wedding weekend

hey all,



sorry no posting, things get crazy...

we spent the week getting ready to travel to VT for a dear friends wedding, packing, baking, dealing with a spider-bite on t's face- which thank goodness went away prior to the event, making a bombin' bruscetta, and then the weekend enjoying the most deeeeeelightful of weddings...a friday eve rehearsal, where hubs, pa, myself and matt were on pizza duty for the homemade outdoor pizza oven event, it was a blast, a saturday wedding, and a sunday brunch-fest, amazing. exhausting, amazing....

the wedding was beautiful, the bride was breath-taking, and vows were exchanged, an in between vows, a T ran down the aisle, yelling in her oh-so-adorable voice, MOMMY I CAN'T FIND A POTTY ANYWHERE. seriously. no, seriously. because in the middle of a wedding is the PERFECT time to start training...

lots o' stories to tell, but sliced off a chunck of my thumb wicked last night in a hasty cleaning attempt, so not gonna type 'em right now...



unreal..he poses without being asked.













everybody minded their p's and q's, and all is well....gonna hopefully get into the garden this afternoon after swim lessons, as chels and matt head back for the west coast...

it has been a delightful week...

hugs y'all.

A

4 shirts...

(ben and sara - at mindy's wedding)

in late honor of b-man on his b-day, as yesterday my computer was on the fritz....

ME: you cannot wear these shirts together, they look ridunckulous(sp?), and it is going to be 90 degrees today.

the BIGGEST BEAN: BUT I WAN'T TO WEAR MY PJ'S SHIRT, MY TRUCK SHIRT, AND MY ORANGE SHIRT.

ME: absolutely not - i said no, now get nakies, choose ONE stinkin' shirt and let's go.

the BIGGEST BEAN: urgh...your a bad mommy. uhm, mommy, i wan't to wear five shirts though....

ME: NOBODY DOES THAT.

the BIGGEST BEAN: uncle ben does.

happy b-day b-man, we love yah!


in other news, i took a spin class yesterday - loved it...gonna do it again, and again and again, and the instructor was a fabulous man in his 50's that was not perky or irritating, and was very clear on the fact that if I fell off the bike in the middle of the class and hyper-ventilated, that he was to (and he absoutely promised)continue the class as if nothing happened and just let me crawl out the door...no biggie!
really.

tea and big man started their swim lessons today. she is a wild child, no reservations, while M is pretty sure we are bringing him to the pond to feed him to the loch ness, and does nothing with out a look of sheer horror on his little face. it is hysterical to watch.

the computer is headed downhill, and fast, so if i ever don't get back to you, call me, as i may have just tossed it out the window in utter aggrevation, just a warning.


benji bean is fabulous...rolling over and chattering away, and he has also decided that i come get him out of the crib much quicker if he shrieks as opposed to cries. it's fun, no really.

anyhow, gonna run and finish picking up - i spent SIX, yes people, read SIX freaking hours cleaning my KITCHEN today, yup, just the kitchen. organized the drawers, the cabinets, everything, UNRECOGNIZABLE. and i probably could have spent four more if i didn't have these three children running wild....


before i go, on a tea-note...

t likes to brush her teeth "all by self", it's a big deal. i turn the water on to nothing more than a dripping, and set her up standing at the sink on her little potty, and she and her strawberry shortcake toothbrush go to town....she has been known to do this for an hour at a time....mainly just drink the water out of the bristles, but regardless. i was cleaning the dining room two days ago, i set her up and left the bathroom. about 10 or so minutes later, she came into the room i was in and had just the most disgusted look on her face...and oddly, a strange and familiar, yet not so minty fresh smell coming from her mouth....upon a quick trip to the bathroom, it was discovered using my nancy-drew style detective skills, that T had taken it upon herself to brush her teeth for 10 or so minutes, i'm guessing ten, based on the looks of the soap/what was left of it, using my homegrown-mondo expensive-farmers-market-delectable-on-your-skin-yet-not-so-much-in-your-mouth PATCHOULI soap to brush her teeth...

she is SO my kid.




love it.


love you all,

c-yah on the flip side...


Al


nins, august daties??? fania's in for the 16th, you? see if k wants to join...

kea-soon so be s....thanks for the comment...i so heart when people leave word...
and uhm, your getting married in one week...we are so stinkin' excited.

fania - i loved chatting today. tell your house-hubs, that bon-bons are on sale at TJ's this week...;-}

hmmm....

been at a loss for words lately.


life is good,
kids are great,
garden is growing away - i seriously love the smell of tomato plants on my hands - NOT Tomato smell, tomato PLANT smell,
i have become a morning gym rat,
i am sweating this summer like i never remember doing,
i cut a half a foot of hair from my head -it feels amazing,
t's new catch phrase is - you broke my heart (pronounce with a worcester accent)
m is doing pretty good, some minor meltdowns, nothing huge.
i cut up my credit cards,
i *heart* long hot summer days that end with dozing beans in the back seat
the littlest bean is amazing,
foot phone rocks my world, thanks pa
love bbq'in
can't wait to harvest...
the game of choice at our house this week - t turns on the water and fully soaks herself while i am out of earshot, yes, that does happen, there are 3 of them, and 1 of me...ONE. - then she runs around the house - being her stinking adorable self, waving her hands wildly in the air yelling - "i'm a frinkaler - i'm a frinkaler...."
which is t-speak for sprinkler. a riot i tell yah.




hope your all great.

A
oh, and the store name is still up in the air - any more ideas?? add a comment!

red drips, white whines, and blue benji eyes....

hey all. hope everyone is enjoying the fabulous july weather....

things here have been good, though busy and trying all at the same time...

the biggest bean is into some new not so nice habits, that include telling the hubs and I on a semi-regular basis that we a. treat him bad b. don't love him, or c. should the rest of our lives in hell for daring to have children(he doesn't say in so many words, but might as well...)

as a result... we also hear a fair amount of the i don't love you's, you guys are bad mamma-jammas, and so on. LOVELY - stinkin' lovely. After one full night of no sleep, because the biggest bean was NOT TIRED, he proceeded to spend an entire day whining and fussing and driving us CRAZY. We went for a fabulous hike, all three beans were deeelightful, and then last evening we were back to a major case of the fussies - so upon bed-time, biggest bean came screaming bloody murder down the stairs and alas, was COVERED head to toe in blood...and screaming......what ask you...uhm a bloddy nose...no reason, no picking, just a hyped up fuss and massive huffing and puffing in his room... so he ran around FREAKING out yelling, no scratch that, SHREEKING, I have red drips, I HAVE red drips, call the doctor mommy, my nose has red drips, we should go to the hospital, I have RED drips....why are they red mommy, what is happening to me,

me: okay, baby, you are okay, it's called a BLOODY nose...B-L-O-O-D-Y nose, you will be okay....

him: are you sure we don't need to go to the hospital....

holy drama queen...yeesh..

so he promptly went back up to bed, slept soundly all night long and is back to his usual antics today - dressed himself this morning in a powder blue two peice jogging suit, and declared that he was wearing this pimped out hand-me-down atrocity to the farmers market... LOVELY. he was promptly vetoed.
he also helped dress his sister...in a thermal shirt and floral cargos. - also promptly vetoed.




the littlest bean started cereal this week and loves it, he is such a sweet little guy...makes me smile...

and t-ball. well, she's the princess. been runnin' around all the while in her lacey purple fairly wings, and pretty dresses telling me she has a 'gyna...

ahh the joys of mama-hood...


today was a delightful day spent at the farmers market with the foleys and the folks, who I think have settled on "SPROUTZ" but I am not sure....gathered some treats, and walked around

then home for yard time, take out lunch and some R and R.

Ben and Sara, sorry we didn't get to see you guys- we were hoping to catch up, but I guess we missed you...hope the wedding was a blast...

fania - we are headed to the shore i think for the 4th, wanna come???? lets chat...


hugz all, and oh, the big news - i joined a gym, and i like it....gonna bust this mama body back into shape....wish me luck!!

diggin' out

hey folks,

sorry for the utter lack of updates...I have changed my internet service, and with that have lost much of my ease of use of techno-based stuff....

overall though, we are very good...mimi retired yesterday and we accompanied the folks to a super tasty dinner, so as of now, til the health-food-wholesome-family-based-organic store is up and running, they are around...

***as a side note, any good ideas for a store name??? shoot 'em my way.... if you give us the name they choose, I will send some home-baked goodness your way!


anyhow, kiddos are splendid....

I am tired but doing well, it has been a crazed and busy week as school is out for the biggest bean now, so we have been chalked up to many play dates and what not...


how are you all? i feel like my avid readers have given up on me....say it's not sooo...and hit me up with a comment(follow the link at the bottem)

oh, and my new e-mail is alispatches@comcast.net

hugs, more posts and pics soon....
fania, I sooo hearted our visit...puleeeeeease another soon....
adams gals, I cannot wait to see you!

more later

miss y'all.....

the deets....

so folks, i took a much needed bloggy break, time to cherish and love up my kiddies, time to get my garden in order, time to let my head take a break. but alas, i will fill those inquiring minds in...

last week, my aunt came over and took the two biggest beans for a walk....they somehow got turned around, and ended up miles...yes, MILES from our home...my dad and i drove around looking for awhile, thinking perhaps they had decided to play in somebody's yard, or at the school, or the nearby park. no dice.

fearing the worst and hoping for the very best, we called the police....the state troopers responded ASAP and were several minutes from posting an Amber alert and having the search dogs start. They collected the kids clothing for scent, and most recent pics...TERRIFYING.

ANYHOW....in my travels, i had stopped 4 teenage boys that were fishing several miles from my house and asked if they had seen a women walking with 2 small children...they said no, but as i drove away, and they packed up - they spotted them walking in the opposite direction...THANK GOD.

the boys hauled ass after my truck, and caught up to me, at my house with the state troopers, and gave them the locale.

everyone got home safe...rosy cheeks, black fly bites, thirsty and hungry...but safe. and to boot, they got to ride in the fire chiefs suburban, does it get any better than that? the biggest bean sure doesn't think so.


I never thought I would say this, but thank god for teenage boys....these guys anyway. who knows what whould have happened...


hope you and all your lovies are safe, sound, and enjoying the gardening....hugs, A

new veggie photo series coming, as I am chairing a local art show in OCT, and I need to get some stuff up and ready to sell......

do you know where your kids are???

(lil man's super fun fishing trip is a story for another day, and nothing to do with the drama mentioned below....)



I do. It has been a bit of a disasterous few days (really just yesterday, but it has spilled into today), involving my two older beans, some rescue folk, and the state troopers, I am overwhelmed, exhausted and unable to post about all this weeks deelicious adventures, as well as the big ole' not so tasty adventure...everyone is safe, sound, and mellow...

for all you peeps out there with kidlets you love, yours or someone elses, hug 'em extra tight and cherish every moment, even the sassiest of 'em....


I am.

hugs, A

madness....

I love me a lil babe all sunshine and smiles about the cold water hitting her back as she runs through the wet grass and giggles...blades stuck between her little toes and the most delightful of curls springing up as her soaking wet hair dries sun kissed....

Sometime we got busy....not sure when, but my goodness, I feel like when I look up at the clock, it is already 8 o'clock at night, and where has the time gone?

Been hangin' out with the kidlets, plantin' away, as I so *heart* doing...I think I am in love with my garden, in the very best of ways, but must be careful not to spend too much money getting those sweet baby seedlings into the ground all nestled safe and ready to grow....

had some visits, some wood chipping adventures involving my dad, a stick, and an on call eye doc, but he's FINE....

been playing in the sprinkler getting so sopping wet and goose bumpy that they actually ask to go INSIDE and watch a movie....*read - I get to blog, do laundry and clean the house....

been whole foods shopping to prep for the weekend gatherings...actually baught 8 avacodos today....and uhmm....16 dollars later, those avacodos better be bombin'

been reading some B.K. goodness, nin, your right, I am so loving this book....I could crawl into a lawn chair and read the day away if I didn't have all these kidlets runnin' round....

been having some yummy meals mainly consisting of fresh grilled veggies with garlic and olive oil and pastas...

oh my....so much to do, so little time...

wishing you all the very best of holiday weekends,

sunshine and hugs your way...

A

just a quickie....

hey all, not much new on the home front, other than been spending lots
and lots of time getting the yard up to snuff...not today of course, or
yesterday for that matter, as the weather SUCKS. But just been getting
lots of projects out of the way...cleaning and getting organized...

but the big news, is that Bry GOT THE JOB. He is officially going to be a carpenter for the State now, as opposed to a prison food cook....which is SO GOOD. We will
actually have a schedule that makes me less of a weekend widow, no
offense mimi and pa, we love spending weekends making chaos at your
house, but we may actually be able to do that here! Hubs will be able
to leave the house at 6 instead of 4...get out at 3 instead of 6...deeelightful. Congrats to you love, we are so proud, and so appreciate the last five years that you have be sucking it up to pay the bills...we hope the new job is way mo' better!

we have had several fish casualties - read...we SUCK at taking care of little slimey things that need little to no attention - and that has been the talk of the
house, as Lil man is responsible for breaking the BAD NEWS to everyone.
SO, we have one more fish hangin in and we'll see how long that lasts, than I think we will move on and just deal with the fact that we don't
do so hot with fish, or cats for that matter. We will stick to kids and
dogs.

the kidlets are fabulous, enjoying the weather minus the
last few flood watching days, playing in the dirt and running wild,
shoeless and with mud streaking their little faces. I am anxiously
counting the days till my tomatos can be nestled in the ground, and I can garden the days away....
sending sunshiney vibies your way...

A

weekend lovlies

happy mama's day to all of you! It was a wonderful weekend filled to the brim with delights...not sure I will even be able to get to it all - so I will summarize.

On sat. a.m the folks picked up the kiddos and headed out for the day...the two big guys anyway, so hubs and our littlest bean had an impromptu date to my most favorite garden store, and he treated me to a truck load of amazing things....fresh tomato plants, so beautiful perennials to plant, some mulch, some herbies....ahhh, it was this mama's delight. Then we spent the afternoon working in the yard, sweating, and making the yard look beautiful...there is so much to be said for getting you hands filthy while making mama earth look oh so fabulous....

That night the kiddos came home, we headed out to the Foleys for some authentic Jamaican Jerk Chicken, some amazing strawberry short cakes and lots of chat...a mama's day tradition with the Foleys - the eve gathering.

Then to mothers day, with was truly a day I will NEVER forget. I was awoken by the biggest bean, with an ear to ear smile, and a "MOMMY - TODAY IS MOTHER'S DAY - SO NOW I AM GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT I MADE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

okay baby, but why don't we just go downstairs and you will show me...

"OKAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

once we made the mass exodus down the stairs, lil man presented me the most beautiful pin - made by his precious little hands, filled with buttons, and glue and paint and love. He was overflowing with pride and it was perhaps one of the sweetest mama moments I have ever had.

you are a very special boy...

"Well you are a very special mommy."

it's beautiful.

"your beautiful...."

man, does my kid know how to turn on the charm or what???
Anyhow, the rest of the day was filled with picnics, pizza, toasting marshmallows and overtired and fresh air filled kidlets that are filled to the brim with lots of whining today to make up for the weekends most deeelightful behavior....

hope you and yours had a fabulous one too! All my lovins your way,

A

*some shout outs*

B - that park was fab, we will have to take the kids there this week, lots of play space, picnicky spots and more...

Nins - thanks for the mama message, it was super sweet, and you are amaaaazing....made my first Zen basket. You are ingenious I tell yah...

C - thanks for the wishes...you are so sweet to send 'em my way.

D - not sure what to say, I will be in touch.

i stinkin' love this child

for so many reasons, but just a few...

that she can put on 18 necklace in the blink of an eye, with out so much as the slightest need for help...

that she got a shot at the docs office and growled at the nurse instead of fussed...

that she is so freakin' cute that the doc helped her get dressed because T told her to....I HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT.










that she has her daddy wrapped around her little finger, and it is just the cutest thing to watch...






that she is an utter and complete mini me...case in point...the child is two, and she can talk for a solid hour...amongst other things...

i think she rocks.

hope you are all fabulous....

A

thank goodness for the popcorn man....

so we spent yesterday with mimi at a very delightful craft fair, and alas, the popcorn man was there...lil man loves POPCORN, and thanks to the supercool popcorn dude, we have MARBLE-IDGE!!
Thank goodness, because if I had to stare into the toilet for one more
day we were headed to the nearest airport for a metal detection
adventure...

so, another chapter of chaos comes to a close...I cannot wait to see what delightful thing awaits us next.

ahhhh. I am so glad, I know it was just a marble, but I so didn't love having that little piece of metal floating through his little digestive tract. but it's over, and no more small objects here.


In other news, we took a fabulous trip to the beach this weekend, Bry
was working on Mattie Max's house - that's Auntie Max in Tea-speak -
and me and the 3 beans headed down to the beach to play away in the
sand. It was wonderful to feel the sun on our skin, the wind in our
hair and sand of course everywhere else....



followed by pizza at Camps and lots of snoozin'




thanks for all your good poop vibes...I will be sure to have some ready for any of you if you ever need them...vibes that is...

hugs,

A

just another day...

hey all,

just a quick post, to fill you in on our daily activities today...we had a whole agenda, that more or less involved spending the day working in the yard, planting some more flowers, picking up sticks, adventurous stuff....uh yeah right.

That was MY agenda, and let me stress MY agenda...because that was so
not how our day went. I got home from myfriday morning me time at Whole Foods with Benji, payed the sitter checked on T, who put herself down for a nap after a mondo meltdown I am told, and sat down to check my email, 1 freakin' e-mail people that's all I was going to do, and WHAM...lil man decides to fill the day chock full of his AGENDA, which, let me tell you, was NOT well planned out. I turned my back to check my e-mail, and my insanely bright, communicative, delightful four year old
decided it would be in his very best interest to put a little metal
marble into his mouth while lying on his back, well people, gravity
took over, and at this point that marble should be passing happily
through some part of his little four year old intestine, and waiting to
make a second appearance in our home. LOVELY.FREAKIN' LOVELY. So, if this wasn't enough, he has a complete panic attack, running around the
house crying, apologizing, running to sit on the potty to tell me it
will come out if he pushes hard now, pacing and shaking his head saying
"oh mommy what should I do," so much so, that while I am on the phone
with the nurse from the Dr.'s office, she is trying to contain herself,
and eventually asks to talk to him, and they have a nice long chat
about how he is going to be just fine, and his marble will eventually
come out when he poos. LOVELY....

He is much calmer now several hours later and even does a little belly shake here and there to see if he can hear said marble rattling around. We had a discussion about why he was so freaked out and alas, my boy was sure he was going to go straight to the hospital for surgery because curious George swallowed a puzzle piece
and he had to get x-rays and see lots of doctors. This of course did not occur to him before he put the damn thing his mouth though. But the toy, all 250 pieces, yes read TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY PIECES, is all packed up to go to my social worker friends school age kids AT school, where they will not EAT it.

Anyhow, day wrapped up with a sweet BBQ at mimi and pa's where he was delighted to be having corn for dinner, because he thinks that will definitely help...smart kid I tell yah...

and the moral.....don't eat marbles.

please send quick passing vibes my way, and hopes that this little marble does
just that, pass right on through with no complications...

I will post soon, so long as I am not holed up staring into the toilet for the next week. LOVELY.

trainwreckin'

hey all. we are here....exhausted, but here. we are rockin' big colds, M is just about over it, but me, T and Benji are hackin' and snotting, and GROOOOOOSSSS. Our hugest apologies to anyone who was here for birthday BBQin' madness and picked up our nasties. We love you all and thanks for sticken' it out even though my kidlets looked like they had radioactive snot dripping from their adorable lil noses.

So, life goes on I guess. T is 2, I stinkin; can't believe it, M is 4 and now I have found my self in a week long repetition of the sentence, "yes you can, your 4 now. TRY." and hubs turned 29.
We
survived birthday chaos, and loved almost every minute...I won't go
into the details about the minutes I didn't love...that is for another
day, another blog...




Big man was over the moon that his favorite girlie friend was here, and Nin, I would love a copy of the pic of them lovin' each other on your flickr page.




not much else to report, it is finally freakin' beautiful out, so Bry
and the kiddos and I are gonna do some yard work, then the man and I
have an impromptu date tonight, as the kiddos have turkey meatball
night atmimi and pa's. Benji will join us at the restaurant, as I got somethin' he needs...







oh,
and send some good vibes our way, as hubs had his interview for the
state carpentry job FINALLY today, and we are so hoping he gets the
job...his interview went well, but was followed by a flat tire, tow
truck, and EXPENSIVE new tires...lovely....

birthday madness....

hey all,

just a quick post to send mad love out to all who called the beans yesterday and wished them a happy day. They were simply over the moon to get so many wonderful wishes, and birthday love came by way of the mail and e-mail too...lucky beans they are indeed. M turned 4 and T turned 2, with baby bean reaching the 3 month mark on sat, and bry turning 29....there is alot going on.....

we had a lovely day yesterday soaking up the sun, playing at the playground,wearing their matching tie-dyes... a picnicky lunch, and so much more...followed by a visit from pa and mimi, with their much anticipated gifties. The big bean has been lovin' on his fisher price digital camera ALL day, and slept with it right beside him last night...and little T's jewelry box overflowing with "pretties" is just deeelightful to her! I came out of the shower this a.m to T with 12 necklaces on...my mardi-gras girlie....

Bry's b-day is on sat, so we spent the morn' spoiling him - of course with out his knowledge and now we will start busying ourselves with preparing for all the party chaos that this weekend will bring! T and I went to the garden store and picked out lots of pretty daisies to plant - her in her sun hat, to die for...and benji snoozin' away. She has taken so nicely to the idea of birthdays, and now anything that she wants...is for her"bird-tay." Today she wanted some milk to drink for her bird-tay, later flowers, a muffin, etc. fun is!

The big bean is out working with Pa for the day, so with much to do, I wish you all a happy, sun filled spring day....

hugs, A

ahhh....my genes.

conversation this afternoon while headed out for a short car ride...

m:: "mommy can I bring this stick in the car?"

Me::"No sweetie."

m:: "but why?"

Me::"because I said no."

m:: "but I want to, pleeeeeeease...why can't I?"

Me:: "because it is sharp and if I stopped short you could poke your eye out, than you wouldn't be able to see my beautiful face everyday telling you how much I stinkin' love you."
door slams, I go around the van, start the car, pull out of the driveway, and one minute later....

m:: "Oh mommy, don't be silly, I could use the other eye."


I *heart* my children.

back in buisness

ahhhhh...let's all breath a collective sigh of relief. My big man is back, newly re-engergized and chock full of spring sunshine, the kiddo is high on life, and spring, and getting ready to garden, and his little bro and sis, and AHHHHHHHHH....

I couldn't be happier. ONE TIME OUT ALL DAY. That my friends, well, that is stinkin' HUGE.



















The big guy had his birthday party for school friends today...he opted for a make your own pizza party at our friends' restaurant, 7 - three year olds...DEEELIGHTFUL.... BUT it was fun. I have to admit, I didn't sleep well last night. I
was slightly...(read paralyzed with fear) that it was going to be a total disaster. I already feel like many of these parents see me a bit as a nonconformist-red-neck-hippy-walking-disaster, that comes down with a wicked case of verbal diarhea EVERY time I am around them, HOWEVER, everything was wonderful. The kids and parents seemed to enjoy themselves, and alas, it is DONE, at least til the big BBQ next weekend, but that is at our house, and I love entertaining here...and , and,and,and....
T-bo was a blast at the party, a total charm, as she always is, ran around with her balloon like it was her job, batting her eyelashes, and she made a damn good pizza I must say....
and the baby bean slept through the entire party, which was wonderful...as I was really able to jump in and help...













oh yeah, and it is 80 degrees here, which has made everything seem like it is wonderful....rosey even...














On other fronts, I must give mad props to hubs this week...so, in honor of the big man, I am doing a ten reasons why list...






so, here goes, ten reasons why I love my man...

10. I love my man beacause, he will empty all the chunk-ass disgusting milk encrusted sippy cups i find shoved under couches/car seats/ blankies, and he won't gag.

9. because no matter what I do, he more or less always has this look on his face...usually in regards to how much I spent on food at Whole Foods....

8. because when Baxter eats out of the garbage that I inadvertantly probably left in a place he can get to it, he will clean up the toxic waste like it's nobodys buisness, and only laughs a little bit at me dry heaving while he does it....

7. because when I ask if he thinks we are done having kids, he still says MAYBE....hi, uhm, what planet are you ON.

6. because when our almost-about-to-be-on the verge of turning 4 years old - son, decides that he is ready to start wiping himself - READ----> uses one entire roll of toilet paper without tearing it once , fed directly into the toilet in order to do so....and I decide to "give it a shot," and flush anyway, he doesn't get mad, he nobly dons rubber gloves and scoops the nasty mess out of the potty, and can EVEN laugh about it that day with me....

5. because he helps the kids open their gifties at their parties, because I A. SUCK AT IT, and B. really SUCK at it.

4. because he is ALWAYS shocked when the littlest bean pees in his own face while he is changing him..

3. because he will watch the kids while I take a half hour long hot shower, even though I advertised it as a 5 minuter, and just can't seem to get out...

2. because at night, no matter how tired he is, he lets me "debrief," with him for hours about certain things going on in our lives that he would rather have a crazed donkey chew on his toe-nails than listen to, but he lets me anyway, than does the very best possible job trying to figure out what in the hell I am talking about when I ask him if he is listening to me...

and, not to get sappy, cuz sappy is a bore, but the #1 biggest most important reason that I love my hubs, is that he is hands down, the most amazing daddy to these beans, and most amazing hubby to me that I could ever have imagined/hoped/desired that he could be....

payback is a five letter word....and it starts with M

holy train-wreckin' over here. My big bean is putting me through the wringer. I know this crazy-ass nor'easterin weather isn't helping anybody, but jeez....
when I was - oh, say 16ish,
I was a total terror. Drove the folks crazy. Talked back, rolled my
eyes about as far into my head as they could go, partied hard, and
thought I was at the top of my game. So much so, that one day, my
father - who remains to this day, one of the calmest, and kindest
people I know, came home from work to my attitude ridden BS, and put his fist through the kitchen wall. Uh, and then I
was terrified, heart racing, adrenaline, all that jazz. I didn't get it
then, but my oh my, I get it now....

My big bean - almost 4 - is into some bad habits. talks back, screams when
he doesn't get what he wants, temper tantrums, and actually took a swat
at his big daddy yesterday...uh hello, hubs is 6''2' big bean....uhm, 3
years old. WHY, WHY, WHY. No fear, of me, the hubs, or anyone else for
that matter. SO we have been spending our time on a rotation....time
out step - time out in your room - blah, blah, blah....NO FUN, and last
night ensued the battle of a lifetime, where bean was only allowed out
of his room to eat his dinner and then go back to bed. He seemed to
finally get it though and was a barrel of "i'm sorry mommy, i'm sorry daddy, i am so mad a me, these eggs are delicious, thank you for making my dinner, i love t-bo....and, and, and" sweetness I tell yah.
So mama's, any tried and true methods for this madness? I am at wit's
end here. We have opted for the time-out go around, but I am not sure
it is working. A neighbor suggested Tabasco
on the tongue for the talking back, but I could never do that to my
children, for several reasons - A. it seems inhumane - b. a bit
abusive, c. my big bean, probably wouldn't have any tastbuds left by the time he was five....
mama's...let me know in the comments....puleasssseeeee.....

on the other hand, life here has been chock full of pj parties, movie days, popcorn snacks and lots of indoor play. where is the sun????????????

the littlest bean is amazing and smiles and coos the day away amidst the chaos...


t-bo is fighting the toddler bed, and insisting
that Benji does not need her crib, so the poor little guy is stuck in
the bassinet until she gives it up....hmmm....poor planning on my part,
must make note, kids closer than two years apart....hmmmm...


anyhow y'all, sending peace and sunshine your way, - send some my way....

Hugs, A

feeling re*fresh*ed

ahhh....so feeling refreshed...

packed up benji-bean and headed off to Whole Foods at 8 am and LOADED up on fresh fruits, veggies, cheeses, organic chicken, breads and did i mention FRUIT. The local grocery store chains were so not doing it for me, and I was starting to dream about whole foods....read salivate at the thought of a fridge full of good - good for you food. I played it like this, "Bry (said w/baby in carrier, keys in hand, and one foot out the door.) I know you want me to go to Big Y because it is quicker, but I am gonna go to Whole Foods instead because I just won't be happy until I do...BYE! (door closes to fast to hear response....) and it was lovely...it was actually like a supermarket sweep. I went as fast as I could to get all I could imagine we would need, lingered a few times over the Crocs display, as I am desperately craving a new orange pair, and a new pair for T cause hers are starting to get to small...oops side track, anyway, I busted my way through the store, and it felt damn good to fill my fridge with so much yumminess that I had to actually PUSH the door shut and hope the smoked gouda didn't bust out of it's wrapping!

It is a beautiful day out, and I am feeling chock full of energy to play outside, work on the kiddies b-day gifties, make some fresh baked goodies, maybe hang with Pa for a bit, and, and, and.....


in the news here, t-bo busted her nose, and she looks like a little football player. She was trying to get off the couch while I was getting her dressed, and she rolled over face first/nose first onto the wood floor...now the topic of conversation is -
"I get boo-boo - I mooshed my nose on the floor."
why?
"I dropped myself on the floor"
Oh, of course.

The boys are fabulous, the big bean is so ready for some warm weather, and is all sorts of excited about the upcoming festivities for his and Teags birthday... I am too, although I am not sure what I will use as bait after the parties are over to tame my beans....

Lots of nice visits this week, as Bry has been pulling long days, and I love to have visitors on those long, long days....

anyhow, I hear talk in the other room of painting the floor, and that cannot be good, so I must go, time to load the kids in the car, pick up an iced coffee and find some deeeelightful outdoor activity to do.

peace y'all.

A

p.s. Nin, I am over the moon that you are coming to the bbq, I cannot wait to see you and spend some mama-ing time with you. I *heart* you!

S.C. So stoked for a possible weekend visit....miassss you! and it was nice to chat this a.m. - your message is indeed on the machine...MY BAD.