The Truth

The truth is that it has been a little over two years since I last posted on this blog. The truth is that a lot of things have happened (even some documented!), over those two years. The truth is that there is no way that I could possibly update this blog with all said events (especially at the rate I have been blogging!). The truth is - I am flawed. Yep, totally imperfect, and I am trying to let myself realize that just being me is okay. In an attempt at moving forward, I had this great idea to follow the progress of our annual Halloween costume creating. I am hoping that this will do two things for me:

1. Get me to blog again; and

2. Get me to make my kids' costumes in a timely manner instead of staying up all night on the 30th and burning at least four of my fingers with hot glue.

So to get started, I wanted to share the first rough draft of one of the costumes I will be making this year.

My 6-year-old kindly brought me this sketch tonight as a gentle urge to get working on it.

I only hope I can do it justice.

Happy Birthday Jack-Jack!

Everybody loves Jack! There's just something about him that reaches out and grabs a little piece of your heart... even when he is being naughty. Today he turned 3 years old! Or "really big" if you ask him. Not only did his daddy have the day off to spend with him, but Grandpa Rob got to come stay and we were lucky enough to spend the evening with Aunt Margaret, Uncle Dean and the lovely Five Fosters! Of course he also had many messages of love coming his way for his very special day. If you asked him what he wanted for his birthday he would reply without fail, "trucks and mud and rocks and water". Evan thought that maybe someone could buy him some dirt seeds so that we could grow him some dirt. Of course Grandpa delivered with the very thing his heart desired...

Remember the days when a robot shirt and Lightning McQueen underpants were all you needed to start your day? But, I digress. Here is Jack with his brand new sand and water table.

Here is everyone enjoying the new table. Ahh what could be better? Sand on one side, water on the other...

How about mud ALL OVER! And do you want to know something? It was his birthday dream come true.

This is the part where I try to take pictures of Jack opening some of his presents. (And no, Leo did not get into a fight... if you look closely you will see a tiny pin prick of a red mark made by one horrible and beastly mosquito and BAM his whole face swelled up.)

This is the part where Ollie decides to help me.

A couple of months ago, the plan was to make a robot cake. I have to admit though that "rocks and mud" was just about the easiest cake I have ever had one of them request! The kids all thought it was so cool to eat real-looking chocolate rocks.

Here is our "working guy" very happy about his new tools. You may have noticed him wearing this ensemble as he blew out his candles. For a boy who was very kindly told at every well-visit for his first 18 months that he just "wasn't the biggest guy" he has grown into quite a tank. He can take on both of his older brothers now. His hands are almost as big as Leo's and his feet are passing Evan's. We love every inch of him!

Happy Birthday Jack!!

Those Darn Commercials.

I'm not sure, but I think that retailers are out to get me. It seems like they are choosing to push their products during prime kid-watching-tv time on channels geared towards a young and impressionable audience. Advertising companies wouldn't do that, would they?


First let me say that most of the time my kids don't watch TV because they are too busy sculpting with organic play dough, eating sugar free snacks (or brussel sprouts), and helping me around the house. BUT, when they DO watch TV they have reached the tender age of wanting EVERYthing advertised between episodes of Sponge Bob and Dora. It's gotten so bad that they actually fight over who will get which color of each item for which holiday and IF they will share it or not. Jack has started laying claim early on in the commercial because he knows his birthday is coming up. It doesn't matter if it's a water gun, an action figure, or Gatorade... he wants it for his birthday.




Here's the one that kind of surprised me:







First of all, who knew that mid-day cartoons would be the prime spot for this. Apparently some one who knew my boys. Leo and Evan practically swoon every time this commercial comes on. They "NEED" it.

"But mom, all you have to do is give them $19.95 and we can have it!"

"See mom, you can even get toothpaste when you have a broken arm."

The funny thing is that I made a very similar contraption out of Avon boxes in elementary school for the Inventions fair. Too bad I didn't get the patent on this in the 4th grade.

Anyhow, I guess we know what to ask Santa for this year.

And by the way, if you've seen the commercial, Evan wants the RED toothpaste too!

I knew I wouldn't be good at this...

Sadly, when I actually attempted to keep a journal, many of the entries began like this:

"I can't believe how long it has been since I've written."

The last few months have been a comedy/suspense/horror/drama and a whole lot of peanut butter sandwiches all rolled up in one. (notice I didn't mention action... I get winded just putting my pants on in the morning.) I'd like to keep my promise and finally post a couple of pictures of Evan's birthday. I thought I would throw in the other two boys who celebrated their birthdays too! I hope that I'm not giving anyone false hopes though by being such an over-achiever.


Here's the birthday boy waking up to his stash. Who looks like he's more into the whole thing to you? You may notice a theme as we continue...

Evan requested a "pink piggy cake" and had to make sure that he was wearing his Geoffrey the Giraffe crown to blow out the candles.

Next on the birthday list was Oliver, turning a great big one! He didn't have much of an opinion about his cake, so I made it Oscar the Grouch peeking from his can if you can't tell from the picture. The little Slimey cake was Ollie's very own to devour.

This is the one year old NOT devouring his cake. But don't worry... after his one dainty little finger-full of frosting, someone else at least got some enjoyment out of it.

And boy DID he enjoy it! It makes me wonder what his birthday is going to be like next month if he is having this much fun at everyone else's.

Tracy requested a black forest Batman cake. Hmmm. Don't look too closely, but the cherries that are not lovingly squished between two layers of dark chocolate fudge cake are actually supposed to be in the shape of the Batman symbol. I would have actually had a picture of my "boy at heart" blowing out his candles but he simply extinguished them so fast that I couldn't capture it. Must be all that hot air.

Hopefully, all of my guys will always know what an important day their birthday is to me.

Now after all of this excitement and over an hour just trying to get this posted, I must go muster up some energy for the next post. Plan for around October.

Lovies to anyone who may have stayed around to check this blog,