and I are no strangers to this weather. In fact, the 2-3" of snow that we got at our house is mild compared to what we were accustomed to in Missouri. But the boys didn't really remember the massive amounts of snow we saw when we lived there so it was exciting for them. But we definitely saw how 'rare' it is here in the South when our neighbors were outside taking pictures of the snow. Not their kids, but the snow. Kinda felt like we were in a tourist country.

So, fast forward to this weekend....my good friend B threw me a diapers and wipes baby shower at her house on Saturday and it was so much fun!! We got tons of diapers and wipes for Baby d3 as well as some other great personalized gifts and even a Mommy gift for a free pedicure with my friend!! Cannot wait to enjoy that one!!! Thanks, B!! But seriously - we probably have enough diapers for at least d3's first 3 months of life, which is AWESOME!! And wipes - yeah, probably until he's 4. Such a huge blessing to have these ladies in my life. Love ya!!

Later that afternoon, I met B and her oldest boy (d1's best bud) at a local playground where they played and had a good time. Finally, I took d1 and d2 for ice cream...at 5:00. Yes, before dinner. This was a special treat because normally I would never do this (it's hard enough most days to get them to eat dinner) but I explained to them that this was our special day and talked to them about how d3 would be here soon and I would need all their help and also tried to talk to them about how much I love them all the same. Not sure how much was really absorbed since they were so wrapped up in their ice cream cones but I tried...

Now onto my beautiful boys....I had D1 take a picture of us before church on Sunday because my big boys looked so cute and I actually liked what I was wearing (thanks to another friend's maternity wardrobe), even though D1 cut off the cutest part - the skirt. Oh well! In any case, d2 wouldn't look at the camera so it's not the perfect picture but what I love about it is that d2 didn't want to just stand there and say 'cheese.' He had to have his arms around me and the belly, which symbolizes a lot of how he's been acting lately.

Wow, do I look tired or what? I really didn't feel tired...maybe it's the allergies I'm dealing with. Hmm.

Anyway, d2 seems to be regressing himself back to being a baby, which I know is normal, given the impending arrival. However, I really thought it wouldn't happen until the baby actually ARRIVED. Nonetheless, we are trying to reassure him that he will always be our baby but he's also growing up into a big boy and that big boys get to do cool things like....

Cook dinner with Mommy....and here's where the burn comes in. This is something I have been able to do with both boys as a way for us to bond, since (as you can imagine) I'm really in no position to be playing tackle football in the backyard. Tonight, while d1 was outside riding his Gator, d2 wanted to help me with dinner. We made the pork chops together, and were starting to make the noodles when he was moving his chair to the stove. He climbed up his chair and placed three of his fingers on a burner that was recently turned off. He only wimpered at first so we thought maybe he just touched a warm pan but soon saw that he had indeed touched the burner since we saw three large blisters starting to form. We tried several different techniques to try and help his pain but, as anyone knows who has burned a body part, the pain comes and goes so he would be okay for awhile and then he would start to howl a cry that broke my heart because I knew how much pain he was in. I felt terrible because if I hadn't turned my back, it might not have happened. That cry went on for about an hour or so and then I think the 'burn' finally went away. This morning his poor little fingers have big 'ole blisters on them but he doesn't seem to mind much. He was excited to show his teachers his 'boo-boo.' If you are a regular reader on my blog, you will know that this boy is extremely accident prone. And he's the mild-mannered child of the two. Doesn't really seem to make sense to me but then again, not much does these days.

What Planet Is This Child From?

While we are having dinner at home one night this week, d1 randomly poses this question to the table:

*'Raise your hand if you want me to poop on your head.' *

So I ask myself~ where did this child come from? Oh wait, I know ~ he is every bit his father's son. I know this because D1 and d2 are hysterically laughing at this disgusting proposal. D1 tries to correct d1 but how can he really do that if he can't stop laughing himself? Now, I don't blame D1 for this crude question from d1 ~ if I had to blame anyone, it might be that ornery friend of d1's at school that is ALWAYS in trouble and makes no excuses for it. BUT I do know that it cannot be laughed at or it will continue and snowball over time to greater levels.

I must say that I was a bit embarrassed to post this little incident but then I figured that I'm definitely a Mom of Boys and though I'm not especially proud of my preschooler and his 'intelligent' comment, I can also appreciate his sense of humor and also accept the silliness that comes with a 4-year-old lil' boy. Gotta love 'em!

Later that night, D1 reminds me (as he pats my round belly) that there's another 'one of them' growing in my belly so I better get used to it......yeah, thanks.

First Baby Shower

D1's family threw me a baby shower this past Sunday and it was great!! We had so much fun, ate some yummy food, and received some awesome gifts. D1's cousin and aunt put the shower together and even thought to invite my friends from back home. Several of those friends were sweet enough to send gifts to the shower and we just got some awesome stuff. It's only been 2 1/2 years since I've had a baby but it feels like 10 when I opened some of the gifts because they were so 'original' in that I hadn't heard or seen some of them. I felt like saying, 'We didn't have those things back in my day' even though 'my day' wasn't all that long ago. Thanks to everyone who came and 'showered' me and d3 with gifts. We really appreciate all of it!! Here are a few pictures - and yes, I look fat and bloated because I AM fat and bloated but me and Weight Watchers will meet again very soon and we will take care of this temporary obesity.

Baby 'D' nursery

d3's nursery is just about complete. We chose the Alphabet Soup theme (and got a steal from a great friend on the bedding and accessories!) and it turned out super cute. I only have a few more things to 'complete' it and am hoping for some of it to go on sale. Here's a glimpse.....