Keepin' it Real

I love my blog. I love updating all the cute pictures of my boys and the fun things our family does together. Since all my family lives out of the area, it is an awesome way to keep everyone updated. Now that I am working, this blog definitely gets neglected.

As I sit here writing this post, I have every intention of uploading the latest pics of the boys but it's not gonna happen. It's already 8:00pm and I have a to-do list a mile long of things I need to do before I go to bed. So why the heck am I blogging? I don't know.... guess it's a way to vent. My hubby works nights, so no one if here for me to let it all out to.

Overwhelmed doesn't quite do justice to how I feel tonight. I feel like I had the never ending day, but it was just a typical day for me. Alarm goes off at 5am, I press snooze once because if I press it twice I will run late and hit traffic, get myself ready, wake up boys no later than 6:15am, get boys ready, thank God again for giving me boys because there is no way I could get girls ready this quick, grab bagels to eat in the car because we are running late, leave house no later than 6:40am, drive almost 45 minutes to Jason's school, give lots of kisses, drive down the street to me and Josh's school, teach 25 crazy yet awesome 3rd graders, spy on Josh in class about 4 times in the day, leave school the second I can unless Josh has after school sports or I have a teacher meeting then we are all thrown off and home super late, go pick up Jason, give him lots more kisses, drive almost 45 minutes home, find something to occupy Jason so I can help Josh with homework, keep boys from fighting so I can make dinner, eat dinner, no time to clean it up because the bed time clock is ticking, bath #1, bath #2, pick out boys' clothes for the morning, try to play together for a bit, read books, call daddy to say goodnight, lights out no later than 7:30pm. Now my chores begin... clean up dinner, pack lunches, re pack backpacks, iron my clothes for the morning, grade papers, do any other chore needed to be done around the house, try to sneak in a 30 minute show on my dvr, fall asleep 10 minutes into my show cause I am exhausted, try to go to bed by 10:30pm to do it all over again.

So if you are even still reading this post.... thanks.... I have no clue how venting about my crazy days makes me feel better but it does. Life is nuts and I question if going from my role as a stay at home mom to a full time, most of the time single mom was a good choice. Then I kick myself in the booty and say, "Duh!" I know for a fact that this is the Lord's plan for me and our family. Sometimes, on nights like this where I wish my husband was home and I didn't have a million things that had to get done tonight, a parent/teacher conference at 7:45 in the morning and Jason's Back to School Night tomorrow which is going to make for a very long day and late night I just need that reminder.

Thanks for listening... off to pack lunches.  

Operation Christmas Child

If you aren't familiar with Operation Christmas Child, you should check it out. You can find all the instructions on how to prepare a shoebox full of goodies for a needy child HERE.

The boys and I went shopping at the Dollar Tree yesterday to get some items for our shoe boxes. The boys wanted to prepare shoe boxes for boys their ages. The had fun throwing all kinds of fun stuff into our cart. As we were standing in line there was a nice old man making funny comments about the long line we were waiting in. He looked in our cart and said, "Looks like you are getting ready for a birthday party." I went on to tell him what the items were for. He had never heard of it and thought it was the neatest idea. He then pulled out his wallet, handed me some cash and said, "Can I please give a donation and pay for your items?"

I was shocked and we couldn't thank him enough. How awesome is that sweet man?! I can't get him and his amazing act of kindness off my mind and will continue to pray blessings on him.

Later in the evening the boys packed up their shoe boxes. I was secretly anticipating them wanting the items for themselves after we took them all out of the bags. But they were so excited to pack those boxes. When we were done the boxes weren't full so they went to their playroom and found a few more little toys to put inside. Josh even put one of his favorite airplane shirts inside the box.

When we were done I asked Josh if he was looking to forward to making these again next year. He said, "Mom, I am pretty sure it is cancelled for next year because we don't have anything else we can give away." I thought that was funny. I don't think they totally grasp the idea of where these boxes are going or how much the children receiving these boxes don't have, but it is good to do little projects like this with them.

We are blessed with so much!

Halloween

My dirt bike rider and Mario had a fun Halloween! We always miss Daddy on Halloween. He has had to work every single year, so usually it is me flying solo with the boys. This year it was a special treat to have Nanie and Poppie join us.

Surprise.... again!

On Saturday, we pulled off yet another surprise party. Time time it was for my sister, Amber's 25th birthday. She was totally surprised. We got her good and had a ton of fun!

Pumpkin Fun

 I LOVE weekends! I love that I don't have to set my alarm at 5:00 am. I love to lounge in my pjs with the boys and watch cartoons or play wii in the morning. I love dressing casual and not doing my hair or make up if I don't feel like it. I love just being with my family. Oh the things I took for granted when I was still at home and not working full time.

This was an extra busy week. Josh had basketball on Monday, soccer on Wednesday and he and I both had eye appointments on Thursday. All of these were after school, which put us home about 6pm. Bedtime on school nights is 7:30, so those extras just made the week a little more crazy.

It was so nice to be lazy on Saturday morning and then spend the rest of our day having some fun together. We went to the Pumpkin Patch. We rode in Mike's jeep, which always makes our outtings way more fun and exciting for the boys.

 

 

 

Is it next weekend yet?

Mike's Surprise 30th

I have been a very sneaky wife full of lies over the last two months. All with good intentions... Mike's 30th birthday. With the help of our family, we pulled it off and he was surprised. He said he suspected something that evening, but he really had no clue what he was in for. It was a fun night!

Jason

I just want to pick him up off those blocks and squeeze him and kiss all over those cute cheeks. When did my baby boy get so big?